MAVS NEWS:

[vfromlmf]

Dusty May on the main improvements he expects from Zaccharie Risacher: "He’s still finding himself. He hasn’t shot at all as well as he’s capable of, or as he has in his career. I think with the way the team is built, there has to be a way to put him in short roll situations, as a decision-maker (…) But he’s finding himself as someone who’s capable of impacting every possession: through his activity (on defense), through his ball deflections, coming from the weak side to contest shots and cover his teammates. He plays hard, he’s active, and in the future, I think all of that will count for a lot in making him one of the key pieces of this team."

x.com

I don't recall seeing Risacher excel as a decision maker in short roll situations. In fact, one of the concerns I have with Risacher, is his processing speed. Does he see the game at an elite level? Maybe (hopefully) he's shown something in practice. 

One play last night stood out where Risacher caught on the wing and I believe Wemby stepped out of the paint to pick him up. Kyrie darted in behind the play and it looked like Risacher had an opening for an easy bounce pass for Kyrie at the rim -- but he didn't throw the pass. Instead he dribbled into the paint, got stuck, and kicked it out. Super frustrating.

I keep reminding myself ZR is young and still building toward being a net positive rotation player.

[cow]

I don't recall seeing Risacher excel as a decision maker in short roll situations. In fact, one of the concerns I have with Risacher, is his processing speed. Does he see the game at an elite level? Maybe (hopefully) he's shown something in practice. 

One play last night stood out where Risacher caught on the wing and I believe Wemby stepped out of the paint to pick him up. Kyrie darted in behind the play and it looked like Risacher had an opening for an easy bounce pass for Kyrie at the rim -- but he didn't throw the pass. Instead he dribbled into the paint, got stuck, and kicked it out. Super frustrating.

I keep reminding myself ZR is young and still building toward being a net positive rotation player.

ZR had a similar play with Gafford left alone under the rim with the defense scrambling and didn't see him.

[Scott41theMavs]

ZR had a similar play with Gafford left alone under the rim with the defense scrambling and didn't see him.

Yeah, they better coach him up to the point that he can see that stuff. If he knows what to look for and still can't see it, he may need prescription sports goggles.

[cow]

Yeah, they better coach him up to the point that he can see that stuff. If he knows what to look for and still can't see it, he may need prescription sports goggles.

He was on the wing and Gaff was on the corresponding block.  I'm not sure how he couldn't have seen him.  *shrug*

[Smitty]

Dallas Mavericks Injury Report:

AVAILABLE:
Caleb Martin (Right Thumb Splint)

PROBABLE:
Santi Aldama (Right Knee Surgery)
Max Christie (Right Hip Soreness/Tightness)

OUT:
Tarik Biberović (Right Heel Bursitis)
Sergio de Larrea (Right Knee Sprain)
Dereck Lively II (Right Foot Surgery)

[Winter]

"After Sunday’s game, May explained why he’s been starting Caleb Martin on the wing of late, according to Afseth. “We tinkered with a number of different guys in that spot,” May said in part. “And we just felt like with our team, especially on nights Kyrie’s not playing, and we don’t know exactly when those are going to be. We thought Caleb gives us the best chance to be elite defensively, and from a toughness standpoint, and we also felt like the other four guys are scoring at a high clip. That we needed someone to kind of give themselves up and connect the group by also still being a threat.”

I thought this was interesting given the discussion on Martin recently.

[Smitty]

"After Sunday’s game, May explained why he’s been starting Caleb Martin on the wing of late, according to Afseth. “We tinkered with a number of different guys in that spot,” May said in part. “And we just felt like with our team, especially on nights Kyrie’s not playing, and we don’t know exactly when those are going to be. We thought Caleb gives us the best chance to be elite defensively, and from a toughness standpoint, and we also felt like the other four guys are scoring at a high clip. That we needed someone to kind of give themselves up and connect the group by also still being a threat.”

I thought this was interesting given the discussion on Martin recently.

Sounds familiar 

[Smitty]

Tim MacMahon (@BannedMacMahon)
Cooper Flagg now has five 40-point performances. Every other teenager in NBA history has combined for 10.

Naji Marshall: “I'm not even going to lie: I didn't think he was going to be this good. I knew he was good. I didn't think he was going to be this good.”

[ThisIStheYear]

Looking back at some of the draft information for WCJ. He was old to be entering the draft, so that was a strike, but his college productivity looks predictive of a successful pro. His measurements were a weakness for his listed draft position of wing. But he has great size for a point guard, which seems to be the direction he’s trending (combo 1 and 2 guard). He shot poorly as a rookie, but he could shoot it in college, so maybe his year 2 leap in shooting efficiency is mostly real. If WCJ can play the 1, his acquisition was an epic steal.

[Chicagojk]

Looking back at some of the draft information for WCJ. He was old to be entering the draft, so that was a strike, but his college productivity looks predictive of a successful pro.  His measurements were a weakness for his listed draft position of wing. But he has great size for a point guard, which seems to be the direction he’s trending (combo 1 and 2 guard).  He shot poorly as a rookie, but he could shoot it in college, so maybe his year 2 leap in shooting efficiency is mostly real. If WCJ can play the 1, his acquisition was an epic steal.

Last year there was a game where him and Nemby were matched up.  I thought they looked pretty similar as older rookies.   Clayton was a little bigger but Nemby looked much more confident running a team.   What has surprised me about Clayton so far is how good he has looked with the ball and how he is much more than a good shooter.    His ability to push the pace and allow Kyrie and Cooper to play some off the ball has been a blessing so far.  

In college, his three point shooting percentage was not awesome, but if he watched the shots he took and how he was guarded it does look more impressive.    His shooting in the tournament was huge too.  He made so many big shots.

