GDT: game 19 - Mavs (12-6) at Lakers (17-2) 3:00pm FSSW

[Jack.Kerr]

13-6 is nice.

Current record could easily be 16-3, had they won both NYKs games, and beaten the Lakers in their first meeting (which they should have).

4-3 against teams >.500
Quality wins against: Lakers, Rockets, Raptors, Nuggets.

9-3 against teams <.500
2 Losses to team with worst record (NIX).

Schedule looks to get tougher over next 10 games.

Can they beat NO twice?

Good test: MIN, SAC, DET, MIA (all at home).

Murderers' row against: @MIL, BOS, @PHI, @TOR.

[KillerLeft]

Whoa, what??!

I'm shocked there are people on this board who don't appreciate DFS. You know who's desperately looking for more long, versatile wing defenders? Only every team in the league.

I think he has hit some big shots this season, personally. I loooooove that dude.

[Underdog]

LeBron/Davis 2nd half: 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Luka Doncic 2nd half: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals

Luka > LeBron/Davis... It’s basic math. There can be only one.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Dallas41

Thank you someone gets it....

If KP goes out and gets you 18-20 a night we aren't having this conversation about DFS because the dude actually gives this team a defensive wing they've lacked for years since marion and Stevenson

Marion was able to flourish as a starter despite not being a shooter because the mavs had dirk and Terry generating enough offense

DFS does so much of the dirty work for this team it's a shame some fans don't appreciate his work that doesnt show up in stats.

You hit the nail on the head.

DFS is a great fit with Luka and KP and he does seem to fit the Marion/Aminu role better than anyone else on the team. You're right, if KP ever becomes the scorer that is expected DFS will be even a better fit.

No doubt Jackson is a better shooter/scorer than DFS but I really like him with the 2nd unit with Wright, Brunson and Maxi. Jackson should get more minutes though and I see him more as an Antawn Jamison type of player.

[Dolencd]

I relly got used to Bullets posts after the game on this forum created by a great dude. Hope they come back.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Underdog

LeBron/Davis 2nd half: 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Luka Doncic 2nd half: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals

Luka > LeBron/Davis... It’s basic math. There can be only one.

It's amazing how many gotcha moments Luka has throughout the game. He often dribbles the ball up the court like he is gassed only to blow by his defender. He catches players off guard in a way I don't think I've ever seen anyone else do it. THAT is how he makes up for his "lack" of athleticism although he really didn't look that way with that awesome dunk down the lane.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Dolencd

I relly got used to Bullets posts after the game on this forum created by a great dude. Hope they come back.

Yeah, not sure what has happened to j0Shi.
Always provides a nice post game analysis.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Dolencd

I relly got used to Bullets posts after the game on this forum created by a great dude. Hope they come back.

Originally Posted by rimrocker

Yeah, not sure what has happened to j0Shi.
Always provides a nice post game analysis.

He's in Germany, so he's watching the games LATE at night -- he sometimes posts them the next day, but it's gotta be tough to hit those bullets after every game.

[Dolencd]

Originally Posted by Underdog

He's in Germany, so he's watching the games LATE at night -- he sometimes posts them the next day, but it's gotta be tough to hit those bullets after every game.

I knew it! So organized and precise. It had to be German. Is that a Euro joke? Just wanted to show my appreciation to the man.

Gotta feel for those late games as well ... It's mostly about 1:30 or 2:30 AM here in Slovenia when games are on, so those Sunday afternoon games come really in handy.

[FreshJive]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

It's amazing how many gotcha moments Luka has throughout the game. He often dribbles the ball up the court like he is gassed only to blow by his defender. He catches players off guard in a way I don't think I've ever seen anyone else do it. THAT is how he makes up for his "lack" of athleticism although he really didn't look that way with that awesome dunk down the lane.

The shiftiness coupled with the strength and size that Doncic and Harden possess should be considered freakish athleticism. Their ability to start/stop, left/right, forward/back coupled with their upper body fine motor skills keep defenders from knowing what they are going to do next. It’s just as unique and difficult to stop as LeBron’s ability to blow by and out leap you.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by FreshJive

The shiftiness coupled with the strength and size that Doncic and Harden possess should be considered freakish athleticism. Their ability to start/stop, left/right, forward/back coupled with their upper body fine motor skills keep defenders from knowing what they are going to do next. It’s just as unique and difficult to stop as LeBron’s ability to blow by and out leap you.

For some reason, when people say "athleticism," they only seem to mean how fast someone can run and how high they can jump.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by KillerLeft

I can't believe how ahead of schedule this team seems, all of a sudden. Having never followed a team who landed one of these instant generational talents, I had no idea how the psychology of knowing that guy is in place pushed things along more quickly.

These guys, collectively, are playing with such confidence right now, and KP is operating at like 40% of what we hope is his capacity.

Gonna be a nice decade.

You haven't been a Mavs fan long have you?

[Dallas41]

Anyone else enjoy that chase down block by DFS on Lebron last night?

I thought that play really started to kill some of Lebron's spirit as he seemed to be defeated afterwards

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by Dallas41

Anyone else enjoy that chase down block by DFS on Lebron last night?

I thought that play really started to kill some of Lebron's spirit as he seemed to be defeated afterwards

Loved it! That was a pretty big moment.

I couldn't tell if that's what started their decline or if it was Davis whining about "non-calls". Once he started crying instead of playing it seemed like Lebron followed shortly after and then KCP got a tech doing it.

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by Dallas41

Thank you someone gets it....

