Combined GDTs for this sh$#show

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by BPo001

There are a lot of body-shamers in Atlanta and they decided to go all-in on Luka Doncic during Sunday?s marquee matchup. According to Mavs beat reporter Grant Afseth, the home crowd started chanting ?You are fat? as Doncic was at the free-throw line. The Mavs superstar has been criticized in the past for being a bit overweight, and the Hawks fans mercilessly brought up this issue at an opportune time. ? via Paolo Songco @ Clutch Points

Man, must've been a riot until you realize who plays PG for the Hawks.

And Atlanta is like the fat capital of the world so that's cute.

[tap2390]

Luka is 24 and at his best when he's pissed off. Missing playoffs and hearing 'fat' chants has to hurt. I'm choosing to believe that this season will piss him off and he will come back next highly motivated and in better shape.

I also choose to believe we will retain our pick and use it, fire Kidd, sign some defensive players, re-sign Kyrie, and come back next year with a vengeance. Could be my copium pipe. Giannis won at 26, LeBron won at 27... Luka WILL follow suit.

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by BPo001

There are a lot of body-shamers in Atlanta and they decided to go all-in on Luka Doncic during Sunday?s marquee matchup. According to Mavs beat reporter Grant Afseth, the home crowd started chanting ?You are fat? as Doncic was at the free-throw line. The Mavs superstar has been criticized in the past for being a bit overweight, and the Hawks fans mercilessly brought up this issue at an opportune time. ? via Paolo Songco @ Clutch Points

Imagine if the home crowd finally let's him hear it.

That would really sink in and get him to start taking his conditioning seriously.

The hone crowd should also call out Cuban for once but they won't. He'll continue to get his sell outs regardless of the product on the floor because he market Luka

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by tap2390

Luka is 24 and at his best when he's pissed off. Missing playoffs and hearing 'fat' chants has to hurt. I'm choosing to believe that this season will piss him off and he will come back next highly motivated and in better shape.

I also choose to believe we will retain our pick and use it, fire Kidd, sign some defensive players, re-sign Kyrie, and come back next year with a vengeance. Could be my copium pipe. Giannis won at 26, LeBron won at 27... Luka WILL follow suit.

Luka should be pissed off. He's not fit enough to carry a team of scrubs by himself and thats what he must assume he will have to do with our FO and Coach. He's not fit enough to move laterally to keep up with any one 1v1 defensively on a consistent basis. If he wants to win, he must be a specimen physically and have incredible cardio.

If Kidd is fired, I'll be shocked. Pleasantly.

Pessimism in me says, Kyrie gone, Wood gone, Kidd here. Lesser but different team next season.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Luka should be pissed off. He's not fit enough to carry a team of scrubs by himself and thats what he must assume he will have to do with our FO and Coach. He's not fit enough to move laterally to keep up with any one 1v1 defensively on a consistent basis. If he wants to win, he must be a specimen physically and have incredible cardio.

If Kidd is fired, I'll be shocked. Pleasantly.

Pessimism in me says, Kyrie gone, Wood gone, Kidd here. Lesser but different team next season.

Don't forget Powell starting, giving the 11th pick, trading Hardy, and bringing Green off the bench for 12 mpg. Sound about right.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Shams reporting the Mavs might shut down Kyrie and Luka for the remaining games. .

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Shams reporting the Mavs might shut down Kyrie and Luka for the remaining games. .

So they can't be blamed for accidentally winning

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

So they can't be blamed for accidentally winning

Watch Hardy and Green get us to the play-in only to be benched for Luka and Kyrie to lose the game and give up the 12th pick.

[washedklean77]

Originally Posted by BPo001

There are a lot of body-shamers in Atlanta and they decided to go all-in on Luka Doncic during Sunday?s marquee matchup. According to Mavs beat reporter Grant Afseth, the home crowd started chanting ?You are fat? as Doncic was at the free-throw line. The Mavs superstar has been criticized in the past for being a bit overweight, and the Hawks fans mercilessly brought up this issue at an opportune time. ? via Paolo Songco @ Clutch Points

There's a better than average chance that those chanting "fat" in the ATL fall into the category below. Oh the irony...

State Georgia
Adult obesity rate 32.3%
Pop. Over 20 with diabetes 12.0%
Adults in poor or fair health 18.4%
Adults who don't exercise regularly 26.4%

[SMC0007]

I like that they called him fat. Not butt-hurt at all about it. You don't like it? Get fit. They don't call Gianis that. You want to shut them up? Beat them.

