Dirk is the problem with this team.

[dalmations202]

Originally Posted by mary

You know, I really wish Dirk were THE problem on this team.

Right now I have alot more faith in Dirk returning to form than I do in our team defense.

I would agree if I actually saw any defense to return to form.

Man, they are bad right now.

[mary]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

The big German is disproving the title of this thread pretty rigorously tonight.

Dirk is giving this thread the middle finger salute.

[mary]

Dirk's got 32-12 tonight.

So obviously we must've won the game.

Right?

THE problem on the team went 10-19 and 10-10 at the FT line.

Since THE problem was wasn't a problem, I'm just going to mark this one in the win column.

[alby]

Originally Posted by mary

Dirk's got 32-12 tonight.

So obviously we must've won the game.

30-11 after three quarters...

can we all agree Avery doesn't know how to coach Dirk?

[Flacolaco]

Originally Posted by alby

30-11 after three quarters...

They were still losing after 3 quarters.

[mary]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

They were still losing after 3 quarters.

ha..exactly.

[alby]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

They were still losing after 3 quarters.

Jason Terry was "gaurding" Iverson =P

honest question:
who do you think would guard Iverson better today? Terry or Avery?

[Flacolaco]

Originally Posted by alby

Jason Terry was "gaurding" Iverson =P

honest question:
who do you think would guard Iverson better today? Terry or Avery?

Dude, you don't have to convince me about the defense. I agree whole heartedly.

[Bathouse Bear]

Nice game from Dirk.

he was agressive and reminded me of the Old Dirk.....to bad our defense reminded me of the old Mavericks.

This is the type of game we need from Dirk every night. Taking 15-20 shots a game, getting to the line, and opening things up for our other players.

[dude1394]

It was a much more offensive minded dirk tonight for sure. The nuggets didn't do much to contest him however. But he shot it when he got it which was great. He got a little tired out there at the end and could have used a blow...but I liked seeing him just shoot the damn thing.

They still didn't post him up nearly enough. Avery really needs to work that. But he handled the ball a lot tonight, a few too many turnovers.

But man, our defense sucketh and then it sucketh again.

[ty]

Originally Posted by dude1394

He got a little tired out there at the end and could have used a blow...but I liked seeing him just shoot the damn thing.

Yah, when you don't shoot that much every game, you get tired because your body isn't used to it. Damn you Avery!

Better game for Dirk. We keep feeding the beast like that and the beast will return:

[dude1394]

Did the league change the rules about guarding people in the post. I was re-watching the first quarter and kenyon martin had both hands planted solid in dirk's back. I thought that was an automatic last year.

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by alby

Jason Terry was "gaurding" Iverson =P

honest question:
who do you think would guard Iverson better today? Terry or Avery?

Dont forget to add Harris as well. He got torched as well. It took 2 minutes to torch Harris right to the bench, then Terry had no chance to guard him. But, we all know Terry is horrible on defense. But, everyone talked about how Harris was our PG defensive stopper, and was just playing out of position last season. I guess we see, Harris defense is not as good as some thought. Looks like he can guard Parker for the most part, but against the Elite, he is just average at best. Then once they attack him on offense, then Harris just goes out of his mind on offense.

[Locked_Up_Tonight]

Everyone talks about how Howard is the defensive stopper as well. His defense blows chunks too. Don't forget to include him.

In fact, the only player who doesn't blow chunks defensively is Fazekas. And that is because he aint on the roster.

[idrisguitar]

its so easy to blame the star

im glad drik stepped up tonight to disprove so many ignorant fans.

dirk has a good atitude, he has a few off games, but he is usually reliable and can post scores like tonight more than any other starter. i dont think of him as a superstar that can bring down the rest of the team, i think of him as a great player simple as that, its unfair when he has a bad game to blame it all on him,

thats expecting TOO much.


were losing so much SIMPLY because we are giving the opponent way too high of a shooting percentage in the games. everytime i watch mavs opponents come forward i expect them to break the D down and get a relatively easy bucket.

but they have proven last season they can defend well and dominate games so im confident they will get out of this rutt,

eitherway, as long as they make the playoffs, id rather they have 30+ bad games as long as they step up come the playoffs, and its something i think they all have their mind on.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by Silk Smoov

Dont forget to add Harris as well. He got torched as well. It took 2 minutes to torch Harris right to the bench, then Terry had no chance to guard him. But, we all know Terry is horrible on defense. But, everyone talked about how Harris was our PG defensive stopper, and was just playing out of position last season. I guess we see, Harris defense is not as good as some thought. Looks like he can guard Parker for the most part, but against the Elite, he is just average at best. Then once they attack him on offense, then Harris just goes out of his mind on offense.

