Dallas, TX
3 things from the Mavericks 108-88 Summer League loss to the Memphis Grizzlies
The Dallas Mavericks Summer League squad got absolutely thumped 108-88 against the Memphis Grizzlies Monday night in Las Vegas, in a game that wasn’t even as close as the score suggested.
This game was never in question, as Dallas fell behind 25-4 in the opening minutes of the first quarter and never recovered. The Mavericks had one of the sloppiest games in Summer League history with an astonishing 27 turnovers, which led to 36 points for Memphis.
The Grizzlies constant ball pressure was no match for the Mavericks overwhelmed guards, who kept coughing it up at almost every opportunity. From there the Grizzlies dominated in transition, finishing with 58 points in the paint. Memphis forward G.G. Jackson led all scorers with 23 points, while Dallas forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper led the Mavericks with 16 points.
Dallas now falls to 0-2 in Vegas, while Memphis improves to 2-0. The Mavericks have another chance.
This was an ass-kicking
I’ve watched a lot of Summer League games, and I’ve seen a lot of sloppy and disjointed basketball. It’s just the nature of throwing together a bunch of rookies, younger players, and journeymen trying to find a place in their professional careers. Even with all those qualifiers, this Mavericks loss might have been one of the ugliest Summer League performances I’ve ever seen.
I already mentioned the team started off down 25-4 in the first quarter, and it just never got any better. The Mavericks literally couldn’t dribble the ball — it was turnover after turnover after turnover. The first half felt like a Globetrotters game, with the Grizzlies skying for alley-oops almost every other possession. With about two minutes left in the third quarter the score was 80-46 and the Mavericks had 23 turnovers and only 17 made field goals.
Dallas cleaned things up a little in the fourth to make it seem respectable, and inch that made field goals number past the turnovers. But the Mavericks still finished with 27 turnovers. Memphis has one of the better Summer League rosters with NBA contributors G.G. Jackson and Scotty Pippen Jr. in their starting lineup, but this was….woof. This was difficult to watch.
More struggles for O-Max
After scoring just 11 points on 2-of-10 shooting in the Mavericks first Summer League game on Friday, Olivier Maxence-Prosper improved against the Grizzlies, but it was still a difficult game for the Mavericks first round pick from last summer.
Propser led the team with 16 points, but struggled from the floor again shooting 6-of-14. In the first half he had just two points on 1-of-6 shooting, and was struggling until garbage time in the fourth quarter, although basically 75 percent of this game was garbage time. Prosper made three straight shots in the fourth to salvage his shooting line, but he still looked a bit rough.
Thankfully for the Mavericks, his motor never shut off. Propser played hard, and he still flashes some really fun defensive potential, but his offense just isn’t suited for Summer League, where he’s being asked to take shots he just never will in an NBA setting. Prosper did rebound from three in this one, going 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Hopefully Prosper can keep improving going into the next game.
We’re all struggling
Speaking of struggles….well have you seen Mavs Moneyball lately? I kid, I kid, but if you take a gander at the home page of our website, you’ll notice the content just hasn’t been flowing like it usually is and these brutal Summer League games definitely don’t help.
It was a long season for our staff, with a frankly unexpected NBA Finals run. Most of the senior staff and editors are way too old to be blogging as a side gig or hobby (raises hand!) and I think most of us were all a little burnt out after the Finals ended since we put so much effort into doing our best to cover the playoff run. We just don’t have a lot left in the tank.
To be honest, I can’t in good conscious recommend you continue watching the Mavericks Summer League. With Dallas’ roster locked in as a contender, there just isn’t much room for any of these guys to contribute at the NBA level, and that’s even if Prosper was lighting it up. NBA contenders don’t normally need Summer League standouts to soak up minutes during the regular season, so that’s no slight to these players or the Mavericks roster construction. On the contrary: Dallas has done such a good job building its NBA roster over the last 18 months that it makes Summer League a quaint luxury.
So maybe find some time to recharge before the real games tip off again in just a few months. October is not that far away! We’ll keep writing about these games of course (unless we forget), and we’ll try to rev up the content machine in earnest before the summer ends. Sorry for the dry spell, we’ll be back at full speed soon enough. Or just keep watching these Summer League games because you’re a true sicko — no kink shaming here.
Dallas, TX
Houston Texans Linked to Compelling Trade for Cowboys Defender
The Houston Texans will be looking to make some moves this offseason as they attempt to take the next step and truly become a Super Bowl contender.
