This Season's Roster Outlook

[sike]

I don't like Ellis' game. Too limited and streaky offensively & atrocious defensively.

I'd much rather "D Up" as a team identity and bet on Wes Matthews making a full recovery. Risky and expensive (though not as expensive as it would be if he hadn't gotten injured?), but the potential offense/defense balance of a Harris, Matthews, Parsons, Aminu, Chandler line up with Dirk carrying your offensive punch off the bench is an idea I like.

Thoughts?

[GermanStandard]

Originally Posted by sike

I don't like Ellis' game. Too limited and streaky offensively & atrocious defensively.

I'd much rather "D Up" as a team identity and bet on Wes Matthews making a full recovery. Risky and expensive (though not as expensive as it would be if he hadn't gotten injured?), but the potential offense/defense balance of a Harris, Matthews, Parsons, Aminu, Chandler line up with Dirk carrying your offensive punch off the bench is an idea I like.

Thoughts?

Matthews would be a nice gamble cause his D is on another level to Ellis and hes a streaky Shooter.

But without Ellis we need some kind of Slasher that can take it to the Rim.

Ellis is great at times but his Offense cant make up for his horrible D most of the time.

Harden is playing the same shitty Defense but is on another level offensively so he can make up for that.

[sike]

Originally Posted by GermanStandard

Matthews would be a nice gamble cause his D is on another level to Ellis and hes a streaky Shooter.

Matthews is better than 39% from 3pt for his career. I'll take that in combination his is lock down defense.

Danny Green is better than 42% for his career. I'll take that as well.

Any hope I'd have for acquiring either player helping us become true contenders is also relying on the idea/hope that Parsons and Aminu can reach new levels given the opportunity.

[Dirk's Knee]

Originally Posted by sike

Matthews is better than 39% from 3pt for his career. I'll take that in combination his is lock down defense.

Danny Green is better than 42% for his career. I'll take that as well.

Any hope I'd have for acquiring either player helping us become true contenders is also relying on the idea/hope that Parsons and Aminu can reach new levels given the opportunity.

Either guy would be nice to have as a #2 option next to a prolific scorer who would draw doubles giving them open shots. I've not seen much to believe either (nor Parsons) could be the #1 scoring option on a playoff contender.

[sike]

Originally Posted by Dirk's Knee

Either guy would be nice to have as a #2 option next to a prolific scorer who would draw doubles giving them open shots. I've not seen much to believe either (nor Parsons) could be the #1 scoring option on a playoff contender.

Exactly. But unless you want to pay Ellis (or endure more of his defense), Parsons as "the guy" might be the only realistic option the Mavs have to improve.

Even though I appreciate his heart, I've seen enough to know that I don't want to bet on Ellis' game to lead us anywhere.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by sike

Exactly. But unless you want to pay Ellis (or endure more of his defense), Parsons as "the guy" might be the only realistic option the Mavs have to improve.

Even though I appreciate his heart, I've seen enough to know that I don't want to bet on Ellis' game to lead us anywhere.

We need more 2-way players on this team. Dirk and Monta are and will be defensive liabilities so we need a lock down defending PG if we keep Ellis. Jack has been mentioned and I could probably live with him but I don't see us going far with that backcourt.
I still think Aminu has to be a priority in off season because there seems to be an upside to his offensive game so he could become a good (or great) 2-way player.

[Dirk's Knee]

Originally Posted by sike

Exactly. But unless you want to pay Ellis (or endure more of his defense), Parsons as "the guy" might be the only realistic option the Mavs have to improve.

Even though I appreciate his heart, I've seen enough to know that I don't want to bet on Ellis' game to lead us anywhere.

It's not a bet on Ellis, you know exactly what you have and a good idea of the pieces to put around him to succeed. The bet is whether the current #3 option (Parsons) can be a #1 or if another teams #3 or #4 option can be a #1 and the answer to both is probably not. There is a strong case to be made for roster continuity, look around the west, how many playoff teams have more than 1 new starter from the prior year? We saw at the beginning of the year and in the last 2 games post Rondo what an offensive asset Ellis can be. Even if Ellis can't lead a team to a title, I'd rather see a Mavs team losing 130-120 in the playoffs than 90-85 heading to the lottery. And let's face it, the Mavs will never be a defensively dominate team while Dirk is still starting.

[sike]

Originally Posted by Dirk's Knee

let's face it, the Mavs will never be a defensively dominate team while Dirk is still starting.

I agree, but I would like Dirk to be a 6th man.

I'd be interested in a starting 5 of:

Harris
Green or Matthews or Afflalo
Parsons
Aminu
Chandler

Dirk as 6th man focused on playing 24-26min per night.

[Dirk's Knee]

Originally Posted by sike

I don't like Ellis' game. Too limited and streaky offensively & atrocious defensively.

I'd much rather "D Up" as a team identity and bet on Wes Matthews making a full recovery. Risky and expensive (though not as expensive as it would be if he hadn't gotten injured?), but the potential offense/defense balance of a Harris, Matthews, Parsons, Aminu, Chandler line up with Dirk carrying your offensive punch off the bench is an idea I like.

Thoughts?

I think if you loose Ellis without adding a consistent 20 PPG scorer, the Mavs will struggle to score 85 PPG and will head to the lottery. Without a player capable of taking over a game offensively, teams will struggle. Folks like to point to the Spurs as a shared load team, but that's never been the case as they've always had Duncan and that's being handed over to Leonard. Look at how Atlanta struggled after the ASB and now are having trouble with the Nets. Dirk can no longer be that player. I just don't see it in Parsons. And unless we land Lamarcus Aldridge, I just don't see any other realistically available FA who can serve in that role either.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by sike

I don't like Ellis' game. Too limited and streaky offensively & atrocious defensively.

I'd much rather "D Up" as a team identity and bet on Wes Matthews making a full recovery. Risky and expensive (though not as expensive as it would be if he hadn't gotten injured?), but the potential offense/defense balance of a Harris, Matthews, Parsons, Aminu, Chandler line up with Dirk carrying your offensive punch off the bench is an idea I like.

Thoughts?

Here's my thoughts on Ellis, as well as the idea of Barea starting next season:

118
111
130
109

Let the fact that we're giving up 117 points per game in the playoffs dictate all offseason moves...