Pre Season Game 1 vs Houston Rockets | 7:00 AM CST | NBATV

[Moviemavguy]

Is Morez hurt or just coming back from injury? They kept saying he was ramping up like he was, but I never saw a definitive answer.

[WillE]

8 assists...Point Powell is really going to make the roster isn't he 

That's a career high. He's Had 8 twice before, but both times in +30 minutes.

Even more shocking than this repeat feat, however, is the fact that he managed it in just 13 minutes.

A short research shows that this is not an league all time high record, but it's not far away...so wtf did we just witness there?!?

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/isaaclharris/status/210858...31950?s=46

Not sure if he will be in the regular rotation when the season begins but I was wondering how he would look between Kyrie and cooper. Maybe with Cooper at the 4.

[SleepingHero]

I wasn't able to watch this one - just caught the highlights.

Tough to tell from such a one-sided use of screen time, but it didn't seem like the Mavs defended particularly well (any of them), and I got the sense that their conditioning is inferior to the Rockets.

Honestly it looked like the Mavs were going half speed most of the time. But aside from Cooper and some flashes of defense from the other guys, no one really defended.

[DL2RimRocker]

That's a career high. He's Had 8 twice before, but both times in +30 minutes.

Even more shocking than this repeat feat, however, is the fact that he managed it in just 13 minutes.

A short research shows that this is not an league all time high record, but it's not far away...so wtf did we just witness there?!?

That's what a dozen plus years of development time will do. Its god tht we didnt give up on him.

[Mavs2021]

This could be the Mavs S5. If Risacher wants any shot at Christie´s job, he better feel himself today.

[Smitty]

This could be the Mavs S5. If Risacher wants any shot at Christie´s job, he better feel himself today.

Looks as bad as he did Friday. Not a good first impression in a Mavs uniform for ZR. Long season though.

[Chicagojk]

Looks as bad as he did Friday. Not a good first impression in a Mavs uniform for ZR. Long season though.

Pretty active though.  He just seems too rushed when he shoots.  He feet are all over the place.  Ball handling is really loose too.  Getting lined up with his shots though is the first thing to fix.

[Chicagojk]

This Houston team looks pretty good. FVV being fully back is the big question. If so, it allows Sheppard to be in a much more comfortable role. They have a lot of talent.

[Chicagojk]

Small takeaway from two meaningless preseason games is I am not sure Sergio ism8n the main rotation when the season starts but he will be at some point in the season.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Small takeaway from two meaningless preseason games is I am not sure Sergio ism8n the main rotation when the season starts but he will be at some point in the season.

He needs time but the potential is there.

[dirkfansince1998]

- Certainly better than game one but obviously against a much weaker opponent. Agree with Chicajojk. Biggest winner on the Mavs side so far is De Larrea. May mentioned Sasser as one of the camp standouts but based on what I have seen De Larrea should be in the top 8-10 rotation.

- Kyrie adds a level of gravity that the Mavs have been missing even though he looked rusty.

- Risacher/Biberovic/Christie group is doing more or less what I expected them to do. They can shoot and I guess we have to hope that at some point one of them is showing some kind of playmaking ability or at least something that suggests that one of them can be a plus defender. I guess Risacher is at least trying to play with energy but it feels like he is forcing things that
he isn't comfortable with.

- PJ looked better next to Flagg than Naji. Naji much better of the bench. Both seemingly aren't in game shape yet.

- Biggest concern after two preseason games is the center rotation. Not a good look for the rest of the guys when the guy that isn't even on the main roster is outplaying them. Cisse has been pretty bad (seems to have some injury issue). Gafford offers more on offense but is beyond bad on defense.

[Moviemavguy]

Risacher suffers from what so many of his ilk suffer from....good at everything, master of nothing. His versatility is still valuable, but nothing he does stands out. Offensive rebounding might be the best attribute when he does it.

De Larea was a steal. He has that unteachable poise to play PG that you can't teach.

Kinda feel like they are setting up Cisse to fail so Powell can get the last spot. Hope not.

But it's all preseason. Can't remember a preseason that had any real impact on what will happen in the regular season.

[Mavs2021]

De Larrea is the big winner of these two games. One concerns remains his ability to finish at the rim, which is kind of strange, since he clearly has some size and strength to him and generally battles well. Otherwise this was very encouraging all-around. 

Biberovic will be fine. So will this Kyrie kid.

Lawal was surprisingly good in limited minutes. Given that he´s a late starter to basketball, maybe his development will be most accelerated by the professional environment. 

Cisse plays like he knows he´s getting cut for Powell.

Washington seems to be back to his best. 

