Stickman

[LRB]

Originally posted by: u2sarajevo

Which actually shows ignorance on the part of your varsity coach.

Which is probably why is is coaching at the High School level and not above.

[Murphy3]

[kg_veteran]

Good point, Murph.

[Walkerforthree]

Originally posted by: kg_veteran
Good point, Murph.

Lol, cute Murph. Honestly, I find it incredulous Shawn didn't play tonight. It is unacceptable unless there was some injury. I mean, good god how can shawn get prepared to play well when he doesn't know if he'll get 20 minutes or not even play, im sure this benching after a great game will sure help his confidence.

[kg_veteran]

I guess we just have to hope it doesn't.

[Mavs Rule]

Like I said in another thread, there is absolutely no relationship for a player between playing great and getting more minutes with Nellie. How discouraging would that system be to play under?

[Walkerforthree]

Originally posted by: Mavs Rule
Like I said in another thread, there is absolutely no relationship for a player between playing great and getting more minutes with Nellie. How discouraging would that system be to play under?

Very I would think. But i can't criticize Nellie since we're 9-4, right?

[u2sarajevo]

Is it just me? Or does anyone else feel like even if we had Shaq, Nellie would find a reason not to play him.... and resort to his beloved small ball?

[madape]

I really wasn't that suprised not to see Shawn. It seems that they are holding him out of games which we should be able to win without him. His knee needs rest to heal.

Hopefully, we're just saving him for the playoffs and big regular season games.

[Walkerforthree]

Originally posted by: u2sarajevo
Is it just me? Or does anyone else feel like even if we had Shaq, Nellie would find a reason not to play him.... and resort to his beloved small ball?

shaq cant shoot 3's or ft's, no pt

[kg_veteran]

Originally posted by: madape
I really wasn't that suprised not to see Shawn. It seems that they are holding him out of games which we should be able to win without him. His knee needs rest to heal.

Hopefully, we're just saving him for the playoffs and big regular season games.

This really could be a legitimate explanation. They wouldn't have beaten the Spurs without him; Nellie knew he could simply outgun Denver.

If Shawn's still having trouble with the knee, then he should be rested, because there will be opponents where he is needed if the Mavs are to win.

[Murphy3]

Let's hope that it is. But, I would have liked to have seen Bradley in the first half regardless of whether or not this is a game the Mavs should win. The Mavs have already lost a couple of games that they should have won.

but, like I said, I'll be a bit patient with Nellie with this.

[madape]

Well, regardless. I was very happy to see the big five get extended minutes on the court. I was even happer to see Najera frozen out of the game in the second half. I think he's been absolutely terrible all year. There is no reason to have him in the game when you've got Jamison chomping at the bit over on the bench. Hopefully tonights game is a harbenger of a future rotation with Jamison playing a starring role and Najera playing a supporting one. Bradley will be there in the end. Now, I'm confident, so will Jamison.

[Murphy3]

Starting Najera versus Denver made little sense to me. I realize that the Mavs were worried about the fast break of the Nuggets. However, Najera wasn't likely to have much of an impact slowing down the break besides perhaps drawing a charge.

With the Nuggets being a very good rebounding team, I just didn't think starting Najera was worth the risk.

[Fah Q]

Originally posted by: Murphy3
Starting Najera versus Denver made little sense to me. I realize that the Mavs were worried about the fast break of the Nuggets. However, Najera wasn't likely to have much of an impact slowing down the break besides perhaps drawing a charge.

With the Nuggets being a very good rebounding team, I just didn't think starting Najera was worth the risk.

My guess is that Nellie was hoping Eddie would have a positive impact with O rebounds considering thats where his only strength is. Thus trying to slow down Denver's rebounding.

[mercury_rev]

Originally posted by: madape
I really wasn't that suprised not to see Shawn. It seems that they are holding him out of games which we should be able to win without him. His knee needs rest to heal.

Hopefully, we're just saving him for the playoffs and big regular season games.

Good point, madape. Who knows how fragile Bradley's knee is right now..... And it's not surprising that Nelson would want to be quiet about Shawn's condition.

[Murphy3]

Originally posted by: Fah Q

My guess is that Nellie was hoping Eddie would have a positive impact with O rebounds considering thats where his only strength is. Thus trying to slow down Denver's rebounding.

I suppose that's a possibility. But, the Mavs desperately needed another defensive rebounder in the game much of the time..they will rarely get that out of Najera

[Fah Q]

Originally posted by: Murphy3

I suppose that's a possibility. But, the Mavs desperately needed another defensive rebounder in the game much of the time..they will rarely get that out of Najera

Agreed

[LRB]

Originally posted by: kg_veteran

This really could be a legitimate explanation. They wouldn't have beaten the Spurs without him; Nellie knew he could simply outgun Denver.

If Shawn's still having trouble with the knee, then he should be rested, because there will be opponents where he is needed if the Mavs are to win.

I can go along with this explanation and I just hope that is what Nellie is doing. The Mavs Need him this year, but obviously his presence wasn't required to take the Nuggets to school.

[Evilmav2]

Forgive my reposting this folks, but I just thought that this exchange should be included on the venerable, and reborn Stickman thread....

