GDT: game 25 - Heat (18-7) at Mavs (17-7) 7:30pm FSSW

[Underdog]

When did the Heat get good? And how? Their roster doesn't look like anything special, they just have Butler instead of Wade... Is this an Eastern Conference thing?

[dirt_dobber]

Is the Heats' Dragic hurt? I haven't seen him in the box scores lately.

[Dolencd]

Originally Posted by dirt_dobber

Is the Heats' Dragic hurt? I haven't seen him in the box scores lately.

Yup. Out for tonight too - groin injury.
So is Justise Winslow.
Dion Waiters - Suspension

And Mavss
For Delon Wright it says Day-To-Day So it's questionable.

Dragic out is quite huge, he was the best 6th man contender before injury.

Dallas Mavs FB just posted this. The bottom means Who's not jumping is not Slovene. That's what Slovenian fans were chanting at the games last year. And let's face it ... We always chant that. No matter what the sport occasion is.

[dirt_dobber]

3 things to watch for as the Mavericks clash with the Heat

The Mavericks are back in Dallas to start a tough stretch against the Eastern Conference.

By Jordan Brodess@Jbrodess Dec 14, 2019, 8:42am CST
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2019/1...w-time-channel

The Dallas Mavericks (17-7) took care of business in Mexico City, and now they’re tasked with hosting the Miami Heat (18-7). It is the first game in what feels like an impossible stretch facing the top five Eastern Conference teams, consecutively.

Though it will be a tough matchup for the Mavericks, they are lucky to catch the Heat on the second night of a back-to-back. Miami hosted LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers Friday night, a nail-biting 113-110 loss — the first home loss for the Heat.

Here’s what we’re watching for in tonight’s game.

Don’t need a Herro
Erik Spoelstra’s Heat squad is an interesting collection of talent, though on paper they probably shouldn’t be as hot as they’ve been. With marquee wins against the Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors, Jimmy Butler has brought this young squad along quite nicely.

While Butler and post-presence Bam Adebayo will garner much of the attention from the Mavericks (and Dallas will have their hands full), they’ll need to keep close watch on the rookie guard tandem of Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro.

Nunn, a 24 year old rookie that’s started every game for the Heat this season, has been sensational. He’s scored over 20 points in eight games this season, and recently put up 36 against the Atlanta Hawks.

Herro, a 20 year old taken in the late lottery in last summer’s NBA Draft, has looked the part of another Kentucky Wildcat who maybe should have been featured more in college and is coming into his own in Miami. Both players can get hot, and could pose problems for the Mavericks if they focus too hard on shutting down Butler and Bam.

Turnover Battle
The Mavericks pride themselves on limiting turnovers, and they’ve been very smart with the ball this season. At under 13 turnovers per game the Mavericks lead the league in protecting the ball. On the flip-side, they also force the least.

The Heat, however, cough the ball up to the tune of nearly 18 per game (last in the league). And while Miami does a good job defensively to force opponent’s into mistakes (9th in the league at 16 per game), that may prove tough against the Mavericks. The turnover battle may tell the story.

Winning by Committee
Both teams have superstars at their disposal, in Luka Doncic and Jimmy Butler. The Mavericks have shown flashes of their depth being able to win them basketball games, but on the stat sheet they have just three players averaging double digit points per game — Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, and Tim Hardaway Jr.

The Miami Heat have featured a committee of scorers this season, with seven players averaging double digits. Last night in their loss to the Lakers, five of the nine-man rotation for the Heat scored at least 10 points. They are battling injury issues with key players, but they’re getting contributions from the whole roster. Both teams have a collection of talent that can go off on any night, and both teams may need that Saturday night.

[sefant77]

Bam is really really good

[endtroducing MASKED]

Originally Posted by sefant77

Bam is really really good

Yes, yes this exactly. He’s the kind of guy that if we had him....we could win the championship this season. The Heat get good because they have a good GM surrounding the biggest free agent destination possible.

We should win though. They played their asses off last night at home against LA. Might be tough on our defense. Let’s go

[EricaLubarsky]

Delon now probable

[tgfan]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Delon now probable

Hopefully, he plays, because his length is so helpful defensively on the perimeter. And because he just seems to make good things happen when he penetrates the defense.

[Underdog]

WTF happened to Luka???

[Melonhead]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuckkkkkkkkkkkkfuuuuuuckk

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by Underdog

WTF happened to Luka???

Rolled the shit out of his ankle. Stepped on a defenders foot while driving in the lane

[Underdog]

Fuck, that looked nasty.

[SMC0007]

Dear god

[SMC0007]

There goes the ratings

[Skywalker]

I'll be more than happy if that's a bad sprain tbh

[Underdog]

We're about to get slaughtered.

[sefant77]

ready for the 0-5 streak.

And ESPn dropped the Warriors to show us against Boston....lol

[sefant77]

maybe he got Dirks gummi ankles too...lets pray

[AO41]

Ughh we need Brunson to run the offense. I like Wright but have said all along he can’t run the offense.

[OldWhiteGuy]

I'm guessing we won't see Luka on the floor for at least a month, probably six weeks. There might be a silver lining if Porzingis can turn into the new centerpiece.

[SMC0007]

Slap a brace on, Tighten the laces and get back out there kid

[AO41]

THJ smh

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by AO41

Ughh we need Brunson to run the offense. I like Wright but have said all along he can’t run the offense.

Wright has fantastic vsion. He just needs to look for his shot more. I'm not too worried.

We just hardly stand a chance against good teams without Lukas 30 pt triple dubs

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by AO41

THJ smh

That was bad

[Underdog]

Nice buzzer beater by KP, he needs to step up big now.

[Ingus]

2 put back dunks and a half court three by KP. A good way to end a terrible quarter.

[Underdog]

X-ray negative.

[AO41]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Wright has fantastic vsion. He just needs to look for his shot more. I'm not too worried.

We just hardly stand a chance against good teams without Lukas 30 pt triple dubs

Wright does a lot of things well but running the offense is not one. He will make the right play when needed but if you give him the ball to run the offense he ha sheen bad all year with that and somehow he was kept our there as their lead grew to 21.

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by OldWhiteGuy

I'm guessing we won't see Luka on the floor for at least a month, probably six weeks. There might be a silver lining if Porzingis can turn into the new centerpiece.

My guess too. 4 weeks minimum but I expect 6 and wouldn’t be surprised if they’re extra careful and do 7 weeks.

[Skywalker]

These fuckers can't miss

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Skywalker

These fuckers can't miss

Yeah, it’s one of those nights.

[OldWhiteGuy]

Damn, Miami missed a three. Dropped them down to 66.7%

[SMC0007]

A 20 year old should not miss a month and a half for a rolled ankle. 3-5 games

[rimrocker]

Jesus...they can't miss 3s and we can't make layups and FTs.

[rimrocker]

I have a feeling this will be a 14-22 deficit the rest of the game.

[Melonhead]

Anddddd I’m done after that 3. Good night

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

A 20 year old should not miss a month and a half for a rolled ankle. 3-5 games

This is a joke right.

[rimrocker]

Why are they calling such BS fouls 45 ft from basket.

[sefant77]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

A 20 year old should not miss a month and a half for a rolled ankle. 3-5 games

Again i hope Dirks hits him up with advise. I remember Dirk telling how he got up every two hours at night to put fresh ice on the ankle.

Recovering is also about discipline

[rimrocker]

At this rate Heat will have 80 at the half.