Mavs smug? No reason to be.
Jul 11th, 2007 by Scott Spangler
I find it difficult not to chuckle upon hearing the word “fluke” regarding the Dallas/Golden State series. Likewise with the notion that the Mavericks ran into a hot ball club. We hear it from members of the organization, players, and fans. It truly is an amusing notion.
The Warriors have thrashed Dallas the last two seasons, winning nine of the last twelve – six by double-digit margins. The Mavs were fortunate to push the playoff series to six games. A three-minute barrage by Dirk Nowitzki prevented them from dropping the series on their home floor.
Dallas has lost eight of its last ten playoff contests. Four of those defeats were also by ten points or more.
Nightmare matchup? Go ahead if that works for you, but from where I stand, it’s obvious this team has some cracks.
Sixty-seven regular season wins. That’s obviously nothing to sneeze at. Though, it’s more product of Avery Johnson’s pedal-to-the-metal approach. We should definitely credit the Mavs for that much. They do not take nights off.
What exactly does that do for the Mavericks in May? There are no back-to back games (Dallas went 12-1 on the tail-end of BTBs last season). The post season rolls around and opposing coaches have the luxury of an off day. They are allowed to recoup and focus.
Five years ago, it was exciting to hear how this club would work its tail off to improve within. Now when Avery or General Manager Donnie Nelson rattles it off in a soundbite, I can only chalk it up to noble sentiment.
Work hard. Improve within. Stay the course. This has been the mantra.
Can the Mavs return the current roster and honestly contend for its first title? I don’t believe so. This team lacks in specific areas. Maverick fans are quite familiar with the shortcomings. These are very real issues that won’t be remedied by simply asking Dirk to work harder on his post-up game.
Dallas is still in dire need of a reliable second gun – a Robin to Dirk’s Batman, if you will. Or perhaps Nowitzki could slide into the Boy Wonder role, provided Mark Cuban & Company land such a big fish. Point being, when teams decide to take Dirk away – as Golden State and Miami have in Dallas’ two previous playoff series – no other Mav has answered the bell.
Team brass remains adamant that the hard work will eventually pay off. I am not sure it’s that simple.
The Mavericks has also insisted there will be no major changes. There will be no shakeup, or so they say. Ask Donnie Nelson about various parts and he is quick to label Josh Howard and Devin Harris as “untouchable.”
That is either one of the grossest cases of overvaluing one’s own or a true poker face at work. When a name like Kevin Garnett is floating about in trade discussions, as a Maverick fan, I seriously hope it’s the latter.
It’s really hard to determine why the Mavs still remain title less. Was losing to Miami a fluke? How about Golden State? One could ponder legitmate reasons to why the Mavs lost both series: Wade ascended into near Jordanesque status, a performance that he may not repeat again. Golden State had insider information, that helped create matchups that were difficult to overcome. One true fact remains: The Mavericks are susceptible to swaying degrees of momentum. When the going gets hot, the Mavs fall apart. Despite the roster changes that Nelson has made, and the hard nose defensive tactics of Avery Johnson, this team remains very unconventional, and as teams follow this blueprint, it often leads to regular season success, but no postseason glory. We can bemoan the lack of a post threat. But, the greater fault lies in the absence of a traditional point guard and a consistent shooting guard that can defend. A combo rotation that lacks in height and strenth will constantly get exploited. When Golden State played the Mavs, Baron Davis and Jason Richardson destroyed Harris and Terry. When they played Miami, Wade picked apart their suspect defense, despite Damier and Diop’s presence. Without Harris and Terry playing the first line of defense, Dallas’ big men were walking fouls waiting to happen. Until they get a defense minded shooting guard, a la Ginobili, and a pass first point guard, the Mavs will always remain the paper tiger in the room.
I have been a Mav’s fan for years, but I am also a realist. The NBA has always been and will always be a league dominated by big men. Dirk is a great player, but he can’t post up. Nobody on the Mav’s can score 20 inside the paint. Hence, the Mav’s will never win a title.
Absolutely dead on, Chris. The number one problem I have with this team resides in its backcourt. Dallas has sacrificed size at the two for quickness, and Terry is not a very good defender to begin with.
And it’s not just the point guard who is unable to find teammates. The entire team is just not adept at moving the ball. The catalyst typically reside at the point, but not always.
With those problems, along with their inability to get easy buckets, this team is hard pressed to score the ball when defenses clamp down on #41. This team settles too much.
Defensively, I think you’re right on. The problems are at SG. Devin will generally take the top offensive threat among opposing guards. He’s a good defender, but he isn’t going to make a living stopping bigger/stronger guys like Dwyane Wade.
Not to mention, Harris always feels the need to take every charge he can early on. And that usually results in him sitting too much.
Chris, I don’t need all of these items fixed. It’s impossible to do so – obviously. But I would prefer this club figure out a way to get a more traditional SG in here, who is defensively capable and can stick open looks. Doesn’t have to be sexy. A Raja Bell type perhaps.
