(10-31-2025, 04:24 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I think you were the one who posted his on/off impact earlier on this very page. When you have a player this impactful, you wait and let him figure out how to play a full season. This board seems to believe that health only decreases over time, but with certain types of players who are as young as lively, I submit that it can actually improve. See Tyson Chandler, Marcus Camby, etc. I just don’t think you give up on him at this point, nor do I think it should even be crossing our minds.

Now, that doesn’t mean you give him a huge contract, but there’s a world in which he doesn’t command one from any team and that might play in the Mavericks’ favor, long term. 

For now, we just watch. Of the four qualified centers on this team, he is the one I would trade last.

(10-31-2025, 06:13 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: Davis out at least two games with a calf sprain.  Seems like we had another calf sprain last year

(10-31-2025, 06:13 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: Davis out at least two games with a calf sprain.  Seems like we had another calf sprain last year

(10-31-2025, 08:29 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: #3 would be worst case for me.  Sure, I understand of the dreams of getting a top 5 pick, but there is a ton of risk there.  Yes, you could get a high pick but man does it really complicates things.

I am taking  wait and see on this season and will not get too frustrated..outside of injury.   I want to take a 20 game portrait and then will probably do it again at game 50.   Right now with the toughness of west and the awkwardness of the early Mavs, I think #2 is most likely.   So that probably gets you a top 15 pick anyway.   You can find a good player there.   OKC found J. Williams in that range.   I think it would also make it really hard to bring back Nico.  

I am rooting for #1.  I can't see myself rooting for a tank outside of the last month.   Unless a big injury run hits.   On the same side, I will not be despondent if they don't win games.

(11-01-2025, 06:49 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: We are just 6-7 ( ) into the season but another reason I think #2 is the most likely ending is watching teams like Memphis and Portland.  Neither are contenders, but they will battle and get some wins.   40-45 wins maybe.   I am not sure the Mavs are better than either.    I think they have the higher ceiling, but so far you can't be very impressed by the Mavs start.   I think only Kings, Pelicans (who have some of the similar issues as the Mavs) and Suns are the clear floor of the west.   I am not sure I can confidently put the Mavs over anyone else in the west in the early season.

Also, what is with the lack of info on injuries?  I get it, they don't like giving info out.  I just feel like after last year, the Mavs should really try to be as transparent as possible.   Although, I guess they are busy in a lawsuit with the Stars

(11-01-2025, 02:33 PM)omahen Wrote: I think Utah will also be at the bottom of the West with Pels, Suns and Kings, but otherwise it will be a bloodbath. Portland is an early positive surprise. They have a bunch of good defenders and their lineups are clicking really well early. San Antonio also made a big step forward, as long as Wemby can stay healthy. 

New Orleans are perhaps worst run franchise in the league. Giving up an unprotected FRP to move up a couple of spots in the draft should be a firing offense. Especially since the player they liked so much isn't really any factor, barely cracking the rotation. They are 0-5 even though they are fully healthy, a luxury they can't count upon with Zions injury history. Atlanta must really be smiling no matter how their season will go, as it looks like they will have a very, very good draft pick next year. Not ulikely it even ends in top 5. 

Sacramento is another royal mess. Their team makes zero sense for modern NBA. A bunch of offensive bettas that can't play defense. It must really suck to be their fan, if there are any left after decades of suffering. 

Phoenix screwed up their big all in move and put themselves in a situation where tanking doesn't make sense as they don't control their picks, but they simply don't have anything left to build a competent team. Unless they strike some gold late in the draft, they are up for years of suffering. 

Other observations early in the season. Minny seems stuck. They are good but not contender level good enough. They desperately need a competent PG as Conley age finally caught up with him and they didn't strike with Dillingham (so far). Gobert started the season looking as one of the worst contracts in the league. They have a young star that is still improving, they have solid pieces in Randle, McDaniels, DiVinzenzo and Reid, however everything else looks meh and they don't have the assets to significantly improve. I think they can have a solid regular season, but I think their ceiling is low. 

Clippers are deep but very, very old. Similar could be said about GSW. I think it is inevitable that they will face injuries and we will see how they will be able to navigate through season then. Memphis is also sort of stuck, but they do have a bunch of draft assets to improve around Ja and JJJ, who are still only 26 years old.

(11-01-2025, 04:04 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: The Lively injury (whatever it is) has really hit me hard. 

(11-01-2025, 06:13 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: There has been so little news about it, I don't even know whether or not it has hit me hard yet.

(11-01-2025, 08:15 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: Is it bad I'm hoping that AD lives up to his reputation this year and is out for 50+ games?

A top 3 pick to pair with Flagg this year would be incredible. Peterson on Kansas looks amazing.

(11-01-2025, 07:58 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: https://x.com/mikeacurtis2/status/1984784971370741955?s=61

(11-01-2025, 09:22 PM)Jym Wrote: A lottery pick and a fired Nico seems like a successful season to me