Mavericks

Horns11 said:
Cuban is an enigma. He's like a cross between Billy Beane and Howard Hughes.

After the 2011 championship, Cuban thought he could outsmart the new CBA and build a team by shedding contracts and making shrewd deals. The problem was that he didn't have to do so. Players (like Tyson Chandler) could have always been used as bargaining chips, not something to bail on and free up space like a video game. The work stoppage that year really screwed with Cuban's perception of what a good team could look like, while the Heat said "f**k it" and kept their superteam together. Meanwhile, Cuban stuck with guys like Delonte West, Roddy Beaubois, and Brian Cardinal. Ugh.

TLDR; He could have conceivably built (around Dirk) what every other superteam was doing, but was so consumed by the CBA, he went into a shell. He's doing the same now to Luka, who will definitely leave Dallas.
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He made the mistake of thinking he was smarting than everyone else. I remember his comments (just the general gist) and as you say, he pretty much thought he understood how the new CBA would drive the cap and people's behavior.
 
Mavs/Horn alumni news:

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The Mavericks just traded for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. Gafford looks like a good pick-up as he's a very solid center and durable. Washington is a good player with middle of the road stats, but he's 6' 7" and the Mavs will pencil him in at PF. He's too small. I don't understand why they keep picking guys like this.
 
bystander said:
The Mavericks just traded for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. Gafford looks like a good pick-up as he's a very solid center and durable. Washington is a good player with middle of the road stats, but he's 6' 7" and the Mavs will pencil him in at PF. He's too small. I don't understand why they keep picking guys like this.
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because Cuban is a basketball idiot.
 
ViperHorn said:
because Cuban is a basketball idiot.
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Yep. They traded Williams (a bust), Curry (a bust) and a #1 pick, which is typical, as they have devalued draft picks over the years. Williams was supposed to be a starter but he was also undersized and apparently over-rated.
 
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I think PJ has a 5" better wingspan than Grant. That's significant. But he is definitely more "forward" than "power forward." PJ is an upgrade over Grant imo, and 25yo.

Gafford is a huge upgrade at backup Center. Also 25yo.

Mavs gave up a first and no players of value for two improved fits. I thought it was good overall.
 
We're past the point of judging forwards by their size any longer. Zion is basically a 6'6" C and because of his strength, no one questions it. Same goes for Washington. He's a banger and gives improved presence out there.

Now, judging Luka by his lack of workout habits is definitely on the table.
 
Is there a reason as to why Texas didn't get a college night? The hats for the other schools are actually nice.
 
Gafford missed his first shot last night, coming within 2 consecutive FGs of Wilt Chamberlain's record. I really like what he brings each night.
 
While the Mavericks have the best record in the league over the past 20 games or so, only the Nuggets and Thunder were "great."

I'll say this: they actually look like they're having a good time from night to night, and that's nearly a free ticket to the 2nd round of the playoffs when you enter it on a hot streak. But when they finally have to play one out of Denver, OKC, or Minnesota in a 7-game series, and either Doncic or Irving has a rough night shooting, I don't think they'll be able to sustain the success. Their bench is only working when Hardaway or Kleber make shots.
 
Horns11 said:
While the Mavericks have the best record in the league over the past 20 games or so, only the Nuggets and Thunder were "great."

I'll say this: they actually look like they're having a good time from night to night, and that's nearly a free ticket to the 2nd round of the playoffs when you enter it on a hot streak. But when they finally have to play one out of Denver, OKC, or Minnesota in a 7-game series, and either Doncic or Irving has a rough night shooting, I don't think they'll be able to sustain the success. Their bench is only working when Hardaway or Kleber make shots.
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Agreed. You didn't mention the Clippers. At least they don't have that a-hole Morris anymore. I think he got into Luka's head a little bit.

Here's the deal, if our playoff chances are dependent on Hardaway then we won't win it all. It's just a matter of time when he puts up an oh for nine on 3 point shots. Check his stats a few years ago in the 7th game against the Clips:

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Yeah, that's one game but we lost and they then dropped that huge contract on him.
 
