The 6 games before March 6 - updates

[Scott41theMavs]

Quoting myself from another thread:  Six games until the "evaluation day." At GS, at LAL, three game homestand against Charlotte, Milwaukee, and Sacramento, then at the Bucks. If they can win 5-6 of them, wow - but not likely. 4 would be impressive. 3 would be "good enough" to keep their head above water, 2 would make things challenging, and 0-1 would really create problems for them in the standings.

0-1 so far. The loss wasn't unexpected; how bad it was, was. If the Warriors had been hitting their threes, it would have been way worse.

We aren't winning against the Lakers unless Lively, Gafford, AD, and Martin all come back early, or unless Luka loses focus and makes myriad dumb decisions in his desire to pile up the points on them. They'd better make hay the four subsequent games. 

[LukaMVP]

Charlotte and kings games are must wins for us. the rest games are probably too tough for our guys to win but I reckon that two wins will be enough to keep us within the top 10 range, and things will get better for us thereafter with reinforcements arriving gradually.

[SleepingHero]

I think Luka is going to decimate the Mavs. Probably go for 60 on us.

If we were healthy we'd probably have a shot. But I don't see how Kyrie and PJ can stop a pissed off Luka.

[DallasMaverick]

I think Luka is going to decimate the Mavs. Probably go for 60 on us.

If we were healthy we'd probably have a shot. But I don't see how Kyrie and PJ can stop a pissed off Luka.

Ah. 

So you’re saying that, when Luka is motivated and tries really hard, he can play well, then?

[Reunion Mav]

I think Luka is going to decimate the Mavs. Probably go for 60 on us.

If we were healthy we'd probably have a shot. But I don't see how Kyrie and PJ can stop a pissed off Luka.

A bad loss could certainly happen. I would no longer be shocked if the opposite happened and it’s the Lakers feeling the angst. It will be interesting but overall it’s our level of survival meaning get a few wins that matters just as Scott for the Mavs is saying. 
No more injuries would be good.

[michaeltex]

It will be interesting to see if Luka can stay in front of Kyrie, Christie or Exum. Or how Kidd tries to defend. Will they pick up full court? Blitz at the timeline?

OTOH, watching some of the last few LAL games, if you can push the pace after a missed shot, you can play 5 on 4 offensively for a bit.

FWIW, I'd make LBJ beat me instead of letting Luka go off big time.

[DallasMaverick]

https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/...-mavericks

Here’s what bettors are thinking.

…those without emotions clouding their judgement.

[omahen]

OKC is a lock for #1 position. I can't imagine how many injuries they would need to get to drop 8.5 games advantage they currently have for the last 25 games or so.

Then we have a group of next four in Denver, Memphis, LAL and Houston with first two 2 games in front of the last two. These teams will likely be battling for positions 2-5.

Next group is LAC, Minny, GSW, Mavs and Kings, which is separated by just two games in the loss column. First two of these are 4.5 games behind 5th spot, which is a spread that will be difficult to reach for any of the mentioned teams in remaining 25 or so games. Not impossible, but becoming highly unlikely. They will be fighting hard for that 6th spot though. LAC are dropping lately, while GSW currently has most positive momentum after the Butler trade.

I doubt Phoenix or Portland can reach the play-in. Phoenix obviously already fell apart (2-8 in last 10). Portland, despite their decent current record, is simply too mediocre and 4.5 games behind the 10th spot.

[Scott41theMavs]

0-2 so far.

[Nowitzki Way]

I see no way the Mavs fall out of the play-in, but i really don't want to end up the 8 seed and have to face OKC in the first round. They are the one West team that i think we'd struggle with. Maybe add the Rockets to that.

I'm hoping we can get to 6, but at least 7. I'm ok with playing Memphis or Denver in the first round.

If healthy this team is very dangerous and very good. It would be devastating to not see this team heathy and making a playoff run.

[michaeltex]

I know it doesn't mean much, but the injury report for Thursday's Charlotte game has:

          Status    Est. Return
Exum    GTD        Feb 27
Martin   GTD        Feb 27
AD        OUT        Mar 7
Gafford  OUT        Apr 2
Lively     OUT        Apr 2

The intriguing thing to me is the estimated return for AD. I know that's the day after the Mar 6th re-evaluation, but it's a lot earlier than Lively or Gaff, so I wonder if there is some internal optimism that AD will return sooner than the other two.

[Scott41theMavs]

I know it doesn't mean much, but the injury report for Thursday's Charlotte game has:

          Status    Est. Return
Exum    GTD        Feb 27
Martin   GTD        Feb 27
AD        OUT        Mar 7
Gafford  OUT        Apr 2
Lively     OUT        Apr 2

The intriguing thing to me is the estimated return for AD. I know that's the day after the Mar 6th re-evaluation, but it's a lot earlier than Lively or Gaff, so I wonder if there is some internal optimism that AD will return sooner than the other two.

So then he can play center all the time and get hurt again even quicker. Ugh.

[Reunion Mav]

So then he can play center all the time and get hurt again even quicker. Ugh.

Powell looked like himself last game. Maybe play them together until April to prevent just that from happening and keep using our organic small ball lineups to cover minutes based on who the other team is playing. At least we can use AD to start and close for 20-25 minutes a game.

[FireNicoHarrison]

It's funny talking about our new guy body issues after Doncic trade... Very funny.

[Chicagojk]

This team really needs an easy win. None of this scratching and clawing games. Charlotte should give them their best shot. Although, Charlotte has been so bad the last three games, you need to wonder if they have a better game coming up.

[Scott41theMavs]

Forgot to update it to 1-2, but it's about to be 1-3. Ouch.

[Scott41theMavs]

1-3! Not looking good.

[myconsumerclub]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGbCKFcxueE here he comes to save the day. Yeah Nico got him since LA CLIPS released him. 2 way deal for Kai Jones. 6' 11"

[SleepingHero]

1-3! Not looking good.

Im not really surprised given the state of injuries right now.

If PJ was totally healthy and ready to go for 40 minutes a night, maybe we'd be 2-2 or heck even 3-1. But we're playing 5 guys who are either 2-way's or barely NBA players. 

Hardy+Omax+Brandon Williams+Moses+Kelley (or now Kai Jones)+ Powell+Dinwiddie are just not really NBA players now and yet they are forced to play heavy minutes.

[Smitty]

Im not really surprised given the state of injuries right now.

If PJ was totally healthy and ready to go for 40 minutes a night, maybe we'd be 2-2 or heck even 3-1. But we're playing 5 guys who are either 2-way's or barely NBA players. 

Hardy+Omax+Brandon Williams+Moses+Kelley (or now Kai Jones)+ Powell+Dinwiddie are just not really NBA players now and yet they are forced to play heavy minutes.

Yeah, I’m not sure what people expected. I just saw someone post that they are done with the team after yesterday’s loss. Umm, it’s G-League vs NBA teams right now. It’s been that way for 2+ weeks. When they won 4 of 5 shorthanded everyone was praising and enjoying it. Now they lose, like they should, and doom and gloom follows.