Thoughts so far on the Mavericks

[bostonguy]

Their defense is actually quite good. 2nd in FG%, 1st in 3pt%. They just need more consistency on offense, and better rebounding. Getting Howard back will help in rebounding considerably. Apparently Carlisle has also been making some changes on offense that would also fit Howard a little better. If he can come back and fit into the offensive scheme better, Dallas can be a really good team.

Plus Dirk hasn't really been playing like he's capable of either. He hasn't hardly been driving at all, nor being very assertive on offense. He's pretty much just taking the leftover shots right now, and looks very much like he's playing "Tim Duncan style" (take it easy until the mid-point of season) like he did last year. Around the mid-point of the year, he went on to play possibly the best 30-40 game stretch of his career.

Mavericks and Spurs both could be interesting teams to see down the stretch and IMO both are better than most people think. I honestly think that at the end of the season, the 3 most compe ive teams in the west will be the Lakers, Spurs, and Mavericks.

The thing is the Mavs lack a consistent 4 quarter true #2 guy. Terry/Kidd arent meant for that role. That guy has to be Josh Howard. There is no way around it. The fact that he doesnt bring it in the 4th quarter really hurts the Mavs. It forces JET/Kidd to play that role every time especially in the playoffs and it's bitten them in the ass every time. It also makes it easier for opposing teams to guard the Mavs. For a guy this talented, it's sad that Howard goes MIA in the 4th.

[Brandon Bass]

I'm just getting warmed up, as soon as I get going, the NBA will bow to the mighty Mavs!

[Indazone]

Brandon Bass

[Findog]

Brandon Bass

Ooh look, somebody wants a cripple fight!

at Yao's feet

at TMac's heart

at Ron-Ron's head

at The Franchise's knees

CRIPPLE FIGHT!!!!

[stretch]

Things could be a lot more interesting when Howard gets back, considering they are running less, and using a LOT more pick-and-roll. This could be a much better fit for him.

[Ghazi]

mono, 2006 was a lucky year (no need to discredit what the Mavs accomplished by calling it a fluke), but it was still a year that the Mavs deserved to win the le. The powers that be prevented this from happening though, which is why everyone is so vexed by the front office decisions. Mavs fans probably would be far more indifferent to front office decisions that have led to a decline in the team if not for one Bennett Salvatore's whistle in game 5. Dirk was clutch v Phoenix, San Antonio, and even Miami.

It's all hindsight anyway, if Quis and Harris are still in Mavs uniforms who is to say they would play like they have been? Harris is 4th in the league in scoring right now, he was 4th on the TEAM last year... I think he would be behind Dirk and JHO in scoring on this team, even though he's averaging more points than both thus far.

Anywho, regarding the Mavs defense, the % stats are good, but it's 8th in defensive efficiency which is above average, but not good enough for a team w/ championship aspirations.

Regarding the Mavs offense, I think a big question mark is whether Terry can play like this when Howard ISN'T injured. If you get 23-24 from Dirk, 19-20 from Howard, and 18-19 from Terry, the Mavs are pretty good IMO... but Terry's recent hot play seems to be a byproduct of Howard's absence. We'll see though.

Regarding the rebounding, I haven't been pleased w/ it v the Pacers and Lakers... but the Lakers frontline is so damn long that I don't know if one should be too upset about that.

[monosylab1k]

mono, 2006 was a lucky year (no need to discredit what the Mavs accomplished by calling it a fluke

1. I called Dirk's consistent clutch peformances a fluke, not the Mavs.
2. Lucky and fluke are the same thing.

So where is your point?

[Ghazi]

The Mavs were lucky as far as the playoff matchups. Grizzlies in 1st round, Spurs was a coin flip that could go either way, Suns w/o Amare, and the Heat, who are the worst team to win a le in history... but it certainly isn't "flukish" for a 60 win team to make the Finals. I think there's a difference!

If anything though, Dirk's 2007 playoff performance which has solidified the "choker label" is an aberration.

Regarding whether this team is better without JHO, I don't think this is the case. However, it is possible that due to JHo's ballstopping/lazy defense this team is the same with or without JHo... if that makes sense. I think. I dunno!

GO MAVS!

[stretch]

Anywho, regarding the Mavs defense, the % stats are good, but it's 8th in defensive efficiency which is above average, but not good enough for a team w/ championship aspirations.

Most of that is due to the inconsistent rebounding which leads to more shot opportunities and higher points for opponents. The fact that their rebounding has been pretty poor for the most part, and they are still holding teams to such low percentages shows they actually play quite good straight up defense, and don't rely simply on turnovers and an extremely efficient offense to force the opponent into bad shots, like the Suns used to, and the Lakers do now.

[monosylab1k]

The Mavs were lucky as far as the playoff matchups. Grizzlies in 1st round, Spurs was a coin flip that could go either way, Suns w/o Amare, and the Heat, who are the worst team to win a le in history... but it certainly isn't "flukish" for a 60 win team to make the Finals. I think there's a difference!

Again, I didn't say the Mavs were a fluke, I said Dirk's clutchness was.

If anything though, Dirk's 2007 playoff performance which has solidified the "choker label" is an aberration.

Dirk has been consistently inconsistent in the clutch for basically his whole career. 2006 was the only year where he played great for the entire playoffs.