Horns11 said:
But when they finally have to play one out of Denver, OKC, or Minnesota in a 7-game series, and either Doncic or Irving has a rough night shooting, I don't think they'll be able to sustain the success. Their bench is only working when Hardaway or Kleber make shots.
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We've had very little Lively and JGreen as well.

And PJ has been very spotty offensively, as of late.

I agree that we'll need someone besides Luka/Kyrie/Gafford to step up if Luka or Kyrie has a rough night.

But that could be any of a few guys.

I don't see us getting by Denver unless we're hitting all cylinders, and believe Minnesota's size will offset ours. I see OKC as young still. Healthy, I see us handling them ok.
 
I'm optimistic for the Clippers series. I know they've had their issues in the past with them, but the way that scoring has been up, I don't think that LA's nominal difference in improved defense is going to be the deciding factor this go-around.

OKC might be a different story for the 2nd round, assuming they got that far. Luka and Shai are a wash. It would come down to Kyrie + everyone else versus OKC's depth.
 
Horns11 said:
I'm optimistic for the Clippers series. I know they've had their issues in the past with them, but the way that scoring has been up, I don't think that LA's nominal difference in improved defense is going to be the deciding factor this go-around.

OKC might be a different story for the 2nd round, assuming they got that far. Luka and Shai are a wash. It would come down to Kyrie + everyone else versus OKC's depth.
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I think it's good that a-hole Morris is no longer with the Clippers. He was a nuisance.
 
Gafford and Lively give the Mavs a shot blocker/rim protector on the floor every minute of the game. And both are finishers in the paint. I think the Mavs can go deep in the playoffs.
 
Game 1 was terrible for a half, but with glimpses of what the Mavs COULD do in order to turn it around.

Even with basically zero production from Gafford, Lively, and Jones, they still went on a 2nd half scoring barrage. So all they really need is someone out of those three to step it up and that should help. Zubac was playing out of his mind and they couldn't get a handle on him.
 
I think Gafford is dinged up more than they're saying. He doesn't look bad to me, as much as he doesn't look "right"
 
Looking more and more like this series will go the full 7 games, seeing as how neither team has had an A+ game yet.
 
Horns 11,

Was game 5 A+ for the Mavs in your book?

Dallas absolutely CRUSHED the clippers tonight! 123- 93. I thought it was at least an A.

Luka with hurting knee gets 35 points. Mavs played great D tonight.

Dallas leads series 3-2 heading back to AA Center to win the series!
 
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Per usual, we need a couple of the role players to have good shooting nights. The defense has been good. Excited to go tomorrow as we finish them off.
 
WorsterMan said:
Horns 11,

Was game 5 A+ for the Mavs in your book?

Dallas absolutely CRUSHED the clippers tonight! 123- 93. I thought it was at least an A.

Luka with hurting knee gets 35 points. Mavs played great D tonight.

Dallas leads series 3-2 heading back to AA Center to win the series!
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Yes, as it was arguably the most lopsided playoff win in Mavs history. I remember they beat the Jazz in 2001 by like 30-something in one of the first round games.

A Clippers team without Kawhi is basically as bad as any other floundering team that missed the play-in tournament.
 
Ugly 20+ point loss tonight for the Mavs.

OKC was hot and inspired all game. Alexander 29 points. Mavs and especially Luka not in sync. Behind most of the game. Luka is a warrior but looked tired tonight IMO.
 
Yeah people don't really understand how good Shai is. I think the supporting personnel question is why OKC has the upper hand and will probably have it in 80% of their games. Holmgren seems like he's only getting better, which is scary considering he's got a while until his "peak." Dort reminds me of a quicker Bruce Bowen.

Luka has to be playing at or over 100% in order for the Mavs to compete. Shai doesn't really need that gear if the rest of the team is doing its job.

The way Minnesota has been playing, I think we're in for a special conference finals.
 
Yeah you can tell Luka is playing hurt. 1 minute in and he was sitting resting the knee on the goal thingy
 
This one was all about Washington and Kyrie's distribution. When OKC made it close in the 4th quarter, you could just see the light turn on for Luka.

It's tough to lose games when you hit 18 threes on nearly 50% from beyond the arc.
 
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