Game 49: Dallas Mavericks (26-22) vs. Detroit Pistons (23-24)

[HoosierDaddyKid]

They’re better, just not good. Winnable game. The Mavs may well have lost even if they give an honest effort, but it’s coaching malpractice to play this one like it’s preseason.

Games aren't winnable unless you win them. Even the best teams drop games they should win. Sometimes the other team plays better than you. I don't understand what Kidd did or didn't do to lose the game. He's not out there playing. Are you talking about his rotations?  Not arguing here.

[Chicagojk]

Well I said defense was bad and it was. Mavs switched to a zone because they had no one to stop Detroit penetration. The zone wasn’t much better.

All though the offense went cold late. Only 17 points in the fourth. Exum has a few moments but getting picked for a dunk and then a bad possession next after the Mavs got to two were costly.

The turnovers really hurt too because they led to easy baskets. Want to see everyone healthy but the defense needs to be prioritized outside of Luka and Kyrie.

[sefant]

Magic Beat Writer apparently. Thanks Kidd. At least Franz and Grimes can upset Celtics

[Chicagojk]

Magic Beat Writer apparently. Thanks Kidd. At least Franz and Grimes can upset Celtics

I just don’t get it.  Although with Marshall not playing the 4, the news Mavs were looking for a very good wing defender told me one of those two are not here long.  I have really liked Grimes, even when his play is not great.  I think he fits this team as a high minute bench player.  In fact, if I had to pick between him and Marshall, I think I would pick Grimes.  I don’t think the team feels the same way and Kidd has been mostly right on what he wants to see.


Last night and against the Pelicans felt like an open gym run.  That is way too harsh, but just the feeling I got.  Some really fun and great moments.  But just lacking fight.  Even without your best player and maybe best defender, I want to see fight and battle.  I am just not seeing it.  Mostly outside of some huge Gafford blocks.  They are not taking anything away on defense.  On offense, they are entertaining until they have 1-2 droughts that kill them and their defense cannot help limit.

The Grimes minutes and even Omax minutes are just really strange.  Omax isn’t ready.  But even last night he gets a few minutes and then Edwards replaces him.  Edwards minutes were bad.  Something Kidd is seeing is making him have little trust.  I would still like to give him some runway now to see if he has future here.  He will at least play super hard.

[Chicagojk]

Veteran players are some of our sloppier players right now

https://digginbasketball.substack.com/p/...ver-issues

[DanSchwartzgan]

I just don’t get it.  Although with Marshall not playing the 4, the news Mavs were looking for a very good wing defender told me one of those two are not here long.  I have really liked Grimes, even when his play is not great.  I think he fits this team as a high minute bench player.  In fact, if I had to pick between him and Marshall, I think I would pick Grimes.  I don’t think the team feels the same way and Kidd has been mostly right on what he wants to see.

The Maxi plus minimum guy (Hardy or OMax) type trade doesn’t get you to some of the players we’ve been linked to.  So, both the talk of needing a wing defender (as you point out) and the trade numbers seem to support the idea that either Grimes or Naji would need to be outgoing with Maxi.  I think the other clue is Grimes isn’t cost controlled going forward and some of the players we’ve been linked to are cost controlled.

So, if it is Grimes/Maxi, the shopping cart is limited to $15.2mm give or take a few dollars.  Does the Murray injury make it more likely NO trades Herb Jones?  He fits very nicely into the financial requirements and leaves you room to add a 15th guy.  I suspect their priority is figuring out the BI thing.   

It is easy enough to go to Spotrac and sort for player salaries and see who fits in this general area.  If people haven’t noticed yet, the Fanspo Trade Machine is much improved.  They now list ULI bonuses on the front page of the trade machine.  They also calculate apron impact before you even hit the Try Trade button.  It isn’t foolproof, but it does take away a couple of stumbling blocks to designing workable trades under the new rules.

[Chicagojk]

The Maxi plus minimum guy (Hardy or OMax) type trade doesn’t get you to some of the players we’ve been linked to.  So, both the talk of needing a wing defender (as you point out) and the trade numbers seem to support the idea that either Grimes or Naji would need to be outgoing with Maxi.  I think the other clue is Grimes isn’t cost controlled going forward and some of the players we’ve been linked to are cost controlled.

So, if it is Grimes/Maxi, the shopping cart is limited to $15.2mm give or take a few dollars.  Does the Murray injury make it more likely NO trades Herb Jones?  He fits very nicely into the financial requirements and leaves you room to add a 15th guy.  I suspect their priority is figuring out the BI thing.   

