MAVS NEWS:

[Kidnova]

The people on this board that are inventing red flags about Flagg as an 18 year old rookie are absolutely nuts to me. I'd love to see the list of 18 year olds that have come into the league and performed notably better than CF has in his first 8 games. Kobe played 15.5 mpg and averaged 7.6 ppg as an 18 year old. Tracy McGrady? 7 ppg.

Other than 2 absolute freaks, Lebron and Luka, I can't even think of many 19 year old rookies that came in and balled out in this league. People need to take a deep breath and realize this is a kid adjusting to a man's league, and it's going to take some time. He's ahead of schedule as far as I'm concerned.

[From Dirk to SCREW YOU Nico]

The hype around Flagg is about projection based on current age and skill. He is so young.

I try to temper my current expectations by thinking back to early Dirk. He is SO FAR ahead of that curve right now...

Google AI results:
Dirk Nowitzki was 20 years old during his rookie season in 1998-99. His rookie year stats were 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game in 47 games.

[KillerLeft]

The hype around Flagg is about projection based on current age and skill.  He is so young. 

I try to temper my current expectations by thinking back to early Dirk.  He is SO FAR ahead of that curve right now...

Google AI results:
Dirk Nowitzki was 20 years old during his rookie season in 1998-99. His rookie year stats were 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game in 47 games.

He's miles ahead of where Dirk was. People forget that Luka wasn't allowed to start at PG for the first 20-30 games (Carlisle was initially trying to make him a forward). 

Meanwhile, Flagg is trying to learn how to do things he's never asked do, with all the expectations of a first round pick, and he's already taking last second shots in clutch situations, coming up with crazy steals, executing chase down help side blocks, going coast to coast with the ball for a score after a defensive rebound, etc, etc, etc. 

He's amazing, honestly. He's just not a PG (at least not at this time - at this point I think he could probably do that even, eventually). 

People have been clamoring all summer for them to "start the Flagg era," and in a way, that's kind of what they've done.

[Chicagojk]

This goes without saying, no win now moves or moves to help for now. They obviously need help but the organization thought this team was good. Personally I hope no moves are approved until a new GM is brought in.

I can’t imagine the office politics going on inside the organization. I am sure it is a mess. This summer you could see Cuban begin getting back in a little. I have no idea if Nico and Kidd are still good. It would be a riveting yet depressing tv series.

[Chicagojk]

Caleb Martin doesn’t look like an nba player any longer. He is t even close what he was in Miami. Even discounting his playoff run with Miami. Grimes on the other hand looks great. And we gave up a high second for that trade. Just an embarrassment.

There was a moment when the Mavs were up by 5 and they put Martin in. He gave up a basket at the rim and then had an awful three attempt. It was just deflating.

As much as I think NAji is a good player, I just don’t think he fits here with his lack of shooting. He would be someone I would look for a betters longer term fit.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Caleb Martin doesn’t look like an nba player any longer.  He is t even close what he was in Miami.  Even discounting his playoff run with Miami.  Grimes on the other hand looks great.  And we gave up a high second for that trade.  Just an embarrassment.

There was a moment when the Mavs were up by 5 and they put Martin in.  He gave up a basket at the rim and then had an awful three attempt.  It was just deflating.

As much as I think NAji is a good player, I just don’t think he fits here with his lack of shooting.  He would be someone I would look for a betters longer term fit.

https://mavsboard.com/showthread.php?tid=4025&pid=257730#pid257730

Mavs had momentum and Kidd decided that was the time to get Martin some minutes.  That lineup really ruined it.

[F Gump]

Mavs had momentum and Kidd decided that was the time to get Martin some minutes.  That lineup really ruined it.

Sometimes it sure does feel (already!) that the explanation is simple: "Clank, clank, I'm a tank!"

If we look at the recent past, the Mavs have always talked of winning and blue skies ahead -- even when they are tanking their butts off. So even if they talk about being great, I'm more focused on what they do rather than what they say.

