(03-11-2025, 08:23 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: That's an odd response...
I am a Mavs fan too. I'm just trying to see where you're coming from. I never said you posting was irritating... did it come across that way??
I want the Mavs to do well. But they have put themselves between a rock and a hard place, with a doomsday clock counting down given they have zero control over their picks between 2027-2030. That's 4 years of no picks. That matters when we are choosing to build around two 32 year olds, where one just tore their ACL.
Given all of that, shouldn't we at least try to capitalize on this lost season and get the highest draft pick possible, to get the best player available in this deep draft class? The difference between the 14th best odds and the 11th best odds isn't massive, but 14th and 9th? That's huge. 2.4% chance vs. 20% chance at a top 4 pick is a big deal.
I'm not trying to be antagonistic. I just don't see how the Mavs making the playoffs matters at all. They aren't a contender. They are not going 4 rounds and beating Boston or Cleveland in the finals without Kyrie. Their core guys are all suffering pretty severe injuries and rushing them back to try to compete this season without Kyrie is silly in my opinion.
My side is around the thought that the Mavs making the playoffs gives Mavs fans something to root for, even if the most likely result is failure very early. Lots of people are angry, rightfully so, but I would rather see AD, Gaff, etc, back (if fully healthy) and the Mavs trying to make the final 8. We just went through one tank a few years ago. I do not have any say in it, so it may just be 8-10 players to close out the season.
Right on as to the 9th vs. 14th, but I do not see how they can get there, acknowledging that the players are going to try. Even if they go 4-12 to close out the season, they still have 37 wins, which means teams 9 and below have to go above .500 to finish the season. They were in the Phoenix game until the end...they are being competitive. If they could realistically get down into the meat of the lottery, I would feel different. I will opine that unless they get into the top of the draft, I do not see how this draft changes their currently depicted ugly period coming in a few years.
I only commented about not posting because I am such a low-volume poster; I did not want to stir up anything. It was not directed at you or your post.