Game Thread: Spurs (21-60) @ Mavericks (38-43) Sunday 4/9/2023 2:30 PM CST 10:30 PM RIGA

[Spurs Homer]

Branham needs to play every minute of this game…

then the mavs might have a shot

[ace3g]

Let's go Bertans!!!

[djohn2oo8]

Nah - give the Spurs multiple top 3 picks and multiple years in top half of lottery and Spurs wouldn’t be like this. Spurs also dealt with plenty of injuries this year. Look at these games and regardless of who is playing, Spurs competing and playing and executing.

Records look the same but it’s a WORLD of difference.

Hate to break it to you. But losing on purpose is not professional ball no matter what the plan is. There is no difference. There is no categorizing it. Everybody likes the potential end result of the Viktor. Still doesn’t mean it’s professional. Intentionally putting the worst product on the floor to lose games is not professional. No matter which team. It’s a business decision, but openly admitting to it will get you investigated like Dallas.

[TD 21]

They could’ve rested Jones. Branham didn’t have to play. Just maddening decision by this coach

Imagine the beating Silas, Rivers, etc. would be taking for this . . . but "it's not about race".

Yes, the Spurs probably would have won anyway, but the point is they could and should have been doing more to lose.

In a way I don't blame the Mavs for blatantly throwing the game. They are probably getting word that Luka Don wants to go to one of the big markets as ESPN and the like don't promote the Mavericks in the least like they do Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Golden State, the LA Lakers and LA Clippers, Miami, and New York. And because of ESPN and the like, the Mavericks simply aren't a desirable destination and Luka knows this. He wants to be in one of the cool markets that's accepted by the mainstream fans and media.

The hipster nerd stat geeks are about five minutes away from trying to speak Doncic to their pet Craptors into existence.

[Barfunk]

Dieng sighting!

[Spurs Homer]

Mavs about to get a beat down in the locker room..lol

[Barfunk]

Imagine the beating Silas, Rivers, etc. would be taking for this . . . but "it's not about race".

Yes, the Spurs probably would have won anyway, but the point is they could and should have been doing more to lose.




The hipster nerd stat geeks are about five minutes away from trying to speak Doncic to their pet Craptors into existence.

Lmao

[Thomas82]

Unless I’m wrong here we haven’t clinched the 2nd spot right? If we win will be tied with Houston resulting in a coin flip

Yeah, we did because of the 3rd tiebreaker, which is your record against the other teams in your division. The Rockets have us beat there.

[Thomas82]

I can't put into words how hilarious it would be if the Mavericks come all the way back and win. If they do, I'll be LMAO for the rest of the day.

[scott]

LOL people with their panties in a bunch about the Spurs up in a tankathon.

Would love to see the Mavs win the coin flip, get the protected #10 pick, then the NBA make them forfeit it for making a mockery of Slovenia Night. Then Dallas still owes a top 10 protected pick next year too.

[Atl Spur]

Wesley has a lot of work to do……..no feel for the game! A couple of years away I’m thinking…..

[Mal]

This is literally unwatchable. All-stars game wibes with no all-stars

[Mal]

LOL people with their panties in a bunch about the Spurs up in a tankathon.

Would love to see the Mavs win the coin flip, get the protected #10 pick, then the NBA make them forfeit it for making a mockery of Slovenia Night. Then Dallas still owes a top 10 protected pick next year too.

Can they penalize them by putting them lower in draft ?

[Jordan Jackson]

Hate to break it to you. But losing on purpose is not professional ball no matter what the plan is. There is no difference. There is no categorizing it. Everybody likes the potential end result of the Viktor. Still doesn’t mean it’s professional. Intentionally putting the worst product on the floor to lose games is not professional. No matter which team. It’s a business decision, but openly admitting to it will get you investigated like Dallas.

Yup. A bad team is a bad team. Plain and simple. Spurs are on pace to be one of the historically worst defensive teams ever. There is no spinning this . Mind you - it’s a tank job and most people seem to accept it now. No choice.

The true test is who gets themselves out of this the fastest and with the best results = back to contention for championships.

[scott]

Can they penalize them by putting them lower in draft ?

The league has taken away picks before, but I don't think they've ever just dropped a team. If they did that in this case, it would effectively reward the pick to New York - my guess is the league wouldn't want to be seen as benefiting one specific team by punishing another.

[scott]

Bertans looking solid at least.

[stephen jackson]

Why does kbd play so much so annoying

[BackHome]

Wesley has a lot of work to do……..no feel for the game! A couple of years away I’m thinking…..

Yeah he was drafted knowing that it would take a few years for him to reach his potential - Rough Diamonds need time to be cleaned up and shined

[Mal]

The league has taken away picks before, but I don't think they've ever just dropped a team. If they did that in this case, it would effectively reward the pick to New York - my guess is the league wouldn't want to be seen as benefiting one specific team by punishing another.

But that would be strong message, with all those protected picks and swap coming next years

[scott]

But that would be strong message, with all those protected picks and swap coming next years

The Mavs don't have any picks incoming, at least per this: https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/dr...rafts/detailed

IMO, simply stripping them of pick 10 would be the harshest punishment (as opposed to letting it go to NYK this year). It would mean they tanked out of the playoffs for nothing, they'd still owe that pick to NYK for the next two seasons worth of lotto protection, and they'd be unable to trade away their 25 or 26 pick due to those protections. They already can't trade away their 28 pick because they traded their 29 pick, meaning the only have one tradeable FRP left to try and improve the roster. They might end up forced into a position where they have to move Luka for a haul in order to rebuild their team.

You hate to see it.

[Atl Spur]

Yeah he was drafted knowing that it would take a few years for him to reach his potential - Rough Diamonds need time to be cleaned up and shined

Yep

[Seventyniner]

I think stripping Dallas of their first this year would be a terrible precedent. Sure they blatantly tanked but it was only a couple of games. The Spurs/Rockets/Pistons have been less obvious but all season long.

[DPG21920]

Hate to break it to you. But losing on purpose is not professional ball no matter what the plan is. There is no difference. There is no categorizing it. Everybody likes the potential end result of the Viktor. Still doesn’t mean it’s professional. Intentionally putting the worst product on the floor to lose games is not professional. No matter which team. It’s a business decision, but openly admitting to it will get you investigated like Dallas.

NO- Im talking about regardless of the types of talent you have on the floor HOW they play. Do they play hard? Do they compete? Do they try and run and cut and move and give effort?

Do they care about getting embarrassed? Do you see real development and progress. Teams with same records (HOU and SA) but very different processes

[DPG21920]

Branham has been better than advertised. I was excited about him in draft but not because I thought he would be this good in his first season. He’s’ really shown a lot more than I personally expected.

[scott]

Branham has been better than advertised. I was excited about him in draft but not because I thought he would be this good in his first season. He’s’ really shown a lot more than I personally expected.

100%. And a good reminder to not put too much stock in the summer league, where Blake looked great and Bran looked terrible. At this point, I really like Bran in that 6th man microwave role we hoped Lonnie could grow into, whereas I'm not sure Blake is an NBA player.