Well, after the Mavs went quietly into the night – and it was quietly – losing to the Hornets 4-1, the Mavs and Avery have parted ways. In 3 ½ seasons as the Mavs head coach, Avery had a record of 194-70 in the regular season, but was under .500 in the playoffs with a record of 23-24 which was one of the main reasons for the separation. But there are several reasons for this move. I still think Avery is a good coach and a good guy but there really isn’t any way the Mavs could bring him back next year after 3 post season flame outs, 2 of which were among the biggest choke jobs in NBA history.
Many things are now coming to light about Avery’s management style with the team and it looks like he wore out his welcome. One such example came this past weekend. Avery had made the decree to the team that during the playoffs the players need to steer clear of partying and focus on what was in front of them. This was not an unreasonable request, especially given the past 2 post seasons. However, on the heels of discussing his Mary Jane use in the off season on a Dallas radio station and in the middle of being down 3-1 to the Hornets, Josh Howard handed out flyers to a birthday party he was throwing himself. Only a few players attended. However, on Monday before practice Avery asked all those to stand that disobeyed his decree, about not partying, and attended Josh’s fiesta. Avery lit into those that stood up and then cancelled practice altogether.
So, in an effort to show the team how mad he was at Josh, he ended up showing them how out of touch he was with them. He should have suspended any player that went to Josh’s party and then told the rest of the team to get ready for practice. Instead, he basically said, the heck with all you, I’ll see you on the plane. Didn’t Avery just finish a book on being a great motivator? The players knew they needed to practice so they held practice by themselves which didn’t look good on Avery.
This is only one example of things that are now coming out about how Avery has gone from the toast of the town 2 years ago to unemployed, despite the Mavs winning 73% of their games under his watch as the head coach.
The next question is who will get Avery’s job. Some names for Avery’s possible replacement being tossed around in the media include: Mavs assistant Mario Elle, Jeff Van Gundy, Tom Thibodeaux (Boston assistant), Flip Saunders, Rick Carlisle, fired Bobcats coach Sam Vincent, and Mike D’Antoni (who is reportedly also set to be given his pink slip in Phoenix). Whoever takes over will get a roster of expensive, aging players and unless Cuban wants to totally tear this thing down and start completely from scratch, which I don’t think will happen, we may not see any quick remedy to the roster which has many ill fitting parts on it.
Aside from Dirk who is still a top 5 player in my mind and still in his prime, Jason Kidd is 35 and likely will be back, since his $21 million contract is at the player’s option, and he knows he probably won’t get more than that (if even half that) on the open market. Other notable hard to move contracts are for Josh Howard who is the only player under contract who is in his 20s, Erick Dampier ($11.5 million), Jason Terry ($9.1 million) and Jerry Stackhouse ($7 million), and Eddie Jones who will be 37 next season and will likely exercise a $2 million player option. Dallas also has a team option on Brandon Bass, who at this point is their most promising youngster. So outside of Dirk, Bass, Terry and maybe Kidd (depending on if you like Kidd or not), there isn’t much to look forward to for next season. And to compound matters, the Mavericks don’t have a first-round pick this year or 2010, having traded them to New Jersey in the Kidd deal earlier this season. So more than likely, unless Donnie and Cuban really get creative with some of these huge contracts, we will see the same team next season that we just saw in the playoffs.
In truth, I doubt Avery wanted to be back in Dallas after all that happened this season, especially recently with Josh Howard. Sometimes it’s better to just part ways and start fresh, for both parties. I’m sure Avery will have success with the next team he goes to. That may translate into a championship and it may not. But the bottom line is, as much as it pains me to say this, he needed to go.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
They're Done
Well, they're done. And thanks to a tivo malfunction I was only able to watch the 1st and 4th quarters of the Mavs game tonight. Dallas entered the 4th quarter only down by 5 and it was a close game. However Dallas' defense wasn't great, again, and they made too many bone headed mistakes in the 4th quarter which let New Orleans extend their lead to double digits. The Mavs were actually down by 17 in the 4th quarter and I had basically given up. But Dallas stormed back at the end with barrage of 3 pointers cutting the Hornets lead to 3 inside 30 second to play. All Dallas needed was a stop...and then go down, make another 3 and push it to overtime. The Hornets inbounded the ball, Chris Paul launched a shot that was off...and Tyson Chandler batted the ball back out to Peja and all Dallas could do is foul him (he was the best free throw shooter in the league this year at 92%). So Dallas ended up losing by 5...season over.
You know, at this point, I'm not sure if it would have been better if Dallas lost by double digits or made it close in the end only to lose. I'd like to think that it was better to lose the way they did, not getting blown out. However, after the game was over, this is how I felt:
Another Mavs player, Stackhouse, lost his cool in the 4th quarter and ended up getting a technical foul and getting tossed. And it didn't matter one bit. Truthfully and objectively, the Hornets were just a better team...period. And they showed it. And now the whole Mavericks organization from top to bottom is left reeling and wondering who will be back next year playing for the Mavs. The players I think will be back are as follows: Dirk, Dampier (too big of a contract make him impossible to move), Kidd (see same reason as Damp) and Jason Terry. Everyone else, and I mean EVERYONE, is expendable.
Right or wrong, I don't think Avery will be back. That's just a gut feeling I have but after the post season collapses of last year and the year before plus the struggles the Mavs had during the regular season this year and only winning 1 game in the playoffs, I don't think Cuban can bring him back. There needs to be a new voice in the locker room because Avery has lost the team. I still think Avery is a helluva good coach and he will have success where ever he goes. But I just can't see how Cuban can bring him back next year. However, Cuban is unpredictable and loyal to a fault so anything is possible I guess.
I hope this thing doesn't sink to the level of the current Sacramento Kings team. They were on the cusp of going to the finals just a few years ago but the last two years haven't been close to sniffing the playoffs. Their championship windwo shut rapidly and now it looks like the Mavs' window is shut too. Mavs basketball is fun to watch and I hope they remain competitive. But I'm not getting my hopes up.
You know, at this point, I'm not sure if it would have been better if Dallas lost by double digits or made it close in the end only to lose. I'd like to think that it was better to lose the way they did, not getting blown out. However, after the game was over, this is how I felt:
Another Mavs player, Stackhouse, lost his cool in the 4th quarter and ended up getting a technical foul and getting tossed. And it didn't matter one bit. Truthfully and objectively, the Hornets were just a better team...period. And they showed it. And now the whole Mavericks organization from top to bottom is left reeling and wondering who will be back next year playing for the Mavs. The players I think will be back are as follows: Dirk, Dampier (too big of a contract make him impossible to move), Kidd (see same reason as Damp) and Jason Terry. Everyone else, and I mean EVERYONE, is expendable.
Right or wrong, I don't think Avery will be back. That's just a gut feeling I have but after the post season collapses of last year and the year before plus the struggles the Mavs had during the regular season this year and only winning 1 game in the playoffs, I don't think Cuban can bring him back. There needs to be a new voice in the locker room because Avery has lost the team. I still think Avery is a helluva good coach and he will have success where ever he goes. But I just can't see how Cuban can bring him back next year. However, Cuban is unpredictable and loyal to a fault so anything is possible I guess.
I hope this thing doesn't sink to the level of the current Sacramento Kings team. They were on the cusp of going to the finals just a few years ago but the last two years haven't been close to sniffing the playoffs. Their championship windwo shut rapidly and now it looks like the Mavs' window is shut too. Mavs basketball is fun to watch and I hope they remain competitive. But I'm not getting my hopes up.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Well, My Mavs Optimism Was Short Lived
Well, after Friday night's game, I thought Dallas would even the series back up to 2-2 and was hoping the Mavs could steal one down in New Orleans. However, things right now don't look too good. Where the Mavs played brilliantly Friday night, last night they played below average for 3 quarters of the game. They came out with the same aggressiveness they had Friday, going after loose balls and rebounds, but once the second quarter hit they stopped doing all that (at least as much as New Orleans was) and the ending result showed with a 97-84 loss. Dallas scored 30 points in the 1st quarter and seemed to be scoring at will. They were driving to basket pretty good and it looked like they were going to pick up where they left off on Friday night. Then they scored only 14 points in the second quarter. That pretty much tells you how Dallas lost...they went back to shooting jump shots. And because of that, they shot only 16 free throws (versus getting to the line 38 times Friday night) the entire game. Dallas' field goal percentage wasn't good either shooting 89 times (25 3-pointers) and finishing up the game with a whopping 36%. Oh yeah...they also allowed New Orleans to shoot 50% for the game which doesn't help things either. So they went back to shooting jump shots and slacked off on defense. Yep, that pretty much gets you beat every time. How does a team that knows how to drive to the basket not do it every game? Or if it starts driving to the basket, like Dallas did in the first quarter, why does it stop? That drives me absolutely bonkers. I mean it really does. I know a team will change things up defensively from game to game to take away good things it's opponent did the previous game but come on...16 free throws vs. 38?
Josh Howard played, arguably, one of his worst games as a Mav. He was 3 of 16 shooting for 6 points, including 0 for 2 from the free throw line in 31 minutes. That line is absolutely ridiculous, especially for a former all star player. How do you perform that badly in a playoff game that you need to win pretty desperately?!? I hope he takes that personally. I hope he doesn't sleep tonight. I hope he finds his game again and comes back with a fury on Tuesday night. Because after that, he can sit back on his butt all he wants for the next six months because it won't matter. Absolutely ridiculous to score 6 points in a playoff game. And he is suppose to be the Mavs second best player. Well, not anymore.
The Mavs bench proved once again it only has 1 player on it worth anything which is Brandon Bass. If Dallas could get something, anything, out of Jerry Stackhouse, Devon George and Eddie Jones I think they would have had a better chance of winning or at least made the game more competitive. Those collective 3 had only 9 points in 41 minutes. Pathetic. With J. Ho stinking it up and the majority of the bench doing the same, the Mavs have very little shot of advancing to the 2nd round, which may be for the best. I don't know...
