GDT| Dallas @ Utah | 2/1/2010 | 8pm CST

[Dtownsfinest]

Originally Posted by twistaeffect2004

All of his teammates are extremely limited offensive players. As much as I love Kidd, he doesn't have the foot speed to get to the cup, and on the few occasions he does get there, he's not a good finisher. Jet is an undersized SG who is extremely streaky and is another guy that is a bad finisher at the rim. Howard no longer has any redeeming offensive qualities. Damp can't finish anything that isn't a dunk. Marion has lost all touch on his shot, and from what I've seen has horrible hands.

Again, Dirk is playing with an insanely limited squad. We have players that were at one point superstars or impact players but because of injuries or age, those qualities that they once had are either gone or have diminished quite a bit. That's why I don't think the Mavericks are THAT talented. We have the names, but the performances that those names used to produce on a game-to-game basis are now just a mere memory. We'll see glimpses, but those days are over.

I agree but it should be noted that the Mavs do have a solid record. I can't point my finger to why that is. Because out of all the teams in the West that are contenders i'd probably say the Mavs and Spurs are playing the worst basketball right now. We're just about at the half way point now. I'm not even sure what this team is playing for. Do they believe they can beat the Lakers? I don't think they are out of this race but I believe this team we currently have has hit its peak and its going to take more than a mid-level exception signee to take us over that hump.

[mavsfan1000]

I don't think Roddy is a knucklehead at all. Just inexperienced. He has made plenty of great decisions along with the common rookie errors.

[candid_snoop41]

Dirk scores 28 points in most of the games...where is his support???

More important: WHERE IS THE DEFENSE???

Whenever your superstar feels as if he "didnt even touch the ball" in the WHOLE 4th QUARTER, obviously there is something wrong! Coach?!, teammates?!, DIRK being agressive?!

WTF Mavs, get your act together

[twelli]

The good thing about this three-game losing streak is: Some of those losers will play somewhere else later this month. Oh yeah.

Excellent post by Rylan, a bit like Dirk. Doesn't post (up) a lot, but always dead on target.

[twelli]

The good thing about this three-game losing streak is: Some of those losers will play somewhere else later this month. Oh yeah.

Excellent post by Rylan, a bit like Dirk. Doesn't post (up) a lot, but always dead on target.

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

My post had nothing to do with disagreeing with you. I said the same thing you're saying about Dirk and his touches. That's not what's wrong with your points. It's just that you're a huge asshole and obviously not always right so you come across as an arrogant child.

"You got a f*cking problem with that?"

"Not nearly as much as I do with the attire that you have on, or just your general point of view towards everybody. But let's go kill some birds. I'm psyched."

[twistaeffect2004]

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

"You got a f*cking problem with that?"

"Not nearly as much as I do with the attire that you have on, or just your general point of view towards everybody. But let's go kill some birds. I'm psyched."

Vince Vaughn is the man.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Things are getting worse which obviously isn't good. I think some of the coaches need to start taking accountability as well. Isn't Terry Stotts in charge of the offense? I'd fire that guy in a new york minute and get someone who knows something about offense. What about Darrell Armstrong? Wasn't he brought here to motivate the players? They look pretty piss poor in the motivation dept. lately. Oh yeah, and whoever is clearing Dampier to play lately also needs to go. Damp shouldn't even be on the floor because he is too hurt.

And of course Barea...but he doesn't choose who goes in the game remember. He sucks no doubt, but he doesn't put himself in there, either. It's just phenomenal to see a pg who has no clue how to pass the ball. No clue at all....

I don't think the losing is going to stop until someone decides winning matters again. This team doesn't have winning attitude right now, at all.

[Sportstudi]

Originally Posted by Rhylan

A lot of you need to realize, this isn't football. The coach doesn't call a play that goes to a specific offensive executor each time down the court. You only call stuff some of the time, and when you do, it's an offensive set with several options. In order for all the options to present themselves, the players have to execute proper player and ball movement better than the defense executes their scheme and anticipation.

This is not like when Nellie was here and he'd call to exploit specific mismatches on the court that meant taking the ball out of Dirk's hands.

These days, Dirk not getting the ball for stretches is an execution problem that is a result of the following:

1. Lack of energy on the part of teammates and of Dirk. The two feed off of each other. When nobody's doing well, Dirk gets down, or vice versa. This is what I think happens a lot when you see Dirk being weak with the ball when he gets it, letting it get poked away. Or when he doesn't hustle to beat his defender to a good spot on the floor. It comes out of being sick of working so hard to get into position or of not having anyone besides JKidd who can get him the ball in a good spot. And it's becoming even harder for JKidd to get him the ball in a good spot because of our lack of other options on the floor. Worse now than at any other time in Dirk's time as a Mav, there is a lack of consistent scoring ability on the floor at every position but his.

