Mahinmi

[BGMaverick9]

For those who think that say Rick Carlisle does not like or trust all young players, I give you Ian Mahinmi. Sure, coaches have been known to stray away from younger players but that might be due to the fact they just have not shown the ability to be trusted or dependable in a game situation when the minutes matter. Mahinmi has won over the coaching staff, especially Carlisle, over the course of the season. Carlisle has raved over the work the big man has delivered on a daily basis in practice and his ability to be ready for backup center minutes at the drop of a hat. A new wrinkle has been added over the last two games, Mahinmi is getting minutes at the power forward position.

During the early stages of the season, Carlisle mentioned that Mahinmi was viewed as a center. So if that is the case, why the sudden shift towards throwing him at the power forward position? "It’s something different," said Carlisle. " I think it is something that we can continue to try to develop with him. I think it just expands his game and expands our possibilities. He’s one our best defenders and he’s one of our best rebounders. From time to time, we’ll look at it in games and in the meantime, we’re working on it in practice." That will definitely be music to the ears of my Mavericks Outsider Report Co-Host Rhylan Rowe. He has one major demand, "I need me some Mahinmi!"

read more at http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2011/1/...o-move-forward

[j0Shi]

One of our best defenders? When I first read this I was shaking my head and numbers cover me. Sample size is small but hell no.
Rebounding may apply. He gives us a lift on the offensive glass, but this seems to be easy for a young guy providing some energy on a team which has been outrebounded in the last 9 games and looking forward to make it 10 against a very solid rebounding team tonight.

[mavs777]

He is going to be a good rebounder and a pretty good scorer, still needs to work on his defense but I think he will be a good one, certainly an upgrade over Cardinal

[BUMP]

I really like his energy. His fresh legs and athleticism are perfect to frustrate a dominant low post player like Gasol and Duncan.

I think he can become a guy who's kind of a cross between Haslem and Ibaka

[grndmstr_c]

I'm not one who thinks that Ian has shown enough to be the second C or PF, but I do like him getting minutes at both positions, because he's shown enough for me to think that he brings a skill-set and style of play that no one else on the roster can duplicate, and because either the current primary backups at those positions have underperformed, or the team itself has underperformed with the current backups.

[BGMaverick9]

Originally Posted by grndmstr_c

I'm not one who thinks that Ian has shown enough to be the second C or PF, but I do like him getting minutes at both positions, because he's shown enough for me to think that he brings a skill-set and style of play that no one else on the roster can duplicate, and because either the current primary backups at those positions have underperformed, or the team itself has underperformed with the current backups.

I agree.
It is good to see a project player developing in to something that could be a rotational player.

[FINtastic]

This is what I was begging for just a few weeks ago. Glad to see Carlisle is finally giving him a chance.

I am a little surprised at the praise for Mahinmi's defense coming from Carlisle. Although he may have the tools to develop into a good defender, even I have to admit that he hasn't quite shown it on the court. His numbers aren't all that great on defense, and he doesn't seem to have great awareness on help defense. He seems to want to smother his man too much, which isn't the best tactic to take if you want to provide help defense. He also commits a lot of fouls, which is a bit of a problem.

Still, there's no reason you can't do like with Dirk when playing him at four. Hide him on the weaker offensive big man, and have Chandler/Haywood take the scarier option.

[DMOC]

I have absolutely no problem with Mahinmi at PF.

[CadBane]

So, Fin and I have been clamoring for this for weeks to the chagrin of certain posters who claimed "clearly" if he could play the 4, RC would play him there. Interesting...

[RareMilk]

He has a great at getting the O rebound.

[Popeye]

Originally Posted by CadBane

So, Fin and I have been clamoring for this for weeks to the chagrin of certain posters who claimed "clearly" if he could play the 4, RC would play him there. Interesting...

Agreed. It never made sense for Carlisle not to play Ian at PF, especially when Dirk was injured, but people couldn't believe the coach that sees them practice everyday was making a mistake.