Ashy Larry
09-24-2010, 09:52 AM
2010-11 Dallas Mavericks Season Preview – Today, Contenders … Again
With less than a week until training camp opens, it’s that time of year again. With the fading of the summer’s heat comes the inevitable springing of Season Previews across the NBA landscape. Right now, unless you’re, say, the Timberwolves, hope leaps and calls full of life and promise.
That’s the case with the Dallas Mavericks … as of today, contenders … again.
Today, the Lakers are getting old, the Celtics don’t have enough left for one more run, and the Heat have yet to prove they can play together … or so say the hopes of all opposing teams. Today, your team is right there with them all. Today, almost every team is a contender.
As free agency began we posed questions on where the weaknesses may lay in this roster. At that time, backup point guard, backup power forward and bench scoring were the home of lingering questions. With the re-retirement of Tim Thomas, it is there the questions remain … and with Roddy Beaubois’ injury, another old concern has crept back into our consciousness: Shooting guard.
Should you want to play the “if” game, no team is immune. The Mavs have weaknesses just as they have strengths.
“If”…Dirk can play at or near his recent levels…Caron Butler can rebound from an off year…Roddy can be that dynamic scorer from the 2-guard…Terry can return to “Sixth Man of the Year” form…Tyson Chandler can stay healthy…Haywood can stay motivated…Kidd can continue to defy his age…Dominique Jones can be a contributor…Carlisle can trust and deploy his depth…
If these things can happen, then the Mavs will be contenders. It’s easy to find and ask these questions of the team we all invest so much time in. But, these are questions that can be applied to every team in one form or another.
“If”…Kobe can stay healthy and play at or near his recent levels…Artest can rebound from what was mostly a disappointing year…Derek Fisher can defy his age and remain effective at opportune moments…Steve Blake can perform as well as or better than Jordan Farmar…Bynum can get and stay healthy…Caracter can make an impact from the bench…Odom doesn’t show fatigue after heavy minutes in the FIBA tournament…Matt Barnes can mesh with an already established rotation…
While teams like the Spurs, Lakers and Celtics can find solace in the fact that they’ve reached their goals in the recent past, the Mavs are without similar comfort. Last season ended far earlier than expectations lead. With that disappoint comes the justifiable concerns over a team that remained primarily unchanged. Still, though the changes may be considered “minor,” they have the potential to have a significant impact.
Erick Dampier was replaced by Tyson Chandler. Matt Carroll was essentially replaced by DoJo. Tim Thomas is out while Ian Mahinmi is in. Eduardo Najera is now Alexis Ajinca … at least for the moment.
Clearly, the most significant change is the severing of ties with incumbent starting center Erick Dampier, who will be replaced by Brendan Haywood as the starter … with Chandler completing the primary center rotation. It remains to be seen how this tandem will compete in Dallas, but both would seem to be an upgraded fit for this roster than Dampier.
Both are capable of defending the quicker, more athletic centers of the modern NBA. Both, especially Chandler, are more apt to be a strong offensive presence in transition. By comparison, both have shown a much higher capacity for defending the pick-and-roll. And, on a team defensively prone to penetration from the guard positions, both are much more fleet-of-foot for the purposes of help defense and rotations. In short, as a duo they are significantly more suited for the modern game than Dampier now is.
The next change comes from the absence of the “victory cigar” Matt Carroll … if he was in, one team or the other was already celebrating a win … and the presence of Dominique Jones. On paper, and on the court, these players could not be greater opposites.
Carroll earned his contract for a skill he never displayed in a Dallas uniform, proficient shooting from behind the arc. This was his single dimension of supposed strength, yet his only real contribution to the team was having a more attractive contract than DeSagana Diop. He was not a strong defender or gifted creator, and he struggled to find his stroke in Dallas; shooting only 18.5 percent from 3-point range as a Mav.
Meanwhile, DoJo is not known to have a great outside shot. Yet, he is a gifted on-man defender, as we caught a glimpse of against John Wall in Vegas, and he thrives when creating and attacking the rim. He will only be a rookie, and most will cite Roddy’s struggle for minutes regardless of production last season to rationalize harboring some hesitancy over how much Carlisle will allow him to see the court. Yet, his ceiling hangs high beyond the reach of Carroll’s, while his floor can sink no lower.
There’s also the fact that DoJo’s situation is not similar to Roddy’s upon his arrival here. DoJo will not have his communication hampered by the need to learn a new language. He has grown up in and around the American version of basketball … as well as playing the positions he will be asked to play. He carries the gift of an NBA ready body, and has likely seen a higher level of relevant competition.
There are enough variances between the two’s situation to admit that we don’t yet know how Carlisle will treat him DoJo.