2. Personnel problems. These cause the frustration that leads to #1. Personnel problems include NOBODY capable of creating their own shot on the team other than Dirk. No consistent second scoring option. Barea being absolutely exposed by teams who have scouted him and realize he is not going to make the right pass, ever, yet still getting the ball each time down the court, because when he's in the game, that's what he's called on to do. Force the issue and make offense. The guy is 5'9" for crying out loud - he's a SPECIALIST in the most extreme case. A coach with the skills of a Rick Carlisle is playing him this much out of pure desperation and lack of other options. Only the greatness of Dirk and smart play of Kidd and sometimes Marion (defensively) have the Mavs where they are right now record-wise. That and Dampier's great start to the season.

Barea and Howard are offensive kryptonite for this team. They are effective only when they dominate the ball. For Howard, this is bad because when he's off, he tries to shoot his way out of it, and when he's on, he heat checks his way out of being hot. See second quarter against Portland on Saturday.

Barea can be a useful weapon in this vein if he's used for 10-15 minutes and does NOT initiate the offense. But because of his non-existent ball distribution skills, when Barea initiates the offense, we become a one option offense. So let him floor the ball, then crowd him on D. You'll either get a forced shot or a forced kick out. Most teams have figured that out in the last couple of months - that's why his effectiveness has gone to crap.

Bottom line, the Dirk-suddenly-not-getting-shots issue is a personnel issue exacerbated by a coaching playing ineffective players too much, and a coach playing ineffective players too much because of personnel shortcomings... in other words, time for a shake-up.

I also think you can't underestimate the effect Dampier's knee issue has had on the team D. Team D was sliding once he started having problems and lost some mobility, and has slid off the deep end along with the team's psyche the last couple of weeks. Snowball effect.

And another note in this rambling post... Shawn Marion's defense has been outstanding, without question, but his offensive game has become Antawn Jamison without the touch around the basket, without the solid fundamental shooting form, and without the range. In other words, you can only feel good about him shooting a layup. He is completely gravity bound on the offensive side of the ball, all of a sudden.

To those of you who wonder why Roddy isn't playing more.. the only reasonable explanation I can come up with is the knucklehead factor. The Mavs have an overabundance of players who are, when at their very best, a mere hair's breadth away from becoming a full blown knucklehead.

Howard, Gooden, Barea, and Terry are all in this category. 4 very below average basketball decision makers. The conditions under which you'd be willing to roll out a mercurial rookie who probably has a knucklehead streak of his own are very limited when your team is so dependent on that Knucklehead Quartet.

Excellent post! Good job!

[kg_veteran]

Originally Posted by Rhylan

A lot of you need to realize, this isn't football. The coach doesn't call a play that goes to a specific offensive executor each time down the court. You only call stuff some of the time, and when you do, it's an offensive set with several options. In order for all the options to present themselves, the players have to execute proper player and ball movement better than the defense executes their scheme and anticipation.

This is not like when Nellie was here and he'd call to exploit specific mismatches on the court that meant taking the ball out of Dirk's hands.

These days, Dirk not getting the ball for stretches is an execution problem that is a result of the following:

1. Lack of energy on the part of teammates and of Dirk. The two feed off of each other. When nobody's doing well, Dirk gets down, or vice versa. This is what I think happens a lot when you see Dirk being weak with the ball when he gets it, letting it get poked away. Or when he doesn't hustle to beat his defender to a good spot on the floor. It comes out of being sick of working so hard to get into position or of not having anyone besides JKidd who can get him the ball in a good spot. And it's becoming even harder for JKidd to get him the ball in a good spot because of our lack of other options on the floor. Worse now than at any other time in Dirk's time as a Mav, there is a lack of consistent scoring ability on the floor at every position but his.

2. Personnel problems. These cause the frustration that leads to #1. Personnel problems include NOBODY capable of creating their own shot on the team other than Dirk. No consistent second scoring option. Barea being absolutely exposed by teams who have scouted him and realize he is not going to make the right pass, ever, yet still getting the ball each time down the court, because when he's in the game, that's what he's called on to do. Force the issue and make offense. The guy is 5'9" for crying out loud - he's a SPECIALIST in the most extreme case. A coach with the skills of a Rick Carlisle is playing him this much out of pure desperation and lack of other options. Only the greatness of Dirk and smart play of Kidd and sometimes Marion (defensively) have the Mavs where they are right now record-wise. That and Dampier's great start to the season.

