Van Exel's Trade Ends Our Playoff Hopes

[MFFL]

I just wanted to add a little something to this topic. While NVE certainly helped us win the Sacremento series (he shot 52% from the field and 45% on three pointers for the series), he hurt us in the San Antonio series (he shot 37% from the field and 34% on three pointers for that series AND only averaged 2.7 assists despite playing 38 minutes per game).

Wouldn't it have been nice if he would have passed the ball to Finley a few more times in the San Antonio series. Finley was ON FIRE - averaging 50% from the field.

[Captain Disaster]

Yeah, that's the frustrating thing with Van Exel, always has been: he's streaky. Frankly, he really was a luxury, and as such it would have been great if we could have kept him for the nights when he truly was hot. I think that you could find stats for the big three that would mirror Van Exel's stats. It often depends on the matchup with that particular team. I sure hope that Jamison's presence will free finley to go nuts this year. It would be fabulous if he comes back this year with a veangeance after an off-year overall shooting the ball.

[MavsFanatik33]

He helped us a lot more then he hurt us, I think Jamison will be more consistent though.

[Murphy3]

mffl, you're right..there were a couple of games in the SA series where fin was on fire but couldn't get the ball passed to him.

sure, NVE helped more than he hurt while in dallas. but he helped alot more when he left

[Captain Disaster]

Here's the thread Sike should be reading.

A question: can Jamison & crew replace Van Exel's impact in high-pressure playoff games? One argument might be that since small ball is likely over (unless Nelson plays Nash & best: SMALLER ball!), the Mavs will automatically benefit. I'm not convinced.

[MFFL]

Originally posted by: Captain Disaster
A question: can Jamison & crew replace Van Exel's impact in high-pressure playoff games?

Yes.

One argument might be that since small ball is likely over (unless Nelson plays Nash & best: SMALLER ball!), the Mavs will automatically benefit. I'm not convinced.

If facts won't convince you then nothing will except watching the games.

[Captain Disaster]

Well, at the rate we're going, we won't even MAKE the playoffs so despite enduring the craziest insults I have ever seen during my time on this board, it looks like there is a very good chance that I won't be able to prove my point; although I might add that the "no-brainer" dismantling of last year's team for "better talent" has ended this year's playoff hopes. At this point, NO ONE in the entire league has taken such an incredible leap backward without suffering major injuries. The sad part is I'm really not posting to say "I told you so", I'm just pissed that things are going so crappy right now with no way out. I'm afraid this is a sinking ship. And the real pisser is has anybody wondered why it seems like all of last years former players were so enraged at being traded or not renewed? Like maybe they knew last year's team was truly something special? I truly believe that we had plenty of luck last year, AND it was HIGHLY unlikely that we would be as good, but this bunch is going nowhere fast. What should we do? Let them play it out or shake things up? This year looks like a wash.

[mavsfanforever]

IMO, more than Van exel I think we miss Bell and Avery. Avery was the leader on this team and Bell was one guy who was tough and had a pretty good offense too and would give this team good 20 min/game.

[Captain Disaster]

I agree. Maybe we can get Avery back next year as a coach. I would love to see Van Exel return because despite his flaws, he really fit in well and understood his role and what Nellie was trying to do. Plus, he had fire, leadership, and he helped take charge at crucial times.

[EricaLubarsky]

Avery+Nelson= decent coaching job
Nelson alone= lopsided coaching without leadership

[Max Power]

Originally posted by: Captain Disaster
At this point, NO ONE in the entire league has taken such an incredible leap backward without suffering major injuries.

The Mavs haven't had major injuries but the injuries are a MAJOR problem. We can't field the same rotation for more than 4 games in a row before somebody gets hurt. There isn't any way for this team to gell when we have to keep swapping players in and out.

The sad part is I'm really not posting to say "I told you so".

Don't lie - that's the ONLY reason you bumped this thread.

[Captain Disaster]

OK, you caught me! But, the Van Exel trade left me as dismayed as the Kidd trade, only because it didn't seem like an upgrade to me. The Walker trade made even less sense, not because I couldn't agree that LaFrentz's contract was terrible, but because I was afraid of Walker's bad habits. I really think that Walker is really trying to fit in, but he just shed his habits that he accumulated over a long period, AND his ego is a road block to discovering a new role on this team. I think that he probably views himself on the same level as the big three, and he isn't (although they aren't playing their best either!). So, unless Cuban comes out and states that this is the team we're sticking with for a year, I think that we need to retool again.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: MavsFanFinley
This has to be one of the most dramatic posts I've read on this board. And I was a big supporter of NVE being the man in the playoffs. I said that because we knew what to expect from Dirk and he delivered. NVE was a question mark going into the playoffs and he stepped up his game and made some clutch shots.

In the last weeks, I've been watching the playoff games again and the one thing that stood out is that no matter who had the hot hand, NVE would force shots up. I was frustrated as hell. He would ignore Finley in a post up situation and would take forever to get Dirk the ball in a mismatch situation.

Sound like someone we know? Hmmmm....forces shots? Takes forever to get Dirk the ball?

Hmmmm......indeed. [img]i/expressions/rolleye.gif[/img]

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: Captain Disaster
OK, you caught me! But, the Van Exel trade left me as dismayed as the Kidd trade, only because it didn't seem like an upgrade to me. The Walker trade made even less sense, not because I couldn't agree that LaFrentz's contract was terrible, but because I was afraid of Walker's bad habits. I really think that Walker is really trying to fit in, but he just shed his habits that he accumulated over a long period, AND his ego is a road block to discovering a new role on this team. I think that he probably views himself on the same level as the big three, and he isn't (although they aren't playing their best either!). So, unless Cuban comes out and states that this is the team we're sticking with for a year, I think that we need to retool again.

Aren't you willing to give Walker time to "fit in"? I mean the guy had absolutely no training camp with this squad, you know. And, like you said, he's trying to shed his bad habits which is not an easy thing to do after doing them all these years in boston..... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif[/img]


You guys gave Van Exel a full season before he really helped the Mavs to the WCF. Why not give Walker the same courtesy? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

[Captain Disaster]

That's a great point. I guess expectations this year from all indications were that the Mavs were a top 4 team so anything less has left everyone very disappointed. I just think that even so, the Mavs have sunk lower than anyone expected and only time will tell if the Mavs' braintrust made a major bone-headed move by breaking up last year's team or not. It's just so painful to watch these guys because they don't seem to have progressed at all from the beginning of the season, & I guess that this is one of the major issues fueling fans' dismay. Other teams added significant parts, & they haven't missed a beat (at least not for very long). This is why I'm not sure that the new players fit. When Rodman was with the Bulls, he didn't demand the ball. I'm not sure that Malone & Payton are demanding the ball; or Brad Miller, or Cassell & Sprewell because those teams know who the first option is & they have accepted it. On our team we have Nash taking less attempts trying to distribute the ball more evenly to the new & old guys, Dirk deferring (whether he likes it or not to Walker & Fin), Fin trying to shoot too much (too often, he demands the ball and lets the shot clock click down while hoisting up an ill-advised shot that no one can rebound his miss), WALKER not truly realizing that Dirk should be "the man" because he believes that he is just as good of a player as Dirk is & that he should be getting equal time (AND Nellie has fostered this, as well as have the big three because they are trying to not rock the boat because they are afraid of Walker & JAmison's egos being threatened), and Jamison who is NOT the answer off the bench.

Until the Mavs work these things out, if the current crew is capable of doing this, we are a very MEDIOCRE team.

[EricaLubarsky]

bump for the sake of review