GAME 7: ORL (2-6) @ DAL (5-2) | 107-106 win

[TheSportyChannel]

Bad move by RC to bench Curry for three quarters and then ask him to shoot clutch free throws. Not cool.

Rick Carlisle needs to realize he's not above Luka or Porzingis. Finally we have a team where the player is greater than the coach. That was just a plain rookie move by a veteran coach

[DirkFan9]

Orlando was dumb there. They were only down 1 and shoot a 3.

They could’ve won the game if Vuc posted up. That’s why big men should still post up instead of shooting 3s. Its an asset if they have the range but they should know when to shoot the 3 and when to take it inside.

[SportPsychMav]

Thank God Orlando can't hit from 3 point range. Fultz shot is really messy.

Jonathan Isaac had a great game but Luka made the same pass multiple times which Isaac stole multiple times.

Well glad I can enjoy a win after spending my night watching this.

[903Mavs]

One last point...
What a difference From the recent past...
On a Wes Matthews-led Mavs squad, this would have been a glorious job of near tank commanding.
Now, it just feels gross.
But in fairness, when you play 82, you’re going to have a couple of these

[j0Shi]

Bullets:

• This is what you call a bad win. Mavs played a team on a b2b with two days rest, worst offense vs. best one. Yet they did all they can to give this one away and nearly did.
  
• Could we please get a solid start for once? Starters did all they can do to get a bad team going: Turnovers and bricks, so Magic can get into transition. Resulted in an ugly first quarter.
  
• Magic were really able to bother Luka. They let him drive into the paint, but then both took away the layup and close his usual passing lanes to the corners. A job well done, but Doncic is the kind of player that should be able to adjust, and he did with a massive third. Just took the floaters they were allowing him.
  
• KP struggled as well and him getting better looks is an ongoing project. I sort of lost hope that there is an easy short-term solution. But also all hail to Isaac. He's a good defender and pretty much owned KP. Not a fan of going to that matchup late when it was clearly not working for Mavs.
  
• We knew the Magic would score 100 for the first time this season, right? They obviously can't beat you with shooting, but did all the other basic things better: Outhustled and outworked Dallas in the paint, got in transition. They also have a really, really good defense.
  
• Justin Jackson was what the doctor ordered in the first. He and the second unit, per usual, cleaned up the mess the starters left behind.
  
• JJB spark plug is back! He had some luck, but also single-handedly prevented the Mavs from an bigger hole at the half. I just hope he won't start getting regular minutes from Brunson. That said, Brunson stunk tonight.
  
• Kleber underrated contributor. He had some key plays, hit his free throws. Solid.
  
• DFS another clutch 3, key rebound, drew a charge on Gordon late.
  
• SETH ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
  
• Our rotations are starting to annoy me. Not particular players, but at some point we at least should have a set rotation so guys can really get comfortable with each other. I get that Carlisle was searching for something to work once more today, but Brunson, Wright, and Seth getting a combined 26 minutes is crap. All are key pieces and if they'll suck, we are going to suck.
  
• Luka will hit someone on the head eventually with his fun "throw it in the air as high as you can" attempts after a whistle.
  

[SportPsychMav]

I don't like RC's rotations at all. DP doesn't deserved 34 minutes to Maxi's 20. THJ doesn't deserved 26 minutes while Brunson, Curry and Wright combined for 26 minutes.

Brunson got dogged because he isn't stopping his hero ball antics. Hardaway Jr had his best game this season, not many mistakes to be honest. 

Carlisle went with the bigger players beside jj who had a great game.

[Kammrath]

Brunson, Wright, and Seth getting a combined 26 minutes is crap.

[SleepingHero]

Mavs 80% from the FT line tonight. Was pivotal them hitting their FT's.

[jesusshuttlesworth82]

I don't like RC's rotations at all. DP doesn't deserved 34 minutes to Maxi's 20. THJ doesn't deserved 26 minutes while Brunson, Curry and Wright combined for 26 minutes.

Yeah, that was wack.  Mavs were struggling offensively early so he went to Powell and THJ.  Then it seems like he forgot for the rest of the game that we have better players on the roster.

[Mavs2019]

I don't like RC's rotations at all. DP doesn't deserved 34 minutes to Maxi's 20. THJ doesn't deserved 26 minutes while Brunson, Curry and Wright combined for 26 minutes.

The problem is we have a lot of players of similar quality, and there will likely always be 1-2 that are "hot" every night , but you need a few minutes to figure out who the guys are on any given night. Would be a littler simpler to have a reliable 3rd "star".

At least now we have all these player contracts in various sizes that we can at least legally construct every trade, whether it´s a 10M, 20M, 30M or 40M dollar contract coming the other way.

