MAVS NEWS:

[Smitty]

@MavsFilmRoom
Tomorrow’s game against the Rockets is a “Cup Night”, which will see the Mavericks utilize their NBA Cup Court for this season:

   

[Winter]

I had to consult ChatGPT.

An NBA Cup Night is a designated game night during the NBA's in-season tournament where the only scheduled games across the league are official Group Play matches.

Key Details

• When They Happen: Cup Nights take place primarily on Fridays (from October 30 to November 27), alongside special mid-week dates like Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 25.

• Regular-Season Counting: Every Group Play game played on a Cup Night counts as a standard regular-season game for team standings and player statistics (with the sole exception of the tournament championship game).

• Tournament Format: All 30 teams are split into six 5-team groups (three per conference). Each team plays four group-stage games, and the group winners plus wild cards advance to the single-elimination knockout rounds.

[Smitty]

Here is the slate for the Mavs, who are in West Group A:

10/30: vs. Rockets - 7 p.m.
11/6: vs. Jazz - 7 p.m.
11/24: @ Nuggets - 9 p.m. (NBC)
11/27: @ Suns - 8 p.m.

[cow]

My eyes can't deal with the court colors during cup games.

[Smitty]

Dallas Mavericks Injury Report vs. Houston Rockets:

AVAILABLE:
Caleb Martin (right thumb splint)

QUESTIONABLE:
Naji Marshall (illness)

DOUBTFUL:
Santi Aldama (right knee surgery)
Tarik Biberović (right heel bursitis)

OUT:
Sergio de Larrea (right knee sprain)
Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery)

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I'm beginning to think Risacher's ceiling is "Matrix 2.0". He's got Marion's length, athleticism and defensive tendencies already. All he needs now is a reliable 3 point shot. If ZR can tailor his game to that, he'd be a perfect glue guy.

Speaking of Marion and Nellie, here's a fun fact:
Everyone knows about the Mavs/Bucks trade that got Dirk (I hate how it's always incorrectly told that the Bucks traded Dirk. He was always going to be taken by the Mavs). But the coup was getting another 1st in that draft, which was, in part, what landed Nash in Dallas. However, in Nellie's negotiations with Phoenix, the deal hinged on the 1999 1st that would also go to the Suns. Nellie fought for it to be Lottery protected. Phoenix wouldn't budge and they wound up taking Shawn Marion ninth overall. Nellie said after the Draft that if they had kept the pick that's who he would've taken.  Can you imagine Marion on those late 90s, early 2000s Mavs? He was exactly the type of glue guy they were missing.

Edit: As I'm reminiscing about that era of the Mavs, my guy Shawn Bradley popped into my head. Just using the post to put some good vibes in the air. Spinal cord injuries are no joke. Doing it at 7'7" is unimaginable. Rock on, champ!

[Winter]

I've been looking at the statistics of the 2026 first-round picks.

The top 5 of course are pretty much as advertised. Most are playing OK at least.

But I was particulary interested in #s 6-30. The only one I've found in this range really killing it is Yaxel. Many of the players are injured. Most are playing fewer minutes then Rez (Burries is not playing much more than Rez and isn't shooting particularly well. Both he and Rez are averaging about the same number of PPG and playing the same number of minutes). Kingston Flemings is playing OK but nothing special. He's averaging about 20 MPG but still only averaging about 7 PPG - the same as Rez and Burries. Mikel Brown just came off the injured list and had one pretty good game last night. Acuff is incredibly ineffiicient even if he can score a lot. Stirtz we saw last night, but that was a nothing burger. I think there are a few second-rounders playing pretty good, but most haven't played more than one game.

It's early of course, and some of these injured players will eventually produce (Cameron Carr would be my bet once he gets healthy), but I thought it was interesting to note considering all the energy we put into looking at these players. I may have missed someone who is really doing well, but between numbers 6-30 the production is a bit slimmer than I expected.

[Dirknows]

I'm beginning to think Risacher's ceiling is "Matrix 2.0". He's got Marion's length, athleticism and defensive tendencies already. All he needs now is a reliable 3 point shot. If ZR can tailor his game to that, he'd be a perfect glue guy.

Speaking of Marion and Nellie, here's a fun fact:
Everyone knows about the Mavs/Bucks trade that got Dirk (I hate how it's always incorrectly told that the Bucks traded Dirk. He was always going to be taken by the Mavs). But the coup was getting another 1st in that draft, which was, in part, what landed Nash in Dallas. However, in Nellie's negotiations with Phoenix, the deal hinged on the 1999 1st that would also go to the Suns. Nellie fought for it to be Lottery protected. Phoenix wouldn't budge and they wound up taking Shawn Marion ninth overall. Nellie said after the Draft that if they had kept the pick that's who he would've taken.  Can you imagine Marion on those late 90s, early 2000s Mavs? He was exactly the type of glue guy they were missing.

Edit: As I'm reminiscing about that era of the Mavs, my guy Shawn Bradley popped into my head. Just using the post to put some good vibes in the air. Spinal cord injuries are no joke. Doing it at 7'7" is unimaginable. Rock on, champ!

I’m starting to think you’re forgetting how good young Sean Marion was, 21/11 with 3+ stocks receiving MVP, DPOY votes and a couple all NBA teams. If you think he could be a better shooting version of what Marion was when he was here, that could be a potential outcome.

