(10-27-2025, 10:29 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: You can kind of see what he’s trying to do if you look at the game flows on popcorn machine.  Forget the first few minutes of each half where the starters are in.  That’s just window dressing.  Once the substitutions start, he is pairing Lively with Flagg and AD with PJ.  The first two games, he left AD/PJ in longer (or would have if not for PJ foul trouble) and let Flagg/Lively get a quick blow and come back a few minutes later.  In this game, he took AD/PJ out first and let Lively/Flagg get a few minutes with the subs before taking them out and bringing AD/PJ back in.  

It isn’t a perfect platoon as he eventually wants to end halves with PJ/AD and Flagg (Lively appears to be the odd man out to end halves so far). Part of what worked well last night was the Lively/Flagg with the subs time when AD/PJ sat.  I like leaving Flagg/Lively in longer because Flagg defers less (and the team runs more) when AD sits.  There was a nice run in the first quarter and especially in the third with this set up.

Klay is a starter in name only.  Kidd does this with someone every year.  Christie is clearly the closer and Klay’s minutes are used to set up where he wants Christie.

Marshall and DLo are the 7th/8th men and Kidd is using the 9th spot in the rotation to give people some spot minutes.  He’s done this in the past also.  It is really an 8 man rotation right now, but he can get two more guys some run in the 9th spot.  So far, it has been slightly different guys each time.

I’m not sure what happens to Klay/Christie when Kyrie returns.  And, the ability to play AD significant minutes at the five dries up when Gafford is healthy.  Of course, there is no telling who else might be hurt by the time those things happen.

(10-27-2025, 11:21 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: My whole thing is AD has to move better.  I know most think he is a center, but he needs to be able to play PF minutes.   Or else, there are just too many moving parts needed to make this team good in the next year or two.  Lively (if healthy) is just way too good to play only 20 minutes a night.  I think how he plays and injuries that 30 minutes is too much, but 26-28 minutes sound right.  More importantly, those minutes have to be important minutes.  He impacts games.   Gafford is probably expendable, but he is a good player and he needs minutes as well.  We will see how clunky it looks when he returns.

The first glipse of Cooper and PJ continued devleopment is really promising.   It will be interesting to see if Marshall can also fill in here.  If so, you have two large wings who can do a lot of stuff on a basketball court at all times.   Even with Kyrie, they are a creator or two away imo.    Max looks good. He won't hit such a high percentage all year but it will be interesting to see if he impacts games when he is off.  He is the type of role where he may get 20 or he may get 4.   He needs to find a way to be a factor when he is not scoring.   Maybe one of those creators is Dlo, but I am guess I am thinking future.   Add 1-2 good sized creators and you start seeing something.  Of course, AD will be a year or two older by then.   

It is not a good team now.  I can see a route, but first your best player has to look better.  His stats are fine (even good) but he does not feel like a top 15 player now.   He needs to get there if this team has any chance to make waves over the next few seasons.

(10-07-2025, 07:46 PM)Smitty Wrote: I know I’ve said it a lot the past 2-3 years, but Hardy is not an NBA-level player. The THJ-lite nickname I gave him his probably being generous. Nico missed on that one in the draft and doubled down with a bad contract.

I thought PJ was clearly one of the best 5 yesterday. Right now, today, he’s better than Flagg.

I also thought Max was and is better than Klay.

AD looked slower than I remember him being. Maybe he wasn’t giving 100% because it’s preseason, but he’ll need to show more if he’s going to play 95% of his minutes at the 4.

I think this board, Mavs X, and other outlets don’t appreciate and understand just how good DLO will be for this team. Especially with no Kyrie.

I will reiterate that the closing 5 couldn’t be more obvious without Kai… DLO-Max-Flagg-PJ-AD.

(10-28-2025, 10:25 AM)Smitty Wrote: One week into the season and these opinions haven't changed. Hardy did provide a spark last night, but his game is still meh. The problem I have is trying to envision what this team will actually look like at full strength. We've talked all offseason about the double Big roster construction and still have yet to see it for more than 10 minutes in any game because Gafford is out. From what I've seen so far, it feels like AD getting most of his minutes at the 4 will be even worse.

