Game 38 Dirkie Thread: Dereck Lively

[ballsrchr]

I was about to fold up the store and go home when the Mavs stormed back...I guess mini-stormed...took the lead--and took the lead to the bank. I kind of liked that. Pretty good starter play, and good bench production. 6 people in double figures...and some stiff defense in the end.

P.J. Washington is a man! I think he's getting better as we go along. In almost every game he's a candidate for the Dirkie. Except that most of the time one of the other guys pulls a great game out of the hat. I doubt it matters much to P.J. I think he just wants to win...though I'm sure he checks this forum after ever game to see if he won a Dirkie...

Dereck Lively is a man! And he pulled a great game out of the hat. Need I go any further?

Let's stop all this talk about trading Grimes. He's the type we need to keep.

I'm happy with Jaden Hardy. If he keeps it up...he will get the playing time.

So anyway...Dereck Lively noses out P.J. for my Dirkie. And he did it the old fashioned way...he earned it.

[Chicagojk]

Yeah pj was really good too, but I give it to Lively. Pj and Lively development is so important to this team. They provide all the little things playing off our stars. Add Luka and Kyrie and we have both offense and defense late. The fifth finisher is interesting. Some games Klay can be a killer when he gets open looks but grimes athleticism is making a strong case. His ability to hit open shots, penetrate off the rotation and better passing are nice pluses ( 5 rebounds and 4 assists) Marshall will get some chances are well. Although it may wind up being grimes or Klay with their shooting late.

[DanSchwartzgan]

The fifth finisher is interesting.  Some games Klay can be a killer when he gets open looks but grimes athleticism is making a strong case.  His ability to hit open shots, penetrate off the rotation and better passing are nice pluses ( 5 rebounds and 4 assists) Marshall will get some chances are well.  Although it may wind up being grimes or Klay with their shooting late.

I thought Kidd’s decision to stick with Grimes and Hardy late was both surprising and important.  He also won two challenges.  Dirkie consideration?

[KillerLeft]

The fifth finisher is interesting.  Some games Klay can be a killer when he gets open looks but grimes athleticism is making a strong case.  His ability to hit open shots, penetrate off the rotation and better passing are nice pluses ( 5 rebounds and 4 assists) Marshall will get some chances are well.  Although it may wind up being grimes or Klay with their shooting late.

That IS an interesting thing to think about. 

During the first part of that win streak, believe it or not, it was Dinwiddie. You can go back and check, but he closed a lot of games in a row. There were some injuries involved, but not really to Thompson or Grimes. That was back during the stretch when it seemed like one of Marshall or Washington was always out, if I remember correctly. 

Dinwiddie is a much better defender than people think, but obviously, those decisions were motivated by factors on the offensive end. If Grimes can play the type of offense he's shown recently, or even 75% of this level, on a consistent basis, AND if Luka can hold his own against the forwards, defensively and on the glass, I'd say it's Grimes' job to lose at this point.

[KillerLeft]

Could've gone with Lively, Grimes or Dinwiddie, who I thought had an underrated game in this one on both sides of the floor, but PJW down the stretch gets my vote. Several huge defensive plays, hustle plays and some clutch, badly-needed buckets, too.

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

Lively with a monster game.
But my Dirkie goes to PJ.
I have PJ as the 3rd star of the team, and on nights like this when he gets thrusted upwards as the pseudo star -- he delivered.
The pecking order is established.
And PJ knows it (only ones who doesn't is probably Din and Hary LOL)


NOTES: The Naji-Grimes-Klay trio of wings

Klay with just 3 points, didn't feel like he was a negative out there, he was giving the team direction and just knows how to play team ball, but he is the only dude of the Naji-Grimes-Klay trio of wings that I could take out in favor of Hardy or Din.

To me Naji plays the Luka role. Big dude who can dribble and is a willing passer. Definitely a guy the Mavs can't afford to do without in the Luka less games.

Grimes -- dude looks like he is breaking out from the "role player" designation. The way he moves out there -- it's just so different from the usual role players the Mavs had. I wouldn't trade this guy for Herb Jones straight up. He is the third top guard on the team (besides Luka and Kyrie).

[GATA]

Hardy. Only reason we were in the game

[Mavs2021]

I thought Kidd’s decision to stick with Grimes and Hardy late was both surprising and important.  He also won two challenges.  Dirkie consideration?

Agreed 100%.

Also either Billups has the directive to not actively try to win games, or he does not understand how the challenge system works. I think I said this before.