The Flagrant 2 that was assessed to Kidd last night (which got him ejected) should not have been a Flagrant 2. Maybe a 1 but not a 2. It looked a lot worse full speed so I really thought the refs would reverse themselves and move the foul back to a Flagrant 1. Jason Kidd is not a dirty player (cough...Bruce Bowen...cough) so that will work in his favor when the league looks at it tomorrow. A Flagrant 2 foul could result in a one game suspension so lets hope the Stu Jackson and the rest of the NBA disciplinarians give Kidd a reprieve. Otherwise, the Mavs have virtually no shot of winning in New Orleans.
I never thought I would say this but thank goodness for the Stars. They won tonight to take a 2-0 lead over San Jose. I can at least hang my hat on them. But the Mavs...well not so much. It's desperation time for them now. They are the wounded animal and have to play like it. They have to play balls to the wall every play in New Orleans. If they don't, then this whole thing will come crashing down like a house o' cards and if that happens I think Dirk (and maybe Kidd b/c of his contract) that is guaranteed of coming back next season. Here's hoping it doesn't get to that point.
Josh Howard played, arguably, one of his worst games as a Mav. He was 3 of 16 shooting for 6 points, including 0 for 2 from the free throw line in 31 minutes. That line is absolutely ridiculous, especially for a former all star player. How do you perform that badly in a playoff game that you need to win pretty desperately?!? I hope he takes that personally. I hope he doesn't sleep tonight. I hope he finds his game again and comes back with a fury on Tuesday night. Because after that, he can sit back on his butt all he wants for the next six months because it won't matter. Absolutely ridiculous to score 6 points in a playoff game. And he is suppose to be the Mavs second best player. Well, not anymore.
The Mavs bench proved once again it only has 1 player on it worth anything which is Brandon Bass. If Dallas could get something, anything, out of Jerry Stackhouse, Devon George and Eddie Jones I think they would have had a better chance of winning or at least made the game more competitive. Those collective 3 had only 9 points in 41 minutes. Pathetic. With J. Ho stinking it up and the majority of the bench doing the same, the Mavs have very little shot of advancing to the 2nd round, which may be for the best. I don't know...
The Flagrant 2 that was assessed to Kidd last night (which got him ejected) should not have been a Flagrant 2. Maybe a 1 but not a 2. It looked a lot worse full speed so I really thought the refs would reverse themselves and move the foul back to a Flagrant 1. Jason Kidd is not a dirty player (cough...Bruce Bowen...cough) so that will work in his favor when the league looks at it tomorrow. A Flagrant 2 foul could result in a one game suspension so lets hope the Stu Jackson and the rest of the NBA disciplinarians give Kidd a reprieve. Otherwise, the Mavs have virtually no shot of winning in New Orleans.
I never thought I would say this but thank goodness for the Stars. They won tonight to take a 2-0 lead over San Jose. I can at least hang my hat on them. But the Mavs...well not so much. It's desperation time for them now. They are the wounded animal and have to play like it. They have to play balls to the wall every play in New Orleans. If they don't, then this whole thing will come crashing down like a house o' cards and if that happens I think Dirk (and maybe Kidd b/c of his contract) that is guaranteed of coming back next season. Here's hoping it doesn't get to that point.
A Look Back at 2008's Draft
Well, draft weekend is over and after reading up and learning a little something about the draft class Dallas obtained, I'm mildly pleased. Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to have seen Dallas trade their second 1st round pick to Detroit for Roy Williams. I really did think that would get done this weekend. However, as it turns out the asking price was too steep for Jerry. He didn't name anyone by name but Jerry said in his press conference that they tried to trade for a veteran WR but he thought the price was too much to pay. Who knows who Jerry is referring to (I think the aforementioned Williams) but the Cowboys did some make six trades, including five on Sunday, which also helped them pick up a third- and fourth-round pick next year which could definitely come in handy. Here is a rundown of who Dallas selected along with a scouting report on each from Rivals.com with my take on the pick following:
Rd #1 - Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
The Good: Jones has the quickness to be a difference-maker as a runner, receiver or kick returner. He has the quick burst to get through the hole, and boasts the ability to get to top speed quickly. As a receiver, he has a good sense of route-running. Though he may be best as a third-down back, he could surprise as a change-of-pace runner with the ability to create some interesting mismatches on early downs. The Bad: He wasn’t an every-down back at Arkansas; can he be one in the NFL? While he shows the willingness to block, his limited experience in handling that assignment could hurt his early playing time.
My Take: Solid pick here. I actually thought, since he was still available that they would take Rashard Mendenhall from Illinois however I think Jones is more complimentary to Marion Barber because Mendenhall's style is a lot like Barber's. Jones looks like he has that 5th gear, that Julius had. But, I'm a little concerned about weather Felix carry out blocking assignments and pick up blitzes. A friend of mine, Chance Justice, put it this way: "Jones (Jerry) got his Jones (Felix) which looks to be better than the former Jones (Julius)." Let's hope so...
Rd #1 - Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
The Good: Jenkins has the athletic package to become a top-flight NFL cover man. He has the size, speed, quickness and instincts to become a starting pro cover man. His change-of-direction skills allow him to match up in man coverage. He is a well-built athlete who moves very well and is quick to react to routes and the ball in flight. He can be a physical defender - especially when he uses the bump-and-run technique. The Bad: He has performed better in zone coverage than man-to-man situations and needs to be technically sound consistently against fast receivers in one-on-one situations.
My Take: Again, this was a solid pick (even though, as I said above, I would have liked to have seen this pick traded for a vet WR). Rivals actually has Jenkins as the #3 CB in the whole draft so I think he should be a stud. I remember hearing the knock on him was being inconsistent though. This was a wise pick because Dallas didn't want to let the recent Pac Man trade to dictate what they did in the draft...who knows if he will even be reinstate and, if so, if he will keep his nose clean and stay reinstated. If that whole thing falls through, then Dallas has assured themselves of a top tier CB who can step right in. Plus, if there is one thing I heard (and saw last year) about cornerbacks is that a team can never have enough good ones.
Rd #2 - Martellus Bennett, TE, Texas A&M
The Good: This athletic junior is a big, angular athlete with long limbs and natural pass-catching skills. He has fine athleticism with the speed to get into the deep seam and make the big play. He has good hands and can gain yardage after making catches. He is a difficult red-zone match up. He has fine leaping ability and a good understanding of coverage. He is especially effective in the shorter routes, where his size, agility and body control allow him to win jump-ball situations and create major match up problems. The Bad: He relies on finesse as a blocker and needs development. He shows inconsistent blocking technique with marginal strength, especially in the lower body. He fails to play with consistent leverage and comes off the snap too high, which negates his size.
My Take: This was a pick to replace the exodus of Anthony Fasano, which Dallas traded on Friday for a 4th round pick. Looks like he is a good receiving TE but not blocking...just like Tony Curtis. Blocking though is something that can also be taught...athleticism, which he has, can't.
Rd #4 - Tashard Choice, RB, Georiga Tech
The Good: He is a natural runner with a nice combination of size, quickness, power and cutting skills. When he runs with good pad level, he dishes out punishment on tacklers with his downhill running style. He has good balance and body control. The Bad: He lacks the extra gear to run away from defenders consistently. He runs in a straight-up style at times and takes too many hits as a result. Has had some injury concerns.
My Take: Since the team didn't resign Tyson Thompson, the Cowboys needed another RB to go behind Barber and Jones. We may, or may not, see that much of him except in trash time but this was a good pick to give insurance in case either Barber or Jones gets injured. Since he played in a major conference against good competition, I'm not too worried that, if asked, he won't be able to get the job done once he learns the NFL.
Rd #5 - Orlando Scandrick , CB, Boise State
The Good: Scandrick displayed game-to-game consistency last fall to maintain a high grade. He performed well against top conference receivers and passers. He has the size and athleticism to match up against big receivers, and is quick enough to cover smaller receivers. He has the recovery speed to make up ground in the deep game and make a play on the ball. Despite his compact smallish frame, he is a tough defender who will come up and make a tackle. The Bad: He will have to improve his overall strength and some basic techniques - especially the bump and run moves - to earn early NFL playing time as a nickel corner.
My Take: Since I don't watch Boise State, I don't know a thing about this guy so I'm going to have to take Rivals word for it that he played week against top conference WRs. Add this guy to the platoon of CBs Dallas already has in Alan Ball, Quincy Butler and Evan Oglesby. I know they like Alan Ball so I bet he sticks around so it's going to be a dog fight to see, between Butler, Oglesby and Scandrick, who can make the team. Once again, can't have too many good CBs.
Rd #6 - Erik Walden, DE, Middle Tennessee State
The Good: Walden was the Sun Belt’s top pass rusher the past few seasons. He has 22.5 career sacks, including 10 as a junior. This hybrid pass rusher could stick on a team that utilizes a 3-4 defensive scheme. The Bad: Walden may be relegated to a role as a situational pass rusher or special teams performer.
My Take: Again, since I didn't see MTSU play, I don't know anything about this guy. However, I was reminded today that Dallas picked up Jay Ratliff in the 7th round a couple of years ago and he is now a starter. Sounds like Dallas has the right defensive scheme for him to be successful so who knows, this guy could become a solid contributor eventually.
Overall, the Cowboys were able to do a little bit of everything in this draft except address their WR need which, I think, is pretty big. I'm not too concerned with Owens but I'm more than a little concerned about Terry Glenn getting back to his previous form. He's 34 and had 2 surgeries on his knee within 6 months last year. And keep in mind that Glenn's whole game is speed. He doesn't go over the middle to keep chains moving...he is a burner that you send on a fly route, to the post or on a flea flicker. Dallas needs to get a answer to this issue. I think we saw that Patrick Crayton, while being a solid #3 receiver, is just that...a #3, not a #2. This is where I think Roy Williams would have been a HUGE asset. But oh well...
I was pleased with the draft but don't expect many of the pundits and talking heads to give it more than a "C" grade, maybe a "B-" at most. But being 13-3 last season, the Cowboys didn't need to have an "A" draft. Let's hope it doesn't go back to that anytime soon.
