RS 16/17 - G13 - Mavericks @ Spurs (Monday, Nov. 21 - 8:30PM EST)

[SOUNDCHASER]

Gibson, Brussino, Hammons and Finney-Smith 4 rookies plus Barnes make it happen

[Heezzi]

This is the reason why Mejiri needs to play more.

[Nowitness]

Matthews going down would leave Barnes as the only starter healthy going forward, but it looks like it's luckily not too bad.

[fuller4379]

Hell must be freezing over because Carlisle is giving minutes to youngsters. I know it is desperation with all the injuries.

[Franc]

Hell must be freezing over because Carlisle is giving minutes to youngsters. I know it is desperation with all the injuries.

But he's doing a good job with rookies. Go Mavs!

[SOUNDCHASER]

1 point game 35 seconds

[Nowitness]

Welp, actual offense, still no winning.

[SOUNDCHASER]

In SAN an expected loss is almost not.

[Darren]

Great game. Proud of the way we compete. I don't expect Barnes to be so effective against the Spurs. So is Matthews and Curry. However, our frontcourt defense is still troublesome. I am okay with the loss. I don't expect a competitive game. But then, I am surprised. Great effort and hustle. We see one of the better night for Matthews.

If you ask me, we win replacing Powell and Gibson with random backup 4/5 and 1/2. The former can defend the likes of Gasol and ain't aware of passing lanes to cutters. The latter still don't quite understand his role. He looks lost playing in-between PG and SG. But the efforts are there. That's growing paint. At least, they try to compete.

That's the tuition fees young teams normally paid.

[2011Champs]

Give Dallas +17pts tonight.

Dallas with the big win against the betting line.

This was a fun game to watch. One of the bad things about a young team is inconsistency. They may have five more bad games before they play like this again.

[Dirk]

Really tough loss.

At least it was better basketball. It was good to see Matthews having a second good game on offense (no way should the Mavs pay someone to take his contract on). Barnes needs to learn from Kawhi on getting to the line, but it was also a bounce back game from him. Mejri was really good and yeah... reallistically he should play more. He has a more defined role than Powell who has been a mess so far.

Close games in Boston, Orlando and San Antonio. It's not hard to imagine that with some of the guys that are missing, the Mavs would have won one or two of these. Curry while he had a great game shooting, he isn't a PG, he had a huge turnover near the end of the game. Same with Matthews.

Poppovich after the game:

Gregg Popovich was in no mood to take questions after his Spurs played the Dallas Mavericks on Monday at AT&T Center.

“I thought we showed a lack of humility, a lack of respect for the opponent,” said Popovich after the game. “A very pathetic performance at both ends of the court. Both in execution and in grunt, in fiber, in desire. It was an awful performance.”

Popovich departed his postgame press conference, only to return less than two seconds later. “Oh,” he added, returning to finish the critique, “and they (the Mavs) deserved to win the basketball game. I forgot to say that.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2016/11/21/postgame-wrap-popovich-not-happy-but-spurs-down-mavs/

So uhmmm I guess the Spurs took the Mavs lightly... all game long...

In all seriousness, the record flatters the Spurs and I don't think they're much of a threat to win the title this year.

Curious to see if this team has really improved over these next three games.

[fuller4379]

Even when the season is in the toilet, they can still play hard against the Spurs. Nice effort but we needed the loss.