Game 67: Dallas Mavericks (22-44) vs Cleveland Cavs (40-26) | 6:30 CST | Prime Video

[Smitty]

   

[cow]

We did it! 

Your thread felt lonely, @smitty

[FireNicoHarrison]

I don't remember a such no emotional pre games like this year... And we have one of the best talent in the league.

Harrison took our souls. Damn.

Is the AAC full every game? What is the atmosphere like during the matches?

[Chicagojk]

He is 19 but Cooper is developing a habit of having the ball stick with him too much. When he plays with a point, it is better. Playing by feel is much better. With his age and the constant roster shuffle it is probably hard to play on feel. Still though, he holds the ball too much.

This summer he really needs to work on being ready to shoot a three. He passes up some good shots and typically takes more difficult threes.

[F Gump]

He is 19 but Cooper is developing a habit of having the ball stick with him too much.  When he plays with a point, it is better.  Playing by feel is much better.  With his age and the constant roster shuffle it is probably hard to play on feel.  Still though, he holds the ball too much.

This summer he really needs to work on being ready to shoot a three.  He passes up some good shots and typically takes more difficult threes.

"When he plays with a point, it is better." --- I'm not convinced this is true, in the sense of what matters the most. Yes, I agree that CF's play right now, and the team result right now, can likely be improved by taking the ball out of his hands. BUT - I don't think either of those is the real goal (nor should be). 

I think this season is about what makes CF better in the long run, and to some degree that requires getting him OUT OF his comfort zone. The more he has to learn what to do when the ball is forced into his hands, by trial and error (with a degree of it being unsuccessful), the more he will learn what to do (or not do) to play better in future years.

I think the goal is for him to more or less become like Giannis. GA is not the PG but he has the ball on the wing a lot. And he is a perennial MVP candidate, has won a title, and is a tremendous force as a player as a non-PG who nevertheless is going to handle the ball anywhere on the court and attack the defense. If CF can become GA but with a better shot, I think that's the goal. 

Then the goal will be to surround him with the same sort of pieces that have been around GA -   players who are efficient scorers, can shoot 3s to open the floor, and can also defend.

[DanSchwartzgan]

"When he plays with a point, it is better." --- I'm not convinced this is true, in the sense of what matters the most. Yes, I agree that CF's play right now, and the team result right now, can likely be improved by taking the ball out of his hands. BUT - I don't think either of those is the real goal (nor should be). 

I think this season is about what makes CF better in the long run, and to some degree that requires getting him OUT OF his comfort zone. The more he has to learn what to do when the ball is forced into his hands, by trial and error (with a degree of it being unsuccessful), the more he will learn what to do (or not do) to play better in future years.

I think the goal is for him to more or less become like Giannis. GA is not the PG but he has the ball on the wing a lot. And he is a perennial MVP candidate, has won a title, and is a tremendous force as a player as a non-PG who nevertheless is going to handle the ball anywhere on the court and attack the defense. If CF can become GA but with a better shot, I think that's the goal. 

Then the goal will be to surround him with the same sort of pieces that have been around GA -   players who are efficient scorers, can shoot 3s to open the floor, and can also defend.

Agree.  It is part of why I struggle a bit with Brown (especially) and even Acuff as the draft target (to the extent we have a choice).  A lot of the discussion here is about who will be the best pro.  If the pro evaluators have equal grades on these guys, then it becomes who is the best fit for what your re describing with Flagg.  I’m struggling to answer that question with resolve.

[F Gump]

Agree.  It is part of why I struggle a bit with Brown (especially) and even Acuff as the draft target (to the extent we have a choice).  A lot of the discussion here is about who will be the best pro.  If the pro evaluators have equal grades on these guys, then it becomes who is the best fit for what your re describing with Flagg.  I’m struggling to answer that question with resolve.

The old question of fit vs ability. 

Acuff will have size issues (and corresponding defense issues), I believe. But imo he's perhaps the very best offensive player of ALL the guards in this draft, and it might not even be close. He is soooooooooo consistently productive.

Back to your question, I go to comps. Which will I want the most:
1 Iverson without the off-court issues (Acuff) or 
2 Brogdon without the health issues (most of the rest, with size and ability but mostly secondary-role or very inconsistent in production)

[cow]

Tanking hoops is hard to watch. And as good as Cooper is, his offensive game often looks like a fawn trying to ice skate rather than something aesthetically pleasing.

Randomness:

-I continue to hate watching Max play basketball.
-I'm ready to sell my BWill stock. He has one elite skill and I often find myself thinking that he doesn't have enough craftiness to properly utilize his speed. Probably fine for a backup to your backup PG.
-Too many pros on our team to really move out of our spot in draft odds, Kidd's rotations certainly aren't doing us any favors there either.

Back to your question, I go to comps. Which will I want the most:
1 Iverson without the off-court issues (Acuff) or 
2 Brogdon without the health issues (most of the rest, with size and ability but mostly secondary-role or very inconsistent in production)

Give me #1 100 times out of 100.

[DanSchwartzgan]

1 Iverson without the off-court issues (Acuff) or 

I actually agree with the Iverson comp on O.  I looked at the highlights from yesterday’s game and thought exactly that.  But, Iverson was way above average at steals in college averaging 3 steals a game.  The draft-niks say steals is one of those good predictor stats for success in the NBA and Acuff is no Iverson by that measure.  My worry is the proper comp is Iverson w/o the off-court issues and a D-Rating of 122.

