02-25-2020, 12:48 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-25-2020, 12:49 AM by Scott41theMavs.)
Re: Dan and Mavsluvr's "long view" takes: The long view, or at least the medium view, has everything to do with what players who aren't here now are here next year and the year after. I personally believe that will hinge lots on what FAs believe about the Mavs' readiness to win. If everything is predicated on a "Giannis saves all butts" strategy, much as Howard was supposed to be our superman coming to the rescue in 2012 and 2013, then all of us ought to brace for asymptotically certain disappointment. However, if the Mavs see the future in terms of Luka + KP + whomever else they can realistically add to the core + whatever peripheral core pieces we still have in a year or two, then they ought to be selling FAs on their ability to win, the present-day ability of Luka and KP, and the franchise's present-day belief in Luka and KP (not to mention the acceptability of the coach), and that means winning games like the Hawks game by avoiding stubbornly erroneous rotation choices. Moreover, considering how Luka et al. have exceeded expectations, this has become a year in which probably getting curb stomped or even relatively curb stomped by the Lakers or Clippers is much less preferable than possibly actually winning a series against the Nuggets, Jazz, or Rockets. The latter sets the table far better for the future in all aspects.