Game 72 Dirkie Thread: Naji Marshall!...with quick mincing steps...

[ballsrchr]

With the activation of Anthony Davis it is now apparent that the Mavs will be shooting for the play in. Despite some misgivings for this line of action, I'll root for them to succeed--since they're going to do it anyway.

None of the players played lights out action. 7 played pretty good. Put that together as a team and the Mavs will win most games. By most I mean over 50%, but we need much more than that.

One good thing is that nobody played big minutes. They should be fairly fresh for Tuesday night. But I prevaricate.

I must choose my Dirkie finalist.

I choose Naji Marshall.

[Scott41theMavs]

Given his efficiency, low fga total, and 12 to 1 assist ratio, I have to give it to Din.

[SleepingHero]

AD definitely didn't go 100% tonight. I am kind of glad he didn't truthfully. Was worried he would've pushed himself and gotten re-injured. In his post game with Leslie he even made a comment about making it out of the game "safe" without injury, so I think he definitely made it a point to play at half speed to be safe.

But he did have a solid game. Lots of impact and was over the court. When he's hitting his outside shot he's one of the most unguardable guys in the league.

PJ almost ruined tonight again by turning his ankle. Thankfully it wasn't too bad and he stayed in the game. He played very well and his offensive game has really grown.

Kai Jones and Brandon Williams though were the MVP's. Brandon Williams has something. I don't know if he was this good because he was playing against other G-league guys on the court or if he's actually grown, but he played very well. Kai Jones is probably the perfect 3rd big off the bench. Just plays with continuous energy and grit. Pair that with mind bending athleticism and you have a lethal combo against bench units.

Overall, the team won a game against another team that was trying to lose. Hard to get super excited about that. Even harder to get excited over them hellbent making the play-in games when they should be looking at the draft. But there is no realistic shot Nico and Kidd would let that happen after all Nico said the Luka trade being a "win-now" move.

Even though I watched tonight for the first time in a couple of weeks, it's hard to have the same excited feeling. Sorry dudes. Not meaning to make yet another post about "the move that shall not be named" but a part of my basketball life died that day. Remains to be seen if it will come back.

Though, this team has played with resounding grit and Davis is a likeable guy. Time may heal all wounds.

[Reunion Mav]

AD definitely didn't go 100% tonight. I am kind of glad he didn't truthfully. Was worried he would've pushed himself and gotten re-injured. In his post game with Leslie he even made a comment about making it out of the game "safe" without injury, so I think he definitely made it a point to play at half speed to be safe.

But he did have a solid game. Lots of impact and was over the court. When he's hitting his outside shot he's one of the most unguardable guys in the league.

PJ almost ruined tonight again by turning his ankle. Thankfully it wasn't too bad and he stayed in the game. He played very well and his offensive game has really grown.

Kai Jones and Brandon Williams though were the MVP's. Brandon Williams has something. I don't know if he was this good because he was playing against other G-league guys on the court or if he's actually grown, but he played very well. Kai Jones is probably the perfect 3rd big off the bench. Just plays with continuous energy and grit. Pair that with mind bending athleticism and you have a lethal combo against bench units.

Overall, the team won a game against another team that was trying to lose. Hard to get super excited about that. Even harder to get excited over them hellbent making the play-in games when they should be looking at the draft. But there is no realistic shot Nico and Kidd would let that happen after all Nico said the Luka trade being a "win-now" move.

Even though I watched tonight for the first time in a couple of weeks, it's hard to have the same excited feeling. Sorry dudes. Not meaning to make yet another post about "the move that shall not be named" but a part of my basketball life died that day. Remains to be seen if it will come back.

Though, this team has played with resounding grit and Davis is a likeable guy. Time may heal all wounds.

Keep the hope SH. I’m liking Naji Marshal. He will take wide open 3’s apparently and mad a couple. He gets my Dirkie vote.

[Scott41theMavs]

AD definitely didn't go 100% tonight. I am kind of glad he didn't truthfully. Was worried he would've pushed himself and gotten re-injured. In his post game with Leslie he even made a comment about making it out of the game "safe" without injury, so I think he definitely made it a point to play at half speed to be safe.

But he did have a solid game. Lots of impact and was over the court. When he's hitting his outside shot he's one of the most unguardable guys in the league.

PJ almost ruined tonight again by turning his ankle. Thankfully it wasn't too bad and he stayed in the game. He played very well and his offensive game has really grown.

Kai Jones and Brandon Williams though were the MVP's. Brandon Williams has something. I don't know if he was this good because he was playing against other G-league guys on the court or if he's actually grown, but he played very well. Kai Jones is probably the perfect 3rd big off the bench. Just plays with continuous energy and grit. Pair that with mind bending athleticism and you have a lethal combo against bench units.

Overall, the team won a game against another team that was trying to lose. Hard to get super excited about that. Even harder to get excited over them hellbent making the play-in games when they should be looking at the draft. But there is no realistic shot Nico and Kidd would let that happen after all Nico said the Luka trade being a "win-now" move.

Even though I watched tonight for the first time in a couple of weeks, it's hard to have the same excited feeling. Sorry dudes. Not meaning to make yet another post about "the move that shall not be named" but a part of my basketball life died that day. Remains to be seen if it will come back.

Though, this team has played with resounding grit and Davis is a likeable guy. Time may heal all wounds.

SH, it's reasonable. What happened was something which would never, ever have happened if we had one of the other 29 GMs in the league. It never should have happened. Oh well. Better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. Unfortunately, I can't quit the Mavs, but it's naturally never going to be the same, and it's never going to be anywhere close to all right until Nico is ***GONE***.

[SleepingHero]

Keep the hope SH. I’m liking Naji Marshal. He will take wide open 3’s apparently and mad a couple. He gets my Dirkie vote.

+41

Naji has surprised the hell outta me this season. I never expected him to have this polished of an offensive game. I don't even think Naji himself thought he had this polished of an offensive game.

He's starting to hit a bit higher % of threes now. There was a 2 month stretch where he literally could not get a 3 if he was gifted one for free. If he can hit those consistently he's a real keeper.