What is going on with the Mavs?

[embellisher]

yes... what IS going on with the Mavs?

Based on several of these posters, apparently the sky is falling... or at least it was! 

[audiosway]

Too early to call it a take, but...

I think it’s possible that Carlisle is giving people a chance to expand their offensive responsibilities early on, and maybe even asking them to do so, in an effort to add more wrinkles to last year’s offense, which was really effective but actually limited to a few really well executed concepts.

Still too early to call like you said. But, I think this is a good bit of it. A few things actually. I feel like Rick knows Luka will produce. But, he needs the other guys to produce to win when it matters. They saw that in the playoffs last season. It could be Luka being a little out of shape but I think a lot of that has to do with this year. Just an odd year with really no offseason. Late season late start, etc. Also, I think Luka has to be smarter and not just jack up step back 3s. You can tell he's learned that pretty quick. Smart kid.

It feels like Rick is trying to see what guys like J Rich can do. Plus, what can Powell do now after the achilles? Rick has to know he won't be the exact same player. So, what can he do now? What about the other new guys? Just a lot of unknown's. And Rick is known to tinker during the season. He knows they will be in the playoffs. But, that's not enough. They need to know what they can do when they get there if they are to try to win a series or two.

[Kammrath]

You are only as good as your best player........

Time to up your body game and shooting game Luka.

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/DorothyJGentry/statu...7770626048

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/espn_macmahon/status...0424596481

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/status/13...6203245569

[MrGoat]

The team read too much of their own press and the hype got to their head. That's what following up that Clippers game like that suggests.

Luka showing up for the season with tits when we knew KP would miss the early part of the season also suggested that

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/ClutchPointsApp/stat...0166534145

[BigDirk41]

https://twitter.com/ClutchPointsApp/stat...0166534145

"Damn I wish I had taken the off-season more serious"

[MaxiThreeba]

Maybe this will wake Luka up. You have to attack the off-season with the same mentality you attack competing in season.

Luka is absolutely a fierce competitor and not only wants, but expects to win wherever he is.

He clearly sat back and enjoyed the historic season he had and didn’t take his off season seriously the way the legends do.

I think once KP gets back they can right the ship and make the playoffs and compete. But this season is going to take the shine off Luka at a national level...and that’s honestly just fine with me.

Will be a wake up call for the youngin and a competitor like Luka will figure it out. After this season would be a great time for Dirk to jump back into the fray and take a hands on roll with helping coach Luka up on how to handle an NBA offseason.

No more Fat Luka after this year please. Fat Luka is hard to watch.

[Kammrath]

But this season is going to take the shine off Luka at a national level...and that’s honestly just fine with me.

Yes, he needs it. It is bad for him that he is getting interviewed about being MVP favorite. He needs some humble pie. 

No more Fat Luka after this year please.  Fat Luka is hard to watch.

 

Yep.

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/CallieCaplan/status/...1161699328

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/CallieCaplan/status/...2683784192

[Omega_Supreme]

Maybe this will wake Luka up.  You have to attack the off-season with the same mentality you attack competing in season.

Luka is absolutely a fierce competitor and not only wants, but expects to win wherever he is.

He clearly sat back and enjoyed the historic season he had and didn’t take his off season seriously the way the legends do. 

I think once KP gets back they can right the ship and make the playoffs and compete.  But this season is going to take the shine off Luka at a national level...and that’s honestly just fine with me.

Will be a wake up call for the youngin and a competitor like Luka will figure it out.  After this season would be a great time for Dirk to jump back into the fray and take a hands on roll with helping coach Luka up on how to handle an NBA offseason.

No more Fat Luka after this year please.  Fat Luka is hard to watch.

I agree with most of this but the Mavs have some glaring issues that go beyond just KP and Luka. They need to make a trade because one of the issues is THJ and Richardson are not a good fit. THJ is not a legit Small Forward and he and Richardson occupy the same floor space so things are very awkward with them starting together. 

The Mavs need to shake things up

By the way I am not opposed to starting Josh Green for a while so that I have 3 defenders starting and put THJ on the bench.

[Kammrath]

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/espn_macmahon/status...2554750976

Yeah, carrying ~20 extra pounds and not having your conditioning is going make your legs exhausted and your shooting horrific.

[FunkBoreland]

[JamesConway]

The starting unit is the biggest issue, not Luka. He still put up close to 30 ppg the first three games. The starters sucked every game (pre & regular season) whevever they didn’t play that Clippers-squad.

Carlisle needs to make adjustments. It’s a joke that we’re still going with this lineup after four games. This is reaching levels of the Bogut-lineups we trotted in the year before the DSJr-draft. Just dysfunctional.

[ThisIStheYear]

Been a Powell supporter throughout his time here. He’s no longer an NBA rotation player. Maybe he can regain his form, but it’s time to put him on the bench. Maybe give him 7-8 minutes per game here and there to give him a chance to improve and get his body right.

[omahen]

Been a Powell supporter throughout his time here. He’s no longer an NBA rotation player.  Maybe he can regain his form, but it’s time to put him on the bench. Maybe give him 7-8 minutes per game here and there to give him a chance to improve and get his body right.

Problem is you just can't single out players. Everyone played like crap. WCS, the idolized Mavs center got 4 fouls in 9 minutes. Kleber is awful defensively this season. DFS is below 30 % from three in the season start. They looked real solid in the preseason but somehow it all just went away. Doesn't matter, its a long season and it is obvious it will be s strange one. For everyone.