GAME 44: DAL (23-21) @ NOP (20-24) | 103-112 loss

[ClutchDirk]

Can't expect to win games like this, when your big guns are out. Outside of THJ and Brunson, whose a consistent scoring threat? DFS? Kleber? JRich?They need help big time.

They just acquired the ghost of Reddick...just saying...

[HoosierDaddyKid]

They just acquired the ghost of Reddick...just saying...

He's at the end of his rope. He may win a game or two for them, before he rides into the sunset the end of the season.

[SwisherPrice]

The Mavs are waving the white flag on the 6th seed. It seems like they are embracing the play-in games now because this team isn't good enough to win a real playoff series so they will treat winning the play-in games as such.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/3115...lisle-says

[Chicagojk]

The Mavs competed and kept it closer than I was expecting.   Although even as the Mavs were leading, it felt like a game where you keep it close and the better team makes a few plays late and wins the game.  New Orleans has an interesting future on what they decide to do.   I liked what I saw from Kira Lewis. Zion is great...hope he stays healthy.  Right now, that teams seems like an odd pair mismatched parts.  

Maybe Rick is doing a great job of using Boban to put him in the best matchups.  Although I am at the point where I want him to play him every game....negatives be dammed.  He is  our only specialist big man who causes fear in teams.   Sure he will get pick and rolled to death, but he is also a guy who will get easy buckets at the rim.   

I also hoped for some minutes for Josh Green.  I thought he had solid minutes against the Pacers.  Why not give him 5-10 minutes as a reward to see if he steps up again.   There is no reason why he doesn't get any playing time with the roster we had last night.  I know we are trying to win and Green is probably not ready yet, but if you think 5-10 minutes will stop you from winning, then you made a bad draft pick.  Maybe they did, but I have liked some things from Green.   He needs time though.

I feel like every game I am bashing Richardson.  I don't want to.  I want him to play better on offense.  Right now, there is no way I give him even 10 plus million here with his lack of offense.    What is really frustrating is I was hoping more of the Miami Heat Richardson this year.  He played dropped off in Philly, but he is even worse this year.   Why is that happening?  Is it fit?  Poor scouting? Something else?   I thought with Luka and Rick, that we would get the best out of most players.  Similar to what the Heat, Raptors and Spurs do.  But we have seen a few players already who have not played well here.   I was not expecting that.

[ThisIStheYear]

The Mavs had 50 points missing from their lineup last night. What an opportunity for other guys to step up. And how does JRich respond to this target rich environment?  4 points on less than 10% shooting against one of, if not the worst defense in the NBA.  The loss wasn’t the problem. But, JRich (who represents the Curry signing) is the only thing left over the last two offseasons offering some hope for the team and he’s going down in flames.  The Mavs somehow acquire one of the greatest talents in history and otherwise have a pretty good roster building year that year with Brunson and the New York trade.  Then they follow up with two less than zero offseasons.  Completely ridiculous. I’d fire everyone.  But, if the Mavs do bring back their leadership team, they better knock it out of the park this summer or they definitely have to go, because if they fail again, Luka will be leaving shortly thereafter.

[omahen]

Maybe Rick is doing a great job of using Boban to put him in the best matchups.  Although I am at the point where I want him to play him every game....negatives be dammed.  He is  our only specialist big man who causes fear in teams.   Sure he will get pick and rolled to death, but he is also a guy who will get easy buckets at the rim.   

Bobi scored 11 points but New Orleans scored 20 on him in last 5 minutes alone. Either Ingram PnR with Adams or Zion PnR with Adams, bucket every single time. I like the guy, but he is unfortunately unplayable

[sefant]

Bobi scored 11 points but New Orleans scored 20 on him in last 5 minutes alone. Either Ingram PnR with Adams or Zion PnR with Adams, bucket every single time. I like the guy, but he is unfortunately unplayable

well, he finished +2 overall. The bigger problem was Powell yesterday. He had one good game, but overall has more unplayable moments compared to Boban.


17 min 0 pts and 1 rebound.

I am missing WCS. Don't see how Rick can give those 15-20 minutes as a backup to Powell over WCS, by the eye test and the stats.

So far, WCS beats Powell in pretty much everything. Better VORP, BPM, WS, WS/48, on/off, RPM, PER, TS %. WCS is also a much better defender.

[cow]

well, he finished +2 overall. The bigger problem was Powell yesterday. He had one good game, but overall has more unplayable moments compared to Boban.


17 min 0 pts and 1 rebound.

I am missing WCS. Don't see how Rick can give those 15-20 minutes as a backup to Powell over WCS, by the eye test and the stats.

So far, WCS beats Powell in pretty much everything. Better VORP, BPM, WS, WS/48, on/off, RPM, PER, TS %. WCS is also a much better defender.

To be fair to Powell, he had that nice block on Zion when he got absolutely trucked by him.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

To be fair to Powell, he had that nice block on Zion when he got absolutely trucked by him.

Zion doesn't care. He's gonna keep coming at you. He had Maxi on skates the whole game.

[omahen]

well, he finished +2 overall.

So did Richardson. Imho, they were clearly worst Mavs in this game. It is about time we stop using team index to evaluate individual performance.

[cow]

Zion doesn't care. He's gonna keep coming at you. He had Maxi on skates the whole game.

Well, yeah.  I'm just giving Diamon a little credit for getting bulldozed and still blocking him.