Preseason Game 3: Dallas Mavericks (0-2) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (2-1)

[SleepingHero]

I wonder how long it will take before Clipper fans will be tired of "the wall" experience this season

[The Jom]

Some swarming, grabbing, harassing, slapping defense by the Clips. It’s been playoff reffing this quarter.

[SleepingHero]

That incredible hustle by both Lively and OMax there.

Amazing pumpfake by OMax to make the layup easy. Great patience.

[Mavs2021]

Can we give Lively a practice FT before he shoots two? He always seems to swish the 2nd, while the 1st is a massive brick. Also checks with the failed hack-a-Lively strategy by OKC as he got better the more he shot them.

[SleepingHero]

Amazing 3 there by Hardy.

Seriously his shot looks much improved. Which is saying something because it wasn't as if it was bad before.

[SleepingHero]

Great move by OMax and does it again on defense.

And then OMax again with a corner 3! Very happy with the end of the game because of that.

[SleepingHero]

Something to keep in mind regarding Klay since I was curious. Last 2 years he's gotten off to seriously slow starts. Basically first 3-4 weeks he's rusty as heck. Then he rounds out into form.

2022/23 (first 24 games) - 18.4ppg on 40/38/87 shooting splits
2023/24 (first 20 games) - 15.5ppg on 40/35/88 shooting splits

2022/23 (last 45 games)- 23.7ppg on 45/43/88 shooting splits
2023/24 (last 57 games)- 18.7ppg on 44/40/95 shooting splits.

[Mavs2021]

I don’t expect the clippers to be very good but they made some sneaky moves and some interesting long shots.  May not amounts to anything but they have a good front office.

They gambled on two talents with personal problems and that Dunn´s significant post-hiatus shooting sample size is legit. Desperation probably does that to you, but given what just happened to PG13 it might prove to be the correct decision to let him go. They won´t be as bad as people think, but the West is just brutal.

[audiosway]

I´m worried they lost the athletic connector with DJJ. Marshall, Grimes and Klay might be smart defenders, but none seem to stand out athletically.

Nah. Give it time. Marshall will be considered a very nice upgrade to DJJ by the end of the season. Grimes is a much more focused, skilled, and confident Josh Green. Grimes and Naji will be huge this year. Klay will get there. All of this will take a little time to gel. They are just checking out other players right now to fill out the roster and getting acclimated.

[Dundalis]

I´m worried they lost the athletic connector with DJJ. Marshall, Grimes and Klay might be smart defenders, but none seem to stand out athletically.

I'll take multi faceted skillsets and shooting over essentially having just athleticism and being another player who can connect on lobs everyday of the week. They were rusty as hell, but when they round into form, they will be significantly more useful on offense than just a guy who's great at getting above the rim catching lobs.

Also the passes for a number of the lobs or even just paint entry chances in this game were absolute dog crap.

[Mavs2021]

I'll take multi faceted skillsets and shooting over essentially having just athleticism and being another player who can connect on lobs everyday of the week. They were rusty as hell, but when they round into form, they will be significantly more useful on offense than just a guy who's great at getting above the rim catching lobs.

Also the passes for a number of the lobs or even just paint entry chances in this game were absolute dog crap.

Athleticism is also about energy, lateral quickness, ability to contest shots, grab rebounds, deflect shots, close passing lanes, help defense broadly. DJJ might have been that connector on defense. I´m not sure it will be easy to replace that athletic ability/specific talent.

[SleepingHero]

Rewatching Grimes highlights and he seriously makes me excited. He looked so good.

[Chicagojk]

Grimes is the polar opposite of Green. Decisive in all phases, whether it´s driving, passing or just stepping into his shots.

Rough night for the old folks. Luckily we only have two.

Thompson 0-9 four turnovers, team worst -14
Dinwiddie 1-5

Is O-Max out today?

That is a good point on Grimes.  I think we will miss some of the passing and speed Green brought.  At his best, he was a really nice player.   It just wasn't there all the time.  He made himself into a good open three point shooter, but I always felt he just didn't get enough up.    I mean DFS or Bullock never had issues getting shots up.   Green had a few games where he made 6-7 threes but those where outliers.   I think being careful getting shots up (same as exum) is ok for a role player.   You can't have everyone shot hunting when you have two stars who need their shots, but I always wanted more.

