NBA SUMMARY NOVEMBER 1; WATCH ON MAVS-JAZZ
Dalton Trigg breaks down all the action that unfolded in the NBA last night on the Mavs Step Back Podcast. Topics include the Utah Jazz surge that blew up the Memphis Grizzlies, Trae Young had a game to forget in the Atlanta Hawks’ blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors, Giannis Antetokounmpo helped the Milwaukee Bucks survive to the young Detroit Pistons to remain undefeated, and many, many Continued!
Listen to the entire Monday Night Slate Roundup, plus a preview of the Dallas Mavericks’ game against the Jazz on Wednesday, here:
OCT 29 MCGEE COULD GET THE NIGHT; POWELL STARTS ON WOOD?
According ESPN’s Tim MacMahonDallas Mavericks consider giving starting center off against the Oklahoma City Thunder since it’s the first night of a back-to-back. If so, one would assume that Christian Wood, who has been stellar for Dallas so far this seasonwould start the call on Saturday night, but it seems that is not the case.
“(The) Mavericks plan to start Dwight Powell at center against OKC tonight and give JaVale McGee a night off, sources said. The plan at this point is for Christian Wood to stay in the sixth man role where he flourished”, MacMahon tweeted.
In four games, Wood is averaging 21 points and eight rebounds in under 26 minutes per game. Even though the Mavs want to keep him in his bench role to better balance the score across the board, coach Jason Kidd should consider increasing Wood’s minutes into the 30-minute range. It’s only a four-minute difference, but it could have been the difference in the Mavs’ two-point losses to the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans.
OCT 28 MAVS TO HONOR LONGTIME FORMER EXECUTIVE KEITH GRANT
When the Dallas Mavericks face the Orlando Magic on Sunday at the American Airlines Center, former manager Keith Grant will be honored.
“Keith Grant is an original Dallas Maverick and has been the backbone and heart of our organization for 42 years,” Mavs owner Mark Cuban said. “He is an absolute legend and we are delighted to honor him on Sunday.”
Grant spent 42 years with the Mavs in multiple roles. He started out in the scouting department in the 80s and early 90s, then in 1996 he became vice president of basketball operations. Grant also served as assistant general manager from 1998 until his recent retirement.
27 OCT DSJ LOOKS TO THE NFL?
As the Dallas Mavericks struggle to find a suitable third running back, Dennis Smith Jr. — who would have immediately signed with the Mavs in the offseason if offered a deal — thrives with the Charlotte Hornets until present this season. In four games, Smith averaged 13.5 points, 6.3 assists and 2.3 steals while shooting 52% from the field and 50% from deep.
Had Smith not received another NBA opportunity this offseason, his next stop would have been to try out for the NFL.
“I told my old agent, ‘I’m not going overseas,'” Smith said. “If shit doesn’t work, I just go to the NFL. I was very serious. I gained a lot of weight. I was going to try.
“People were just trying to write me off. I know I am young. I have the time. I have confidence in myself. »
Despite our best efforts to open the Mavs’ eyes to the potential success a DSJ-in-Dallas reunion would have been, they chose to move on. Nothing against Facu Campazzo, but the addition of a taller, more athletic, two-way point guard who is just 24, is friends with Luka Doncic and is on record less than two months ago saying he’d rather come back to the Mavs …probably would have been the best decision.
Alas, things went the way they did, and we’re happy to see Smith thriving in his home country.
24 OCT. PELS BANGED UP VS. MAVS
The Dallas Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans play Tuesday night in what was supposed to be a potentially very powerful Instant Classic. While that may still be the case, the match is losing its juice due to injuries.
On Monday, the Pelicans announced that star forward Brandon Ingram had entered NBA concussion protocol and would not play against the Mavs. Ingram was injured in a home loss to the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.
Zion Williamson and Herb Jones were also hampered in the game against the Jazz. Both Williamson (hip/back contusion) and Jones (hyperextended knee) are listed as questionable for the game against Dallas.
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We’ll see how it all plays out, but for now, it looks like our chances of seeing Luka Doncic against Zion for the third time is in danger.
OCTOBER 23 ‘LADY TIME’ STRIKE IN LOS ANGELES
For anyone who thinks Damian Lillard was going to take a step back in relevance this season… think again.
On Sunday, the Portland Trail Blazers went to Los Angeles and defeated LeBron James Lakers 106-104 after Lillard hit a clutch, go-ahead with just 13 seconds left. Lillard finished with 41 points on the night.
The Blazers are one of the biggest surprises in the NBA so far, as they started the year 3-0. The Lakers, on the other hand, are even more disappointing, as anyone could have predicted after an 0-3 start – and many have already predicted they would be bad.
Does James regret his decision to sign a contract extension before the start of the season? Will things get bad enough at Laker Land to force general manager Rob Pelinka to make any major moves ahead of his 20-game waiting period? As the Lakers continue to lose, the pressure continues to mount.
23 OCT MAGIC IN VEGAS? Lakers legend Magic Johnson is reportedly looking to buy a stake in an NFL team.
According to Semafor Liz HoffmanMagic is in serious talks to buy the Las Vegas Raiders, with a suggestion in the report that “it could be the most expensive sports deal ever.”
Magic currently co-owns the Los Angeles Dodgers and LA Sparks of the WNBA. His involvement with the Davis family in Vegas would create a flood of interest, as would another Lakers’ plan, as LeBron James is openly campaigning to be involved in owning a future NBA team in “Sin City.”
OCTOBER 21 TONY BROWN PASS
Longtime NBA referee Tony Brown has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Brown, who worked 20 seasons as an NBA official, was 55.
“Tony Brown was one of the NBA’s most accomplished referees and an inspiration to his colleagues,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “Following his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer early last year, Tony fought bravely through countless rounds of treatment to return to work last season at the NBA Replay Center, demonstrating dedication, determination and passion that made him a highly respected official for 20 years. The entire NBA family mourns Tony’s passing and we extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Tina; their children, Bailey, Basil and Baylen; and his fellow umpires.
OCT 20 MAVS-SUNS POPULAR ON ESPN
As if there were doubts about the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns are big rivals again after their seven-game playoff series five months ago, viewership numbers for last night’s season opener pretty much limited it.
According to ESPNthe Mavs-Suns late night game was the most-watched season opener on the network in five years with more than 1.6 million people tuning in to see Luka Doncic vs Devin Booker.
If this trend continues, “The Luka Special” could take on yet another meaning in the television world.
OCTOBER 19 “ALWAYS BAD” LAKERS Here at DallasBasketball.com, we have a long and glorious history of “love to hate” the Los Angeles Lakers. So it is with unbridled joy when we watch the Lakers season opener on the road playing the defending champion Warriors. … and we see defeat 123-109 in which LA seemed completely disjointed…
Yes. We like that.
The Lakers looked like the Lakers. That means Lakers not in last year’s playoffs means “bad.”
LeBron James got his 31 and Anthony Davis got his 27 and TNT’s Charles Barkley ripped them both to “just get some numbers”.
Said LeBron of his 0-1 team: “If you’re being completely honest, we’re not a team built for great shooting. It’s not like, you know, we’re sitting here with a lot of lasers on our team. ”
Oh. It’s a shame.
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