Rd #1 - Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
The Good: Jones has the quickness to be a difference-maker as a runner, receiver or kick returner. He has the quick burst to get through the hole, and boasts the ability to get to top speed quickly. As a receiver, he has a good sense of route-running. Though he may be best as a third-down back, he could surprise as a change-of-pace runner with the ability to create some interesting mismatches on early downs. The Bad: He wasn’t an every-down back at Arkansas; can he be one in the NFL? While he shows the willingness to block, his limited experience in handling that assignment could hurt his early playing time.
My Take: Solid pick here. I actually thought, since he was still available that they would take Rashard Mendenhall from Illinois however I think Jones is more complimentary to Marion Barber because Mendenhall's style is a lot like Barber's. Jones looks like he has that 5th gear, that Julius had. But, I'm a little concerned about weather Felix carry out blocking assignments and pick up blitzes. A friend of mine, Chance Justice, put it this way: "Jones (Jerry) got his Jones (Felix) which looks to be better than the former Jones (Julius)." Let's hope so...
Rd #1 - Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
The Good: Jenkins has the athletic package to become a top-flight NFL cover man. He has the size, speed, quickness and instincts to become a starting pro cover man. His change-of-direction skills allow him to match up in man coverage. He is a well-built athlete who moves very well and is quick to react to routes and the ball in flight. He can be a physical defender - especially when he uses the bump-and-run technique. The Bad: He has performed better in zone coverage than man-to-man situations and needs to be technically sound consistently against fast receivers in one-on-one situations.
My Take: Again, this was a solid pick (even though, as I said above, I would have liked to have seen this pick traded for a vet WR). Rivals actually has Jenkins as the #3 CB in the whole draft so I think he should be a stud. I remember hearing the knock on him was being inconsistent though. This was a wise pick because Dallas didn't want to let the recent Pac Man trade to dictate what they did in the draft...who knows if he will even be reinstate and, if so, if he will keep his nose clean and stay reinstated. If that whole thing falls through, then Dallas has assured themselves of a top tier CB who can step right in. Plus, if there is one thing I heard (and saw last year) about cornerbacks is that a team can never have enough good ones.
Rd #2 - Martellus Bennett, TE, Texas A&M
The Good: This athletic junior is a big, angular athlete with long limbs and natural pass-catching skills. He has fine athleticism with the speed to get into the deep seam and make the big play. He has good hands and can gain yardage after making catches. He is a difficult red-zone match up. He has fine leaping ability and a good understanding of coverage. He is especially effective in the shorter routes, where his size, agility and body control allow him to win jump-ball situations and create major match up problems. The Bad: He relies on finesse as a blocker and needs development. He shows inconsistent blocking technique with marginal strength, especially in the lower body. He fails to play with consistent leverage and comes off the snap too high, which negates his size.
My Take: This was a pick to replace the exodus of Anthony Fasano, which Dallas traded on Friday for a 4th round pick. Looks like he is a good receiving TE but not blocking...just like Tony Curtis. Blocking though is something that can also be taught...athleticism, which he has, can't.
Rd #4 - Tashard Choice, RB, Georiga Tech
The Good: He is a natural runner with a nice combination of size, quickness, power and cutting skills. When he runs with good pad level, he dishes out punishment on tacklers with his downhill running style. He has good balance and body control. The Bad: He lacks the extra gear to run away from defenders consistently. He runs in a straight-up style at times and takes too many hits as a result. Has had some injury concerns.
My Take: Since the team didn't resign Tyson Thompson, the Cowboys needed another RB to go behind Barber and Jones. We may, or may not, see that much of him except in trash time but this was a good pick to give insurance in case either Barber or Jones gets injured. Since he played in a major conference against good competition, I'm not too worried that, if asked, he won't be able to get the job done once he learns the NFL.
Rd #5 - Orlando Scandrick , CB, Boise State
The Good: Scandrick displayed game-to-game consistency last fall to maintain a high grade. He performed well against top conference receivers and passers. He has the size and athleticism to match up against big receivers, and is quick enough to cover smaller receivers. He has the recovery speed to make up ground in the deep game and make a play on the ball. Despite his compact smallish frame, he is a tough defender who will come up and make a tackle. The Bad: He will have to improve his overall strength and some basic techniques - especially the bump and run moves - to earn early NFL playing time as a nickel corner.
My Take: Since I don't watch Boise State, I don't know a thing about this guy so I'm going to have to take Rivals word for it that he played week against top conference WRs. Add this guy to the platoon of CBs Dallas already has in Alan Ball, Quincy Butler and Evan Oglesby. I know they like Alan Ball so I bet he sticks around so it's going to be a dog fight to see, between Butler, Oglesby and Scandrick, who can make the team. Once again, can't have too many good CBs.
Rd #6 - Erik Walden, DE, Middle Tennessee State
The Good: Walden was the Sun Belt’s top pass rusher the past few seasons. He has 22.5 career sacks, including 10 as a junior. This hybrid pass rusher could stick on a team that utilizes a 3-4 defensive scheme. The Bad: Walden may be relegated to a role as a situational pass rusher or special teams performer.
My Take: Again, since I didn't see MTSU play, I don't know anything about this guy. However, I was reminded today that Dallas picked up Jay Ratliff in the 7th round a couple of years ago and he is now a starter. Sounds like Dallas has the right defensive scheme for him to be successful so who knows, this guy could become a solid contributor eventually.
Overall, the Cowboys were able to do a little bit of everything in this draft except address their WR need which, I think, is pretty big. I'm not too concerned with Owens but I'm more than a little concerned about Terry Glenn getting back to his previous form. He's 34 and had 2 surgeries on his knee within 6 months last year. And keep in mind that Glenn's whole game is speed. He doesn't go over the middle to keep chains moving...he is a burner that you send on a fly route, to the post or on a flea flicker. Dallas needs to get a answer to this issue. I think we saw that Patrick Crayton, while being a solid #3 receiver, is just that...a #3, not a #2. This is where I think Roy Williams would have been a HUGE asset. But oh well...
I was pleased with the draft but don't expect many of the pundits and talking heads to give it more than a "C" grade, maybe a "B-" at most. But being 13-3 last season, the Cowboys didn't need to have an "A" draft. Let's hope it doesn't go back to that anytime soon.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Back in the Win Column
That is what I'm used to seeing from the Mavs. A solid game, all around, leading to a 97-87 win over New Orleans. Of course the Mavs were playing at home where they were one of the best in the NBA this season but aside from that, I saw so many things during tonight's game that I didn't see in Game 2. For one thing, Dallas did a great job of clamping down on Chris Paul and David West. Combined, they were 10 of 38 for 30 points whereas in game 1, they were 23 of 41 for 58 points and game 2 they were 21 of 33 for 59 points. That is where Dallas beat New Orleans...limiting those two guys. Holding Peja to 13 points (9 of those from the 3 point arc) didn't hurt either. One thing I didn't see from New Orleans was all the laughing and goofing around they were doing on the bench during game 2. Tonight, things were a bit more serious for them.
Another thing that I saw from the Mavs was energy and aggressiveness. In game 2 especially, the Mavs just seemed to wilt and back down. They were not aggressive, didn't go for loose balls or rebounds and basically didn't look like they were interested in playing. Tonight, with the crowd behind them, they looked like a totally different team. They played confidently and just seemed to play like they had a chip on their shoulder.
Dallas still needs to play a bit better with their pick 'n roll defense but that isn't anything new. Janerro Pargo did go for 30 in the game but he was the Hornet's only real offensive threat. And if there is a choice between Pargo going for 30 and Chris Paul going for 30, I'll take my chance with Pargo any day of the week. It not great that a bench player scored that much but oh well. The Mavs got the win and got back in this series.
I'm hoping on Sunday Dallas can continue the home cookin' and roll up another W to tie the series. I'm still sticking to my original prediction that Dallas wins the series in 7 and winning again on Sunday will go a long way toward my prediction coming to fruition. A lot of the media around here were already counting Dallas out of this and have started projecting who the next Mavs coach would be (after Avery gets fired). However, I seem to remember another team 2 years ago in the Finals that was down 0-2 in the series and was down 13 points with 6 minutes to go in game 3. That's when Dwayne Wade took over and willed Miami to four straight wins over the Mavs. If Dallas can remember that, maybe they can turn the tables and do the same thing to New Orleans. How great would it be to push those punky Hornets players out of the playoffs! At this point, that would almost be better than doing the same thing to San Antonio...almost.
Another thing that I saw from the Mavs was energy and aggressiveness. In game 2 especially, the Mavs just seemed to wilt and back down. They were not aggressive, didn't go for loose balls or rebounds and basically didn't look like they were interested in playing. Tonight, with the crowd behind them, they looked like a totally different team. They played confidently and just seemed to play like they had a chip on their shoulder.
Dallas still needs to play a bit better with their pick 'n roll defense but that isn't anything new. Janerro Pargo did go for 30 in the game but he was the Hornet's only real offensive threat. And if there is a choice between Pargo going for 30 and Chris Paul going for 30, I'll take my chance with Pargo any day of the week. It not great that a bench player scored that much but oh well. The Mavs got the win and got back in this series.
I'm hoping on Sunday Dallas can continue the home cookin' and roll up another W to tie the series. I'm still sticking to my original prediction that Dallas wins the series in 7 and winning again on Sunday will go a long way toward my prediction coming to fruition. A lot of the media around here were already counting Dallas out of this and have started projecting who the next Mavs coach would be (after Avery gets fired). However, I seem to remember another team 2 years ago in the Finals that was down 0-2 in the series and was down 13 points with 6 minutes to go in game 3. That's when Dwayne Wade took over and willed Miami to four straight wins over the Mavs. If Dallas can remember that, maybe they can turn the tables and do the same thing to New Orleans. How great would it be to push those punky Hornets players out of the playoffs! At this point, that would almost be better than doing the same thing to San Antonio...almost.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Pac Man’s Coming to Dallas
Well, as much as I hate to write this, it appears Adam “Pac Man” Jones will be a Cowboy next season. The terms of the trade Dallas completed with Tennessee look like this:
-Tennessee will get a 4th round pick from Saturday’s draft and if Jones is reinstated and keeps his nose clean, Tennessee will get a 6th round pick from Dallas in next year’s draft.
