02-17-2026, 09:08 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-17-2026, 09:23 PM by KillerLeft.)
This thread is kind of veering off topic, and I apologize for that, but thanks to Dan's contribution to the conversation (mostly from the other thread), I feel compelled to share this:
If I were making the ideal lineup out of what the Mavs currently have on hand (assuming health), it would be the following:
Kyrie
Christie
Thompson
Flagg
Lively
Marshall, PJW and Gafford would all be non-closing bench players for me. That is, imho, the best combination of offensive spacing AND defense the roster can put together. It's not the best defensive lineup, but it's the best compromise of what's good for the team in the aggregate of both sides of the ball without taking a specific opponent's approach into consideration (as always, styles make fights). Frankly, with Flagg/Llively manning the back line, I think the defense would still outpace the offense.
THAT's the lineup I would try to improve upon. I feel so strongly that Marshall, PJW and Gafford's roles would be lessened moving forward, that I wouldn't be aiming to replace THEM so much as I would be aiming to use them to replace the weaker links in the chain of the top 5 I laid out above. I fully understand that some might not see it that way, but I DO see it that way, because of synergy and fit.
Hopefully, a player will be drafted that can replace one of those 5 "starters/closers" (whatever - they don't have to start, but that would be my highest minute lineup when healthy) immediately, and then...can 1 or 2 of the high priced bench players be moved to replace another? Maybe keep one of them to be the 6th/7th man/leader of the 2nd unit?
If I were making the ideal lineup out of what the Mavs currently have on hand (assuming health), it would be the following:
Kyrie
Christie
Thompson
Flagg
Lively
Marshall, PJW and Gafford would all be non-closing bench players for me. That is, imho, the best combination of offensive spacing AND defense the roster can put together. It's not the best defensive lineup, but it's the best compromise of what's good for the team in the aggregate of both sides of the ball without taking a specific opponent's approach into consideration (as always, styles make fights). Frankly, with Flagg/Llively manning the back line, I think the defense would still outpace the offense.
THAT's the lineup I would try to improve upon. I feel so strongly that Marshall, PJW and Gafford's roles would be lessened moving forward, that I wouldn't be aiming to replace THEM so much as I would be aiming to use them to replace the weaker links in the chain of the top 5 I laid out above. I fully understand that some might not see it that way, but I DO see it that way, because of synergy and fit.
Hopefully, a player will be drafted that can replace one of those 5 "starters/closers" (whatever - they don't have to start, but that would be my highest minute lineup when healthy) immediately, and then...can 1 or 2 of the high priced bench players be moved to replace another? Maybe keep one of them to be the 6th/7th man/leader of the 2nd unit?
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