Mavs Moneyball - MMB Gameday Stream: Mavericks Defeat LakersRick Carlisle approved.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50869/mmb-fav.png2013-11-05T21:51:04-06:00http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/rss/stream/48324152013-11-05T21:51:04-06:002013-11-05T21:51:04-06:00Mavs defeat Lakers, 123-104
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<figcaption>Ronald Martinez</figcaption>
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<p>The Dallas Mavericks defeated the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 123-104. Monta Ellis had his second 30-point game as a Maverick, dished 9 assists and was 8-8 from the line, Jose Calderon was 4-6 from the arc, and Jae Crowder was 7-8, 4-6 from the arc fro 15 points. Nick "Swaggy P" Young scored 21 points for the Lakers on 8-12 shooting.</p>
<p>After so many years of games that were so close at the end no Mavericks fan ever got a chance to relax, the Mavericks have won games by 9, 12, and 19. With 5 minutes left in the game, the broadcast crew had devolved to the point of talking about whether the 7'8" Paul Sturgess, now playing for the Legends, could dunk. For like three minutes. And Robert Sacre played. That's how over it was. And it was never really close.</p>
<p>If you saw it, you saw it and loved it, if you didn't, well, it was a blowout.</p>
<p>Here's some things we've learned:</p>
<p>Jose Calderon is looking to shoot. We've talked about the downside of the Calderon-Ellis tandem and we'll have chances to revisit those this year. But Ellis' ball-handling ability frees Calderon up to hunt for his own shot from time to time and for last year's 3-point champion, that's a good thing. It's not so much that he was 4-6, it's that he was letting it fly when the opportunity arose.</p>
<p>Jae Crowder is lighting it up. Before I say anything, take a minute to guess what you think Jae Crowder's 3-point percentage is, on the season. Have you got a number? Great. He is 11-15, a 73% clip. I'm not going to look it up. He's never had a 5 game stretch like this. Honestly, half this good (36.5%) is probably the difference between Jae Crowder, NBA player and Jae Crowder washout.</p>
<p>In a not unrelated subplot Wayne "Make it Wayne" Ellington has slid all the way down the depth chart. After a DNP-CD against the Grizz, he came in with the Bernard James' of the world to close this thing out. As Jonathan Tjarks noted (personal communication), playing Crowder instead lets Vince play the 2 which is better for him matchup wise. But I imagine Carlisle won't hesitate to call his number when it seems reasonable. He's played well, he's just a little redundant.</p>
<p>Monta Ellis is so far more than the Mavs could have hoped. His 23 points a game on 46% shooting is fantastic, but his 6+ assists in 3 of 5 games are particularly important to how Monta the Maverick turns out. Especially games like tonight when it 9 assists to 1 turnover. There will be some rough Monta games, of course, and more than anything the Mavs cannot afford to have a total of 6 non-Monta free throws, but when it works you call it a win and move on to the next one. He took only one three tonight, on route to his 30.</p>
<p>All of the starters played less than 30 minutes besides Monta (31 minutes). Don't worry about Dirk. He was saving his energy for tomorrow.</p>
<p>I thought Gal Mekel's three-point stroke wasn't looking bad, although he was only 1-3 tonight. Keep an eye on that one.</p>
<p>Hey, the Mavs had a collective 12-34 from Dirk, Shawn and Vince and they scored 123 points. You know?</p>
<h4>More from Mavs Moneyball:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5069820/Mavericks-Lakers-Gameday-poll-2013?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Game Day Poll Time!</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5069290/ranking-the-power-rankings-nba-week-1-dallas-mavericks?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Ranking the Rankings, Week 1: Mavs firmly in the middle</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5069562/talking-with-silver-screen-and-roll?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Talking with Silver Screen and Roll</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5065474/dallas-mavericks-monta-ellis-vs-the-shot-chart-week-one?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Monta Ellis vs. the Shot Chart: Week One</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5068374/mmb-gameday-stream-mavericks-vs-lakers?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">MMB Gameday Stream: Mavericks Defeat Lakers</a></li>
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https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5071606/mavericks-vs-Lakers-2013andytobo2013-11-05T18:30:02-06:002013-11-05T18:30:02-06:00GAME THREAD: Mavericks vs. Lakers
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Game number four.</p> <p><strong>WHO</strong>: <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Lakers</a></p>
