MAVS NEWS:

[michaeltex]

I read an article today where DJJ said he chose LA because they want him to be aggressive on offense along with his normal defense. I think this was strictly about him wanting to expand his game for a potential bigger payday down the road. Obviously it wasn't about winning. The Clippers aren't going to do any damage in the playoffs. I can't blame a guy for wanting to shoot the ball more, but I wish he would have stayed.

I saw the same article, at least the same comments by DJJ. 

I really liked the effort and intensity DJJ brought last season. It was a redemption year after his time in Chicago. But if LACs are expecting him to be PG13-lite, I think they are going to be disappointed.

DJJ will definitely bring individual defensive effort. but his offense was facilitated by playing with Luka and Kyrie. The open 3s and the soaring dunks were from playing off them rather than his own creation. So I expect him to continue strong defensively, but I would not be surprised to see him regress offensively.

[audiosway]

I think you are underselling what we got from DJJ and overselling both what Klay was defensively, and what he is now.  There is a fine line between running a guy into help defense and blow by.  There will definitely be a drop off in defense, especially when the primary ball handler is a quicker guard.  The hope is that moving Lively into the starting lineup will help mitigate some of the defensive hit, and the improvement in offense will more than make up for the loss in defense.

That my friend is where you and I differ. Klay wasn't brought in to replace DJJ. Naji Marshall was. Naji is a better defender than DJJ. He is an enforcer that is a great POA defender as well as help defender. Grimes was brought in to replace Josh Green. Grimes was used by the Knicks to always guard the opponents best player.

On a scale of 0-100 I would consider Klay an 80 right now. He was brought in to replace Hardaway Jr. THJ was about a 40 on defense. That is a massive upgrade. Combine that with Klay being one of the best shooters of all time and it's an even larger upgrade.

Grimes and Naji are both lock down defenders. They are better on offense and defense than the two guys they are replacing. I even mentioned right after the finals that I was interested in seeing Naji brought in. Naji is also 6'7" to DJJ being 6'5". Naji is a playmaker and a good shooter.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

That my friend is where you and I differ. Klay wasn't brought in to replace DJJ. Naji Marshall was. Naji is a better defender than DJJ. He is an enforcer that is a great POA defender as well as help defender. Grimes was brought in to replace Josh Green. Grimes was used by the Knicks to always guard the opponents best player.

On a scale of 0-100 I would consider Klay an 80 right now. He was brought in to replace Hardaway Jr. THJ was about a 40 on defense. That is a massive upgrade. Combine that with Klay being one of the best shooters of all time and it's an even larger upgrade.

Grimes and Naji are both lock down defenders. They are better on offense and defense than the two guys they are replacing. I even mentioned right after the finals that I was interested in seeing Naji brought in. Naji is also 6'7" to DJJ being 6'5". Naji is a playmaker and a good shooter.

I said it before FA started.  Naji is better than DJJ.  I love all that DJJ did for us and would have loved to kept him with Naji, but you are correct on all points here.

We now need a Maxi replacement.  I'd love Nance Jr.  Maxi and a SRP?

[Scott41theMavs]

That my friend is where you and I differ. Klay wasn't brought in to replace DJJ. Naji Marshall was. Naji is a better defender than DJJ. He is an enforcer that is a great POA defender as well as help defender. Grimes was brought in to replace Josh Green. Grimes was used by the Knicks to always guard the opponents best player.

On a scale of 0-100 I would consider Klay an 80 right now. He was brought in to replace Hardaway Jr. THJ was about a 40 on defense. That is a massive upgrade. Combine that with Klay being one of the best shooters of all time and it's an even larger upgrade.

Grimes and Naji are both lock down defenders. They are better on offense and defense than the two guys they are replacing. I even mentioned right after the finals that I was interested in seeing Naji brought in. Naji is also 6'7" to DJJ being 6'5". Naji is a playmaker and a good shooter.

To say that Naji is a better POA defender than DJJ - please pass what you are smoking, and I'll have a great afternoon.

[KillerLeft]

To say that Naji is a better POA defender than DJJ - please pass what you are smoking, and I'll have a great afternoon.

I'm pretty skeptical about this, too, but to be fair, Marshall IS a good defender, and that has been an undersold part of the grieving/acceptance process for all of us here, as has the significant improvement he represents, offensively. Frankly, he's miles ahead of DJJ on that end. 