We want Luka mad. It's the only chance we have of him coming back in the best shape ever.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Watch Hardy and Green get us to the play-in only to be benched for Luka and Kyrie to lose the game and give up the 12th pick.

Not a chance we make play-in.

Yet, I dont think Luka and Kyrie will be shut down yet. Lose on Wednesday ans they might. However, there is also rumor of Kyrie testing FA this offseason, which I have no clue if it's remotely valid or not... but I totally buy that. Not a snowballs chance in hell Kyrie is here long term.

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

I like that they called him fat. Not butt-hurt at all about it. You don't like it? Get fit. They don't call Gianis that. You want to shut them up? Beat them.

We want Luka mad. It's the only chance we have of him coming back in the best shape ever.

I'm with you on this 100%

Everyone forgets that JJ Barrea was the 1st guy who called out Luka regarding his conditioning


JJ said the sky's the limit for Luka if he could dedicate himself to conditioning

But here we are 3-4"years later and Luka still hasn't fully dedicated himself like giannis to a workout program

I think it hurts him defensively because he can't move consistently with effort because he's fucking huffing and puffing

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Watch Hardy and Green get us to the play-in only to be benched for Luka and Kyrie to lose the game and give up the 12th pick.

Hardy needs to get into a gym this summer and work on contested layups and defense

These last two games for him has been brutal especially on the defensive end of the floor

Dude loses his man constantly and looks lost when it comes to rotations or close outs

[BigDog63]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Luka should be pissed off. He's not fit enough to carry a team of scrubs by himself and thats what he must assume he will have to do with our FO and Coach. He's not fit enough to move laterally to keep up with any one 1v1 defensively on a consistent basis. If he wants to win, he must be a specimen physically and have incredible cardio.

Luka WAS fit at the start of the year. He does seem 'fat' now. Players don't get fat during the season. This must be related to the off court issues he mentioned.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by BigDog63

Luka WAS fit at the start of the year. He does seem 'fat' now. Players don't get fat during the season. This must be related to the off court issues he mentioned.

Luka was sorta fit. IMO, he was only 2/3rd of what he should be. He has to be better, he has to be more dedicated to endurance. He needs very specific training as well as a chef who cooks and helps him adhere to a strict diet. Just playing international ball isn't going to cut it.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by Dallas41

Hardy needs to get into a gym this summer and work on contested layups and defense

These last two games for him has been brutal especially on the defensive end of the floor

Dude loses his man constantly and looks lost when it comes to rotations or close outs

JB had that same problem defensively. Always lost track of his man or late on rotations. Luka has the same problem. If you listen to Kyrie talk about of defensive scheme, paraphrasing, he says it's complicated and it forces everyone to scramble the entire posession. It's hard to rotate and recover from PnR which is sad because it's thr most basic play in the sport.

We need an experienced defensive minded coach who has influence on Nico and Cuban.

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

JB had that same problem defensively. Always lost track of his man or late on rotations. Luka has the same problem. If you listen to Kyrie talk about of defensive scheme, paraphrasing, he says it's complicated and it forces everyone to scramble the entire posession. It's hard to rotate and recover from PnR which is sad because it's thr most basic play in the sport.

We need an experienced defensive minded coach who has influence on Nico and Cuban.

who would be that guy? Not Dantoni, not Stotts are defensive guys.

I agree they need someone to simplify the defense schemes for them, but in the end if they dont acquire rebounders/size/rim protection, it wont matter.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

who would be that guy? Not Dantoni, not Stotts are defensive guys.

I agree they need someone to simplify the defense schemes for them, but in the end if they dont acquire rebounders/size/rim protection, it wont matter.

Oh definitely. You have to have players to have ultimate success. However, everyone knows we could be better defensively with what we have. One of Kidds many faults is not recognizing this and making changes to simplify or cater more to balance our offensive players that we must have on the floor.

You can't justify having a complicated system where at best your succes lies in running your offensive studs ragged by chasing to rotate all game. You can't justify having one defensive guy on the floor to try and stop other high level offensive players. Especially when you switch everything and end up at a disadvantage anyway. You can't justify bringing your 3rd and 4th best offensive players off the bench just to have mediocre to bad defenders like DP and Bullock start. You can't justify not changing your defensive philosophy when things are clearly not working.