"Well, Bradley hasn’t had a year. Last year he had a very good year, but he’s been no factor this year. I haven’t been able to play him much, and that’s really hurt us."
-Don Nelson, Wednesday, March 24, 2004.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Originally posted by: kg_veteran
My email to Cuban:

Mark,

On the Ticket with Norm this morning, Nellie told Norm the following:

"Well, Bradley hasn’t had a year. Last year he had a very good year, but he’s been no factor this year. I haven’t been able to play him much, and that’s really hurt us."

I'm sick and tired of Nellie making Bradley the scapegoat. How in the hell can he blame Shawn when he won't even play him? Mark, we've given up 51.5% shooting over the last 4 games to the Nets summer league squad, the Sixers summer league squad, Boston, and Atlanta! And Shawn has been played a combined 26 minutes in those FOUR games!

At some point, Nelson needs to accept responsibility for his own actions. His pigheaded refusal to play the only shotblocker on the team is ridiculous. The "Shawn's not playing well" excuse also rings hollow when you consider how horrible Walker has played for about the past month (9.5 pts and 7 rebounds a game -- something Shawn could easily do if given 28.5 minutes per game, plus he might actually block a shot now and again). Shawn should start and play every single night until he's fouled out -- even if he's not playing particularly well. He can actually defend a center and protect the basket, something no other Maverick can do consistently and effectively.

Nellie told Norm this morning that he's tried it all. I call bullshit on that one, Mark, because he hasn't tried it all. One simple change would (or at least could) make a HUGE difference for this team.

Play Shawn Bradley.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Mark Cuban's reply to KG's fine letter:

"I agree"

Well, obviously Mark Cuban has heard the well reasoned arguments of our fine KGVeteran, and hopefully the pro-Bradley pleas of other folks as well. And it is harkening to know that Cuban may well sympathize with the increasingly glaring and obvious need of this team to incorporate #44 back into the lineup, but I'll pose the depressing question: Does that matter?

Will we fans be privledged enough to see Shawn released from his cage to wreak glowering playoff havoc with flying elbows, smothering shotblocking, and his dread 15 foot set-shot? Or will we be condemned to watch a replay of the atrocious 01-02 "layups and dunks" Sac-Dallas series, against the accidental champ spurs or the Los Angeles Lakers?

All I know, is I will be praying for a miracle this week. I will be calling upon the grace of the Almighty to break Shawn free from his shackles! I will be calling on a Higher Power to make his voice heard, and free our 7-6, gangle-legged, sharp-elbowed enforcer to do what he does best: Block Shots! Block Shots! Block Shots! and then Laugh and Curse at the Victims of his Swats!

Free our Defensive Monster from his chains Nelson, and you in turn will be freed! If you want to retire with a championship ring to punctuate your hall of fame career, you had better damned well start thinking about playing the one man who can turn around this rapidly evaporating Mavericks campaign!

Free the Beast, Free him for all of our good Don Nelson... Or this season may be finished...


The Last, Best Hope of the 2003-2004 Mavericks?

[DNNF]

Fans that go to the game should make a banner " Play Bradley" in every home games. Maybe that would help the stupid coach notice Shawn.

[mavsman55]

Whenever Bradley is on the court, the defense starts to kick in. Other opponents are scared of him... they won't drive in and try to lay it in (like they normally do). He is the entire interior defense when he is playing. His presence alone makes our defense better, and not only that, he is a fiery rebounder and probably shows more heart than anybody else on this team. It sucks knowing that the key to winning games is sitting on the bench when we need him the most.

[madape]

The stickman cometh, and he layeth down the smack.

[OutletPass]

If Shawn goes back into the doghouse after this fine game...then we'll know that Nellie has some other damn agenda unrelated to Bball.

Play Big Shawn right now !!

[mavsfanforever]

Bradley is the best shot blocker this league has ever seen. The ref's might call fouls on him because Nellie has not shown to the league that he is a legitimate starter and play him consistent minutes.

He is second highest shot blocker in the active players and its a shame we do not even use him.

[ISmellmyTshirts]

We need to start some kind of movement. A Bradley education movement.

Get the people out, voicing their desire to have Big Shawn play.

I want to see the next home game having an entire sections chanting for bradley.

Flyers on every car in the metroplex educating the people on why shawn should play and what they can do to help.

Swamp the call-in radio shows, national and local. Swamp the internet sites. Swamp the dallas morning news, star telegram, espn.com, sports illustrated. Swamp cuban's email.

Get the idea out there, instead of just complaining about it.

Who's with me?!

[OutletPass]

"We've got the Galleria !"

[kg_veteran]

Elliott and Nessler were drooling over Bradley's play all game long. They couldn't fathom why Bradley doesn't play more, and they kept raving about his impact on the game.

Thankfully, Mark agrees, even if Nellie doesn't.

[mavsman55]

Hopefully, we'll see this issue turn itself around come playoff time. Maybe a playoff loss or two will finally cause Don Nelson to recognize that this team can't play good defense without Shawn Bradley.

[Evilmav2]

Originally posted by: mavsman55
Hopefully, we'll see this issue turn itself around come playoff time. Maybe a playoff loss or two will finally cause Don Nelson to recognize that this team can't play good defense without Shawn Bradley.

Unfortunately, that didn't do any good three seasons ago...

[Rhylan]

bump...

...too bad we lost the original, ORIGINAL Stickman thread. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

I'm gonna miss all the arguments about Shawn.