GAME 2: Washington Wizards (0-1) vs. Dallas Mavericks (0-1) | 7:30pm CST

[hakeemfaan]

I will say, that 5 minute run from Cooper in the 4th gave me hope. He looked insane. He did insane things. He is only 18.


It is unfortunate those moments were wrapped up in one of the worst basketball games I've had the displeasure of viewing in a long time. This team really has no identity or drive. They said how they were going to play twin towers, but have run that lineup for a total of 14 minutes so far (and its only +1, too much noise so far, but if this is supposedly the identity, they sure aren't using it).

We were told how this team will be a defensive monster, and aside from great individual moments this team cannot defend for the life of them. It wasn't until Naji actually took some pride and bodied up George with 3 minutes left in the 3rd did the Mavs put together any momentum. Why did it take almost 36 minutes to have anyone give a crap?

Offensively the lack of identity is the most apparent. There is zero plan between any two possessions. Each time everyone is trying to figure it out. Are they running DHO with AD up top to get in the paint? Are they running PnRs? Are they doing isos? Post ups? No one knows. And it requires guys like PJ, Flagg, Naji and Klay to figure out hard passes. The book on the Mavs are to just stop their first attack and they crumble because there is no floor general on the court.

The only time it looked like we had an offense was either when DLo was in running PnR's for 4 minutes in the 2nd and finally did they get some mojo or when Flagg stepped up and just created bucket after bucket for himself.

It's disappointing to say the least. Silver lining is that should this team continue to suck they could potentially get another good draft pick to pair with Flagg.

Forget what pitch Nico wants to put out.  We're not stupid.  For the modern game there are only a few players here who can keep up defensively with up and down offensive teams.  Lively, Flagg, PJ, Naji. This team has zero guards who can bring the defensive heat like Kidd and DSteve brought during the championship run. Max Christie is not that despite what we were told.

Gafford can be a force in a half court game around the rim. AD can be a force at times in half court settings. 

I look at the Luka trade as a sunken cost.  If AD gives some consistent numbers, so be it.  I don't know what the original plan was with trying to get KD here for some senior citizen run that Nico had envisioned, but it's all irrelevant now.  What is relevant is to have a GM who realizes the modern game will involve scoring about 120 points. I am not even saying build around Flagg because maybe this team is so bad that we get even a better player next year.  However, Flagg is a cornerstore because he fits in perfectly with the modern game. The future will involve having defenders who won't be able to consistently stop offenses, but will consistently have to get up and down the court to at least make life difficult. Young players who are primariily scorers but can be above average defenders and not liabilities. Older players are still useful in the last 5-8 mins when games slow down, but otherwise high IQ is not going to be a substitute for lack of youth and athleticism.  Even Bron is somewhat of a liability on defense now. 

The real issue here is we are stuck with a GM who identified an older, slower and less impactful player as a better option than a generational offensive player just because he was overfixated on defense.  More than anything it shows a lack of understanding of how the game has changed. He is not the person who can steer this ship forward, but Dumont for whatever reason, most likely his reluctance to admit his own complicity and stupidity, refuses to cut the cord loose with Nico. Until Nico is gone and a smart GM is in place, we will be stuck with having no identity.