Idk who the exact coach would be tbh. I probably don't have a popular opinion. I like Jeff Van Gundy for several reasons but I don't have ANY idea if he would want to coach again. I'd settle for SVG. I would want a respected personality who isn't afraid to say what's on his mind and be real with players and media. Someone who gets players attention and has experience with managing personalities and x and os. I'm sure there's a handful of guys who could fit the bill but I'm not overly interested in D'antoni. I think he would maximize our offense but then run into a wall like he has elsewhere. I'd take him over Kidd though, that's for sure.

I do not trust Cuban with hiring staff anymore. It took too long to let Rick go, and even then Rick quit and he took Rick's recommendation about JKidd. Then he hired Nico. Both came across as desperate moves to fill voids quickly.

[saclare]

It's a personnel issue for this team more than scheme. They did just fine last year with some obviously different pieces. DFS was more important to it all than what most gave credit for. Still, the glaring issue was interior presence for either defense or rebounding, preferably both, but they don't grow on trees. I think the FO could have gotten a LOT more creative when solving for this last offseason.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by saclare

Still, the glaring issue was interior presence for either defense or rebounding, preferably both, but they don't grow on trees. I think the FO could have gotten a LOT more creative when solving for this last offseason.

But the FO, at the very least, did address it by signing McGee. Had he been given Phx's role, then this might be a very different season.

Kidd just wouldn't play him. I'm not really sure ANY center would have succeeded under him unless it was Embiid or Jokic.

We have this toxic combination of not good big men combined with a coach that doesn't have any clue how to use a big man. That's never going to work.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by saclare

It's a personnel issue for this team more than scheme. They did just fine last year with some obviously different pieces. DFS was more important to it all than what most gave credit for. Still, the glaring issue was interior presence for either defense or rebounding, preferably both, but they don't grow on trees. I think the FO could have gotten a LOT more creative when solving for this last offseason.

IMO it doesn't matter what is more to blame scheme or players. We lost JB who was NOT a good defender. We lost Dorian who was decent defender but we sucked with him too this season. He was our best defender but that's not saying much, he wasnt stopping anybody.

We replaced JB with Wood which should net you more boards, but the dude came off the bench and it negated the potential extra rebounding.

I think it's equal parts interior presence as it is perimeter defense and scheme. We got blown off thr dribble a ton. Bigs come away from the basket and the fiasco ensues. How many times have we failed to defend simple PnR? Scrambling to rotate is inevitable, but damn, we are constantly trying to catch up and guys have to collectively make instant decisions on where to go. In crunch time, games where we almost always lost this season, none of our guards or forwards can defend. We can't even slow down the attack. Not even when we had Dorian.

[BPo001]

Well Luka says he is playing tomorrow vs the Kings.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by BPo001

Well Luka says he is playing tomorrow vs the Kings.

Then we are really tanking.

[saclare]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

But the FO, at the very least, did address it by signing McGee. Had he been given Phx's role, then this might be a very different season.

Kidd just wouldn't play him. I'm not really sure ANY center would have succeeded under him unless it was Embiid or Jokic.

We have this toxic combination of not good big men combined with a coach that doesn't have any clue how to use a big man. That's never going to work.

Originally Posted by SMC0007

IMO it doesn't matter what is more to blame scheme or players. We lost JB who was NOT a good defender. We lost Dorian who was decent defender but we sucked with him too this season. He was our best defender but that's not saying much, he wasnt stopping anybody.

We replaced JB with Wood which should net you more boards, but the dude came off the bench and it negated the potential extra rebounding.

I think it's equal parts interior presence as it is perimeter defense and scheme. We got blown off thr dribble a ton. Bigs come away from the basket and the fiasco ensues. How many times have we failed to defend simple PnR? Scrambling to rotate is inevitable, but damn, we are constantly trying to catch up and guys have to collectively make instant decisions on where to go. In crunch time, games where we almost always lost this season, none of our guards or forwards can defend. We can't even slow down the attack. Not even when we had Dorian.

If McGee was our answer, then the FO massively failed, is basically what I'm trying to say. I have doubts that Kidd is the issue when I look at what is being provided to work with...it's been an issue for the Mavs ever since Tyson Chandler left. Rick Carlisle would have the same struggles...

As for DFS, he is an above average defender at the very worst. I'm simply not buying into anything else. He may have looked worse this year but that was simply due to the overall team and team defense struggling.

I can give some credit to the perimeter defense being too passive and leading to some of the interior defense's flaws. But then again, it's the same scheme and personnel as last season, minus DFS. What's the rub? It was definitely better with him here than without, but not to a championship level or even to the level of last year.

I still firmly believe that the Mavs as a whole have devalued both the PF and C spots for more than a decade now. They were at their peak with a competent, starting center with wings to fill in. Even Marion can be duplicated due to his age.