Harris's defense may not be as good as thought, but it's a heck of a lot better than jet.

[Flacolaco]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Harris's defense may not be as good as thought, but it's a heck of a lot better than jet.

I couldn't understand why he took that foul in the first 2 min of the game on Iverson. Why not let him have the 2 the easy way? It was a bad turnover, cut your losses and move on. Devins fouls are too precious to do that; That dumb foul might have cost him 3 or 4 minutes on the floor tonight.

[dude1394]

Agree...he really needs to understand his responsibilities out there.

[alby]

Silk thinks JET = Devin on defense. hee hee

[Dtownsfinest]

I think JET's defense at this point is on par with Nash's defense when he played for the Mavs. Its sad because JET actually has length on him and still can't manage to play a lick of d.

[alby]

So let's say Nash = Terry on defense.

What about offensively?

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

I couldn't understand why he took that foul in the first 2 min of the game on Iverson. Why not let him have the 2 the easy way? It was a bad turnover, cut your losses and move on. Devins fouls are too precious to do that; That dumb foul might have cost him 3 or 4 minutes on the floor tonight.

I dunno, Avery STILL only played him 25 minutes tonight. You really think it made that much of a difference?

In actuality I agree with your point, I just wanted to once again point out that Devin was treated like the backup PG tonight, while Jet laid a massive stink bomb.

I don't get it.

[dalmations202]

Originally Posted by alby

So let's say Nash = Terry on defense.

What about offensively?

Both bite defensively.

Nash is a better assist guy, and a better floor general.
Terry will usually average more points.

Both are good consistent shooters with great range.

Both are flawed with an Avery team that expects perimeter defense, and half court offense with an inside game.

Terry would look better in a Dan-Tony offense, just like Nash does. Just give them the two, and then go score a three on the other end.

[MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs]

We're on pace to be a 48 or 49 win team. Unless Avery decides to rest all of our starters for the rest of the season to rest for a playoffs we don't make.

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Harris's defense may not be as good as thought, but it's a heck of a lot better than jet.

And your point? Show me one post hyping up Jet on defense. From anybody on this forum? Anyone? You are just finding a way to be right. What I said all year about this team and players was true...But, now you want to talk Harris defense better than Jet?

Harris defense is hurting this team just like Jet. No way around it. This team is lead by the starting PG, which is Harris. No way around it. Avery is feed up with Harris and for good reason. He handed him the team, and he is STILL inconsistent and not a floor leader. He is a better player overall, but as the starting PG, his duties are more and he is not getting the job done. The body language, mental state and record tells the whole story on this current team. Not putting all the blame with Harris, but this is what happens when you are the starting PG. It comes with the territory. Harris wanted it and got it. Now what is he going to do now while this ship is sinking.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by Silk Smoov

And your point? Show me one post hyping up Jet on defense. From anybody on this forum? Anyone? You are just finding a way to be right. What I said all year about this team and players was true...But, now you want to talk Harris defense better than Jet?

Harris defense is hurting this team just like Jet. No way around it. This team is lead by the starting PG, which is Harris. No way around it. Avery is feed up with Harris and for good reason. He handed him the team, and he is STILL inconsistent and not a floor leader. He is a better player overall, but as the starting PG, his duties are more and he is not getting the job done. The body language, mental state and record tells the whole story on this current team. Not putting all the blame with Harris, but this is what happens when you are the starting PG. It comes with the territory. Harris wanted it and got it. Now what is he going to do now while this ship is sinking.

Then avery is knee-jerking imo. Avery cannot seem to stay on track more than two games. The 5-game moe ager trick, the 3-game trenton hassell trick, now the 8-game devin as starter trick.

