Hollinger has our men in blue going 48-34

[TheRealCB]

IMHO, the prediction is a bit right. However, the team is now built specifically to match up against the Lakers. Of all teams in the West right now, the Mavs have all the manpower to knock off the Lakers in a seven-game series.

We have to get to the Finals first,son. And we both know that ain't happening..

[Giuseppe]

Cubby getting owned by Veterinarian.

That ain't gonna save him, Ez. This PM event is for all-time.

Let us proceed...

[sribb43]

championship or bust

[Latarian Milton]

with the current gangstas mavs have they have no shot at the championship, nay a western championship. the lakers are still the unsurmountable blocker and there will be many other compe ive contenders who are all strong enough to award the Mavs another 1st round exit, unless donnie makes another magnificent capture (like Chris Paul for example).

[Cry Havoc]

I would have Butler starting over Marion tbh.

Why? Marion needs Kidd on the court to create shots for him. Butler can come in off the bench, play as many/more minutes than Marion, and give them a huge scoring punch and energy as the 6th man.

I see the Mavs winning 50 games this year. If they can avoid a 1st round matchup with LA or SA, they could easily go to the 2nd round, or maybe even the conference finals if they manage a 3 seed. Still don't see them beating the Spurs or the Lakers, though.

[Trainwreck2100]

spurs are nowhere near that good

yeah but the west is THAT bad wouldn't be surprised to see mavs spurs at 2/3 at the end

[Rummpd]

IMHO, the prediction is a bit right. However, the team is now built specifically to match up against the Lakers. Of all teams in the West right now, the Mavs have all the manpower to knock off the Lakers in a seven-game series.

Dreamer - Spurs (especially now with Splitter), Blazers and OC all match up just as well if not better (although rightfully the LAL favored going into the season against any of them but time will tell - give me a healthy Spurs team against the Lakers with Splitter and I for one can see the Spurs (or the talented young Thunder team or a healthy Blazers team) conceivably taking down the Lakers but not the Mavs.

[NBA Fanatic]

Here is a game-by-game predictions article that says the Mavericks will win 53 games. The author thinks a full training camp will benefit Caron Butler and thinks that the Mavericks have depth, versatility, and athleticism.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...ame.html?cat=9

BTW this guy predicted the Mavs would win 53 games last year too.

[sefant77]

Dreamer - Spurs (especially now with Splitter), Blazers and OC all match up just as well if not better (although rightfully the LAL favored going into the season against any of them but time will tell - give me a healthy Spurs team against the Lakers with Splitter and I for one can see the Spurs (or the talented young Thunder team or a healthy Blazers team) conceivably taking down the Lakers but not the Mavs.

Who is the dreamer? Splitter didnt play one single minute NBA.

[TheRealCB]

Here is a game-by-game predictions article that says the Mavericks will win 53 games. The author thinks a full training camp will benefit Caron Butler and thinks that the Mavericks have depth, versatility, and athleticism.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...ame.html?cat=9

BTW this guy predicted the Mavs would win 53 games last year too.

Wow this guys has us losing every second game of a b2b

[Ace]

For all the Spurs fans saying they match up well with the Lakers, with no quality wing defenders. Who guards Kobe?

[anonoftheinternets]

For all the Spurs fans saying they match up well with the Lakers, with no quality wing defenders. Who guards Kobe?

not saying spurs will beat lakers, but "guarding kobe" logic is flawed, right now who can guard kobe? onyl when kobe goes into "kobe-mode" or finals mode he automatically comes up with 6-27 or whatver, other than that he is unstoppable. I don't see battier's binder doing him any good against Kobe. kobe is going to get his regardless. Nba is too offense friendly these days.

[TheRealCB]

For all the Spurs fans saying they match up well with the Lakers, with no quality wing defenders. Who guards Kobe?

Yeah defending Pau and Bynum is a solved problem for them,right?

[anonoftheinternets]

that being said, its Lakers in the west then every one else. In the East i feel like writing off boston, jus like i did last year (they really surprised me). But im going to do it this year again anyway. You cant ignore hte talent of miami, and Orlando is going to do well in teh regular season, but i dont see them making the ECF, so its Bost & Miami in the ECF.

