MAVS NEWS: Luka Wins Community Cares Award! | DLive's Mom Passes Away| Maxi OUT

[SleepingHero]

@GrantAfseth
Gatorade announces Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic as their seventh NBA athlete. He joins Michael Jordan, Jayson Tatum, Karl Anthony Towns, Zion Williamson, Damian Lillard, and Jaden Ivey.

[HoosierDaddyKidd]

@GrantAfseth
Gatorade announces Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic as their seventh NBA athlete. He joins Michael Jordan, Jayson Tatum, Karl Anthony Towns, Zion Williamson, Damian Lillard, and Jaden Ivey.

Jaden Ivey. Really?

[MFFL]

@GrantAfseth
Gatorade announces Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic as their seventh NBA athlete.

Our young man is becoming a national icon!

[SleepingHero]

Jaden Ivey. Really?

Pretty funny seeing all those names and then seeing Jaden Ivey there.

[GATA]

I like Ivey’s game

[SleepingHero]

@NBAPR
The NBA today announced Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of April.

Dončić is being recognized for his efforts in providing memorable experiences for youth and uplifting communities.

[SleepingHero]

https://twitter.com/noahweber00/status/1...0297540880

@noahweber00
Dallas Mavericks rookie center Dereck Lively II goes perfect on corner threes before Game 3

Click the video to see DLive. Sheesh man if he can develop a 3pt shot, I shudder to think how fucked the league would be.

[SleepingHero]

Landon Thomas
@sixfivelando
I asked Luka Dončić about the physicality and PJ Washington making the pose and protecting the team.

“Amazing. Amazing. I have nothing else to say. The thing he does. He’s a team player. He helps all of us and I’m just really happy we got him on our team.”

[Chicagojk]

Let’s go!

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4003...est-threat

[Mavs2021]

https://twitter.com/noahweber00/status/1...0297540880

@noahweber00
Dallas Mavericks rookie center Dereck Lively II goes perfect on corner threes before Game 3

Click the video to see DLive. Sheesh man if he can develop a 3pt shot, I shudder to think how fucked the league would be.

Woudl be more fucked if him, Gafford and all the others could learn to punish the opponents with a little short floater. It´s literally there every game after they commit to Luka.

[omahen]

Woudl be more fucked if him, Gafford and all the others could learn to punish the opponents with a little short floater. It´s literally there every game after they commit to Luka.

Totally agree. More important for Mavs centers is to punish smaller players switching on them. This would prevent opponents from going small and just switch PnR. Old school back to the basket center technique

[MaxiThreeba]

Woudl be more fucked if him, Gafford and all the others could learn to punish the opponents with a little short floater. It´s literally there every game after they commit to Luka.

I am still pounding the table for more PJ in the PnR with Gafford/Lively in the dunker spot.  PJ has the push shot.  Can he make that lob pass to the dunker?  Who is going to leave Kyrie alone in the corner to take the dunker when low man has to step up to PJ?  It just creates a completely different set of problems than the 1-5 PnR the Mavs run or the PnR that isn't really a PnR it's just Luka picking which defender he wants to iso against.

You can use an off ball screen to get the defender you want switched onto PJ as well before getting into your 1-4, 2-4 PnR with PJ and Luka/Kyrie.

I still think PJ is the key to creating more conflict and more "easy" possessions for the Mavs.  Gafford and Lively aren't going to develop a push shot in the middle of the playoffs.  PJ already has one and he just needs to make a few of them to completely disrupt how the Clippers want to play the action.

[MFFL]

Article in Forbes about how the Mavs built their defense at a bargain price.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/matissa/202...60f77d68b9

[SleepingHero]

https://streamable.com/2jgjih

Jason Kidd on Dereck Lively: "This young man is only 20 years old and since we got him he's changed the culture here"

[SleepingHero]

@bradtownsend
Jason Kidd says he doesn't know how long Maxi Kleber might be out. When I asked about his concern level, Kidd said, "Next man up."

[KillerLeft]

@bradtownsend
Jason Kidd says he doesn't know how long Maxi Kleber might be out. When I asked about his concern level, Kidd said, "Next man up."

The problem is that there really isn’t a next man for Kleber. He’s unique. We’re either gonna see some Washington at center, or…Morrris? Obviously, the plan will be to split the center minutes between Gafford and Lively (and thank goodness that has a plausible chance of working), but the OKC spacing will be better than LAC’s. I really think a lineup of similarly sized, switchable front court defenders is going to be needed at some point.

…if only O-Max was ready.

[SleepingHero]

The problem is that there really isn’t a next man for Kleber. He’s unique. We’re either gonna see some Washington at center, or…Morrris? Obviously, the plan will be to split the center minutes between Gafford and Lively (and thank goodness that has a plausible chance of working), but the OKC spacing will be better than LAC’s. I really think a lineup of similarly sized, switchable front court defenders is going to be needed at some point.

…if only O-Max was ready.

One thing different here is that the Thunder are really small. Outside of Chet their next biggest guy in their lineup is Giddey who is 6'7. If the Mavs can use their size and physicality, OKC might have a tough time existing in the paint. 

Kleber is special though. Hopefully he's okay after almost a week of rest.

[KillerLeft]

One thing different here is that the Thunder are really small. Outside of Chet their next biggest guy in their lineup is Giddey who is 6'7. If the Mavs can use their size and physicality, OKC might have a tough time existing in the paint. 

Kleber is special though. Hopefully he's okay after almost a week of rest.

Totally agree that the Mavericks should look, primarily, to exploit their size and toughness advantage in the paint against OKC. However, the pick and pop with Chet is a tool with which the Thunder can exploit Gafford and Lively.

I’m not saying that will always be successful, or that the Mavs will reach a point where they don’t feel they have anyone to play center, but in a seven game series against a good team with the ability to extend their center position to the perimeter, I am pretty confident that Kleber will be missed at some point.

[SleepingHero]

@espn_macmahon
Mavs PF/C Maxi Kleber will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of his right shoulder sprain, source says. Kleber is a key defender who shot 10-of-18 on 3s in the first round vs. Clippers.

[mvossman]

Totally agree that the Mavericks should look, primarily, to exploit their size and toughness advantage in the paint against OKC. However, the pick and pop with Chet is a tool with which the Thunder can exploit Gafford and Lively.

I’m not saying that will always be successful, or that the Mavs will reach a point where they don’t feel they have anyone to play center, but in a seven game series against a good team with the ability to extend their center position to the perimeter, I am pretty confident that Kleber will be missed at some point.

Agree with all, which is why I think they should really consider starting Lively.  His quickness advantage over Gafford will be really important in this series, especially if no Maxi.  Let Gafford dominate the second unit.