Game 30: Minnesota Timberwolves (14-14) vs. Dallas Mavericks (19-10) | 1:30pm CST

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

There just isn’t any upside to Dinwiddie and Kleber at this point. They are what they are. Din has come back to earth lately. Maxi is positively timid out there. Would like to see Jaden and Omax in the 2nd. What have we got to lose. The entire team came out flat. Let’s see some hungry young guns. Maybe they can inject some energy.

[Chicagojk]

Well really bad result at half. But it is a game.

The Luka injury is the much bigger concern. Is it the week out thing again or is it worse? Also, we have been dealing with lower leg injuries with him for most of the past year. Is this who he is now or just a bad run of luck?

[MAVS-SLO]

It looks like left calf strain for Luka.

Thanks god is not achilles or knee.

[KillerLeft]

It looks like left calf strain for Luka.

Thanks god is not achilles or knee.

Yeah, good to avoid a big one, sure. But, constant small ones make it more difficult for him to get into good condition and maintain a good rhythm. I don’t know that him starting the season more in shape would help prevent these nagging injuries, but it could t hurt.

[Mavs2021]

Somehow Gafford and Kleber have managed to play 18 combined minutes and have a completely empty boxscore except for one assist that is off-set by a turnover. No points or rebounds or blocks.

[Mavs2021]

Finch saw Dinwiddie and Kleber sit at the scorers table for two minutes and decided to call timeout, so they can finally enter the game.

[Deebo]

Maxi needs be traded. Include either grimes or Marshall and get 1 better play in return. It’s a must

[Deebo]

Luka has also gotta get in shape next year. If he’s not gonna take training and being in top shape next offseason. Trade him

[Deebo]

Rather keep grimes and trade Marshall.

[JamesConway912]

Kleber finally made a three. Maybe that helps him
get over whatever has been going on with him.

Also if we could jest get past the Reggie Miller three point record chase that would be great. Looks like it’s way too much of a topic for Klay.

[JamesConway912]

Awesome stuff from Kyrie. But that McDaniels block was a badass play as well.

Then an awesome defensive play from Lively. Just swatted DiVinceenzo.

[MAVS-SLO]

Yeah, good to avoid a big one, sure. But, constant small ones make it more difficult for him to get into good condition and maintain a good rhythm. I don’t know that him starting the season more in shape would help prevent these nagging injuries, but it could t hurt.

Big injury would also mean that season is over. Thanks god is not the case in this situation. Right moment for other players to step up in the upcoming games. 

I think Luka has been dragging some injuries also from the past seasons and those weren't healed fully. If i remember correctly, the same problems which he had in the last playoffs, continue also in Olympics qualifications, when (i think it was a game against Greece), barely walked and everyone could saw that he is hurt.

I don't know if he fully healed those injuries and another season came quickly.

Just hope other players can continue winning without him and that he will be fully ready for the 2 part of the season.

[F Gump]

FWIW, I think Grimes has been rotating with Thompson for quite a lot longer than your recent observation, AND I think the positions are confusing. I’ve head Thompson refer to himself as “the 2 guard” on at least 3-4 occasions. All of that to say: while they’re (Grimes/Thompson) not playing the same position on defense, I believe they are the rotation for the same position on offense. I said as much in the op of that rotation thread.

Ok. We can call it a SG/SF blend rotation. 

Re it being done before, the idea that Grimes was rotating with Klay was not relevant while Naji was sick and not an option. That has just changed. Its a relatively full lineup now, so we get a chance to see who they prefer when they have ALL their choices.

And Grimes is STILL the primary sub for Klay, playing SF/SG.

In any event,
1 Grimes is now ahead of Naji in the rotation, and 
2 both are in the SG/SF minutes mix. 

I keep harping on the latter because I keep seeing people asking why Naji isn't playing PF, and it's because he is not a PF (wasn't his position in NO, Mavs tried him a bit at PF but decided it was a bad move when they had a choice, and they don't seem to have any interest in trying to force that square peg in the round hole).

Is Naji on a similar path as Grant, ie a trade chip at the deadline? I still hope for DJJ, and Naji+Hardy is a salary match that works. Just saying.

[Knutsen]

Big injury would also mean that season is over. Thanks god is not the case in this situation. Right moment for other players to step up in the upcoming games. 

I think Luka has been dragging some injuries also from the past seasons and those weren't healed fully. If i remember correctly, the same problems which he had in the last playoffs, continue also in Olympics qualifications, when (i think it was a game against Greece), barely walked and everyone could saw that he is hurt.

I don't know if he fully healed those injuries and another season came quickly.

Just hope other players can continue winning without him and that he will be fully ready for the 2 part of the season.

He didn’t play in the Olympics so he had more than enough time to get in the best possible shape. But he just doesn’t seem to be a workout-freak (yet), more weeks off mean more time to get out of shape apparently… Combine Luka‘s talent with Dirk‘s work ethic and you have maybe the best player that has ever lived.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

Did Randle change pivot foot?

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

Not a foul on Conley?! Lively was at the ball. These refs are terrible.

[GATA]

Amazing defense by Maxi

[KillerLeft]

The majority of this comeback has been with Lively, Kleber and PJW in the game together.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

Why was Lively even guarding Gobert 30 feet away?

[KillerLeft]

Welp, at least they made it a game.