[cow]

I’m starting to think you’re forgetting how good young Sean Marion was, 21/11 with 3+ stocks receiving MVP, DPOY votes and a couple all NBA teams. If you think he could be a better shooting version of what Marion was when he was here, that could be a potential outcome.

I read Matrix 2.0 as the 2nd iteration of Marion's career, the one we saw up close and personal.  His Suns days were something else all together, as you said.  Still one of the greatest nicknames ever.

[ClutchDirk]

  ric-flair-woo-ric-flair.gif (Size: 296.95 KB / Downloads: 130)

[Mavs2021]

Here is the slate for the Mavs, who are in West Group A:

10/30: vs. Rockets - 7 p.m.
11/6: vs. Jazz - 7 p.m.
11/24: @ Nuggets - 9 p.m. (NBC)
11/27: @ Suns - 8 p.m.

Suddenly that Cup schedule is not looking so bad. I demand 3-1.

[KillerLeft]

Suddenly that Cup schedule is not looking so bad. I demand 3-1.

This feels like a team that might actually benefit from "going for it" in the cup race. It feels like confidence is worth a lot right about now.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I’m starting to think you’re forgetting how good young Sean Marion was, 21/11 with 3+ stocks receiving MVP, DPOY votes and a couple all NBA teams. If you think he could be a better shooting version of what Marion was when he was here, that could be a potential outcome.

I remember exactly how good prime Marion was. That's why I said he was ZR's "ceiling". And as good as Marion was, he was never higher than the third best player on his team. In Phoenix, he was behind Nash and Stoudemire.

[F Gump]

This feels like a team that might actually benefit from "going for it" in the cup race. It feels like confidence is worth a lot right about now.

Perhaps. Hopefully.

I think tonight will be a good sign of where they really are. OKC game was impressive and great to see, but it has a better-than-zero chance of being fools gold. The OKC team we saw is so decimated that beating them might not be all that meaningful. 

But a win vs a HOU team that is healthy and playing well would say something. And if HOU dominates again, it should show what's lacking.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Marion was a 22+10 guy in his prime (ok with Nash and D'Antoni)... Zach is good, but not even close to him offensively.

He needs to gain some muscles.

[mvossman]

I've been looking at the statistics of the 2026 first-round picks.

The top 5 of course are pretty much as advertised. Most are playing OK at least.

But I was particulary interested in #s 6-30. The only one I've found in this range really killing it is Yaxel. Many of the players are injured. Most are playing fewer minutes then Rez (Burries is not playing much more than Rez and isn't shooting particularly well. Both he and Rez are averaging about the same number of PPG and playing the same number of minutes). Kingston Flemings is playing OK but nothing special. He's averaging about 20 MPG but still only averaging about 7 PPG - the same as Rez and Burries. Mikel Brown just came off the injured list and had one pretty good game last night. Acuff is incredibly ineffiicient even if he can score a lot. Stirtz we saw last night, but that was a nothing burger. I think there are a few second-rounders playing pretty good, but most haven't played more than one game.

It's early of course, and some of these injured players will eventually produce (Cameron Carr would be my bet once he gets healthy), but I thought it was interesting to note considering all the energy we put into looking at these players. I may have missed someone who is really doing well, but between numbers 6-30 the production is a bit slimmer than I expected.

Yeah, Mavs fans have been a little spoiled with rookies coming in and having an immediate impact (Luka, Lively, Flagg).  I think its why some folks are so hard on Rez.  It takes time for most guys.  I will be very curious to see what this analysis looks like at the end of the year.

[Mavs2021]

Perhaps. Hopefully.

I think tonight will be a good sign of where they really are. OKC game was impressive and great to see, but it has a better-than-zero chance of being fools gold. The OKC team we saw is so decimated that beating them might not be all that meaningful. 

But a win vs a HOU team that is healthy and playing well would say something. And if HOU dominates again, it should show what's lacking.

Beating Houston would say we are a title contender. Losing to Houston would mean nothing. Houston seems the most complete team in the league right now. 

The home games against the Kings, Jazz, Nets and Pacers will show who we are. Being above 0.500 after the next six games would be impressive enough. Also that short-handed OKC team blew out Phoenix and Mavs blew out OKC. That still counts for something.

I might be wrong about that team after all. And the main reason is not Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington or Daniel Gafford. It is Dusty May.

Even loving absolutely everything about Dusty May´s profile. You had no idea whether it would translate to the NBA and so far it looks like he far exceeds all expectations. The Mavs are playing the most attractive ball in years. I don´t think this has anything to do with Luka or no Luka either.

May quickly realized his big ball idea, does not work and quickly moved Risacher to SF/PF. He realized Kyrie is 35 years old. He puts all players in a position to succeed and rides the hot hand. Whereas Kidd and Carlisle would treat a good quarter from a role player as an unexpected bonus, May treats it like an opportunity.  

Also seems Masai nailed the strategy. Turns out Kyrie Irving is Kyrie Irving, Cooper Flagg is Kevin Love and Luka is LeBron and the Mavs win five titles instead of one.  2028 is alive.

[Smitty]

Mavericks coach Dusty May provides injury updates on Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic, and Sergio De Larrea:

- says Aldama is “very close.” Practiced with the Legends a few times

- Biberovic is “very close,” but not as close as Aldama.

- De Larrea will be re-evaluated next week.

[myconsumerclub]

Whats up with our Europeans?

[Knutsen]

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?