Game Day: Mavericks (25-24) @ Suns (25-24), Thurs 1/26/23

[JeremyG]

Craig and Ayton got in each other's way on the rebound. Had nothing to do with boxing out.

Ayton should’ve been boxing out Dwight so he couldn’t get to the ball and let Craig grab it.

Craig is always stealing rebounds away from Ayton. Just let your best rebounder get the rebound.

If Ayton just seals his man with a solid box out that ball falls right to Craig.

And if he did that and a Mavs player had run in there and grabbed the ball before Craig could secure it, you would have said, "Stupid Deandre. He didn't even try to go get the rebound."

[Split T]

I still just don’t understand how Jae just screwed over his teammates. They all say great things about him and he’s just sitting at home throwing shots at the team. One thing we can all agree on(hopefully)is Jae sucks.

[AmareIsGod]

Craig and Ayton got in each other's way on the rebound. Had nothing to do with boxing out.

Ayton should’ve been boxing out Dwight so he couldn’t get to the ball and let Craig grab it.

Craig is always stealing rebounds away from Ayton. Just let your best rebounder get the rebound.

If Ayton just seals his man with a solid box out that ball falls right to Craig.

And if he did that and a Mavs player had run in there and grabbed the ball before Craig could secure it, you would have said, "Stupid Deandre. He didn't even try to go get the rebound."

Wrong! I'd call him lazy and worthless. I don't think he lacks mental capacity. I think he lacks heart, aggression. He plays like a cowering but playful puppy that's still a rookie on the court yet we inked him to a max deal.

[JeremyG]

Craig and Ayton got in each other's way on the rebound. Had nothing to do with boxing out.

Ayton should’ve been boxing out Dwight so he couldn’t get to the ball and let Craig grab it.

Craig is always stealing rebounds away from Ayton. Just let your best rebounder get the rebound.

On the replay it didn’t look like Craig went for it. Ayton mistimed his jump and Craig kinda just stood there.

He shouldn't have stood there, he should have gotten out of DA's way. Or at least not half-grab at it.

Just watched the play again: https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=& ... %20Rebound

It's possible if both DA and Craig had kept boxing out, it would have gone out of bounds to the Suns. Ayton likes to tip rebounds to himself but Craig got in the way. Craig should have just kept boxing out THJ and let DA grab it.

EDIT: Also, as others have pointed out, Monty should have had a big man in there anyway, not Craig.

[Drewsprocket]

Craig and Ayton got in each other's way on the rebound. Had nothing to do with boxing out.

Ayton should’ve been boxing out Dwight so he couldn’t get to the ball and let Craig grab it.

Craig is always stealing rebounds away from Ayton. Just let your best rebounder get the rebound.

On the replay it didn’t look like Craig went for it. Ayton mistimed his jump and Craig kinda just stood there.

He shouldn't have stood there, he should have gotten out of DA's way. Or at least not half-grab at it.

Just watched the play again: https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=& ... %20Rebound

It's possible if both DA and Craig had kept boxing out, it would have gone out of bounds to the Suns. Ayton likes to tip rebounds to himself but Craig got in the way. Craig should have just kept boxing out THJ and let DA grab it.

EDIT: Also, as others have pointed out, Monty should have had a big man in there anyway, not Craig.

Geez dude. I show up to the forum and of course this is the first response I see. Give it a rest. Just say he is still sick and eat a sandwich and go to bed. Tomorrow is another day. Whatever DA missed shots. I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt even when he lays the worst 19 and 20 game ever played. But you’re beyond parody. Anyway. Maybe I’m disappointed and don’t need to take it out on you- but you’re definitely not helping. You have the love of Ayton the way I had for KJ when I was 12. I hope you’re an adolescent so I can feel guilty and apologize.

[JeremyG]

If a few of his misses went in and we won the game, everyone would have said he played with heart and aggression and what a great game with 25/20 and 10 FTA. Lol, the criticism is beyond ridiculous.

[Superbone]

What a frustrating game from start to finish!

[Superbone]

Every time we play the Mavs, they seem to hit 67% of their 3s. That's hard to beat. I would tend to prefer letting Luka go off and staying at home on their 3-point shooters, personally. But we'll see.

And banking one in when they really need it.

[Superbone]

Ayton's energy is high but he's making poor decisions.

The national guys are really starting to call him out now.

[Superbone]

Ayton looks like butt so far.

He's on pace for 40 rebounds. Can we criticize someone else tonight?

And yet the TNT crew still talked at half time about how he should be dominating this small Dallas lineup.

[TOO]

Alright JG, you win brother, LOL I just can't anymore with you. Congrats. Enjoy your cloud, I'll be eagerly waiting for Ayton to get sent to China where he belongs.

And you’re just the opposite of JG. In your eyes Ayton can do nothing right. Get over yourself.

When he gets paid the max he gets max expectations. Cry me a river.

[Superbone]

We play better without Ayton

#hAyton

This winning streak started against Brooklyn when Ayton was our best player.

Ayton is only 4-12 from the field, but he isn't the major problem.
The bench blows this evening, and Bridges is MIA so far.
Monty's rotations have been problematic.
Also, the refs missed a couple of obvious fouls, including one on Paul where Dwight Powell all but confessed to swiping CP3 in the face.

I may pull back on my defense of Ayton. He's missed a couple of bunnies so far in the second half ...

And he had another DUNK THE BALL!!! moment for me in the 2nd half when he had a gimmie at the rim and rolled it off.

[TOO]

Ayton's energy is high but he's making poor decisions.

The national guys are really starting to call him out now.

They should probably get over themselves.

[Superbone]

The team's rhythm is off. Gotta find a lineup that works cuz the starters aren't cutting it.

I honestly think Dario could kick ass against the Mavs, but I have yet to see him play.


GO BIG ON THEM!

The Mavs were going at him to start the game and scoring on him at will. He never saw the court again.

[Superbone]

And that’s why you dunk it, smh

That’s the one. DUNK THE BALL!!!

[Superbone]

Id keep Ish in but put Cam instead of Craig

Cam was the lone bright spot in this game.

[djy2j]

Dog shit. Just in about every aspect.

Montys coaching and strategy against the Mavs is absolute dog shit. He has not clue what to do with the Mavs no matter who is playing. It's mind boggling how out coached he gets.

Ayton. Should have stayed out another game. Absolutely embarrassing out there tonight. Oh He got 20 rebounds? Yeah well he also made Dwight Powell look like Hakeem Olajuwon...again. Oh he was sick. Oh his ankle. Oh hes dizzy. Oh his this. Oh his that. It's always an excuse for why DA is underperforming. Tired of all the DA BS.

[djy2j]

Jeremy, put down the crack pipe!!

He seemed like he wanted the win more than anyone else out there. Played with tons of passion.

That's not passion that's panic. He has no idea what he's doing out there. He made Powell look like Olajuwon. He's a deer in the headlights. A very expensive deer.

[Superbone]

If a few of his misses went in and we won the game, everyone would have said he played with heart and aggression and what a great game with 25/20 and 10 FTA. Lol, the criticism is beyond ridiculous.

I wish he would talk about defense.

[Superbone]

Here’s what Luka thinks of the McGee’s dog pound schtick: