AROUND the NBA:

[Winter]

I think you're right that this is a nuanced phenomenon, and there are hard to quantify aspects of it, but...the first emboldened sentiment has a pretty dramatic effect on the second emboldened sentiment in my view.

To your point (which is likely accurate) here are the last five games.

Dallas vs Knicks 3-pt 47% - Christie 8-10
Dallas vs Jazz 3-pt 44% - Christie 3-6
Dallas vs Jazz 3-pt 41% - Christie DNP
Dallas vs Brooklyn 3-pt 44% - Christie only 1 of 8 but the Mavs still shot 44% from 3 (Thompson was 6 of 9 and Hardy 4 of 10)

The loss at Denver 3-pt an abysmal 15% (Christie didn't play, Flagg went out with a bad ankle, and Thompson was only 2 of 7).

Thompson and Christie have been very good in these wins, but in general everyone is playing pretty well around the perimeter recently. The losses earlier in the season were extraordinarily bad with Christie sometimes just shooting a couple of 3s.

Christie clearly needs a higher volume of 3s (which Kidd has recently said in interviews) and my guess is everyone needs to keep shooting from there.

I hestitate to say this but does AD not playing add perimeter shooting? If we're not trying to feed AD inside, is the result that our perimeter players are having more attempts and more sucess?

[KillerLeft]

I hestitate to say this but does AD not playing add perimeter shooting? If we're not trying to feed AD inside, is the result that our perimeter players are having more attempts and more sucess?

AD and Flagg, while being one of the most ideal pairings I've witnessed on defense, might not be a perfect match on offense. Time will tell, provided AD is here and healthy long enough for it to matter. But, I agree, a second volume scorer who also doesn't like to play from the perimeter isn't an ideal pairing with Flagg at the moment and that can have a negative effect on spacing. Then again, while Davis doesn't command much respect at the 3 point line, he does pull defenders out of the paint better than literally any center the Mavs have ever had...just only to the deep two range. 

The big problem happens when they try to pair those two with Gafford, Lively, Powell or Cisse. PJW and Marshal don't fit well with that pair, either. If you're going to make Flagg/AD work, it needs to be mostly as the 4/5, and all three other dudes need to be READY TO SHOOT.

[Winter]

AD and Flagg, while being one of the most ideal pairings I've witnessed on defense, might not be a perfect match on offense. Time will tell, provided AD is here and healthy long enough for it to matter. But, I agree, a second volume scorer who also doesn't like to play from the perimeter isn't an ideal pairing with Flagg at the moment and that can have a negative effect on spacing. Then again, while Davis doesn't command much respect at the 3 point line, he does pull defenders out of the paint better than literally any center the Mavs have ever had...just only to the deep two range. 

The big problem happens when they try to pair those two with Gafford, Lively, Powell or Cisse. PJW and Marshal don't fit well with that pair, either. If you're going to make Flagg/AD work, it needs to be mostly as the 4/5, and all three other dudes need to be READY TO SHOOT.

The other thing that happened was that the Mavs game plan was to showcase AD. That meant there was a significant offensive strategy dedicated to getting the ball to AD where he would be scoring 2 points or scoring no points at all, and with fewer shots from the perimeter for everyone else. Perhaps if Kyrie were in the lineup that strategy would be better balanced. But as it is, I don't think an AD centric offense works for the team.

[Chicagojk]

So the Mavs beat the Knicks and then the Knicks have a players only meeting, there may be a rift with Brunson and KAT, players are not happy with Brown, the fans are frustrated and the media is all over the team.

I guess that tells you the Mavs may not be a good team

[Winter]

So the Mavs beat the Knicks and then the Knicks have a players only meeting, there may be a rift with Brunson and KAT, players are not happy with Brown, the fans are frustrated and the media is all over the team.

I guess that tells you the Mavs may not be a good team

I also think KAT may just be a playoff killer.

