Game 58: Sacto at Dallas

[SkenfromLMF]

Well it looked good at the half to get back on the track to a better pick. Down 12 and no sign of catching…

Sacramento just pulled the chair out from under us and the lead is down to 3, after an 11-0 run.

Bagley is interested in getting a new contract, and Marshall is turning into a scorer. Can’t have that against the team with the worst record…

[loki]

Way too close for comfort, but they got the job done. Kidd was definitely trying to win down the stretch. I hope the next GM fires him into the sun.

[DallasMaverick]

Way too close for comfort, but they got the job done. Kidd was definitely trying to win down the stretch. I hope the next GM fires him into the sun.

Nah. He wouldn’t have been playing AJ Johnson if he wanted to win.

[loki]

Nah. He wouldn’t have been playing AJ Johnson if he wanted to win.

AJ actually had a pretty good game. Either way, he closed with his best lineup.

[Chicagojk]

That was a rough watch. I skipped the last 8 minutes as my recording stopped. Not a lot to like. Defense was pretty poor.

[Chicagojk]

Poor game by max on offense and defense.

Tyus Jones really has not shown much at all.

Nice to see Cisse again. I don’t think he is ready for a roster spot yet. It may be best suited to have him on another 2 way next year. Still going to need time to develop.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I don't think Max can be a starter on a championship team.. maybe a like Stevenson

[ThisIStheYear]

Max isn’t a good player. They should trade him back to the Lakers who overvalue him.

[DanSchwartzgan]

AJ actually had a pretty good game.

I’ve stopped watching live games (especially with Flagg out), but keep track of the box score as I watch other things with my wife.  So, I wanted to see AJ once I saw he had scored 11.

I think he can be an instant O guy off the bench.  It worries me a little that Sacramento wasn’t playing much D.  What scares me more is I’m not sure AJ has the ability to play any D.  Total matador.  I hope we get to see more (especially alongside Flagg).  He’s a fun watch offensively.  And, maybe I give him a pass as no one else was all that dedicated at the defensive end.  But, if I were him and was trying to earn minutes, I’d probably put in more effort at the other end of the floor.

[Chicagojk]

Max isn’t a good player. They should trade him back to the Lakers who overvalue him.

i think he is good.  He is probably playing a different role than he will on a good team.  As is Marshall.   I am a little disappointed he is not more impactful on defense.   He plays hard and has a good build but seems sort of average.  Guarding stars is real tough though.  You can do everything right and still give up an efficient 35.  Still, I think there is still reasons for growth though.

Max is more a creator than someone like DFS, but he should be in a similar role.  Playing with 3 other good creators where he can make a play off rotation, but his main area is to be a glue guy who hits open shots.  I think he will be very good in that role.    A type of player everyone is looking for.    Right now, they have asked him to stretch his game due to lack of creation and the results are pretty mixed.  Good reps for him though.

[Chicagojk]

I’ve stopped watching live games (especially with Flagg out), but keep track of the box score as I watch other things with my wife.  So, I wanted to see AJ once I saw he had scored 11.

I think he can be an instant O guy off the bench.  It worries me a little that Sacramento wasn’t playing much D.  What scares me more is I’m not sure AJ has the ability to play any D.  Total matador.  I hope we get to see more (especially alongside Flagg).  He’s a fun watch offensively.  And, maybe I give him a pass as no one else was all that dedicated at the defensive end.  But, if I were him and was trying to earn minutes, I’d probably put in more effort at the other end of the floor.

It is just going to be real hard for him.  I think these guys who skip steps (Gleague elite, one and done who don't play much in college, guys that go overseas, etc) makes it really hard to succeed.    Compared to a guy like Nemby who has four years of competitive college basketball where he played in a ton of important, stressful games.  It is just tough to mimic that.   Gleague has a lot of good players, but it seems like everyone scores in the g league and you don't feel that stress of game play that you do in college.   

With most of these guys, you see the talent but they are not good enough to get on the court.  Sooner or later, they are replaced with the next guy and they fade away.   He has some really nice skill, but just really tough for these guys to find an anchor and get on the floor to develop.   They say for these kids is find away to get on the court with defense.  Then the coach will gain trust in you and you will get valuable reps to improve your offense.    Unfortunately when you don't get the reps, you sort of slip thru the cracks.

[KillerLeft]

Man, this time of year is crazy for me at work. In the past, it has been a challenge (but a fun one) to find time to stay up to date on the middle of the Mavs seasons, and I've always managed to do so before. Last year's Luka trade had me angry, kind of, so I opted out of the end of that one. This year they're so bad that the incentive to keep track has totally fallen away. Lately, I haven't even been aware that games are happening, which seems crazy given how hardcore my fandom has always been.

I know losing is a good thing for the team right now - I get it. But I have to say: this sucks. It's not fun. I hope this part of the transition doesn't sprawl out too much. I know there's no incentive for them to be bad next season, but that doesn't mean they won't be. They might not have any other choice - they might actually be this bad for a while, sadly. I hope not. It would be nice to see a return to a high 40's or 50 win team whose biggest issue is getting to and/or past the 2nd round again. I didn't know how good we had it around here through the entire Dirk era, basically.

[Scott41theMavs]

Man, this time of year is crazy for me at work. In the past, it has been a challenge (but a fun one) to find time to stay up to date on the middle of the Mavs seasons, and I've always managed to do so before. Last year's Luka trade had me angry, kind of, so I opted out of the end of that one. This year they're so bad that the incentive to keep track has totally fallen away. Lately, I haven't even been aware that games are happening, which seems crazy given how hardcore my fandom has always been.

I know losing is a good thing for the team right now - I get it. But I have to say: this sucks. It's not fun. I hope this part of the transition doesn't sprawl out too much. I know there's no incentive for them to be bad next season, but that doesn't mean they won't be. They might not have any other choice - they might actually be this bad for a while, sadly. I hope not. It would be nice to see a return to a high 40's or 50 win team whose biggest issue is getting to and/or past the 2nd round again. I didn't know how good we had it around here through the entire Dirk era, basically.

The transition length has everything to do with how good the new GM is - and that he is hired by June.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

"Plan Plowden" was finally a success.

[Chicagojk]

I just watched most of the first half and had to stop.  Christie was awful again.  He really needs to play with a bucket getter and point guard.   Some of the turnovers and forced shots are something we have not seen much of this year.  Defense wasn't good either.  Come on Max.  Don't let this last two months ruin a pretty good season from him.

I know we had people out, so did the Grizz, but is depressing seeing the Grizz give minutes to a lot of developing players (who may or may not turn into anything) and the Mavs playing grizzled vets.    I know we won the Cooper prize, but depressing when he is not playing.  The last two months are going to be really hard to watch outside of hoping Cooper can regain the ROY lead.

[mvossman]

I just watched most of the first half and had to stop.  Christie was awful again.  He really needs to play with a bucket getter and point guard.   Some of the turnovers and forced shots are something we have not seen much of this year.  Defense wasn't good either.  Come on Max.  Don't let this last two months ruin a pretty good season from him.

I know we had people out, so did the Grizz, but is depressing seeing the Grizz give minutes to a lot of developing players (who may or may not turn into anything) and the Mavs playing grizzled vets.    I know we won the Cooper prize, but depressing when he is not playing.  The last two months are going to be really hard to watch outside of hoping Cooper can regain the ROY lead.

Max is a little like Josh Green in that he is a complimentary player.  The better the talent on the court next to him, the better he plays.  That is why he dropped off last season and this one after all of the injuries.  I would read too much into his play these last 20 games.