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Didn't see a topic on this and I know it's very early.

Kings 0-5
Pels 0-4
Dubs 1-3
OKC 1-4
And I don't by Minny

Injuries playing a role but 2-12

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Kings do seem bad, Pelicans are scrappy and fairly competitive (Zion should be back by the end of the year), Dubs seem like a train wreck defensively, I don't think OKC is as bad as their record indicates, and I actually think the Wolves will be fairly competitive this season - especially if KAT keeps it up.
KAT probably won't face too long of a suspension in his dust-up with Embiid so the Wolves should get back on track when he returns ... I'm predicting maybe a 3-4 game suspension for him.

It's incredible how much the Western Conference was shaken up this off season. I'd like to see the Mavs play more before I get my hopes up for them. I'd especially like for the starting lineup to finally get set but I get the feeling RC will be experimenting with it all season long.

Curry just broke his hand and is out a month.

I still think this team needs still work and I wouldn't stand pat especially if this keeps up.

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As of now, 5 of the 7 lottery teams will probably be:

• Sacramento (0-5)
• Pelicans (0-4)
• Thunder (1-4)
• Warriors (1-3)
• Grizzlies (1-3)

That means the lottery will claim only 2 more teams. Phoenix and Minnesota are the most likely candidates. I'd go out on a limb and declare the Mavs as favorites to win the 8th seed... if KP and Luka remain healthy.

I am so torn. Do we win the 8 seed? I want us to win every game. But at the same time, we got our pick this year. Well, its a long way to go. As long as we play good I dont mind if we end up 7th or 9th. On the other hand, I know myself and I will sit there hoping to win the games that get us to the playoff late in the season

Apz wrote:I am so torn. Do we win the 8 seed? I want us to win every game. But at the same time, we got our pick this year. Well, its a long way to go. As long as we play good I dont mind if we end up 7th or 9th. On the other hand, I know myself and I will sit there hoping to win the games that get us to the playoff late in the season

Lol.. Mavs never cared about the draft. Why on earth would you think about draft when you have one of the best duos in the league on your team? Just push strong for the playoffs and hope for the best. Even though it's going to be hard since Suns are going to surprise a lot of teams this year and i also expect the Kings to wake up at some point.

Pheonix beats a lot of good playoff teams. Even after Ayton's suspended, Pheonix still keeps playing winning basketball. Mike Conley looks awful early. I doubt Utah, OKC and Golden States are really playoff bound. I also don't think Minny sustains as most teams beaten is non-playoff teams. For teams out of top 8, I expect Portland and Houston to be relevant. San Antonio looks like a ready team so far. Pelicans is a little disappointing. I expect Zion to miss at least 30 games each season given the playing style. For this season, Pelicans is done.

San Antonio allows so many transition wide-open dunks in paint against Hawks. That's bizarre that this San Antonio team beat quite some playoff teams early.

Chicago to use 3-PG lineup to pull away from Fakers. Dunn and White are impressive. Steal and run the breaks repeatedly. I think Curry-Wright-Luka lineup could do the same. All loves jumping into passing lanes.

Darren wrote:Chicago to use 3-PG lineup to pull away from Fakers. Dunn and White are impressive. Steal and run the breaks repeatedly. I think Curry-Wright-Luka lineup could do the same. All loves jumping into passing lanes.

You know what?
Earlier I was apprehensive about the Mavs not having a starting lineup set in stone but I listened to the latest Mavs podcast and they were making the argument that the Mavs could be flexible with their starting lineup outside of Luka and KP and just adjust the pieces around the two core players depending on the team.
I think there's an argument to be made here if the rest of the team can buy in.
I know some guys in the NBA hate coming off the bench so there could be chemistry issues if there's some jealousy over Luka and KP's secure spot in the starting lineup. Still, the different guards on this team bring such different skills to the team that it's hard to have a do-it-all kind of starting lineup. The flexible lineup might just be so crazy that it works.

Mavs made the Lowe Post podcast.

They were pretty spot on with the Mavs don't have a 3rd best player but have alot of 5th best players. Touched on our poor rebounding & D too. Also have them making the playoffs on a positive note


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Dream scenario: make the playoffs as the 7th/8th seed while being awarded with the #15/16/17 pick in the 2020 draft. Then play a competitive series or maybe even upset a contender.

We still have plenty of work to do trade-/FA-wise. Another almost-late lottery type of pick would be a great help.

ejs78 wrote:

JamesConway wrote:.

So, are we really in this playoff race?

I tend to distance myself away from that thought "must win game for playoffs" and generally watch games more with the mindset of seeing player development, thinking about next season... but at the same time, losing is painful again, so I think I am committing to the playoff monitoring myself.

The year will be 2047. I will still be looking back at that loss to the Knicks.

Cavaliers 31 23 24 30 108
Knicks 19 17 27 24 87

Wtf.

Gordon Hayward out 4-6 weeks. Boston won't have him against the Mavs on Nov 11. He may not even be back for their other Mavs game on Dec 18. Kyle Lowry is also out. So the Raptors won't have him against the Mavs on Nov 16. Ibaka might miss that game too. The Warriors on Nov 20 still won't have Steph and Klay. The Clippers will have back-to-back games on Nov 26. So there's 50/50 chance Kawhi will sit out the Mavs game. Ayton will still be under suspension for the Nov 29 Mavs game at Phoenix. Zion isn't scheduled to return until mid December. So he will likely miss both Mavs games on Dec 3 and Dec 7.

Mavs getting lucky breaks for their schedule over the next month. They need to take advantage.

Kings took another blow with Fox.

Not sure we can swindle them again but if this team wants to do something this year they have to make a trade. If not we're looking at dumping THJ next year or FA in 2 years.

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We're likely to see Bogdanovic go off too.

ejs78 wrote:Kings took another blow with Fox.

Not sure we can swindle them again but if this team wants to do something this year they have to make a trade. If not we're looking at dumping THJ next year or FA in 2 years.

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I think the Suns are for real. I see them staying in the hunt for one of the final 3 playoff seeds in the West all season. I think Rubio was a very important offseason acquisition for them. They needed a guy who could facilitate the offense, and Aaron Baynes has been a quality pick up too.

I think there's 5 teams in the West that you can pencil in for the playoffs:

Clippers
Lakers
Nuggets
Jazz
Rockets


I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a team like POR just sliding right out of the playoffs. It happens sometimes. A team just has a bad year, and when the competition is this stiff, POR could miss the playoffs with a 43-39 record. They're off to a bad start, and they've been banged up. The one thing you do have to factor in is the possibility they trade for an impact player like Kevin Love, but if they keep losing & stay banged up, the FO might decide it's not worth it.

I like the way OKC is playing, but they're going to deal off pieces. Steven Adams is gone. CP3 will likely be gone. They're out of it.

I agree with bran muffin. OKC, GSW, SAC, MEM, and NO are out of it. Yeah, the Pelicans will get Zion back, but the West is too competitive, and their record is going to be too bad by the time he does step on the court. He's also a rook. Not even Luka or LeBron led their teams to the playoffs their first season.

I have not been impressed with the Spurs this season. I love their PG, Dejounte Murray, but the rest of the team, maybe withstanding his back up Derrick White, is unimpressive. I don't see the Spurs adding to this roster with DeRozan and Aldridge coming up on free agency. Plus, the Spurs' FO is smart. I don't see them trading away assets just so they can finish in the 8th seed and have the Clippers bounce them out in the 1st round. They wouldn't give Kawhi the satisfaction lol.

Minnesota worries me, because I think Golden State will deal DeAngelo Russell, and I think Minnesota will empty the kitchen cabinets to get a deal done. They wanna keep their guy KAT happy, and avoid a AD & New Orleans fiasco. Russell was an All Star last season, and he's proving that he's a real problem for defenses. The guy is what the Mavs here, a 2A scorer. Somebody that's not necessarily the 3rd leading scorer. He's somebody you'd have to question is Porzingis or Russell the better scorer? That's what Minnesota would have with Russell. KAT and then is it Wiggins or Russell? Probably Russell, and I'm no fan of Andrew Wiggins, but he ain't bad if he's your 3rd best player.

Chances are that Portland turns their season around, and it's Dallas, Portland, Phoenix, and Minnesota fighting for those last 3 spots. You have like Dallas' chances in that regard. Just don't finish last out of 4 teams, and you're in, but I worry that Dallas can't acquire an impact player at the deadline, and other teams will add pieces; namely Portland & Minnesota. It would put Dallas in a heads up matchup with Phoenix (with the Spurs looking on), and right now I think the Suns are the better team top to bottom. Crazy to think it, but maybe Kelly Oubre Jr. was a difference maker.

How's he doing tonight

ejs78 wrote:We're likely to see Bogdanovic go off too.

ejs78 wrote:Kings took another blow with Fox.

Not sure we can swindle them again but if this team wants to do something this year they have to make a trade. If not we're looking at dumping THJ next year or FA in 2 years.

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ejs78 wrote:How's he doing tonight

ejs78 wrote:We're likely to see Bogdanovic go off too.

ejs78 wrote:Kings took another blow with Fox.

Not sure we can swindle them again but if this team wants to do something this year they have to make a trade. If not we're looking at dumping THJ next year or FA in 2 years.

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Yup. He went off tonight! Only reason my DFS lineup didn't go belly up. Lol

Watching the end of the Suns game..... right now they're better.

Playing the good teams close and taking care of the ones they should.

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