Does it really matter? Mavericks GDT

[kekgeek]

Bummer. We'll see who gets the opportunity in the starting lineup, and what players soak up most of Jaden's minutes. Guesses on the starting role? Ayo? Mike? SloMo? NAZ? Shannon? All sorts of possibilities!

Yeah, "week to week" is not good news given Jaden originally said he was going to be fine for the Detroit game. I suggested above that Shannon gets the start tonight, but we'll have to see.

Just to clarify my thread title, of course winning always matters. I'm just saying that at this point in the season, staying healthy is a much higher priority for me than winning...we're in no danger at all of dropping into the play in, and I'm more than fine with finishing 6th. The worst idea though would be to play Ant tonight because he wants to get his 65 games in. I'm guessing he is going to lobby the coaches to play, and the brain trust needs to make the decision. Finchy needs to ask him if he's sure he's okay to play. If (when) Ant says yes, Finchy needs to say "okay, but the minute I see you not hustling on defense, I'm going to assume it's because of your knee and put y'ass back on the bench".

Yeah. But that's just not how the NBA works.

If the guy making $200M over the next 4 years wants an All NBA nod so he can make even more with his next contract... that's what's going to happen.

Also to get another super max he needs to make all nba twice (or make it in the 2029 season), or get an DPOY/MVP. Be shocked for a player to throw a year away to help making all nba could effect a ton of Money.

[FNG]

Yeah, "week to week" is not good news given Jaden originally said he was going to be fine for the Detroit game. I suggested above that Shannon gets the start tonight, but we'll have to see.

Just to clarify my thread title, of course winning always matters. I'm just saying that at this point in the season, staying healthy is a much higher priority for me than winning...we're in no danger at all of dropping into the play in, and I'm more than fine with finishing 6th. The worst idea though would be to play Ant tonight because he wants to get his 65 games in. I'm guessing he is going to lobby the coaches to play, and the brain trust needs to make the decision. Finchy needs to ask him if he's sure he's okay to play. If (when) Ant says yes, Finchy needs to say "okay, but the minute I see you not hustling on defense, I'm going to assume it's because of your knee and put y'ass back on the bench".

Yeah. But that's just not how the NBA works.

If the guy making $200M over the next 4 years wants an All NBA nod so he can make even more with his next contract... that's what's going to happen.

Also to get another super max he needs to make all nba twice (or make it in the 2029 season), or get an DPOY/MVP. Be shocked for a player to throw a year away to help making all nba could effect a ton of Money.

I’ll bet against him making DPOY.

Seriously though, I don’t think a coach like Pop wouid allow a player to make a decision to play for a selfish reason rather than a team reason. If he plays and hurts himself more, I’ll be really unhappy with both Finchy and Ant.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Yeah, "week to week" is not good news given Jaden originally said he was going to be fine for the Detroit game. I suggested above that Shannon gets the start tonight, but we'll have to see.

Just to clarify my thread title, of course winning always matters. I'm just saying that at this point in the season, staying healthy is a much higher priority for me than winning...we're in no danger at all of dropping into the play in, and I'm more than fine with finishing 6th. The worst idea though would be to play Ant tonight because he wants to get his 65 games in. I'm guessing he is going to lobby the coaches to play, and the brain trust needs to make the decision. Finchy needs to ask him if he's sure he's okay to play. If (when) Ant says yes, Finchy needs to say "okay, but the minute I see you not hustling on defense, I'm going to assume it's because of your knee and put y'ass back on the bench".

Yeah. But that's just not how the NBA works.

If the guy making $200M over the next 4 years wants an All NBA nod so he can make even more with his next contract... that's what's going to happen.

Yeah, maybe. Although I'm not sure it would be the same with all coaches. I rather doubt a tougher coach like Pop or Malone would allow a player to play if he thought a further injury might hurt the team's chances. I suspect Ant will play, and we'll see the same kind of half-assed effort on defense we have grown accustomed to, especially if his knee is still bothering him. I'd love to be proven wrong though either by Ant sitting out one more game or by him playing the defense I think he is capable of.

There's no coach in the NBA with more clout than a true superstar. I think Popovich was a great coach. But... he was VERY fortunate to have been paired with Tim Duncan for almost his entire run.

A superstar like Duncan is not the norm. He "allowed" Popovich to play the tough guy role on TV.

