spurscenter
12-09-2007, 02:03 AM
sorry if posted already.
http://sportsatrandom.com/uploaded_images/Pix017-724957.jpg
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/ksherrington/stories/120807dnsposherrington.2af2710.html
Avery's headed for blowup ... soon
If you listen closely to Avery Johnson, you'll know what he really thinks about his Mavs.
Never mind quotes like "the men are up for the challenge" after they surrendered 122 to the Nuggets.
Stand close enough to the General, who vowed to back off this season, and you can hear what's really going on.
Tick ... Tick ... Tick ... Tick ...
If the Mavs' current pace holds, I've got Jan. 2 in the pool. Golden State. A dozen more games of this latest schlock, and Johnson blows.
Hey, Donnie Nelson: If that doesn't help, either, how long before you blow this up?
"We don't want to overreact," the Mavs' president cautioned. "When you make decisions, you have to make them for the right reasons."
Winning is a pretty good reason. How about that one?
Maybe you remember when the Mavs won fairly regularly. Of course, that's one of the problems. They tell us we're spoiled.
The Mavs are 12-8 going into tonight's game against Utah, which isn't so awful until you consider they were 35-8 at one point last season.
Unless you think these guys are capable of reeling off 23 straight, the Mavs aren't going to get back to 67 wins, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Before the Mavs flamed out in the first round against Golden State, they probably burned up during the regular season.
But at the quarter mark, they're on a pace for 48. Surely there's some middle ground here, isn't there? What's the problem? Is this a hangover from last season's playoffs?
From the last two playoffs?
Nelson says no, but if not, then what? Making Jason Terry the sixth man? Frankly, that made so much sense I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't think of it. He'll go back to the role when everyone's healthy. As for personnel adjustments, though, that about does it. The Mavs made none that should require a long period of transition.
Basically, the big off-season move was the acquisition of 36-year-old Eddie Jones. Now, I like Eddie Jones. He's a team player, good defender and one of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history.
Since he's joined the Mavs, he's at best 1-for-3 on his resume. A bum ankle has limited him to five games.
Even when he's healthy, though, how much could Eddie Jones mean?
Said Nelson: "The whole team is struggling right now."
If it isn't Dirk Nowitzki taking a paltry 11 shots and missing the last one in a loss to the Spurs, it's Devin Harris shooting 30.9 percent in his last five.
First, let's consider Nowitzki. If any other scorer in the league goes in a slump, he shoots himself out. Nowitzki won't do that. Too deferential. He'd hold the door for a burglar.
But now is no time to knock Nowitzki, and not just because he lit up the Nuggets for a season-high 32. In fact, we've come to expect too much of him. He's a great, unselfish player constantly asked to add to his repertoire.
Here's what Nowitzki really needs: a point guard.
Consider what he's had. As Nelson put it, when Nowitzki played basketball with his buddy, Steve Nash, "Life was easy."
And now that he has to work so hard for his shot? Not so easy.
No one expects Harris to be another Nash. Just as you should expect from Nowitzki only what he can deliver, the same goes for Harris.
He'll never be a great passer or shooter, probably. He's incredibly quick, an excellent defender and fearless going to the rim.
But he's never going to get there if he doesn't start making some midrange jumpers or floaters in the lane.
Frankly, I'm not so sure he's Johnson's kind of point guard. Jason Kidd probably is, and you hear he might be available.
But at what cost? Josh Howard may have to be included in any deal. Kidd is also 34 and not quite the defender he used to be.
Even if you like the idea, now is no time to panic, as Nelson correctly noted. If you try to deal when you're struggling, you do so from a position of weakness, hurting your leverage.
Until the trade deadline in a couple of months, the Mavs can only hope Jones gives them something, Harris converts a few 5-footers and Nowitzki returns to form. If it's none of the above, it's going to get even uglier, and not just because the coach went to pieces.
http://www.spursdynasty.com/uploaded_images/avery_dejected-762501.jpg
Im about to blow up on this mofo
http://givemetherock.com/images/mavericks/avery_johnson_professor_x.jpg
http://sportsatrandom.com/uploaded_images/Pix017-724957.jpg
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/ksherrington/stories/120807dnsposherrington.2af2710.html
Avery's headed for blowup ... soon
If you listen closely to Avery Johnson, you'll know what he really thinks about his Mavs.