-If Pac Man, who is currently serving a year suspension for various misconduct violations, is not reinstated by the NFL commissioner, the Cowboys would get a 4th round pick back from Tennessee in next year’s draft. And if he is reinstated, but screws around and gets suspended again next season, Tennessee would give Dallas a 5th round pick in next year’s draft.
Here is a little background on Pac Man, in case you’ve been on a desert island. Pac Man was the first defensive player (corner back) drafted in 2005, sixth overall out of West Virginia. He was one of the Titans best defensive players as well as one of the league’s best punt returners. In 2006 he had four interceptions and also led the NFL that year with an average punt return of 12.9 yards and three TDs. So clearly, he can play ball and be an effective player as well.
However, his off the field behavior is what got him into hot water with the NFL commissioner. Since he was drafted in 2005, he has been arrested 6 times and been involved in 12 incidents where the police were called to intervene. He did all that in basically 2 years. So, in an effort to curb this recklessness, the NFL commissioner suspended Jones for the ENTIRE 2007 season…which had never been done in the past. The commissioner refused to reduce the suspension to 10 games and said he would consider reinstatement prior to the opening of this season’s training camp if Pac Man continued conducting himself “in a way that represents the NFL in a positive manner.”
Jerry Jones is taking a gamble as he did with Terrell Owens 2 years ago and Tank Johnson last season. But Pac Man’s situation is a bit different than those two guys. While being a malcontent with the 49ers and Eagels, T.O. Owens was not a criminal. And Tank Johnson has come out publicly, taken responsibility for his past problems and promised he would turn over a new leaf, which he has to this point. Pac Man is a serious criminal element and not only has he not publicly taken responsibility for his actions but has been reported of continually visiting a strip clubs, which can’t be good for his case to be reinstated. I don’t care if he thinks he has the right to visit strip clubs…in my eyes that is definitely not “representing the NFL in a positive manner.”
Even though Pac Man’s salary isn’t that much ($1.74 million in 2008) and his upside is HUGE, as a top tier CB and kick returner, I don’t like this move (I also didn’t like Jones bringing in Owens or Johnson at the time). This guy is bad news. He is an idiot, has no character, no class and I predict this is not the end of his legal problems. I’ve heard those in favor of the trade say that Dallas is in a no lose situation because if Pac Man steps out of line, the Cowboys can cut ties immediately and even get a 5th round draft pick back from the Titans. But my question is this: where do you draw the line?
Pac Man Jones is an incredible talent that shouldn’t be reinstated in the league until he can prove he can handle the privileges of being an NFL player. And the flagship franchise of the NFL shouldn’t be taking chances on miscreants like this. Only time will tell if he can shape up. I’m betting he won’t though.
-Tennessee will get a 4th round pick from Saturday’s draft and if Jones is reinstated and keeps his nose clean, Tennessee will get a 6th round pick from Dallas in next year’s draft.
-If Pac Man, who is currently serving a year suspension for various misconduct violations, is not reinstated by the NFL commissioner, the Cowboys would get a 4th round pick back from Tennessee in next year’s draft. And if he is reinstated, but screws around and gets suspended again next season, Tennessee would give Dallas a 5th round pick in next year’s draft.
Here is a little background on Pac Man, in case you’ve been on a desert island. Pac Man was the first defensive player (corner back) drafted in 2005, sixth overall out of West Virginia. He was one of the Titans best defensive players as well as one of the league’s best punt returners. In 2006 he had four interceptions and also led the NFL that year with an average punt return of 12.9 yards and three TDs. So clearly, he can play ball and be an effective player as well.
However, his off the field behavior is what got him into hot water with the NFL commissioner. Since he was drafted in 2005, he has been arrested 6 times and been involved in 12 incidents where the police were called to intervene. He did all that in basically 2 years. So, in an effort to curb this recklessness, the NFL commissioner suspended Jones for the ENTIRE 2007 season…which had never been done in the past. The commissioner refused to reduce the suspension to 10 games and said he would consider reinstatement prior to the opening of this season’s training camp if Pac Man continued conducting himself “in a way that represents the NFL in a positive manner.”
Jerry Jones is taking a gamble as he did with Terrell Owens 2 years ago and Tank Johnson last season. But Pac Man’s situation is a bit different than those two guys. While being a malcontent with the 49ers and Eagels, T.O. Owens was not a criminal. And Tank Johnson has come out publicly, taken responsibility for his past problems and promised he would turn over a new leaf, which he has to this point. Pac Man is a serious criminal element and not only has he not publicly taken responsibility for his actions but has been reported of continually visiting a strip clubs, which can’t be good for his case to be reinstated. I don’t care if he thinks he has the right to visit strip clubs…in my eyes that is definitely not “representing the NFL in a positive manner.”
Even though Pac Man’s salary isn’t that much ($1.74 million in 2008) and his upside is HUGE, as a top tier CB and kick returner, I don’t like this move (I also didn’t like Jones bringing in Owens or Johnson at the time). This guy is bad news. He is an idiot, has no character, no class and I predict this is not the end of his legal problems. I’ve heard those in favor of the trade say that Dallas is in a no lose situation because if Pac Man steps out of line, the Cowboys can cut ties immediately and even get a 5th round draft pick back from the Titans. But my question is this: where do you draw the line?
Pac Man Jones is an incredible talent that shouldn’t be reinstated in the league until he can prove he can handle the privileges of being an NFL player. And the flagship franchise of the NFL shouldn’t be taking chances on miscreants like this. Only time will tell if he can shape up. I’m betting he won’t though.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Another Dreadful Game. Is This Golden State All Over Again?
Well, before last night’s game, I really thought to myself that Dallas would find a way to win it. I thought it would probably be close (3-5 point difference) but the Mavs would shake off that bad second half of the first game and come back strong last night. I was sooooooooooooooo wrong. As opposed to just the second half being bad (as was the case in game 1), the entire game was horrendous for Dallas. Heck, having a bad game would have been improvement but what they rolled out there last night reminded me so much of the series to Golden State last year that my faith that Dallas will win the series is now shaken. I’m not knee jerking to the point of thinking the Mavs are done and will get swept but that’s getting closer.
I’ve said before that Dirk is not the problem with this team and that hasn’t changed. Another thing that hasn’t changed is that Dirk is getting little help from his team. The Hornets starters outscored the Mavs starters 103-59. The starters for Dallas went 3 of 7 from the 3 point arc where as New Orleans’ starters went 8 of 14 (most from Peja who Dallas didn’t really bother to guard all night). Dallas’ defense was non-existent as New Orleans shot 60% for the game and had COUNTLESS uncontested dunks, lay ups and open jump shots, just like the Golden State series last year. And if those stats weren’t bad enough, Dallas committed more than double the amount of turnovers (15) than New Orleans committed (6). Put all that into a pot, mix it together and you come up with a 127-103 loss…and a very ugly loss at that.
My only hope for the Mavs is that coming home will reinvigorate and refocus the team because it was apparent from the last 6 quarters that they were not focused at all. The Mavs do play well at home so I hope that after 4 games the series will be tied up at 2-2 and then the Mavs can pull a rabbit from their hat and steal game 5 in New Orleans. If it comes down to a game 7 in The Big Easy, I don’t think Dallas will emerge victorious. Dallas needs to grow and pair and prove that they belong in the playoffs. Right now, it doesn’t look like they belong, nor want to.
Speaking of New Orleans, other than the food there (which is really good by the way), I REALLY dislike that town. First off, the vast majority of those in New Orleans are LSWho? fans, which are by definition classless…strike 1. Second, I saw how classless the Saints fans were when they came to Dallas to play the Cowboys 2 years ago…strike 2. And after witnessing the last couple of Hornets games, and the classless fan they have, I’m totally out on New Orleans. I’m sorry that they went through all the mess with Katrina and my heart goes out to them for that. But as far as being sports fans, I’m out on them I wish nothing but failure on any team (professional or otherwise) from there, period. Harsh I know, and maybe I’m still bitter about how the Mavs are performing in this series. Maybe I’ll change my tune about New Orleans somewhere down the road but somehow I doubt it.
I’ve said before that Dirk is not the problem with this team and that hasn’t changed. Another thing that hasn’t changed is that Dirk is getting little help from his team. The Hornets starters outscored the Mavs starters 103-59. The starters for Dallas went 3 of 7 from the 3 point arc where as New Orleans’ starters went 8 of 14 (most from Peja who Dallas didn’t really bother to guard all night). Dallas’ defense was non-existent as New Orleans shot 60% for the game and had COUNTLESS uncontested dunks, lay ups and open jump shots, just like the Golden State series last year. And if those stats weren’t bad enough, Dallas committed more than double the amount of turnovers (15) than New Orleans committed (6). Put all that into a pot, mix it together and you come up with a 127-103 loss…and a very ugly loss at that.
My only hope for the Mavs is that coming home will reinvigorate and refocus the team because it was apparent from the last 6 quarters that they were not focused at all. The Mavs do play well at home so I hope that after 4 games the series will be tied up at 2-2 and then the Mavs can pull a rabbit from their hat and steal game 5 in New Orleans. If it comes down to a game 7 in The Big Easy, I don’t think Dallas will emerge victorious. Dallas needs to grow and pair and prove that they belong in the playoffs. Right now, it doesn’t look like they belong, nor want to.
Speaking of New Orleans, other than the food there (which is really good by the way), I REALLY dislike that town. First off, the vast majority of those in New Orleans are LSWho? fans, which are by definition classless…strike 1. Second, I saw how classless the Saints fans were when they came to Dallas to play the Cowboys 2 years ago…strike 2. And after witnessing the last couple of Hornets games, and the classless fan they have, I’m totally out on New Orleans. I’m sorry that they went through all the mess with Katrina and my heart goes out to them for that. But as far as being sports fans, I’m out on them I wish nothing but failure on any team (professional or otherwise) from there, period. Harsh I know, and maybe I’m still bitter about how the Mavs are performing in this series. Maybe I’ll change my tune about New Orleans somewhere down the road but somehow I doubt it.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Not a Good Start to the Playoffs
I know I'm a day late on posting my thoughts on the Mavs first playoff game but better late than never. I actually only got to watch the first half of the game and then went to dinner with some friends. At the half, Dallas was up 12 points, they had held Chris Paul to only 11 points, held New Orleans to only 38% shooting and they were playing a solid game. That is where I left thinking that Dallas was picking back up where they left off last Wednesday when they played New Orleans and would go on to win. However, then came the second half...