Of course, they have not started tanking this early, in the past. But this will be their last opportunity for a great pick for some time, and some draft analysts are speaking of this draft class as historically good -- so if you want anywhere near the front of the line, you MUST start losing early. Is it possible they are headed that direction? 

Or are they just muddling along dealing with injuries and a total lack of chemistry? (Not only has much of the roster changed, including the engine that drove the play, but the coaching staff and system has completely changed as well. Not a good formula for winning, but with lots of confusion and no continuity, maybe....)

[mvossman]

Sometimes it sure does feel (already!) that the explanation is simple: "Clank, clank, I'm a tank!"

If we look at the recent past, the Mavs have always talked of winning and blue skies ahead -- even when they are tanking their butts off. So even if they talk about being great, I'm more focused on what they do rather than what they say.

Of course, they have not started tanking this early, in the past. But this will be their last opportunity for a great pick for some time, and some draft analysts are speaking of this draft class as historically good -- so if you want anywhere near the front of the line, you MUST start losing early. Is it possible they are headed that direction? 

Or are they just muddling along dealing with injuries and a total lack of chemistry? (Not only has much of the roster changed, including the engine that drove the play, but the coaching staff and system has completely changed as well. Not a good formula for winning, but with lots of confusion and no continuity, maybe....)

Its hard to imagine the directive from up top is to tank.  That seems like it would be an admission of failure for the "win now" trade.  The move would be to fire Nico (letting as much of the blame as possible fall on him) and reload across the board, but I don't know what the threshold is to pull that trigger.  

I think the reality is that your last paragraph is accurate, combined with a head coach who has never prioritized wins and losses early in the season regardless of the context.

[Nowitzki Way]

Sometimes it sure does feel (already!) that the explanation is simple: "Clank, clank, I'm a tank!"

If we look at the recent past, the Mavs have always talked of winning and blue skies ahead -- even when they are tanking their butts off. So even if they talk about being great, I'm more focused on what they do rather than what they say.

Of course, they have not started tanking this early, in the past. But this will be their last opportunity for a great pick for some time, and some draft analysts are speaking of this draft class as historically good -- so if you want anywhere near the front of the line, you MUST start losing early. Is it possible they are headed that direction? 

Or are they just muddling along dealing with injuries and a total lack of chemistry? (Not only has much of the roster changed, including the engine that drove the play, but the coaching staff and system has completely changed as well. Not a good formula for winning, but with lots of confusion and no continuity, maybe....)

I wish they were smart enough to see it this early. But i see no way they enacted a tank plan this early. I wish they would because the team is going nowhere this year. 

I think its all injury related and bad roster/lineup fits. I think most of it has been the lack of point guard play. The ball doesnt move. The offense is stagnant.  Which the whole world knew Kyrie would miss the first half of the season, if not more. Their plan for ball handling was an 18 year old rookie, D-Lo, BWill, and Dante Exum. That was a terrible plan. I think we all knew it.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I'm pretty sure they just suck.

[Chicagojk]

. Their plan for ball handling was an 18 year old rookie, D-Lo, BWill, and Dante Exum. That was a terrible plan. I think we all knew it.

In no way did I expect the play to be this bad, but you have to remember this was not a one off.   After they traded Luka, National basketball guys and most of us here thought, so your plan for creation rests on Kyrie and........   It didn't make sense.  Even Kyrie is not best served as a table setter.   We all thought they would look to add a move to get one at the trade deadline.  Only to be told that they thought the roster was ready for contention.   

Maybe I am giving Kidd too much credit, but he can't see this roster and know what it is missing, right?   It makes no sense.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Preach

I think they need another creator even when Kyrie is healthy. (DLo and Naji are fringe rotation guys in the playoffs)

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

The Mavs currently have the worst offensive rating relative to the rest of the league in NBA history.

https://i.imgur.com/4p0aPJv.png

[Chicagojk]

As bad as last night was and eventhough Flagg didn't shoot well, I hope we see more of that Flagg moving forward.    Have him going towards the basket.   Get him into the lane. He doesn't need to run an offense now, but him penetrating will give him plenty of experience in making smart decisions.    He is an explosive dunker, but you have seen finishing thru contact (non dunks) still needs work.    I don't know who plays point guard.  Not sure I like any of them, but let Cooper attack and create.  Not try to get everyone else going.

