GDT Game 35: Mavs (16-18) vs Thunder (22-12) 6:00pm FSSW

[Skywalker]

Fuck

[sefant77]

i smell a sad loss....

[rimrocker]

We desperately need this one.

[j0Shi]

Originally Posted by j0Shi

We lost all mojo at the start of the 4th. Ballgame. Luka can't do everything with George on him. Others had to step up and folded. Barnes, DSJ mainly... Still time but not looking good.

Fuck me! Woohoo!

[rimrocker]

Good job by Finney

[gmb]

Thank god Westbrick shot that. Good win.

[sefant77]

damn if Westbrick hit that crap shot...

[AO41]

Great W ...but RC has to stop making this so hard for the starters.

[sefant77]

Originally Posted by sefant77

close win tonight, trashed by 20+ in OKC

so lets see the next game

[mavsjunkie]

Good defense down the stretch. The usually great Mavs second team almost blew this game.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Cracks me up when we win how the DSJ narrative changes...

I see WB at 4-22 which is what strikes me as the most impressive.

[burner2014]

DSJ played a good game. Good drive to the basket and then good defensive position against George.

[j0Shi]

Bullets:

• Boy Dennis sure let's me live through all stages of his development. Struggled early on, was awful late in the 4th with his usual overzealous bullshit. But also decent stretch in the second half and the two most crucial plays down the stretch. Still that 50:50 guy that you can't fully depend on yet.
• Thunder defense is legit. So many hands everywhere! Of course also helps that all kinds of body parts are apparently part of the ball for them. Two-minute report: CNC.
• We won with 11:23 turnovers against the West's elite. That's called dodging a bullet. If Westbrook is anywhere near his usual self, probably a blowout?
• Welcome back, DFS! Have been bitching about Rick not adjusting his lineups on the fly, but let him in there longer because of good play.
• That said: Of course he leaves bench in until the 4-17 run by the Thunder was complete in the 4th. This almost cost us the game because it completely through the team off. Awful. At this point please at least try Kleber or Mejri for Powell.
• Luka can pretty much do whatever he wants, but he does sometimes falls in love with his stepback too much. Does he shoot better % on bailouts late in the shotclock though? Also two clutch freebies were good to see.
• Would be nice if Powell could at least finish at the rim... Not sure what isn't working right now that was earlier in the season, but imho teams have simply figured him and JJB out and his game doesn't have any alternative options.
• Also felt like JJB didn't have a particularly good game. Hard to justify with the boxscore though, but was a big contributor to the late OKC rally.

[sefant77]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Cracks me up when we win how the DSJ narrative changes...

He had some stupid TO early but you have to look at the other factors: defense and shooting the three.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Cracks me up when we win how the DSJ narrative changes...

I see WB at 4-22 which is what strikes me as the most impressive.

Hard to believe Westbrook was pretty close to a triple double as bad as he seemed to play.

[Bryan_Wilson]

DSJ redeemed himself at the end with those 2 plays, one on offense one on defense. If he doesn't make those plays the last thing we will remember was his boneheaded out of control TO followed by the super dumb 3pt foul on PG13. But RWB was 4-22 because our whole defense sagged 5 feet off him and dared him to shoot. Barnes making that steal on PG13 and DJ getting the loose ball dunk came before DSJ's 2 plays though and I thought those were the igniters of our momentum.

[rimrocker]

I like Maxi starting.

[AO41]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Cracks me up when we win how the DSJ narrative changes...

I see WB at 4-22 which is what strikes me as the most impressive.

I don’t think it changes. His D was great tonight especially on that last possessions. His D was good last game too. He made the same mistakes tonight as he always has with being way out of control especially early on. He made the layup with 24 left but he also lost that ball because he was out of control as usually luckily he showed some good patience and was able to take it back in.

Tonight’s outcome was good but DSJ still has to be better.

As for DJ not giving the ball to look and instead making stupid passes or giving the ball to DSJ, Barnes or Wes when he plays... that needs to be addressed.

