Dick Motta’s 10 game set

[Knutsen]

After a 0-2 start, we finished 7-3 to get to 12-8 as we hoped 10 games ago. Winning last night against Portland kept a pattern going: we seem to be winning with a lot of different guys rising to the occasion. We have had important guys out every game but it seems our depth may stay good enough to overcome a lot of adversity. Last night it was Portland d shooting 62% from 3and overall until very late in the game. 

My favorite improvement in addition to a lot of minutes for different guys is end of game good execution tentatively seems to be returning. Getting a 1-5 punch in the mouth can do that for a team if it doesn’t cause tanking first.

Let‘s not forget that we lost 4 games in a row by a combined 8 points and another one in overtime against Miami, all with an out of shape Luka, some other injuries like PJ and the new guys not having arrived yet. 

We could have easily won three of those five games and we‘d be talking about a 16-5 record and first place in the West.

[Scott41theMavs]

Agreed on all, and I liked that stat from the broadcast last night. Teams that win 12 of their first 20 go on to make the playoffs 90% of the time. I know we're all hoping for better than just a playoff birth, but it's nice to be on track for that, at least. Also, it's interesting that this record is identical to last season's record at this point, only this team feels like it can hit its stride without a trade deadline deal (not that we won't obsess over one at some point), so there's potential for a high level of play much earlier in the season.

If one of the Mavs players gives birth in the playoffs, that would be quite the miracle. Might put the fellow on the IR for a while though, so I hope it's not one of our rotation players.

[DallasMaverick]

If one of the Mavs players gives birth in the playoffs, that would be quite the miracle. Might put the fellow on the IR for a while though, so I hope it's not one of our rotation players.

Maybe they could do a documentary so we dudes can finally understand childbirth pain.

[SleepingHero]

5-5 in the first ten game set. Already lost against GSW but the next 9 games look like this:

@UTA
vs. SAS
@OKC
vs. NOP
@DEN
@MIA
@ATL
vs. NYK
@UTA

The 3 games vs. the Spurs and Utah are must wins. Pelicans are extremely banged up and should be a must win. So my bare minimum over the next 10 games has to be 4 wins. Atlanta *should* be an easy game based on how they are constructed, but they do have Dyson Daniels who is a top 3 Luka defender in the league imo.

My optimistic stance is 7-3. Pessimistic stance is 5-5.

@UTA
vs. SAS
@OKC
vs. NOP
@DEN
@MIA
@ATL
vs. NYK
@UTA

Mavs managed to hit that 7-3 optimism benchmark I had, except they did it in the weirdest fashion. Beating OKC, DEN, and NYK without Luka and the majority of the rotation is an insane feat. And they were a couple of shots away from being 8-2 in this stretch, and on an 9 game winning streak. Team is clicking. Now to get healthy.

Next 10 game set is as follows: 
@POR
vs. MEM
@WAS
@TOR
vs. LAC
vs. LAC
vs. POR
vs. MIN
@PHX
@POR

They've already beaten Portland to start off this 10 game set. The PHX+POR games are going to be a back to back as well. The baseball style series with the Clippers is going to be hard, but it'd be in the midst of a 4 game homestand.
My super optimistic stance is 8-2, with loses to 1 of the LAC games and probably PHX. My negative nelly stance is 6-4.

[Reunion Mav]

@UTA
vs. SAS
@OKC
vs. NOP
@DEN
@MIA
@ATL
vs. NYK
@UTA

Mavs managed to hit that 7-3 optimism benchmark I had, except they did it in the weirdest fashion. Beating OKC, DEN, and NYK without Luka and the majority of the rotation is an insane feat. And they were a couple of shots away from being 8-2 in this stretch, and on an 9 game winning streak. Team is clicking. Now to get healthy.

Next 10 game set is as follows: 
@POR
vs. MEM
@WAS
@TOR
vs. LAC
vs. LAC
vs. POR
vs. MIN
@PHX
@POR

They've already beaten Portland to start off this 10 game set. The PHX+POR games are going to be a back to back as well. The baseball style series with the Clippers is going to be hard, but it'd be in the midst of a 4 game homestand.
My super optimistic stance is 8-2, with loses to 1 of the LAC games and probably PHX. My negative nelly stance is 6-4.

After today’s loss on Christmas Day I’m feeling bummed about the loss of Luka for an “extended period of time “. I was feeling very good about our outstanding play the past 18 games. This 7-3 stretch featured good play from our stars and from our depth. 
I just read that this Luka’s 3rd injury on his left calf. ? we are approaching Dirk’s ankle problems. We can use the next 10 games to see who among our top players takes the opportunity to rise to a new higher level of play for them.

[Reunion Mav]

After today’s loss on Christmas Day I’m feeling bummed about the loss of Luka for an “extended period of time “. I was feeling very good about our outstanding play the past 18 games. This 7-3 stretch featured good play from our stars and from our depth. 
I just read that this Luka’s 3rd injury on his left calf. ? we are approaching Dirk’s ankle problems. We can use the next 10 games to see who among our top players takes the opportunity to rise to a new higher level of play for them.

After 30 games we were a good 19-11, 4-6, 7-3 and 7-3. We are now 20-16 and 1-5 this set with a 5 game losing streak. Our whole team has been sick and our two stars are out. Luka won’t be even evaluated for 9 more games and Kyrie for at least a week. Our season is at a low point. We need a winning streak soon but we should not expect one. We do have good depth but everyone of them apparently need at least one healthy star and a quality point guard. Duh! That is not surprising. If we get to the 50 game mark well under .500 then it is too late for a great finish like last year. At that point the organic tank begins and we consult the Greg Popvich playbook to get another young star in the draft.

