Kerr: Southwest Division Preview

[ambchang]

The Mavs won 55 or more games 4 times in their history (2005, 2003, 2002 and 1987), notice that 3 of those can be directly attributed to the Dirk era. They have been a very good offensive team, which helps them win a lot of games in the regular season, and they also rely on awkward lineups by Nellie to confuse the heck out of the other team. But as we have seen in the playoffs, in a 7 game series, the reliance on awkward sets doesn't work that well, because the other team will not be confused after one game and some tape, and lack of defense and an outside game rarely finds success in the postseason.
This year, the Mavs have Avery Johnson, pretty much a rookie coach, less offensive weapons, and they still lack the talent to play top-notch defense. They might do worse in the regular season, and better in the playoffs. 55 is certainly a possibility, but it's definitely not a guarantee. 60 games? Not likely.

[mavsfan1000]

60 games? Are you kidding me? The Spurs have only won 60 games or better twice in the entire history of the franchise (94-95, 02-03). The Mavs have only done it once (02-03). And that Mavs team was absolutely stacked. Nowitzki, Finley, and Nash averaged 25.1, 19.3, and 17.7 points per game respectively. I can see Nowitzki putting up comparable (or better) numbers, but who's going to score like Finley and Nash? Who's going to come in off the bench and hit big shots like Van Exel? Who's going to construct a high-powered offensive attack like Don Nelson?

Hey, I love the Mavs, but 60 wins is a pretty big milestone for a team, and it took the Mavs the best group it's ever had to achieve that. You can't make a compelling argument that this year's Mavs are better than 02-03 (or maybe you can...I'd like to hear it). Depth only takes you so far. Those JailBlazers teams of the early naughts were as deep as the Pacific and couldn't even approach 60 wins. And they actually had talent that had been tested and found to be good. Dallas has a lot of potentional, but they can't win 60. Not in the West. Not with only one star. No way.

[Despot]

Noone here, or in the media denies that the Mavs have been much better than we thought they would be, and don't forget, they're not at 60 wins yet, still a long way to go.

[totalspurshomer]

About the Mavs winning 60...I'll take my crow with salt and a big glass of iced tea please!

About the Mavs being better than Houston...the way the Mavs are playing, Houston's staggering injury list likely wouldn't have mattered. If they finish the season with an Astros-like push to the postseason, we'll see what they can do, but...a second helping of crow please!

You were right mavsfan1000. Enjoy the moment.

[smdanss]

The slow and soft Yao will actually become a cancer for the Rockets. Many teams know how to steal the ball easily from Yao.

The Rockets won't pass the first round, even if get a playoff spot.