I think if Luka and Kyrie buy into defense a bit more (which the latter seems engaged), then this team can get there. Still need to add a defensive first wing to help when guys go down. But you can definitely start with Bullock and Green and go from there on the wing. The biggest shortfall of this team is the big man and lack of true production.

[Zeus]

Let's agree as we all should that Luka should be more fit. Agree! But that doesn't absolve the fact this front office is pure garbage. All the moves they could have made over the past 5 years such as Bogdonovich, Lauri Markkanen, Desmond F'n Bane, panicking into the KP trade, panicking into the Kyrie trade, signing an idiot head coach with his passive aggressive garbage and having a bare cupboard when Luka got here because as it ends up Mark Cuban was the only owner/FO that actually misunderstood the 2012 CBA and decided dry fucking powder was actually more important than amassing NBA talent. Oh let's not forget we had mini operation dry powder at the start of 2019 FA (after Luka was already rookie of the year) thinking they had a chance to get Giannis if he didn't resign with Bucks. We are a collectively stupid org. I think we would be an equally dumb fanbase if Luka walks or is traded because of Org ineptitude if all stand by and support a rebuild under the leadership of Cuban. I for one will find another piece of laundry to cheer for.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

So strange people defending DFS when he has been awful for the Nets. We were lucky to move that contract when we did or it's another THJ contract that nobody wants.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by saclare

If McGee was our answer, then the FO massively failed, is basically what I'm trying to say. I have doubts that Kidd is the issue when I look at what is being provided to work with...it's been an issue for the Mavs ever since Tyson Chandler left. Rick Carlisle would have the same struggles...

As for DFS, he is an above average defender at the very worst. I'm simply not buying into anything else. He may have looked worse this year but that was simply due to the overall team and team defense struggling.

I can give some credit to the perimeter defense being too passive and leading to some of the interior defense's flaws. But then again, it's the same scheme and personnel as last season, minus DFS. What's the rub? It was definitely better with him here than without, but not to a championship level or even to the level of last year.

I still firmly believe that the Mavs as a whole have devalued both the PF and C spots for more than a decade now. They were at their peak with a competent, starting center with wings to fill in. Even Marion can be duplicated due to his age.

I think if Luka and Kyrie buy into defense a bit more (which the latter seems engaged), then this team can get there. Still need to add a defensive first wing to help when guys go down. But you can definitely start with Bullock and Green and go from there on the wing. The biggest shortfall of this team is the big man and lack of true production.

Dorian is a decent defender. Nothing more, nothing less. Even if we disagree, it doesn't matter because we sucked before he left. He also provided little to nothing on offense.

The perimeter being too passive? Man, that's a pretty word for sucks. They stink at keeping their man remotely in front of them. Yes, clearly we don't have a shotblocker, or natural rebounder, so the whole thing falls apart. Perimeter issues are not just Luka. It's KY, Josh, Bullock, literally everyone.

If you can't defend basic PnR and Any screen causes massive scrambling chaos and the "bigs" are caught out of position, you have a flawed system. You can put Turner in DPs place and we will still have issues if we don't make adjustments.

If you don't already, please record the game tomorrow, rewind some of our defensive possessions and watch where we fall apart. I can't count the times I've watched in slo-mo, simple PnR at the top, the big and guard/wing poorly position themselves and its a layup. Otherwise we have Luka or Timmy especially sagging way down out of position to get back to their man in the corner yet still never in position to defend the roll. Top that off with most of our g/f standing around never looking for a guy to box out.

Top priority is clearly a Big as far as on court upgrades go, but it sure feels sketchy because you can't trust Kidd to manage the lineups and rotation. You definitely can't trust him to make adjustments and beat many other coaches at X and Os.

[Simon2]

Ironically, Cuban has become the owner he hated when he was a Mavs fan sitting in the stands. He is different though in that he is too much ?in the forest? to see the trees. He is possibly too close that he is not objective anymore with personnel decisions.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

And the McGee stuff we just don't know because he wasn't played consistently.

The Wood stuff we know more about. Wood went from 34 mpg in January producing at a very high level (only one bad game that month) to 19 mpg for no rational reason behind it. Even if you don't like Wood, there really is no defense to doing that when we don't have any other big men to save the day.

They are literally just now experimenting Wood with McGee in small spurts when it doesn't matter anymore. Just awful mismanagement.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by Simon2

Ironically, Cuban has become the owner he hated when he was a Mavs fan sitting in the stands. He is different though in that he is too much ?in the forest? to see the trees. He is possibly too close that he is not objective anymore with personnel decisions.