I've read about it and heard all day people calling in to the radio station I listen to ranting and raving about the Mavs sucky second half performance. The amount of knee jerking around this town today would stun a mastodon. But from what has happened around here the past two post seasons, with the Mavs being subject of the two biggest post season collapses in NBA history, I don't know if I blame the fans for pushing the panic button so quickly. The Mavs were up by 12 at halftime and ended up losing by 12. That 24 point swing is also what is making people want Avery's head under the guillotine.
Without rehashing the game, here are my thoughts. From the looks and sounds of things, Dallas played a dreadful 2nd half. They shot 9-36 (25%), had 8 turnovers, allowed the Hornets to shoot 56% and allowed Chris Paul to dominate...again. However, that was one bad half of basketball. And basically, you can interchange the second half of Saturday's game with the second half of last Wednesday, except last Wednesday the Mavs were on the positive side rather than N.O. (last Wednesday, Dallas beat the Hornets by 13 points and went on a 30-6 second half run). And even thought the second half of Saturday's game was awful, teams run into that. I still think Dallas is going to win the series in 7 but they've got a lot of work to do in order to get there.
And all this business about Dirk "backing down from David West" and that "Dirk wears a skirt instead of a jock"...I've heard it all day and you know what, it's freaking hogwash. David West (when is the last time he was even in the playoffs?) bowed up to Dirk and people are criticizing Dirk for not giving it right back to West. Dirk did the right thing in my opinion, in blowing it off, because had he made an issue of it there is a good chance he could have gotten tossed out of the game and suspended for game #2...and then where the would the Mavs be? Quite often in sports, the refs penalize the guy that retaliates and not the instigator. Dirk just needs to be mindful that West will try to pull him offsides again but he needs to just fight through that and play his game.
Dirk IS NOT the reason the team lost the other night as he poured in 31 points (most of the game) and 10 rebounds. The problem with this team is not their William Wallace, it's the role players around him. Josh Howard had 2 second half points. What?!?!?! He could only muster 2 points in the second half? And Jason Terry only had 8 points for the whole game. And for a player whose ENTIRE game is shooting, that is laying an egg. Stackhouse didn't play well, Devon George (when he played) didn't bring anything to the table and how in the name of Zeus' butt hole did Juwan Howard even get into the game?!?!?!? That guy is a bigger zero that Shawn Bradley (did I just write that?).
Dallas will be fine this series. They just need to get back to what they were doing the final half dozen games of the season. I'm sticking by that but they need to pull this thing out of the ditch quick or it's going to be another "Golden State series"...and I don't know if I can take that again.
I've read about it and heard all day people calling in to the radio station I listen to ranting and raving about the Mavs sucky second half performance. The amount of knee jerking around this town today would stun a mastodon. But from what has happened around here the past two post seasons, with the Mavs being subject of the two biggest post season collapses in NBA history, I don't know if I blame the fans for pushing the panic button so quickly. The Mavs were up by 12 at halftime and ended up losing by 12. That 24 point swing is also what is making people want Avery's head under the guillotine.
Without rehashing the game, here are my thoughts. From the looks and sounds of things, Dallas played a dreadful 2nd half. They shot 9-36 (25%), had 8 turnovers, allowed the Hornets to shoot 56% and allowed Chris Paul to dominate...again. However, that was one bad half of basketball. And basically, you can interchange the second half of Saturday's game with the second half of last Wednesday, except last Wednesday the Mavs were on the positive side rather than N.O. (last Wednesday, Dallas beat the Hornets by 13 points and went on a 30-6 second half run). And even thought the second half of Saturday's game was awful, teams run into that. I still think Dallas is going to win the series in 7 but they've got a lot of work to do in order to get there.
And all this business about Dirk "backing down from David West" and that "Dirk wears a skirt instead of a jock"...I've heard it all day and you know what, it's freaking hogwash. David West (when is the last time he was even in the playoffs?) bowed up to Dirk and people are criticizing Dirk for not giving it right back to West. Dirk did the right thing in my opinion, in blowing it off, because had he made an issue of it there is a good chance he could have gotten tossed out of the game and suspended for game #2...and then where the would the Mavs be? Quite often in sports, the refs penalize the guy that retaliates and not the instigator. Dirk just needs to be mindful that West will try to pull him offsides again but he needs to just fight through that and play his game.
Dirk IS NOT the reason the team lost the other night as he poured in 31 points (most of the game) and 10 rebounds. The problem with this team is not their William Wallace, it's the role players around him. Josh Howard had 2 second half points. What?!?!?! He could only muster 2 points in the second half? And Jason Terry only had 8 points for the whole game. And for a player whose ENTIRE game is shooting, that is laying an egg. Stackhouse didn't play well, Devon George (when he played) didn't bring anything to the table and how in the name of Zeus' butt hole did Juwan Howard even get into the game?!?!?!? That guy is a bigger zero that Shawn Bradley (did I just write that?).
Dallas will be fine this series. They just need to get back to what they were doing the final half dozen games of the season. I'm sticking by that but they need to pull this thing out of the ditch quick or it's going to be another "Golden State series"...and I don't know if I can take that again.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Rest of the West
Here is a breakdown of the NBA playoffs pairings for the Western Conference:
(8) Denver Nuggets vs. (1) Los Angeles Lakers
Series tied 0-0 Series Breakdown
Playoff History
1. Sun, Apr 20 – at LAL, 3:00 pm EDT (ABC)
2. Wed, Apr 23 – at LAL, 10:30 pm EDT (TNT)
3. Sat, Apr 26 – at Den, 5:30 pm EDT (TNT)
4. Mon, Apr 28 – at Den, 10:30 pm EDT (TNT)
*5. Wed, Apr 30 – at LAL
*6. Fri, May 2 – at Den
*7. Sun, May 4 – at LAL
Playoff History
(7) Dallas Mavericks vs. (2) New Orleans Hornets
Series tied 0-0 Series Breakdown
Playoff History
1. Sat, Apr 19 – at NO, 7:00 pm EDT (ESPN)
2. Tue, Apr 22 – at NO, 7:00 pm EDT (TNT)
3. Fri, Apr 25 – at Dal, 8:00 pm EDT (ESPN)
4. Sun, Apr 27 – at Dal, 9:30 pm EDT (TNT)
*5. Tue, Apr 29 – at NO
*6. Thu, May 1 – at Dal
*7. Sat, May 3 – at NO (TNT)
Playoff History
(6) Phoenix Suns vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs
Series tied 0-0 Series Breakdown
Playoff History
1. Sat, Apr 19 – at SA, 3:00 pm EDT (ABC)
2. Tue, Apr 22 – at SA, 9:30 pm EDT (TNT)
3. Fri, Apr 25 – at Pho, 10:30 pm EDT (ESPN)
4. Sun, Apr 27 – at Pho, 3:30 pm EDT (ABC)
*5. Tue, Apr 29 – at SA
*6. Thu, May 1 – at Pho
*7. Sat, May 3 – at SA (TNT)
Playoff History
(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Houston Rockets
Series tied 0-0 Series Breakdown
Playoff History
1. Sat, Apr 19 – at Hou, 9:30 pm EDT (ESPN)
2. Mon, Apr 21 – at Hou, 9:30 pm EDT (TNT)
3. Thu, Apr 24 – at Uta, 10:30 pm EDT (TNT)
4. Sat, Apr 26 – at Uta, 10:30 pm EDT (ESPN)
*5. Tue, Apr 29 – at Hou
*6. Fri, May 2 – at Uta
*7. Sun, May 4 – at Hou
Playoff History
My Picks
Western Conference
Round 1: Lakers vs. Nuggets - Lakers in 5
Hornets vs. Mavericks – Mavericks in 7
Spurs vs. Suns – Suns in 7
Jazz vs. Rockets – Jazz in 6
Round 2: Lakers vs. Jazz – Lakers in 6
Suns vs. Mavericks – Mavericks in 7
Round 3: Lakers vs. Mavericks – Lakers in 6
NBA Finals
Celtics vs. Lakers – Lakers in 7
(8) Denver Nuggets vs. (1) Los Angeles Lakers
Series tied 0-0 Series Breakdown
Playoff History
1. Sun, Apr 20 – at LAL, 3:00 pm EDT (ABC)
2. Wed, Apr 23 – at LAL, 10:30 pm EDT (TNT)
3. Sat, Apr 26 – at Den, 5:30 pm EDT (TNT)
4. Mon, Apr 28 – at Den, 10:30 pm EDT (TNT)
*5. Wed, Apr 30 – at LAL
*6. Fri, May 2 – at Den
*7. Sun, May 4 – at LAL
Playoff History
(7) Dallas Mavericks vs. (2) New Orleans Hornets
Series tied 0-0 Series Breakdown
Playoff History
1. Sat, Apr 19 – at NO, 7:00 pm EDT (ESPN)
2. Tue, Apr 22 – at NO, 7:00 pm EDT (TNT)
3. Fri, Apr 25 – at Dal, 8:00 pm EDT (ESPN)
4. Sun, Apr 27 – at Dal, 9:30 pm EDT (TNT)
*5. Tue, Apr 29 – at NO
*6. Thu, May 1 – at Dal
*7. Sat, May 3 – at NO (TNT)
Playoff History
(6) Phoenix Suns vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs
Series tied 0-0 Series Breakdown
Playoff History
1. Sat, Apr 19 – at SA, 3:00 pm EDT (ABC)
2. Tue, Apr 22 – at SA, 9:30 pm EDT (TNT)
3. Fri, Apr 25 – at Pho, 10:30 pm EDT (ESPN)
4. Sun, Apr 27 – at Pho, 3:30 pm EDT (ABC)
*5. Tue, Apr 29 – at SA
*6. Thu, May 1 – at Pho
*7. Sat, May 3 – at SA (TNT)
Playoff History
(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Houston Rockets
Series tied 0-0 Series Breakdown
Playoff History
1. Sat, Apr 19 – at Hou, 9:30 pm EDT (ESPN)
2. Mon, Apr 21 – at Hou, 9:30 pm EDT (TNT)
3. Thu, Apr 24 – at Uta, 10:30 pm EDT (TNT)
4. Sat, Apr 26 – at Uta, 10:30 pm EDT (ESPN)
*5. Tue, Apr 29 – at Hou
*6. Fri, May 2 – at Uta
*7. Sun, May 4 – at Hou
Playoff History
My Picks
Western Conference
Round 1: Lakers vs. Nuggets - Lakers in 5
Hornets vs. Mavericks – Mavericks in 7
Spurs vs. Suns – Suns in 7
Jazz vs. Rockets – Jazz in 6
Round 2: Lakers vs. Jazz – Lakers in 6
Suns vs. Mavericks – Mavericks in 7
Round 3: Lakers vs. Mavericks – Lakers in 6
NBA Finals
Celtics vs. Lakers – Lakers in 7
Bring On The Hornets
Well, the NBA playoff pairings are set and the Mavs will be playing the New Orleans Hornets. Dallas played New Orleans last night for the right to play them in the playoffs and while the game was a bit more meaningful to the Mavs, the Hornets didn’t back down and rest their starters like I thought they might.
