With the #9 pick in the 2017 draft, the Mavs choose Dennis Smith Jr.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

I agree, but Matthews is still going to need less minutes either way. He breaks down at the end of the season because of it. And I'm just not confident yet in that happening.

[Skywalker]

Press conference with DSJ about to start

https://www.facebook.com/dallasmavs/...8765221515461/

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Skywalker

Press conference with DSJ about to start

https://www.facebook.com/dallasmavs/...8765221515461/

Hmm, I keep getting an "address is invalid" message... Please feel free to mention any highlights to those of us who can't follow.

[Skywalker]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Hmm, I keep getting an "address is invalid" message... Please feel free to mention any highlights to those of us who can't follow.

That's weird. If you go to the Mavs facebook page you can easily find it though

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Nothing much of substance. DSJ looks to be all business which is a good thing.

[Fragism]

Cuban said Barnes has been in the practice facility pretty much every morning at 7:15am. God I love Harrison Barnes

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Dennis said he wanted to learn how to play defense the right way which is brutally honest and almost unheard of for a player to say. Said NC State didn't focus on defense much at all.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by Fragism

Cuban said Barnes has been in the practice facility pretty much every morning at 7:15am. God I love Harrison Barnes

No doubt, Awesome! I'd love to see him take that next step with his handles and consistent 3pt.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Dennis said he wanted to learn how to play defense the right way which is brutally honest and almost unheard of for a player to say. Said NC State didn't focus on defense much at all.

Dude is saying all the right things, I love it!

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

As much as I'm excited for the Noel-Smith connections this year, I think a lot of people who hated on Matthews are going to be eating a lot of crow this year. The addition of Smith is going to do wonders for his game.

Matthews is a 3-D guy who was forced to drive and make plays. If he can settle in and be the kick-out guy for Smith, I see him returning to early 2016-2017 form. In December/January when he wasn't tasked with driving and posting, he was shooting 40% from three and providing some excellent defense.

I'm pretty darn excited to have Smith driving and having Noel available for the oop and Dirk, Matthews, and Curry available for the kickout jumper. That's the way the NBA is going and dear lord do we have some potentially nice shooters to surround Smith. Kid just has to live up to his potential. The good news is that he's already skilled at the PnR/PnP.

Completely agree with this Erica.

Wes can now play his natural position/role on this team and will not have to try to do too much and should be a tremendous asset.
In fact, I almost think he should be our starting SG now because he would complement Smith so well.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

I would think our local pessimist BudapestMaverick would love this pick. Haven't heard from him lately.

[jayC]

I'm excited mini Westbrook. 48 inch vertical man can he jump. No Jrue Holliday or does it matter.

[Underdog]

@thesmokingcuban:

"Is the ROY award a reasonable goal for you this year?" -@IsaacHarrisNBA

"I believe so" -@Dennis4Smith

[Underdog]

"I'm going to go out and be Dennis Smith, and nothing can stop that." --Dennis motherfucking Smith

[Bryan_Wilson]

I will gladly eat crow all year if Wes can be closer to Portland Wes with DSJ in the fold now to get him better looks. At this point all we can do is hope, because he's not going anywhere.

Also-

More
Dennis Smith: "I pulled for the Mavs to win the title in 2011." Why? "I didn't want LeBron to win."

https://twitter.com/townbrad/status/878342965994770433

Finally a young player who isn't walking in the NBA kissing Lebron's feet.

[Underdog]

The Dennis System

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by Underdog

The Dennis System

I love it!

[BPo001]

Originally Posted by Underdog

The Dennis System

haha this is amazing!

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Great breakdown on why Smith has star potential...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ShLIOvum6w&t=333s

[turin]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

I will gladly eat crow all year if Wes can be closer to Portland Wes with DSJ in the fold now to get him better looks. At this point all we can do is hope, because he's not going anywhere.

I'm right there with ya.

[tap2390]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Dennis1SmithJr

Check out the practice dunk someone filmed that Smith retweeted. Holy crap. I can't believe we have a dunk contest candidate on our squad.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by tap2390

https://mobile.twitter.com/Dennis1SmithJr

Check out the practice dunk someone filmed that Smith retweeted. Holy crap. I can't believe we have a dunk contest candidate on our squad.

I don't think there's ever been a player in a Mavs uniform who could do that (unless you count pre-Mavs VC).

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by tap2390

https://mobile.twitter.com/Dennis1SmithJr

Check out the practice dunk someone filmed that Smith retweeted. Holy crap. I can't believe we have a dunk contest candidate on our squad.

I keep getting "This media could not be played" on the twitter videos. Not sure if its my settings or why it's happening. I pause ad block and still no bueno.

[tap2390]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

I keep getting "This media could not be played" on the twitter videos. Not sure if its my settings or why it's happening. I pause ad block and still no bueno.

