PLAY IN GAME 1: Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings

[SwisherPrice]

Brandon Williams can be a star...a 6th Man of the Year contender for the rest of his career. He already plays like a 10 year veteran with very little weaknesses.

[Chicagojk]

I didn’t get a chance to watch the game. I think Williams was my number 1 guy to evaluate since Lively is still limited. He looks like he passed the first test. Not only with production but the moment not being too big for him. His speed in quickness is definitely what we are lacking. For one game, Exum and Williams provided real nice guard minutes. Who knows what Williams is, but did one game he showed a skill the Mavs desperately need.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Those FO puppets have to thank the Sacramentos of the NBA, they are living a never ending nightmare.

[bubbler86]

Saw some fans suggesting BWill was not an NBA player (earlier this year). He could actually be starting next year...and AD hitting 3's is a big reason the Mav's move on.

[david75090]

Defense wins championships. The Mavs won the Western Conference Play-in Championship. Now that what Nico said has been proven to be true, all is forgiven. All aboard Mavs fans. Back, to the future.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Defense wins championships. The Mavs won the Western Conference Play-in Championship. Now that what Nico said has been proven to be true, all is forgiven. All aboard Mavs fans. Back, to the future.

Not ready to go there just yet. They did play the no-defense Kings. If they get by Memphis, they'll feel the Thunder.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The defense has been on point tonight. It really has. Have to give them credit for it.

It was. The $64-dollar question is will it continue?

[Scott41theMavs]

GO MAVS

Wish Kyrie hadn’t gotten hurt.

That really did change the conversation, right?

[myconsumerclub]

Our defense numbers wise were better when Luka was here and leading the team this year, they still got a way to go. At least Kidd was able to not play Din and he finally stopped using Naji as a PG because he led the team in turnovers with 4. He is not a PG so please stop that nonsense. He did hit his one 3 and he did okay hitting 4 of 6 shots but he was still 1 for 3 from 3. AD was awesome tonight he is the new overlord on the team you make sure he gets that ball and you make that a key part of your game.

Dante and Brandon are the PG tandem you use and they are both excellent 3 point shooters that hit at a high % so no more chucking from Din. Based on who we match up with determines who is starting. Big PG you got Exum. Small waterbugs that score a lot you got Brandon. Sometime next season we got an all star PG coming back to play again and that makes PG less an area of need than want in the draft. Even with healthy Irving we still need a PG in the draft to groom for next time one gets hurt and some day needs to step aside for a new big dog to run the team. Exum too is injury prone. Brandon might be as well. I would want to draft Egor for the fact he can play PG and possibly his 6'9 frame means he can also rebound and play some SF and defend bigger guys like Luka and other scorers.

That addition would strengthen the line ups we can put out there. AD is also getting older and so is Klay so we need to groom their replacements as well and there are some nice bigs to evaluate and develop that may fall out of the 2nd round. Tom a Zvon Ivisic are both looking nice and should be available in the 2nd round so we need to work on making those 2 or at least one an offer. As for 3 point shooter a la another Klay they are usually there to sign in FA and you never can tell when a youngster comes into the league just how good they are going to be from 3 but that Richardson Kidd has the right DNA.

PG is more important a position to fill than 3 point shooter is so I still draft Egor for the future.

As for the rest of the play offs, Irvings injury got the mavs a pass on judgement day if they fail to win a ring this season. Even if Luka was here that would have given us a harder time winning it.

AD is a pleasure to watch he is a true star and kicks a lot of asses so he is something I can understand being desired by mavs execs but it is still like Mark said they did not get enough for Luka.

[michaeltex]

Dante and Brandon are the PG tandem you use and they are both excellent 3 point shooters that hit at a high % so no more chucking from Din. Based on who we match up with determines who is starting. Big PG you got Exum. Small waterbugs that score a lot you got Brandon. Sometime next season we got an all star PG coming back to play again and that makes PG less an area of need than want in the draft. Even with healthy Irving we still need a PG in the draft to groom for next time one gets hurt and some day needs to step aside for a new big dog to run the team. Exum too is injury prone. Brandon might be as well. 