It is easy enough to go to Spotrac and sort for player salaries and see who fits in this general area.  If people haven’t noticed yet, the Fanspo Trade Machine is much improved.  They now list ULI bonuses on the front page of the trade machine.  They also calculate apron impact before you even hit the Try Trade button.  It isn’t foolproof, but it does take away a couple of stumbling blocks to designing workable trades under the new rules.

Good to have you back.  I am just not sure the mavs have enough assets or the pelicans have the incentive to move jones.  I think it would take more picks than the mavs have.  And is it worth it to move Jones for the Pelicans for our two firsts, an expiring and a bad contract?  jones fits their perfect need now.  He is injured so he can sit out and the pelicans get a high pick.  Next year he joins a team that should compete for a playoff spot. 

I continue to think the Mavs are looking at the overpriced guys who may be available.  It may take a first due to our current pieces but I think that is who we will be targeting.  I am fine staying Pat though.  I just think moving forward we need to get some better defenders.

[SleepingHero]

I am staunchly against trading Grimes. Just would be a bad move. Especially for a guy that is most likely out for the rest of this year.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Kidd is going to mix and match Grimes, Exum, and Edwards by feel I believe. Now that Exum is back, I see Grimes minutes decreasing as I believe he's a better defender while Grimes is the better scorer. Edwards I think is being showcased for maybe a potential trade. And Hardy, I honestly don't know where he fits now. Thought for sure he would get more minutes playing back in his hometown of Detroit.

[KillerLeft]

I am staunchly against trading Grimes. Just would be a bad move. Especially for a guy that is most likely out for the rest of this year.

I like Grimes, too, but it sure feels like either

A) there's something about his game Kidd doesn't like (my guess is that it's his defense, which gets heralded around here but has actually seemed fairly underwhelming to me),

B) the Mavs went as high as they were willing to go on the extension offer and, despite having the ability to match this summer, have already decided they don't WANT to match anything higher

OR both. 

It's not what I want to see happen, necessarily (I'd do it for Herb Jones in a heartbeat but have no desire to move Grimes in just any deal), but if you told me you were from the future and and knew Grimes was about to get moved at this deadline I wouldn't be shocked, really. 

I WOULD be shocked if they moved Marshall, who has fit like a glove when not dealing with this crazy illness, which seems like an outlier to me.

[Mavs2021]

Magic Beat Writer apparently. Thanks Kidd. At least Franz and Grimes can upset Celtics

Grimes and Hardy both. Kidd is a moron. It´s just that we had a great coach and shit roster for over decade, that as fans we are so happy that we might lose sight of the fact that it´s possible we now have a great roster and a shit coach.

[ThisIStheYear]

Games aren't winnable unless you win them. Even the best teams drop games they should win. Sometimes the other team plays better than you. I don't understand what Kidd did or didn't do to lose the game. He's not out there playing. Are you talking about his rotations?  Not arguing here.

Rotation sucked.  Chaos. Kidd had a good thing going and he switched it up to get the stiff minutes. I get a desire to integrate Exum, but that’s enough. It’s way better to play small than play someone who can’t play a lick. Kidd’s only semi successful regular season happened because THJ got injured and Kidd was forced to play Brunson. Kidd can’t manage a regular season rotstion. If the Mavs don’t have the right people get injured, they’ll never overcome it.

[mvossman]

The Maxi plus minimum guy (Hardy or OMax) type trade doesn’t get you to some of the players we’ve been linked to.  So, both the talk of needing a wing defender (as you point out) and the trade numbers seem to support the idea that either Grimes or Naji would need to be outgoing with Maxi.  I think the other clue is Grimes isn’t cost controlled going forward and some of the players we’ve been linked to are cost controlled.

So, if it is Grimes/Maxi, the shopping cart is limited to $15.2mm give or take a few dollars.  Does the Murray injury make it more likely NO trades Herb Jones?  He fits very nicely into the financial requirements and leaves you room to add a 15th guy.  I suspect their priority is figuring out the BI thing.   

It is easy enough to go to Spotrac and sort for player salaries and see who fits in this general area.  If people haven’t noticed yet, the Fanspo Trade Machine is much improved.  They now list ULI bonuses on the front page of the trade machine.  They also calculate apron impact before you even hit the Try Trade button.  It isn’t foolproof, but it does take away a couple of stumbling blocks to designing workable trades under the new rules.

I am very annoyed by the way Kidd is underutilizing Grimes and would be even more annoyed if they trade him for pennies on the dollar, but I could live with it for somebody like Herb Jones.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I am very annoyed by the way Kidd is underutilizing Grimes and would be even more annoyed if they trade him for pennies on the dollar, but I could live with it for somebody like Herb Jones.

Herb Jones is a pipe dream. And the Pels aren't trading him to a division rival anyway. Marshall was a FA. Nothing they could do about that.