[omahen]

THJ is getting too many minutes. Brunson and Curry need those minutes

I really wish this hater posts against Powell and THJ would tone down a bit. THJ was actually one of better players tonight with a team highest +-. Powell also had a good game. It was obvious RC pulled small guys out of rotation after the rebounding issues in the first minutes (so no Brunson and Curry). Barea was in as a surprise shock and it worked. 

Isaac killed KP who was worst player on the floor for Mavs, taking into account the salary. It is getting obvious he has problems against smaller athletic players as he has 0 post game. But he is keeping opposing defense very honest just by his presence, which is making much more room for Luka and other guys. Despite his bad individual performance, his presence means a lot.

Luka won the game despite really bad decision making in the last two minutes - he should have shared a ball a bit more in that time. 

Orlando plays very tough, but has horrible offense. Toughest team Mavs played so far this season. They will not be just a walkover team as obviously some of you thought. This team made play offs last season...

Good win for Mavs.

[BigDirk41]

The way I look at it is Brunson, Wright and Curry are a big part of the future here. THJ isn't and will be traded before his contract expires. They need their minutes and they need to get comfortable in their roles.

[omahen]

The way I look at it is Brunson, Wright and Curry are a big part of the future here. THJ isn't and will be traded before his contract expires. They need their minutes and they need to get comfortable in their roles.

THJ has his qualities and his weaknesses. He is trying, you can't say he is not trying to give his best. He makes occasional stupid plays, but all in all he was a positive contributor and deserved his minutes tonight. You need to showcase him a bit if you want to get some value when trading him.

[BigDirk41]

Maybe I came off wrong in my wording. I don't hate THJ and I especially don't hate DP. I didn't like DP got 14 more minutes than Maxi. I think they should get pretty even minutes. As far as THJ I agree with everything you said about THJ, but I do want Curry, Wright and Brunson to get their minutes. I guess the real issue is the amount of depth and options RC has. That's a good problem to have. THJ does frustrate me at times, but he does make some good plays too. He's just very unpredictable.

[Mak]

The way I look at it is Brunson, Wright and Curry are a big part of the future here. THJ isn't and will be traded before his contract expires. They need their minutes and they need to get comfortable in their roles.

I guess curry could technically be part of the future here but I think folks are way too hyped about him as *the* answer at shooting guard. He’s going to be a niche roleplayer off the bench and we should be happy if he can become consistent and remain healthy in that role. He’s a helluva weapon to have in the arsenal. 

I’ve got high hopes for Wright. Agree he should have a more consistent, sizable role in the rotation. Hopefully his current role is at least partly due to the need to ‘showcase’ a guy like THJ and whatnot. 

Brunson could go either way as far as the future goes. I’d pencil him as part of the future core simply due to his age for now but I could also see the Mavs moving on from him relatively easily given the right opportunity coming along. Luka is the long term PG of this team, which essentially automatically makes any other PG on the roster much less valuable to dallas.

[Fuerza1]

The way I look at it is Brunson, Wright and Curry are a big part of the future here. THJ isn't and will be traded before his contract expires. They need their minutes and they need to get comfortable in their roles.

Why not? THJ is younger than Curry and same age as Wright. I agree Brunson needs way more minutes (along with JJax) but THJ has earned his minutes so far this season.

[BigDirk41]

Mavs signed Curry to a 4/32 contract meaning they plan on him being part of the future. He was also here in the past. THJ won't be here long term. That's more of my concern. I agree Jackson needs more minutes too. We'll just agree to disagree that THJ has earned his minutes. He's a volume shooter. Any of the players mentioned can do better than what he is doing if they have the green light to bomb away.

[903Mavs]

I think the frustration with THJ is that if he would show even a little discretion with shot selection, he could be an exceptional player. It’s frustrating to watch a player with so many tools be so self-destructive.
I know all players have their warts, but his appear to be completely correctable, but he seems unwilling to play within himself

[jesusshuttlesworth82]

The way I look at it is Brunson, Wright and Curry are a big part of the future here. THJ isn't and will be traded before his contract expires. They need their minutes and they need to get comfortable in their roles.

Why not? THJ is younger than Curry and same age as Wright. I agree Brunson needs way more minutes (along with JJax) but THJ has earned his minutes so far this season.

LOL WAT

He's shooting 37% from the field this season and he's a bad defender.  He's an offensive specialist with a PER of 10.  (although I'll grant he had a couple of huge defensive plays tonight)  He's one of the most garbage players in the league.

[Fuerza1]

Isaac stuffed Porzingis into his locker and took his lunch money. Then slapped him for the hell of it. What a defensive clinic he put on tonight. His statline was pretty crazy too if y'all take a look. 

The day he leaves ORL, he's going to make a championship caliber team very happy. Hopefully it's us.