<p><strong>WHAT</strong>: The <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mavericks</a> play the hated <strike><span>Chris Kaman</span></strike> Lakers.</p>
<p><strong>WHERE</strong>: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX</p>
<p><strong>WHEN</strong>: 7:30 p.m. CST</p>
<p><strong>HOW</strong>: Fox Sports Southwest or NBA TV</p>
<p><strong>THE STORY:</strong> In the third home game of the year, the Mavericks are ready to knock off a Kobe-less Lakers -- but they have to get by <span>Nick Young</span>, first. That last sentence made no sense. But despite their fall from power, LAL still has talented players and a dangerous assortment of guards. After all, any guard is dangerous against a Calderon-Ellis front court, right?</p>
<p>Instead of me writing more sentences and making less and less sense, <a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5068374/mmb-gameday-stream-mavericks-vs-lakers">here's a link to our pre-game coverage </a>that is much more eloquent.</p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5070210/game-thread-dallas-mavericks-vs-los-angeles-lakersTim Cato2013-11-05T15:00:05-06:002013-11-05T15:00:05-06:00Poll Time!
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>Vote and tell us what you think!</p> <p>There are a number of teams Dallas fans love to root against, but the Lakers of Los Angeles are one of the top three without question. It probably started with the 1988 Western Conference Finals, but with so many younger fans, the Laker hate grew out of their early 2000's dominance and title runs in 2008 and 2010. The Lakers always seemed to get the better of Dallas for over 20 years. Since 2011, though, the Lakers have been on a sight and steady downward trajectory. These two proud franchises will do battle once again, but without near the fanfare of past match up. With all the new faces in LA, we here at MavsMoneyball want to know: which new Laker are you most interested in seeing? Let us know why in the comments!</p>
<h4>More from Mavs Moneyball:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5069290/ranking-the-power-rankings-nba-week-1-dallas-mavericks?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Ranking the Rankings, Week 1: Mavs firmly in the middle</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5069562/talking-with-silver-screen-and-roll?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Talking with Silver Screen and Roll</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5065474/dallas-mavericks-monta-ellis-vs-the-shot-chart-week-one?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Monta Ellis vs. the Shot Chart: Week One</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5068374/mmb-gameday-stream-mavericks-vs-lakers?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">MMB Gameday Stream: Mavericks vs. Lakers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5064734/preview-Mavericks-vs-Lakers-2013?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">The Four Point Preview: Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Lakers</a></li>
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https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5069820/Mavericks-Lakers-Gameday-poll-2013Kirk Henderson2013-11-05T12:42:01-06:002013-11-05T12:42:01-06:00Talking with Silver Screen and Roll
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<figcaption>Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A look into the Lakers with the fantastic site Silver Screen and Roll </p> <p>This morning I got the chance to speak with the blog manager of <a href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Silver Screen and Roll</a>, C.A. Clark (<a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://twitter.com/LakersBlog_SSR" target="_blank">@Lakersblog_SSR</a>) about his team and some other topics. Check out our discussion below.</p>
<p>Update: If you're interested I answered some questions for SSR <a href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2013/11/5/5069890/q-a-with-mavs-moneyball" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p><b>1.) How is the fanbase taking to the new cast of role players? <span>Xavier Henry</span> seems to be turning into a bit of a folk hero.</b></p>
<p>I think the fanbase understands the perfect opportunity it has with this team. We get to love their new role players who do well, and not be burdened by the ones who don't, because everybody who flops will be gone next year. Add to that the fact that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a> seem to have made a concerted effort to sign athletic players who haven't lived up to their potential, and you have the perfect environment. We have zero expectations, but we have players that could, theoretically, figure it out and become solid players. That's exactly what we've seen (so far) from Xavier Henry. His style of play of fearlessly attacking the basket is desperately needed for a team that is short on players who can take the ball and turn it into points. In Kobe's absence, Henry has led the team in scoring and forced his way into the starting lineup, and I don't see either one of those things changing until Kobe comes back.</p>
