(10-08-2022, 04:58 PM)Hypermav Wrote: That second unit will be really good if THJ doesn't take all the shots.

(10-08-2022, 06:04 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: Surprising.

So if THJ and Spencer aren't starting, does that make Dallas have the highest priced bench of all time?   Hardaway, Spencer, Bertans, Wood, Powell, Kleber are all 10 plus million.

(10-09-2022, 07:05 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Putting this in the Mavs News thread since its original home (Preseason Game-2 thread) will soon be long gone:


Here is an attempt at graphically laying out the rotation from the Orlando game to the closest 30 seconds.  It allows you to see the overlap between Luka and Dinwiddie and how the big minutes played out (with about 1:30 of Wood as lone big).  It was a fairly basic 9 man rotation except Hardy and Green shared what would normally be one spot.  It was also fairly platooned with the exception of the McGee cameo appearance in the second quarter for about 3 minutes and Luka staying on with the second unit until the end of the first quarter (which is common for him).

Given the reporting about Wood, Maxi, Hardaway and Dinwiddie coming off the bench, Green (and his D) almost has to be the one who joins that group once Luka sits.  To me, the question is whether Green also gets the six minutes to start the half that Hardy got or whether Hardy gets to retain those minutes.  My guess is that it is Green on opening night, but the situation is fluid.  Of course, this plan is based on the reporting of a couple of guys who I don't know.  Just two games into the pre-season we've seen reporting about lineups be wrong.


JM---------/CW--------------------/JM------/MK-------/
DS--------------/MK----------------/DS-----------------/
RB------------/TH------------------/RB-----------------/
JH------------/SD--------------------/LD----------------/
LD----------------------/JG-----------/TH---------------/

(10-08-2022, 04:18 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: I agree with this but the problem is we get the most out of Luka when Dinwiddie is with him playing the second role. This is why everyone has been screaming for a third ball handler because then you can still let Dinwiddie run the second unit AND he would have someone else out there as a secondary playmaker with him the way he is for Luka with the starters AND Luka would have a release valve when he’s getting doubled.

(10-09-2022, 07:29 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: I was thinking that Luka likes to start games getting going.  He typically is not a guy who gets everyone involved by scoring 3 points in the first quarter (hint...I would personally like to see this more though--sort of Chris Paul-ish).   So if you start Dinwiddie next to Luka, Dinwiddie may go 5 minutes to start the game and get 1-2 shots.   Is that the best way to utilize Din to start the game?

(10-09-2022, 08:10 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Let's talk through the third ball handler thing for a moment.

(10-09-2022, 08:10 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Let's talk through the third ball handler thing for a moment.

The hue and cry for a third ball handler started in the summer of 21.  Brunson was a bench player and failed playoff participant at that point.  There is a narrative that this team started really playing when we added Dinwiddie (third ball handler), but the turn-around actually came the last game of December (Dinwiddie didn't get traded here until February 12th).  Dallas was 17-5 between 12/31 and the last game before the trade on 2/10.  That is a 77% winning percentage over a quarter of the season BEFORE we got our third ball handler.

So, what happened around 12/31?  Well, THJ, Bullock and Maxi all returned from six game absences.  KP went out and missed 13 of those 22 games.  Brunson's minutes picked up.  Green had his mini break-out getting 15 or more minutes in 15 of those 22 games.  With KP out, Dorian started playing a lot more at the four.  None of that involved a third ball handler.  We think that guy is the key because we kept winning 76% of our regular season games from mid-February on.

The narrative continued among fans this summer.  But, one of the inferences that can be made from the reports regarding Dragic (small role offered about once every 4-5 games) is the team doesn't think it needs that third guy.  If there was a role to be had, Dragic would be here.  The team apparently thinks it needs more rebounding and rim protection than was provided by Powell and another scorer in the front court.   It quickly filled those slots and made no effort to acquire a third ball handler that we know of.  In fact, the only thing we know is they told a good ball handler they don't have a role for him.  

I'd probably prefer that our injury protection at the position was better than it is.  But, if we were to have the level of guy most here want, Green and Hardy would never see the light of day.  As I've said before, the team's O-Rating when Josh got 20 minutes or more was 125.6 and the D-Rating was 109.1.  Josh hit 42% of his 3's in those 20 games.  Josh seems to be one of those guys who plays better as his minutes increase.  I suspect I'm not the only one who knows this which is why I think he's getting 18-20 minutes a game this season (and is probably starting if Dinwiddie comes off the bench).  I'm not worried about teams doubling Luka because we don't have another point guard on the floor.  He's got the best vision in the business.  I suspect Green, Bullock, DFS and McGee can competently score on the three remaining defenders.

(10-09-2022, 08:10 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: I'd probably prefer that our injury protection at the position was better than it is.  But, if we were to have the level of guy most here want, Green and Hardy would never see the light of day. 

(10-09-2022, 12:27 PM)omahen Wrote: You stated a specific window from last season. Important fact, which should not be neglected - both Brunson and Luka were available through the whole stretch. Certainly an important factor for the good result.

No argument there.  But, I’m not saying we don’t need two PG’s.  I’m saying the calls that Dallas has to have a third ball handler and getting one was the reason we started winning may not be accurate.  An anchor to that argument is the winning started before the third one showed up.  In fact, basically the same winning percentage the 22 games before the trade with only two ball handlers as the 25 games after the trade with three. 

It turns out as posted a bit later in this thread, Mavs might be targeting a different player for the role all along. 

As for injury protection, I don't believe any of Green, FN or Hardy is capable of running a team offense. Neither is Wood. You are posting plus Green minutes, but those minutes were not with him as primary offense initiator. Greens minutes actually increased after the all star break, but of course THJ was out. 

We don’t have any idea if that is an agent throwing Dallas into the mix to pump up interest or a legitimate story.  Regardless, would Campazzo bump Josh from his minutes?  I don’t think so.  If not, Campazzo is not the “third ball handler”.  He’s the minimum wage third string PG to be used only in case of injury.  I never said Green or FN or Hardy can be our third ball handler (a role I define as a rotation player).  I said if the rotation is done in a certain way, we don’t have to have a third ball handler in our top 9 rotation players when everyone is healthy.

(10-09-2022, 02:12 PM)juanc Wrote: Am I the only one who sees this year as some kind of "transition" year for the Mavs?
- Yes, the Mavs were in the WCF last year, but I think that every single one of us saw, that this team still has long ways to to go until they are real contenders. There still were some big holes/flaws that need to be fixed before this team can make the next step(and get the one ring to rule them all!)

Why am I mentioning the word transition year?
 First of all, after the 2023 draft, the Mavs will have all the picks to trade, and the first real opportunity, after the KP trade, to add a real second star next to Luka. The dream here would be if the Mavs could somehow land a Shai, Brown, Ingram, Bam,...
I think that there are better teams in the west than the Mavs(Dubs and Clippers), yes we have Luka, but both those teams have star power and depth. Why not use this year as a development year for the young guys. Not only is it good that Green and Hardy get better with more playing time, but also their value goes up if they show some progress.

And yes we lost Brunson, but THJ is back, we got Wood and also the Great JaVale
The most important thing IMO is that we haven't lost any defense in the ofseason. We still have Reggie, God King, Maxi, Green/Frank, and also, McGee. Defense still is the most important thing when it come to building a team around Luka and we only got better on that side of the floor.

(10-09-2022, 08:01 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Finally, a good rumor!

Would love Campazzo!