Can we add Mavericks to Championship contenders?

[bkcardcollector]

I can hardly tell what Dallas gave up as much as I like Dinwiddie and Dorian-Smith.

I think, wow, they got the obvious and more AUS repin Josh Green who has just stepped up and this rc named Hardy I think. It hardly seems like they gave up abything. Just watching this potential playoff matchup against the Clips full roster on the road and they killin. Doesn't seem like they gave up anyone.

I think they beat the dreaded clips in the playoffs how far will they go?

I think the title contenders are the Clips, Warriors and Bucks but I dunno man the Mavs are looking like all the Nets odds are added to theirs now, what do you think?

[bkcardcollector]

this game against the Clips is fire. Playoff preview first or second round i think

[ninjacookies]

https://media.tenor.com/yWMsFjrRasQAAAAM/chill-lil-james.gif

Luka's going to have to adjust his game and put more trust/faith in the system and his teammates. When 3-5 guys get to touch the ball every possession, it raises morale and confidence. All 5 starters in double digits with no less than 7 shot attempts each. Three with 5+ assists.

We'll see how things go when he comes back.

[bkcardcollector]

I wouldnt mind it being Kyries team. Imagine DOncic in aa secondary role i think its good for him. Focus on some D. Maybe im drunk,,, hhh

[ninjacookies]

Legs plagiarizing tf outta me on svp.

I demand reparations.

[Kingofkings1281]

Wow. This thread popped up sooner than I anticipated. Even suggesting this should by Kyrie’s team already? Let’s pump the brakes just slightly.

[bkcardcollector]

Hey I give Kyrie the team more than I give Mitchell the team... Maybe it is me, but I put every single bit of worth in Championships won.

[sethc1020]

Im super excited to see what this team can do but you lost me with the Clips being legitimate title contenders.

[NeedChapmans]

Mavs 3-0 in their last three w/o Luka (all road wins). Perhaps Luka should take a long break and heal up ... Kyrie has the wheel now.

[dkcardman]

Wow. This thread popped up sooner than I anticipated. Even suggesting this should by Kyrie’s team already? Let’s pump the brakes just slightly.

Right! Why not go ahead and trade Luka now. While that is a joke, I cannot even fathom the load that he would bring in...

[KhalDrogo]

Mavs had to give up their second best player in DFS and Dinwiddie, who was able to courageously lead the team to victory against the Suns after Luak’s injury. I just don’t know how Kyrie can make up for those losses.

[cdeck22]

Mavs 3-0 in their last three w/o Luka (all road wins). Perhaps Luka should take a long break and heal up ... Kyrie has the wheel now.

They're 2-1 in this 3 game stretch, lost to the Warriors and are now 2-7 without him this season.

[NeedChapmans]

They're 2-1 in this 3 game stretch, lost to the Warriors and are now 2-7 without him this season.

2-7 technically, but 3 minutes in PHO doesn't count as w/ Luka IMHO. Lately; they've found a way to generate enough offense ... and the defense w/o Luka has been undeniably better.

That said, it's more than likely just a small sample size that is meaningless. Would love nothing more than a nice 4/5 DAL/PHO matchup in the 1st round to see who has the pleasure of getting floored by DEN.

[Round Mound]

No...

[JRX]

LOL always someone ready to be Kyrie's fluffer. Dude just blew up a championship contender and you're ready to hand him another one.

[TheFrenzy]

Mavs in 5.

Let it be known.

[pac213up]

No we can not.

[bmf]

I think the title contenders are the Clips, Warriors and Bucks but I dunno man the Mavs are looking like all the Nets odds are added to theirs now, what do you think?

Phoenix Suns

[pingbling23]

They are in the bottom half of defensive teams in the league. Did their defense improve or get worse with the trade? In a tough series you have to rely on your defense. I don’t see the mavs having it.

[matt roberson]

This won't help the Mavs much.... Lukas not as good without the ball in his hands and Kyrie is still a time bomb.

They need more help down low, they are going to get brutalized in the paint.

[cardozo]

The answer no, doesn’t mean people can’t have hope.

[tobytyler]

i would put them around same odds as Cavs

actually would have to be little better odds than Cavs since Cavs would have to knock off TWO beasts to get there

[oldgoldy97]

Easily impressed.

[smalltown]

Can they win a series? Sure
Can they win two? Maybe with a little luck
Can the win three? I'd bet money against it

They're just not deep and do not have any defence to speak of.