However, they are getting killed on the boards and points in the paint, so in theory it might look uglier from a viewing perspective, but actually more effective when it comes to wins and losses. I think on paper we all expected them to control the inside game but haven't had their "Twin Towers" roster to see how it stacks up.

So far, they've been outrebounded 196-170 and losing the points in the paint battle 234-180. You'd think that means they've been more of an outside shooting team, but they had 34.2 3PT attempts per game last season (36.4%) compared to just 30.0 3PT attempts (34.2%) so far this year. I don't see the outside shooting improving when all 3 of AD, Lively, and Gafford are healthy. Maybe it can work when Kyrie is part of the puzzle, but it's difficult to see the vision right now.

Overall, I think the Mavs missed an opportunity to get a win against Wizards, so they should be 2-2 IMO. I think this season will be a grind, for the players and fans...

(10-28-2025, 10:43 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: It is pretty telling Hardy is getting some run....yes we are shorthanded.  I think Kidd feels the same way we do.  We need some juice on offense.   Because of this he is willing to overlook the weaknesses of his game hoping he can have a 15 point quarter.   There are least twice a game where this team gets into a major funk.  Usually in the second quarter and once in the second half.   If they can limit these or have something they can go to that makes this a 3 minute cold streak and not 5, that would really help.  It is just a killer when they go 5 minutes and hardly score.  Tough to win against good teams like that.

(10-28-2025, 10:25 AM)Smitty Wrote: One week into the season and these opinions haven't changed. Hardy did provide a spark last night, but his game is still meh. The problem I have is trying to envision what this team will actually look like at full strength. We've talked all offseason about the double Big roster construction and still have yet to see it for more than 10 minutes in any game because Gafford is out. From what I've seen so far, it feels like AD getting most of his minutes at the 4 will be even worse.

However, they are getting killed on the boards and points in the paint, so in theory it might look uglier from a viewing perspective, but actually more effective when it comes to wins and losses. I think on paper we all expected them to control the inside game but haven't had their "Twin Towers" roster to see how it stacks up.

So far, they've been outrebounded 196-170 and losing the points in the paint battle 234-180. You'd think that means they've been more of an outside shooting team, but they had 34.2 3PT attempts per game last season (36.4%) compared to just 30.0 3PT attempts (34.2%) so far this year. I don't see the outside shooting improving when all 3 of AD, Lively, and Gafford are healthy. Maybe it can work when Kyrie is part of the puzzle, but it's difficult to see the vision right now.

Overall, I think the Mavs missed an opportunity to get a win against Wizards, so they should be 2-2 IMO. I think this season will be a grind, for the players and fans...

(10-28-2025, 04:13 PM)Kidnova Wrote: Mavericks seek legal ruling against Stars as ongoing arena feud reaches boiling point

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2025/10/28/mavericks-stars-arena-legal-ruling-aac/#:~:text=The%20Mavericks%20allege%20the%20Stars,improvements%20to%20American%20Airlines%20Center.

(10-28-2025, 05:27 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: https://x.com/ronknowssports/status/1983295079042429205?s=61

Reason for Williams not with the team the last two games?

(10-28-2025, 05:38 PM)Smitty Wrote: @RonKnowsSports
Williams was arrested shortly after 10 AM Saturday, according to the incident report, and charged with possession of <2 oz. of marijuana. He had been granted weekend leave by the team and listed as out due to personal reasons for Dallas’ last two games.More soon via @DLLS_Sports

(10-28-2025, 05:27 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: https://x.com/ronknowssports/status/1983295079042429205?s=61

Reason for Williams not with the team the last two games?

(10-28-2025, 06:21 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: LMAO

Why was he even at the airport?  The team has been at home. 

How do you get arrested with marijuana at the airport unless you're taking it through security?

(10-28-2025, 05:35 PM)Smitty Wrote: Mavs injury report:

Anthony Davis: probable (bilateral Achilles tendinopathy)
Daniel Gafford: doubtful (right ankle sprain)
Dereck Lively II: doubtful (right knee sprain)
Brandon Williams: questionable (personal reasons)


Note that Lively is now listed as having a right knee sprain. Not a bruise. Not good.