MAVS NEWS:

[windjc]

Sergio's looks comfortable enough to get thrown to the lions den of the NBA and as we are currently constructed, I think he'll get a crack or two at meaningful minutes.

I know you have me on ignore because you are a snowflake, but Larry will need to show a lot better handle if they put him out there. One 8 turnover night by any low usage player can sink an entire game.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/NationMffl/status/20778831...78265?s=20

Buh-bye!

What a terrible mistake, if true.   I think Smith was a longshot to keep his two way, but I don't think these guys understand how close they are to being out of the NBA.  It can be gone quickly.    Being reliable, a good teammate and working non stop is the minimum requirement.   Especially when you are a fringe young player.

[Smitty]

@Mavs_FFL
Sergio de Larrea on the first thing he's going to ask Kyrie Irving:

"Above all, about leadership, how he leads the team in his area of the game. He's a great leader, not just as a player, but as a person. I want to learn how he does those things in such a complicated and competitive environment."

[Smitty]

Cooper Flagg won the NBA Rookie of the Year award by posting historic first-year numbers, averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game for the Dallas Mavericks. 

LeBron James: During his 2003-04 rookie campaign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he posted comparable stat-line averages of 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game.

So, then I looked into year two for each of those players...

LeBron James: 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. 3PT percentage increased from 29.0% to 35.1%.

Another note just because... USG%:

Rookie Year:
Flagg - 26.9%
LeBron - 28.2%

Year 2:
Flagg - ???
LeBron - 29.7%


Ton of numbers... My takeaway is that Coop is probably closer to LeBron and year 4-5 Giannis, than he is Luka, simply because I don't see Flagg ever being that ball dominant. To use the best-case comparison... Lebron (who played 42.4 mpg Year 2, which is +2.9 mpg jump):

+6.3 ppg
+1.9 rbs
+1.3 ast
+1.5% USG%
+6.1% 3PT%


Flagg's Year 2 numbers ??:
27.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. 35.6% 3PT.

LeBron
6'7.25" barefoot
7'0.25" wingspan
8'10.5" standing reach
245 lbs

Flagg
6'7.75" barefoot
7'0.00" wingspan
8'10.5" standing reach
221 lbs

[ThisIStheYear]

My takeaway is that we should expect Cooper to average about 26-7-6 this season and plan accordingly. I’d bet once he settles into his prime he’s a 28-8-7 player.

[DanSchwartzgan]

LeBron
6'7.25" barefoot
7'0.25" wingspan
8'10.5" standing reach
245 lbs

Flagg
6'7.75" barefoot
7'0.00" wingspan
8'10.5" standing reach
221 lbs

We need to create assists from somewhere and as I posted in another thread, Kyrie's history when Luka was out wasn't more assists, it was more scoring.  Flagg will have better finishers around him (rim and from deep) that should boost those assist numbers.  Give me assists and 3% as the things I want more than PPG and rebounds.

[mvossman]

We need to create assists from somewhere and as I posted in another thread, Kyrie's history when Luka was out wasn't more assists, it was more scoring.  Flagg will have better finishers around him (rim and from deep) that should boost those assist numbers.  Give me assists and 3% as the things I want more than PPG and rebounds.

Those will come from Larry.  Kyrie will give Flagg more room to operate, but Larry will capitalize on his elite finishing ability.

[FireNicoHarrison]

LeBron
6'7.25" barefoot
7'0.25" wingspan
8'10.5" standing reach
245 lbs

Flagg
6'7.75" barefoot
7'0.00" wingspan
8'10.5" standing reach
221 lbs

https://x.com/Maverick_SZN/status/2078034919352348944

[Smitty]

My takeaway is that we should expect Cooper to average about 26-7-6 this season and plan accordingly.  I’d bet once he settles into his prime he’s a 28-8-7 player.

So, he's LeBron. 27-7-7

I'll take it!

[Smitty]

https://x.com/Maverick_SZN/status/2078034919352348944

Parody account.

[Chicagojk]

Weird seeing PJ on the smaller side of current Mavs

https://x.com/Mavs_FFL/status/2079387414158594050

[KillerLeft]

Weird seeing PJ on the smaller side of current Mavs

https://x.com/Mavs_FFL/status/2079387414158594050

Plus, Johnson, Flagg, Risacher, Lawal and maybe some others are still growing, tbh. Supposedly Risacher is almost 6'10" now. I wouldn't be surprised if Flagg ends up 6'10" or 6'11" when all is said and done.

