02-10-2024, 11:19 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-10-2024, 11:33 AM by Jakeospikez.)
(02-10-2024, 07:25 AM)omahen Wrote: You made a great summary and as I said before, I totally agree Mavs are better than they were.
However, I remember you saying early in the season, I can't see how Mavs offense can be stopped with Luka/Kyrie/Lively and two shooters. Turns out Mavs offense is as good as it always was, but Mavs defense was so bad that good teams easily scored even more. I don't see Mavs significantly improved in that area.
This last paragraph you posted is why I am not enthusiastic. If Mavs ceiling is a 2nd round exit, how do they improve from here? As you said - going from Green and PJ to a serious upgrade isn't easy. Give it another try and finish with another 2nd round exit? Perhaps even WCF. Kyrie will turn 34 after that.
I don't buy "we got young players (Gafford, PJ) who will keep their value" narrative some have posted. Both PJ and Gafford will be 26 next year and they have been around long enough. I could see Gafford having same value as Mavs paid. But PJ was greatly overpaid for what he is and will have to be considerably better in Dallas to have an almost unprotected FRP value.
I am not interested in being decent. I want rings. I am sure Luka does too.
I don't really think it's that difficult to see where the improvement would come year over year. 2nd round exit is fine this year. young players need to get experience. Lively needs a lot of exp. Lively/Green/PJW/OMax/Exum are all getting better every year. Luka himself is also getting better. Hardy too but I wouldn't include him in the playoff rotation. Mavs have had a bad defense because they've been playing undersized a lot of their games because of injuries (THJ PF?). Defense is much better after getting Maxi back alone. They have actual size now and front court depth. Also defense will improve by young players getting better and kicking THJ out of the rotation or having him only play like 10 bench minutes max for a playoff game. I don't think Mavs need a major starter upgrade but you never know, if any of these young players impress during a playoff run, they could be used in a trade for a bigger piece because playoff performance jacks player values up a lot. I personally don't think a bigger piece is really needed. This lineup is fine just needs experience and for young guys to improve. Imo these TDL moves are much better than dumping Green+OMax+2027 1st for a player like Siakam. Also keeping a team's core together improves the team every year because of chemistry and comfort in a system.