You tell ME why the team looks confused. The mavs just gave devin a humongous contract which I assume the coach agreed to. He'd better figure out a way to keep his new pg in the game and it's sure not because devin isn't giving him hustle.

[Male30Dan]

You people that stopped talking about this yesterday or never got involved but are now running back in here saying SEE, SEE, DIRK ISN'T THE PROBLEM don't seem to understand that THIS IS NOT HOW HE WAS PLAYING... THIS IS HOW HE SHOULD PLAY.

Had he played like he did in SA we would have lost by 40.

I said defense was a huge problem for us. We all know that, but he was hurting us also. So in a game where we lose by 2 and he plays like a pussy, we lose. If he played like this in SA, we win.

It is that simple guys. I know he played GREAT tonight. He did basically exactly what I asked for from him. He grabbed the ball and SHOT. He grabbed the ball and immediately moved before a double team could reach him. He played with passion and fire. This is the Dirk we need to see every night.

It is unfortunate that it came on a night where our D played as bad as it has in the past couple of years and it didn't matter, but most nights it isn't THIS bad. We definitely can't win if our D plays like this, no matter Dirk's contributions. If we are going to give up 40 point quarters and 65 point halves we just can't win no matter who is on the team.

BUT, again, if we are going to give up 97 points to a good Spurs team and Dirk is going to put up 15 and shoot 11 times that is when our defense is not what is holding us back. Sure, the D could have played much better and we could have won with Dirk playing like that, but it shouldn't take a tremendous defensive effort each night to win with our team. We have what a lot of teams don't, a true Superstar. He needs to consistently play like one and he did last night. If our D plays half as good as they can we win that game.

I will say now after seeing that crap play out that our defense definitely is public enemy number 1 if it is going to play that terrible.

Man it was bad.

[Silk Smoov]

I knew the Jet Vs. Harris thing would come back up when Harris fails. Jet took his lumps when he was the starting PG, but Harris lovers cant take the heat when the starting PG is not being consistent and staying on the floor.

Nothing Harris is doing has to do with Jet. Nothing at all. Everything we are seeing in Harris is EXACTLY what we saw for 4 fours here. Nothing has changed, except he is more offensive minded and is the starting PG.

Point blank:

Jet lead Mavs Team > Harris lead Mavs team

As of this point!!!!!!!!!

We need a top tier PG, because we have a perfect 6th man in Jet, but not a true starting PG which Dirk needs on the floor with him. Now go back to where I pointed out when Dirk and Harris got into it in the pre-season. I bet Dirk STILL does NOT trust Harris at the PG slot. GUARANTEE!!!!

What happened to Harris being the vocal floor leader? Harris is back to just looking crazy on the floor and not knowing what to do at the right time. His Basketball I.Q. tells him that just driving into the lane to score is the answer.

Dirk needs a calming effect on the floor to help him. Harris is NOT an calming effect. This team looked better on offense tonight when Harris went to the bench early and the Terry/Dirk thing was going on. Dirk was back to his ole self for a while. This was actually the first time this season I saw the ole Dirk and Terry free play. Dirk was on automatic and Terry knew exactly where Dirk wanted the ball. Ole times!!! Didn't last long, but it was nice to see.

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Then avery is knee-jerking imo. Avery cannot seem to stay on track more than two games. The 5-game moe ager trick, the 3-game trenton hassell trick, now the 8-game devin as starter trick.

You tell ME why the team looks confused. The mavs just gave devin a humongous contract which I assume the coach agreed to. He'd better figure out a way to keep his new pg in the game and it's sure not because devin isn't giving him hustle.

I agree 100% about Avery, but look what this team has turned to? You plan all summer long on how to execute with your new PG, and nothing is working at all. No matter what he does it does not work. So, he just goes back to what got them 67 wins? But, it does not work? You have a new PG, who is not doing what he is suppose to do, you had a perfect fit with Jet as 6th man, you had an MVP. All this is too much for ANY coach.

