(07-09-2022, 03:15 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Also, I’m not sure it’s a given that Wood will be an upgrade to Brunson in the wash.

(07-09-2022, 03:23 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Agree with this, and agree that it needed improvement. 

I don’t think rebounding is important enough to justify rethinking the team’s style of play, however, and imo, getting to the WCF while not prioritizing it at all supports that. To be clear, I’m not suggesting that their lack of rebounding was WHY they advanced, just that the things they prioritized ahead of it via play style were ultimately more important. I do agree that better rebounding (without having to sacrifice in other areas) would be a plus.

(07-09-2022, 03:25 PM)Kammrath Wrote: AND I thought SD had a very diminished role in the playoffs because there wasn't enough ball to go around.

(07-09-2022, 03:29 PM)cow Wrote: Further, I still think our offensive playstyle needed tweaking.  With Luka, JB and Dinwiddie, it was always a game of "my turn, your turn".  I'm not sure the roster gets the team to where I'd like to see them but I'm really curious what Luka looks like with Wood.  Is he the Amar'e approximation that a lot of us have pined for?

(07-09-2022, 03:42 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I agree with the “turns” point. @"ItsGoTime" and I have had that conversation a lot recently. We all agree that it needs to change, but I don’t see how DECREASING the number of competent ball-handlers helps with that. I think that issue was caused by Luka and Brunson both being ball-stoppers by CHOICE, probably through inexperience. 

Donnie said it before his last year, and Kidd has said it about 10 times since: Luka needs to get out of “me against the world” mentality and start moving the ball earlier in most possessions. I see this as part of the journey for pretty much any young phenom, not the result of bad offensive design.

I DO agree that adding the Luka/Wood element will help a ton, if their chemistry is natural and they work at it. 

Again, I just lived for two weeks in a world where (I thought) both Wood and Brunson were going to be Mavericks. Rational or not, I’m going to be in mourning until they give me something that helps me let go of that. I’m sure the line for that is different from person to person. If this is the roster, I’m not there yet.

(07-09-2022, 03:29 PM)cow Wrote: My hope is that Luka's rebounding stats take a nose dive this year.  That should help him save energy for more important aspects of his game (defensive consistency and of course offense).  

Further, I still think our offensive playstyle needed tweaking.  With Luka, JB and Dinwiddie, it was always a game of "my turn, your turn".  I'm not sure the roster gets the team to where I'd like to see them but I'm really curious what Luka looks like with Wood.  Is he the Amar'e approximation that a lot of us have pined for?

(07-09-2022, 03:05 PM)Kammrath Wrote: 1) 8th man by committee isn't ideal...but if the Mavs are forced to take this team into the season there is a chance that FN, JG, or JH could make a leap where you can count on them. And it is possible with a full year in the system that DB could find a real home. I personally think that is a very real possibility. 

2) Trading CW for JB is an upgrade to what the Mavs need in the playoffs around Luka. I really came around on JB, but repeatedly said even after his jump in the playoffs that he and Luka do NOT maximize each other. I think Luka and CW have a chance to be "sum is greater than the parts" which is exciting. I also think having THJ and his shooting on top of that is a huge step. So if the Mavs go into the playoffs with the roster as is I think they have a chance to be better and stronger than last year (of course you still need the right breaks around you to get to the WCF).

(07-09-2022, 03:42 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Again, I just lived for two weeks in a world where (I thought) both Wood and Brunson were going to be Mavericks. Rational or not, I’m going to be in mourning until they give me something that helps me let go of that. I’m sure the line for that is different from person to person. If this is the roster, I’m not there yet.

(07-09-2022, 02:24 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Just a reminder that McGee was benched in favor of Biyombo last season, during a series that we here all watched closely. Valuable tool, yes. Good addition, also yes. 

Someone I want to be counted among my TOP 8 players? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

(07-09-2022, 05:05 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: Suns fans were lamenting Monty for that decision. Mavs were getting destroyed by McGee the first 3 games and for whatever reason Monty never went back to McGee.

Look at how they reacted to losing McGee. He's totally fine as a top 8 player and should be fine playing in a playoff game.

(07-09-2022, 05:05 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: Suns fans were lamenting Monty for that decision. Mavs were getting destroyed by McGee the first 3 games and for whatever reason Monty never went back to McGee.

Look at how they reacted to losing McGee. He's totally fine as a top 8 player and should be fine playing in a playoff game.

(07-09-2022, 05:37 PM)cow Wrote: We started Powell and had Bertans in the rotation as a big and McGee can't crack our top 8?  I'm just really confused by KL on this.

(07-09-2022, 06:12 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I don’t think McGee represents very much of a positive change from Powell in some crucial areas. In some areas, sure. I’m also not sure he even plays in front of Powell against some potential playoff opponents. 

For me, the goal would have been:

1) Adding Wood and all of the benefits there we’ve discussed. Another rotation mainstay who brings more skill to the table. 

2) Adding another playoff rotation wing or a forward so that they have the FLEXIBILITY to choose only to play Wood and Kleber in games that call for that approach. 

3) upgrade the 3rd Big from Powell to someone like McGee to be used only in situations that call for it. Honestly, I would’ve been fine with Powell in this role for one more season.

If they had done #2 (still might) I’d be fine with adding McGee. Even just retaining Brunson would’ve kinda/sorta made THJ that guy (though I was hoping for Brunson AND a wing addition).

(07-09-2022, 06:26 PM)cow Wrote: Powell was largely unplayable in the playoffs but we were forced to play him and Bertans.  McGee is a much better shot blocking threat, will be just as good of a lob threat if not better, has a better offensive game and as hell of a lot better rebounder.  Powell doesn't offer much over McGee with the exception of better movement on defense (perimeter).  Flexibility is exactly what Wood and McGee give the rotation as they offer skillsets not found in our current big men. 

(07-09-2022, 06:41 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Yeah, I just disagree with so much here. I like McGee but I do not think he’ll be any more effective as a vertical spacer than Powell, particularly in the playoffs. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see on that. 

Yes, he’s a better rim protector and a MUCH better rebounder (who wouldn’t be) than Powell, but my personal belief is that neither of those things are as important as the top-notch, feet-moving, switchable TEAM defense that Powell played. 

Powell wasn’t short on minutes in the playoffs because of defense or rebounding, it was because of him being exposed (at that level) on offense, imho. To stay on the court at that point, you kind of need to occupy a defender, and when defenses get to the level where they can take the roll option away WITHOUT giving up a pass-out look (the warriors were so good they could accomplish this BEFORE the screen, even) guys like Powell who can’t shoot or handle the ball on the short roll are pretty much cooked. I see no reason to believe McGee will be any more useable in that end-of-the-season situation.

(07-09-2022, 07:06 PM)cow Wrote: There will be bad matchups for McGee but with a rotation of four big men with varying skillset, the hope should be that we can plug someone in for productive minutes.  Flexibility.

(07-09-2022, 07:22 PM)IamDougieFresh Wrote: I’d like to announce publicly that I will be change my title from “#1 Dwight hater” to “#1 JaVale hater” as soon as Dwight is out of here. I have foreseen JaVale’s shitness.

(07-09-2022, 07:24 PM)KillerLeft Wrote:  Not the end of the world, we’ll always have DFS.

(07-09-2022, 07:30 PM)Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo Wrote: Four?
Wood, Maxi, McGee and who? DP?