Game 82: Dallas Mavericks (39-42) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (47-34)

[SleepingHero]

[Scott41theMavs]

AD, PJ, and Klay all out today.

We're not tanking though.

I'd like to think it has to do with not wanting to be embarrassed in elimination on our home floor. Probably more of an issue of "not wanting the important players to get hurt before our extended playoff run" self-delusion.

[myconsumerclub]

So all us Hardy fans are in for a treat. Wonder if Kai is playing?

[myconsumerclub]

ESPN says Lively is also out

[myconsumerclub]

Injury Report from ESPN

Memphis Grizzlies
Name, Pos Status Est. Return Date
Scotty Pippen Jr. G OUT Apr 15
Luke Kennard SG GTD Apr 13
Jaren Jackson Jr. PF OUT Apr 15
Desmond Bane SG OUT Apr 15
Zach Edey C OUT Apr 15

[myconsumerclub]

Dallas Mavericks
Name, Pos Status Est. Return Date
Dereck Lively II C OUT Apr 15
Klay Thompson SG OUT Apr 16
P.J. Washington PF OUT Apr 16
Anthony Davis PF OUT Apr 16
Olivier-Maxence Prosper F OFS Oct 1

[SwisherPrice]

No Booker or Beal for the Suns so should be an easy win for the Kings anyway. Time to start preparing for the Kings next week!

[myconsumerclub]

If we beat them today then we beat the Kings in the play in we likely will match up against Memphis since I think Minn will defeat the Grizz in their play in match and so we would be favored to win against MEM and match up against OKC in the first round of the playoffs. We beat OKC 3 times and I think Luka was out most of those games.

box score links to those games for ease in doing your analysis of these 3 wins.

DEC 10th Game 1 https://www.nba.com/game/dal-vs-okc-0022.../box-score Irving and Grimes were available. PJ led the team in scoring with 27 points. Ky had 23 and Grimes had 10.

JAN 17 Game 2 https://www.nba.com/game/okc-vs-dal-0022.../box-score
Kyrie leads team in scoring with 25 PJ and Din add 16 Naji adds 14

JAN 23rd Game 3 https://www.nba.com/game/dal-vs-okc-0022.../box-score scoring leader was DIN with 28 PJ added 22
Grimes had 9 Irving had 24 and OMax had 14 Lively was out and Gafford put in 12

[myconsumerclub]

well so far so good Gafford has 11 points and we lead 17 to 10

[SwisherPrice]

The Grizzlies don't scare me...even when they have all their starters. They fired their coach and have been freefalling. I actually think beating the Kings would be tougher but if the Mavs could somehow pull that off then I'd be VERY confident in going to Memphis to play for the 8th seed.

[myconsumerclub]

well MEM is only playing its bench so maybe the Mavs win this one.

[chaparral]

How is Kia Jones playing in this game?

[myconsumerclub]

Kidd is playing small again and it works to the other teams advantage when they have more size to get rebounds and second chance points. Brandon out with injury.

[myconsumerclub]

If I was kidd I would bench everyone for not playing defense and not protecting the ball and I would put the starters in. Sloppy play like that is impossible to tolerate and they are an easy team to beat if they play like this

[myconsumerclub]

well not that we need to win but if winning is the goal then you have Powell Gafford and Kail to throw out there I see no reason not to play with a little more size given MEM is trying to play a PF and C with real size. I am happy to improve our draft positioning though.

[myconsumerclub]

Kings and Chicago need to win their final games to let us move up a notch on the draft board and we need to lose. Would help if ATL beat ORL as well just so they dont need to flip a coin with us for that lower draft positioning.

[SwisherPrice]

Kings struggling against the Suns backups  

[myconsumerclub]

Well Atlanta won so that helped some.

[myconsumerclub]

Portland 46 L's Heat 45 and Suns 45 fighting for draft position. Suns probably pull their guys out of the game to tank it better as that game progresses

[myconsumerclub]

speaking of Portland they are beating the Lakeshow pretty nicely now 58 to 43