The Hornets already knew they were locked into the #2 seed…beating Dallas or losing to Dallas would not change that. So, I thought the Hornets would play their starters the first half, maybe, and then put in their backups the rest of the game. I was sorely mistaken as New Orleans played their starters the whole game.
Even though the game meant a little more to Dallas than it did to New Orleans, the Mavs didn’t show it in the first half. It seemed like, for a while, that Dallas was just content to make it into the playoffs, which was the attitude they took last weekend losing to 2 non-playoff teams in Portland and Seattle. However, just when it looked like New Orleans was going to pull away from Dallas, Brandon Bass threw down a vicious dunk that not only sparked the crowd but sparked the rest of the Mavs roster. From there, Dallas went on a 30-8 run that took them from down by 11 to leading by 13. Jason Kidd and Jason Terry really stepped up their game, each one scoring 27 points and 30 points respectively which is exactly what Dallas needed because New Orleans kept Dirk in check all night long (he was 4 of 16 shooting for only 12 points). Jason Kidd also hit a major milestone by recording his 100th triple-double of his career.
New Orleans cut the lead to 4 points, at 100-96, but then Dallas pulled away and ended up winning 111-98. Again, New Orleans was playing all their starters right up until the end of the game. I think that is huge because if the Hornets had rested their starters, they could say that they really didn’t try to win (cough, cough…like the Mavs did last year) but that things will be different in the playoffs when Dallas has to contend against their full roster and not just backups. Not so in this case. New Orleans gave it their all and still lost by 13.
Even though this is #2 vs. #7, this is not the typical 2/7 match up. Most years, a #2 seed will have anywhere from 58 to 60 wins and a #7 seed will typically have 45-48 wins. However, New Orleans has 56 wins and Dallas has 51 wins so there really isn’t that much separation between the two teams. Below is a comparison between the teams, when they played each other this season:
Individual Stats:
Scoring - D. Nowitzki : 23.6 point per game; C. Paul: 21.1 point per game
Rebounds - D. Nowitzki: 8.6; T. Chandler: 11.8
Assists - J. Kidd: 9.5; C. Paul: 11.6
Steals - J. Kidd: 2.1; C. Paul: 2.7
Blocks -E. Dampier: 1.5; D. West: 1.3
Team Stats:
Rebounds - Dallas: 43.0; New Orleans: 41.8
Assists - Dallas: 21.0; New Orleans: 21.8
Steals - Dallas: 6.0; New Orleans: 7.8
Points Scored - Dallas: 100.4; New Orleans: 100.9
Points Allowed - Dallas: 95.9; New Orleans: 95.6
Most of the “experts” think, as I do, that the Mavs will prevail in this series. And if that happens, I really don’t think it will be that much of an upset even though it would be a #2 seed losing in the first round. As I pointed out above, the teams are pretty evenly matched and in the season series, both team’s wins came at home. That really only leaves playoff experience…which the Mavs have a lot of (the past 8 seasons) and the Hornets don’t. That is why I think the Mavs will move on to round 2. The playoffs are a different animal than the regular season; everything is ratcheted up a notch. Every position is huge and the half court offense and playing defense becomes more important. And while New Orleans is a great team with a bright future, their lack of playoff experience will catch up with them here.
My prediction: Mavs in 7.
The Hornets already knew they were locked into the #2 seed…beating Dallas or losing to Dallas would not change that. So, I thought the Hornets would play their starters the first half, maybe, and then put in their backups the rest of the game. I was sorely mistaken as New Orleans played their starters the whole game.
Even though the game meant a little more to Dallas than it did to New Orleans, the Mavs didn’t show it in the first half. It seemed like, for a while, that Dallas was just content to make it into the playoffs, which was the attitude they took last weekend losing to 2 non-playoff teams in Portland and Seattle. However, just when it looked like New Orleans was going to pull away from Dallas, Brandon Bass threw down a vicious dunk that not only sparked the crowd but sparked the rest of the Mavs roster. From there, Dallas went on a 30-8 run that took them from down by 11 to leading by 13. Jason Kidd and Jason Terry really stepped up their game, each one scoring 27 points and 30 points respectively which is exactly what Dallas needed because New Orleans kept Dirk in check all night long (he was 4 of 16 shooting for only 12 points). Jason Kidd also hit a major milestone by recording his 100th triple-double of his career.
New Orleans cut the lead to 4 points, at 100-96, but then Dallas pulled away and ended up winning 111-98. Again, New Orleans was playing all their starters right up until the end of the game. I think that is huge because if the Hornets had rested their starters, they could say that they really didn’t try to win (cough, cough…like the Mavs did last year) but that things will be different in the playoffs when Dallas has to contend against their full roster and not just backups. Not so in this case. New Orleans gave it their all and still lost by 13.
Even though this is #2 vs. #7, this is not the typical 2/7 match up. Most years, a #2 seed will have anywhere from 58 to 60 wins and a #7 seed will typically have 45-48 wins. However, New Orleans has 56 wins and Dallas has 51 wins so there really isn’t that much separation between the two teams. Below is a comparison between the teams, when they played each other this season:
Individual Stats:
Scoring - D. Nowitzki : 23.6 point per game; C. Paul: 21.1 point per game
Rebounds - D. Nowitzki: 8.6; T. Chandler: 11.8
Assists - J. Kidd: 9.5; C. Paul: 11.6
Steals - J. Kidd: 2.1; C. Paul: 2.7
Blocks -E. Dampier: 1.5; D. West: 1.3
Team Stats:
Rebounds - Dallas: 43.0; New Orleans: 41.8
Assists - Dallas: 21.0; New Orleans: 21.8
Steals - Dallas: 6.0; New Orleans: 7.8
Points Scored - Dallas: 100.4; New Orleans: 100.9
Points Allowed - Dallas: 95.9; New Orleans: 95.6
Most of the “experts” think, as I do, that the Mavs will prevail in this series. And if that happens, I really don’t think it will be that much of an upset even though it would be a #2 seed losing in the first round. As I pointed out above, the teams are pretty evenly matched and in the season series, both team’s wins came at home. That really only leaves playoff experience…which the Mavs have a lot of (the past 8 seasons) and the Hornets don’t. That is why I think the Mavs will move on to round 2. The playoffs are a different animal than the regular season; everything is ratcheted up a notch. Every position is huge and the half court offense and playing defense becomes more important. And while New Orleans is a great team with a bright future, their lack of playoff experience will catch up with them here.
My prediction: Mavs in 7.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Pick Your Poison
On Wednesday night we will all know what the NBA playoff pairings will look like for the Western conference. However, as of today, things are still up in the air. If the NBA playoffs started today, here is what the Western conference playoffs would look like:
(1) LA Lakers vs. (8) Denver Nuggets
(2) New Orleans Hornets vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks
(3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Phoenix Suns
(4) Houston Rockets vs. (5) Utah Jazz
Depending on what happens this evening though, the above could change. If the Lakers beat the Sad Sac Kings tonight, they will be locked in to the #1 seed. However, if the Lakers lose and the Hornets beat the Clippers tonight and the Mavs tomorrow night, New Orleans would have the #1 seed. Also, if Dallas loses tomorrow night to New Orleans and the Nuggets beat Memphis, the Nuggets would slide into the #7 spot and Dallas would slip back to #8 (Dallas and Denver would end with the same record but Denver would have the tie breaker because they beat Dallas 2 of the 3 games they played this year). So, for those of you who don’t have an ice cream headache right now, my question is…who would you rather see Dallas play in the first round?
The Mavs went 1-2 against the Hornets this season and 1-3 against the Lakers. The Mavs loses against the Lakers were by 4 points, 2 points and 4 points respectively. The Mavs loses to the Hornets were 4 points and 9 points respectively but the 9 point loss was Jason Kidd’s first game with the Mavs which needs to be give some consideration. So, even though Dallas has only 2 wins in 7 games vs. the Hornets and Lakers combined, the games were close and Dallas could have won 4 of those.
Both the Lakers and the Hornets are extremely good teams, both have had great seasons and both have legitimate MVP contenders in Kobe (for the Lakers) and Chris Paul (for the Hornets). However, I think I would rather play the Hornets for a few reasons. One, even though the Hornets had a really good year, they are still a very young team and relatively few players on that team have much playoff experience. And the playoffs are a different animal than the regular season. Two, I think the Lakers are a better team so I would rather not play them right out of the shoot. For the Mavs to get to the Finals again, they will probably have to face the Lakers but postponing that as long as possible, in my opinion, is the best scenario. And three, Kobe is the best player in the game and, seemingly, explodes most of the time when he plays Dallas. Chris Paul is a Kobe starter kit but, like I said, is still very young and has never experienced NBA playoff basketball before. There are several players on the Mavs roster that have been to the playoffs, and made deep runs in the playoffs, so I think that experience will serve better against a young Hornets team.
