No, I Didn't Forget About the Mavs

I know recently all my posts have been about the Cowboys and their ups and downs. And because I've been so busy at work, I haven't really had time to post this week. But I do have some thoughts on not only the Cowboys but college football and, of course, the Mavericks which is what this post is centered on.

Oh the Mavs. I've had several conversations with coworkers and friends about where I thought they would be this year. Before the season started, I thought they would probably be about where they were at the end of last season...about 7th or 8th in the West, which would get them into the playoffs, then another first round exit at the hands of the Lakers, Hornets or even, dare I say, Rockets. I thought this because of what kinds of moves they made, or didn't make, in the off season...which wasn't many because of the Jason Kidd trade they made last year. Basically, the Mavs resigned Devean George (um, why?) and DeSagana Diop (he was traded the the New Jersey last year in the Kidd trade) and signed free agent Gerald Green who had been with Minnesota. That's about it in the off season because that was all the Mavs could do. Except, they could have (and SHOULD have) traded for Ron Artest, which is what Houston did. Now the Rockets have Artest and with the rest of their fire power (Yao, Tracy McGrady, Shane Battier, Rafer Alston and Luis Scola) should go deep into the playoffs and contend for the Western Conference this year.

It's a little depressing to see the quick decline of a team that just three years ago was playing in the NBA finals and two years ago won 67 of 82 games. But with breaking in a new coach this year and seeing, for the most part, the same roster we saw last year, I'm just not that optimistic about what this team will do this year. They still have some solid players in Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Brandon Bass and Jason Kidd but still have aging albatrosses in Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George and Erick Dampier. That's just not going to get it done in the West. If the Mavs were in the East, they might be ok even though several Eastern teams have gotten better this year.

One thing I heard all off season is that Dallas is going to start taking the ball to the basket more, run fast breaks more efficiently with Kidd on the point and play better defense. Well, they have, at times, been better in transition but as to driving more to the hoop...well, the Mavs have more 3 pt. attempts this year then free throw attempts. And if Jason Kidd is leading your team in 3 pt. percentage (as he currently is), there is something wrong. But really, the reason Dallas has started out 2-5 is because of their defense, or lack thereof, especially in the 4th quarter. In 3 of their 7 losses, they were outscored in the 4th quarter 27-16 (by Houston), 30-23 (by the Clippers...by the Clippers?) and 30-20 by the Lakers. Against the Nuggets and Lakers, the game came down to the final few mintues but the Mavs just couldn't get the stops they needed to win, which is not a good sign. Even Dirk called some team members out after one of their losses inferring that some of his team mates weren't giving max effort.

I know it's a long season and I do have some hope they can turn things around but trying to be a realist, I think this may be the year the Mavs miss the playoffs for the first time in about 8 years. It certainly will if they don't get their defense squared away. But they need to start getting better effort, every game, from every player. But a few wins in a row can get a team rolling and three of the next four games for the Mavs (Bulls, Knicks, Bobcats) are very winable. Hopefully they can pull this thing out of the ditch before much more of the season goes by.