<p><b>2.) <span>Pau Gasol</span> has resumed his natural role as pivot man; other than Kobe, is he the key to this year's Lakers team (other than Kobe's health)?</b></p>
<p>Gasol is definitely the most important, most capable player other than Kobe on the roster, but I wouldn't label him the key. The simple fact is that the Lakers do not look like a very good team on paper, so any hopes that they have as a team will be keyed by how much better some of the players (like Henry, Wes Johnson and <span>Jordan Farmar</span>) can perform as compared to their previous expectations. We know who Pau Gasol is, and we know what he's capable of. He hasn't always consistently performed to his capability, but if he doesn't, the Lakers are already sunk. And if he does, that's just one of many holes that need to be plugged in the good ship Lakers this season. Gasol's "hole" is neither the biggest, nor the one most worried about.</p>
<p><b>3.) Which <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavericks</a> player would you most like to see in a Laker uniform?</b></p>
<p>Aside from the obvious answer of geriatrically reuniting <span>Steve Nash</span> and <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span>, the player on the Mavs I'd be most interested in is probably Jose Calderon. We've been making googly eyes at Jose for a couple years now (because of the Spanish connection with Pau Gasol), and he seems like the perfect guy to come in to Coach D'Antoni's system and be a poor man's Steve Nash (unfortunately, the role of poor man's Steve Nash is currently being played by Steve Nash). Calderon is a great shooter and a willing and capable passer who we'd love to have in purple and gold.</p>
<p><b>4.) During his time in Dallas, <span>Chris Kaman</span> seemed convinced he was best suited as a starter, despite all data to the contrary. What's his role in Los Angeles?</b></p>
<p>Kaman's situation is an interesting one right now. He's clearly second fiddle at the center position after Pau Gasol, and with Coach Mike wanting to at least make an attempt of running his small ball system with this team, it seems unlikely for now that Kaman would join Gasol in the starting lineup as a pair of forward-center hybrids. That could easily be how things stay for the duration of the season, but I don't think it will. Kaman's signing, for me at least, was a curious one. On the surface, it looks fantastic - a one year deal for the mini-MLE (keeping the Lakers' precious 2014 cap space clear) for a very decent player at a bargain rate. The problem is ... the Lakers didn't need Kaman. They already have a center who's better than he is. They already have a back-up center (<span>Jordan Hill</span>) who can perform very capably. So why would the Lakers spend their only non veteran's minimum contract on a player who, while excellent for the price, plays a position at which the Lakers already have great depth? For now, Kaman has slotted in behind Pau and ahead of Jordan Hill (who is struggling to make the rotation despite some astronomical per minute stats), but my gut tells me that Kaman is in L.A. so that the Lakers can pursue further Pau Gasol trades without having to leave a gigantic hole in the center (get it?) of their team.</p>
<p><b>5.) Who is your favorite non-star Laker player to watch this year so far?</b></p>
<p>Wes Johnson. We've already talked about Xavier, but if forced to choose between the two, I'd still choose Wes purely on the criteria of watchability. Johnson is just one of those crazy ass athletes; long arms and an insane vertical. He's been playing the majority of his minutes as a small ball power forward, and while there have been times when he's been punished on the low block by bigger dudes, his rebounding in that role has been fantastic, and fantastically entertaining. Watching Wes sky for rebounds has probably been the most entertaining thing any single player has done for the Lakers thus far.</p>
<p><b>Thanks for talking with me. Looking forward to tonight's game!</b></p>
<p> </p>
<h4>More from Mavs Moneyball:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5065474/dallas-mavericks-monta-ellis-vs-the-shot-chart-week-one?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Monta Ellis vs. the Shot Chart: Week One</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5068374/mmb-gameday-stream-mavericks-vs-lakers?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">MMB Gameday Stream: Mavericks vs. Lakers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5064734/preview-Mavericks-vs-Lakers-2013?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">The Four Point Preview: Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Lakers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/4/5065942/dirk-nowitzki-milestone-watch?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Dirk Nowitzki milestone watch</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/3/5061020/nba-dallas-mavericks-roundtable-bold-prediction?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">MMB Roundtable, part 4: A bold prediction</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5069562/talking-with-silver-screen-and-rollKirk Henderson2013-11-05T07:00:48-06:002013-11-05T07:00:48-06:00Preview: Mavericks vs Lakers
