Mavs have won 19 of last 20 games
Feb. 27, 2006, 11:26PM
Mavs looking good, but doubt remains
Playoff success still an elusive quest for Dallas
By JOANNE C. GERSTNER
Detroit News
They're fun to watch. They can shoot the lights out and play tough defense. The wins are piling up, and people are starting to wonder what's going to happen in the playoffs.
No, it's not the Detroit Pistons.
There's another team winning nearly as many games, without as much hype — the Dallas Mavericks.
They've been at, or near, the top of the Western Conference all season, sharing elite status with the 2005 NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. The Mavs are 45-11, with a one-game lead over the Spurs for the conference's top record.
They are two games behind the Pistons, who lead the NBA with a 47-9 mark.
Outspoken Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said sarcastically, via e-mail, that the Mavericks credit Zen for winning.
"A different vibe? From the incense we burn in the clubhouse before and after the team yogi conducts a siance and we channel into NBA champions of years past," Cuban responded, when asked what gives the Mavericks a different slant from years past.
"That's where the new vibe comes from. I don't think we would be where we are this year without him. He is smarter than your average bear."
Cuban's attempts at humor aside, the hanging question remains on how well the regular-season Mavericks will translate in the playoffs. The Mavericks have gone down this road, looking good during the regular season and then turning into a pumpkin when the postseason strikes.
They've been in the playoffs in each of the past five years while averaging 56 regular-season victories. But the playoff results have been disappointing. They've advanced past the second round once in those five years.
Charles Barkley, former player-turned-TNT analyst, said the Mavericks haven't yet earned his trust for the long haul.
"They are the Indianapolis Colts of the NBA," Barkley said last week, referencing another knockout regular-season team that goes bust in the playoffs.
"People think I don't like Dallas. First of all, I don't care who wins the championship. I wish them the best. But until they win on a night-in, night-out basis and rebound the ball better, they will not beat the San Antonio Spurs."
NBA fans share Barkley's view of the Mavericks, and the solidity of the Spurs.
A recent fan poll on ESPN.com had more than 20,000 weigh in on who they forecast as the winners of the East and West.
The Pistons were chosen by 75 percent. The Spurs were picked over the Mavs, 46 to 26 percent.
So what could be the difference this time in the Mavericks? Probably two factors:
•The emergence of coach Avery Johnson as a strong presence.
•All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki becoming the team's leader on and off the floor.
Johnson took over late last season, after longtime coach Don Nelson stepped down because of health concerns. Johnson led the Mavericks to a 16-2 record in the remaining games of the regular season.
He's kept Dallas' offensive ethos while adding toughness and defense.
The Mavericks have six players boasting scoring averages in double figures, and they're seventh in the league in points (100.2 per game). They're also fourth in the league in rebounding (42.6).
What's new? Barkley is a ing moron, I guess we still aren't winning on a night-in, night-out basis lol. Oh yea he's still saying we don't rebound well and he is defenitely showing his ignorance here. We are 5th in RPG, 3rd in RPGA, and 3rd in RPG difference. What a MORON!
I think the only question left for the Mavs is playoff success. They have proven they are a good team but they need to take the next step.
which is exactly what barkley has been saying. he likes to watch the mavs but doesn't think they can grind it out vs a tough defensive team in a seven game series. also, that reporter can't spell seance.
Moron because he says this Mavs team haven't won in the playoffs? I'm sorry but last time I checked he was right son
Regardless of what you say, the monkey is still on the Mav's back. They must prove theirselves in the playoffs. If they do, I will give them due credit! Nothing wrong with you pulling for your team, but don't call someone a moron till he's proven wrong.
Until 1999, we Spurs fans had to listen to the same knock on our team. I went 23 yrs hearing crap from LA, Rockets and Boston fans. It is a fact that you Mavs' fans have to deal with, until you break through and do something in the playoffs.
SA won division le after division le yr after yr, they had the 4th best winning % alltime in reg season history, but I still had to hear about their inability to win it all.
