RS 24/25 - Mavs @ Wolves (730PM EST Tonight)

[joesha1698]

Credit to Kidd for having Naji in the game to save it.

[Bob8]

Back2back away win against Wolves and Luka struggling with shooting is just fantastic!

Luka 11 and Kyrie 9 4Q points.

[41Dirk41]

That's a PO win. Great job.

I really miss those Kyrie haters... Are they ok? Late season holiday? Please, come back

Another great all around game by PJ (this time he made his 3s. Incredible).

Some signs of life by Q-Grimes and Marshall, but still far from DJJ contribution.

No Maxi Kleber is still a great thing. Again.

The Cs are ok. I don't care who starts, we need boths.

A semi washed Dinwiddie is already ahead of Hardy in the rotation. Ouch

Luka is Luka, not a great game at all but in 4th he setted the tone and made a dagger 3 from the logo.

I can't believe what Minny gives up for Pussy Gobert, a lot of FRPs and change position+dump their second best player. Probably they have their Mark Cuban

P.S.
I don't know what happened by i saw an offensive schemes after a TO, probably it was Luka magic but today i have good vibes so i want to believe that's was a Ralph Winchester mastemind stuff.

[Mavrelous]

There are a lot of worrying signs if you want to look for them, but bottom line, team is 3-1 on above average schedule difficulty when Luka hasn't even arrived to this season yet.

[dirkforpres]

Nice to see signs of life from Grimes, Dinwiddie, and Naji at various points during the B2B. Luka will be fine, this is still technically his preseason. I really worry about him playing through nagging leg injuries like he did last year though. Hopefully he will be fine going forward.

This was a massive win.

[Bob8]

There are a lot of worrying signs if you want to look for them, but bottom line, team is 3-1 on above average schedule difficulty when Luka hasn't even arrived to this season yet.

If not for anything else Mavs should have better RS because PJ and Gafford are playing from the beginning and hopefully they won't have so many problems with injuries.

Grimes should be good enough to replace Josh, the only real worrying sign is Naji, being able of some ball handling is nice but not really what we need from him.

Being able to win games with Luka playing like that is a big plus.

[dirkforpres]

There are a lot of worrying signs if you want to look for them, but bottom line, team is 3-1 on above average schedule difficulty when Luka hasn't even arrived to this season yet.

If not for anything else Mavs should have better RS because PJ and Gafford are playing from the beginning and hopefully they won't have so many problems with injuries.

Grimes should be good enough to replace Josh, the only real worrying sign is Naji, being able of some ball handling is nice but not really what we need from him.

Being able to win games with Luka playing like that is a big plus.

Naji's jumpshot is failing him big time. If its still that way after a month or so into the season, I say maybe start decreasing his minutes. I like his on ball defense though at least.

[Bob8]

There are a lot of worrying signs if you want to look for them, but bottom line, team is 3-1 on above average schedule difficulty when Luka hasn't even arrived to this season yet.

If not for anything else Mavs should have better RS because PJ and Gafford are playing from the beginning and hopefully they won't have so many problems with injuries.

Grimes should be good enough to replace Josh, the only real worrying sign is Naji, being able of some ball handling is nice but not really what we need from him.

Being able to win games with Luka playing like that is a big plus.

Naji's jumpshot is failing him big time. If its still that way after a month or so into the season, I say maybe start decreasing his minutes. I like his on ball defense though at least.

Shot is not just failing him, it's visually broken and looking at his previous stats, I suspect he never had a shot. Yes, his 3pts % was good last year, but on very low volume, he never in his career even averaged 1 made 3 per game. I have suspicion that only way for improving his % is what Josh was doing, standing in the corner and waiting for corner 3s. And someone should tell him not to drive, because his touch around the rim is nonexistent.

[Mavrelous]

If not for anything else Mavs should have better RS because PJ and Gafford are playing from the beginning and hopefully they won't have so many problems with injuries.

Grimes should be good enough to replace Josh, the only real worrying sign is Naji, being able of some ball handling is nice but not really what we need from him.

Being able to win games with Luka playing like that is a big plus.

Naji's jumpshot is failing him big time. If its still that way after a month or so into the season, I say maybe start decreasing his minutes. I like his on ball defense though at least.

