Game 55: San Antonio Spurs (11-43) vs. Dallas Mavericks (31-23)

[mvossman]

A word about Gafford...there was some hand-wringing in the game thread about his +/- compared to Lively.  The team got off to a disastrous start (-13 before Gafford subbed out).  Wemby went nuts and Ky-Luka went 1/7 during that time.  I didn't see anyone point out that Gafford was +13 to start the second half.  Wemby was 0/3 and Ky-Luka went 6/9.  I'm sure the reason no one mentioned it was that it was all Gafford's fault that we got off to a slow start and he had nothing to do with the good team play to start the second half.  Could we please give it a couple weeks before we try to anoint him as the new Powell here that everyone is supposed to hate.  He ended up +2 with a double double and .714 from the field.  Just two more weeks.  That's all I'm asking.  Our bench is going to crush people when everyone is healthy.

Its interesting.  I have seen more posts defending Gafford than bashing him.  Most of the bashing posts read more pro Lively than Gafford bashing.  Its not even in the same ballpark as the hate Powell gets regularly.  I will say that Gafford has a history of his on court impact trailing his prolific stats.  Its not just 3 games, its a career trend.  Does not mean it will play out that way here, but it is something to keep an eye on.  Is that bashing?