I agree that Exum and BWill looked like the best PG combo last night and might be OK to hold it down during the playoffs. We will know more once they face a stronger opponent. Ja says he's playing despite a sore ankle. If they get past MEM then SGA awaits.

That said, I did like Dinwiddie's low playing time. The ball definitely moved well against SAC and he can be a stopper at times. Too many no-pass possessions and too many turnovers. He has his moments, but I'm guessing he'll be a break-the-glass emergency player.

[F Gump]

I think SD is on the bubble to return, at best. Right now after they add a FRP they only have one roster spot which I expect will go to Exum.

I am still looking for a Powell-Hardy package outgoing for Ball, that opens up another roster space, but I think that space would go to Jones rather than SD or an outsider.

[SwisherPrice]

If I'm OKC, I'm feeling a little nervous right now! This Mavs team matches up nicely against OKC...even without Kyrie (who never played well against them anyway). Beat Memphis and this will make an interesting 1st round series 

[KillerLeft]

I think SD is on the bubble to return, at best. Right now after they add a FRP they only have one roster spot which I expect will go to Exum.

I am still looking for a Powell-Hardy package outgoing for Ball, that opens up another roster space, but I think that space would go to Jones rather than SD or an outsider.

I've been out of touch for a couple of weeks, due to my busy work season. Did Williams get a real contract, and does it include next season?

[david75090]

If I'm OKC, I'm feeling a little nervous right now! This Mavs team matches up nicely against OKC...even without Kyrie (who never played well against them anyway). Beat Memphis and this will make an interesting 1st round series 

As has been established, defense wins championships.

[cow]

If I'm OKC, I'm feeling a little nervous right now! This Mavs team matches up nicely against OKC...even without Kyrie (who never played well against them anyway). Beat Memphis and this will make an interesting 1st round series 

Maybe if a few OKC players pull a Sabonis for the entire series.

[F Gump]

I've been out of touch for a couple of weeks, due to my busy work season. Did Williams get a real contract, and does it include next season?

Yes BW was signed to the 15-man (without that, he could not have played any more games this season, including last night).

Yes, the deal included another season with a small guarantee. It seems obvious that they will keep him.

[F Gump]

Maybe if a few OKC players pull a Sabonis for the entire series.

The Mavs are a beast on the interior. (I've seen many IDIOTS write playoff preview articles about the Mavs poor defensive stats over the last couple months, as if half a team - and one with no bigs - is an accurate representation of what to expect now.) Sabonis was literally overwhelmed. Any team who relies on a big as a key to their offense is likely to have a really hard time against these Mavs.

[FireNicoHarrison]

The Mavs are a beast on the interior. (I've seen many IDIOTS write playoff preview articles about the Mavs poor defensive stats over the last couple months, as if half a team - and one with no bigs - is an accurate representation of what to expect now.) Sabonis was literally overwhelmed. Any team who relies on a big as a key to their offense is likely to have a really hard time against these Mavs.

Yes, you are absolutely right.

But i don't see team who relies on a big outside Denver... Backcourt wins Championship in this era.

[bubbler86]

This may have already been mentioned, but I do not believe a #10 seed has ever advanced out of the play-in...if that is true, it would be a nice "record" to have in the Mav's trophy case. Plus, the coming out of Bwill, which has shown flashes all season, is a big plus right now. This record also applies to the Heat as a #10 seed.

[rocky164]

I think SD is on the bubble to return, at best. Right now after they add a FRP they only have one roster spot which I expect will go to Exum.

I am still looking for a Powell-Hardy package outgoing for Ball, that opens up another roster space, but I think that space would go to Jones rather than SD or an outsider.

From your mouth to God’s ears.