If both the Lakers and Hornets win tonight thus locking both into the #1 and #2 seeds respectively, I kind of wonder if New Orleans will play their full roster the full game tomorrow night vs. Dallas. The game will be meaningful to Dallas, regardless of tonight’s outcome, as Dallas will be playing for #7 seed. I would think if New Orleans is locked into the #2 seed, they might play their starters for one half thus giving Dallas and easier shot at winning and securing the #7 seed. That’s what I’m hoping for at least. So, I guess I gotta root for the Lakers and the Hornets to win tonight. But nothing is guaranteed this year in the Western conference.
(1) LA Lakers vs. (8) Denver Nuggets
(2) New Orleans Hornets vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks
(3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Phoenix Suns
(4) Houston Rockets vs. (5) Utah Jazz
Depending on what happens this evening though, the above could change. If the Lakers beat the Sad Sac Kings tonight, they will be locked in to the #1 seed. However, if the Lakers lose and the Hornets beat the Clippers tonight and the Mavs tomorrow night, New Orleans would have the #1 seed. Also, if Dallas loses tomorrow night to New Orleans and the Nuggets beat Memphis, the Nuggets would slide into the #7 spot and Dallas would slip back to #8 (Dallas and Denver would end with the same record but Denver would have the tie breaker because they beat Dallas 2 of the 3 games they played this year). So, for those of you who don’t have an ice cream headache right now, my question is…who would you rather see Dallas play in the first round?
The Mavs went 1-2 against the Hornets this season and 1-3 against the Lakers. The Mavs loses against the Lakers were by 4 points, 2 points and 4 points respectively. The Mavs loses to the Hornets were 4 points and 9 points respectively but the 9 point loss was Jason Kidd’s first game with the Mavs which needs to be give some consideration. So, even though Dallas has only 2 wins in 7 games vs. the Hornets and Lakers combined, the games were close and Dallas could have won 4 of those.
Both the Lakers and the Hornets are extremely good teams, both have had great seasons and both have legitimate MVP contenders in Kobe (for the Lakers) and Chris Paul (for the Hornets). However, I think I would rather play the Hornets for a few reasons. One, even though the Hornets had a really good year, they are still a very young team and relatively few players on that team have much playoff experience. And the playoffs are a different animal than the regular season. Two, I think the Lakers are a better team so I would rather not play them right out of the shoot. For the Mavs to get to the Finals again, they will probably have to face the Lakers but postponing that as long as possible, in my opinion, is the best scenario. And three, Kobe is the best player in the game and, seemingly, explodes most of the time when he plays Dallas. Chris Paul is a Kobe starter kit but, like I said, is still very young and has never experienced NBA playoff basketball before. There are several players on the Mavs roster that have been to the playoffs, and made deep runs in the playoffs, so I think that experience will serve better against a young Hornets team.
If both the Lakers and Hornets win tonight thus locking both into the #1 and #2 seeds respectively, I kind of wonder if New Orleans will play their full roster the full game tomorrow night vs. Dallas. The game will be meaningful to Dallas, regardless of tonight’s outcome, as Dallas will be playing for #7 seed. I would think if New Orleans is locked into the #2 seed, they might play their starters for one half thus giving Dallas and easier shot at winning and securing the #7 seed. That’s what I’m hoping for at least. So, I guess I gotta root for the Lakers and the Hornets to win tonight. But nothing is guaranteed this year in the Western conference.
Friday, April 11, 2008
One of the Best Sports Weeks I Can Remember for DFW Area
This week has been a pretty good week in the DFW sports scene. On Sunday, The Rangers beat the hated LA Angels 10-4 and then took won both games of a double header against Baltimore yesterday. Even though the season is still very young, the pitching has been solid and the bats have started to wake up the past few games. If the Rangers can win 81 games this year, I think they can consider this season a success.
The Stars started their playoff run by defeating the defending Stanly Cup champion Anaheim Ducks 4-0. That was a big feat considering the Stars haven’t made it out of the first round of the playoffs since 2003. I usually find it hard to sit down and watch the a regular season hockey game however playoff hockey is actually pretty fun to watch. All four goals were scored on power plays and the Stars, in general, made the Ducks look pretty silly. Hopefully they can continue this push and do something this year in the playoffs. If no, then the
And the Mavs started off the week on Sunday by coming from 13 points down in the 4th quarter to beat the mighty Suns, in Phoenix no less. Dirk came up big in that game by scoring 32 points and proving he is one tough SOB playing that way on a gimpy ankle. The Mavs then beat a pretty hapless Seattle team in the middle of the week but then last night welcomed the Utah Jazz to town. The game was great and Dallas played very well. Again Dirk scored 32 points but none were bigger than these:
So now the Mavs have clinched a playoff spot and won at least 50 games for the 8th straight season. The only team that can currently make that claim is San Antonio which has won 50+ games for the last 9 seasons. Judging where the Mavs were during the decade of the 90’s, when they were the WORST professional sports franchise out of all the teams in the 4 major sports (football, basketball, baseball and hockey), that is huge.
I honestly think the Mavs could win out as they play at Portland, at Seattle and finish up at home against New Orleans. That would mean Dallas would finish the year on a 6 game win streak winning 7 of 8 overall in April. That is streaking into the playoffs. And I don’t care who they play (more than likely Dallas will draw the Spurs or the Lakers in the first round), if they continue to play this way Dallas will definitely be a tough opponent in playoffs. Dirk is playing well, JET Terry is playing well, Josh Howard is playing well and Jason Kidd seems to have really gotten used to playing with the team. Once the playoffs start, it’s a new season and anything can happen…especially with the way the Western conference is so close. It’s going to be interesting and fun to watch.
The Stars started their playoff run by defeating the defending Stanly Cup champion Anaheim Ducks 4-0. That was a big feat considering the Stars haven’t made it out of the first round of the playoffs since 2003. I usually find it hard to sit down and watch the a regular season hockey game however playoff hockey is actually pretty fun to watch. All four goals were scored on power plays and the Stars, in general, made the Ducks look pretty silly. Hopefully they can continue this push and do something this year in the playoffs. If no, then the
And the Mavs started off the week on Sunday by coming from 13 points down in the 4th quarter to beat the mighty Suns, in Phoenix no less. Dirk came up big in that game by scoring 32 points and proving he is one tough SOB playing that way on a gimpy ankle. The Mavs then beat a pretty hapless Seattle team in the middle of the week but then last night welcomed the Utah Jazz to town. The game was great and Dallas played very well. Again Dirk scored 32 points but none were bigger than these:
So now the Mavs have clinched a playoff spot and won at least 50 games for the 8th straight season. The only team that can currently make that claim is San Antonio which has won 50+ games for the last 9 seasons. Judging where the Mavs were during the decade of the 90’s, when they were the WORST professional sports franchise out of all the teams in the 4 major sports (football, basketball, baseball and hockey), that is huge.
I honestly think the Mavs could win out as they play at Portland, at Seattle and finish up at home against New Orleans. That would mean Dallas would finish the year on a 6 game win streak winning 7 of 8 overall in April. That is streaking into the playoffs. And I don’t care who they play (more than likely Dallas will draw the Spurs or the Lakers in the first round), if they continue to play this way Dallas will definitely be a tough opponent in playoffs. Dirk is playing well, JET Terry is playing well, Josh Howard is playing well and Jason Kidd seems to have really gotten used to playing with the team. Once the playoffs start, it’s a new season and anything can happen…especially with the way the Western conference is so close. It’s going to be interesting and fun to watch.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Another Disappointing Ending
The Mavs led the majority of the game last night vs. the Lakers but in the end couldn't close out the game. The Mavs lost 112-108 and also lost the season series to LA 3-1. The last three games between the two teams were decided by 4 points (ended in overtime), 2 points and 4 points (last night). This is just more of the same from the Mavs...a team that is talented but just can't seem to close out the close games. This was the Mavericks' 10th loss that was decided by 4 points or less.
The starters did their part. Nowitzki led the Mavs with 27 points, Jason Terry scored 25 and Josh Howard added 23. Jason Kidd had 10 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. However, the bench is where Dallas came up short. Devon George played 25 minutes and Eddie Jones played 22 minutes and guess how many points Dallas got out out that? A grand total of 4 (Eddie Jones didn't score one single point!). Four points?!?!? Four freaking points from 47 minutes between these two jokers? I've had it with both of them. Neither will be here next year and I wish that was right now. All Dallas needed was 5 more points to win the game...that's it. Just 5 more points. And these two guys toss in a total of 4. Absolutely ridiculous to say the least.
I'm glad Terry and J.Ho have started to show back up but the bench has got to do better than that. Brandon Bass played 12 seconds...what is up with that? I would be willing to be he could have at least scored 5 points by himself.
Well, I don't have much hope for tomorrow's game in Phoenix which, more than likely, will erase the 2 game cushion the Mavs had on Golden State and we're back to where we were on Wednesday. Part of me thinks that since these games are close, Dallas just needs to give it just a little more effort and they could win some of these close games. The other part of me thinks that "you are what you are" (as Parcells used to say) and maybe this team is what it is...7th, 8th or even 9th best in the West. They have lost too many close games too many times for me to think these losses are flukes.
So, I'm bracing for what could possibly be a long off season if Dallas doesn't make the playoffs. I so wish they could have pulled it out last night. Let's hope they can nut up before tomorrow's game and surprise everyone, including me. That would be a great way to start off the week.
The starters did their part. Nowitzki led the Mavs with 27 points, Jason Terry scored 25 and Josh Howard added 23. Jason Kidd had 10 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. However, the bench is where Dallas came up short. Devon George played 25 minutes and Eddie Jones played 22 minutes and guess how many points Dallas got out out that? A grand total of 4 (Eddie Jones didn't score one single point!). Four points?!?!? Four freaking points from 47 minutes between these two jokers? I've had it with both of them. Neither will be here next year and I wish that was right now. All Dallas needed was 5 more points to win the game...that's it. Just 5 more points. And these two guys toss in a total of 4. Absolutely ridiculous to say the least.
