GDT: Pacers @ Mavs 7:30 PM CST

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by Dallas41

from mavsmoneyball
The Pacers got contributions up and down the rotation. Six players scored in double digits and were led by Malcom Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis’ matching 22-point nights. Porzingis showed real effort and earned his first career first-half double double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. He ended with 31 and 18 and had a solid defensive game particularly as the Mavs were giving it one last go in the fourth.


My take
Donnie likes the top of the Mavs rotation but is it really better than the Pacers?

Now keep in mind there was even a report that the Pacers were considering trading some of their best players but the Mavs flat out stated they wouldn't trade any of their rotation players unless it was for a star player coming back.

How could Indiana be willing to ship out guys like Brogdon, Turner or Sabonis yet the Mavs are so in love with guys like Richardson, THJ and Brunson that only a True Super Star coming back would prompt them to even consider a deal.

Obviously it's irrelevant now with the deadline past but the logic just seems baffling to me that they would value their role players more than Indiana values their top players.

From thesmokincuban
https://thesmokingcuban.com/2021/03/...rade-deadline/

A key reason the Mavs only made one move at the trade deadline is they think this team, when healthy, is a top-four team in the Western Conference. Yes, they sit seventh in the West after 41 games, but Dallas has only had their preferred starting five healthy for 15 games this season. The Mavs have 11 wins in that stretch and an offensive rating of 123.6. That rating would destroy the NBA record the team set last season at 115.9.

It does not stop there, though. The Mavericks have a 6.7 net rating over those 15 games, which would rank third in the NBA behind only the Jazz and Bucks if they produced it over the entire season. Dallas was hit hard by COVID with five players missing extended time. They have also dealt with injuries and needed time to mesh together as a team. Dismiss the 15 game sample as small if you wish, but the Mavs are playing outstanding basketball right now

It is what it is agree or disagree(I have no idea the strength of opponents those 15 are) with where they stand in that small sample size but if that's how they feel I understand it, especially considering our limited assets.

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

From thesmokincuban
https://thesmokingcuban.com/2021/03/...rade-deadline/


It is what it is agree or disagree(I have no idea the strength of opponents those 15 are) with where they stand in that small sample size but if that's how they feel I understand it, especially considering our limited assets.

If this team was a top 4 team out west they would be higher regardless of the covid excuse.

Portland has played a longer stretch of games without full arsenal (McCullum, Collins & Nurkic) and still managed to have a better record then the Mavs all year. Just added Norman Powell better than any player on our roster not named Luka or KP

We got demolished by Utah twice does anyone really think the Mavs defensively can hold vs Utah?

Denver before the trade deadline I thought the Mavs were equal to if not slightly better. After the deadline deals no way I think the Mavs are better than them especially since Gordon if you go back watch that Orlando game was one of the few guys who could control Luka without much help.

LA Lakers when fully healthy is better than Dallas unless someone wants to present a valid argument. Heck they might even be adding Drummond so that just moves them further ahead of Dallas.

LA Clippers are really good on paper and they pose some matchup problems vs Dallas in their bigger stronger wing players. But the Mavs seem to play with confidence vs them so that could be a tossup.

Phoenix lacked experience before adding Paul and Crowder. They always seem to out play Dallas in the clutch because of Paul or Booker making plays. So who wants to debate if Dallas is better than Phoenix?

I mean if Donnie really feels that way this team is a top 4 west team over the course of a full season without covid interruption by all means he has that right to feel confident.

Cuban also said the Mavs will be their at the end competing as a contender.

So the front office has great confident as they should.

But we've all watched the Mavs this year at full strength and I think we've all seen they get destroyed on the glass by bigger teams or more physical teams. They struggle to get consistent stops and they usually come out flat in a lot of games.

They don't have a secondary ball handler or someone who can create their own shot.

I'd love for them to be a top 4 but I just see too many flaws on this team especially if they aren't hitting shots to take them serious as legit top 4 team.