One way of putting it is that Marshall, unlike DJJ, is a two-way player. We won't know what the drop-off is, defensively, for the team until we see their plan for using everyone. Maybe Marshall is close enough to Jones as a POA guy that this will all work in the aggregate. Maybe, as audiosway believes, he'll be better in that, specific role, even. Maybe he'll be more effective in a different defensive role than Jones was in the POA defense role, and Grimes will be tapped to fill in there more than we think. 

The only area in which I feel confident the Mavs just got worse is transition offense, having lost two of their three running-most players in DJJ and Green. But, even there I have hope, due to the "grab and go" abilities that Marshall, Thompson AND Grimes all bring to the table, to varying degrees. 

Defensively, I think the aggregate skills of the full rotation improved, actually, and maybe significantly. It's up to Kidd and his assistants to put those pieces into the roles that benefit the team. I KNOW the aggregate skills improved on offense. A lot.

[mvossman]

That my friend is where you and I differ. Klay wasn't brought in to replace DJJ. Naji Marshall was. Naji is a better defender than DJJ. He is an enforcer that is a great POA defender as well as help defender. Grimes was brought in to replace Josh Green. Grimes was used by the Knicks to always guard the opponents best player.

On a scale of 0-100 I would consider Klay an 80 right now. He was brought in to replace Hardaway Jr. THJ was about a 40 on defense. That is a massive upgrade. Combine that with Klay being one of the best shooters of all time and it's an even larger upgrade.

Grimes and Naji are both lock down defenders. They are better on offense and defense than the two guys they are replacing. I even mentioned right after the finals that I was interested in seeing Naji brought in. Naji is also 6'7" to DJJ being 6'5". Naji is a playmaker and a good shooter.

Klay is replacing DJJ in the starting (and finishing) lineup.  The OP was questioning how we are going to guard the POA in those lineups.  Naji won't be in those lineups.

Is Klay an 80 on defense?  The Warriors were a lot better on defense when he was off the court (with a rookie replacing him).  I don't expect much more than average.  That would be better than THJ, but probably not ideal next to Luka and Kyrie.

I am cautiously optimistic about the Naji signing, but there is not a lot of evidence to suggest he is a better defender than DJJ.  He played less than 20 minutes a game off the bench on a middling team while DJJ was starting on a finals team going against the opponents best offensive player.  Naji playmaking includes a lot of turnovers and his shooting is based on a fairly small sample.  I hope he turns out to be better than DJJ, but that would be more projection than description.

I think we got better in the offseason, but there are question marks with all the new guys, and the biggest question mark is fit.  This team fit really well last season.  I hope we can say the same for next season.

[SleepingHero]

@pandahank41
Australia beat Serbia in the warm-up game today.

Dante Exum - 15 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST, 5/7 FG, 1/1 3P, 4-4 FT, +16 in 24 minutes off the bench

Josh Green - 0 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 0/1 FG, -14 in 13 minutes off the bench

[mvossman]

I'm pretty skeptical about this, too, but to be fair, Marshall IS a good defender, and that has been an undersold part of the grieving/acceptance process for all of us here, as has the significant improvement he represents, offensively. Frankly, he's miles ahead of DJJ on that end. 

One way of putting it is that Marshall, unlike DJJ, is a two-way player. We won't know what the drop-off is, defensively, for the team until we see their plan for using everyone. Maybe Marshall is close enough to Jones as a POA guy that this will all work in the aggregate. Maybe, as audiosway believes, he'll be better in that, specific role, even. Maybe he'll be more effective in a different defensive role than Jones was in the POA defense role, and Grimes will be tapped to fill in there more than we think. 

The only area in which I feel confident the Mavs just got worse is transition offense, having lost two of their three running-most players in DJJ and Green. But, even there I have hope, due to the "grab and go" abilities that Marshall, Thompson AND Grimes all bring to the table, to varying degrees. 

Defensively, I think the aggregate skills of the full rotation improved, actually, and maybe significantly. It's up to Kidd and his assistants to put those pieces into the roles that benefit the team. I KNOW the aggregate skills improved on offense. A lot.

While I recognize that Naji is a better all around offensive player than DJJ, I'm not ready to call him a two way player.  I'm not sure he will be any better floor spacer than DJJ.  He actually takes less 3s than jones does, and before this last season his career 3 point percentage was under 30.  His career average is now sitting at 31 and while I don't think he will regress all the way back to that, there is reason to believe it won't be as good as last season.  To continue the comparison, Jones has a better TS% and scores the same per 36.  

