Are we good?

[tap2390]

Halfway through the season I’m wondering what the sentiment is around here… are we good?

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Only when the ball falls through the hoop.

[Robillion]

Lately Id say we are good in spite of the ball not falling through the hoop.

The Mavs are good this year because they are a good defensive team.

They would be great if they could put the ball through the hoop at a higher rate.

[Dolencd]

I think bad shooting has a lot to do with more work being done on the defensive end then they are too tired on the offensive end. That's obviously not good, but Mavs will figure it out I believe.

[washedklean77]

I think the Mavs and Cowboys have a lot in common. Most notably in the way that they can come out and play well and win big or play poorly and lose big. You just never know what you're going to get. Most good teams have a repeatable recipe that they adhere to that dictates their identity. And with this Mavs team, their identity appears to be outside shooting so their success criteria is their ability to make 3's. If they fall, they win. If they don't fall, they lose. Sounds a lot like those 2000 - 2004 Mavs teams with Dirk, Finley and Nash.

[EricaLubarsky]

Our defense is certainly impressive. We're currently 4th in that metric and climbing

Our offense is what worries me. We've had some team ball in Luka's absence, but with Luka, we still have not figured out a reliable offense and that is in addition to poor shooting. Luka can start to shoot at his career averages again, but I'm afraid that our offense is still not working.

[FreshJive]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Our defense is certainly impressive. We're currently 4th in that metric and climbing

Our offense is what worries me. We've had some team ball in Luka's absence, but with Luka, we still have not figured out a reliable offense and that is in addition to poor shooting. Luka can start to shoot at his career averages again, but I'm afraid that our offense is still not working.

I think it’s going to take time for Luka to feel completely comfortable in the offense. Things came easier for him in Carlisle’s offense with the greater spacing and open lanes, and now he has to share the ball more, but Kidd’s approach may turn out be healthier for the team long term. Luka seems to be using more energy on defense lately, and Dorian and Brunson are becoming more reliable options on offense.

[Robillion]

Originally Posted by FreshJive

I think it’s going to take time for Luka to feel completely comfortable in the offense. Things came easier for him in Carlisle’s offense with the greater spacing and open lanes, and now he has to share the ball more, but Kidd’s approach may turn out be healthier for the team long term. Luka seems to be using more energy on defense lately, and Dorian and Brunson are becoming more reliable options on offense.

This is the way I see it too.. it seems more like growing pains rather than a worse offensive system. With Carlisle, it was fun to watch Luka just go to work in the heliocentric offense. But with that, good talent on this team were second class citizens in the offense used only to fulfill Luka assists. Luka needs to grow as a point guard to help his teammates be better and have more of a team oriented, ball movement offense. And his teammates are just this year figuring out how they are fitting in with more active roles as well. It is more complicated but can really pay off.

But it was good to see last night that Luka can still get aggressive and drag this team to a win still too.

[Melonhead]

We good. I would say a top 10 team in the league.

Offense still has work to do, but finally having a defense will always keep the Mavs in games.

[DannyFortsonBakedPotato]

Just need the shooting to normalize. It's borderline unrealistic how bad KP, THJ, Brunson, and Bullock have been from 3.

KP: 29%
Bullock: 32%
THJ: 33%
Brunson: 33%

Even Kleber and DFS are a little low given the quality of looks they get.

Kleber: 37%
DFS: 37%

Of course Luka is low as well, but takes different threes than them.

You can't have a successful offense with guys taking a high-volume of threes and hitting them at such a low clip. If a few guys normalize to at least career averages, and we maintain the level of D, that would make us actual threats in the playoffs.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

And the Luka doesn't get his teammates involved narrative can be flushed right down the toilet. He basically force fed 4 open three shots for Bullock against Toronto.

These guys are getting open shots! It's almost like they train to only take contested ones but can't hit open ones. It's maddening.

[Heezzi]

The team is mediocre. First Round exit at best.