I'd say winning a first round match up or getting bounced is 50/50.

[gomiamigo]

What he said.

[bkcardcollector]

oops.

[bkcardcollector]

Mavs had to give up their second best player in DFS and Dinwiddie, who was able to courageously lead the team to victory against the Suns after Luak’s injury. I just don’t know how Kyrie can make up for those losses.

No...

LOL always someone ready to be Kyrie's fluffer. Dude just blew up a championship contender and you're ready to hand him another one.

No we can not.

They are in the bottom half of defensive teams in the league. Did their defense improve or get worse with the trade? In a tough series you have to rely on your defense. I don’t see the mavs having it.

This won't help the Mavs much.... Lukas not as good without the ball in his hands and Kyrie is still a time bomb.

They need more help down low, they are going to get brutalized in the paint.

The answer no, doesn’t mean people can’t have hope.

Easily impressed.

What he said.

all the golden bois of blowout in one foul swoop.

[jcardstore]

all the golden bois of blowout in one foul swoop.

Why are you doing a victory lap for something that was so wrong? They obviously were not title contenders in 2023. They didn't even make the playoffs :doh:

That would be like me creating a thread in 09 about the Cavs winning the title and bumping it in 2016 when they won.

[jcardstore]

The responses in this thread were perfectly accurate for the Mavs at the time

[pingbling23]

You realize the mavs missed the play in/playoffs last year right. And it took them moves to improve their defense this year to get them into this position. 21-9 since getting Washington and Gafford. Odd flex to refer to this thread now but congrats?

[BostonNut]

Oldy a Golden Boy? :cry: :cry:

[jcardstore]

You realize the mavs missed the play in/playoffs last year right. And it took them moves to improve their defense this year to get them into this position. 21-9 since getting Washington and Gafford. Odd flex to refer to this thread now but congrats?

The only reason they are here is the midseason trade lol.

So you could even argue they weren't contenders the first half of this season either

[jcardstore]

and I just realized he said "one foul swoop"

wrong word bro :cry:

[pingbling23]

The only reason they are here is the midseason trade lol.

So you could even argue they weren't contenders the first half of this season either

They’re in the finals and I still don’t know if I consider them traditional contenders lol. It’s just an odd season. Basically no Kawhi in the first round, good win against okc, missed the defending champs and played the exhausted unprepared wolves, and now going up against the “favorites” that haven’t been tested and have a history of underperforming. Hell they may just win it. But you’re right, they weren’t really on the radar until the moves and I’m as shocked as anyone they have went this far. I’m happy to see it, Luka looked like he was in purgatory but now he has a chance to get a title and build his legacy.

[pingbling23]

Credit to Luka, played 70 games averaging 34/9/10 and putting up 29/9/10 through the playoffs. He’s played a great season. Obviously having a skilled offensive player in Kyrie has made the offense easier for Luka but offense wasn’t their problem.

[bkcardcollector]

bk gonna nomad haters

[jcardstore]

They’re in the finals and I still don’t know if I consider them traditional contenders lol. It’s just an odd season. Basically no Kawhi in the first round, good win against okc, missed the defending champs and played the exhausted unprepared wolves, and now going up against the “favorites” that haven’t been tested and have a history of underperforming. Hell they may just win it. But you’re right, they weren’t really on the radar until the moves and I’m as shocked as anyone they have went this far. I’m happy to see it, Luka looked like he was in purgatory but now he has a chance to get a title and build his legacy.

They did get really lucky not to have to play the Nuggets. That's a really bad matchup for them

[yiguiri2002]

They’re in the finals and I still don’t know if I consider them traditional contenders lol. It’s just an odd season. Basically no Kawhi in the first round, good win against okc, missed the defending champs and played the exhausted unprepared wolves, and now going up against the “favorites” that haven’t been tested and have a history of underperforming. Hell they may just win it. But you’re right, they weren’t really on the radar until the moves and I’m as shocked as anyone they have went this far. I’m happy to see it, Luka looked like he was in purgatory but now he has a chance to get a title and build his legacy.

Everything but this is 100% on target.

Exhausted? You pretty much play one game every two days, by the time the Mavs and Wolves played, the Mavs had played one more game in a shorter timespan (they started on the 21st and not the 20th).

Unprepared? It's the playoffs, the coaches literally prepare all teams to face their opponent.

It was a good matchup than the Nuggets but the series would have been differently if they weren't so bad in the clutch in the first 4 games.