[FNG]

Line keeps going up...now 8 1/2...and Jon K tweets "welcome back". So I'm assuming Ant plays tonight. My position is clear...I hope Ant is truly ready to play, and we're not jeopardizing our post-season just to improve Ant's chances of getting more $$$ that he will never be able to spend. I'll admit Ant is as resilient as any NBA star, so he very well may be healed enough to play. I hope so.

I'm guessing Rudy/Ju/TJ/Ant/Donte, with Naz, Ayo, Bones and SloMo first off the bench.

[mjs34]

Line keeps going up...now 8 1/2...and Jon K tweets "welcome back". So I'm assuming Ant plays tonight. My position is clear...I hope Ant is truly ready to play, and we're not jeopardizing our post-season just to improve Ant's chances of getting more $$$ that he will never be able to spend. I'll admit Ant is as resilient as any NBA star, so he very well may be healed enough to play. I hope so.

I'm guessing Rudy/Ju/TJ/Ant/Donte, with Naz, Ayo, Bones and SloMo first off the bench.

I don't think Ant would be in this situation had Finch not had him in the game with less than minute to go with a ten point lead when Ant banged his knee. I wish I could say this was the first time this happened, but I see it way too often from Finch.

I think coaches for Boston, Houston, and OKC have the clout to handle their superstars, but Abe makes a good point that it tends to depend somewhat on who those superstars are. I think we all saw Ant call out finch on the sidelines a few weeks back so I wouldn't put him in that group.

[Q-is-here]

Line keeps going up...now 8 1/2...and Jon K tweets "welcome back". So I'm assuming Ant plays tonight. My position is clear...I hope Ant is truly ready to play, and we're not jeopardizing our post-season just to improve Ant's chances of getting more $$$ that he will never be able to spend. I'll admit Ant is as resilient as any NBA star, so he very well may be healed enough to play. I hope so.

I'm guessing Rudy/Ju/TJ/Ant/Donte, with Naz, Ayo, Bones and SloMo first off the bench.

I'm predicting that Ant moves to SF and Ayo starts at the other guard position.

[60WinTim]

Line keeps going up...now 8 1/2...and Jon K tweets "welcome back". So I'm assuming Ant plays tonight. My position is clear...I hope Ant is truly ready to play, and we're not jeopardizing our post-season just to improve Ant's chances of getting more $$$ that he will never be able to spend. I'll admit Ant is as resilient as any NBA star, so he very well may be healed enough to play. I hope so.

I'm guessing Rudy/Ju/TJ/Ant/Donte, with Naz, Ayo, Bones and SloMo first off the bench.

I'm predicting that Ant moves to SF and Ayo starts at the other guard position.

I agree with the ANT at SF bit. And while my preference is Ayo in the starting lineup, I would place my money on Mike. Again.

[Q-is-here]

Line keeps going up...now 8 1/2...and Jon K tweets "welcome back". So I'm assuming Ant plays tonight. My position is clear...I hope Ant is truly ready to play, and we're not jeopardizing our post-season just to improve Ant's chances of getting more $$$ that he will never be able to spend. I'll admit Ant is as resilient as any NBA star, so he very well may be healed enough to play. I hope so.

I'm guessing Rudy/Ju/TJ/Ant/Donte, with Naz, Ayo, Bones and SloMo first off the bench.

I'm predicting that Ant moves to SF and Ayo starts at the other guard position.

I agree with the ANT at SF bit. And while my preference is Ayo in the starting lineup, I would place my money on Mike. Again.

Ugh, you may be right. I really think now is a good time to audition more Ayo with Ant, but I can see Mike as a token starter just to get things started. Plus it helps get Rudy some touches early.

[60WinTim]

I'm predicting that Ant moves to SF and Ayo starts at the other guard position.

I agree with the ANT at SF bit. And while my preference is Ayo in the starting lineup, I would place my money on Mike. Again.

Ugh, you may be right. I really think now is a good time to audition more Ayo with Ant, but I can see Mike as a token starter just to get things started. Plus it helps get Rudy some touches early.

Q wins the cookie!!! Finch surprises me and goes with Ayo.

[Q-is-here]

I agree with the ANT at SF bit. And while my preference is Ayo in the starting lineup, I would place my money on Mike. Again.

Ugh, you may be right. I really think now is a good time to audition more Ayo with Ant, but I can see Mike as a token starter just to get things started. Plus it helps get Rudy some touches early.

Q wins the cookie!!! Finch surprises me and goes with Ayo.

Yum!