[BoricuaCJA]

spurs actually addressed alot of there needs shooting(anderson & neal) & rebounding and size(splitter). Spurs are defintley better than the Mavs, age hasn't caught up to the spurs when it comes to the stats. Spurs are pretty much a perimeter defender away from being a serious contender

I believe we did address rebounding, size and defending the P&R with splitter but we still don't know how Anderson and Neal are gonna perform. Anderson a great shooter in college but he is still a rookie. Neal did shoot very well from 3 in summer league but we will have to see how he shoots with much better basketball players playing/defending him. Its gonna be an exciting season to watch!

[monosylab1k]

...........but seriously, did he have the Jazz at 81-1?

[picc84]

The Mavs acquire a couple of lanky bums, and all of a sudden their team matches up well with the Lakers, when they couldn't even match up with the Spurs.

[sefant77]

The Mavs acquire a couple of lanky bums, and all of a sudden their team matches up well with the Lakers, when they couldn't even match up with the Spurs.

Butler back to around 220-225
Butler and Haywood with a full training camp
Roddy probably a MIP candidat
Chandler a better fit (more mobile) than Damp
Jones cutting down the minutes of the walking negative +/- Barea

So yes...

[badfish22]

Sefant, with the kool aid drinking

[sefant77]

Sefant, with the kool aid drinking

Nah, just thinking in the best case scenario.

Butler with a better year, less of a jumpshooter
Chandler healthy and back on like 90% of his prime NO level
Terry down to the 4th scorer behind Dirk, Butler, Roddy
Barea with less than 10min ( o DoJo)

In that case we have a shot. Even Kupchak told sunday that the Mavs will be the strongest opponent in the west.

[Cuban B]

There's not enough youth and athleticism at the guard and wing positions. I wonder how many minutes Roddy B will get this year, and I wouldn't be surprised if he takes a step back, coming off of the foot injury, increased expectations, and teams able to scout and study film of him now. His rookie year wasn't any better than that of Marquis Daniels. Will he break out into s om, or settle into a solid rotation option like Daniels? I don't expect Dominique Jones to get that much burn or even have the same role as Roddy did last year.

I'm also dismayed that the Mavs didn't upgrade the PG position. If they hold Kidd's minutes down to 30 a game this year, that means Barea will be playing 18 mpg. Roddy didn't look good at PG in summer league and Barea is just not a rotation-caliber NBA player. Terry should get all the backup PG minutes, but for some reason the coaches seem to have forgotten that he started for us at PG back during the good ol days.

just smoke it yo

I agree with Hollinger's assessments, for the most part, but his W-L predictions are a little jacked. The Mavs might win more than 48 games this season, but it likely won't matter.

you

you mean your men in tights? cough cough...

you

I don't think Dallas is winning 48 games. They're more like in the 53-55 win range, like last year.

you're cool

O & Forever!

you i'm out

[xellos88330]

This is why the games are played. I am pretty positive the Mavs will be over 50 wins this season. The system they use in Dallas is pretty good and has had that team playing at a high level for a long period of time. To say they can't do it again is ridiculous IMO.

[pookenstein]

Marion, meanwhile, has always played much taller than his own listed height of 6-7, allowing him to dominate opposing small forwards around the rim.

The words "Marion" and and "dominate" should never appear in one sentence unsless it's like "... dominated Marion."

I think the Mavettes will be a good to very good team in the RS and then disappear in the playoffs as usual.

[phxspurfan]

This is why the games are played. I am pretty positive the Mavs will be over 50 wins this season. The system they use in Dallas is pretty good for running up meaningless regular season win totals and has had that team playing at a high level for a long period of time. To say they can't do it again is ridiculous IMO.

[Ace]

Yeah defending Pau and Bynum is a solved problem for them,right?

I already know what their response will be for that question, so I don't care to touch that subject. I just don't see how they seem to believe they can go from second round sweep to matching up with the Lakers.