[duwal]

oops.


no oops, NOW we might be able to but as of the original post no not at all. The fact that they are in the Finals this year does not negate members opinions based on their performances last season

[pingbling23]

Everything but this is 100% on target.

Exhausted? You pretty much play one game every two days, by the time the Mavs and Wolves played, the Mavs had played one more game in a shorter timespan (they started on the 21st and not the 20th).

Unprepared? It's the playoffs, the coaches literally prepare all teams to face their opponent.

It was a good matchup than the Nuggets but the series would have been differently if they weren't so bad in the clutch in the first 4 games.

Ant was clearly exhausted and not himself. Unprepared may have been me choosing a kinder word. Kat was horrible, 38% from the field? Tiredness aside, ant did not seem prepared game in and game out. Round 3 wolves weren’t the same team we saw earlier. Energy, experience, preparation…. Something was different. I don’t think the mavs are some defensive juggernaut that made them look foolish. I’m not saying the mavs didn’t earn their spot, they definitely were more tested then the Celtics.

[bkcardcollector]

so, mavs got klay. is this an upgrade? Can he be the difference? Will he be healthy? I am fairly skeptical. He might be a slight upgrade but I woulda went for Derozan but I guess it is too much money.

50 mil for 3 years for Klay could be a good jab and is same age as kyrie timeline. Maybe they can make a stab with a trade like last year. Picking up quite a few pieces from nothing.

[drobfan8]

so, mavs got klay. is this an upgrade? Can he be the difference? Will he be healthy? I am fairly skeptical. He might be a slight upgrade but I woulda went for Derozan but I guess it is too much money.

50 mil for 3 years for Klay could be a good jab and is same age as kyrie timeline. Maybe they can make a stab with a trade like last year. Picking up quite a few pieces from nothing.

DDR is a terrible fit with almost anyone these days.

Klay with his experience and playing with a chip on his shoulder is an incredible addition.

PJ was terrible come the finals and can't make elbow 3s. Klay can.

I cannot wait to see this group play.

[Nomad]

so, mavs got klay. is this an upgrade? Can he be the difference? Will he be healthy? I am fairly skeptical. He might be a slight upgrade but I woulda went for Derozan but I guess it is too much money.

Derozan and Luka would have a tough time coexisting with needed touches. Kyrie plays a pretty egoless brand of ball. Klay slots in with that. I am not sure he is that much of an upgrade on Hardaway Jr. or whoever. Size? Probably Kidd thinks he can get more out of him than the Warriors have lately and who is to say he is wrong.

[bkcardcollector]

So is Klay the answer in that spot or one option. Do they need one more guy to beat OKC, Denver, Boston?

I know it was an addition, you guys seem to think significant which I hope, but is it enough to be a contender? Can they be included in the other top 3?

[ronaldo943]

So is Klay the answer in that spot or one option. Do they need one more guy to beat OKC, Denver, Boston?

I know it was an addition, you guys seem to think significant which I hope, but is it enough to be a contender? Can they be included in the other top 3?

Any team with Luka can be considered a contender so I say yes.

[drobfan8]

So is Klay the answer in that spot or one option. Do they need one more guy to beat OKC, Denver, Boston?

I know it was an addition, you guys seem to think significant which I hope, but is it enough to be a contender? Can they be included in the other top 3?

They just made the Finals. Yes they are a contender. With or without Klay.

They get full seasons with PJ etc

They're a young team and Luka is priming. Lively and Kyrie are working in great with Luka.

This team is on the up.

Can they beat Boston? I'm not sure anyone can. That team is deep!

[bkcardcollector]

do denver and okc have better chance?

[Nomad]

Shai kind of fell short of expectations. I tuned in to the last Canada game and Nembhard was only getting minutes when Shai needed a rest. Seemed like not a dub move. But they do have Chet.

[davidantx]

Mavs are a serious contender, expect them to be right back in the convo again this year.

[Nomad]

But let's put other players than Luka in the collecting conversation then. If Mavs have a run of years, we need other players to collect. And Chris Paul won't do it. He doesn't even know what team he's on.

[bkcardcollector]

Kyrie prices are crazy low, maybe Klay too. with the chips already

[WaiverWire]

I’m not feeling it with the Mavs. I’d be impressed if they stayed healthy this year and made it back to the Finals. Feel like it’s more likely they get a key injury and underperform. It’s a competitive league and Kyrie isn’t exactly the most durable.