Ol Jock 99 said:

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Any reports on Lively?

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Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (neck sprain) will not play in Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the WCF, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. pic.twitter.com/WIaKwkET3L

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 27, 2024

I'll be shocked if he plays again this series (whether it ends at 4 or goes 7)

M.C. Swag said:

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Ol Jock 99 said:

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Any reports on Lively?

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Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (neck sprain) will not play in Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the WCF, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. pic.twitter.com/WIaKwkET3L

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 27, 2024

I'll be shocked if he plays again this series (whether it ends at 4 or goes 7)

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If Minn wins a few in a row, i think we will see both Lively and Maxi back

rsf0626 said:

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M.C. Swag said:

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Ol Jock 99 said:

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Any reports on Lively?

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Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (neck sprain) will not play in Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the WCF, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. pic.twitter.com/WIaKwkET3L

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 27, 2024

I'll be shocked if he plays again this series (whether it ends at 4 or goes 7)

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If Minn wins a few in a row, i think we will see both Lively and Maxi back

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I don't think KAT has the stones to win one, let alone a few.

rsf0626 said:

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M.C. Swag said:

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Ol Jock 99 said:

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Any reports on Lively?

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Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (neck sprain) will not play in Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the WCF, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. pic.twitter.com/WIaKwkET3L

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 27, 2024

I'll be shocked if he plays again this series (whether it ends at 4 or goes 7)

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If Minn wins a few in a row, i think we will see both Lively and Maxi back

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I got a buddy that had a severe neck injury (car accident) and he was talking about how tough an injury to the neck can actually be. Like, if it's true that Lively wasn't concussed and that he was actually unable to walk under his own power because of a neck strain, that means it's probably a severe one. The neck has tendons just like any other part of the body and if it's severe enough to affect his balance and function of his extremities, then he likely tore multiple tendons. And that's a potential season ender. Like this could be really bad. But maybe it's not. It just LOOKED awful and I hope it's not a sign of long term consequence.

Gotta find a way to win one of the next four and then hope he's ready by next Thursday. I'm not sure how effective Gafford can be against Boston. It may be a Lively/Maxi series with a good chunk of small ball minutes.

Never doubted that Indiana would find a way to lose, but I watched anyway.

Tests returned OK on Dereck Lively II’s neck but his availability for Game 4 remains unclear, source tells ESPN. https://t.co/F0qDJgF05Y

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 27, 2024

Don't think you get this report if he tore multiple tendons.

hph6203 said:

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Tests returned OK on Dereck Lively II’s neck but his availability for Game 4 remains unclear, source tells ESPN. https://t.co/F0qDJgF05Y

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 27, 2024

Don't think you get this report if he tore multiple tendons.

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True, I didn't see that! I'd be ecstatic if he escaped any serious injury.

Stars got home ice back. Stars and mavs have been the face of resilience in the postseason so far, let's hope it continues on. It's the mavs turn to end it and go to the finals tomorrow night.

Lively's injury was more blunt force trauma than whiplash. Usually high grade strains of the neck muscles require strong torquing movements or high velocity impacts with significant whiplash.

His neck will be really sore but it's pretty unlikely what happened to him would cause anything that keeps him out long term. It's likely going to turn out better than a bad concussion. The league protocol keeps guys out for 1-2 weeks sometimes.

The crazy thing is he's apparently not in the nba concussion protocol

94chem said:

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Never doubted that Indiana would find a way to lose, but I watched anyway.

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They are going to be in for quite the surprise going from playing against Nembhard and McConnell in the clutch to Luka and Kyrie...

Worthless pacers. Thanks for nothing. I hope porzingis heals as slowly as possible. We haven't had much injury luck so far. Boston meanwhile has benefitted from each team missing a major star in their run.

Shows why I hate big scoreboards. Play of the series is happen right in front of them, and a ton of people are looking up.

And the rest of them are watching it through their phones.

Proposition Joe said:

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And the rest of them are watching it through their phones.

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To me that's the most pathetic observation.

I like the reactions of the guy in the blue hat below the State Farm sign, and the bald guy in the blue pullover at the Mavs bench.