If KP goes out and gets you 18-20 a night we aren't having this conversation about DFS because the dude actually gives this team a defensive wing they've lacked for years since marion and Stevenson

Marion was able to flourish as a starter despite not being a shooter because the mavs had dirk and Terry generating enough offense

DFS does so much of the dirty work for this team it's a shame some fans don't appreciate his work that doesnt show up in stats.

To put DFS in the same breath as Matrix is hilarious. Not even getting a rebuttal for something that silly. I’m fine with him starting but JJ should get run with the starters in addition to more minutes.

[endtroducing MASKED]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

To put DFS in the same breath as Matrix is hilarious. Not even getting a rebuttal for something that silly. I’m fine with him starting but JJ should get run with the starters in addition to more minutes.

I was laughing really hard when I read it tbh. Marion is a borderline hall of famer and will probably make it because everyone does. Finney-Smith is like barely in the league and wouldn’t play for a lot of teams.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by endtroducing MASKED

I was laughing really hard when I read it tbh. Marion is a borderline hall of famer and will probably make it because everyone does.

Honestly I don't think Marion will get in, at least not anytime soon. I could be wrong though. There are definitely less deserving people in right now.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

To put DFS in the same breath as Matrix is hilarious. Not even getting a rebuttal for something that silly. I’m fine with him starting but JJ should get run with the starters in addition to more minutes.

Originally Posted by endtroducing MASKED

I was laughing really hard when I read it tbh. Marion is a borderline hall of famer and will probably make it because everyone does. Finney-Smith is like barely in the league and wouldn’t play for a lot of teams.

Yea. You guys are missing the point, by a lot.

And fwiw, Substituting JJ for Dfs in the starting lineup would be a terrible mistake. Fortunately it's not one Rick would make. I can agree that JJ should get more burn but not in the SLU, and not over DFS.

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

To put DFS in the same breath as Matrix is hilarious. Not even getting a rebuttal for something that silly. I’m fine with him starting but JJ should get run with the starters in addition to more minutes.

Let's just say I'm glad RC doesnt agree with your opinion or else JJ would already be starting over DFS

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

To put DFS in the same breath as Matrix is hilarious.

Only if you're comparing their talent... Role-wise, DFS is just the most recent addition in a long line of "D & no 3" Matrix-lite clones that Rick has plugged in at the wing over the years. He loves hustle guys, and DoDo is all hustle.

[KillerLeft]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

You haven't been a Mavs fan long have you?

Not super long...I got into the team (and basketball) very seriously about the same time Nash/Dirk were acquired. Why do you ask?

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by KillerLeft

Not super long...I got into the team (and basketball) very seriously about the same time Nash/Dirk were acquired. Why do you ask?

I think what he means is, when you said-

Having never followed a team who landed one of these instant generational talents, I had no idea how the psychology of knowing that guy is in place pushed things along more quickly.

this seems to preclude Dirk. Either you haven't been following the Mavs that long or, you're implying that Dirk wasn't an "instant generational talent."

I assume the key word in that sentence is "instant," as in Dirk wasn't a superstar right away and took some time to develop, correct? Because you can't say that Dirk wasn't a generational talent.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Only if you're comparing their talent... Role-wise, DFS is just the most recent addition in a long line of "D & no 3" Matrix-lite clones that Rick has plugged in at the wing over the years. He loves hustle guys, and DoDo is all hustle.

Yeah, I don't think anyone is suggesting that DFS is as talented as Matrix by any means, simply filling that role.

The Mavs signed Jeremy Evans a few years ago to try to fill that role and that didn't work out. The jury is still out on DFS but he seems to be decent in that role. If there is an upgrade available and achievable I'm sure we'll pull the trigger.

If KP becomes predominately a defensive beast and THJ's defense improves, it might make sense to bring JJ into the SL for more offense. But for now DFS is a better fit in the SL imo.

[turin]

I'm fine with DFS starting, but I do agree wholeheartedly that JJ needs a lot more minutes with the second unit. Also, I think DFS has steadily improved his shooting. This is what his 2nd season since significantly reworking his shot? He's hit some clutch threes this season, and aside from 2 wide open 3's from Luka against the Lakers, he's hit pretty much everything I've expected him to hit. I still think he's got room for improvement with his shot, and the couple of clutch makes have given me even more patience to see if he can improve even more.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

You could easily start JJ and DFS with KP at center if we didn't hand out that Powell contract. But at last Powell played well this game.

[KillerLeft]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

I think what he means is, when you said-



this seems to preclude Dirk. Either you haven't been following the Mavs that long or, you're implying that Dirk wasn't an "instant generational talent."

I assume the key word in that sentence is "instant," as in Dirk wasn't a superstar right away and took some time to develop, correct? Because you can't say that Dirk wasn't a generational talent.

Ohhhhh, gotcha.

Dirk was amazing. A generational talent, for sure. Imo, he's the greatest athlete in DFW history, for any sport, and that's saying something. Easily top 20 all-time for the NBA, and that's saying even more.

But, yes - "instant" was the key word. Having watched Dirk's entire career, from start to finish, I have no hesitation in asserting that his first 2-3 seasons were not close to what we're seeing from Luka right now. That's just a fact. If I remember correctly, we were 3 seasons in before the Mavs even decided that Dirk was a 4 and not a 3, and that was during a time when position actually mattered quite a bit.

I'm not saying Luka will have a better career than Dirk, because that's going to take an unbelievable amount of extended success, but surely people don't disagree that his START is a new experience for us all.

[Scoobay]

nice analysis, couple highlights of Luka's defense

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLITIwHz4Vg

[turin]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

You could easily start JJ and DFS with KP at center if we didn't hand out that Powell contract. But at last Powell played well this game.

Yep. My thoughts exactly.