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[shrink]

So LAL is half a game back of Dallas who is a game behind the Kings for 7th. Am I the only one who wonders if Dallas might not make the playoffs this year? I could see a GSW or LAL beating them in a play in game. Especially if Dallas is on the road.

Dallas looked so good after the trade then they dropped like a rock in the last week or so.

It wasn’t just after the trade deadline. Before Kyrie went out the first time they were a top 4 team in the west. After he went out they dropped like a stone. Even when they got healthy again before the deadline they still weren’t consistently winning.

I don’t trust Dallas. Luka is magnificent of course (all Luka’s are), but I don’t trust their size. Moreover, while Kyrie looks content now, he can change instantly, so he can’t be trusted.

If DAL misses the playoffs again, how long before we hear the question “When will Luka request a trade?”

[winforlose]

Dallas looked so good after the trade then they dropped like a rock in the last week or so.

It wasn’t just after the trade deadline. Before Kyrie went out the first time they were a top 4 team in the west. After he went out they dropped like a stone. Even when they got healthy again before the deadline they still weren’t consistently winning.

I don’t trust Dallas. Luka is magnificent of course (all Luka’s are), but I don’t trust their size. Moreover, while Kyrie looks content now, he can change instantly, so he can’t be trusted.

If DAL misses the playoffs again, how long before we hear the question “When will Luka request a trade?”

I feel like Dallas gave up too much to get Kyrie. To then have to move him and try to recoup value seems really tough. Especially when teams were wary of giving Kyrie another max after all his off court issues. Now if they don’t move Kyrie I don’t see a lot of avenues to get significantly better. Apart from winning the lottery (not even sure of Dallas’s pick situation,) I just don’t see bringing in that X factor player. Moving Luka and blowing it up might by the natural outcome. Especially if they miss the playoffs this year and next year. Three straight non Luka playoffs would probably cook off the rest of his patience.

[Note30]

It wasn’t just after the trade deadline. Before Kyrie went out the first time they were a top 4 team in the west. After he went out they dropped like a stone. Even when they got healthy again before the deadline they still weren’t consistently winning.

I don’t trust Dallas. Luka is magnificent of course (all Luka’s are), but I don’t trust their size. Moreover, while Kyrie looks content now, he can change instantly, so he can’t be trusted.

If DAL misses the playoffs again, how long before we hear the question “When will Luka request a trade?”

I feel like Dallas gave up too much to get Kyrie. To then have to move him and try to recoup value seems really tough. Especially when teams were wary of giving Kyrie another max after all his off court issues. Now if they don’t move Kyrie I don’t see a lot of avenues to get significantly better. Apart from winning the lottery (not even sure of Dallas’s pick situation,) I just don’t see bringing in that X factor player. Moving Luka and blowing it up might by the natural outcome. Especially if they miss the playoffs this year and next year. Three straight non Luka playoffs would probably cook off the rest of his patience.

They gave up 1 distant first round pick and two seconds. That's a steal for him.

[winforlose]

I don’t trust Dallas. Luka is magnificent of course (all Luka’s are), but I don’t trust their size. Moreover, while Kyrie looks content now, he can change instantly, so he can’t be trusted.

If DAL misses the playoffs again, how long before we hear the question “When will Luka request a trade?”

I feel like Dallas gave up too much to get Kyrie. To then have to move him and try to recoup value seems really tough. Especially when teams were wary of giving Kyrie another max after all his off court issues. Now if they don’t move Kyrie I don’t see a lot of avenues to get significantly better. Apart from winning the lottery (not even sure of Dallas’s pick situation,) I just don’t see bringing in that X factor player. Moving Luka and blowing it up might by the natural outcome. Especially if they miss the playoffs this year and next year. Three straight non Luka playoffs would probably cook off the rest of his patience.

They gave up 1 distant first round pick and two seconds. That's a steal for him.

Dinwiddie and DFS were their primary defenders. Plus taking on 30% max for Kyrie is tough. He isn’t exactly the most consistent or best locker room player. There is a reason people were not rushing to sign or trade for Kyrie.

[Note30]

I feel like Dallas gave up too much to get Kyrie. To then have to move him and try to recoup value seems really tough. Especially when teams were wary of giving Kyrie another max after all his off court issues. Now if they don’t move Kyrie I don’t see a lot of avenues to get significantly better. Apart from winning the lottery (not even sure of Dallas’s pick situation,) I just don’t see bringing in that X factor player. Moving Luka and blowing it up might by the natural outcome. Especially if they miss the playoffs this year and next year. Three straight non Luka playoffs would probably cook off the rest of his patience.

They gave up 1 distant first round pick and two seconds. That's a steal for him.

Dinwiddie and DFS were their primary defenders. Plus taking on 30% max for Kyrie is tough. He isn’t exactly the most consistent or best locker room player. There is a reason people were not rushing to sign or trade for Kyrie.