Obviously, there are some clear needs on the offensive side of the football. Bringing in more weapons for C.J. Stroud should be a priority. However, the defense is already elite but could always use more depth.
On the defensive line, the Texans could consider adding another big body in the middle. If one was available for a cheap cost, Houston would likely have interest.
With that in mind, one potential option has been suggested as a possible trade target.
Ben Strauss of ClutchPoints has urged the Texans to consider pursuing a trade for Dallas Cowboys former first-round pick Mazi Smith. He even suggested one potential trade that could bring Smith onboard.
In his trade proposal, Houston would acquire Smith and would swap 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for Kenyon Green and the pick swap.
Smith was originally the No. 26 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Cowboys. He was expected to become a key part of the Dallas defense.
Throughout his first two years, he has racked up 54 total tackles to go along with two sacks.
At 23 years old, there is plenty of time for Smith to turn things around. Being able to learn from an elite defensive head coach in DeMeco Ryans and play alongside an already elite defense would be a perfect situation for him.
Granted, this is just an idea with no reporting behind it. Smith may not be a target and he might not even be available for trade. But, he would make sense as an intriguing option for the Texans.
Expect to hear a lot of rumors surrounding Houston as the offseason gets underway. They have some work to do and making a move for a player like Smith could help their defense be even better.
Dallas, TX
Family mourns security guard killed while confronting shoplifters at Dallas CVS
DALLAS – The family of Anthony Egeonu, a security guard killed while confronting shoplifters at a Dallas CVS, is struggling with raw emotions and profound grief.
Anthony Egeonu’s daughters, Amari and Jayda, sat quietly in the center of the living room.
“I feel terrible. I feel frustrated,” said Amari, tearfully. “I will always be bruised from this situation. Because my dad is no longer here.”
“He’s not coming home,” added Jayda.
Their father worked as a security guard at a downtown Dallas CVS. He was shot and killed late Friday as he confronted shoplifters leaving the store. Neighbors expressed concern about safety in the area.
In less than 24 hours, two young suspects were in custody. Dallas police have not formally identified them because of their ages.
“To go to work, do what you’re supposed to be doing … another person that doesn’t value life to take another life, I can’t wrap my mind around it,” said Anthony Egeonu’s mother, Gwendolyn Pipkins.
“They made a choice to leave us hurting, grieving, and in pain, never ever to lay eyes on a person we love very much,” she added.
Octavia Egeonu said while the family was aware of the dangers of the job, her husband had always been passionate about law enforcement. The couple had been married for eight years.
“He stayed because he was getting ready to be promoted to where he wouldn’t even be in that store. He would have been supervising at a different location,” Octavia Egeonu said.
As she sat quietly surrounded by friends and family, Octavia Egeonu said they would lean heavily on their faith for closure.
“This family is wounded, but we are going to make it through because we serve a savior who’s already conquered,” she added.
Anthony Egeonu is the second son Pipkins has lost to violence.
“It tells me in the word of God that when I say that I’m weak, I can say that I’m strong because God carries me when I can’t carry myself. And right now, I’m not carrying myself. I know God is carrying me,” she said.
“I will see justice. I know that the Lord is not going to allow us not to have justice,” Gwendolyn added.
Anthony Egeonu is survived by his wife, Octavia; children, Jayda, Amari and Jace; his parents; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Dallas, TX
Security guard shot, killed amid attempted shoplifting at Dallas CVS
Late Saturday, Dallas Police announced two juveniles were in custody after a late-night shooting at a downtown CVS that left one man dead.
Family told NBC 5, that the victim was simply doing his job.
At about 11 p.m. Friday, police said they responded to a CVS in downtown Dallas on Main Street near North Akard Street.
They said 39-year-old Anthony Egeonu had been shot.
EMTs transported him to a nearby hospital where he died.
Family said that Egeonu was a husband and father of three kids ranging in age from 16 to 4.
They said he was working security Friday at the CVS when he noticed two people shoplifting. Egeonu made them aware that he saw them, and in turn, they shot him and took off.
In a statement, CVS said: “We’re cooperating with Dallas Police as they investigate the incident that occurred at our Main Street store last night. The store and pharmacy are open today.”
According to CVS, Egeonu worked for a third-party security company.
Adding to the family’s heartbreak, Egeonu’s mom said that he was working towards a promotion that would have put him in a supervisor role and taken him off of the store floor.
Dallas Police haven’t said what charges those young people face, and they won’t be releasing their names because of their ages.
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