duncan228
09-06-2009, 12:50 PM
Balanced Mavs' hopes likely rest on shoulders of one man (http://www.probasketballnews.com/story/?storyid=716)
By Tony Mejia
Pro Basketball News
Editor's note: This is the fifth of PBN's 2009-10 season previews, in which we analyze all 30 teams in 30 days.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (50-32)
How it ended: Dallas felt its way through March before really finding a groove under first-year coach Rick Carlisle, winding up with a No. 6 seed after closing the season with wins in five of six. The injury-plagued Spurs fell victim to the Mavs' hot play, but Denver was more fortunate, dispatching Mark Cuban's squad in six thanks in part to some help from the zebras.
Coach: Carlisle got plenty accomplished in his first season in Dallas, completing the primary objective of coaxing improvement out of a veteran squad while getting them comfortable with his sets and philosophies. As desired, the Mavs got stronger as the season progressed and got hot at the right time. Carlisle won 50 games with his third different team, doing so for the first time since his debut season in Indiana ('03-'04).
Arrivals: F Shawn Marion, F/C Drew Gooden, F Tim Thomas, F Kris Humphries, C Nathan Jawai, G Quinton Ross, G Roddy Beaubois
Departures: G Antoine Wright, G Jerry Stackhouse, F Devean George
Projected starters: F Shawn Marion, F Dirk Nowitzki, C Erick Dampier, G Jason Kidd, G/F Josh Howard.
Position battles: With Marion on board and Jason Terry ticketed for big minutes off the bench, Howard could see the bulk of his minutes trying to stay with two guards, likely sliding over to fill Wright's vacancy in the starting five. J.J. Barea will have to hold off Beaubois' charge once the French rookie gets acclimated to the NBA game. Specialists Ross and Matt Carroll will compete for scrap minutes, likely depending on the situation.
Chemistry experiment: Kidd and Nowitzki wound up understanding one another quite nicely, so now it's time to see how Marion fits into the mix. Getting him and Howard to complement one another will be a major objective for Carlisle, as will balancing their minutes to ensure both remain content while he also making room for Terry's contributions. Gooden is expected to see a lot of time playing at center, which isn't his natural position.
Best case: Kidd and Nowitzki continue their prosperous union, Marion proves to have been storing energy the past few seasons and reclaims his spot as one of the NBA's most versatile defenders, joining Howard in making life miserable for opposing wings. Dampier and his advantageous contract is moved for another high-caliber piece, giving the Mavs the necessary firepower to challenge L.A.
Worst case: Age catches up to the Mavericks, who prove a step slow and a little too far past their prime to be taken seriously as anything other than first-round fodder. The Marion experiment, which Dallas is on the hook for the next few years, fails miserably.
Prediction: The key to Dallas' fortunes is Howard, no surprise given how much prosperity his team has seen when he performs well. If Carlisle finds a way to get the most out of him, a Southwest Division title and top-three seed is possible. If the Mavs are forced to move him or if he struggles, their streak of consecutive 50-win seasons won't reach 10, though the run of playoff appearances will.
By Tony Mejia
Pro Basketball News
Editor's note: This is the fifth of PBN's 2009-10 season previews, in which we analyze all 30 teams in 30 days.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (50-32)
How it ended: Dallas felt its way through March before really finding a groove under first-year coach Rick Carlisle, winding up with a No. 6 seed after closing the season with wins in five of six. The injury-plagued Spurs fell victim to the Mavs' hot play, but Denver was more fortunate, dispatching Mark Cuban's squad in six thanks in part to some help from the zebras.
Coach: Carlisle got plenty accomplished in his first season in Dallas, completing the primary objective of coaxing improvement out of a veteran squad while getting them comfortable with his sets and philosophies. As desired, the Mavs got stronger as the season progressed and got hot at the right time. Carlisle won 50 games with his third different team, doing so for the first time since his debut season in Indiana ('03-'04).
Arrivals: F Shawn Marion, F/C Drew Gooden, F Tim Thomas, F Kris Humphries, C Nathan Jawai, G Quinton Ross, G Roddy Beaubois
Departures: G Antoine Wright, G Jerry Stackhouse, F Devean George
Projected starters: F Shawn Marion, F Dirk Nowitzki, C Erick Dampier, G Jason Kidd, G/F Josh Howard.
Position battles: With Marion on board and Jason Terry ticketed for big minutes off the bench, Howard could see the bulk of his minutes trying to stay with two guards, likely sliding over to fill Wright's vacancy in the starting five. J.J. Barea will have to hold off Beaubois' charge once the French rookie gets acclimated to the NBA game. Specialists Ross and Matt Carroll will compete for scrap minutes, likely depending on the situation.
Chemistry experiment: Kidd and Nowitzki wound up understanding one another quite nicely, so now it's time to see how Marion fits into the mix. Getting him and Howard to complement one another will be a major objective for Carlisle, as will balancing their minutes to ensure both remain content while he also making room for Terry's contributions. Gooden is expected to see a lot of time playing at center, which isn't his natural position.
Best case: Kidd and Nowitzki continue their prosperous union, Marion proves to have been storing energy the past few seasons and reclaims his spot as one of the NBA's most versatile defenders, joining Howard in making life miserable for opposing wings. Dampier and his advantageous contract is moved for another high-caliber piece, giving the Mavs the necessary firepower to challenge L.A.
Worst case: Age catches up to the Mavericks, who prove a step slow and a little too far past their prime to be taken seriously as anything other than first-round fodder. The Marion experiment, which Dallas is on the hook for the next few years, fails miserably.
Prediction: The key to Dallas' fortunes is Howard, no surprise given how much prosperity his team has seen when he performs well. If Carlisle finds a way to get the most out of him, a Southwest Division title and top-three seed is possible. If the Mavs are forced to move him or if he struggles, their streak of consecutive 50-win seasons won't reach 10, though the run of playoff appearances will.