GAME 11: DAL (7-4) @ CHI (8-3) | 107-117 loss

[Kammrath]

[Kammrath]

Time to see if the Mavs measure up!

[KillerLeft]

I have a feeling that we're in store for another Miami-style beatdown, where it's clear that one team is significantly better (right now). The sky will be falling around here for 48 hours, but literally no matter what happens, I'll be fine. I'm starting to see some things I like out there.

[embellisher]

Tough one coming up. Let's see how we're progressing.

[Jym]

I have a feeling that we're in store for another Miami-style beatdown, where it's clear that one team is significantly better (right now). The sky will be falling around here for 48 hours, but literally no matter what happens, I'll be fine. I'm starting to see some things I like out there.

Yeah if Luka is the weak link (compared to where we hoped he could be) in a 7-3 start, I'm not going to complain too much
Just curious how the minutes will shake out once Maxi comes back. Frankie and Bullock both need to play more
My hope is that Powell is the one having to sacrifice

[fifteenth]

This next stretch of 9 games that takes us through Nov is interesting. Lots of road games, an up tick in opponent quality, but no b2bs. Seems like a good level of test for where we're at. It's an increase in difficulty level,  but not impossibly difficult. Difficult enough that 5 and 4 would probably be a success.

[fifteenth]

Yeah if Luka is the weak link (compared to where we hoped he could be) in a 7-3 start, I'm not going to complain too much
Just curious how the minutes will shake out once Maxi comes back. Frankie and Bullock both need to play more
My hope is that Powell is the one having to sacrifice

WCS plays less, right? And Maxi gives us the possibility of 2-big lineups that actually work since he can play with either KP or Powell.

[Mikelo]

Bulls are tough..they have a lot of powder offensively and 2 good perimeter defenders in Caruso / Ball..but they don't have good inside defense..interesting challenge

[DanSchwartzgan]

Yeah if Luka is the weak link (compared to where we hoped he could be) in a 7-3 start, I'm not going to complain too much
Just curious how the minutes will shake out once Maxi comes back. Frankie and Bullock both need to play more
My hope is that Powell is the one having to sacrifice

The current minutes load of our top 9 players add up to 229.5 minutes (leaving an extra 10.5 minutes to spread around).  Here are the current numbers:

34.5    Luka
31.8    THJ
31.4    DFS
28.6    Brunson
26.2    KP
23.9    Powell
20.3    Bullock
18.8    Maxi
14.0    Frank


I'm not sure anyone has to sacrifice in games where we just play our top nine.  There is plenty of room to give some extra minutes to KP, Brunson and Maxi if we wish.  I'm not sure the current version of DFS deserves to be at 31 minutes.  We mainly need to get the right people together in the right rotation.  It doesn't feel like we've got that nailed down just yet.

[mvossman]

The current minutes load of our top 9 players add up to 229.5 minutes (leaving an extra 10.5 minutes to spread around).  Here are the current numbers:

34.5    Luka
31.8    THJ
31.4    DFS
28.6    Brunson
26.2    KP
23.9    Powell
20.3    Bullock
18.8    Maxi
14.0    Frank


I'm not sure anyone has to sacrifice in games where we just play our top nine.  There is plenty of room to give some extra minutes to KP, Brunson and Maxi if we wish.  I'm not sure the current version of DFS deserves to be at 31 minutes.  We mainly need to get the right people together in the right rotation.  It doesn't feel like we've got that nailed down just yet.

Yep.  Give KP some of Powell's minutes, Bullock some of DFS minutes and remaining minutes to Maxi and Frank.  I look at it like this:

Center:  KP/Powell  Non KP minutes are about the right amount for Powell
PF:        DFS/Maxi   Maxi makes most sense playing with Powell on second unit, but these two should split minutes evenly
SG/SF:   THJ/Bullock  Bullock will get additional minutes (see below)
PG:        Luka/Brunson  Brunson will get a lot of additional minutes (see below)

The 5th spot can be split by Brunson, Bullock and Frank

General thoughts:

The single big lineup ideally would include KP/DFS/Luka
The 2 big lineups would generally be KP/Maxi or Powell/Maxi
One of Luka/Brunson would always be on the court
Exactly 2 of Luka/Brunson/THJ would be on the court to balance out offense/defense

[IamDougieFresh]

I have a feeling that we're in store for another Miami-style beatdown, where it's clear that one team is significantly better (right now). The sky will be falling around here for 48 hours, but literally no matter what happens, I'll be fine. I'm starting to see some things I like out there.

If we are losing anyways, I hope we lose bad enough to get this Canadian Goofus out of the starting lineup.

[fifteenth]

If we are losing anyways, I hope we lose bad enough to get this Canadian Goofus out of the starting lineup.

Can you put your address in the this thread so we can send you some DP Bobble Heads for Christmas?

For some reason, and maybe it was just a dream, but didn't you actually say something nice about DP in the not too distant past? 

[IamDougieFresh]

Factually correct minutes allocation to win games:

Luka 34
Brunson 34
THJ 32
KP 30
DFS 30 (we have no other big wings)
Bullock 26
Maxi 24 (save him for big playoff role)
Frank 18
Moses 8 (let’s get a look can’t be any worse than WCS and Dwight)
Brown 4

Garbage time/situational for everyone else

Starting 5:

Brunson - Bullock - Luka - Maxi - KP

---

Can you put your address in the this thread so we can send you some DP Bobble Heads for Christmas?

For some reason, and maybe it was just a dream, but didn't you actually say something nice about DP in the not too distant past? 

If I remember correctly he played a nice game against the Lakers towards the end of last year

[DrMav]

When considering our record this year against the Hawks, Heat, Rockets, and Raptors, we are 0.500 against teams with red colored logos. Gotta get that number higher. Must win game.

[Hypermav]

Mavs are due to an insanely good shooting night.  Let it be tonight.

[KillerLeft]

Mavs are due to an insanely good shooting night.  Let it be tonight.

Well, they have shown recent signs of improved organization in their play. I suppose there's an outside chance that they'll get more "up" for Chicago because they know how good of a team they're facing. It's possible. I definitely thought they took parts of that Boston game off due to Brown being out, which was unfortunate.

[Fuerza1]

This will be a statement game by the Mavs. Kidd enters COY discussion!!

[HoosierDaddyKid]

This will be a statement game by the Mavs. Kidd enters COY discussion!!

Temper that enthusiasm...

[Kammrath]

Luka+DP+DFS is -14.5 for the year....tonight -7 together already. They need to figure this out or Kidd needs to break up the three stooges!

[Kammrath]

Luka+DP+DFS is -14.5 for the year....tonight -7 together already.

-11 together.

Luka+DFS.... -18 together. 

Ugh.