Game 20: Dallas Mavericks (5-14) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (13-4) | 9:00pm

[ThisIStheYear]

Good loss. The Lakers are top team and the Mavs stayed with them. The Lakers even played well. I like the good teammate chemistry AD showed Cooper. The rookie point guard isn’t a world beater, but at least he doesn’t turn the ball over constantly. That was an improvement. If the Mavs keep it up, they may be drafting behind OKC.

[loki]

Successful night all things considered. Coop and AD looked solid. DLo was glued to the bench in favor of Nembhard. If the Lakers hadn't shot lights out they could have stolen this one. The tank rolls on.

[SkenfromLMF]

Need a double down loss tomorrow against the Clippers.
I am glad I did not have to watch this game, because in the moment I want to beat Luka (and, Harden, Brunson, the Rockettes, Ja, Miami, San Antonio, as well as Booker)
I can handle losing to most anyone else in the moment, but my sports hate for those folks really struggles to put the good of the franchise first.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Street clothes played with the diaper...

[FireNicoHarrison]

Fakers are just a good team. Nothing special. I told you guys.

[myconsumerclub]

AD moved fast a few times but mostly he was kind of slow. We played well enough that we lucked out facing LA when they shot lights out almost 60% on regular shots and 51% on the 3 pointers. When a team shoots that well it usually means your an automatic loss waiting to happen and we stuck with them. The tank rolls on. Tied for 5th worst record with a 250% winning percentage.

Maybe Luka was confused but he tipped one in for us tonight.

[ballsrchr]

I like Nembhard better than any other "point guard" we have. At least he directs traffic, sets up plays--plays with poise. Not bad for a short, rookie point guard. I'm pretty sure he realizes his deficiencies on defense and moves well. I would like to see him play more.

[Chicagojk]

Fun game, but also depressing. 

When did Luka start taking charges?  He had two great ones yesterday.  I don't remember him doing that often with the Mavs.   I thought the Lakers were great.   I really have not watched them.   They get good looks every time down the court.   Just with that, I would not want to play that team in the playoffs...especially with the creators they can throw out there.    We will see how they grow.  We will also need to see how Lebron gets back into the flow.    He had a great dunk off pass from Luka but for the first time ever, he looked old to me.   Only his fourth game and it would be best if he could stay healthy and pace himself for a playoff run.  We will see.

I thought the Mavs looked like a professional team.   I really like Nembhard.  He is small, but probably a better defender than either DLO or Williams.  Not a high bar though.  Teams are going to play his pass though, so he will need to keep defenses honest.  I am not sure how good he will be at that though.   Although, from the moment he steps on the court he plays like he belongs and knows what everyone else should be doing.   Ideally he is probably a good backup, but there is a lot to explore there.  Williams was good too.  He is great finishing inside and is really fast.  Even if he has some nice passes though, he is not a point guard.  Ideally he is probably a bench piece.   Unfortunately, I think Nembhard is the better bench piece as we move forward.

I thought AD looked good...Looked much better than the first few games.   I still really dislike when he holds the ball and then shoots a long two.  He only did it a few times, but that play should be banned.   

What is disappointing is how do you build a team to compete with the Lakers and the better west teams with Davis.  As good as Cooper is, I just am not sure their timelines will intersect.   At least that is my current thought.   A healthy AD is much better than the spare packages we have heard about.  So, patience is the key imo.  This team isn't as bad as the top 6 in the league.  they are probably between 7th and 13th.   I also worry about Kidd trying to overplay AD.  He  has a habit of doing this.   Even last night he went passed his minutes limit. He would have had 30 minutes if the game was close the last few minutes.  

Gafford really struggled imo.  He still is not moving well and is fighting through it.   Tough gig for him trying to defend that team imo.   I really hope Klay goes to a good team.  He has been nothing but a pro in Dallas and he deserves to play on a good team.  I think some team will bite too.   Expiring plus a second or two?

[DanSchwartzgan]

I really hope Klay goes to a good team.  He has been nothing but a pro in Dallas and he deserves to play on a good team.  I think some team will bite too.   Expiring plus a second or two?

