Preseason Game 4: Mavs vs. Hawks | 7:00pm CST

[dirkfansince1998]

Atlanta has been much better tonight.  Look much more in regular season form.

I have mentioned Naji's conditioning but it seems to be a team issue. Conditioning isn't where it needs to be. Maybe it was the China trip. But too many guys simply look like they cannot keep up with the pace of the game.

[Chicagojk]

Naji is either injured or completly out of shape.

He looks out of shape to me.  It is tough to know though with his long sleeve shirt and baggy clothes.  May need to play him into shape.

[KillerLeft]

I guess I'm surprised by everyone's anger. This is how a team Vegas thinks will be a 33-game winner looks in the preseason. It's going to be a long road, friends.

[dirkfansince1998]

I guess I'm surprised by everyone's anger. This is how a team Vegas thinks will be a 33-game winner looks in the preseason. It's going to be a long road, friends.

Not being good is one thing. I fully expected them to struggle. But I at least hoped for a young and energetic team that plays hard. So far they look sluggish and slow. Not getting beaten because they lack talent. Getting beaten because the opposing team can simply outrun them up and down the floor.

[SwisherPrice]

Powell already done for the night with the rest of the veterans...looks like he could be safe Is there anything Cisse can do in these final minutes to earn the final roster spot and send Powell to retirement?

[Chicagojk]

Am I crazy to think sooner than later, Sergio with cooper and Kyrie could be the best lineup. Takes,some of the creation of their hands where they focus on scoring.

[dirkfansince1998]

Am I crazy to think sooner than later, Sergio with cooper and Kyrie could be the best lineup.  Takes,some of the creation of their hands where they focus on scoring.

Don't see where any kind of playmaking help is going to come from if it isn't Sergio. I guess he takes the spot by default

[CooPerFan]

Don't see where any kind of playmaking help is going to come from if it isn't Sergio. I guess he takes the spot by default

Cooper can do the playmaking he is a point forward like lebron.

[dirkfansince1998]

To come up with something positive. Risacher had a couple of really nice cuts in the 2nd half. Creating scoring opportunities with his off-ball movement.

[KillerLeft]

Cooper can do the playmaking he is a point forward like lebron.

He is badly miscast in the role, imo, but it's not like they have a better option, really.

[KillerLeft]

Not being good is one thing. I fully expected them to struggle. But I at least hoped for a young and energetic team that plays hard. So far they look sluggish and slow. Not getting beaten because they lack talent. Getting beaten because the opposing team can simply outrun them up and down the floor.

The coaching staff is new and experimental, not just the roster. The trainers, medical staff...everything has been reset. 

I'm fully expecting a period during which every aspect of this team is subpar. That way, I get to be pleasantly surprised if anything goes well.

[CooPerFan]

He is badly miscast in the role, imo, but it's not like they have a better option, really.

Cooper can do yhe playmaking like lebron. What this team needs is a true 3rd option on offense. I dont think morez or PJ fits that 3rd option role.

[KillerLeft]

Cooper can do yhe playmaking like lebron. What this team needs is a true 3rd option on offense. I dont think morez or PJ  fits that 3rd option role.

It's not a question of can/can't. Going through that door prevents him from realizing a much better version of his career. That's what I'm afraid of, at least.

If it were up to me, I'd have him setting screens for Larry, Sasser and Kyrie, and if those dudes aren't good enough to win (they probably aren't, even in the aggregate) I'd look to be opportunistic to upgrade in that area. At least then Flagg would be put in position to do the things he'll be elite at doing - FINISHING plays. Instead, they're taking the "well Gee, he's our best player - I guess we should just give him the ball and see what happens" approach. I was hoping that would stop when Kidd was replaced. They're STILL hoping they can just slot Flagg in for Luka and that everything will work just the way it did before trading him. That's a little oversimplified as a description of the approach, but it's close enough for me to hate it.

[CooPerFan]

It's not a question of can/can't. Going through that door prevents him from realizing a much better version of his career. That's what I'm afraid of, at least.

