duncan228
09-25-2010, 09:52 PM
Dallas Mavericks' improved depth makes them a contender, Mark Cuban says (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/092610dnspomavslede.1ff91aa.html)
By Eddie Sefko / The Dallas Morning News
Mark Cuban can rattle off a handful of reasons the Mavericks should be taken seriously as Western Conference threats this season.
Some are legit. Some tilt a bit toward hyperbole. All make sense in the owner's head.
But only one of them represents a potentially significant change from the industrial-sized disappointment with the way last season ended.
Cuban believes – no, he insists – that the Mavericks will have the best collection of backup players in the NBA this season. And there is no question in his mind what kind of difference that can make.
"Our second unit really couldn't win games for us last year," Cuban said. "If you look at teams like San Antonio and Phoenix, their second units won games. We're going to be deep at all positions. People say, well, what difference is the ninth or 10th man on the team?
"Depth matters, and it's going to be a big difference for us. You're going to see us put pressure on teams early because we have depth. We'll have a much stronger second unit. In the playoffs, who beat us? It was George Hill. It wasn't Tony Parker."
Clearly, the owner's pulse still pumps Maverick blue through his veins. The memory of San Antonio's Hill blitzing his team in the playoffs the same way Goran Dragic did for Phoenix against Portland, the Spurs and the Lakers can have a powerful impact.
But in this case, it isn't clouding Cuban's judgment. He's right about his team. Their second group – which likely will include Jason Terry , Shawn Marion , Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea, plus either Roddy Beaubois or rookie Dominique Jones – has to be a cornerstone, or this team will struggle.
Of course, players such as Terry, Barea and Marion will have to play better than they did last season.
For Cuban, a topic such as the Mavericks' depth is what gets him going. Owning the team continues to be one of the most fun things he does. It gets his mind off of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the rest of real life.
While coach Rick Carlisle's job will be to stress defense above all else when training camp opens Tuesday, he and Cuban both know that the Mavericks' depth will have to be a crucial asset if they are to make this season and the ensuing presumed playoff run better than the last one.
Success by the reserves will have a big trickle-down effect, Cuban said. Or maybe a trickle-up effect on first-team anchors Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd.
"I think people are going to like the toughness we have and how hard we play," he said. "Last year, we had to keep something in reserve. Dirk and J-Kidd had to reserve something for the end of the game. I don't see that happening this year, if we get our second unit going – which I'm sure we will. Our second unit is going to be better than a third of the first teams in the league, if not more."
But enough with the hyperbole.
Cuban sat down for a lengthy interview about the hopes and dreams and issues confronting the Mavericks heading into the preseason. A few of the highlights:
• "Tyson Chandler was the vocal leader of Team USA ," Cuban said. "And watching him scrimmage, he looks great. We expect him to be very vocal. Not to the Kevin Garnett level, but vocal – especially with our young centers."
• "Another thing people will notice now is that Caron Butler has a 6-pack now instead of a 1-pack. I used to give him a hard time that you're not allowed to be chubbier than the owner. But he blew me away. I got to get to the gym.
"Literally, you can see his abs. We're going to have to change up our Old Spice commercial we do with him. Caron Butler's not only on the horse. He is the horse."
• "I'm a big believer in the theory that players in the final year of their contract are good to have [the Mavericks have several]. It's not that they wouldn't play hard otherwise. It just keeps them a little more focused, because every time they go home or talk to their friends, it's on their minds.
"When you have mature players, it works. When you have immature players, it doesn't work. And we've got a lot of smart players."
• "Drafting No. 25 is a lucky spot for us. Dominique Jones is going to help us. Yeah he will [be in the rotation]. Defensively, if nothing else. He defends, and he's smart. The guy works really hard. This guy is driven. Dominique Jones' goal is to be an all-star. He's been here all summer working. He's got the physical talent. And he knows that [fearlessness] is the chip on his shoulder."
By Eddie Sefko / The Dallas Morning News
Mark Cuban can rattle off a handful of reasons the Mavericks should be taken seriously as Western Conference threats this season.
Some are legit. Some tilt a bit toward hyperbole. All make sense in the owner's head.
But only one of them represents a potentially significant change from the industrial-sized disappointment with the way last season ended.
Cuban believes – no, he insists – that the Mavericks will have the best collection of backup players in the NBA this season. And there is no question in his mind what kind of difference that can make.
"Our second unit really couldn't win games for us last year," Cuban said. "If you look at teams like San Antonio and Phoenix, their second units won games. We're going to be deep at all positions. People say, well, what difference is the ninth or 10th man on the team?
"Depth matters, and it's going to be a big difference for us. You're going to see us put pressure on teams early because we have depth. We'll have a much stronger second unit. In the playoffs, who beat us? It was George Hill. It wasn't Tony Parker."
Clearly, the owner's pulse still pumps Maverick blue through his veins. The memory of San Antonio's Hill blitzing his team in the playoffs the same way Goran Dragic did for Phoenix against Portland, the Spurs and the Lakers can have a powerful impact.
But in this case, it isn't clouding Cuban's judgment. He's right about his team. Their second group – which likely will include Jason Terry , Shawn Marion , Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea, plus either Roddy Beaubois or rookie Dominique Jones – has to be a cornerstone, or this team will struggle.
Of course, players such as Terry, Barea and Marion will have to play better than they did last season.
For Cuban, a topic such as the Mavericks' depth is what gets him going. Owning the team continues to be one of the most fun things he does. It gets his mind off of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the rest of real life.
While coach Rick Carlisle's job will be to stress defense above all else when training camp opens Tuesday, he and Cuban both know that the Mavericks' depth will have to be a crucial asset if they are to make this season and the ensuing presumed playoff run better than the last one.
Success by the reserves will have a big trickle-down effect, Cuban said. Or maybe a trickle-up effect on first-team anchors Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd.
"I think people are going to like the toughness we have and how hard we play," he said. "Last year, we had to keep something in reserve. Dirk and J-Kidd had to reserve something for the end of the game. I don't see that happening this year, if we get our second unit going – which I'm sure we will. Our second unit is going to be better than a third of the first teams in the league, if not more."
But enough with the hyperbole.
Cuban sat down for a lengthy interview about the hopes and dreams and issues confronting the Mavericks heading into the preseason. A few of the highlights:
• "Tyson Chandler was the vocal leader of Team USA ," Cuban said. "And watching him scrimmage, he looks great. We expect him to be very vocal. Not to the Kevin Garnett level, but vocal – especially with our young centers."
• "Another thing people will notice now is that Caron Butler has a 6-pack now instead of a 1-pack. I used to give him a hard time that you're not allowed to be chubbier than the owner. But he blew me away. I got to get to the gym.
"Literally, you can see his abs. We're going to have to change up our Old Spice commercial we do with him. Caron Butler's not only on the horse. He is the horse."
• "I'm a big believer in the theory that players in the final year of their contract are good to have [the Mavericks have several]. It's not that they wouldn't play hard otherwise. It just keeps them a little more focused, because every time they go home or talk to their friends, it's on their minds.
"When you have mature players, it works. When you have immature players, it doesn't work. And we've got a lot of smart players."
• "Drafting No. 25 is a lucky spot for us. Dominique Jones is going to help us. Yeah he will [be in the rotation]. Defensively, if nothing else. He defends, and he's smart. The guy works really hard. This guy is driven. Dominique Jones' goal is to be an all-star. He's been here all summer working. He's got the physical talent. And he knows that [fearlessness] is the chip on his shoulder."