When he's on the floor he's consistent. He only missed time this season for some minor injuries.

Dinwidee got traded for an expiring and bought out and he's played poorly and DFS is a good player as is, but obviously

DFS +1st and two second would be worth it for Kyrie.

I mean it's hard to sign players that take a huge chunk of cap. Who was the last player that got that? Over 25% of the cap?

And prior to Dallas he didn't have the best track record sure, but he seems to be on straight right now. He's taking accountability for his actions seems to be getting on fine with the team. No drama during his tenure with the Mavs.

Dallas basically got a star guard for a role player and a 1st. Who else were they gonna pair with Luka? (They should have kept Brunson)

Unequivocally it was a good deal for Dallas. Risky but it seems to be working out for them. Better than Cuban overpaying a bunch of random scrubs as he has over the past 3 years.

[minimus]

Dallas looked so good after the trade then they dropped like a rock in the last week or so.

It wasn’t just after the trade deadline. Before Kyrie went out the first time they were a top 4 team in the west. After he went out they dropped like a stone. Even when they got healthy again before the deadline they still weren’t consistently winning.

I don’t trust Dallas. Luka is magnificent of course (all Luka’s are), but I don’t trust their size. Moreover, while Kyrie looks content now, he can change instantly, so he can’t be trusted.

If DAL misses the playoffs again, how long before we hear the question “When will Luka request a trade?”

With Gafford, Lively, Kleber, Powell and PJ Washington DAL have more than enough size.

[shrink]

It wasn’t just after the trade deadline. Before Kyrie went out the first time they were a top 4 team in the west. After he went out they dropped like a stone. Even when they got healthy again before the deadline they still weren’t consistently winning.

I don’t trust Dallas. Luka is magnificent of course (all Luka’s are), but I don’t trust their size. Moreover, while Kyrie looks content now, he can change instantly, so he can’t be trusted.

If DAL misses the playoffs again, how long before we hear the question “When will Luka request a trade?”

With Gafford, Lively, Kleber, Powell and PJ Washington DAL have more than enough size.

I would say that we have three bigs that are all better. Four if you count McDaniels. Plus they get hurt all the time.

[winforlose]

They gave up 1 distant first round pick and two seconds. That's a steal for him.

Dinwiddie and DFS were their primary defenders. Plus taking on 30% max for Kyrie is tough. He isn’t exactly the most consistent or best locker room player. There is a reason people were not rushing to sign or trade for Kyrie.

When he's on the floor he's consistent. He only missed time this season for some minor injuries.

Dinwidee got traded for an expiring and bought out and he's played poorly and DFS is a good player as is, but obviously

DFS +1st and two second would be worth it for Kyrie.

I mean it's hard to sign players that take a huge chunk of cap. Who was the last player that got that? Over 25% of the cap?

And prior to Dallas he didn't have the best track record sure, but he seems to be on straight right now. He's taking accountability for his actions seems to be getting on fine with the team. No drama during his tenure with the Mavs.

Dallas basically got a star guard for a role player and a 1st. Who else were they gonna pair with Luka? (They should have kept Brunson)

Unequivocally it was a good deal for Dallas. Risky but it seems to be working out for them. Better than Cuban overpaying a bunch of random scrubs as he has over the past 3 years.

Kyrie has played 40. His presence does not guarantee victory. His defense is bad and he is a bad fit with Luka. Dinwiddie and DFS were a good fit with Dallas last year. Since trading them their defense went to **** and they missed the play in. Dallas wanted a second star, but they sacrificed to much defense for it.

[winforlose]

Copied from hoopshype

“ Chris Fedor: #Cavs Evan Mobley (ankle sprain) is OUT tonight. So is Max Strus (knee sprain). And, of course, Donovan Mitchell (knee bone bruise), but we knew that one already. Sixty percent of the regular starting 5. 3 hours ago – via Twitter ChrisFedor
Injuries, Evan Mobley, Max Strus, Cleveland Cavaliers”

We play the Cavs Friday and again on the 22nd which is two weeks later.

[WolfAddict]

Portlands chances? Slim to none on paper but stranger things have happened...

Would love an upset here, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Calinks]

Portlands chances? Slim to none on paper but stranger things have happened...

Would love an upset here, but I'm not holding my breath.

Yep, would love to see an OKC mega slump.

[Note30]

Dinwiddie and DFS were their primary defenders. Plus taking on 30% max for Kyrie is tough. He isn’t exactly the most consistent or best locker room player. There is a reason people were not rushing to sign or trade for Kyrie.

When he's on the floor he's consistent. He only missed time this season for some minor injuries.

Dinwidee got traded for an expiring and bought out and he's played poorly and DFS is a good player as is, but obviously

DFS +1st and two second would be worth it for Kyrie.

