Ground-breaking USA Today Mavs Article

[sturm und drang]

Um, yeah. Right.

No "D" in Dallas. Same song, second verse. Haven't we heard this all before? Yawn.

The only interesting points in the article, in my opinion, were the fact that they call out both Daniels and Howard for not really being good defensively. Both get on athleticism, but have bad fundamentals. Someone's finally calling a spade a spade...

Little defense is offered for early Mavs exits
By David DuPree, USA TODAY

The Dallas Mavericks have been the most offensively creative, highest-scoring NBA team in the last three seasons. Defense often has been an afterthought, however, and their downfall come playoff time.
For Josh Howard and the Mavericks, poor defense may lead to another early playoff exit.

When the shots aren't falling for many high-scoring teams, they have nothing to fall back on and thus no way to win a game.

That has never been more evident than in the Mavericks' playoff series against the Sacramento Kings, another defensively challenged team that can at least get a critical stop on occasion.

The style the Mavericks play might have run its course, as they trail the Kings 3-1 entering tonight's potential elimination game at Sacramento. Questions abound:

Do the Mavericks break up the team for next season and build around star Dirk Nowitzki?

Do they try to add defensive players and change their focus?

Or do they tweak things and try to get by?

Owner Mark Cuban won't be happy with a first-round ouster and says he will address the Mavericks' on-court situation at the proper time.

Breaking up a team is a risky business, and coach Don Nelson, who has two years remaining on his contract, certainly doesn't want to go that route.

"It's easy for people to say we should break up the team, but I got talked into that one time at Golden State," says the veteran coach, in his seventh season with the Mavericks. "We'd lost in the playoffs two years in a row and I felt we had to get bigger and more physical and rebound better, and I got talked into trading Mitch Richmond for Billy Owens.

What Dallas players are lacking

The Dallas Mavericks, without a shot blocker or a defensive presence down low, give up a lot of easy baskets.

They don't defend the screen-and-roll well, which is critical to the success of a team, and they lack great overall team speed, which makes it difficult to press an opponent.

"That was the dumbest trade I ever made. We had such a good thing going, and I screwed it up by trading an All-Star because the other guy was bigger. Never again."

Experts agree the Mavericks can't panic and that breaking them up isn't the way to go — with a team built around the talented Nowitzki, point guard Steve Nash, shooting guard Michael Finley, the league's top sixth man in Antawn Jamison and talented rookies Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels.

"This business is often driven by talk show radio ... and people make impulsive decisions," TNT analyst Doug Collins says. "You have to take a step back and sort through things and see what you need to do to get where you want to be.

"The trouble in the West is you have Yao (Ming) and you have (Shaquille O'Neal), two dominant big men who are going to be there for a while. It's tough to have answers for those kind of guys."

Defensive skills subpar

Dallas' defensive problems are glaring. While the Mavericks led the league in scoring at 105.2 points a game, they were second worst in points allowed at 100.8. (The Orlando Magic bottomed out at 101.1.)

Except for their two rookies, the Mavericks have little foot speed, don't have a dominant center, aren't physical and have players with similar games who need the basketball in their hands to be effective. The team has evolved into needing to win by scoring a lot of points, which defies conventional NBA wisdom about winning with defense first.

Nelson agrees with that theory in principle.

When he coached the Milwaukee Bucks from 1976-87, his teams led the NBA in defense twice, giving up the fewest points and allowing the lowest opponents' field goal percentages in 1983-84 and 1984-85. This season's Mavs allowed opponents to shoot 45.9% from the field, third worst in the league.

"The easiest way to do things is with defense," Nelson says. "If you have a defensive team, you don't have to concentrate so much on scoring. It makes coaching an easier job. That's how we'd all like to do it."

But the Mavericks can't do things that way.

How they play defense is a helter-skelter mix of zone and switching man-to-man sets that try to confuse the other team and prevent the Dallas players from being isolated.

The Mavericks had seven new faces this season and tried to address their problems with the additions of Jamison, Antoine Walker and Danny Fortson. Jamison and Walker are similar offensive players, and Fortson is a strong rebounder but not much of an offensive contributor. Rugged Scott Williams, a late-season addition, has been used sparingly.

"Everybody tries. We just don't have the defensive abilities," Nelson says. "My best players aren't quick afoot. Jamison can't guard, Nash isn't a good defender and Finley never could guard and now he's one of our best defenders. What does that tell you about us? I've got to put him on the tough guy now.

"It's not that we aren't trying. It is a priority to our players to play defense, but we just have a hard time really stopping people. But at least we know who we are, and that's why I went with a smaller lineup."

That smaller lineup, which the Mavericks ended the regular season with, includes Nowitzki or Walker at center or power forward, Nash at point guard, Daniels at shooting guard and Finley at small forward.

"I just don't like all of their pieces," ESPN analyst and Hall of Fame coach Jack Ramsay says. "They have no big guy, and I think that's a bad premise on which to start. They are limited, and Nellie just can't get certain things from his defense."