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Game four! Here's some thoughts to get you thinking about the game.</p> <p><b>1.) What did the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Lakers</a> do over the summer?</b></p>
<p>It's hard to feel sorry for the Lakers, but they start this season in a very similar spot as the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mavericks</a> of last year. Hall of Fame player Kobe Bryant is still out indefinitely rehabbing his torn Achilles tendon. <span>Dwight Howard</span> spurned them in favor of joining a younger, better equipped <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rockets</a> squad. <span>Steve Nash</span> got older. Coach Mike D'Antoni did not get fired.</p>
<p>The biggest order of business was filling out a roster with severe salary cap limitations. Former Mavericks Chris Kaman and <span>Shawne Williams</span> each agreed to one year deals to bolster the questionable front court depth. <span>Jordan Farmar</span>, <span>Xavier Henry</span>, <span>Wesley Johnson</span>, and <span>Nick Young</span> to give D'Antoni a variety of insane options to go along with <span>Steve Blake</span>, Nash, and <span>Jodie Meeks</span> for guard options.</p>
<p>Needless to say, these Lakers have been sarcastically donned the SwagTime Lakers.</p>
<p><b>2.) What Laker player is due for a big game?</b></p>
<p>It has to be Nick Young. He's been moved to the bench after being outplayed by Xavier Henry early on, having shot the ball at a 35% clip. Young's fairly talented and supremely confident and I'm betting the move to the bench motivates him to prove D'Antoni wrong. Of course, he could very well shoot himself out of the game, but with the questionable defensive prowess in the Dallas back court, Young could very well have a field day.</p>
<p>Steve Nash is another option. Though he's been dealing with the ramifications of being old, having a bad back, and playing a fast paced style, Nash is so gifted he could easily light the Dallas defense on fire.</p>
<p><b>3.) What Maverick player is due for a big game?</b></p>
<p>This is hard, because after three games just about all of the rotation players have had at least one good, if not great, game. <span>Jose Calderon</span> tops the list again, but his game Saturday against the <a href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Grizzlies</a> saw him hit a few shots finally. He's really playing pretty well over all, but compared to the other starters, he's the only guy who has yet to have a great game this season.</p>
<p><b>4.) What team statistic might determine the game?</b></p>
<p>This has to be shooting percentage. Neither team is great at defending or rebounding, but each has a few offensive weapons capable of lighting the world on fire. Dallas has more, and I'm not seeing how the Lakers can defend the offensive trio of Dirk, <span>Monta Ellis</span>, and Calderon. The open shots have been there this season, and against the Lakers they will be again.</p>
<p><i>Check back later today as we talk with Laker's blog </i><a href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Silver Screen and Roll</a></p>
<h4>More from Mavs Moneyball:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/3/5061020/nba-dallas-mavericks-roundtable-bold-prediction?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">MMB Roundtable, part 4: A bold prediction</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/3/5060382/video-quoteboard-dallas-mavericks-beat-memphis-grizzlies-111-99?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Video Quoteboard: Mavericks beat Grizzlies 111-99</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/2/5059818/recap-dallas-mavericks-defeat-memphis-grizzlies-111-99?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Final Score: Mavs defeat Grizzlies, 111-99</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/2/5058630/nba-dallas-mavericks-roundtable-whats-the-deal-with-chemistry?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">MMB Roundtable, part 3: Biggest factor for success and cohesiveness</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/2/5058484/mmb-gameday-stream-dallas-mavericks-vs-memphis-grizzlies?utm_source=mavsmoneyball&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">MMB Gameday Stream: Dallas Mavericks 111, Memphis Grizzlies 99</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/11/5/5064734/preview-Mavericks-vs-Lakers-2013Kirk Henderson