I'm glad Terry and J.Ho have started to show back up but the bench has got to do better than that. Brandon Bass played 12 seconds...what is up with that? I would be willing to be he could have at least scored 5 points by himself.
Well, I don't have much hope for tomorrow's game in Phoenix which, more than likely, will erase the 2 game cushion the Mavs had on Golden State and we're back to where we were on Wednesday. Part of me thinks that since these games are close, Dallas just needs to give it just a little more effort and they could win some of these close games. The other part of me thinks that "you are what you are" (as Parcells used to say) and maybe this team is what it is...7th, 8th or even 9th best in the West. They have lost too many close games too many times for me to think these losses are flukes.
So, I'm bracing for what could possibly be a long off season if Dallas doesn't make the playoffs. I so wish they could have pulled it out last night. Let's hope they can nut up before tomorrow's game and surprise everyone, including me. That would be a great way to start off the week.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Another Big 2 Games This Weekend for Dallas
Well, Dallas did what I hoped they would do on Wednesday night…pummel a team, in the Golden State Warriors, that was ripe for a pummeling. The Warriors were playing the second game of a back-to-back and had their bells rung by 24 points the night before in San Antonio. They also were finishing up 4 games in 5 days. The Mavs were at home, got an emotional lift when Dirk actually played and got an inspired effort from the rest of the team. They played a complete 4 quarters and won by 25 against a team that didn’t look like they had much interest in playing.
I’m not going to over hype the win on Wednesday but I will say it was a big win for a few reasons. If Dallas loses that game, the chances of them making the playoffs were slim and none. Also, Golden State is a team that has been in the head of the Mavericks the last 2 seasons so Dallas needed to prove to themselves they could not only beat the Warriors but beat them soundly. Dallas is now 2 full games ahead of Golden State (with 7 games left to play) and 1 game ahead of Denver, who occupies the 8th spot in the West right now. However, for Wednesday’s win to remain as big, the momentum must carry over to this weekend.
Dallas plays the Lakers tonight in L.A. and Phoenix on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix. The Mavs need at least a split here. I truly think if they play the way they did on Wednesday night against Golden State, Dallas can beat the Lakers tonight. The Lakers lost last week, at home, to both Charlotte and Memphis. How they lost to those two hapless teams, I don’t know…but the fact is they did. I don’t think they will get a win on Sunday though as Dallas, over the years, typically hasn’t played that well in day games, especially on the road. So that makes tonight’s game pretty important. Dallas needs to take advantage of the momentum they created on Wednesday night and build on that.
Josh Howard seems to be getting back to the form he had last season. The last 5 games, Josh has averaged 30.2 points. He has to continue at this level for the Mavs to have a shot of an extended post season run. JET Terry showed some signs on Wednesday of awakening as well as he poured in 31 points of his own. He, also, needs to play at a high level (especially since Dirk is still not 100% yet) for Dallas to do well in the playoffs. Over the past few games, Kidd also seems to have played better so I’m hoping he has a better grasp of the offense and he and the team are becoming more familiar with each other..
I am in hopes that Wednesday’s win started some momentum Dallas can sustain through April and go streaking into the playoffs, much the same way Golden State did last year. If that happens, Dallas will be a very dangerous team for any team in the West to play. But for that to happen, Dallas really needs to play well and get a “W” this evening.
I’m not going to over hype the win on Wednesday but I will say it was a big win for a few reasons. If Dallas loses that game, the chances of them making the playoffs were slim and none. Also, Golden State is a team that has been in the head of the Mavericks the last 2 seasons so Dallas needed to prove to themselves they could not only beat the Warriors but beat them soundly. Dallas is now 2 full games ahead of Golden State (with 7 games left to play) and 1 game ahead of Denver, who occupies the 8th spot in the West right now. However, for Wednesday’s win to remain as big, the momentum must carry over to this weekend.
Dallas plays the Lakers tonight in L.A. and Phoenix on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix. The Mavs need at least a split here. I truly think if they play the way they did on Wednesday night against Golden State, Dallas can beat the Lakers tonight. The Lakers lost last week, at home, to both Charlotte and Memphis. How they lost to those two hapless teams, I don’t know…but the fact is they did. I don’t think they will get a win on Sunday though as Dallas, over the years, typically hasn’t played that well in day games, especially on the road. So that makes tonight’s game pretty important. Dallas needs to take advantage of the momentum they created on Wednesday night and build on that.
Josh Howard seems to be getting back to the form he had last season. The last 5 games, Josh has averaged 30.2 points. He has to continue at this level for the Mavs to have a shot of an extended post season run. JET Terry showed some signs on Wednesday of awakening as well as he poured in 31 points of his own. He, also, needs to play at a high level (especially since Dirk is still not 100% yet) for Dallas to do well in the playoffs. Over the past few games, Kidd also seems to have played better so I’m hoping he has a better grasp of the offense and he and the team are becoming more familiar with each other..
I am in hopes that Wednesday’s win started some momentum Dallas can sustain through April and go streaking into the playoffs, much the same way Golden State did last year. If that happens, Dallas will be a very dangerous team for any team in the West to play. But for that to happen, Dallas really needs to play well and get a “W” this evening.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Same Song, Different Verse…Mavs Game Tonight is Vital to Making Playoffs
Tonight at 8:30, the Mavs play Golden State in a game that has serious playoff implications. Currently, the Mavs are a full game ahead of G.S. and a half game ahead of Denver, which currently holds the 8th spot in the West. Dirk is a game time decision but Stackhouse is out. Due to the remainder of Dallas schedule, as well as the schedules of both Denver and Golden State, if the Mavs somehow don’t win tonight, I think I’m prepared to say that they will be on the outside looking in when the playoffs start later this month. So really, this is a MUST WIN.
The last few years, the Warriors have been a tough match up for the Mavs. Everyone remembers last Spring (who could forget?) and this year the Warriors have a 2-1 advantage in the series. However, if Dallas has any shred of pride they will nut up, show up and beat up the Warriors tonight…Dirk, or no Dirk. I know that last sentence is super cheesy, but it’s the truth. Dallas is well rested, playing at home (where they are fairly difficult to beat) and Golden State is playing the second game of a back-to-back (they played the Spurs last night and lost by 24 points). Since the Kidd trade, Dallas has yet to beat a team in playoff contention in the West but that HAS to end tonight.
A win for Dallas means a couple of things. For one, they put more distance between themselves and Golden State/Denver for the playoffs. Two, they can prove to themselves that they not only can play with but can beat a quality team. The Mavs have been able to hang with the playoffs teams from the West but they just can’t seem to get over the hump and come up with a “W” against any of those teams. And three, a win tonight might jump start this team so they can build some sort of momentum going into the playoffs. I may just be dreaming about that though.
I never in a million years thought, at the beginning of this season, that Dallas wouldn’t make the playoffs. I have to admit, I haven’t watched much of the past few games and probably won’t watch much of tonight’s game. Not because I’m a fair weather fan or any less of a Mavs fan now than I was a few months ago. I just can’t take getting emotionally suckered much more. I want the Mavs to make the playoffs and do well. But getting emotionally invested in an important game only to get my guts stomped on at the end is not my idea of an enjoyable time.
This team is soft, no two ways about it. But I want the team to get mad. I want them to play with emotion. I want them to come out and play physical ball…plant Stephen Jackson’s butt on the court if need be (I hate that guy)…but do something, ANYTHING, to prove to this city as well as the league that they aren’t going anywhere and stories of their demise have been prematurely written. Forget taking 18 foot jump shots or hiding behind the 3 point arc. Take the freaking ball to the basket and make a freaking statement with it!
Otherwise, go get your shine box, your golf clubs and start making your off season plans because you aren’t going anywhere. We’ll see if Dallas can answer the bell or if they will cower down like that have done the past month. Hopefully it will be the former and not the latter.
The last few years, the Warriors have been a tough match up for the Mavs. Everyone remembers last Spring (who could forget?) and this year the Warriors have a 2-1 advantage in the series. However, if Dallas has any shred of pride they will nut up, show up and beat up the Warriors tonight…Dirk, or no Dirk. I know that last sentence is super cheesy, but it’s the truth. Dallas is well rested, playing at home (where they are fairly difficult to beat) and Golden State is playing the second game of a back-to-back (they played the Spurs last night and lost by 24 points). Since the Kidd trade, Dallas has yet to beat a team in playoff contention in the West but that HAS to end tonight.
A win for Dallas means a couple of things. For one, they put more distance between themselves and Golden State/Denver for the playoffs. Two, they can prove to themselves that they not only can play with but can beat a quality team. The Mavs have been able to hang with the playoffs teams from the West but they just can’t seem to get over the hump and come up with a “W” against any of those teams. And three, a win tonight might jump start this team so they can build some sort of momentum going into the playoffs. I may just be dreaming about that though.
I never in a million years thought, at the beginning of this season, that Dallas wouldn’t make the playoffs. I have to admit, I haven’t watched much of the past few games and probably won’t watch much of tonight’s game. Not because I’m a fair weather fan or any less of a Mavs fan now than I was a few months ago. I just can’t take getting emotionally suckered much more. I want the Mavs to make the playoffs and do well. But getting emotionally invested in an important game only to get my guts stomped on at the end is not my idea of an enjoyable time.
This team is soft, no two ways about it. But I want the team to get mad. I want them to play with emotion. I want them to come out and play physical ball…plant Stephen Jackson’s butt on the court if need be (I hate that guy)…but do something, ANYTHING, to prove to this city as well as the league that they aren’t going anywhere and stories of their demise have been prematurely written. Forget taking 18 foot jump shots or hiding behind the 3 point arc. Take the freaking ball to the basket and make a freaking statement with it!
Otherwise, go get your shine box, your golf clubs and start making your off season plans because you aren’t going anywhere. We’ll see if Dallas can answer the bell or if they will cower down like that have done the past month. Hopefully it will be the former and not the latter.
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