10-25-2024, 09:26 AM
(This post was last modified: 10-25-2024, 09:27 AM by KillerLeft.)
What I liked:
The Mavs didn't start playing until the second half (basically only Kyrie, Hardy, Thompson and Kleber showed up for the first 24 minutes) and they didn't REALLY start playing until about a minute into the 4th quarter, and they won decisively. They basically treated this like the last preseason game, and it didn't feel like they were playing with fire.
I thought they handled Wembenyama masterfully, actually, with good contributions from Gafford, Lively, Washington and ESPECIALLY Kleber, who wasn't on him much, but there were two significant stretches where he accepted the challenge and was quite effective.
LOVE Jaden Hardy over Dinwiddie. Love it, and I hope that continues. I thought Hardy competed on both ends and it looks to me like HE believes he belongs out there. I remain hopeful that the Mavs really have something there.
I love that Thompson looked noticeably more comfortable as the night wore on. The highlights for me were the ATO from the baseline that was designed to get him a look from the corner off of a back screen and the unexpected pass from Luka after which he had the time to take a composure dribble before totally demoralizing the Spurs as he found bottom on the shot, as everyone in the arena or watching on tv knew he was about to do. That was like heroine. Inject it straight into my blood stream, please.
I REALLY liked Grimes' on-ball defense, particularly in the first half. He's so much better getting around screens than Green was - maybe better than DJJ at that, even. I was a little worried when Hardy was off the bench first in the 2nd half that Grimes had not impressed the coaches enough in the first, but after seeing the 2nd half in total, I believe the thinking was about timing of when offense was needed vs. defense as they cycled through the rotation. I kind of get it, too, because the offense wasn't stellar in the first half.
Lively and Kleber were both amazing difference makers on defense, and Kleber looked a bit more aggressive offensively (a bit) which was a welcome sight for me. If the Mavs can get this version of Kleber at all consistently this season, good things will happen for them.
Reggie Miller had a rare valuable insight on the broadcast when he said something like "It seems like the Mavs can go to the next gear, defensively, any time they want." (paraphrase). I agree, and given that there are so many new pieces in the mix, I think that carry over from last season's mentality is a good sign.
The Mavs are DEEEEEEEEP.
What I didn't like:
I think it's cool that they CAN go half speed for a full half of basketball and jack up lazy shots and still win, don't get me wrong, but I also hope that doesn't become habit forming for them.
It was frustrating that they seem to be starting the season out of shooting rhythm for the third year in a row. Hopefully it won't take them 40 games to find some rhythm this year, but this is officially seeming like an issue with Kidd's approach.
Luka, in particular, looked rusty on offense. Hopefully that's just the result of missing the preseason and he'll work things out quickly.
It seemed to me like the plan at backup PG, regardless of whether Hardy or Dinwiddie is the first offensive guard off the bench, is Naji Marshall. There were definitely stretches with Kyrie playing PG last night, and some with Hardy doing it, too, but my sense is that Marshall logged the 2nd most possessions in control of the offense, even if he was setting up plays that weren't controlled by him. I like it, in theory, but if I'm picking nits I thought his overall game last night was a bit disappointing.
My Dirkie vote: Klay Thompson. Pretty easy choice tonight, despite many pretty good performances.
The Mavs didn't start playing until the second half (basically only Kyrie, Hardy, Thompson and Kleber showed up for the first 24 minutes) and they didn't REALLY start playing until about a minute into the 4th quarter, and they won decisively. They basically treated this like the last preseason game, and it didn't feel like they were playing with fire.
I thought they handled Wembenyama masterfully, actually, with good contributions from Gafford, Lively, Washington and ESPECIALLY Kleber, who wasn't on him much, but there were two significant stretches where he accepted the challenge and was quite effective.
LOVE Jaden Hardy over Dinwiddie. Love it, and I hope that continues. I thought Hardy competed on both ends and it looks to me like HE believes he belongs out there. I remain hopeful that the Mavs really have something there.
I love that Thompson looked noticeably more comfortable as the night wore on. The highlights for me were the ATO from the baseline that was designed to get him a look from the corner off of a back screen and the unexpected pass from Luka after which he had the time to take a composure dribble before totally demoralizing the Spurs as he found bottom on the shot, as everyone in the arena or watching on tv knew he was about to do. That was like heroine. Inject it straight into my blood stream, please.
I REALLY liked Grimes' on-ball defense, particularly in the first half. He's so much better getting around screens than Green was - maybe better than DJJ at that, even. I was a little worried when Hardy was off the bench first in the 2nd half that Grimes had not impressed the coaches enough in the first, but after seeing the 2nd half in total, I believe the thinking was about timing of when offense was needed vs. defense as they cycled through the rotation. I kind of get it, too, because the offense wasn't stellar in the first half.
Lively and Kleber were both amazing difference makers on defense, and Kleber looked a bit more aggressive offensively (a bit) which was a welcome sight for me. If the Mavs can get this version of Kleber at all consistently this season, good things will happen for them.
Reggie Miller had a rare valuable insight on the broadcast when he said something like "It seems like the Mavs can go to the next gear, defensively, any time they want." (paraphrase). I agree, and given that there are so many new pieces in the mix, I think that carry over from last season's mentality is a good sign.
The Mavs are DEEEEEEEEP.
What I didn't like:
I think it's cool that they CAN go half speed for a full half of basketball and jack up lazy shots and still win, don't get me wrong, but I also hope that doesn't become habit forming for them.
It was frustrating that they seem to be starting the season out of shooting rhythm for the third year in a row. Hopefully it won't take them 40 games to find some rhythm this year, but this is officially seeming like an issue with Kidd's approach.
Luka, in particular, looked rusty on offense. Hopefully that's just the result of missing the preseason and he'll work things out quickly.
It seemed to me like the plan at backup PG, regardless of whether Hardy or Dinwiddie is the first offensive guard off the bench, is Naji Marshall. There were definitely stretches with Kyrie playing PG last night, and some with Hardy doing it, too, but my sense is that Marshall logged the 2nd most possessions in control of the offense, even if he was setting up plays that weren't controlled by him. I like it, in theory, but if I'm picking nits I thought his overall game last night was a bit disappointing.
My Dirkie vote: Klay Thompson. Pretty easy choice tonight, despite many pretty good performances.
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