Now what?

[JustJay]

When you tell people what they don't want to hear, they'll do anything to fight with you, that applies to anything in life.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by JustJay

When you tell people what they don't want to hear, they'll do anything to fight with you, that applies to anything in life.

IMO, the thing people don't want to hear is a severely black and white approach when not a single game has been played. Lol. The rest is just your opinion/projection. I can go as far as agreeing that we don't look like favorites to win a championship, but last year is the lastest reminder
and proof that you need games played to understand what you're even looking at. Right now, You have zero evidence to suggest such a drastically different opinion than what we did last year.

[rimrocker]

That's what is interesting about this board is the variety of opinions.
There are pessimists and optimists and those in between.

I personally think we addressed some of our issues (rebounding and interior D) from last season and Dinwiddie could very well make up for the loss of Brunson. If Brunson was our primary playmaker, it would be one thing (like losing Nash). But we have the best playmaker in the league who is only getting better so all we need is a secondary playmaker and I'm not so sure we don't already have that in Dinwiddie. So it seems to me that we may only need a 3rd option playmaker and I'm fine with trying out some of the young guys on our current roster. I'd rather try that at first than give up assets for players that might not provide much more.

I lean more toward the optimist side because we are more balanced. The question will be if we can stay healthy and if the rest of the team can collectively step it up a bit.

We easily have the trade pieces to go out and get an adequate third option playmaker imo. That person doesn't necessarily need to be the 2nd best player on this team which is what I think some on this board are expecting. Luka is good enough to carry a very strong supporting cast and as long as the others collectively step up and at least live up to expectations, we should be a legit contender for a top 4 seed.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by JustJay

When you tell people what they don't want to hear, they'll do anything to fight with you, that applies to anything in life.

Nuance is a lovely thing in life, and I mean that sincerely. Mavs started off last season as total garbage and were one of the best teams in the second half.

I think the important thing is to focus on what the FO and coaching staff are going for. Brunson will be an addition by subtraction on defense as the team will be very big now. That will almost certainly translate to better defense AND rebounding especially with the additions of Wood (his rebounding, not his D) and McGee. We do forget how bad the rebounding was. Fixing that alone would be a big step in the right direction.

So it's basically a design of Luka/Spencer running everything and a stalwart defensive surrounding them. Add in THJ and Wood for offense, and there is little to panic about. Just gotta get another handler.

I feel that this has to be their strategy because, as you said, stars/players aren't coming to play here. So you have to do something creative to make the team a contender in a different way. Worked last season. It'll just be different with a bigger lineup now and Wood's production replacing Brunson's.

[rimrocker]

I?m a little optimistic on Bertans this year.
With the addition of McGee and a training camp, he could become a useful weapon as a stretch 4.

We are stuck with him, and he can flat out shoot in the right situation, and I think being sandwiched between 2 decent defenders can let him focus on offense.

Not saying it will happen, but I think he could become much more of a factor than last season.

[Melonhead]

If the only thing that stands between Wood starting is the mavs little promise to start Mcgee, then I'd rather he not be on the team. Wood has the potential to ball the f out.

Mcgee is a solid rotational piece that would be beneficial, but not at the expense of pissing off Wood.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

If the only thing that stands between Wood starting is the mavs little promise to start Mcgee, then I'd rather he not be on the team. Wood has the potential to ball the f out.

Mcgee is a solid rotational piece that would be beneficial, but not at the expense of pissing off Wood.

Well winning talks and bs walks. If Wood coming off bench doesn't equate to wins, then it won't continue.

I'm not really sure who is going to start either. Is it Luka/Spence/DFS/Kleber/Javale or Luka/Spence/Bullock/DFS/Javale?

[purplefrog]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Well winning talks and bs walks. If Wood coming off bench doesn't equate to wins, then it won't continue.

I'm not really sure who is going to start either. Is it Luka/Spence/DFS/Kleber/Javale or Luka/Spence/Bullock/DFS/Javale?

My understanding is Luka/Spence/Bullock/DFS/Javale. The reasoning being Bullock + DFS at 3 & 4 worked well at the end of last season and in the playoffs.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by purplefrog

My understanding is Luka/Spence/Bullock/DFS/Javale. The reasoning being Bullock + DFS at 3 & 4 worked well at the end of last season and in the playoffs.

Then you could easily switch to Luka/Spence/DFS/Wood/McGee or Luka/Spence/Bullock/DFS/Wood which would be my preferred lineup.

[Aplus23]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

If the only thing that stands between Wood starting is the mavs little promise to start Mcgee, then I'd rather he not be on the team. Wood has the potential to ball the f out.

Mcgee is a solid rotational piece that would be beneficial, but not at the expense of pissing off Wood.

Doesn't matter who starts, it's about who finishes. Wood is gonna play starter minutes and probably finish games as well which is most important. Mcgee gives some size to the starting line-up, I also like the contrast between the 2. Defenses are gonna have to adjust mid game to different playstyles between the 2

[purplefrog]

Originally Posted by Aplus23

Doesn't matter who starts, it's about who finishes. Wood is gonna play starter minutes and probably finish games as well which is most important. Mcgee gives some size to the starting line-up, I also like the contrast between the 2. Defenses are gonna have to adjust mid game to different playstyles between the 2

An issue that I see with Wood coming off the bench is the fact he is in a contract year. If you put him in a role that he feels doesn't match his own personal image of himself, then he is one and done in Dallas.

I imagine that the starting five is not set in stone (kind of crazy to think otherwise). They may begin the season with Wood as the sixth man, but I would hope Kidd realizes that there is a long-term goal here (re-signing Wood) that likely involves some trial and error with the best group starting and ending games. On the other hand, maybe Wood wins sixth man of the year and he embraces the role.

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by Aplus23

Doesn't matter who starts, it's about who finishes. Wood is gonna play starter minutes and probably finish games as well which is most important. Mcgee gives some size to the starting line-up, I also like the contrast between the 2. Defenses are gonna have to adjust mid game to different playstyles between the 2

It matters to the players. Especially ones in contract years. Wood will quickly turn disgruntled if he?s backing up McGee, even if he?s getting more minutes on paper.