When you sit in some of those seats behind the basket down low, you almost have to watch the jumbotron at times to actually see what is happening.

Dallas’ Maxi Kleber (shoulder) has been cleared to make his return tonight vs. Timberwolves with Mavericks one win away from the NBA Finals, sources say. https://t.co/zVqVhOadSL

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 28, 2024

Maxi Kleber on playing Game 4: "We're gonna warm up and then see where we at."

Kleber says he's "had a few days" to shoot 3s and made "some big progress" over the last few days. He says his shot "feels good."

Watch Kleber's full interview: https://t.co/5pqK6ErYPg pic.twitter.com/aOCYUvTHjn

— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) May 28, 2024

This isn't nearly as promising lol.

shack009 said:

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Dallas’ Maxi Kleber (shoulder) has been cleared to make his return tonight vs. Timberwolves with Mavericks one win away from the NBA Finals, sources say. https://t.co/zVqVhOadSL

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 28, 2024

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Don't even need sideshow lob

An underrated aspect of Dereck Lively’s game is his passing…

Here’s some of his best dimes in the Playoffs 🥶

(Via @UsherNBA) pic.twitter.com/NkMRkMZEyH

— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) May 24, 2024

This is the biggest reason we will miss Lively. Some of these passes are just incredible. He has a floor awareness and processing ability that is not there for Gafford. Then the decisiveness is quite amazing.

Gafford setting screens and having to operate in the short role is an adventure and has led to turnovers or having to completely reset more often than not. He hasn't been able to make teams pay in the playoffs.

Gregg Popovich is rooting for the Mavs in the NBA playoffs pic.twitter.com/9zqd6QfpE5

— 2Cool2Blog (@2Cool2Blog) May 25, 2024

zgolfz85 said:

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is markief really not even serviceable for 5-8 mins a game? dude is physical and plenty experienced and can make dudes think twice about driving the lane (like ant and kat). is he really just totally gone to the point where Dwight is our only other option from Gaff? I have a hard time understanding how he can't even get a few bench mins with D Live down.

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I've wondered this too. Is there no place for an enforcer role in the NBA today?

He's not a perimeter defender or rim protector. He can space a little but he provides almost no other value. Hes only on the team because hes a clutch client and Nico is doing GM relationship building.

M.C. Swag said:

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He's not a perimeter defender or rim protector. He can space a little but he provides almost no other value. Hes only on the team because hes a clutch client and Nico is doing GM relationship building.

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I think he's good friends with Kyrie too.

I'm honestly a little surprised we didn't see him in the second half of G3 for at least a few minutes. He can space the floor on offense and he could guard Naz or KAT. It was a really tight rotation in the second half. I think only 6 guys played in the second half last game. He could have played some minutes and not been a total disaster, IMO.

I mean....the dude is 6'9" and 260....and with more sure hands and better defense (surely) than DP.

I'm not saying I'd expect much out of Kieff coming in other than another big body and a physical one, but if we're going to throw Hardy in for valuable 1Q mins (and thankfully we did, dude played pretty well and we need him to continue getting teachable minutes), then just shocks me we can't see 5-8 mins from Morris at least to see what he has.

We're not in practice...I get it, but my biggest knock on J Kidd is and will probably always be confusing personnel. It's obviously working right now, but damn.

Im not sure I would put playing Powell over Morris in the confusing category

I think Kidd throws darts when it comes to regular season lineups, but he's been just plain genius in the playoffs so far

PatAg said:

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Im not sure I would put playing Powell over Morris in the confusing category

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They were clearly trying to stick to a gameplan of always having one true center on the court. Powell is just so bad, that I'm fine with scheming any ways to keep him out of the game. The two missed shots he had were just vintage Powell. A great reminder of how truly bad we have had it at the center position before this season. Gafford is having a tough enough time as it is, we just can't have Powell playing any significant minutes.

It's weird because Kidd has played smallish against Gobert before with Maxi at the 5 in the Utah series. Not sure why he was allergic to putting Markieff in for some small ball minutes. Or at least to give PJ some more rest. Morris at least does some different things. Mavs clearly wanted to stick to a strict gameplan.