Mavs far from playoff caliber - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

kriD · 11-12-2006, 04:42 AM

Mavs far from playoff caliber

Johnson said thinking about last year won't dig them out of 1-4 hole

03:01 AM CST on Sunday, November 12, 2006
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

PORTLAND, Ore. – Avery Johnson is trying to get the Mavericks to forget about last season. As good as it was, it's not doing them any good now as they try to gain ground on .500.

"We're not an elite team, not right now," Johnson said. "We were an elite team last year. This is a different year, different time. What's elite about this team right now?

"But we are going to continue to try to do all the steps throughout the year in this process to becoming an elite team."

In at least one respect, the Mavericks are far better off than they were a year ago.

Anybody remember Doug Christie? It was about this time last season when the Mavericks were finding out just how divisive Christie and wife Jackie could be to an organization.

Tonight, they try to pick up Win No. 2, facing the young and improved Portland Trail Blazers.

Assuming the Mavericks pick themselves up and escape the 1-4 hole they've dug, they could emerge on the other side of this deplorable start stronger.

"That's when you find out about chemistry, when things aren't going well," owner Mark Cuban said. "You don't see anybody in the locker room pointing fingers. If you tell me we're going to start 0-11 but end up in the NBA Finals, I'd take that every time.

"A few years ago, we started 14-0 and San Antonio still caught us."

That's what the Mavericks need to be mindful of. They picked the best possible moment to lose four in a row. They still had 78 games to make up for it.

Although they weren't overly concerned when they were 0-4, 1-4 isn't going to put them in a dither, either. A win tonight against a Portland team that is supposed to be rebuilding but is off to a 4-2 start would give them a 2-1 record on the western road swing. They would take those results on road trips all season.

"The main thing now is we've got to get better from practice to practice," Dirk Nowitzki said. "In the season, you go through tough stretches and we hit one early. We all hope it's going to bring us more together."

The Mavericks know things could be worse. And they aren't alone in their struggles. Denver, which won the Northwest Division last season, and Phoenix, which won the Pacific, are last in their divisions. The Mavericks won the Western Conference but are last in the Southwest Division.

But although things could be worse, the Mavericks aren't thrilled about their situation.

"I can name a few teams that have the makings of being an elite team," Johnson said. "Last year when you're playing in the Western Conference finals and the Finals, you're pretty much an elite team. But we aren't there now.

"We don't like this feeling that we have now. And just because we win a game, is it going to be a situation where we're going to break through and win 10 in a row? I don't know if we're on that level yet."

Briefly: The Mavs have given up more than 100 points in four consecutive games, the first time that's happened under Johnson. ... Jerry Stackhouse has started back-to-back games and is averaging 17.5 points on 54 percent shooting. He's also taking it upon himself to spoon-feed rookie Moe Ager on the ins and outs of the NBA. "I'm not going to be one of those old veterans that holds things back," Stackhouse said. "I'm going to teach him everything I can."

kriD · 11-12-2006, 08:25 AM

Time heals all

Mavericks hope familiarity cures early problems

By ART GARCIA
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Avery Johnson doesn't have any illusions about the Mavericks' status. "What's elite about this team right now?" he asked rhetorically. "We're not an elite team. We are going to continue to try to do all the steps throughout the year in this process to becoming an elite team." The defending Western Conference champions have looked like anything but five games into the season. The 0-4 start led to questions and concerns not completely resolved Thursday by outgunning Phoenix 119-112. Still, the positives can't be ignored. "I'm not saying we're there yet," Jason Terry said, "but it definitely was a good victory and good sign for us."

What's wrong with the Mavericks?

1 Other than the first couple days of training camp and the last couple preseason games, the General's preferred rotation hasn't seen much court time together because of nagging injuries and a coordinated plan to rest key veteran players. The lack of familiarity has shown.

The starting backcourt for the first two games -- Jason Terry and Greg Buckner -- didn't have any chemistry. Erick Dampier had a strong camp cut short by a hip injury, and he began the season behind DeSagana Diop.