I mean it's hard to sign players that take a huge chunk of cap. Who was the last player that got that? Over 25% of the cap?

And prior to Dallas he didn't have the best track record sure, but he seems to be on straight right now. He's taking accountability for his actions seems to be getting on fine with the team. No drama during his tenure with the Mavs.

Dallas basically got a star guard for a role player and a 1st. Who else were they gonna pair with Luka? (They should have kept Brunson)

Unequivocally it was a good deal for Dallas. Risky but it seems to be working out for them. Better than Cuban overpaying a bunch of random scrubs as he has over the past 3 years.

Kyrie has played 40. His presence does not guarantee victory. His defense is bad and he is a bad fit with Luka. Dinwiddie and DFS were a good fit with Dallas last year. Since trading them their defense went to **** and they missed the play in. Dallas wanted a second star, but they sacrificed to much defense for it.

That's not factual at all. Prior to trading for Kyrie that same year their defense was 115.3 and their offense 115.2

This year they are posting a 117.6 and 117.3, sure their defense got worse but their offense got better.

I haven't seen them play for a while but I doubt Dinwidee and DFS were the defensive anchors you think they are.

But clearly something is different because in 2021/22 they were 3rd in defense. I'm pretty sure that team comp then says a lot more.

Also Luka is arguably the worst defender in the league and it's gotten worse every year.

[shrink]

Towns out against IND with left knee soreness.

[winforlose]

When he's on the floor he's consistent. He only missed time this season for some minor injuries.

Dinwidee got traded for an expiring and bought out and he's played poorly and DFS is a good player as is, but obviously

DFS +1st and two second would be worth it for Kyrie.

I mean it's hard to sign players that take a huge chunk of cap. Who was the last player that got that? Over 25% of the cap?

And prior to Dallas he didn't have the best track record sure, but he seems to be on straight right now. He's taking accountability for his actions seems to be getting on fine with the team. No drama during his tenure with the Mavs.

Dallas basically got a star guard for a role player and a 1st. Who else were they gonna pair with Luka? (They should have kept Brunson)

Unequivocally it was a good deal for Dallas. Risky but it seems to be working out for them. Better than Cuban overpaying a bunch of random scrubs as he has over the past 3 years.

Kyrie has played 40. His presence does not guarantee victory. His defense is bad and he is a bad fit with Luka. Dinwiddie and DFS were a good fit with Dallas last year. Since trading them their defense went to **** and they missed the play in. Dallas wanted a second star, but they sacrificed to much defense for it.

That's not factual at all. Prior to trading for Kyrie that same year their defense was 115.3 and their offense 115.2

This year they are posting a 117.6 and 117.3, sure their defense got worse but their offense got better.

I haven't seen them play for a while but I doubt Dinwidee and DFS were the defensive anchors you think they are.

But clearly something is different because in 2021/22 they were 3rd in defense. I'm pretty sure that team comp then says a lot more.

Also Luka is arguably the worst defender in the league and it's gotten worse every year.

I don’t follow Dallas that closely, but I do know they lack on ball defenders. I also know they lost a lot of games post trade deadline. Kyrie got a 4 year 198.5 million contract. That is just under 50 Million per year. Kyrie is not a great defender or fit. If he is truly the best Dallas can do, then so be it, but I am not convinced anyone else gives Kyrie that much money. I cannot speak to why Dallas got worse in defense in defense between 2021-22, but I struggle to accept that metric from 22-23 before the deadline to 23-24 after it. A Quick Look at BB reference says Dallas is 23-17 in games Kyrie plays. They are 12-11 in games he does not play. It doesn’t seem to me that Kyrie is a 50 million dollar per season difference maker. I also don’t know that they can move his deal at his present value for a positive return.

[Calinks]

Wonder if Charles Barkley is still so high on the Clippers. They have looked pretty weak lately. Wish we beat them in that last game, if they lost that I think they would have a pretty unimpressive record in their last 5 or so.

[TimberKat]

Portlands chances? Slim to none on paper but stranger things have happened...

Would love an upset here, but I'm not holding my breath.

Yep, would love to see an OKC mega slump.

unfortunately, that is not going to happen with 8 of Portland's top 9 still out.

[winforlose]

KAT will miss the next game. Pacers will miss McDermott and Mathurin.

[winforlose]

Houston melts down and the Clippers now have a 4 point lead with a free throw coming. SMH

[m2002brian]

Houston melts down and the Clippers now have a 4 point lead with a free throw coming. SMH

Melt down or tank commandeering?

[TimberKat]

Houston melts down and the Clippers now have a 4 point lead with a free throw coming. SMH

Melt down or tank commandeering?

They don't have a 1st unless it's 1 to 4, so, I think they were trying. Sengun missed some critical FT near the end (really sucked near the end) which cost them the game.