Game Thread Jan 08, 2026 07:00PM MT: Dallas Mavericks @ Utah Jazz

[Max Porter]

Flip has an "I'm gonna start crying in about 5 seconds" face going these days.

Í think it's safe to say he doesn't have that dawg in him.

Dude it was one game, he's only a second year playing and last night they played the best team in the league give him time.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

They want to be all stars, like it or not. They want big games.

neither guy gets the AS nod this year... even if they play tonight.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Wild that Lauri and Key are playing tonight. Maybe its a big-brained tank move where they end up getting hurt because of the minute load... pretty ruthless way to tank.

Literally was going to post something about them hoping they can Kessler their star players.

This is asinine beyond belief. But it’s also a home game, so I guess they figure they need to throw some meat to the cornfed masses.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Bro we got people out here saying Trae may not even play a game for the Wiz and we gotta sneak around? Nah.

MP jr. sits the back end of every B2B. Sit them and welcome an investigation.

This is a league that will not punish the Clippers for an obscene cap circumvention.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Jazz got to play him sometimes when it should be obvious to sit him to keep the league off their back probably. I do think he will get sat more regularly once the All-Star voting is over.

It will be too late by then to optimize position, at which point the Jazz will probably have to pull **** that will be nauseating just to not cough up the pick.

B2Bs and tank battles are the lowest-hanging fruit on how to improve or maintain their draft position. They cannot be punting on opportunities like this.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Literally was going to post something about them hoping they can Kessler their star players.

This is asinine beyond belief. But it’s also a home game, so I guess they figure they need to throw some meat to the cornfed masses.

Why play them 38 and 39 minutes last night then? I used before OT minutes since you can't fully plan for that.

Unless we do a rug pull last minute (which gets more attention from the league) because they think maybe the Mavs would pull AD from the game if they know we have lauri and Key out? IDK.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

neither guy gets the AS nod this year... even if they play tonight.

Probably true, unfortunately for Lauri. I would think they actually have a better chance of getting to the all star game if they play more rested as well.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Probably true, unfortunately for Lauri. I would think they actually have a better chance of getting to the all star game if they play more rested as well.

I think the league narrative is just too strong against us. One may make it due to injury replacement... that may depend on if an international or US player is hurt because of the new dumb format.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Probably true, unfortunately for Lauri. I would think they actually have a better chance of getting to the all star game if they play more rested as well.

Literally nobody benefits by running Lauri into the ground. Nobody.

 

[KqWIN]

Probably true, unfortunately for Lauri. I would think they actually have a better chance of getting to the all star game if they play more rested as well.

To your point, people only care about per game stats. If you play badly you're not helping your case.

It easier to get to the ASG with more wins though.

 

[NUMBERICA]

To your point, people only care about per game stats. If you play badly you're not helping your case.

It easier to get to the ASG with more wins though.

Gotta have enough wins that ruin the tank. These are mutually exclusive; you pick one or the other.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

B2B with travel coming off an intense overtime game is tough. Fortunately, we don't care about winning.