I would not have re-signed Stackhouse, and if Terry remains with the team, he would have been my sixth man. But that’s just me.
I agree it is has always been and will always be a big man’s league in the nba. Every championship team has had a good big man, or at least someone who can dominate the paint. I think michael jordan was one of the first guys to win without a dominant big man. But horace grant and dennis rodman could dominate the boards inside for him and open up fast breaks and set picks for pippen and jordan.
Honestly the mavericks have no power players of signicance. I think josh howard is one of their best rebounders and he is a small forward. When your small forward cleans the glass better than your centers and power forwards then you are gonna have a problem. The mavs have great perimeter players, and Dirk is a an mvp candidate. But he needs a center that can get 12 rebounds a night and block 4 or 5 shots a night, he doesnt have to score, but he needs a big guy that can do the dirty work to free him up to score and and pass to howard and terry.
The mavs are probably one piece away from being a contender. Should the consider a young big man like darko. I think they should consider it. At least darko can block shots. And if you ever gave him minutes maybe he could produce. Out of the other big men in free agency, I think darko is the only one who might develop into something useful. I mean magloire isnt gonna do much better than dampier or diop.
Whatever happened to dampier, he used to get double doubles regularly in golden state. Now diop is outplaying and outhustling him. Which means dampier is basically useless. Also it would be nice to have a pass first point guard.
Guys like marbury, and terry, iverson, just dont win titles. The score first point guard is not gonna win, cause he doesnt help his teammates succeed. He might sell a lot of jerseys and make espn highlights, but he cant do what a point guard is supposed to do in distributing the offense, creating movement and creating opportunities and assists for his teammates. At least one of your starting guards has to get at least 8 assists a night to win in the nba. You cant have your point guard averaging 4 or 5 assists a night. That is not gonna cut it, in my opinion. Cause guys are standing around, instead of fighting to get open because they know the point guard is not looking for them to get open.
I agree with needing a point guard who can distribute the ball but its not about the number of assists. Its about making the right decisions. Marbury averaged 8 assists in his career up until last year.Never won a thing. Tony parker only averages about 5ish and has won three titles
You guys are right on with your points. I fellow Mavs fan, I’m STILL angry about how the refs annointed Wade the heir to MJ in the nba and got EVERY foul call, even MORE than MJ ever got. It was sickening to watch. Ok, got that out. But I agree, if we don’t get someone to score in the paint, we won’t win JACK! Sigh. This playoff series with GS exposed us cause bottom line, no one on the court was a leader like B.Davis was for GS. Dirk just wasn’t ready for that role. For the Mavs to get KG would be a dream come true. Cuban is a crazy loudmouth but isn’t afraid to spend money. Sigh. Hope someone steps up to be a real leader, it will be same in this season’s playoff series.
You mavs fans are just like your owner, a bunch of whiners. you lost the championship to the heat because (and i say this as a huge dirk fan) your number one guy choked and doesn’t have the killer instinct. he himself has stated so. i love dirks game but he, like garnett, spends so much time outside, they can’t get the other bigs into foul trouble.
you guys had a 67 win team, that did it with offense AND defense. go back and look at your stats and not the little violins on your sholders. however, everyone knows that during the playoffs the games slow down and are more physical. this is why you lost the championship and against the warriors. your owner has more fire in his belly than any of your players…thats a problem. you have a host of pretty boys that are absolutely essential to winning, but you also need to get a nasty cat that rules the paint and serves notice when an opposing player comes down the lane. not on this dallas team or the teams from the last two years.
its not devin, its not terry…these guys are sick players and should not get the brunt of the blame. the blame lies in the fact that dallas has never found a post presence. the post presence allows for better ball distribution and open shots…as one writer wrote the need for better ball distribution. the post presence gets the opposing bigs into foul trouble which has an unbelievable affect on the game…see detroit over the lakers and miami over your mavs.
i enjoyed watching dallas play all year long, however listening and watching your owner and fans whine about losing to gs or miami is sad. its proof positive that you can look into the mirror and admit you lost because you were beaten by a better TEAM. lastly, i don’t think garnett would be your answer as he is a more defensive dirk…but not a post presence. dirk does kg’s turnaround fade shot…from a 7 footer! kg goes to the line less than dirk…remember the commment about creating fouls for the opposing bigs. guards and small forwards aren’t afraid of attacking kg, just like they aren’t afraid of attacking dirk.
here is an idea…try and pry either zach or eddie curry (curry would be a better fit because he isn’t the headcase zach is and is a better team player) from the other big whiner isiah thomas and then i will be rooting for dallas to win.
you are right there on the cusp and you do need another piece but its not a sg or pg, its a big man. also in order for you to win, your organization and fans need to stop whining too its embarrasing watching a grown man like cuban act like a complete moron at the games…i guess its contagious to people typing about the mavs too.