What's your take on Mavs?

[90sgoat]

Have only watched half a game and thought they looked pretty bad, worse than last year.

Part of that is probably the new players needing time to settle.

[Carbine]

I think they're a little worse because Klays defense is a shell of what he was capable of and the minutes he is replacing was from a guy who was very good for them on that side of the ball last playoff run.

They're still dangerous obviously because of Luka and Kyrie come playoff time but I don't see them being much of an issue for the Thunder. Just like how the Mavs made the WCF and then took a step back and missed the playoffs the following year, I see that same trend happening this year although they still make the playoffs I think.

[Real Men Wear Green]

It's kind of unfair to point at the best player but his flaws (conditioning and defense) got majorly exploited by the celtics in the Finals. He doesn't have to make himself into Lebron but if he wants to win a championship there or anywhere else his conditioning and effort need to be such that he can play 40 minutes of good defense while still giving them 30, a triple-double, or whatever. If he can ever become that player then he really could be one of the 10 or even five best of all time. But so long as his defense is a flaw that gets exploited to knock his team out of the playoffs he will be a superstar and a great player but not truly above the other great perimeter players of his era the way he could be. He can average a 30 point triple double and these other guys can't but if Jaylen Brown can outplay you head-to-head and wear you out so badly that you can't take over in the clutch it's not as important. You have to have the ability to defend too.

Bringing in Thompson looks like it will help out offensively but Thompson can't cover up for that with the way elite teams will force switches to favorable match-ups. I also doubt that Thompson can defend the way he used to during the Warrior dynasty years.

So against a team with only one serious perimeter threat they will be able to hide Doncic defense while he dominates the other end. I'm sure the Wolves would still stupidly let him rest. Last season playoff series he was just standing on the three point line beside some guy whose name I forgot that didn't move at all, "spacing the floor." But with Bud in charge expect Phoenix's perimeter players to make Doncic work and if the Thunder are smart they will as well. I would pick those two teams to beat Dallas.

[90sgoat]

Yes, Luka has made a habit of starting slow and playing him into shape.

It's weird though that he can't make any progress there, when Jokic did and he also struggled with the same problem and was fatter than Luka.

[BarberSchool]

Yes, Luka has made a habit of starting slow and playing him into shape.

It's weird though that he can't make any progress there, when Jokic did and he also struggled with the same problem and was fatter than Luka.
Luka has a problem that he is still allowed to be a childish picky eater, and he drinks far too much. Potato Moussaka and ice cream, no veggies for every meal, hella beer, don’t allow him to be his best version of himself.

Like others said, he can easily be a top ten player all time, if he just cared more about being in better shape. Up to him.

As far as the rest of the team, I like their roster moves EXCEPT losing DJJ. Sure, Naji might make a few more 3’s, but the huge difference between DJJ length defensively and Naji’s

[Axe]

A bit meh.

[highwhey]

Luka has a problem that he is still allowed to be a childish picky eater, and he drinks far too much. Potato Moussaka and ice cream, no veggies for every meal, hella beer, don’t allow him to be his best version of himself.

Like others said, he can easily be a top ten player all time, if he just cared more about being in better shape. Up to him.

As far as the rest of the team, I like their roster moves EXCEPT losing DJJ. Sure, Naji might make a few more 3’s, but the huge difference between DJJ length defensively and Naji’s

agreed on DJJ, he was important to this team...it made their defense more well rounded...and those explosive dunks on the fast break were always precipitating a good offensive run