Deal with it.
What makes Barkley a moron is saying the Mavs aren't a good rebounding team, when statistically they're a better rebounding team than SA, or Detroit.
It doesn't bother me that he says they can't beat SA in a playoff series, so far they haven't proven that they can. What does bother me is when he continues talking out of his ass about things like rebounding and isn't even aware of the stats
It's a real shame they won't get to try it this year. I feel so badly for Avery.
i think he means that they don't really have one specific player that is a great rebounder - they are obviously a good rebounding team but don't have one player that is a great rebounder like ben wallace or tim duncan. barkley himself was an incredible rebounder so i wouldn't dismiss his opinion on the subject so quickly - he sees something lacking. maybe he's right, maybe he's not - we'll find out in may.
While statistically there may be some reason to have a beef with Barkley's analysis how can you really question someone who correctly predicted the NBA champions last year? Of course, I'm just trying to sell that logic because it would make me infallible as well.
Mavs better hope they hold on to the number 1 seed because if they fall to 4 we're not even going to see them in the Playoffs.
They won't get past the mighty Clippers.
I don't think he sees anything. In fact I doubt he's watched an entire game this season.
I fail to see what difference it makes if one guy is dominating the boards, or the rebounding is balanced.
I've always thought of Barkley as an entertainer, not a knowledgable sports personality.
he only watches a couple of teams. one guy who is great at rebounding can make all the difference in crunch time.
That's fine. I don't expect anyone to give them any respect yet. It would be tough series wit the Clippers, but I think they would win in 6.
I'm not buying into all this talk that the Mavs have to get the #1 seed. They have the second best road record in the NBA. Yes, it's different in a playoff series, but I still feel they would fair well.
why are you so offended by barkley then? he will give the mavs their props when they earn them - is that so different?
I know you guys don't think much of Dampier, but he can be very dominating on the boards, especially on the offensive end. The guy is a head case at times, but he's been much better coming of the bench, and when the guy's motivated he can be an absolute monster. We'll see if it continues come May.
The mavs have improved in every way this year and they have done what they've needed to do because of their extremely easier Feb schedule. Dallas had two road games all month and one back to back(which was split). And all their homes games were cream puffs. Credit to Avery to keep them motivated, but the mavs do have more to prove. March will tell a better story because of their schedule. And with the schedule we had in Feb, I'm so proud of this team for keeping the mavs in their sights.
The Mavs are a good team, but I agree...they got a rough stretch coming up here. We'll see what they do in the next 30 days.
I don't really care who he thinks will win it all. I just don't like when someone spouts off about stuff like rebounding without doing their homework. It's obvious Chuck is there for the comedic schtick, and shouldn't be taken seriously, but sometimes he really has the foot in mouth disease.
Besides, it's obvious he and Kenny have an axe to grinde with the Mavs organization because Cuban slammed them in his blog. I guess it all makes for good drama.
i would say off hand barkley knows a bit about rebounding. i would also say cuban came off looking like a fool trying to insinuate that he knew more about basketball than those two. barkley is kidding most of the time, but that doesn't mean he isn't very knowledgeable about the game. until the mavs win a championship they will continue to get that treatment. barkley dogs on 95% of the league, and put phoenix in the same category as dallas. he isn't out to grind an axe with dallas, he just doesn't think they have what it takes to win a championship.
That might be the case, but before the February schedule they swept a 5 game road trip on the west coast. Granted the Clippers were their only quality opponent during that trip, but sweeping 5 games on the road is a difficult task in this league no matter who you're playing.
It's amazing the guy claims to be such an expert on winning a le, when he never won one himself. He's funny at times, but he's a joke as an analyst. No matter what type of player he was it doesn't always translate into being a good annalyst.
Besides, didn't he use dog on the city of San Antonio all the time?
Another cream puff stretch. I still give Avery credit to keep them motivated and they are taking care of their business. No credit taken away. But the mavs are either going to struggle or grow in the month of March.
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