Shot is not just failing him, it's visually broken and looking at his previous stats, I suspect he never had a shot. Yes, his 3pts % was good last year, but on very low volume, he never in his career even averaged 1 made 3 per game. I have suspicion that only way for improving his % is what Josh was doing, standing in the corner and waiting for corner 3s. And someone should tell him not to drive, because his touch around the rim is nonexistent.

As someone who wanted him, I'm worried, I don't think his shot is broken, but I also don't see becoming a volume shooter, but it's still early, and he'll find his niche hopefully.

[dirkforpres]

Naji's jumpshot is failing him big time. If its still that way after a month or so into the season, I say maybe start decreasing his minutes. I like his on ball defense though at least.

Shot is not just failing him, it's visually broken and looking at his previous stats, I suspect he never had a shot. Yes, his 3pts % was good last year, but on very low volume, he never in his career even averaged 1 made 3 per game. I have suspicion that only way for improving his % is what Josh was doing, standing in the corner and waiting for corner 3s. And someone should tell him not to drive, because his touch around the rim is nonexistent.

As someone who wanted him, I'm worried, I don't think his shot is broken, but I also don't see becoming a volume shooter, but it's still early, and he'll find his niche hopefully.

It'll become more consistent... It has to. I'll just go ahead and keep assuming its due to an entirely new system and Naji never having played with a true PG prior to coming here. Maybe im just an eternal optimist with it, but I see no reason he shouldnt at the very least have shooting numbers similar to PJ

[daoneandonly]

Shot is not just failing him, it's visually broken and looking at his previous stats, I suspect he never had a shot. Yes, his 3pts % was good last year, but on very low volume, he never in his career even averaged 1 made 3 per game. I have suspicion that only way for improving his % is what Josh was doing, standing in the corner and waiting for corner 3s. And someone should tell him not to drive, because his touch around the rim is nonexistent.

As someone who wanted him, I'm worried, I don't think his shot is broken, but I also don't see becoming a volume shooter, but it's still early, and he'll find his niche hopefully.

It'll become more consistent... It has to. I'll just go ahead and keep assuming its due to an entirely new system and Naji never having played with a true PG prior to coming here. Maybe im just an eternal optimist with it, but I see no reason he shouldnt at the very least have shooting numbers similar to PJ

I was on the train with Khalil with respect to being high on Naji and wanting to target him even before they signed him. The start has been a bit rough, but hopefully he'll learn the system in due time, develop chemistry, and show us the player the Pelicans saw. He has the tools.

Would be awesome if we got NYK Grimes, but something seems to have changed where he's just not that guy anymore. Maybe not having a hard nosed coach like Thibbs? Hopefully he's not bitter about the extension not working out, if anything, should motivate him more.

[41Dirk41]

Naji's jumpshot is failing him big time. If its still that way after a month or so into the season, I say maybe start decreasing his minutes. I like his on ball defense though at least.

Shot is not just failing him, it's visually broken and looking at his previous stats, I suspect he never had a shot. Yes, his 3pts % was good last year, but on very low volume, he never in his career even averaged 1 made 3 per game. I have suspicion that only way for improving his % is what Josh was doing, standing in the corner and waiting for corner 3s. And someone should tell him not to drive, because his touch around the rim is nonexistent.

As someone who wanted him, I'm worried, I don't think his shot is broken, but I also don't see becoming a volume shooter, but it's still early, and he'll find his niche hopefully.

Sorry Mav, i didn't see too much of Naji with the Pelicans... What is he good at?

Ok 3 games are a very small simple size but from the enthusiasm at the signing I expected a better version of DJJ (with less athleticism obviously)...

[Bob8]

Shot is not just failing him, it's visually broken and looking at his previous stats, I suspect he never had a shot. Yes, his 3pts % was good last year, but on very low volume, he never in his career even averaged 1 made 3 per game. I have suspicion that only way for improving his % is what Josh was doing, standing in the corner and waiting for corner 3s. And someone should tell him not to drive, because his touch around the rim is nonexistent.

As someone who wanted him, I'm worried, I don't think his shot is broken, but I also don't see becoming a volume shooter, but it's still early, and he'll find his niche hopefully.

Sorry Mav, i didn't see too much of Naji with the Pelicans... What is he good at?

Ok 3 games are a very small simple size but from the enthusiasm at the signing I expected a better version of DJJ (with less athleticism obviously)...