If it were up to me, I'd have him setting screens for Larry, Sasser and Kyrie, and if those dudes aren't good enough to win (they probably aren't, even in the aggregate) I'd look to be opportunistic to upgrade in that area. At least then Flagg would be put in position to do the things he'll be elite at doing - FINISHING plays. Instead, they're taking the "well Gee, he's our best player - I guess we should just give him the ball and see what happens" approach. I was hoping that would stop when Kidd was replaced. They're STILL hoping they can just slot Flagg in for Luka and that everything will work just the way it did before trading him. That's a little oversimplified as a description of the approach, but it's close enough for me to hate it.

Cooper is the best player and its automatic he'll get the most touches like lebron and create for his teammates also score the basketball. Cooper also has off ball offense. But ofcourse hopefully he avoid  becoming too ball dominant like luka. Luka style of play isnt a winning basketball.

[KillerLeft]

Cooper is the best player and its automatic he'll get the most touches like lebron and create for his teammates also score the basketball. Cooper also has off ball offense. But ofcourse hopefully he avoid  becoming too ball dominant like luka. Luka stle of plays isnt a winning basketball.

That's obvious. We're having two different conversations. It's okay though, we've been through this topic around here so many times I'm losing the life force required to go at it again. Every single new piece of evidence leads me further into the belief that I have the right of this, and I think there's a real chance they're going to waste this kid's career, sadly, but they haven't called to ask my opinion on it, so the best thing for me to do is probably just check out of Mavs fandom and wait for them to become relevant again. It's going to be a while, I fear, because a basketball team without a PG doesn't have much hope, if any.

[CooPerFan]

That's obvious. We're having two different conversations. It's okay though, we've been through this topic around here so many times I'm losing the life force required to go at it again. Every single new piece of evidence leads me further into the belief that I have the right of this, and I think there's a real chance they're going to waste this kid's career, sadly, but they haven't called to ask my opinion on it, so the best thing for me to do is probably just check out of Mavs fandom and wait for them to become relevant again. It's going to be a while, I fear, because a basketball team without a PG doesn't have much hope, if any.

I agree that they need a pg to stabilize the offense. What i mean is whether you like it or not cooper will touch the ball more than their PG. Yeah the PG will bring up the ball to cross court but as soon as he cross the court he will moat likely give the ball to cooper. Yhe offense will run through cooper.

[david75090]

They were terrible, almost across the board. Even Cooper. Too much Naji. I'm out on him as a ballhandler, after not minding too much. He's convinced me that he's a turnover waiting to happen. I'm hoping this is dead legs from training camp. If not, I'd like to revise my estimated win total for the season. They look worse than last season, at least in this game. Very disappointing. Hopefully they're holding back on their real offensive and defensive schemes for regular season. If not, oh lawd.

[CooPerFan]

They were terrible, almost across the board. Even Cooper. Too much Naji. I'm out on him as a ballhandler, after not minding too much. He's convinced me that he's a turnover waiting to happen. I'm hoping this is dead legs from training camp. If not, I'd like to revise my estimated win total for the season. They look worse than last season, at least in this game. Very disappointing. Hopefully they're holding back on their real offensive and defensive schemes for regular season. If not, oh lawd.

Cooper had an okay game with 26/12/4 8-20FGA. Its just that this team is so bad. 2nd best player is washed in kyrie. Its like the 04-05 LeBron Cavs.

[ThisIStheYear]

Mavs starters:

Kyrie Irving
Zaccharie Risacher
Cooper Flagg
P.J. Washington Jr.
Daniel Gafford

So basically the same as the finals team with an overall number 1 pick swapped  for DJj and Cooper for Luka. This team has far more depth as well than the Josh Green centered bench. They should surprise if Cooper steps up.

[Chicagojk]

The coaching staff is new and experimental, not just the roster. The trainers, medical staff...everything has been reset. 

I'm fully expecting a period during which every aspect of this team is subpar. That way, I get to be pleasantly surprised if anything goes well.

It is a good point.  The beauty may be how they  learn and adapt this year.  May  is brand new to the league. The nba is a whole new game.  May probably isn’t used to a backup center coming in and hitting 4 threes.  It is going to take time.

Just by my quick view.  Cooper and Kyrie need to work really hard for their points.  It was clear seeing how easy atl got their points.  I think another creator and better shooting is needed.  I think Max and Zach work best if cooper is at the 4 with another guard plus Kyrie. The roster is not set up for that currently though.