[Nowitzki Way]

In no way did I expect the play to be this bad, but you have to remember this was not a one off.   After they traded Luka, National basketball guys and most of us here thought, so your plan for creation rests on Kyrie and........   It didn't make sense.  Even Kyrie is not best served as a table setter.   We all thought they would look to add a move to get one at the trade deadline.  Only to be told that they thought the roster was ready for contention.   

Maybe I am giving Kidd too much credit, but he can't see this roster and know what it is missing, right?   It makes no sense.

He has to see it. Its missing exactly what he was for 20 years. He's one of the best point guards of all time, he has to know his team doesnt have one. At all.

[Jmaciscool]

He has to see it. Its missing exactly what he was for 20 years. He's one of the best point guards of all time, he has to know his team doesnt have one. At all.

The locked on Mavs guys were speculating the other day that Kidd and Nico are not on the same page and wondered if part of Kidd's refusal to play any PG was a rebuke of Nico's roster construction. Basically a "you knew we needed a PG and you gave me DLo" type thing.

Not sure I completely buy that, but I think it's in the realm of possibility.

[vfromlmf]

We all thought Kidd was an idiot for starting Flagg at PG but did anyone else see what happened when they started DLo ?

It might be the case that our 18 year old rookie forward is, in fact, the best point guard on this roster.

Not sure if you noticed but DLo did some wild sh&t last night and the camera picked up Kidd saying something similar to "what the F" and immediately subbed in Naji to play point. Flagg initiated the offense in crunch time.

This is a bad team and AD isn't going to make it better.

Think: AD had 27 pts, 13 boards, 2 steals and 2 blocks while PJ pitched in an efficient 18 pts while Flagg managed another 18. That's probably ideal contribution from their top three players -- and they STILL lost by 10 to the Wizards who are now 1-7.

[Chicagojk]

We all thought Kidd was an idiot for starting Flagg at PG but did anyone else see what happened when they started DLo ?

It might be the case that our 18 year old rookie forward is, in fact, the best point guard on this roster.

Not sure if you noticed but DLo did some wild sh&t last night and the camera picked up Kidd saying something similar to "what the F" and immediately subbed in Naji to play point. Flagg initiated the offense in crunch time.

This is a bad team and AD isn't going to make it better.

Think: AD had 27 pts, 13 boards, 2 steals and 2 blocks while PJ pitched in an efficient 18 pts while Flagg managed another 18. That's probably ideal contribution from their top three players -- and they STILL lost by 10 to the Wizards who are now 1-7.

I didn’t see that but he did show some emotion when Williams dribbled into traffic leading to a vblocked shot.  Williams was subbed out right after and did not come back.

I am really trying to give new players time to get an evaluation but at the moment I think he maybe right to have DLO as an off then bench microwave role.  The issue is we really need a starter and second he may not be good enough for that role with his other limitations.  They did get good looks to start the game last night but things are missing with this team.

[Chicagojk]

The locked on Mavs guys were speculating the other day that Kidd and Nico are not on the same page and wondered if part of Kidd's refusal to play any PG was a rebuke of Nico's roster construction. Basically a "you knew we needed a PG and you gave me DLo" type thing.

Not sure I completely buy that, but I think it's in the realm of possibility.

I have been thinking about this like it is the zapruder film.  Did Nico make a public comment after the Kidd extension?  They weren’t pictured together this summer right?   They did join Flagg in a press conference.   Kidd plays the political game well, but I do wonder if something is there.  Kidd comparing this to the babe Ruth trade and saying the fans have a right to voice their opinion is right, but I am just wondering if their is a power play going on.

As much as I want Nico gone, I don’t think a Kidd with more power is a much better alternative.

[Smitty]

@TheSteinLine
The Mavericks have moved Anthony Davis (left calf strain) to doubtful for Friday’s game in Memphis after Davis missed Dallas’ past three games.

Dereck Lively II (right knee sprain) will miss his sixth game in a row.