Problem with evaluating players like Naji is assumption that he will be better, if you give him more playing time and more responsibilities. Unfortunately things don't work like this. If someone is having solid % in low volume, doesn't mean he will have similar % with bigger volume. If someone is capable of doing many things, it doesn't mean those things are useful for new team.

My view on Naji, theoretically he can be very useful player, but unfortunately he can be total bust too, because he's not elite in anything.

[Mavrelous]

As someone who wanted him, I'm worried, I don't think his shot is broken, but I also don't see becoming a volume shooter, but it's still early, and he'll find his niche hopefully.

Sorry Mav, i didn't see too much of Naji with the Pelicans... What is he good at?

Ok 3 games are a very small simple size but from the enthusiasm at the signing I expected a better version of DJJ (with less athleticism obviously)...

Problem with evaluating players like Naji is assumption that he will be better, if you give him more playing time and more responsibilities. Unfortunately things don't work like this. If someone is having solid % in low volume, doesn't mean he will have similar % with bigger volume. If someone is capable of doing many things, it doesn't mean those things are useful for new team.

My view on Naji, theoretically he can be very useful player, but unfortunately he can be total bust too, because he's not elite in anything.

I think it's more that we saw glimpses, when you watch a player on other team, especially backup, you see the highlights, not the lowlights, he has size, good shooting %, and can put it on the floor, he's also tough, strong and OK athlete, he needs to settle into a role with less creation.

[Bob8]

Sorry Mav, i didn't see too much of Naji with the Pelicans... What is he good at?

Ok 3 games are a very small simple size but from the enthusiasm at the signing I expected a better version of DJJ (with less athleticism obviously)...

Problem with evaluating players like Naji is assumption that he will be better, if you give him more playing time and more responsibilities. Unfortunately things don't work like this. If someone is having solid % in low volume, doesn't mean he will have similar % with bigger volume. If someone is capable of doing many things, it doesn't mean those things are useful for new team.

My view on Naji, theoretically he can be very useful player, but unfortunately he can be total bust too, because he's not elite in anything.

I think it's more that we saw glimpses, when you watch a player on other team, especially backup, you see the highlights, not the lowlights, he has size, good shooting %, and can put it on the floor, he's also tough, strong and OK athlete, he needs to settle into a role with less creation.

Sure, but like I said before, his shot doesn't look good. Which basically means that the most realistic scenario is, less athletic DJJ with similarly questionable, if not worse, shot. That's not exactly a player we hoped for.

It's early, small sample size and they have very different roles. But difference is brutal,

https://stathead.com/tiny/QQRgE

Unfortunately even Josh looks better than him.

[Teffer10]

I'm beginning to have thoughts of Josh Richardson when it comes to Marshall. A guy who seems to be the perfect fit but just isnt for some unknown reason.

I'll give him about 25 games before I get too concerned though.

[Mavrelous]

Problem with evaluating players like Naji is assumption that he will be better, if you give him more playing time and more responsibilities. Unfortunately things don't work like this. If someone is having solid % in low volume, doesn't mean he will have similar % with bigger volume. If someone is capable of doing many things, it doesn't mean those things are useful for new team.

My view on Naji, theoretically he can be very useful player, but unfortunately he can be total bust too, because he's not elite in anything.

I think it's more that we saw glimpses, when you watch a player on other team, especially backup, you see the highlights, not the lowlights, he has size, good shooting %, and can put it on the floor, he's also tough, strong and OK athlete, he needs to settle into a role with less creation.

Sure, but like I said before, his shot doesn't look good. Which basically means that the most realistic scenario is, less athletic DJJ with similarly questionable, if not worse, shot. That's not exactly a player we hoped for.

It's early, small sample size and they have very different roles. But difference is brutal,

https://stathead.com/tiny/QQRgE

Unfortunately even Josh looks better than him.

It's really small sample, I am worried, but to put things in context, he still has been a positive impact player while on court.
Bullock had terrible form, but his shot went in somehow, DJJ and Josh Richardson also...

[41Dirk41]

Thanks to everybody for the answers, for what i've seen he is a strong body with great attitude and good effort. He will be fine for sure.

Probably he needs time, remember what SD said about Luka pass ... You have to adapt because his passing time is a little bit delayed and different compared other PGs.

Obviously if he can't shoot at least 35% from 3 he will not play too much.

P.S.
DJJ averages 54% this season. Insane.