[Winter]

You know it just may be that WCj felt comfortable here playing for a coach he knows. Some rookies really stiffen up the first couple of years, so we might be lucky if the real WCj has now made an appearance. It would be as Chicago said, an "epic steal" if that's the case.

He just looks like a real PG - not a combo guard or an extra playmaker.

[KillerLeft]

You know it just may be that WCj felt comfortable here playing for a coach he knows. Some rookies really stiffen up the first couple of years, so we might be lucky if the real WCj has now made an appearance. It would be as Chicago said, an "epic steal" if that's the case.

He just looks like a real PG - not a combo guard or an extra playmaker.

Agreed on both counts. 

How comfortable a player feels with coaches and teammates, how comfortable they are in a particular city, with their apartment or house...their drive to work...whatever. How valued they feel by the team...how fairly they think they're being treated, relative to their role and the chance they're being given to succeed. How mature they are in general (which changes over time and at different ages for all of them)...ALL of this has a real, tangible effect on what they show on the court. We tend to talk about them like they're video game players with numerical values listed next to certain skills, and that's the easiest way not to understand the right way forward. I suspect some front offices operate that way, even, which is crazy to me. If the Nelsons (for all their faults) didn't understand how this stuff really works, Nash/Dirk would never have happened.

And, YES! WCJ is 100% PG. At times he has driven the offense at a very competent and effective NBA level this season. There have even been stretches during which he outright controlled the flow of the game, which is something we haven't seen around here in a while. What seals it for me is that even when he's not playing particularly well the TEAM still looks better on offense because he's out there. When he initiates, he makes quick decisions. Even if no advantage is created as a result, the ball doesn't stick with him until the shot clock has expired (I think even Flagg and Kyrie struggle with this from time to time). Once he gives up the ball, he's effective off ball and uncommonly good in the role of connector, making the correct and timely swing pass, etc. He's just as interested in making the pass before the assist pass, which is what's needed from your main ball-handlers to have an effective, ball-sharing, unselfish offense. He's not Haliburton, but he's got some of that good PG DNA. 

Players go harder when they get to touch the ball. Their offense comes more confidently and in better rhythm. Those catch and shoot 3's start to go down more often because they stay engaged out there and are having fun. And, maybe most importantly, they work harder on defense.

I hope it lasts!  I wish they had one more of those guys.

[KillerLeft]

The idea that this team would be hovering around 10th in defense eleven games in was something I would've have outright laughed at someone for suggesting before the season started, especially if you'd told me we wouldn't have even one Lively sighting to this point.

Laugh at me if you want, but I personally believe this is due, IN PART, to what's going on here, offensively. I think everyone is involved on BOTH ends of the floor, rather than just being told "just focus on defense and try to rebound that guy's misses on the other end."

[cow]

The idea that this team would be hovering around 10th in defense eleven games in was something I would've have outright laughed at someone for suggesting before the season started, especially if you'd told me we wouldn't have even one Lively sighting to this point.

Laugh at me if you want, but I personally believe this is due, IN PART, to what's going on here, offensively. I think everyone is involved on BOTH ends of the floor, rather than just being told "just focus on defense and try to rebound that guy's misses on the other end."

How much did last night's defensive performance drop us in the standings?

[KillerLeft]

How much did last night's defensive performance drop us in the standings?

Currently 10th in defrtg, 11th in offrtg and 12th in netrtg.

All higher that any expectation I would've predicted as a season-long high water mark.

[cow]

Currently 10th in defrtg, 11th in offrtg and 12th in netrtg.

All higher that any expectation I would've predicted as a season-long high water mark.

I was just joshing as our defense was abysmal last night.  No idea how we won that game.  A nice reminder of how good Carlisle is.  The Mavs have been a pleasant surprise and a nice juxtaposition of the Cowboys.  Alas, expectations...

[MFFLER est 01]

Im just saying that the rockets team yhat we beat isnt an elite team because they were missing their best player.

If they beat healthy spurs team on wednesday then im pretty sure this is a 50 win team. In  Cooper we trust.

The idea that this team would be hovering around 10th in defense eleven games in was something I would've have outright laughed at someone for suggesting before the season started, especially if you'd told me we wouldn't have even one Lively sighting to this point.

Laugh at me if you want, but I personally believe this is due, IN PART, to what's going on here, offensively. I think everyone is involved on BOTH ends of the floor, rather than just being told "just focus on defense and try to rebound that guy's misses on the other end."

Idk. Imo this just means that you're a casual and you don't really know ball like that. I was the laughing at the takes saying we would be that low. I have been saying from day 1 that this team will surpass expectations given the deep roster,2nd year Coop,and Kyrie returning

[windjc]

Idk. Imo this just means that you're a casual and you don't really know ball like that. I was the laughing at the takes saying we would be that low. I have been saying from day 1 that this team will surpass expectations given the deep roster,2nd year Coop,and Kyrie returning

Me too.

[mvossman]

Idk. Imo this just means that you're a casual and you don't really know ball like that. I was the laughing at the takes saying we would be that low. I have been saying from day 1 that this team will surpass expectations given the deep roster,2nd year Coop,and Kyrie returning

Lol, yeah Killer is a real casual.  Can't believe somebody liked this post.

[Mavs2021]

I was just joshing as our defense was abysmal last night.  No idea how we won that game.  A nice reminder of how good Carlisle is.  The Mavs have been a pleasant surprise and a nice juxtaposition of the Cowboys.  Alas, expectations...

That Carlisle has only taken five challenges so far this season seems to me that he is mailing it in. He usually take two challenges and three timeouts in a 30 pt blowout in the 4th quarter alone just to yell at somebody.