Core players still valuable

Whatever changes the Mavericks decide to make, Ramsay says they should not involve Nowitzki or Nash.

"I would never, never, ever think about trading Nowitzki because he is an unbelievable player," Ramsay says. "I just don't think he's carried his offensive toughness to the defensive end, but he tries and he will get better."

Nash is a free agent, but Ramsay says the Mavericks should do all they can to keep him. "He's a feisty defender, and he is so unselfish and has a team-first attitude," Ramsay says.

The Mavericks are used to having people talk about their lack of defense, and it really doesn't affect them that much.

"We are what we are," Nash says.

"We play hard at both ends," Nowitzki says. "It isn't like we aren't trying."

Uncharacteristically, it also has been their offense that has failed them in the series against the Kings. They are averaging 95 points in the playoffs, 10 fewer than in the regular season. They are shooting a dismal 38% from the field, 23.9% from three-point range and 73% from the free throw line, all significant drop-offs from their regular-season numbers.

"It's not characteristic of our team," Nash says. "For once, no one's got anything to say about our defense."

This once.

USA TODAY's David DuPree looks at the defensive limitations of the key Mavericks:

Dirk Nowitzki - Slow afoot; often in mismatches, but not strong enough to guard big people in the post or quick enough to guard smaller defenders on the perimeter.

Steve Nash - Sneaky; likes to reach in, draw charging fouls and can be posted up fairly easily. He is slick, though.

Michael Finley - Can be taken off the dribble and has a tendency to reach in.

Antoine Walker - Doesn't move his feet and plays with his hands too much.

Antawn Jamison - Not big enough or strong enough to be a solid post defender and lacks lateral quickness to go out effectively on the perimeter.

Josh Howard - Makes rookie mistakes of reaching in and trying to get by with athleticism; tries to draw charges instead of just playing tough defense.

Marquis Daniels - Makes a lot of silly fouls; reaches in a lot instead of moving his feet.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: sturm und drang

"It's easy for people to say we should break up the team, but I got talked into that one time at Golden State," says the veteran coach, in his seventh season with the Mavericks. "We'd lost in the playoffs two years in a row and I felt we had to get bigger and more physical and rebound better, and I got talked into trading Mitch Richmond for Billy Owens.

"That was the dumbest trade I ever made. We had such a good thing going, and I screwed it up by trading an All-Star because the other guy was bigger. Never again."

Very interesting statement by Nellie if you think about it..... Walker is an "All-star"(a former one but a 3-time allstar nonetheless) and there is trade talk involving Walk for a Chandler('Other guy was bigger' part of the sentence if you recall)

Antoine Walker - Doesn't move his feet and plays with his hands too much.

I agree with the 1st part but Walk has been pretty effective using his hands to swipe at the ball, steal it, block shots from behind, and rebounding.

[Murphy3]

Thanks Sturm.

I've voiced my displeasure with the rookies on the defensive end quite a bit over the past few months. I've been thoroughly impressed with their overall games, but I've been disappointed with what they've brought to the table defensively with the exception of rebounding.

I've also been disheartened by Daniels' lack of effort at times defensively when everyone else has appeared to be busting their ass in this series.

Howard, I just see him not being in the game mentally too often on that side of the ball. His man is often behind him with an open lane to the bucket because he's too busy watching the player with the ball.

[PubaNWO]

The bigger guy doesn't mean he's better.....

I mean AW is bigger than Howard, but which one would score easier in the paint???

Howard of course. Because HE CAN JUMP and has looooonngg @ss arms...

[kg_veteran]

The article itself isn't that bad, but the comment that "poor defense may lead to an early exit" is off-base. Inability to put the ball in the basket, make free throws, and execute late are key culprits so far.

[dalmations202]

"That was the dumbest trade I ever made. We had such a good thing going, and I screwed it up by trading an All-Star because the other guy was bigger. Never again."

He did it in reverse this time. He traded the BIGGER guy in Raef for the All-Star in Walker. Didn't work this time either.

Which one was the dumbest trade he ever made ? ? ?

[jayC]

But that move might be a move with in a move. We might have been the eighth seed if we had sat on our hands with last years team. Especially if you take in consideration that nick the quick and raef have been injured the majority of the season. Raef was non-existant on the offensive side of the ball and just average on defense. Tell me who you would rather have a guy that has five more years on his deal or one guy that has one.

Doesn't that go back to coaching. When two young guys reach to much instead of moving their feet. Sounds a lot like what finley and nash do gamble too much on defense and hope for the steal. If Dirk became slightly bigger say 260 pounds he could guard KG and Duncan.

[ddh33]

I really hope management doesn't blow this thing up. It just needs to be tweaked a little. Bring in some complimentary parts and emphasize defense all training camp next season. That helped before.

But this team can't get caught making bad moves right before the season starts and spend the first 50 games trying to get the offense down. I think that hurt this team a lot this season.