[Smitty]

A healthy Deron Williams is a good comp for Acuff IMO. Same size, similar play style. Williams was a 3x All Star and 2x All-NBA guy before injures derailed his career.

Williams measurables:
6’2.75” 200 lbs
6’6.25 wingspan

Acuff measurables:
6’3 190 lbs
6’5.5 wingspan

[F Gump]

A healthy Deron Williams is a good comp for Acuff IMO. Same size, similar play style. [We know what size Williams was, but we aren't sure on Acuff.] Williams was a 3x All Star and 2x All-NBA guy before injures derailed his career.

Williams measurables:
6’2.75” 200 lbs
6’6.25 wingspan

Acuff measurables:
6’3 190 lbs  not sure
6’5.5 wingspan not sure

FIFY.

And that's truth that really muddies the waters on Acuff. Until we actually know Acuff's measurables, which won't happen until mid-May, we can't compare him as "the same size" to anyone.

[vfromlmf]

If Flagg is going to be Giannis then Mavs need to draft Philon at 7.

Philon is going to be Jrue.

[Smitty]

FIFY.

And that's truth that really muddies the waters on Acuff. Until we actually know Acuff's measurables, which won't happen until mid-May, we can't compare him as "the same size" to anyone.

Sure, but based on information available at the moment. Those are the measurables until proven otherwise. Still, it’s not like he plays or looks like some 6’0 170 lbs guard. He looks the part on the court.

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/darius-acuff/

[F Gump]

If Flagg is going to be Giannis then Mavs need to draft Philon at 7.

Philon is going to be Jrue.

I'd love to get the next Jrue (minus the injuries, of course). 

What makes you think Philon has that upside?

[ballsrchr]

If Flagg is going to be Giannis then Mavs need to draft Philon at 7.

Philon is going to be Jrue.

Flagg is never going to be Giannis.  Giannis is just a bull who expects to be bailed out by the refs.  Flagg plays with far more finesse and will just get better for several years to come.  Flagg's ceiling is much higher than Giannis.  Of course...all this is dependent upon Mavs management and coaching--which I'm already a little worried about...

[Mavs2021]

Call me crazy, but after being out for 10 months Max Strus aka TPE + 1st round pick is listed as probable for tonight´s game. Coincidence or showcase?

Harden/Schroeder
Mitchell/Ellis/Merrill/Tyson

That´s five guards under contract eating at least 23 MPG of the rotation currently, while the Cavs are winning. Don´t see how they keep Ellis, Schroeder, Merrill, Strus and Tyson.

[Chicagojk]

I probably worded point guard vs creator playing with Coop.  I agree that this is developmental time for Coop.  I think sooner than later he is going to be your top 2 creator on a good offense.   It will be even better if he is one of three creators earlier in his career though.   It is all about getting him reps.   

It just looks much better when he is playing with someone who can set the table.  Right now, he holds the ball way too much and it sticks a little.   There is very little setup on the offense.   When Nembard comes is, it just looks different.   Now Nembhrad creates some other negative things, but the ball just moves better with another guard on the court.  You can still have Cooper run the offense but just having someone who looks to get the ball moving is contagious.

[KillerLeft]

Flagg is never going to be Giannis.  Giannis is just a bull who expects to be bailed out by the refs.  Flagg plays with far more finesse and will just get better for several years to come.  Flagg's ceiling is much higher than Giannis.  Of course...all this is dependent upon Mavs management and coaching--which I'm already a little worried about...

I kind of hate that comp, too. 

For one thing, I agree that Flagg is already more skilled in a wider variety of areas than Giannis was well into his career. 

For another, I feel pretty strongly that the decision to run MIL's offense through Giannis was a mistake, not genius. It probably added to his career number totals and might have gotten noticed as vast improvement and widening of his skillset, but...I don't believe it helped the TEAM reach its full potential, personally.  I don't think Jrue Holiday was the right fit there...I could go on. In general, the philosophy around which that team was built always seemed extremely flawed to me. They won a championship, so it technically worked, but I personally think their window could've been open longer and achieved more success had they approached things in a different way.

[michaeltex]

I kind of hate that comp, too. 

For one thing, I agree that Flagg is already more skilled in a wider variety of areas than Giannis was well into his career. 

For another, I feel pretty strongly that the decision to run MIL's offense through Giannis was a mistake, not genius. It probably added to his career number totals and might have gotten noticed as vast improvement and widening of his skillset, but...I don't believe it helped the TEAM reach its full potential, personally.  I don't think Jrue Holiday was the right fit there...I could go on. In general, the philosophy around which that team was built always seemed extremely flawed to me. They won a championship, so it technically worked, but I personally think their window could've been open longer and achieved more success had they approached things in a different way.

Wasn't that a team that Kidd pretty much put together? or at least had major input into players and roles?

[KillerLeft]

Wasn't that a team that Kidd pretty much put together? or at least had major input into players and roles?

He was there for a while, yes. I don’t know how much of it was his doing vs the staffs both before and after. He is commonly credited with helping Gianis learn to play with the ball, and that’s a credit to him in a coaching sort of way, but it’s the overall strategy to do that in the first place that I have a problem with, and I don’t know whether or not that strategy came from him.