Sure. I think he has tried, but he just doesn't know enough about team building and has relied on the Nelsons for the majority of his ownership, with Rick bridging the gap. Soon as he is left on his own, he made quick and questionable decisions in Kidd and Nico.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

So strange people defending DFS when he has been awful for the Nets. We were lucky to move that contract when we did or it's another THJ contract that nobody wants.

I think both things can be true:
1) He's about that undrafted talent we got who is just a decent defender who hit threes pretty well for a year and added an occasional drive to his repertoire.
and
2) he was the piece of duct tape on the wing of our plane that let our defense even kind of work

Not saying he's a star, but he was important on this talent and defense-starved team.

[saclare]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

So strange people defending DFS when he has been awful for the Nets. We were lucky to move that contract when we did or it's another THJ contract that nobody wants.

Who tf is defending him? He is what he is and you're going to use his time for the Nets as a nail in the coffin type of argument for yourself? LOL we simply can't talk ball if that's the approach you're going to take.

DFS is an above average defender and at worst average to above average total 3&D player. "So strange" is what should be applied to the "fans" here that continue to try and shit on him after he's no longer here. Put some respect on DFS, this team could use him in a heartbeat. As soon as I saw he was a piece going to the Nets in a trade, what semblance of defense the Mavs had evaporated. When you can only rely on Bullock and Green to defend, you're going to struggle.

Absolutely not the same type of contract as THJ, by the way. You guys are letting the disappointment of the season cloud your judgement tbh

[saclare]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Dorian is a decent defender. Nothing more, nothing less. Even if we disagree, it doesn't matter because we sucked before he left. He also provided little to nothing on offense.

The perimeter being too passive? Man, that's a pretty word for sucks. They stink at keeping their man remotely in front of them. Yes, clearly we don't have a shotblocker, or natural rebounder, so the whole thing falls apart. Perimeter issues are not just Luka. It's KY, Josh, Bullock, literally everyone.

If you can't defend basic PnR and Any screen causes massive scrambling chaos and the "bigs" are caught out of position, you have a flawed system. You can put Turner in DPs place and we will still have issues if we don't make adjustments.

If you don't already, please record the game tomorrow, rewind some of our defensive possessions and watch where we fall apart. I can't count the times I've watched in slo-mo, simple PnR at the top, the big and guard/wing poorly position themselves and its a layup. Otherwise we have Luka or Timmy especially sagging way down out of position to get back to their man in the corner yet still never in position to defend the roll. Top that off with most of our g/f standing around never looking for a guy to box out.

Top priority is clearly a Big as far as on court upgrades go, but it sure feels sketchy because you can't trust Kidd to manage the lineups and rotation. You definitely can't trust him to make adjustments and beat many other coaches at X and Os.

Please...we will disagree on DFS. I think you and DHWS are way off on the type of player DFS is and will continue to be. This year is all you guys are using for your argument and that's not remotely fair given the state of both teams he's played for this year. Let's just toss everything else we know about DFS out the window while we are at it.

DFS may have looked worse this year but that's on the team. You can seriously sit here and argue our defense has been better since he was traded? He was possibly the one holding it all together for all we know.

Perimeter passive, defense shit. Semantics. Bottom line is the PNR might appear to be easy to defend. Question, who defends the PNR best in NBA? Hell, night in and night out, we see Luka and Kyrie demolishing the PNR. Not sure anyone is...but if you want to dive into our guards, they tend to lazily bend around the top of the screens since they don't wanna be the guy to give up the three. That then sends the rest of the defense into the cover up, chicken with their heads cut off, type of scrambling Kyrie mentions. They need to regroup personnel and get back to switching more often as this league is riddled with guys who can pick a part defenses in the PNR.

No need to record, I watch every game. I'll see the same thing. But one thing we will be vastly apart on is your insinuation that this team and its defense would be the same if we swapped Powell with Turner. I just simply don't know how to respond to that...

Simple premise is when you have a guy like Turner, it creates a subset of thinking to the offense that there's a legit threat down low to help cover for these busts. Don't get me wrong, they can't continue at the rate, but it would be a better defense with Turner roaming the paint.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by saclare

Who tf is defending him? He is what he is and you're going to use his time for the Nets as a nail in the coffin type of argument for yourself? LOL we simply can't talk ball if that's the approach you're going to take.