Gafford, I don´t know. He looks healthy, but his intensity is low. Maybe the new role has him confused defensively and robs him off the offensive rebounding strength.

I´m curious whether they need to look into Risacher´s pre-game routines and preparation. He came out looking like complete a** in both games and improved as the games went along. Maybe it´s just the lower level of opposition in the 2nd halves. If he is a rhythm player, it might explain, why he was good as a rookie with lots of games and minutes, and got worse in year two with a reduced role. Definitely something worth looking into.

[david75090]

I´m curious whether they need to look into Risacher´s pre-game routines and preparation. He came out looking like complete a** in both games and improved as the games went along. Maybe it´s just the lower level of opposition in the 2nd halves. If he is a rhythm player, it might explain, why he was good as a rookie with lots of games and minutes, and got worse in year two with a reduced role. Definitely something worth looking into.

Noticed the Mavs hired someone to help with the mental aspects of the game. Might be someone who can use that. I am guessing that all the players can benefit. People can psyche themselves out and keep themselves from being all they can be.

[dirkfansince1998]

Might be because they had more reps with each other in preseason but watching the offense in 2nd half it feels like the second unit is further along when it comes to the execution of May's offense. Most possessions featuring multiple handoffs and cutting action from various angles. Compared to a slower and more iso heavy playstlye in the Flagg/Kyrie minutes.

[Mavs2021]

Might be because they had more reps with each other in preseason but watching the offense in 2nd half it feels like the second unit  is further along when it comes to the execution of May's offense. Most possessions featuring multiple handoffs and cutting action from various angles. Compared to a slower and more iso heavy playstlye in the Flagg/Kyrie minutes.

The problem might be that not enough guys can shoot or/AND dribble, like literally nobody on the Mavs S5 besides Kyrie. The whole position-less basketball with size does not work that way. The back-up unit is much more conventional in terms of dribbling and shooting. 

You simply cannot play any combination of Risacher/Flagg/Johnson/Marshall/Aldama/Washington/Gafford/Lively together at SF/PF/C for 48 minutes. The highest career 3pt percentage between them is Risacher at 36.0%. Flagg is the only one with a career assists average above 2.5. This would be viable roster construction during the late 90s, but it´s 2026.

Not getting a Simons/Sexton/Grimes type guard was GROSS NEGLIGENCE considering the cheap one year contracts. Even if the Mavs do not care about winning this year, they could have helped keeping Kyrie healthy, pushed everybody else into more comfortable roles and thereby increased their trade value.

Maybe it will work eventually, when Flagg (from 3pt range) and Johnson (from 10ft+) learn how to shoot, but until then it will be very ugly. They might have to look into

Irving
DeLarrea
Risacher/Biberovic/Christie
Flagg
Washington

as an option and push the ball like crazy in a Suns seven seconds or less offense.

[Knutsen]

De Larrea is the big winner of these two games. One concerns remains his ability to finish at the rim, which is kind of strange, since he clearly has some size and strength to him and generally battles well. Otherwise this was very encouraging all-around. 

De Larrea was a +34 today in his minutes on the court, that’s a wild stat. 

I really liked that they let him play point and bring up the ball when playing with Kyrie. And that he already adapted to the NBA three point range is hitting his open threes.

[Chicagojk]

So Powell is making the team right?  It feels like he will either get minutes or will be the reserve big when Morez. Gaffford or Aldama miss a game.  I was hopeful that Cisse would fill that role, although with the brief viewing it appears he may not be ready.     I wonder what that means for Cisse.  Does he have a two way spot the try to bring him to.   If so, who do they cut?  Or do they just move on?    It appears there is no getting rid of Powell.

[Winter]

De Larrea was a +34 today in his minutes on the court, that’s a wild stat. 

I really liked that they let him play point and bring up the ball when playing with Kyrie. And that he already adapted to the NBA three point range is hitting his open threes.

Yeah, he had 7 rebs and 4 assts in 22 minutes. Only 2 TOs. He sealed off the lane quickly defensively on at least two occasions I can think of. He'll be in the rotation for sure.

Biberovic fit pretty well too. He's a big body... bigger on the court than I thought. He didn't have great shooting today, but his shot looks good and he never looked out of place. I like him the lineup better than Poulikidas.

Mavericks had....

28 Assists
12 steals
10 blocked shots

We won the fast break points 24 to 11
Points in the paint 50 to 40
Shot 90% for FTs and 38% from the 3-point stripe

Players moved the ball quickly, and I suspect that's how Dusty will want to play every night. The Mavs - much like Michigan last year - are going to average a lot of points per game. They have enough youth, depth, and I think adequate shooting to pull it off.