I dont have the answer with this current roster. I wish I did, but I just see so many flaws even this summer. I saw this coming a mile away, but I wonder why Avery did not see it? It was very clear after the playoffs, that this team was mentally finished.

Yes, Harris is giving hustle, but that kind of hustle is from bench players. He need smartness on the floor to calm this team down. Dirk needs it more than others. Dirk is not comfortable on the floor, and he needs that calming effect to allow him to just play ball and NOT lead.

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by Male26Dan

You people that stopped talking about this yesterday or never got involved but are now running back in here saying SEE, SEE, DIRK ISN'T THE PROBLEM don't seem to understand that THIS IS NOT HOW HE WAS PLAYING... THIS IS HOW HE SHOULD PLAY.

Had he played like he did in SA we would have lost by 40.

I said defense was a huge problem for us. We all know that, but he was hurting us also. So in a game where we lose by 2 and he plays like a pussy, we lose. If he played like this in SA, we win.

It is that simple guys. I know he played GREAT tonight. He did basically exactly what I asked for from him. He grabbed the ball and SHOT. He grabbed the ball and immediately moved before a double team could reach him. He played with passion and fire. This is the Dirk we need to see every night.

It is unfortunate that it came on a night where our D played as bad as it has in the past couple of years and it didn't matter, but most nights it isn't THIS bad. We definitely can't win if our D plays like this, no matter Dirk's contributions. If we are going to give up 40 point quarters and 65 point halves we just can't win no matter who is on the team.

BUT, again, if we are going to give up 97 points to a good Spurs team and Dirk is going to put up 15 and shoot 11 times that is when our defense is not what is holding us back. Sure, the D could have played much better and we could have won with Dirk playing like that, but it shouldn't take a tremendous defensive effort each night to win with our team. We have what a lot of teams don't, a true Superstar. He needs to consistently play like one and he did last night. If our D plays half as good as they can we win that game.

I will say now after seeing that crap play out that our defense definitely is public enemy number 1 if it is going to play that terrible.

Man it was bad.

You know what, I am going to chalk up last nights loss due to match-up problems. We dont match-up with Denver at all. They are too long and athletic, plus have two Superstars. We dont want to face Denver in the playoffs, plain and simple. We dont want to face Denver or GS in the playoffs or we will go home. Lets just all face it. Our playoff chances are all about match-ups for the Mavs.

In a 7 game series, the current Mavs team will beat Utah, Suns, SA, Lakers,Grizzles and Rockets in the playoffs.

The Mavs would lose to GS and Denver.

Theres our 8 teams for the playoffs right there. Either Rockets or Grizzlies will make it. I am not even factoring in Hornets, because I would hate for the Mavs not to make the playoffs.

Now factor in what seed we need to make it deep in the playoffs

1. SA
2. Suns
3. Lakers
4. Utah
5. Denver
6. Mavs
7. GS
8. Rockets

There you have it. Here is the storm we will go through..

I hate to say it but there are 5 teams fighting for 6-8th seed. Mavs, GS, Rockets, Hornets, Grizzlies. Shi*, now that I look at it, the Mavs could get in the lottery. We are one more injury from being a lottery team.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by Silk Smoov

I agree 100% about Avery, but look what this team has turned to? You plan all summer long on how to execute with your new PG, and nothing is working at all. No matter what he does it does not work. So, he just goes back to what got them 67 wins? But, it does not work? You have a new PG, who is not doing what he is suppose to do, you had a perfect fit with Jet as 6th man, you had an MVP. All this is too much for ANY coach.

I dont have the answer with this current roster. I wish I did, but I just see so many flaws even this summer. I saw this coming a mile away, but I wonder why Avery did not see it? It was very clear after the playoffs, that this team was mentally finished.

Yes, Harris is giving hustle, but that kind of hustle is from bench players. He need smartness on the floor to calm this team down. Dirk needs it more than others. Dirk is not comfortable on the floor, and he needs that calming effect to allow him to just play ball and NOT lead.

If you agree 100% about avery then your critique of why players are/are not doing specific things needs to be tempered by that. If you have the head of the organization making decisions that appear to not be grounded in reality, you are going to get the folks underneath you performing sub-optimally.