Barea and Howard are offensive kryptonite for this team. They are effective only when they dominate the ball. For Howard, this is bad because when he's off, he tries to shoot his way out of it, and when he's on, he heat checks his way out of being hot. See second quarter against Portland on Saturday.

Barea can be a useful weapon in this vein if he's used for 10-15 minutes and does NOT initiate the offense. But because of his non-existent ball distribution skills, when Barea initiates the offense, we become a one option offense. So let him floor the ball, then crowd him on D. You'll either get a forced shot or a forced kick out. Most teams have figured that out in the last couple of months - that's why his effectiveness has gone to crap.

Bottom line, the Dirk-suddenly-not-getting-shots issue is a personnel issue exacerbated by a coaching playing ineffective players too much, and a coach playing ineffective players too much because of personnel shortcomings... in other words, time for a shake-up.

I also think you can't underestimate the effect Dampier's knee issue has had on the team D. Team D was sliding once he started having problems and lost some mobility, and has slid off the deep end along with the team's psyche the last couple of weeks. Snowball effect.

And another note in this rambling post... Shawn Marion's defense has been outstanding, without question, but his offensive game has become Antawn Jamison without the touch around the basket, without the solid fundamental shooting form, and without the range. In other words, you can only feel good about him shooting a layup. He is completely gravity bound on the offensive side of the ball, all of a sudden.

To those of you who wonder why Roddy isn't playing more.. the only reasonable explanation I can come up with is the knucklehead factor. The Mavs have an overabundance of players who are, when at their very best, a mere hair's breadth away from becoming a full blown knucklehead.

Howard, Gooden, Barea, and Terry are all in this category. 4 very below average basketball decision makers. The conditions under which you'd be willing to roll out a mercurial rookie who probably has a knucklehead streak of his own are very limited when your team is so dependent on that Knucklehead Quartet.

Very well said. The only real question I have at this point in the season is whether Cuban intends to try and fix things now, or wait until the offseason. If the trade deadline passes and no moves have been made, I am going to be extremely apathetic.

[Usually Lurkin]

Here's my theory: a few players are dead sure that they are going to get traded, and don't want their new team to give up too much talent in the exchange.

. . . oh, and if neither Carlisle nor Dirk can, after a couple week's worth of trying, convince the team to pass the ball to Dirk in the 4th quarter as the game goes to crap, then we've got some very serious problems.

I'd also like to note that all these attitude and scoring and defense problems started when Josh Howard put his sneakers back on.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

Cadbane - I assume that you meant to leave me negative rep since the comment "Stop breathing" doesn't fit with the green box it came with. Spread some rep around and try again.

LOL

Worrying too much about writing something witty and forgetting to uncheck the green box... it happens

[92bDad]

Every team goes through a dry spell...the Mavs happen to be going through now.

How they respond in this moment of adversity is what will define the season.

But keep in mind, it's not about regular season glory, but about Post-Season Championship!!!

This team will be fine, they will still finish up around 55 wins...with a good spot in the Post-season rankings...then with plenty of rest between games and series, this team will work their way into the Finals...ultimately bringing the Championship to Dallas for the First time in Franchise history!!!

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by 92bDad

Every team goes through a dry spell...the Mavs happen to be going through now.

How they respond in this moment of adversity is what will define the season.

But keep in mind, it's not about regular season glory, but about Post-Season Championship!!!

This team will be fine, they will still finish up around 55 wins...with a good spot in the Post-season rankings...then with plenty of rest between games and series, this team will work their way into the Finals...ultimately bringing the Championship to Dallas for the First time in Franchise history!!!

Puff puff pass!!


Also, it's not how they respond in this moment of adversity as much as it is how we adjust to whatever moves we make with the roster. Then their eyes can be set on higher goals like the finals etc...

[SMC0007]

Dirk, Jet battle for the blame

February, 1, 2010 Feb 111:48PM CTComment Email Print Share By Tim MacMahon

SALT LAKE CITY -- At least the Dallas Mavericks' go-to guys are accountable.

Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry both shouldered the blame for Monday night's loss to the Utah Jazz, when they failed to get a field goal in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive road game.

Nowitzki didn't even get a shot from the floor after the third quarter. That's quite a contrast to his franchise-record 29-point fourth quarter in the Mavs' lone win against the Jazz this season, but it was awfully similar to last week's loss to the Suns, when Dirk only attempted one field goal in the fourth.