DFS is an above average defender and at worst average to above average total 3&D player. "So strange" is what should be applied to the "fans" here that continue to try and shit on him after he's no longer here. Put some respect on DFS, this team could use him in a heartbeat. As soon as I saw he was a piece going to the Nets in a trade, what semblance of defense the Mavs had evaporated. When you can only rely on Bullock and Green to defend, you're going to struggle.

Absolutely not the same type of contract as THJ, by the way. You guys are letting the disappointment of the season cloud your judgement tbh

You're the one acting emotional over nothing. Everyone seems to have a stick up their ass lately on here because the season went down the tubes.

If you don't want to talk ball to me, then don't quote me. It's pretty simple, really.

[saclare]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

And the McGee stuff we just don't know because he wasn't played consistently.

The Wood stuff we know more about. Wood went from 34 mpg in January producing at a very high level (only one bad game that month) to 19 mpg for no rational reason behind it. Even if you don't like Wood, there really is no defense to doing that when we don't have any other big men to save the day.

They are literally just now experimenting Wood with McGee in small spurts when it doesn't matter anymore. Just awful mismanagement.

We can only guess as to what traspired for these two this year.

No clue on McGee. My best guess is injury or just simply miscast. I'd love to know the true story on his recruitment and where the starting role story came from. It'd be hard to convince me it was Kidd at this point given the minutes and all...

Wood has been talked about ad nauseum on here. I'm just not losing sleep over this guy. I don't disagree that he should have gotten more consistent playing time. But we are talking about a guy on his 7th team in as many seasons. There's got to be more to it internally that we simply are not privy to...not sure what else we can go by.

I would think that in such a disappointing season that some animosity or ill will would have come to light. The fact that no player or coach said anything as to Wood's or McGee's playing time says a lot. Then again, I can also see where that wouldn't be their place or why no one would speak up.

Basically, I can see scenarios where it's not surprising to me each player's circumstance. We will never know the full reasoning...

[saclare]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

You're the one acting emotional over nothing. Everyone seems to have a stick up their ass lately on here because the season went down the tubes.

If you don't want to talk ball to me, then don't quote me. It's pretty simple, really.

Emotional? Lol ok...

I'll quote you when I feel like it. I just ask for you to bring some substance behind such statements that are not based in fact and only in your feelings.

Yet, I'm the one emotional.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Let me tell ya something...prime Bruce Bowen wouldn't change our defense. It's a system problem. When an entire team sucks at defense, then it's the system more than anything. If guys aren't giving effort, coaching/system...every time.

But even more is that I have no clue how we're going to fix that issue this summer...especially if Irving stays at 50 mil per.

It's gonna be hard enough to find a defensive/rebounding big man let alone a bunch of good wing defenders.

[BigDog63]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Shams reporting the Mavs might shut down Kyrie and Luka for the remaining games. .

When they're not yet eliminated? Thunder magic number is 2. It's certainly not out of the realm of possibility, given each team's schedule

Although...who knows, team might be more likely to win?

[BigDog63]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Let me tell ya something...prime Bruce Bowen wouldn't change our defense. It's a system problem. When an entire team sucks at defense, then it's the system more than anything. If guys aren't giving effort, coaching/system...every time.

But even more is that I have no clue how we're going to fix that issue this summer...especially if Irving stays at 50 mil per.

It's gonna be hard enough to find a defensive/rebounding big man let alone a bunch of good wing defenders.

Which...they had (DFS)? Dinwiddie's defense is also missed. Mavs, when at full strength, were playing pretty good defense. So, not sure if it is a system problem, but will agree I see too many people either giving too little effort, or simply not being in the right place. Even during the last few games, where it seemed the effort was there, still saw too much standing around, giving up uncontested layups, etc.

[purplefrog]

DFS regressed on defense this year.
Bullock regressed on defense this year.
Maxi regressed on defense this year (I realize he had injury issues)
Mavs overall defense regressed this year.

Why? Here are some options (there are no doubt many others):
1. We lost a top-notch defensive floor general in Jalen Brunson
2. Last year was a fluke
3. Addition of Wood and/or McGee messed with the team chemistry
4. Luka's attitude and lack of conditioning has messed with the team chemistry
5. Kidd has changed the defense from last year, it has not worked, and he is too stubborn to go back to what was successful.
6. The FO has pissed off the entire team and no one wants to play for the petulant child Cuban anymore
7. Donnie Nelson spent a year learning black magic and voodoo and has put a curse on the Mavs.
8. None of the above. Or maybe all of the above. Mavs just stink to high heaven.