Never mind quotes like "the men are up for the challenge" after they surrendered 122 to the Nuggets.
Stand close enough to the General, who vowed to back off this season, and you can hear what's really going on.
Tick ... Tick ... Tick ... Tick ...
If the Mavs' current pace holds, I've got Jan. 2 in the pool. Golden State. A dozen more games of this latest schlock, and Johnson blows.
Hey, Donnie Nelson: If that doesn't help, either, how long before you blow this up?
"We don't want to overreact," the Mavs' president cautioned. "When you make decisions, you have to make them for the right reasons."
Winning is a pretty good reason. How about that one?
Maybe you remember when the Mavs won fairly regularly. Of course, that's one of the problems. They tell us we're spoiled.
The Mavs are 12-8 going into tonight's game against Utah, which isn't so awful until you consider they were 35-8 at one point last season.
Unless you think these guys are capable of reeling off 23 straight, the Mavs aren't going to get back to 67 wins, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Before the Mavs flamed out in the first round against Golden State, they probably burned up during the regular season.
But at the quarter mark, they're on a pace for 48. Surely there's some middle ground here, isn't there? What's the problem? Is this a hangover from last season's playoffs?
From the last two playoffs?
Nelson says no, but if not, then what? Making Jason Terry the sixth man? Frankly, that made so much sense I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't think of it. He'll go back to the role when everyone's healthy. As for personnel adjustments, though, that about does it. The Mavs made none that should require a long period of transition.
Basically, the big off-season move was the acquisition of 36-year-old Eddie Jones. Now, I like Eddie Jones. He's a team player, good defender and one of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history.
Since he's joined the Mavs, he's at best 1-for-3 on his resume. A bum ankle has limited him to five games.
Even when he's healthy, though, how much could Eddie Jones mean?
Said Nelson: "The whole team is struggling right now."
If it isn't Dirk Nowitzki taking a paltry 11 shots and missing the last one in a loss to the Spurs, it's Devin Harris shooting 30.9 percent in his last five.
First, let's consider Nowitzki. If any other scorer in the league goes in a slump, he shoots himself out. Nowitzki won't do that. Too deferential. He'd hold the door for a burglar.
But now is no time to knock Nowitzki, and not just because he lit up the Nuggets for a season-high 32. In fact, we've come to expect too much of him. He's a great, unselfish player constantly asked to add to his repertoire.
Here's what Nowitzki really needs: a point guard.
Consider what he's had. As Nelson put it, when Nowitzki played basketball with his buddy, Steve Nash, "Life was easy."
And now that he has to work so hard for his shot? Not so easy.
No one expects Harris to be another Nash. Just as you should expect from Nowitzki only what he can deliver, the same goes for Harris.
He'll never be a great passer or shooter, probably. He's incredibly quick, an excellent defender and fearless going to the rim.
But he's never going to get there if he doesn't start making some midrange jumpers or floaters in the lane.
Frankly, I'm not so sure he's Johnson's kind of point guard. Jason Kidd probably is, and you hear he might be available.
But at what cost? Josh Howard may have to be included in any deal. Kidd is also 34 and not quite the defender he used to be.
Even if you like the idea, now is no time to panic, as Nelson correctly noted. If you try to deal when you're struggling, you do so from a position of weakness, hurting your leverage.
Until the trade deadline in a couple of months, the Mavs can only hope Jones gives them something, Harris converts a few 5-footers and Nowitzki returns to form. If it's none of the above, it's going to get even uglier, and not just because the coach went to pieces.
http://www.spursdynasty.com/uploaded_images/avery_dejected-762501.jpg
Im about to blow up on this mofo
http://givemetherock.com/images/mavericks/avery_johnson_professor_x.jpg