[Chicagojk]

The other thing that happened was that the Mavs game plan was to showcase AD. That meant there was a significant offensive strategy dedicated to getting the ball to AD where he would be scoring 2 points or scoring no points at all, and with fewer shots from the perimeter for everyone else. Perhaps if Kyrie were in the lineup that strategy would be better balanced. But as it is, I don't think an AD centric offense works for the team.

Yeah, he can't be a number one option.  One of the things I was thinking about and why the offense may have been rough is AD likes to hold the ball a lot.  Cooper does too...but for different reasons.   Because AD is viewed as the best player, a lot of energy was given trying to get him the ball.  That leads to more standing and more holding the ball.   The best AD this year is when we ran quick actions and got AD the ball down low for a quick move.   I hate the ball holding and the long jump shots.  Yuck.

[mvossman]

The other thing that happened was that the Mavs game plan was to showcase AD. That meant there was a significant offensive strategy dedicated to getting the ball to AD where he would be scoring 2 points or scoring no points at all, and with fewer shots from the perimeter for everyone else. Perhaps if Kyrie were in the lineup that strategy would be better balanced. But as it is, I don't think an AD centric offense works for the team.

I'm not fond of AD centric offense, but I think this team has a (much) better winning percentage when AD plays.  That is probably mostly due to his defense as his offensive numbers are significantly down from years past.

[Winter]

I'm not fond of AD centric offense, but I think this team has a (much) better winning percentage when AD plays.  That is probably mostly due to his defense as his offensive numbers are significantly down from years past.

That was true early in the season. But I also think AD was more important to winning when there was a lot of bad PG play. 

I think now it feels more like the Mavs can field a competitive team without him. That's not to say, of course, that the Mavs don't need upgrades at several positions. They need better shooting, better rebounding, better PG play, and better rim protection. But the last few games, they've looked active and well-coached. Christie is clearly shooting more and the team defense is adequate. I think we overlook some of this because we're focused on trades and an otherwise lost season.

[cow]

With Jimmy Buckets going down, I wonder if GSW will try to make one more desperation move before next season to try to put something around Curry. Toronto is currently blowing their doors off.

So the Mavs beat the Knicks and then the Knicks have a players only meeting, there may be a rift with Brunson and KAT, players are not happy with Brown, the fans are frustrated and the media is all over the team.

I guess that tells you the Mavs may not be a good team

The KAT trade was always a bad idea, his attitude rubs me the wrong way and I've never had a rooting interest in his teams so I can't imagine what it would be like to be his teammate.  And speaking of bad ideas, Brown seems better suited as an assistant than the head of the snake.

[Chicagojk]

what a year from the Suns so far.  I keep waiting for them to fall back, but they have kept winning.  I don't expect they will be a big factor in the playoffs, but some teams who own their future picks must be sort of bummed.  

Of course Utah wins against Minny.  Outscores Minny 43-26 in the last quarter.  I am sure they will make up for this win by losing the next 5

Lakers outscore Denver by 10 in the fourth.  Luka with a big triple double.  

Raptors blow out Golden State.  Quickly scores 40.  GS plays Dallas next in "Rivalry week"

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://larrybrownsports.com/basketball/...nce/737308


A career night for Immanuel Quickley

[HoosierDaddyKid]

what a year from the Suns so far.  I keep waiting for them to fall back, but they have kept winning.  I don't expect they will be a big factor in the playoffs, but some teams who own their future picks must be sort of bummed.  

Of course Utah wins against Minny.  Outscores Minny 43-26 in the last quarter.  I am sure they will make up for this win by losing the next 5

Lakers outscore Denver by 10 in the fourth.  Luka with a big triple double.  

Raptors blow out Golden State.  Quickly scores 40.  GS plays Dallas next in "Rivalry week"

Utah is a perplexing team. They've beat good teams, and they've played stinker's vs bad teams. They aren't devoid of talent either.  Keyonte George is becoming quite the player. Scored a career high 43 pts.