This IS the same team as last year no matter how you spin it. Only the coach seems to be just as confused as he was against GS.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by Silk Smoov

You know what, I am going to chalk up last nights loss due to match-up problems. We dont match-up with Denver at all. They are too long and athletic, plus have two Superstars. We dont want to face Denver in the playoffs, plain and simple. We dont want to face Denver or GS in the playoffs or we will go home. Lets just all face it. Our playoff chances are all about match-ups for the Mavs.

In a 7 game series, the current Mavs team will beat Utah, Suns, SA, Lakers,Grizzles and Rockets in the playoffs.

The Mavs would lose to GS and Denver.

Theres our 8 teams for the playoffs right there.

Now factor in what seed we need to make it deep in the playoffs

1. SA
2. Suns
3. Lakers
4. Utah
5. Denver
6. Mavs
7. GS
8. Rockets

There you have it. Here is the storm we will go through..

This is one of your strangest posts ever. And that's saying something.

[mary]

Originally Posted by SilkSmoov

1. SA
2. Suns
3. Lakers
4. Utah
5. Denver
6. Mavs
7. GS
8. Rockets

How are two Pacific teams going to be seeded 2 and 3? Is Stern going to punish the Northwest division this year?

[Flacolaco]

Originally Posted by mary

How are two Pacific teams going to be seeded 2 and 3? Is Stern going to punish the Northwest division this year?

Isn't that how it works now? A non-division winning team with a better record than the worst division winner can have the 3 seed?

[mary]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Isn't that how it works now? A non-division winning team with a better record than the worst division winner can have the 3 seed?

Dammit, you right.

I hate that!

[Dirkenstien]

I think we may have all been overrating Harris's abilities. At this point you really have to look at what we have objectively: a young guy with whippet-like speed and too little skill or control to use that speed as an advantage. It may be time to trade him and another for that key floor general we've been lacking (Perhaps Kidd?). Dirk only has so long before his play begins to dwindle and the competition just continues to get stronger and stronger.

[mary]

Originally Posted by Male26Dan

I will say now after seeing that crap play out that our defense definitely is public enemy number 1 if it is going to play that terrible.

Man it was bad.

The Mavs currently rank 4th in offensive efficiency. Dirk's had a crap year so far, but the team's offense is well above-average, and has produced well enough to win games.

The Mavs are currently ranked 21st in defensive efficiency.

They rank 25th in the league in guarding 3's.

They routinely give up 30+ quarters.

The defense has been the primary problem - not just in last night's game.

Dirk hitting a game winning shot in San Antonio wouldn't have changed that one bit. We would have one more win, and one less loss - but the defense would still really suck.

If Dirk were averaging 25, 10 and 5 - we might've won a few more games. Its hard to say. Basketball is a bunch of interdependent moving parts, so its difficult to predict what the outcome would be if you change just one thing. (I'm not saying you don't know this, just pointing it out.)

But yes, in general, if your offense scores enough it can cover up the deficiencies of your team. But if it doesn't, that doesn't mean the offense is the problem, or that the offensive production of one particular player is the problem.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by mary

Dammit, you right.

I hate that!

Just because it CAN happen doesn't it make it any less strange that that's how he thinks the seedings are going to shake out.

[bcrav4]

Originally Posted by Dirkenstien

I think we may have all been overrating Harris's abilities. At this point you really have to look at what we have objectively: a young guy with whippet-like speed and too little skill or control to use that speed as an advantage. It may be time to trade him and another for that key floor general we've been lacking (Perhaps Kidd?). Dirk only has so long before his play begins to dwindle and the competition just continues to get stronger and stronger.

I'm a HUGE Harris fan, but he's really starting to make me doubt him too.

[idrisguitar]

that mathup post maye have been a good point.

denver have two superstars and anyone who says otherwise is in denial, melo and AI are great players and we didn;t have the hieght power or defensive players in our starting line-up to have a chance.

and even if we did have the matchups a bit better our scoring would have suffered without the likes of howard and dirk and terry.

ADD in the fact it was the second game in two night and it was always gonna be a rough ride. i think the fact dirk got a good game and we scored a lot of points is a good positive to take considering the above points.