[Reunion Mav]

After 30 games we were a good 19-11, 4-6, 7-3 and 7-3. We are now 20-16 and 1-5 this set with a 5 game losing streak. Our whole team has been sick and our two stars are out. Luka won’t be even evaluated for 9 more games and Kyrie for at least a week. Our season is at a low point. We need a winning streak soon but we should not expect one. We do have good depth but everyone of them apparently need at least one healthy star and a quality point guard. Duh! That is not surprising. If we get to the 50 game mark well under .500 then it is too late for a great finish like last year. At that point the organic tank begins and we consult the Greg Popvich playbook to get another young star in the draft.

I’m still watching to see if any or a few of our players is able to elevate to a whole new level and save us in this environment. If we could go 2-2 and 6-4 we would be 28-22 at 50 games and definitely not dead in the water. Who is going to step up. We have seen some good moments out of guys so how about you PJ, DL, Naji, QG. Others like Klay and several others can be strong depth contributors but we need others to really lead, even if it’s a different guy each night until Kyrie and Luka can return.

[Reunion Mav]

I’m still watching to see if any or a few of our players is able to elevate to a whole new level and save us in this environment. If we could go 2-2 and 6-4 we would be 28-22 at 50 games and definitely not dead in the water. Who is going to step up. We have seen some good moments out of guys so how about you PJ, DL, Naji, QG. Others like Klay and several others can be strong depth contributors but we need others to really lead, even if it’s a different guy each night until Kyrie and Luka can return.

We needed to Bo 2-2. Well with 2 games left until the 40 game mark we got the 2 wins. M
Now split with Denver and we will have somehow saved 4-6. The 5th set of games may be a little less tough.
Plus we have seen some serious stepping up.

[Reunion Mav]

We needed to Bo 2-2. Well with 2 games left until the 40 game mark we got the 2 wins. M
Now split with Denver and we will have somehow saved 4-6. The 5th set of games may be a little less tough.
Plus we have seen some serious stepping up.

22-18 is one game worse than last year. We got our team together last year after 50 games. Last year we went 5-5 and then the trade and the great finish. This year it will be Luka hopefully back and thru the inevitable get his rhythm back games. We really need to still be top 8 after 50 games. The next 6 are tough but we need tonight and Charlotte plus 3 more. A critical 10 game set so we give ourselves a better chance.

[Reunion Mav]

22-18 is one game worse than last year. We got our team together last year after 50 games. Last year we went 5-5 and then the trade and the great finish. This year it will be Luka hopefully back and thru the inevitable get his rhythm back games. We really need to still be top 8 after 50 games. The next 6 are tough but we need tonight and Charlotte plus 3 more. A critical 10 game set so we give ourselves a better chance.

We are 26-24 after 50 games and then the biggest most shocking trade in NBA history. We lost last night and saw yet another injury, this time to Gafford. We were 4-6 so disappointment is everywhere. Even tanking is of limited value. We will see how our team looks at the trade deadline and then probably be grieving and bored etc etc. 

It is not too late for a late post trade surge like last year. Now that would be unlikely! But I will be watching anyway.

[Reunion Mav]

We are 26-24 after 50 games and then the biggest most shocking trade in NBA history. We lost last night and saw yet another injury, this time to Gafford. We were 4-6 so disappointment is everywhere. Even tanking is of limited value. We will see how our team looks at the trade deadline and then probably be grieving and bored etc etc. 

It is not too late for a late post trade surge like last year. Now that would be unlikely! But I will be watching anyway.

The all-star break is over though we don’t play till Friday. We are picking up the conversation on our new and returning guys. We have 26 games to observe some of the members of our team. We are 4-2 so far on the way to the 60 game mark. We are 30-26. We have gone 6-4 over the last 10 games so we are playing better. If we go 6-4, 6-4, and 6-4 we would win about 45 games and be 8 games over .500. That would also put us 5 games under Dick Motta’s 50 game standard. 

So the only way this level of success is good is if we grade on a curve due to massive number of star and rotation player games missed. By that scale some credit to our hard playing guys has to be given. It is obvious to me that our guys still believe we can make a deep playoff run. They are determined to hold down the fort. 

Finally, this year I’ve concluded that consistent availability of all three position groups is absolutely essential to 50 win seasons.

[Reunion Mav]

The all-star break is over though we don’t play till Friday. We are picking up the conversation on our new and returning guys. We have 26 games to observe some of the members of our team. We are 4-2 so far on the way to the 60 game mark. We are 30-26. We have gone 6-4 over the last 10 games so we are playing better. If we go 6-4, 6-4, and 6-4 we would win about 45 games and be 8 games over .500. That would also put us 5 games under Dick Motta’s 50 game standard. 

So the only way this level of success is good is if we grade on a curve due to massive number of star and rotation player games missed. By that scale some credit to our hard playing guys has to be given. It is obvious to me that our guys still believe we can make a deep playoff run. They are determined to hold down the fort. 

Finally, this year I’ve concluded that consistent availability of all three position groups is absolutely essential to 50 win seasons.

After game 60 we are at 32-28. We did achieve the first of 3 needed 6-4 sets.

[DallasMaverick]

Mavs only 7 games out of 2nd place!

[Reunion Mav]

Mavs only 7 games out of 2nd place!

Well, 1-9 is a whole different kind of success. The last game gives J Kidd an instruction video on how not to close a game. I hope we succeed in staying under the apron because that is why we have no bodies. The Suns took there sweet time in catching us. 
Not much to say.