Hmm. Not sure why. It just hit youtube, here you go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFWBF5QVuuM

[tap2390]

Want to get even more hyped about DSJ? Here's John Wall's and Derrick Rose's one-and-done seasons:


Derrick Rose
14.9 points on 47.7 FG%/ 33.7 3P%/ 71.2 FT%
5.1 FTA
4.5 RB
4.7 AST
1.2 STL
2.7 TO
29.2 MPG

John Wall
16.6 points on 46.1 FG%/ 32.5%/ 75.4 FT%
6.3 FTA
4.3 RB
6.5 AST
1.8 STL
4.0 TO
34.8 MPG

DSJ
18.1 points on 45.5 FG%/ 35.9 3P%/ 71.5 FT%
6.3 FTA
4.6 RB
6.2 AST
1.9 STL
3.4 TO
34.8 MPG


Now consider that DSJ played in the toughest conference out of the three (ACC vs. CUSA & SEC). Also, note that DSJ didn't play alongside any other NBA-caliber players.

Wall played with Eric Bledsoe, Demarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, Darius Miller, and DeAndre Liggins.

Rose played with Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey.

Finally, note that DSJ tore his ACL (full tear) a little over a year before his NC State year.

We got a steal ladies and gentlemen.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Barnes only got to the FT line 3.6 times a game last year. I'm hopeful that he can bring that up to 5+ by having DSJ here and I'm hoping he shoots more 3's as well with all that pressure DSJ can bring. I think that could bring Barnes up to a 21ppg scoring threat. And DSJ could very easily come in and get 6+ a game, that's something we haven't had in a while. Monta never got over 6 as a mav and the last one to do it was Dirk the year we won it. So optimistically if we can get 5 from Barnes and 6 from DSJ that opens up the outside for Wes, Seth, and the GOAT. Offensively I really like what we can bring next year even with the roster as is. It's the other areas I'm hoping to see improvement. I have no idea what our rebounding numbers and defensive numbers were like after the Noel acquisition but maybe a full year of him and with easier shots on offense they can bring more energy and effort to the table on defense and rebounding. I would imagine if we get easier shots like on the break that's more energy we have on defense not to mention we can get the defense set more on made shots.

He's a steal. I like those numbers Tap.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Chances that Smith is in the slam dunk contest? 100%?

[BPo001]

Originally Posted by Underdog

I don't think there's ever been a player in a Mavs uniform who could do that (unless you count pre-Mavs VC).

Gerald Green

[saclare]

Originally Posted by tap2390

Want to get even more hyped about DSJ? Here's John Wall's and Derrick Rose's one-and-done seasons:


Derrick Rose
14.9 points on 47.7 FG%/ 33.7 3P%/ 71.2 FT%
5.1 FTA
4.5 RB
4.7 AST
1.2 STL
2.7 TO
29.2 MPG

John Wall
16.6 points on 46.1 FG%/ 32.5%/ 75.4 FT%
6.3 FTA
4.3 RB
6.5 AST
1.8 STL
4.0 TO
34.8 MPG

DSJ
18.1 points on 45.5 FG%/ 35.9 3P%/ 71.5 FT%
6.3 FTA
4.6 RB
6.2 AST
1.9 STL
3.4 TO
34.8 MPG


Now consider that DSJ played in the toughest conference out of the three (ACC vs. CUSA & SEC). Also, note that DSJ didn't play alongside any other NBA-caliber players.

Wall played with Eric Bledsoe, Demarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, Darius Miller, and DeAndre Liggins.

Rose played with Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey.

Finally, note that DSJ tore his ACL (full tear) a little over a year before his NC State year.

We got a steal ladies and gentlemen.

Must spread rep...

[DevinHarriswillstart]

And DSJ is a much better pull up three point shooter than either Wall or Rose. BIG plus.

But he is his own specimen. You can compare him to other players until the sun comes down, but really the guy is a chameleon. He'll be Baron Davis one play, Chris paul the next play, even JJ Barea on another play. He does so many things well that you just don't know what is coming at you offensively.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Great article by Bobby K...

https://www.mavs.com/theres-dennis-s...d-athleticism/

[rimrocker]

Jesus....to think how gloomy things looked less than a year ago and how they have evolved to now is simply amazing. Thank goodness we have a great owner, GM and coach.
Smith and this team are going to be fun to watch for the next 12-15 years no matter what as long as they can stay healthy.

[rimrocker]

Does DSJ have a nickname?

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

Does DSJ have a nickname?

"Junior" is the only one I've seen so far... Dude definitely needs something a little spicier.

[Skywalker]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

Does DSJ have a nickname?

Woodslanger

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Skywalker

Woodslanger

Spicy.

[sefant77]

As a rookie for now: Burger

[tap2390]

Originally Posted by Skywalker

Woodslanger

I lol'd.

Let's be glad there was no Twitter when we were high school freshmen.

[EricaLubarsky]

Dennis Smith Jr. will be the Best Player in the 2017 NBA Draft

https://sports.vice.com/en_us/articl...2017-nba-draft

[AO41]

I know people have thrown a lot of comparisons out there and I am not doing that. I don,t watch College Ball so I didn't know much about DSJ. But the first highlights I saw of him and the way he attacks reminded me of Westbrook, mainly the aggression and explosiveness he shows.