MAVS NEWS:

[Winter]

He has a minutes restriction (calf), but he's also playing out of position. It will take him awhile to get acclimated.

[F Gump]

Can someone give me a heads-up on Morez?

He was sitting out lots of training camp and in the game against OKC the broadcasters said something about a minutes restriction (if I didn’t mix it up).

What I’m wondering: he looks heavy footed, slow and “stuck on the ground”, not jumping high for blocks, rebounds or finishes.

Is that who he is athletically - kind of similar to Horford - or was he a different kind of athlete at Michigan and is just getting back into shape?

He is not 100% at this point. He's a TOP TIER athletic freak when he's healthy. 

6-9 w/o shoes, 7-3.5 wingspan, 39" vertical (96th percentile), 98 percentile in lane agility (quick movement of position), 91 percentile in speed from end to end. 

So far we are only getting a reduced level of what he can do. But they are playing him anyway, so he's getting some experience in the speed and athleticism of the NBA level, and making plays (mixed with the non-plays), as he works through it. When he's 100% again, look out.

[Chicagojk]

He has a minutes restriction (calf), but he's also playing out of position. It will take him awhile to get acclimated.

I am not sure what he is yet.   I don't think that is bad.   At the moment, I am not sure if he is really a PF or C.    He is sort of in between.   I read Michigan posts (not sure it is accurate) but they were saying Morez played better playing next to a center.    I can see Morez being a really nice center in certain groups.   I don't think he is a full time center though due to the size of the players.    I think he will need to be a very good PF.    I am just not sure he is anywhere close to that.    They are playing him full time at center but things could look different if he shares the court with Aldama.  They could hide each others weaknesses well.

In time, I really hope we see a Lively and Morez pairing.    It will probably be rocky early, but in time it could really be fun.

[Chicagojk]

He is not 100% at this point. He's a TOP TIER athletic freak when he's healthy. 

6-9 w/o shoes, 7-3.5 wingspan, 39" vertical (96th percentile), 98 percentile in lane agility (quick movement of position), 91 percentile in speed from end to end. 

So far we are only getting a reduced level of what he can do. But they are playing him anyway, so he's getting some experience in the speed and athleticism of the NBA level, and making plays (mixed with the non-plays), as he works through it. When he's 100% again, look out.

It is sort of funny though.  He moves really well.   I think in time he is going to be a beast defending multiple positions (besides shot blocking).    Although his explosion is a little weird.  Him and Caleb Wilson have similar numbers, but Wilson's explosion is just eye popping.    I feel like Morez does not play to those measurements.  Last night Flagg threw Morez an alley oop.  I have no doubt that Wilson catches that and makes a highlight dunk.    Morez made is look like a difficult play.   I think Morez brings other advantageous to his game, but I feel he is more of a windup athlete than an instant explosion jumper.

[F Gump]

It is sort of funny though.  He [Morez] moves really well.   I think in time he is going to be a beast defending multiple positions (besides shot blocking).    Although his explosion is a little weird.  Him and Caleb Wilson have similar numbers, but Wilson's explosion is just eye popping.    I feel like Morez does not play to those measurements.  Last night Flagg threw Morez an alley oop.  I have no doubt that Wilson catches that and makes a highlight dunk.    Morez made is look like a difficult play.   I think Morez brings other advantageous to his game, but I feel he is more of a windup athlete than an instant explosion jumper.

Maybe ^. I agree he doesn't have what Wilson has. I put CW in an explosiveness category all his own.

But I have a suspicion that what you saw was not the "real" Morez. Let's see what those kind of plays look like down the road.

[DanSchwartzgan]

It is sort of funny though.  He moves really well.   I think in time he is going to be a beast defending multiple positions (besides shot blocking).    Although his explosion is a little weird.  Him and Caleb Wilson have similar numbers, but Wilson's explosion is just eye popping.    I feel like Morez does not play to those measurements.  Last night Flagg threw Morez an alley oop.  I have no doubt that Wilson catches that and makes a highlight dunk.    Morez made is look like a difficult play.   I think Morez brings other advantageous to his game, but I feel he is more of a windup athlete than an instant explosion jumper.

I wonder if Morez gets a couple of weeks off when Aldama is ready.

[KillerLeft]

I wonder if Morez gets a couple of weeks off when Aldama is ready.

Or Gafford, even. 

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm enjoying Gafford's start quite a bit, only he's already starting to linger on the floor after falling and holding his bad leg after some moments. I really hope he can stay healthy enough to keep playing HARD, as he has been.

[Winter]

Or Gafford, even. 

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm enjoying Gafford's start quite a bit, only he's already starting to linger on the floor after falling and holding his bad leg after some moments. I really hope he can stay healthy enough to keep playing HARD, as he has been.

I do think he needs fewer minutes to be really effective. Hopefully he'll get that soon.

[Smitty]

@BlockedByBamba
There were only 3 teams up until today that were projected to lose every game

Nets - winless
Kings - winless
Mavs: 4-2

[Winter]

“We look like a team that, obviously, when things aren’t going well, when I watch these games, just to see how our bench is about each other. And I want to shout out Dereck Lively. He’s a big part of that,” May said. “His energy is contagious, and he’s got such a positive spirit to him. But yeah, just the fact that we look like a group trying to find a way to win together, no matter what it looks like. They’re playing the game in front of them, and they’re doing it as a unit.”

A shout-out to Derek Lively - who has yet to play a single second of basketball.

[KillerLeft]

@BlockedByBamba
There were only 3 teams up until today that were projected to lose every game

Nets - winless
Kings - winless
Mavs: 4-2

Awesome nugget. Satisfying.

[Chicagojk]

“We look like a team that, obviously, when things aren’t going well, when I watch these games, just to see how our bench is about each other. And I want to shout out Dereck Lively. He’s a big part of that,” May said. “His energy is contagious, and he’s got such a positive spirit to him. But yeah, just the fact that we look like a group trying to find a way to win together, no matter what it looks like. They’re playing the game in front of them, and they’re doing it as a unit.”

A shout-out to Derek Lively - who has yet to play a single second of basketball.

That is awesome.  Imagine you are Lively and it is probably killing him not to be on the court and then seeing the coach giving him praise.

Same for Caleb Martin and ZR.  Both had rough years and then hearing your coach believe in you and praise you, while also being clear in their communication to you can mean to you.

[KillerLeft]

That is awesome.  Imagine you are Lively and it is probably killing him not to be on the court and then seeing the coach giving him praise.

Same for Caleb Martin and ZR.  Both had rough years and then hearing your coach believe in you and praise you, while also being clear in their communication to you can mean to you.

He's definitely an effective and thoughtful communicator. With how good he is at owning the press room and using it for his designs, I have to imagine he's also positively influencing the team in practices and games.

[CooPerFan]

Flagg for MVP tbh

[windjc]

Happy to see May quickly crushing everyone’s expectations.

[Winter]

Too funny.

https://x.com/Cuckledoodle/status/211656...81476?s=20

[windjc]

I am calling it now. Year 2 Flagg is a better player than year 2 Luka.

Not as flashy, but overall a better player. Haters goina hate, but I am just speaking the truth. Luka was amazing in his 2nd year. Flagg is tracking towards a MVP candidate year.

[Chicagojk]

May on Lively

https://x.com/lockedonmavs/status/211665...91610?s=46

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/redditmavericks/status/211...51718?s=46

[F Gump]

May on Lively

https://x.com/lockedonmavs/status/211665...91610?s=46

AFAIK that's the first we have heard that Lively is running. Encouraging. But it's the jumping and landing that I want to hear about (if it even exists yet).