Mavs @ Blazers Game Thread

[The Nba Is Rigged]

I in hate Mavericks Basketball.

[ElNono]

Ok, so on April 13, 2008, AI was better than Kidd.

AI is just his generation's Pete Maravich. I thought as a Spurs fan you would appreciate the defensive side of the equation. Nobody can guard CP3 or Deron, Kidd or anybody else. But I have to give a huge edge to Kidd on D.

I can't. He's got a bigger body, which helps, but if you've been watching, he does the best defensive work with steals and playing the passing lanes.
This is not the '03 Kidd. He can't stay In front of people anymore, just like he lost his step driving to the basket.

And while I do appreciate defense, AI is just too good on offense. We got a wakeup call on the first round of the playoffs last year. We had to put Bowen on him, and double team at times because he would simply kill you. Plus he was guarding Bowen, which gave the Nugs an automatic +20 or so when he was on the floor. The guy is a monster, and let me remind you that while he might not be a great one on one defender, he has been top 5 in the league for steals in the last 6 years or more.
The Nugs are not very good because Melo's BB IQ is terrible, their coach is terrible, and if they didn't have Najera and Camby chucking treys AI assists would look a lot better.

[Findog]

I can't. He's got a bigger body, which helps, but if you've been watching, he does the best defensive work with steals and playing the passing lanes.
This is not the '03 Kidd. He can't stay In front of people anymore, just like he lost his step driving to the basket.

And while I do appreciate defense, AI is just too good on offense. We got a wakeup call on the first round of the playoffs last year. We had to put Bowen on him, and double team at times because he would simply kill you. Plus he was guarding Bowen, which gave the Nugs an automatic +20 or so when he was on the floor. The guy is a monster, and let me remind you that while he might not be a great one on one defender, he has been top 5 in the league for steals in the last 6 years or more.
The Nugs are not very good because Melo's BB IQ is terrible, their coach is terrible, and if they didn't have Najera and Camby chucking treys AI assists would look a lot better.

I'm not trying to diss AI, I've always appreciated that he's a warrior who leaves everything out on the floor, and I agree he's surrounded by a bunch of assclowns. I just think he has his flaws.

[Shank]

Which PG would you rather have running your offense when the playoffs roll around and the game changes?

AI or Kidd?

[DaDakota]

Which PG would you rather have running your offense when the playoffs roll around and the game changes?

AI or Kidd?

Harris.

[stretch]

Harris.

GTFO

[ElNono]

Which PG would you rather have running your offense when the playoffs roll around and the game changes?

AI or Kidd?

I'll answer with a question: 15 seconds to go, season on the line, which lineup would you prefer out there?

AI - Terry - JHo - Dirk - Damp

or

Kidd - Terry - JHo - Dirk - Damp

What's Kidd going to do? He can't drive to the basket, he can't hit a shot to save his life. Compare to AI.
(And please, this assumes that Avery would play Kidd in such a situation)

To answer your question, when playoffs come around, the pace slows down, and the virtues of Kidd running a fast paced offense disappear. When that happens, you want a slasher to open up the lanes, and a shooter to knock the mid range J.

[Shank]

I'll answer with a question: 15 seconds to go, season on the line, which lineup would you prefer out there?

AI - Terry - JHo - Dirk - Damp

or

Kidd - Terry - JHo - Dirk - Damp

What's Kidd going to do? He can't drive to the basket, he can't hit a shot to save his life. Compare to AI.
(And please, this assumes that Avery would play Kidd in such a situation)

He's going to pass it to Dirk, who can make the shot. AI would ignore Dirk and try to take it all by himself.

[mavsfan1000]

I'll answer with a question: 15 seconds to go, season on the line, which lineup would you prefer out there?

AI - Terry - JHo - Dirk - Damp

or

Kidd - Terry - JHo - Dirk - Damp

What's Kidd going to do? He can't drive to the basket, he can't hit a shot to save his life. Compare to AI.
(And please, this assumes that Avery would play Kidd in such a situation)

To answer your question, when playoffs come around, the pace slows down, and the virtues of Kidd running a fast paced offense disappear. When that happens, you want a slasher to open up the lanes, and a shooter to knock the mid range J.

bingo

[monosylab1k]

bingo

Hi Bulls fan.

[ElNono]

He's going to pass it to Dirk, who can make the shot. AI would ignore Dirk and try to take it all by himself.

If Kidd is the one out there the whole world will collapse on Dirk and dare Kidd to take the shot. You can't do that with AI.

[DazedAndConfused]

AI is a classic example of a player who puts up crazy stats that have little effect on his team winning.

[Shank]

AI is a classic example of a player who puts up crazy stats that have little effect on his team winning.

Exactly. Amare Stoudamire Syndrome.

A.S.S.

[ElNono]

AI is a classic example of a player who puts up crazy stats that have little effect on his team winning.

It's funny you say that because Kobe was exactly that last year.

As Findog indicated, he's surrounded by assclowns. The only time he had a fairly decent coach and a relatively good surrounding cast he took the Sixers to the NBA finals.

If he had a Gasol around, and a Phil type of coach your perception of him would change a lot.

[Findog]

I don't think AI is selfish or a thug or any of the negative things said about him, but he IS a lot like Pete Maravich -- volume scorer who needs the ball to do anything positive, and there's not necessarily a correlation between him scoring and his team winning.

[stretch]

He's going to pass it to Dirk, who can make the shot. AI would ignore Dirk and try to take it all by himself.

That is exactly where the problem would lie. If Iverson knew when to defer at the right times as a true PG is supposed to do, then he could be so much better. At the same time, he has never really had an option like Dirk. I do wonder, and think that him and Dirk COULD be an amazing combo. At this stage in his career, I think he is more mature and willing to defer to someone like Dirk, as he is more interested in winning a le. But who knows?

Either way, we have Kidd, and I'm happy with this team. We just need to pick up a consistent athletic bench scorer for next year and we will be just fine. And hopefully with a full offseason, training camp, and regular season, Lue, Wright, and Magliore will be able to contribute more. I think this team is really going to be looking good for next year.

[Findog]

Truth be told, the way it's looking, it really didn't matter whether we made the trade or not. Everybody associated with this team is garbage except for Dirk. I like Kidd if we have the right personnel to run with him, but Coach Napoleon and a bunch of chuckers is not the best way to get the most optimum results out of Kidd.