I really hated “starter” Klay, but kind of like “bench” Klay.  Funny thing is the minutes are virtually identical.  But every data point is better with him coming off the bench.  Unfortunately, expiring and a second or two is probably about right in terms of the most likely return.  It gives you cap relief.  If there is another trade (maybe AD), it might also open PT for a younger player.  But trading Klay for expiring and seconds doesn’t do much for the on-court product as it means more reliance on either Hardy or maybe Martin.

I enjoyed watching a logical 9 man rotation.  Two PG’s, Max and Klay at SG, two centers and three guys splitting the minutes at forward.  Most places he might go, AD is going to be seen as a center.  But here, (if) when we have Lively and Gafford available, AD kills logical rotations.

[omahen]

Fun game, but also depressing. 

When did Luka start taking charges?  He had two great ones yesterday.  I don't remember him doing that often with the Mavs.   I thought the Lakers were great.   I really have not watched them.   They get good looks every time down the court.   Just with that, I would not want to play that team in the playoffs...especially with the creators they can throw out there.    We will see how they grow.  We will also need to see how Lebron gets back into the flow.    He had a great dunk off pass from Luka but for the first time ever, he looked old to me.   Only his fourth game and it would be best if he could stay healthy and pace himself for a playoff run.  We will see.

LeBron has totally accepted the third option role in Lakers, at least so far. He is letting vast majority of the creating to Luka and Reaves. Sometimes they will run a play for him in the post against smaller defenders. I have to give a lot of respect to him to take a step back and leave the spotlight to young(er) guys. I hope it lasts. This is not something easy to do for a guy that has been the face of the league for 22 seasons.

On defense he is cruising a lot, but he did step up big time against Clippers. Sort of the story of the season for the Lakers as whole so far. They don't blow away any team. It feels like they play as much as needed in the first half to mostly keep up with the opponent with their offense. Increase intensity in the second half, where also defense improves a lot.

[mvossman]

I really hated “starter” Klay, but kind of like “bench” Klay.  Funny thing is the minutes are virtually identical.  But every data point is better with him coming off the bench.  Unfortunately, expiring and a second or two is probably about right in terms of the most likely return.  It gives you cap relief.  If there is another trade (maybe AD), it might also open PT for a younger player.  But trading Klay for expiring and seconds doesn’t do much for the on-court product as it means more reliance on either Hardy or maybe Martin.

I think starter Klay was particularly hampered by the no PG lineups.  The fact that sending him out for expiring and maybe a second will not do much for on court product is a feature not a bug.

[cow]

I really hope Klay goes to a good team.  He has been nothing but a pro in Dallas and he deserves to play on a good team.  I think some team will bite too.   Expiring plus a second or two?

I've never paid close attention to Klay, but I feel "sports horrible" for how his career ended in GSW and how his fresh start in Dallas turned out.

[BigDirk41]

Fakers are just a good team. Nothing special. I told you guys.

They are 14-4 and LeBron just returned. They are not just a good team. They have a chance to win it all this year. Saying anything different is just absurd. They are one of the top teams in the NBA and have a legit Big 3. Luka is on a different level this year and we all know how playoff Luka is. No need to elaborate anymore, but Lakers are legit.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Lakers will get exposed in the playoffs again. They're a good team but they don't have the defense to be a contender. JJ Redick gets the most out of his roster so I think their regular season win totals will always exceeded how good they really are.

[khaled1987]

Fun game, but also depressing. 

When did Luka start taking charges?  He had two great ones yesterday.  

He did it few times in his rookie year, against Lebron too. I remember it was something I liked about him at this stage of his career

[FireNicoHarrison]

They are 14-4 and LeBron just returned. They are not just a good team. They have a chance to win it all this year. Saying anything different is just absurd. They are one of the top teams in the NBA and have a legit Big 3. Luka is on a different level this year and we all know how playoff Luka is. No need to elaborate anymore, but Lakers are legit.

Naaaaa, in PO a couple of teams will destroy them. Luka or not.

[Chicagojk]

Scheduled win tomorrow. Clippers lost 2nd half to Grizz by 20. They just have no legs. Tomorrow they´ll be even worse. Thunder getting a high lottery pick. Unreal.

You know you are bad when Vegas has you as a 7 point underdog tonight.  Of course AD, Gafford and allay are all out.  Maybe go over on Zubac?