duncan228
07-11-2009, 07:22 PM
Dallas Mavericks join NBA's thirty-something craze (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/071209dnspomavslede.2f19cd7.html)
By Eddie Sefco / The Dallas Morning News
People will say these are not your father's Mavericks. But the truth is that if you're a kid reading this, then yes, they are your dad's Mavs because he probably saw them play before you were born.
This team is growing older, and if you've watched the new-era NBA, that's not a bad thing.
The Mavericks have plenty in common with Boston, San Antonio and even the Los Angeles Lakers, all of whom have won recent NBA championships by building around salty veterans who have been through many playoff battles.
To win big, the new way is to go old.
"We call it experience," president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said. "These guys have been down in the trenches and been through everything in the playoffs. And we really want to make the most of this window of opportunity we have.
"These guys know how to win."
Shawn Marion is 31. He has joined Dirk Nowitzki, who is the same age, and Jason Kidd, who is 36. Josh Howard will join the 30 set next season. Jason Terry is 31.
It's a fine line, of course. Teams that have old players sometimes are just old teams. But if they have the right "mature" players, coupled with some vibrant young players, it can be a perfect mixture.
And the veterans invariably are the heavy lifters.
Boston is the poster child for teams that have gone with 30-something players to make championship runs.
The Celtics traded for Kevin Garnett after he'd put in more than a decade at Minnesota. And by the way, the only time he'd gotten as far as the Western Conference finals with the Timberwolves, he had a 34-year-old sidekick in Sam Cassell.
But when Garnett got to Boston with fellow post-30 players Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, a title magically appeared.
And then there are the Spurs, who have been at their best since Tim Duncan aged gracefully. Even at 33, he and the Spurs are considered serious title threats in the coming season. Duncan always had Bruce Bowen, who wasn't even young when he was young. The Spurs even brought in Michael Finley in his post-prime years and manufactured another title.
Even the Los Angeles Lakers have subscribed to this theory – to a point. Kobe Bryant turned 30 last season and won his first title while not playing with anybody named Shaq.
The Lakers also had 34-year-old Derek Fisher as the steady hand helping them through troubled times.
Of course, the argument can be made that great players, young or old, win championships. But rare is the team that makes it to the NBA Finals behind a 24-year-old star, as Orlando did this year with Dwight Howard – who, by the way, had 30-year-old Hedo Turkoglu at his side.
Another reason the best teams nowadays are built around 30-something players is that a lot of players who recently entered the league haven't had the impact many expected.
The drafts haven't produced loads of franchise players, outside of LeBron James, Howard and Dwyane Wade. Or they have gone to teams that were too far down to be quickly resurrected.
And lest we forget, Wade won his title in 2006 with the help of a 34-year-old Shaquille O'Neal, and Cleveland saw fit to bring in a 37-year-old O'Neal to help James next season.
In the Mavericks' case, having Jason Kidd has helped.
"Getting Kidd back was the linchpin to everything else happening," Nelson said. "All the free agents we went after, one of the first things they wanted to know was if Jason was coming back. Everybody wants to play with a great quarterback."
Even one who's 36.
In these times, especially one who's 36.
Briefly: The Mavericks made it official Saturday with Jason Kidd, signing him to a three-year contract worth in excess of $25 million. Kidd had agreed to the deal Wednesday. … The Mavericks opened play in the Las Vegas Summer League on Friday with a 65-59 loss to Milwaukee. Second-round draftee Ahmad Nivins led the Mavs with 19 points.
By Eddie Sefco / The Dallas Morning News
People will say these are not your father's Mavericks. But the truth is that if you're a kid reading this, then yes, they are your dad's Mavs because he probably saw them play before you were born.
This team is growing older, and if you've watched the new-era NBA, that's not a bad thing.
The Mavericks have plenty in common with Boston, San Antonio and even the Los Angeles Lakers, all of whom have won recent NBA championships by building around salty veterans who have been through many playoff battles.
To win big, the new way is to go old.
"We call it experience," president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said. "These guys have been down in the trenches and been through everything in the playoffs. And we really want to make the most of this window of opportunity we have.
"These guys know how to win."
Shawn Marion is 31. He has joined Dirk Nowitzki, who is the same age, and Jason Kidd, who is 36. Josh Howard will join the 30 set next season. Jason Terry is 31.
It's a fine line, of course. Teams that have old players sometimes are just old teams. But if they have the right "mature" players, coupled with some vibrant young players, it can be a perfect mixture.
And the veterans invariably are the heavy lifters.
Boston is the poster child for teams that have gone with 30-something players to make championship runs.
The Celtics traded for Kevin Garnett after he'd put in more than a decade at Minnesota. And by the way, the only time he'd gotten as far as the Western Conference finals with the Timberwolves, he had a 34-year-old sidekick in Sam Cassell.
But when Garnett got to Boston with fellow post-30 players Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, a title magically appeared.
And then there are the Spurs, who have been at their best since Tim Duncan aged gracefully. Even at 33, he and the Spurs are considered serious title threats in the coming season. Duncan always had Bruce Bowen, who wasn't even young when he was young. The Spurs even brought in Michael Finley in his post-prime years and manufactured another title.
Even the Los Angeles Lakers have subscribed to this theory – to a point. Kobe Bryant turned 30 last season and won his first title while not playing with anybody named Shaq.
The Lakers also had 34-year-old Derek Fisher as the steady hand helping them through troubled times.
Of course, the argument can be made that great players, young or old, win championships. But rare is the team that makes it to the NBA Finals behind a 24-year-old star, as Orlando did this year with Dwight Howard – who, by the way, had 30-year-old Hedo Turkoglu at his side.
Another reason the best teams nowadays are built around 30-something players is that a lot of players who recently entered the league haven't had the impact many expected.
The drafts haven't produced loads of franchise players, outside of LeBron James, Howard and Dwyane Wade. Or they have gone to teams that were too far down to be quickly resurrected.
And lest we forget, Wade won his title in 2006 with the help of a 34-year-old Shaquille O'Neal, and Cleveland saw fit to bring in a 37-year-old O'Neal to help James next season.
In the Mavericks' case, having Jason Kidd has helped.
"Getting Kidd back was the linchpin to everything else happening," Nelson said. "All the free agents we went after, one of the first things they wanted to know was if Jason was coming back. Everybody wants to play with a great quarterback."
Even one who's 36.
In these times, especially one who's 36.
Briefly: The Mavericks made it official Saturday with Jason Kidd, signing him to a three-year contract worth in excess of $25 million. Kidd had agreed to the deal Wednesday. … The Mavericks opened play in the Las Vegas Summer League on Friday with a 65-59 loss to Milwaukee. Second-round draftee Ahmad Nivins led the Mavs with 19 points.