[michaeltex]

Plus, Johnson, Flagg, Risacher, Lawal and maybe some others are still growing, tbh. Supposedly Risacher is almost 6'10" now. I wouldn't be surprised if Flagg ends up 6'10" or 6'11" when all is said and done.

And Lively said the other day he's grown about 2" and now stands ~7'3". 

I hope he gets back to basketball soon.

[FireNicoHarrison]

And Lively said the other day he's grown about 2" and now stands ~7'3". 

I hope he gets back to basketball soon.

Likely is on the Yao way... I don't have too much hopes in him.

[windjc]

Likely is on the Yao way... I don't have too much hopes in him.

I keep reading this. But no one ever spells it out. Does anyone with an opinion ever do a deep dive on his actual medical condition?

Use AI it’s not too hard. Lively had an injury that was exacerbated by misdiagnosis. Giving it ample time to heal is the way to recover. It is not typically a career ending condition. Typically it can heal and be done with.

[windjc]

The Historical Precedents
When 7-footers suffer foot stress fractures and bone spurs early in their careers, outcomes generally fall into two categories:
1. The Success Stories (Full Recovery & Longevity)
Brook Lopez: Suffered recurring foot stress fractures and underwent multiple surgeries early in his career. Thanks to surgical hardware and biomechanical adjustments, he went on to play 15+ high-level seasons and became a champion.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas: Missed almost two full seasons early in his career due to repeated foot fractures. After reconstructive surgery, he adapted his game, played 13 seasons, and became a two-time All-Star.
Joel Embiid: Missed his first two full NBA seasons due to a navicular stress fracture in his foot, but went on to win an MVP.
2. The Cautionary Tales
Yao Ming & Bill Walton: Both had their careers cut short by recurring stress fractures. However, both suffered fractures specifically in the navicular bone (the top of the foot's arch), which has notoriously poor blood flow and struggles to heal under immense weight.
What Determines Lively's Long-Term Outlook?
1. Bone Location & Surgical Cleanup: Removing the bone spurs eliminates the mechanical pinching inside the joint. As long as the initial stress fracture isn't in a low-blood-flow zone (like the navicular), the bone itself can heal permanently once fully stabilized.
2. Patient Rehabilitation: Lively taking a slow approach—refusing to run or jump until the foot feels 100%—is actually the best indicator for his long-term health. Rushing back on a stress-fractured foot is what usually triggers career-altering secondary injuries.
3. Modern Sports Science & Custom Orthotics: Unlike big men in the 1990s or 2000s, today's players benefit from 3D-scanned custom insoles, advanced footwear design, and load-monitoring tech that redistribute impact force away from sensitive bones.
The Bottom Line: At 22 years old, his body has strong healing potential. While the recurring surgeries are a red flag for his current contract timeline, medically there is no reason he can't return to full explosive strength and play a 10+ year career—provided the Mavericks don't rush him back onto the floor.

What no one seems to acknowledge is that his “slow” recovery is actually what is required and is not a sign that its worse than feared, but that he is following proper protocol.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I keep reading this. But no one ever spells it out. Does anyone with an opinion ever do a deep dive on his actual medical condition?

Use AI it’s not too hard. Lively had an injury that was exacerbated by misdiagnosis. Giving it ample time to heal is the way to recover. It is not typically a career ending condition. Typically it can heal and be done with.

Ok so use AI and tell me how many games he played last 2 years...

[windjc]

Ok so use AI and tell me how many games he played last 2 years...

Right after you use AI to explain correlation does not equal causation.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I keep reading this. But no one ever spells it out. Does anyone with an opinion ever do a deep dive on his actual medical condition?

Use AI it’s not too hard. Lively had an injury that was exacerbated by misdiagnosis. Giving it ample time to heal is the way to recover. It is not typically a career ending condition. Typically it can heal and be done with.

what about the other 5-6 injuries?

[FireNicoHarrison]

Right after you use AI to explain correlation does not equal causation.

I checked for you my friend, he played 98 games in last 3 years and RIGHT NOW he can't even run.

There is nothing to be optimist and indeed they drafted a player in that position.

But miracles happen so we can continue to pray.