I am concerned that folks are building him up too much.  He is an energy player off the bench that will play good defense and hopefully won't kill you on offense.  If he continues the trajectory he started last season he could be more than that, but I don't think its something that should be expected, just hoped for.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

@pandahank41
Australia beat Serbia in the warm-up game today.

Dante Exum - 15 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST, 5/7 FG, 1/1 3P, 4-4 FT, +16 in 24 minutes off the bench

Josh Green - 0 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 0/1 FG, -14 in 13 minutes off the bench

That sounds about right for Green. His inconsistency is maddening.

[KillerLeft]

While I recognize that Naji is a better all around offensive player than DJJ, I'm not ready to call him a two way player.  I'm not sure he will be any better floor spacer than DJJ.  He actually takes less 3s than jones does, and before this last season his career 3 point percentage was under 30.  His career average is now sitting at 31 and while I don't think he will regress all the way back to that, there is reason to believe it won't be as good as last season.  To continue the comparison, Jones has a better TS% and scores the same per 36.  

I am concerned that folks are building him up too much.  He is an energy player off the bench that will play good defense and hopefully won't kill you on offense.  If he continues the trajectory he started last season he could be more than that, but I don't think its something that should be expected, just hoped for.

I am ready to call him that, which is why I did. Anyone familiar with his game knows he's capable of handling the ball, and he can actually create shots for himself at three levels, though not a star level, obviously. On this team, the list of players who can do that was only Luka, Kyrie, and Hardy. Adding Marshall and Thompson (both can do at least a little of this) to that list and hopefully Washington, if he improves on offense as I hope, is a good thing. 

I agree with the concerns about his shooting, but I was far more concerned about that with Jones a year ago, and while that part of his game was never good enough, really, it was way better than I expected. I'm pretty confident that Marshall will shoot at least as well as he did, and I'll be pretty surprised if his threat as a catch and shoot guy (and just the level to which he must be taken seriously by the defense in general) isn't quite a bit better.

[Chicagojk]

@pandahank41
Australia beat Serbia in the warm-up game today.

Dante Exum - 15 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST, 5/7 FG, 1/1 3P, 4-4 FT, +16 in 24 minutes off the bench

Josh Green - 0 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 0/1 FG, -14 in 13 minutes off the bench

nice stat line from Exum.   I thought Kidd pushed mostly right buttons last year.  Either at the point or he turned out right, I think.   Next year, there are going to be a few guys who get less minutes then they were expecting.  At times last year, Exum was exactly what we needed.   He got hurt a few times and was caused to miss games.   He wasn't too much of a factor in the playoffs.    I really like how how he plays.   I would love to see him healthy and see how he fits in next year.

[Chicagojk]

If the Mavs cut Lawson loose and decide to use the last spot, I think I have settled on DSJ.  I think he could fit in with the DJJ gamble last year.  Their stats are pretty similar the last few years (nothing spectatular).  Smith is the worse three point shooter but both are good defenders.    Smith is the same age range as DJJ.  In the perfect world, everyone is healthy and there is not minutes for DSJ.  If there is an injury though, I could see DSJ having a similar impact as DJJ.  DJJ getting minutes last year is much easier than DSJ getting minutes this year though.  So my verdict is in....not that anyone cares or that I am right....but bring in DSJ.

even his best highlights have some of the wow factor that DJJ career highlights have.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6w_r0JTUzs&t=152s

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/shamscharania/status/18133...37433?s=46

Well even if healthy for regular season, Dallas needs to have point guard insurance.

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
Mavericks say Kyrie Irving has undergone surgery to repair a broken left hand. He sustained the injury earlier this month while training.

[Mavs2021]

@ShamsCharania
Mavericks say Kyrie Irving has undergone surgery to repair a broken left hand. He sustained the injury earlier this month while training.

Cooper Flagg



Seriously this team needs some PG insurance and waiving AJ Lawson is a small price to pay.

[F Gump]

https://x.com/shamscharania/status/18133...37433?s=46

Well even if healthy for regular season, Dallas needs to have point guard insurance.

I think they have enough already, with Luka-Kyrie-Exum. The conversation has been looking past Exum imo.

[Mavs2021]

I think they have enough already, with Luka-Kyrie-Exum. The conversation has been looking past Exum imo.