The Dinwiddie and Washington b2b drives were very winable challenges, especially Washington. Camara was set outside the restricted area. Also makes you wonder about the whole coaching unit there that nobody works toward him. Gotta respect the Mavs whole challenge system; also stretching the rules like challenging that the ball went out of bounds off Gafford, so they´d get the foul call. Not sure that´s how the rule was intended, but we ruthless.

[ballsrchr]

Hardy.  Only reason we were in the game

This is a reasonable choice.  Hardy has been playing quite good for the last 3, or 4, or 5 games.  I was really glad to see him close out the game.

[ballsrchr]

Agreed 100%.

Also either Billups has the directive to not actively try to win games, or he does not understand how the challenge system works. I think I said this before.

The Dinwiddie and Washington b2b drives were very winable challenges, especially Washington. Camara was set outside the restricted area. Also makes you wonder about the whole coaching unit there that nobody works toward him. Gotta respect the Mavs whole challenge system; also stretching the rules like challenging that the ball went out of bounds off Gafford, so they´d get the foul call. Not sure that´s how the rule was intended, but we ruthless.

I replied to the wrong post. I still think the Mavs challenge system needs to be a little more consistent. I was very surprised that the Mavs won the P.J. challenge. Generally I like to save the challenges for the second half.

[ballsrchr]

I thought Kidd’s decision to stick with Grimes and Hardy late was both surprising and important.  He also won two challenges.  Dirkie consideration?

I certainly agree with you on the decision about closing with Grimes and Hardy.  But I'd still like to see better and more consistent game time moves and decisions from Kidd before I give him my Dirkie.  I will still keep it in mind when I start this thread.  Winning two challenges was very important.

[SleepingHero]

This game was all but lost until Lively stepped up like crazy. He had 13 points in the last 5 minutes and was the primary reason why Portland was held to only 1 FG in the final FIVE minutes. The lone shot being the Camara dunk when the game was out of reach.


His defensive effort was incredible. The type of defense that deserves those lofty KG comparisons. He finally had a game where the Mavs actually fed him and Lively delivered. 21 points on 9-13 shooting. I seriously hope this was a catalyst for Kidd to conjure up more ways to get Lively the ball. The fact that Kidd in his post game presser mentioned they are going to start letting Lively shoot 3s soon makes me hopeful it is.

It’s hard to mention this win without Grimes and Hardy as well. Grimes also had an incredible defensive performance to close this game, with his highlight being that steal on Simons. It’s crazy to me we have such a weapon off the bench.

Hardy carried this team for the first 3 quarters. When he gets hot, there are not many players more fun to watch.

Overall, sloppy game. But when it mattered most the Mavs pulled through even when injury riddled. Lively for the dirkie. Great game.

[Reunion Mav]

This game was all but lost until Lively stepped up like crazy. He had 13 points in the last 5 minutes and was the primary reason why Portland was held to only 1 FG in the final FIVE minutes. The lone shot being the Camara dunk when the game was out of reach.


His defensive effort was incredible. The type of defense that deserves those lofty KG comparisons. He finally had a game where the Mavs actually fed him and Lively delivered. 21 points on 9-13 shooting. I seriously hope this was a catalyst for Kidd to conjure up more ways to get Lively the ball. The fact that Kidd in his post game presser mentioned they are going to start letting Lively shoot 3s soon makes me hopeful it is.

It’s hard to mention this win without Grimes and Hardy as well. Grimes also had an incredible defensive performance to close this game, with his highlight being that steal on Simons. It’s crazy to me we have such a weapon off the bench.

Hardy carried this team for the first 3 quarters. When he gets hot, there are not many players more fun to watch.

Overall, sloppy game. But when it mattered most the Mavs pulled through even when injury riddled. Lively for the dirkie. Great game.

Love the refusal to quit from several guys and love Lively and Grimes. However, Hardy is shockingly above my expectations due to less disastrous plays and great shooting. Hardy gets my vote.

[SleepingHero]

Honestly that comeback fueled by Lively was cathartic for me. Having a great day today

[Chicagojk]

Honestly that comeback fueled by Lively was cathartic for me. Having a great day today

Yep, this teams ceiling is so much better if Lively is pushing (or even exceeding) PJ as the third best player on the team.    20 and 15 will be not be an every game thing, but I hope it is more than him getting 3 shots in a game.   He has proven to have a nice touch and I hope he gets 4-5 paints looks a game.   I also want him to get a little greedy when he grabs an offensive rebound.  The pass outs are great but sometimes you need to go back up hard.  Same thing as some teams are not even guarding him when he is handing the ball off. I would like to see if we can punish teams when they do that.