Game Day Thread: Denver vs Dallas December 28, 7:30 p.m. central

[Bayliss]

Time to get the ball rolling. Hopefully Carlisle will stick to some basic pairings in the frontcourt and backcourt. And hopefully Dirk will want to shoot a little more or at least want to be the instigator on offense.

[SMC0007]

Hustle loss.

[Rick41]

Over/Under OJ Mayo turnovers.

39.

[Bayliss]

It isn't the number of turnovers. It is when they occur. Had he committed those turnovers in the first. No big deal. But he committed 2 turnovers in the last 3 minutes of the game. And he committed another the last minute of overtime.

[j0Shi]

Originally Posted by Bayliss

It isn't the number of turnovers. It is when they occur.

Nah. TO = TO. And 17 over the 3-game road trip are simply too much even if every one would have come in the first.

Not quite ready to call this a must-win, but it's close.

[iella]

In town visiting the in-laws, so we're going to this one. Excited to see Dirk play live, willing to live with the game results.

[SMC0007]

TO are TO's and they all hurt and stifle momentum but they hurt much worse late in the game as he mentioned, no question. Also, he did turn the ball over in the first and again in the 3rd, bad passes.

[adonis]

Gotta:
-Mayo < 5 turnovers
- Kaman to rebound
- Dirk to score in double digits
- Getting more from Vince

[Bayliss]

Nah. TO = TO.

In the boxscore, yes you are correct. In the importance of deciding games? You are incorrect. No one wins a game in the 1st quarter or half.

When plays happen are more important than what actually happens because timing and order are so important in sports.

[oilfieldtrash]

Originally Posted by Bayliss

In the boxscore, yes you are correct. In the importance of deciding games? You are incorrect. No one wins a game in the 1st quarter or half.

When plays happen are more important than what actually happens because timing and order are so important in sports.

So the 14 points given up on Mayo's turnovers don't matter until the end of the game?

[Bayliss]

So the 14 points given up on Mayo's turnovers don't matter until the end of the game?

In the grand scheme of things... no.

It's the reason why Dirk in the Finals was a God and LeBron a mere mortal even though LeBron averaged: 18/7/7/2.... 48% FG.

And vice versa. Had Dirk not averaged 10+ in the fourth in the Finals (hell for the whole playoffs)... Mavs don't have a ring. Dirk's stats are really not impressive: 26/10/2 on 42% FG; but it was when he got those numbers that mattered.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by oilfieldtrash

So the 14 points given up on Mayo's turnovers don't matter until the end of the game?

Look, it's not that difficult. All TO's matter, stuff happens during the game. But at the very end of the game, when it's tied or you are up a few, those TO's are more costly. You throw everything that has happened early on to the back burner when it comes down to the very end and you have to finish... in closing time...TO's kill you.

[41mvp]

easy loss

[Kante]

Ugh, they will run, run, run!

Faried offensive rebounds? 8.

[Budapest Maverick]

Denver is a terrible matchup for us even if you don't count the b2b, and the fact that Dirk is still not in the best game shape, so yeah, probably easy loss, but who knows, maybe they surprise us. We should win some games sooner than later, if we want to make the post season though.

[adonis]

6 games under .500 is tough but the 8th seed is only 1 game over .500. We're going to have to start playing well to even have a chance at getting destroyed by OKC or San Antonio in the first round

[Rick41]

Originally Posted by adonis

6 games under .500 is tough but the 8th seed is only 1 game over .500. We're going to have to start playing well to even have a chance at getting destroyed by OKC or San Antonio in the first round

I'd rather just get a top 10 pick.

[Kante]

Carlisle says Dirk Nowitzki will again come off the bench tonight vs. Denver.

Guess until the new year.

[Rick41]

Originally Posted by Kante

Guess until the new year.

Until he gets in shape.

He looks no where near in shape to me personally.

I wouldn't be surprised if he continues to come off the bench for another week, maybe two.

[Kante]

Originally Posted by Rick41

Until he gets in shape.

He looks no where near in shape to me personally.

I wouldn't be surprised if he continues to come off the bench for another week, maybe two.

Yep, good points.

The rust is one thing, that goes away, especially for good shooters like he is. He looks pretty slow and with not much confidence right now...

Calling other players to do something even when he has a mismatch!

[Kante]

Roddy is active tonight!

[GermanDunk]

Morning !

[GermanDunk]

Ack

[Kante]

The jumper has to be the 2nd option for Kaman, he needs to be in the post way more often!

[Kante]

And as much as i like Jones, he should come off the bench!

The record with that S5, or at least Mayo, him, Marion and Kaman has to be horrible...

[GermanDunk]

19-8

[Kante]

Ugh... As expected!

Carter bricks so many good taken, wide open threes the last few games!

[MrScottMcKenzie]

As expected, Farried is killing us.

[MrScottMcKenzie]

And so is Vince Carter. He's in a massive slump.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

All of the heart and want in the world can't overcome lack of talent.

VC has been just awful.

[Rick41]

Originally Posted by MrScottMcKenzie

As expected, Farried is killing us.

11 rebounds already rofl.

[MrScottMcKenzie]

Mavs had 8 rebs in the 1st. Faried had 11 by himself.

[fluid.forty.one]

There's still nothing better in the NBA than a Dirk 3.

[Rick41]

Vince Carter needs to STOP trying to draw charges.

[Bayliss]

Keep shooting it Dirk. Mavs need you to score.

[Kante]

Down 15, already? Owh man...

[Kante]

Glad Roddy gets a chance instead of Jones!

[MrScottMcKenzie]

Welcome back to Dallas. Corey Brewer.

[MrScottMcKenzie]

I like CDR, he plays hard.

[Bayliss]

Brand is just terrible offensively. I wish Wright could get some minutes.