"The other day against Portland, at least I had my chances in the fourth," said Nowitzki, referring to a misses he had in the final seconds of regulation and last minute of overtime in the loss to the Trail Blazers. "I probably should have won the game myself. At least I got the ball in the fourth.

"The last two road games, it didn’t happen, but I take it all on me always. I’ve got to be aggressive. If I don’t get the ball, just run to it and make something happen."

Terry got his shots late against the Jazz. They just didn't go down, as he missed all four shots from the floor in the fourth. He also had two of the Mavs' seven turnovers in the fourth.

"I can’t get 0-for," Terry said. "They look for me to do some scoring in the fourth, and I didn’t get it done. I take huge responsibility – myself and Dirk – on propelling this team to wins in the fourth quarter.

"It just didn’t happen tonight. We didn’t take care of the ball and we didn’t do what we needed to do to be successful offensively."

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Dirk, Jet battle for the blame

February, 1, 2010 Feb 111:48PM CTComment Email Print Share By Tim MacMahon

SALT LAKE CITY -- At least the Dallas Mavericks' go-to guys are accountable.

Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry both shouldered the blame for Monday night's loss to the Utah Jazz, when they failed to get a field goal in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive road game.

Nowitzki didn't even get a shot from the floor after the third quarter. That's quite a contrast to his franchise-record 29-point fourth quarter in the Mavs' lone win against the Jazz this season, but it was awfully similar to last week's loss to the Suns, when Dirk only attempted one field goal in the fourth.

"The other day against Portland, at least I had my chances in the fourth," said Nowitzki, referring to a misses he had in the final seconds of regulation and last minute of overtime in the loss to the Trail Blazers. "I probably should have won the game myself. At least I got the ball in the fourth.

"The last two road games, it didn’t happen, but I take it all on me always. I’ve got to be aggressive. If I don’t get the ball, just run to it and make something happen."

Terry got his shots late against the Jazz. They just didn't go down, as he missed all four shots from the floor in the fourth. He also had two of the Mavs' seven turnovers in the fourth.

"I can’t get 0-for," Terry said. "They look for me to do some scoring in the fourth, and I didn’t get it done. I take huge responsibility – myself and Dirk – on propelling this team to wins in the fourth quarter.

"It just didn’t happen tonight. We didn’t take care of the ball and we didn’t do what we needed to do to be successful offensively."

I don't agree that this loss was 100% on Dirk and JET's shoulders, but I love that they both nutted-up and took responsibility for it - that's what good leaders do.

[dalmations202]

Both will take responsibility for not scoring.

No one wants to take responsibility for the lack of Defense late in games lately.
Who "nuts up" and claims responsibility for the atrocious defense this team is playing.

[SMC0007]

good question

[iella]

How about getting to a point where we don't have to have huge 4th quarters to win games? I mean, the ability to turn it on in the crunch is important, but playing a solid first three quarters (and not letting leads slip away because of sloppy defense) goes a long way toward getting a mark in the W column.

[Kidd Karma]

Do the trade already......once the Howard rumors broke, this team has been in the ****er.

[SMC0007]

We need the defensive mentality of "We are gonna stop you and we are so confident that we are gonna stop you and then punt the ball into the 69th row and get down and slap the floor with both hands and politely ask you to bring that weak shit again. And then we will stop you again." "Oh, and we don't care if we score or not, we just aren't gonna let you score".

[horse900703]

we suck, enough said.....

[Kidd Karma]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

We need the defensive mentality of "We are gonna stop you and we are so confident that we are gonna stop you and then punt the ball into the 69th row and get down and slap the floor with both hands and politely ask you to bring that weak shit again. And then we will stop you again." "Oh, and we don't care if we score or not, we just aren't gonna let you score".

Defense is effort, there's no desire on a few of the guys with trade rumors swirling.

[SMC0007]

Yeah and its becoming contagious too, Jet, Dirk and Kidd havent been giving stellar effort on D lately either.

[Dirkenstien]

I'm thinking adding an athletic shot blocking 7 footer and a dynamic and talented defensive wing would help inject some passion on the defensive end.

[UtahDirkfan]

So the game sucked last night. It happened yet again, I go and the Mavs lose. On top of that, I had to get silly string shot all over me by that damn Jazz bear for wearing my Dirk shirt. Then this douche in front of me with his $10 deron williams wal mart jersey kept going crazy and taking his jersey off and swinging it around. Yes it stunk and it was ripped. My guess was due to him ripping it off so much.

