(10-24-2025, 08:16 AM)vfromlmf Wrote: Well...I just rewatched the game and there is legit reason for optimism.

First, Flagg was really really bad. Badly missed shots including several that were either blocked or had no chance, catastrophic turnovers, fouled a 3pts shooter. Seems like all of those plays resulted in Spurs runouts. Turned his back to a wide open Klay in the corner, drives to nowhere, bad reads. He was way worse than his first preseason game. The good news is he might not play this poorly again in his life.

Lively changed Wemby's game when he was on the floor. This thing will look a lot better if he just plays smarter. Gafford's size and strength were missed. You can't judge the defense when fouls forced them to play AD or Powell at 5 with Naji at 4.

AD missed shots he normally makes.

PJW's 3pt shot looks much improved---and one of those early fouls was pretty questionable.

Spurs built their lead at the end of the first half against a lineup that featured only two starters. Klay and Flagg. Klay got some heat in the post game analysis but if we're being honest, Flagg sold hard.

The offense was HISTORICALLY bad. Terrible shots and turnovers. They won't have a strong pick & roll handler until Kyrie returns, so we can expect see plenty of center DHOs in the interim, but they'll be better than they were against SA.

Kyrie could return around Thanksgiving?!

(10-24-2025, 07:41 AM)From Dirk to SCREW YOU Nico Wrote: 2. This starting lineup was designed to stop or at least slow down someone like Wemby. He ran through them like Swiss cheese. Combination of him becoming a top 3 player in the league and this defense being terrible.

(10-24-2025, 09:03 AM)Smitty Wrote: The starting 5 played a whopping 6 minutes together in that game. ORTG 107.1 DRTG 107.1 NETRTG 0.0

Kidd only ever plays the staring five 10-12 minutes per game during the regular season. It's something I've highlighted several times. It's why I don't care as much as some do with who starts and who doesn't. Only 6 minutes in Game 1 is an outlier because of foul trouble, but either way, we put too much emphasis on starting lineups around here.

I said in the offseason that I think the best lineup and the closing 5 should be DLO-Max-Flagg-PJ-AD. 
That combination was never used but the lineup with the highest NETRTG was DLO-Max-Naji-PJ-AD.

Obviously, this is all small sample size stuff but wanted to respond to the above.

(10-24-2025, 10:35 AM)mvossman Wrote: The issue is less about the starting lineup and more about playing without a true point guard. 

My reply was directly related to the OP about the starting lineup.

Sticking with the small sample analysis, the two players with the highest net rating are Dlo and Nembhard.  As flawed as our PGs are, I don't think playing without a PG is going to work,

I agree that they'll look better with a PG on the floor, that's why I said their best lineup is likely to include DLO.

and I don't think its doing anything positive for Flagg right now either.

It's one game. Way too early for me to have a firm opinion on if having him run the offense for 10-12 minutes a game, or more, will help or hurt his development. I think it helped Giannis become the player he is. I also think many basketball people think a good comp for Flagg is Tatum. Time will tell...

(10-25-2025, 01:41 AM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46716877/mavs-drop-0-2-fire-nico-chants-grow-louder-dallas

Mavs drop to 0-2 as 'Fire Nico!' chants grow louder in Dallas
Tim McMahon

(10-20-2025, 03:53 PM)F Gump Wrote: If the question becomes "we have too many good guards" then is that a problem? 

On whether Flagg can do the job of PG - it's not going to look like the way Luka plays it, but this is stuff Flagg has been doing since he was 15. 

The main question for the offense imo will be shot selection and whether they can hit the good shots when they get them (because I think they will get great shots all the time, if they work at it).

(10-25-2025, 08:28 AM)vfromlmf Wrote: I just listened to Kidd’s postgame. Sounds like he thinks the answer might be to play Hardy more. You know, the guy they tried to trade but couldn’t.

So … I say let’s do it! It makes no sense to wait until January. Bring on the tank commanders. And Fire Nico!

(10-25-2025, 09:20 AM)vfromlmf Wrote: I don’t know how you watch the playoffs last year a surmise a winning formula is to play without a lead ball handler. I realize I’m just beating a dead horse—but good teams play at least TWO creators.

The other story is the Mavs supposed answer is emulating Sacramento—a team that didn’t even MAKE the playoffs.

Teams will never come out and say they’re tanking but it feels like the tank is already on.

(10-25-2025, 09:25 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I don’t think they’re tanking, sadly. I think they’re wanting to play a style that won’t work, and they stubbornly believe it will.

(10-25-2025, 11:39 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: @MavsFilmRoom
Through two games the Mavericks have the WORST offensive rating in the NBA at 95.2.

The Hawks, who are 29th, have an ORTG of 107, a whole 12 points per 100 possessions better than the Mavs.

The Mavs -20.6 net rating is the worst in the NBA.

(10-25-2025, 11:33 AM)mvossman Wrote: I'm not sure what they are doing.  There is a part of me that thinks Kidd is playing some kind of power game.  He is not above things like that.  I don't know if he is making a point, displaying frustration with the roster or actively trying to get Nico fired, but its hard to believe he thinks it makes sense to play this many minutes without a PG on the floor.

(10-25-2025, 11:51 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: It is something to watch.   I find it hard to believe Kidd was not privy to the trade discussions.  Luka certainly thinks he was, but maybe he wasn't or wasn't involved in the final negotiations?  Regardless, the Knicks thing this summer after winning the lottery were really weird.  Maybe it was a play for an extension, but it appears there was real interest there.  Was it just because it was NYC and a good team or something else?   

I know one thing, I am sure there was a ton of angst that Kidd had to answer all the Luka questions after the trade, while Nico went into hiding.   That would of pissed me off if I was Kidd.

Was Kidd not on board with Russell?  Kidd seems to view him as a shooting guard.  The comments last night about lack of point guard and Russell playing second half sort of feels like a message is trying to be sent.   It just feels like something is there.   More than just having the players figure things out by failing.