The MFFL Times

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Sounds wonderful 🤠

Dennis Smith Jr. to return to the Mavericks on Tuesday The Mavericks second-year guard will be back amid trade rumors to play against the Clippers this week.

“The guys with the best levels of ability deserve to be coached the hardest because they're the ones that have the chance for true greatness.” — Carlisle

'I have that kind of respect for him': Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle explains why he's hard on Dennis Smith Jr. Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle recently joined the Dennis and Cowlishaw show on 103.3 FM ESPN recently to provide some insight on the latest...

Photo by: mavs.com

For Dennis Smith Jr and the Is it too soon?

I’m not sure how the went from securing a core for the future last year to “escalating discussions” on dismantling it. Let us remember that Dennis Smith Jr is the Dallas’ highest draft selection since Devin Harris a decade ago! (We all know ‘Wonder Boy’ was selected 3rd by the Hawks then traded to DAL… ) And if you’re wondering why that is so, it’s because the Mavericks unbearably doesn’t seem to value young talent as much. I don’t think I can remember any Rookie selected by Dallas in the Draft that’s stayed for more than three years. Most recently, summer league stand-out, Justin Anderson was traded for Nerlens Noel not so long ago. I can’t bear to watch seeing Dennis Smith Jr go next.

Just a little side note: traded a young Steve Nash nearly a decade and a half ago, Nash later won two straight MVPs with Phoenix. I guess they traded him too soon. Hopefully, this won’t be the case for DSJ

I love Dallas’ ‘WIN NOW’ Mentality but I dislike the idea of unnecessarily tinkering with the Mavericks’ core every year. I recently read an article somewhere (or was it a comment on an MFFL Facebook group? haha! anyway…) that wrote that the last time the Mavericks had a steady core was the years (2008 – 2011) building up to ’11 when Dallas won it all. KEEP the core together! Rome wasn’t built in a day, these things, especially contenders (obviously) will take time to develop.

What I find most disheartening is that I don’t think the organization (and some fans…) are giving DSJ a chance. He’s missed 15 games this season, most of it because of a wrist injury that occurred against the Clippers in a DAL Home win (where DSJ blocked the taller Harris’ game-tying shot to seal the win, remember?), and the last few absences are because of a sore back. DSJ is hasn’t been active in a week or two and then there’s suddenly chatter about Dallas wanting to trade him.

Just give the DSJ-Doncic backcourt until the end of the season to figure it out, I know they can and will! Dennis Smith Jr. has raw athleticism that just needs a little more refining, but he has all the talent to be an offensive star. Curry’s trainer said so too! I still believe trading DSJ is something will regret. Imagine asking “what could’ve been” in the future. Besides, it’s not like the Mavericks are all that athletic…

DSJ APPRECIATION: Dennis Smith Jr is statistically shooting better than Doncic (Fg% and 3Pt Fg%) He’s already got consistency on his jumper, it won’t take long until he figures it out.
DSJ: 44.3Fg% 37.5 3PtFg% | Doncic: 43.5Fg% 37.3 3PtFg%

At the start of the season, I believed that the Doncic-Smith backcourt was special, I still do until now, but if the ‘Future is now’, will we still see this backcourt tomorrow?

Anyway, I have school work to do… I’ll just end saying this to , just like Arthur Morgan to Dutch, “I trust your judgment, I always have”

"Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter." — Izaak Walton

Last 5 games for Doncic

27.4PPG | 7.0RPG | 6.4APG |
46.5 FG% | 37.2 3PTFG%

Loyalty x Humility x Wonder Boy

This kid is so damn wise beyond his years.