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New year upon us!

Dwight Powell is back for his 27th season.


From the web, about the Spurs.

Spurs added Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes also drafted Paul’s eventual successor, Stephon Castle, with the No. 4 pick in June’s draft.

It’s Year 2 for Victor Wembanyama and Year 20 for Chris Paul, who almost always makes teams better when he first puts on their uniform. But it could be a tough climb for the Spurs in a deep Western Conference.

Preseason takeaways

1. Devin Vassell (right foot surgery) has been out and will miss the start of the regular season, with Julian Champagnie appearing to be his replacement in the starting lineup. He can’t replicate Vassell’s skills off the dribble (he made seven pull-up jumpers all of last season), but Champagnie shot 16-for-38 (42%) from beyond the arc in the preseason.

2. The Spurs (who ranked 13th in total zone possessions last season) played the second most zone in the preseason, according to Synergy tracking. Zone, of course, is a way to keep Wembanyama near the basket … on defense, at least.

Something to watch in Week 1: Wembanyama’s shots. In the preseason, the 7-foot-3 guy took only nine (43%) of his 21 shots in the paint, at least in part because he settled for jumpers instead of attacking the basket. Last season, that rate was 51%, which is still too low. He’s 7-foot-3! Get him the ball near the hoop.

The Spurs were 1-7 in games played between the three Texas teams last season, and they’ll begin this one with three games against the Mavs and Rockets (x 2), with a rest advantage against Houston on Saturday.

ESPN

NBA Title odds.

Surprised OKC is a 'consensus' second favorite to win it all. Mavs seem to be fourth favorite in the West, just after the Wolves... go figure.



Absence.

Welcome back, you were sorely missed!
May her soul rest in peace, she raised well.

Wow Dirk is back. All is back to normal in the universe.

Sorry for your loss Dirk.

Sorry for your loss, Dirk, nice to see you again. Basketball is small compared to the important things in life.

Let's still get this W though for good measure.

Is it something boogie nights teached us its that u can count on dirk when it counts...

DIRK - Sorry for your loss and all the best to you and your loved ones. Please take care.

Regarding the season opener, I don't recall we have the tradition to kick ass in the beginning of the season, it always seems to be a slow start...

Go Mavs, and prove me wrong Klay, I can only hope.

Since we are at home, we should win this.

Think we will win it, but knowing mavs it will be like 10-10 after 20 games, then start putting in effort around xmas

Praying for you Dirk

Hope the Mavs can take this one. WOuld be nice to start off the season with a W. Already depressed with how football is shaping up and other things, so the Mavs can bring back some joy to my life hopefully.

Let's go Mavs!!!!!!

Night before the 1st game, sounds like it’s time for some bold predictions:

1. Lively is Dallas 3rd best player and it’s really not close.

2. Lively makes less than 10 3s this season. His 2nd season jump is going to come from having an improved finishing package, a little bit of ball handling, continued improvement in his defensive rotations and discipline, and better rebounding as his frame continues to fill out.

3. Gafford starts a little less than half the games this season, frustrating Mavs fans because Lively is clearly so much better than everyone else not named Luka and Kyrie.

4. Klay shoots above 40% from 3. Marshall shoots 37-38%. Grimes shoots above 37.5%. PJ shoots just a bit under 35%.

5. Exum has about 4 weeks throughout the season where he is really good. Doesn’t make the playoff rotation though. Plays under 40 games.

6. Grimes is a consistent rotation player. Dallas’ top 5, Luka, Kyrie, Klay, PJ, Lively. Last 3 of the 8 man rotation are Grimes, Marshall, Gafford. Hardy beats out Exum and Dinwiddie for the 4th guard spot. Maxi actually has a good season because Marshall eats up his minutes so Maxi only has to play 12ish minutes a night, keeping his legs fresh.

7. Dinwiddie gets cut or traded at the deadline.

8. Klay’s defense is fine because the Mavs offense is more stagnant then Golden States by design, all the plays where he can post up in the corner keep make what little he has left in his legs at this point stretch farther.

9. Luka wins MVP finally.

10. Thunder are the one seed, but Dallas wins the west again.

Very sorry to hear of your loss, Dirk. Your message cannot be said loud enough - make peace with your loved ones and take full advantage of the small amount of time we have in this life.

Lets go Mavs! Home crowd better be popping tonight. If/when Klay hits his first 3, im gonna lose it at home

THJ could never make that shot Klay just made. Tf out of here.

It's official. Klay is THJ.

Why is #10 for the Spurs wearing a helmet?

Mr B wrote:Why is #10 for the Spurs wearing a helmet?

Maybe he's I'm sure its a legit medical related issue.

Edit: It might be his hair?

Tis is the season to start breaking guys of bad habits. If you dont play defense and hard -someone else should get the time. Additionally, we need to break these guys from becoming overly dependent on Luka and Kyrie on offense. The faster the better. Those are the two things I'll be looking at early in the season.

Maybe they should have played Luka a little bit during preseason to avoid such a slow start. it’s not like he was really injured.

I wonder how many people will still insist that we play Grimes/Naji instead Klay in the starting unit?

Klay is game 1 mvp.

I guess Spurs are really that bad eh?

Luka and Kyrie clearly rusty, but they will be fine.

Marshall and Grimes will get better, remember DJJ game one last year? It’s their first time going full speed. Dallas ran way to many sets(like 3 each) where they were the offensive initiator. Luka is rusty so when he’s back to form that should not be happening they’re secondary.

Hardy should be getting minutes.

News flash for the people needing a reminder, Klay Thompson is a good basketball player.