Then on the way home I had to listen to talk radio about how Dirk is the most hated guy in Utah and no one has ever seen a player hated that bad. I guess these talk radio guys have never seen a Lakers game in Utah. What a joke. Oh and I laughed at how they said the crowd got in Dirk's head and completely shut him down but yet he still drops 28pts on them? How does that work?

Here is what I saw last night at the game. I don't think Dirk got the ball enough. He was guarded by a undersized Millsap. Yes his shots weren't the best in the first half. He went on that tear in the 3rd and then for some reason, really never got the ball after that. It's not like CJ Miles was keeping Dirk from scoring. All in all, Dirk needed the ball more and that didn't happen. The game was only close because of Dirks third quarter efforts. The game should have been closer if he got the ball more.

[CadBane]

Utah, your laconic summation of the game is the most accurate thing posted in this whole thread.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by UtahDirkfan

On top of that, I had to get silly string shot all over me by that damn Jazz bear for wearing my Dirk shirt.

I thought they had stand-ins for that. They did it without your consent?

I also don't understand why they hate Dirk so much. Are they still butt-hurt over 2001? Or the accidental-yet-malicious takedown of their precious Russian twig? Not even Spurs and Rockets fans boo him like that.

[iella]

Utah hates Dirk so much because his 29-point 4th quarter back in November is the most exciting thing that has ever happened in the entire state of Utah. Seeing Dirk is just a reminder of the banality of their existence.

[Dirkadirkastan]

No, they've been booing him for awhile.

[Rhylan]

"Utah is a bad city." -Dirk, 2001.

Don't kick the beehive.

[UtahDirkfan]

I also thought they had stand-ins for that until I was hit in the eye with some silly string. It stung and I spent the whole time trying to rub that out of my eye but really couldn't because I kept getting sprayed. It was annoying.

And the main reason Utah hates Dirk is because of the foul on AK the twig and also how he hit Harpring. Utah fans act like Harpring has never played dirty his whole career. Since then, they just hate him.

I found it funny how they sat and said how big of a poor sport Dirk was and how he was cheap. But yet when Ronnie Price knocked over JJB, that same fan says, "yeah price! Don't help that bum off the floor. That's how we do it!" Yeah that makes a lot of sense. I seriously hate Utah fans and my hate for them grew more last night. They bitch and moan about any call that doesn't go their way.

[UtahDirkfan]

Originally Posted by iella

Utah hates Dirk so much because his 29-point 4th quarter back in November is the most exciting thing that has ever happened in the entire state of Utah. Seeing Dirk is just a reminder of the banality of their existence.

This

[Bayliss]

Some of the defensive woes are attributed to the piss poor offense. How many "easy" buckets did the Mavs give up the 4th because a Maverick on offense committed a stupid turnover?

3-1 fastbreaks usually wind up with good shots... possibly and 1 opportunities... well everyone except the Mavericks.

And they committed a bunch of turnovers in the 4th. So it wasn't the "defense" per se last night. They were doing just fine right up until Kidd went out. Then the floodgates opened because the Mavs were stagnant on offense... and it caused Utah to get out and get some layups/and 1s.

[quietsavant]

why do you torture yourselves fellow mav fans. this game was over last night. A fresh slate is upon us. close this thread

[Usually Lurkin]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

I thought they had stand-ins for that. They did it without your consent?

I also don't understand why they hate Dirk so much. Are they still butt-hurt over 2001? Or the accidental-yet-malicious takedown of their precious Russian twig? Not even Spurs and Rockets fans boo him like that.

yeah. it all adds up, I think.

[Sportstudi]

Originally Posted by UtahDirkfan

I also thought they had stand-ins for that until I was hit in the eye with some silly string. It stung and I spent the whole time trying to rub that out of my eye but really couldn't because I kept getting sprayed. It was annoying.

And the main reason Utah hates Dirk is because of the foul on AK the twig and also how he hit Harpring. Utah fans act like Harpring has never played dirty his whole career. Since then, they just hate him.

I found it funny how they sat and said how big of a poor sport Dirk was and how he was cheap. But yet when Ronnie Price knocked over JJB, that same fan says, "yeah price! Don't help that bum off the floor. That's how we do it!" Yeah that makes a lot of sense. I seriously hate Utah fans and my hate for them grew more last night. They bitch and moan about any call that doesn't go their way.

There's one thing which makes it even more "funny", respectively ridiculous. Their "dreamteam" of Stockton/Malone was one of, if not the most dirty combos in the entire league. Especially Malone. He knocked so many people on the ground and even to hospital, but for Utah fans those ones were just normal, hard fouls.