SDT #2 (Scrimmage Day Thread) Mavs vs. Pacers

[Skywalker]

[dirt_dobber]

Also on NBATV - which you get with YouTube-TV
KP will sit in today’s game (skipped a Caronavirus test) against the Pacers.

[dirt_dobber]

Per RC: No Porzingis today. Broke protocol by not getting tested yesterday on the off day. Says KP feels contrite as he gets tested today.

[EricaLubarsky]

As a Mavs fan I really want to like KP, but he's making it hard.

[NeedlesKane]

Regarding KP... how is this even possible? They have nowhere to go exactly unless the theme park is opened to them to enjoy. I guess there are other possibilities as well, but still... wtf?

[Skywalker]

Yeah this kind of shit blows my mind. No excuse for it tbh

Anyway, lets try and enjoy the game

[Scoobay]

yay love Boban!

man Boban erases the defender on the PnR with Luka - Luka can then do whatever he wants.

[Skywalker]

good quarter, offense not missing a beat

[GermanDunk]

Hello !

[BPo001]

3 ball looking good today!

[BPo001]

Didn’t Jackson step out in the exact same location last game? Dude look where your feet are when you’re spitting up.

[Scoobay]

JJB looks pretty garbage...

[BPo001]

Popeye Jones sighting on the Pacers bench. I didn’t know he was coaching there.

[EricaLubarsky]

That second unit is a pretty bad.

[Skywalker]

harp talking about Luka as if hes averaging 20ppg and not 29

[EricaLubarsky]

mavs are hard to watch when they're this inconsistent.

[Scoobay]

would like to see maxi go post up a small on the break if he's got the mismatch

[EricaLubarsky]

in a short half Luka had 14-10-6

[MFFL]

I haven't watched many preseason games before. Does Luka smile during them? Because it seems like Luka is very serious. Not the same fun loving Luka that I'm used to

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by MFFL

I haven't watched many preseason games before. Does Luka smile during them? Because it seems like Luka is very serious. Not the same fun loving Luka that I'm used to

he's super sweaty and winded. think he's gotta get his conditioning back

[EricaLubarsky]

Mavs really like to have great first quarters and then absolutely suck for the 2nd and 3rd quarters and then make a brave but often useless comeback in the fourth.

[GermanDunk]

By how much will be TV money be reduced, when the public remains closed out ?

[EricaLubarsky]

Doncic is frustrated and out of shape.

[EricaLubarsky]

Blow it out

[EricaLubarsky]

Game over.

[EricaLubarsky]

What happened to Delon? Dude was pretty solid in Memphis.

[Skywalker]

welp

[EricaLubarsky]

Boban is a team-worst -12

[MFFL]

Mavs put their rec league squad out there

[EricaLubarsky]

Was hoping to see something from Reaves

[EricaLubarsky]

Jackson has been a huge disappointment

[MFFL]

Jackson, Wright & JJ do not look like contributors on a title club

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by MFFL

Jackson, Wright & JJ do not look like contributors on a title club

I mean, it's a scrimmage, but if you are being fair, then you're including THJ too. Jackson certainly had a better game than him which is saying something...

[FreshJive]

Wtf KP?

[FreshJive]

How do you accidentally miss a test in the bubble?

[Thespiralgoeson]

For what it's worth, Carlisle is sticking up for KP, saying it was an "innocent mistake."

"This situation was one where he just took his eye off the ball a little bit in terms of the day-to-day protocols and procedures,” Carlisle said. “It can be challenging on off days to keep track of the schedule.

“I almost missed testing on our first off day. I was lucky I was able to get tested a little before 9 p.m. before they were closing up. It’s an innocent mistake, but it’s significant.

“I did speak to him,” Carlisle said. “He was very contrite and really felt bad about letting the team down.

“Something like this, all of us can take as a cautionary tale. And we’ve just got to remember that the details of this situation that we’re involved in are very, very important.”

https://www.mavs.com/maverick-briefs-2/

Seems ridiculous to me, but Carlisle has never been someone who coddles players or makes excuses for them. So whatever. At least it's only a scrimmage.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

But I mean, this is why the bubble thing has big risks. And everyone else should be so lucky to get tested everyday with same day results.

And I'm pretty shocked at how some Mavs fans are reacting right now. Like, are you really taking the rest of this season seriously? No matter who wins, it's a giant asterisk. Just have fun and be happy we have basketball to watch mid-summer.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

But I mean, this is why the bubble thing has big risks. And everyone else should be so lucky to get tested everyday with same day results.

And I'm pretty shocked at how some Mavs fans are reacting right now. Like, are you really taking the rest of this season seriously? No matter who wins, it's a giant asterisk. Just have fun and be happy we have basketball to watch mid-summer.

I'm absolutely taking it seriously. I don't believe in asterisks in sports, unless someone gets caught cheating or something. If anything, this championship will be harder to win than most, not easier.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

I'm absolutely taking it seriously. I don't believe in asterisks in sports, unless someone gets caught cheating or something. If anything, this championship will be harder to win than most, not easier.

By that logic the Mavs have even less of a chance of winning it all because they weren't a championship team this year anyway. Or are there some who are kidding themselves?

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

By that logic the Mavs have even less of a chance of winning it all because they weren't a championship team this year anyway. Or are there some who are kidding themselves?

Maybe I misunderstood the question. When you said,"Like, are you really taking the rest of this season seriously? No matter who wins, it's a giant asterisk," you seem to be saying that no basketball fan should take it seriously. Is that what you're saying, or are you only saying that we Mavs fans shouldn't take it seriously, because the team isn't a title contender? Because I agree with the second part. I'm not sweating wins or losses. I figure the best case scenario for the Mavs is moving up a spot or two in the seeding and draw someone other than the Clippers, and then maybe have a shot of getting out of the first round. If we end up drawing the Clippers, we'll be lucky to win a game. Either way, the only thing I'm really hoping for is to see Luka and KP play well together and give us something to be encouraged about in the years ahead.

But I don't believe that the season has an asterisk "no matter who wins." People have said that about lockout-shortened seasons too, and I don't believe that either. The consensus from people who have actually played those seasons is that the physical grind of a shortened season is harder, not easier than normal seasons, due to the condensed schedule. And people are inevitably out of shape due to the extended rest. Even for the players who train 8 hours a day, no amount of training can substitute for actual NBA competition.

I feel like a lot of people are already using the "asterisk" argument as a pre-emptive way to write off Lebron's 4th title if the Lakers win. Again, I don't buy it. If anything, if the Lakers win, I think the bizarre circumstances make it more impressive, not less. There's a media narrative about Lebron being more dangerous because he's so well-rested. However, it's generally agreed that shortened seasons are actually a huge disadvantage for older players, for all the same reasons I listed above.

And if the Bucks win, and Giannis gets his first title and finals MVP- would that make him any less of a champion? Or if Kawhi wins his third finals MVP, should it only say two-and-half on his resume? I certainly don't think so. The way I see it, the setting might be very different, but the championship picture looks exactly the same as it did before the pandemic. It was the three team race between the Bucks, Clippers, and Lakers before the season stopped, and it remains so now.

I don't believe in asterisks, so long as everyone is playing by the same rules, under the same circumstances. An asterisk to me is only merited when one side has an unfair advantage over the other. In my life as an NBA fan, I feel like the only championship that should have an asterisk is the 2006 Heat. For obvious reasons.