One change that is likely a negative is the loss of Najera. Ajinca seems bound to don a jersey other than Dallas’s. Even if he stays, it’s safe to doubt he has the experience, disposition and/or knowledge to fill the role Najera did so well.
Eduardo would never be mistaken for the most physically gifted player on the court, but there’s little doubt he held the ability to change games. He acted as an enforcer, as seen in the Spurs series, which few others on this roster have shown a proclivity towards doing … outside of the sparingly used DeShawn Stevenson.
One internal change that could resonate loudly throughout the course of the season is the intention to move Roddy Beaubois into the starting SG role. Obviously, this is delayed by the injury to his foot, but the motivation remains. If Roddy can provide the same electric ability to score beside Kidd as we saw last year in gusts, this could be a game changer.
Roddy’s scoring rate of 20.4 points per 36 minutes last season was second only to Dirk Nowitzki’s 24 on the Mavs, putting him ahead of Terry’s 18.1 or Butler’s 15.9.
His 18.5 PER is again second only to Dirk’s 22.9.
A repeat performance remains far from a certainty, but the potential is for something this team has missed since Michael Finley’s departure … a pure scorer at the 2-guard. Roddy could also address a somewhat unique circumstance to the Mavs, the need for a SG capable of defending opposing PGs and thus allowing the Mavs to protect Jason Kidd from having to defend players much quicker than him.
While noting the positives of that, you must also note that Roddy struggled as a team defender in his rookie campaign, particularly with the fighting through or around picks. We remember the highlight blocks, but tend to forget how his blunders. Without growth, these mistakes could hurt the Mavs as much as his ability to allow Kidd to defend SGs helps them.
The changes may not have been earth shattering, and LeBron isn’t playing for the Mavs, but there are reasons for hope with the current roster. There’s also the promise of assets yet to be used. It’s been well chronicled that Dallas harbors just over $29 million worth of expiring contracts and a willingness to use them.
As fans all we can ask for is a chance to compete, and the Mavs are one of the few teams that have put themselves in position to do so. Whether or not you support a history of Mavs Management decisions, it’s hard to deny the encouraging strides that began with the deal bringing in Shawn Marion. Where this road leads remains to be seen and tomorrow may carry concern or disappointment … but for today there is reason for hope.
Today, the Mavs are a contender … of course, so is almost everyone else.
http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/09/22/10/2010-11-Dallas-Mavericks-Season-Preview-/landing_mavericks.html?blockID=315973&feedID=3628
With less than a week until training camp opens, it’s that time of year again. With the fading of the summer’s heat comes the inevitable springing of Season Previews across the NBA landscape. Right now, unless you’re, say, the Timberwolves, hope leaps and calls full of life and promise.
That’s the case with the Dallas Mavericks … as of today, contenders … again.
Today, the Lakers are getting old, the Celtics don’t have enough left for one more run, and the Heat have yet to prove they can play together … or so say the hopes of all opposing teams. Today, your team is right there with them all. Today, almost every team is a contender.
As free agency began we posed questions on where the weaknesses may lay in this roster. At that time, backup point guard, backup power forward and bench scoring were the home of lingering questions. With the re-retirement of Tim Thomas, it is there the questions remain … and with Roddy Beaubois’ injury, another old concern has crept back into our consciousness: Shooting guard.
Should you want to play the “if” game, no team is immune. The Mavs have weaknesses just as they have strengths.
“If”…Dirk can play at or near his recent levels…Caron Butler can rebound from an off year…Roddy can be that dynamic scorer from the 2-guard…Terry can return to “Sixth Man of the Year” form…Tyson Chandler can stay healthy…Haywood can stay motivated…Kidd can continue to defy his age…Dominique Jones can be a contributor…Carlisle can trust and deploy his depth…
If these things can happen, then the Mavs will be contenders. It’s easy to find and ask these questions of the team we all invest so much time in. But, these are questions that can be applied to every team in one form or another.
“If”…Kobe can stay healthy and play at or near his recent levels…Artest can rebound from what was mostly a disappointing year…Derek Fisher can defy his age and remain effective at opportune moments…Steve Blake can perform as well as or better than Jordan Farmar…Bynum can get and stay healthy…Caracter can make an impact from the bench…Odom doesn’t show fatigue after heavy minutes in the FIBA tournament…Matt Barnes can mesh with an already established rotation…
While teams like the Spurs, Lakers and Celtics can find solace in the fact that they’ve reached their goals in the recent past, the Mavs are without similar comfort. Last season ended far earlier than expectations lead. With that disappoint comes the justifiable concerns over a team that remained primarily unchanged. Still, though the changes may be considered “minor,” they have the potential to have a significant impact.
