Game 59: Dallas Mavericks (33-25) vs Toronto Raptors (22-36)

[SleepingHero]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LUKA!

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Dante Exum probable tonight

[SleepingHero]

@GrantAfseth
Luka Doncic (broken nose), Dante Exum (right knee bursitis), and Dereck Lively II (nasal fracture) are available to play against the Toronto Raptors.

The Dallas Mavericks ruled out Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation & nasal fracture).

[SwisherPrice]

Someone on Toronto will go off from three...my guess is Gradey Dick or RJ Barrett. If Kidd goes 0-2 vs. the Raptors coach who Luka knows pretty well, it won't look good for Kidd!

[SleepingHero]

Dick has been on a heater as of late. I won't be surprised if he has a good game

[GATA]

Hardaway 1 minute -5

[KillerLeft]

Not a great start from Gafford. He needs to play well tonight, with Kleber out. Otherwise, Kidd is going to give Powell some of his time and people will lose their minds.

[KillerLeft]

Pj Washington is a STUD, my dudes. He DEFENDS.

[GATA]

Gafford looks good tonight.

[KillerLeft]

The thing Gafford brings to the table is offensive rebounding. It’s so fun when it works.

[DallasMaverick]

Gafford and PJ. Cha-ching.

[KillerLeft]

I just don’t like Gafford’s game on defense.

[Smitty]

Gafford has been fine. Tim on the other hand…

[Jason Terry]

Exum game high +7 in Q1

[KillerLeft]

Gafford has been fine. Tim on the other hand…

if you count losing his man in transition four or five times fine, then your definition differs from my own. He was better than fine on the offensive glass, I’ll give you that. 

The thing is, transition defense is more important and going for offense of rebounds hurts that.

And how can he be so good on the offensive glass and so not good on the defensive glass? It’s a mystery.

[Smitty]

if you count losing his man in transition four or five times fine, then your definition differs from my own. He was better than fine on the offensive glass, I’ll give you that. 

The thing is, transition defense is more important and going for offense of rebounds hurts that.

And how can he be so good on the offensive glass and so not good on the defensive glass? It’s a mystery.

I assume you’re talking about Tim missing his man and rotations. Either way Gaffor at least provides some positives. Hardaway 25% and does nothing else.

[KillerLeft]

I assume you’re talking about Tim missing his man and rotations. Either way Gaffor at least provides some positives. Hardaway 25% and does nothing else.

They don’t play the same position, so that isn’t a germane point. I actually think Hardaway has looked a bit better tonight, but still not great. Not talking about him at all. 

Talking about the growing mountain of evidence that Gafford is not even the second best center on the team. I don’t even dislike him, I just dislike giving up that pic and paying him so much. They didn’t need him at all. Now, if Kleber gets hurt again…different story.

[Smitty]

I agree with your Gafford take for the most part.

[GATA]

Hardaway is awful again tonight. Where is Hardy?

[KillerLeft]

Absolutely great post defense from Hardaway, aided by some good help defense from Green, and Gafford can’t get the rebound to end the possession.