Jerry Stackhouse wasn't at full speed early. Not having Josh Howard (ankle), above, for another 10 days or so hurts. So did Devean George missing the first three games because of food poisoning.

2 Dirk Nowitzki hasn't looked like the MVP candidate he's been in the past. The numbers are solid -- 25 points and nine rebounds per game -- but the relentlessness that makes him great wasn't seen until Thursday in Phoenix.

Playoff-level Dirk doesn't let Cuttino Mobley bother him like the 6-foot-4 Clippers guard did during Wednesday night's 103-85 loss in Los Angeles. And as he showed against the Suns, Nowitzki is virtually unstoppable when he's in attack mode.

3 Greg Buckner, Devean George, Anthony Johnson and Austin Croshere were solid veteran pickups. As for picking up the system, they've been shaky at times.

The positives that come along with being established in this league have led to several adjustment issues. For instance: The techniques used by the new Mavs to guard the pick-and-roll, pass out of double-teams and space the court don't jibe with those in Avery Johnson's system.

But it's not as if they won't pick it up. They're too smart not to. It's just not second nature yet.

4 Finals hangover? They may not want to admit it, although they've freely owned up to coasting out of the gate. Coasting won't get it done against the likes of the Spurs, Rockets and Clippers. Throw in the emotion of Nellie's return, and even the Warriors are trouble.

When you consider the fact that beating the Mavs means something extra, especially for those in the West wanting to prove their worth, the Mavs often find themselves on dangerous ground. Other teams are scouting the Mavs closer and looking to exploit the same weaknesses Miami found.

5 Avery Johnson, above, knows the pulse of his team better than anyone. He wasn't about to push too hard this early. Taking a few lumps is exactly the kind of wake-up call his team needed.

Johnson has talked since Day One about the steps needed to become a championship team. Skip any steps and losses follow. There's no better example than the first four games.

WraithXx · 11-12-2006, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kriD

[B][SIZE="3"]Jerry Stackhouse has started back-to-back games and is averaging 17.5 points on 54 percent shooting. He's also taking it upon himself to spoon-feed rookie Moe Ager on the ins and outs of the NBA. "I'm not going to be one of those old veterans that holds things back," Stackhouse said. "I'm going to teach him everything I can."

I'll take those numbers 24/7 365

mqywaaah · 11-12-2006, 09:53 AM

Where'd our D go?

Locked_Up_Tonight · 11-12-2006, 10:55 AM

Quote:

"I'm not going to be one of those old veterans that holds things back," Stackhouse said. "I'm going to teach him everything I can."

God, I hope Stack doesn't teach try to teach him how to shoot the 3.

dude1394 · 11-12-2006, 11:30 AM

Finals hangover is good for 5 games. It's done, get the blank over it. I really don't want to hear another player, coach, writer talk about it anymore.

From now on the mavs are what they are...they either get better or they get different.

Dirkenstien · 11-12-2006, 01:48 PM

Aside from our great depth, this team is built for the playoffs but until then all we can do is learn to play better together. It's a long season with no room for knee-jerking.

AxdemxO · 11-12-2006, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirkenstien

Aside from our great depth, this team is built for the playoffs but until then all we can do is learn to play better together. It's a long season with no room for knee-jerking.

Its built for the playoffs, but the Q is will we get there with this kinda play??

So many teams are playinggood this year

dude1394 · 11-12-2006, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AxdemxO

Its built for the playoffs, but the Q is will we get there with this kinda play??

So many teams are playinggood this year

Of course we will get there. We aren't minnesota for goodness sakes.

Dirkenstien · 11-12-2006, 07:28 PM

There is no question that we will get into the playoffs. No question.

snoop · 11-14-2006, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirkenstien

Aside from our great depth, this team is built for the playoffs but until then all we can do is learn to play better together. It's a long season with no room for knee-jerking.

we have to be willing to let this team gel since they had no time to do it in the preseason