Erick Dampier was replaced by Tyson Chandler. Matt Carroll was essentially replaced by DoJo. Tim Thomas is out while Ian Mahinmi is in. Eduardo Najera is now Alexis Ajinca … at least for the moment.
Clearly, the most significant change is the severing of ties with incumbent starting center Erick Dampier, who will be replaced by Brendan Haywood as the starter … with Chandler completing the primary center rotation. It remains to be seen how this tandem will compete in Dallas, but both would seem to be an upgraded fit for this roster than Dampier.
Both are capable of defending the quicker, more athletic centers of the modern NBA. Both, especially Chandler, are more apt to be a strong offensive presence in transition. By comparison, both have shown a much higher capacity for defending the pick-and-roll. And, on a team defensively prone to penetration from the guard positions, both are much more fleet-of-foot for the purposes of help defense and rotations. In short, as a duo they are significantly more suited for the modern game than Dampier now is.
The next change comes from the absence of the “victory cigar” Matt Carroll … if he was in, one team or the other was already celebrating a win … and the presence of Dominique Jones. On paper, and on the court, these players could not be greater opposites.
Carroll earned his contract for a skill he never displayed in a Dallas uniform, proficient shooting from behind the arc. This was his single dimension of supposed strength, yet his only real contribution to the team was having a more attractive contract than DeSagana Diop. He was not a strong defender or gifted creator, and he struggled to find his stroke in Dallas; shooting only 18.5 percent from 3-point range as a Mav.
Meanwhile, DoJo is not known to have a great outside shot. Yet, he is a gifted on-man defender, as we caught a glimpse of against John Wall in Vegas, and he thrives when creating and attacking the rim. He will only be a rookie, and most will cite Roddy’s struggle for minutes regardless of production last season to rationalize harboring some hesitancy over how much Carlisle will allow him to see the court. Yet, his ceiling hangs high beyond the reach of Carroll’s, while his floor can sink no lower.
There’s also the fact that DoJo’s situation is not similar to Roddy’s upon his arrival here. DoJo will not have his communication hampered by the need to learn a new language. He has grown up in and around the American version of basketball … as well as playing the positions he will be asked to play. He carries the gift of an NBA ready body, and has likely seen a higher level of relevant competition.
There are enough variances between the two’s situation to admit that we don’t yet know how Carlisle will treat him DoJo.
One change that is likely a negative is the loss of Najera. Ajinca seems bound to don a jersey other than Dallas’s. Even if he stays, it’s safe to doubt he has the experience, disposition and/or knowledge to fill the role Najera did so well.
Eduardo would never be mistaken for the most physically gifted player on the court, but there’s little doubt he held the ability to change games. He acted as an enforcer, as seen in the Spurs series, which few others on this roster have shown a proclivity towards doing … outside of the sparingly used DeShawn Stevenson.
One internal change that could resonate loudly throughout the course of the season is the intention to move Roddy Beaubois into the starting SG role. Obviously, this is delayed by the injury to his foot, but the motivation remains. If Roddy can provide the same electric ability to score beside Kidd as we saw last year in gusts, this could be a game changer.
Roddy’s scoring rate of 20.4 points per 36 minutes last season was second only to Dirk Nowitzki’s 24 on the Mavs, putting him ahead of Terry’s 18.1 or Butler’s 15.9.
His 18.5 PER is again second only to Dirk’s 22.9.
A repeat performance remains far from a certainty, but the potential is for something this team has missed since Michael Finley’s departure … a pure scorer at the 2-guard. Roddy could also address a somewhat unique circumstance to the Mavs, the need for a SG capable of defending opposing PGs and thus allowing the Mavs to protect Jason Kidd from having to defend players much quicker than him.
While noting the positives of that, you must also note that Roddy struggled as a team defender in his rookie campaign, particularly with the fighting through or around picks. We remember the highlight blocks, but tend to forget how his blunders. Without growth, these mistakes could hurt the Mavs as much as his ability to allow Kidd to defend SGs helps them.
The changes may not have been earth shattering, and LeBron isn’t playing for the Mavs, but there are reasons for hope with the current roster. There’s also the promise of assets yet to be used. It’s been well chronicled that Dallas harbors just over $29 million worth of expiring contracts and a willingness to use them.
As fans all we can ask for is a chance to compete, and the Mavs are one of the few teams that have put themselves in position to do so. Whether or not you support a history of Mavs Management decisions, it’s hard to deny the encouraging strides that began with the deal bringing in Shawn Marion. Where this road leads remains to be seen and tomorrow may carry concern or disappointment … but for today there is reason for hope.
Today, the Mavs are a contender … of course, so is almost everyone else.
http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/09/22/10/2010-11-Dallas-Mavericks-Season-Preview-/landing_mavericks.html?blockID=315973&feedID=3628