[j0Shi]

DSJ is a cruel love/hate at this point. There's definitely progress (defense etc.), but he has as many "wtf" moments. Luka's mistakes feel like he's thinking the right things, just not executing well enough or doesn't yet have the capabilities to pull everything off (speed, cleverness). Dennis is just straight out of control, often simply starting things that he has no clue how to finish.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by AO41

I don’t think it changes. His D was great tonight especially on that last possessions. His D was good last game too. He made the same mistakes tonight as he always has with being way out of control especially early on. He made the layup with 24 left but he also lost that ball because he was out of control as usually luckily he showed some good patience and was able to take it back in.

Tonight’s outcome was good but DSJ still has to be better.

As for DJ not giving the ball to look and instead making stupid passes or giving the ball to DSJ, Barnes or Wes when he plays... that needs to be addressed.

DSJ's defense the last game and this one is nothing short of elite. He has to be better running the team, no question, but nobody saw the defense being where it is.

I just find that the Mavs world is more or less against him right now, and he has doing rather well considering the pressure being put on his shoulders.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by j0Shi

DSJ is a cruel love/hate at this point. There's definitely progress (defense etc.), but he has as many "wtf" moments. Luka's mistakes feel like he's thinking the right things, just not executing well enough or doesn't yet have the capabilities to pull everything off (speed, cleverness). Dennis is just straight out of control, often simply starting things that he has no clue how to finish.

Absolutely, but remember that Dennis is a ball of energy waiting to burst. He needs to figure out how to reign that in and focus that energy accordingly. However, that athleticism and energy should hopefully be a nice compliment to the fact that Luka isn't athletic or quick like him.

[Underdog]

I heard we had a basketball game today... Did we win? Are we still trading DSJ?

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

I just find that the Mavs world is more or less against him right now, and he has doing rather well considering the pressure being put on his shoulders.

I think that’s because our two rookies are more BB mature than him right now so the perception is that he shouldn’t make as many mistakes. I think you and I are more patient than some others because we think he’ll eventually learn the game and how to control his super athletic gift.

To me he just has to mature and hopefully Luka, Brunson and our vets will help expedite the process.

[Scoobay]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

I think that’s because our two rookies are more BB mature than him right now so the perception is that he shouldn’t make as many mistakes. I think you and I are more patient than some others because we think he’ll eventually learn the game and how to control his super athletic gift.

To me he just has to mature and hopefully Luka, Brunson and our vets will help expedite the process.

i'm stoked if DSJ can continue play good defense.
that plus improved outside shooting are great steps to take.
more experience and more time to gel with the team would be helpful... hopefully he has the will and desire and work ethic to improve.

old article below about the evolution of Dirk's game. It took years and it's hard to think that far forward with DSJ. Hopefully we give it some time though and don't automatically give up on him.

https://www.si.com/nba/2016/03/10/di...sh-jason-terry

[j0Shi]

Tim Cato reports trade rumors about DSJ are legit. He's more likely to stay beyond this season, but Mavs don't view him as a win-soon type of players. Pretty much what I was suspecting. There's a risk of being impatient, but you can't blame them for jumping the Luka train early. If the right package for DSJ becomes available, it seems that he might be gone. Ideally you also ship out Wesley and/or Powell in the process.

Can't link the article btw., this was posted on Twitter.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by j0Shi

Tim Cato reports trade rumors about DSJ are legit. He's more likely to stay beyond this season, but Mavs don't view him as a win-soon type of players. Pretty much what I was suspecting. There's a risk of being impatient, but you can't blame them for jumping the Luka train early. If the right package for DSJ becomes available, it seems that he might be gone. Ideally you also ship out Wesley and/or Powell in the process.

Can't link the article btw., this was posted on Twitter.

Yes. Hi teams, take our unproven DSJ and Powell and give us our last piece to become a contender.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Cracks me up when we win how the DSJ narrative changes...

I see WB at 4-22 which is what strikes me as the most impressive.

WB bad game cancelled out our turnovers?

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

WB bad game cancelled out our turnovers?

And the Mavs won the rebounding by 10 which is pretty shocking.

[Simon2]

Mavs are exciting to watch. They should let DSJ continue his growth here.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Simon2

Mavs are exciting to watch. They should let DSJ continue his growth here.

Plus 1

[Skywalker]

Originally Posted by sefant77

close win tonight, trashed by 20+ in OKC

Interesting.

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[Bryan_Wilson]

Sefant is Scott Foster confirmed.