Three guys known for their durability.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

That my friend is where you and I differ. Klay wasn't brought in to replace DJJ. Naji Marshall was. Naji is a better defender than DJJ. He is an enforcer that is a great POA defender as well as help defender. Grimes was brought in to replace Josh Green. Grimes was used by the Knicks to always guard the opponents best player.

On a scale of 0-100 I would consider Klay an 80 right now. He was brought in to replace Hardaway Jr. THJ was about a 40 on defense. That is a massive upgrade. Combine that with Klay being one of the best shooters of all time and it's an even larger upgrade.

Grimes and Naji are both lock down defenders. They are better on offense and defense than the two guys they are replacing. I even mentioned right after the finals that I was interested in seeing Naji brought in. Naji is also 6'7" to DJJ being 6'5". Naji is a playmaker and a good shooter.

You must be smoking some of that good shit out in Cali.

If THJ is 40/100 on defense, Klay is 50/100. And Klay is replacing DJJ in the starting and closing lineups. Not Naji Marshall.

[audiosway]

Klay is replacing DJJ in the starting (and finishing) lineup.  The OP was questioning how we are going to guard the POA in those lineups.  Naji won't be in those lineups.

Is Klay an 80 on defense?  The Warriors were a lot better on defense when he was off the court (with a rookie replacing him).  I don't expect much more than average.  That would be better than THJ, but probably not ideal next to Luka and Kyrie.

I am cautiously optimistic about the Naji signing, but there is not a lot of evidence to suggest he is a better defender than DJJ.  He played less than 20 minutes a game off the bench on a middling team while DJJ was starting on a finals team going against the opponents best offensive player.  Naji playmaking includes a lot of turnovers and his shooting is based on a fairly small sample.  I hope he turns out to be better than DJJ, but that would be more projection than description.

I think we got better in the offseason, but there are question marks with all the new guys, and the biggest question mark is fit.  This team fit really well last season.  I hope we can say the same for next season.

Here are the nuts and bolts of it though. Go look at the numbers. Kidd wanted THJ to start but just couldn't justify it because he was so bad on defense. THJ started 12 games and played in 79 of the 82. He averaged 27 mpg. DJJ only averaged 23.5 mpg for the season.

Klay is coming in to do what THJ couldn't which was to start and finish games without the safety net of DJJ.

Naji is a better defender, shooter, and playmaker than DJJ. The only reason he played 20 mpg is because he was behind Herb Jones and the plethora of wings NO has. Grimes is also a stud defender.

And yes, Klay is still a very good defender. I have a video of his defensive highlights from the 21-22 season. Last season the Warriors were a mess. CP3 completely destroyed the flow of the team and how they have always played. CP3 is a mid shooter. He is the exact kind of player that throws off the system they run. 

Klay was also not happy due to the FO not showing that they wanted to keep him. Then, there is Kerr benching him because the front office is retooling the team and wants to see what they have before paying these young guys. As far as the ones saying the Warriors had better defensive numbers with Klay off the floor need to consider that the Mavs numbers on offense were better with Luka OFF the floor last year. I don't remember which numbers it was but during the finals they flashed it on the screen.

Numbers are great for sports with a large starting lineup like Football or Baseball. They don't always show the truth though in basketball since it's just 5 players on the floor at a time.

He is still the same player that he was in the 21-22 season only he's more comfortable now since that was his first year back from injury.

In this video he is guarding everyone from Kawhi, Maxey, Luka, Westbrook, Donovan Mitchell, etc.



What you are dealing with right now is a combination of bad info and the appearance of him not being engaged and miserable. The talking heads are upset that he chose Dallas over the Lakers. The Lakers are a better story for them and more clicks. They will all come across as "shocked" when Klay performs in Dallas. They will all say they didn't see it coming.

You guys seem to quickly forget how good Kidd was on defense at 37 and how good Marion was at 35 still. I'm not saying Klay is on the level of Matrix. But, to say he can't defend anymore is very misguided.

Here is another video from this past season. It's just snippets of his play but he is guarding all types of players at times and guarding them well. He can guard in the post, perimeter, etc. He isn't done like people are saying. He's not prime Klay anymore but he will be a massive upgrade to THJ.

[audiosway]

Here is a little side note for anyone that says DJJ is a better defender than Naji. Watch these highlights from last season. The first 3 guys that Naji shuts down and strips the ball from are Kyrie Irving, SGA, and Jimmy Butler in that order.