Grimes came in and got a shot up on his first touch (and made it).  I am typically against this when a player enters a game.   He still feels like he rushes his shot, but if it goes in......     I was impressed with some of his passing and drives.    I don't think he gets the easy buckets Green and DJJ got, but if he can do some of the passing and driving it will also open up a lot more.

[Chicagojk]

So I went to bed in the 4th. I saw Brandon Williams got up 10 shots in 18 minutes. Quite the number.

I really think he is fighting for that two way spot. I don't think you need both him and Gortman. Gortman getting the start last night needs to mean something. Kidd does wacky things at times, but I think last night was an audition. He appeared to handle it well.

[Chicagojk]

They gambled on two talents with personal problems and that Dunn´s significant post-hiatus shooting sample size is legit. Desperation probably does that to you, but given what just happened to PG13 it might prove to be the correct decision to let him go. They won´t be as bad as people think, but the West is just brutal.

Porter looks like an NBA player.   Tough to get past what happened to him off the court.   I just wonder on court how he develops.  Is he just a walking bucket who needs the ball as a 8-9th man.   Those type of players tend to have trouble fining a footing (heck, look at Jaden).  Porter is a talented guy.

I like the Batum, Jones and Dunn signings.  Not sure what that gets them at the end though.   Just looked at their roster, they have Bones Hyland and Mo Bamba on their bench too.   Sort of weird, I like several of their guys on that team.   Then you realize they will be in a fight just to make the play in.    It feels like they are making a big bet that stars will want to play at their new stadium down the road.  We will see.

[SleepingHero]

Porter looks like an NBA player.   Tough to get past what happened to him off the court.   I just wonder on court how he develops.  Is he just a walking bucket who needs the ball as a 8-9th man.   Those type of players tend to have trouble fining a footing (heck, look at Jaden).  Porter is a talented guy.

I like the Batum, Jones and Dunn signings.  Not sure what that gets them at the end though.   Just looked at their roster, they have Bones Hyland and Mo Bamba on their bench too.   Sort of weird, I like several of their guys on that team.   Then you realize they will be in a fight just to make the play in.    It feels like they are making a big bet that stars will want to play at their new stadium down the road.  We will see.

The question with Porter Jr. was never his ability to play. He had some games for the Rockets that made him look like a future all star. It was always his locker room attitude, disrespectfulness to the coaches, and mercurial social life. 

Same with Kai Jones. He’s an athletic freak with real talent. Massive head case. 

There is an ongoing theme with the clippers getting guys who have checkered off court personas but have talent. History says having more than 1 of those guys on your team is a detriment.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I hope Grimes has a hot start from three to start the season. I could see that catapult him into a big role.

As for Klay and Dinwiddie, let's just say it's preseason for two veterans. Both look like poop.

[Scott41theMavs]

I hope Grimes has a hot start from three to start the season.  I could see that catapult him into a big role.

As for Klay and Dinwiddie, let's just say it's preseason for two veterans.  Both look like poop.

My immediate rejoinder to that is that Klay will look better 1) playing with Luka and Kyrie, 2) as the roster overall gets used to the benefits he brings to the floor, and 3) evidently, when he gets over the two-month slump with which he has begun the year over the past two years (reminds me of Bullock - hopefully ends up a better story than that one...). Dinwiddie meanwhile, would look better in China (or on some other roster).

[The Jom]

Man,Klay’s shooting scares me. This is the place that ruined Davis Bertans and Tim Hardaway, Jr. Looks to me like Klay is trying to speed up his release just like the 2 of them. We might be watching the destruction of the best shot in the history of the NBA. Gross overreaction I hope.

[Mavs2021]

My immediate rejoinder to that is that Klay will look better 1) playing with Luka and Kyrie

You have to hope that playing off Luka and Kyrie will get him the wide open shots and that he knocks them down. He sure looked like crap running around screens. Couldn´t get any separation. He´ll need the wide open looks. He turned the ball over a lot, too. That can be attributed to unfamiliarity, but he´s never been a prolific passer: Career 2.3 APG. For comparison´s sake THJ is at 1.9 APG. 

On the bright side he seemed to be able to defend up against bigger and in theory slower guys. Only problem is that we already have Luka that has to defend upwards positionally. If Klay and Luka defend the SF/PF that leaves Kyrie/PJ for the guards.  

Frank Vogel will earn that advisory money, cause it feels Kidd has a lot to figure out.

It´s pre-season and all, but I think it´s fair to say that we should be happy it´s "only" 17M annually.