[dalmations202]

Originally posted by: jayC
But that move might be a move with in a move. We might have been the eighth seed if we had sat on our hands with last years team. Especially if you take in consideration that nick the quick and raef have been injured the majority of the season. Raef was non-existant on the offensive side of the ball and just average on defense. Tell me who you would rather have a guy that has five more years on his deal or one guy that has one.

Doesn't that go back to coaching. When two young guys reach to much instead of moving their feet. Sounds a lot like what finley and nash do gamble too much on defense and hope for the steal. If Dirk became slightly bigger say 260 pounds he could guard KG and Duncan.

yes, but on the other hand. If they had not made one move, they might be in first place. NVE would still be gone, but Raef wouldn't have been. Raef was going to keep playing on the knee, but Boston mgmt wanted him to go ahead and get it done (Ainge thought it would get them a better draft this way). Raef, was average on D, but that would have kept Dirk at the 4 and not trying to play the 5, and Nellie would have been forced to play Bradley, Fortson more. Defense still wouldn't have been great, but it would have been better. Jamison would have been starting, and his scoring skills would have been implemented at the first of the game. Every starter Nash, Fin, Jamison, Dirk, Raef - could have hit the 3 pointer, and drawn the defense out like Nellie so desparately wanted. Yes, Raef has a questionable contract, but so do most NBA players, and I am not worried at all about what Mark is willing to pay. He has the money, so he should spend it as he wants to. Why do people worry about the $$$ ? Mark doesn't seem to. One player doesn't matter if they are maxed out or not. It comes down to "who" the players are that can win....not a $$$ issue. Dallas will be over the cap till the contracts of Dirk, Fin, Bradley, Jamison and Najera come off the books the same year anyway.

Yes... I agree that coaching should get them to stop reaching and start using their feet............I cannot come up with one player on the Mavs team that moves their feet in defense well.

[Bookit]

Originally posted by: ddh33
I really hope management doesn't blow this thing up. It just needs to be tweaked a little. Bring in some complimentary parts and emphasize defense all training camp next season. That helped before.

But this team can't get caught making bad moves right before the season starts and spend the first 50 games trying to get the offense down. I think that hurt this team a lot this season.

Nellie will never "empahasize" defense. Oh, he will talk about it to the media but he won't yank players for playing poor defense.

[LRB]

<q>Tell me who you would rather have a guy that has five more years on his deal or one guy that has one. </q>

I'd rather have raef and Jiri with Raef's 5 year contract than Walker and Delk in day of the week. Contracts mean little if you're A) over the cap even minus the contract and B) probably won't have hardly anyone wanting to trade for an expiring contract.

I have a feeling that the Mavs won't be able to trade Walker for anything of value before the season starts next year. In that case I'd be for just cutting Walker and eating his contract. That would have never been the case with Raef. Raef was far from perfect, but at least he could shoot the ball well from 3pt line, shoot FT's well, and didn't try to do too much. Raef was a very good shot blocker, and while foul prone that was OK. Because nothing would be an improvement over Walker.

If this team can get Ostertag as a FA and a coach that will play a Tag/Bradley rotation for most of the minutes and center as well as stress playing on both sides of the ball, the Mavs will be a dramatically improved team defensively. Daniels and Howard won't be rookies next year either which will help tremendously. Let Dirk play the 4 spot exclusively, and I think that we will see great improvement from him defensively with a coach who will actually coach him there. Get rid of Walker, and the mismatches he causes us to have on D and we'll see even more improvement.

But actually acquiring Walker may be the best move Nellie ever made for the Mav because hopefully it will lead to Nellie being sent packing.

[dalmations202]

If this team can get Ostertag as a FA and a coach that will play a Tag/Bradley rotation for most of the minutes and center as well as stress playing on both sides of the ball, the Mavs will be a dramatically improved team defensively. Daniels and Howard won't be rookies next year either which will help tremendously. Let Dirk play the 4 spot exclusively, and I think that we will see great improvement from him defensively with a coach who will actually coach him there. Get rid of Walker, and the mismatches he causes us to have on D and we'll see even more improvement.

Great start.....don't stop though.

Get a Big 7' athletic type that will block shots as a third C. Someone like Chandler, Rasheed Wallace, or Camby.
This way the 5 is covered with a Banger in TAG, Quick Athletic type, and the Disrupter in Bradley, for all the different type of teams Dallas plays.

Need a backup type veteran guard who can "lock down" defensively..One who is long and can rebound a little. Daniels might fill this role, if he is not overplayed as the starting 2 Guard.
Need a backup guard who is a pure shooter.....NVE, Barry (either), Vashon Leonard, Steve Kerr, many others. Just a role player who can hit the 3.

*** Things I know: Nash, Fin, Jamison, Nowitzki will never be GREAT defenders, but they can be average, and that could win them a championship. *** If you will surround them with great defenders, their offense will carry a team.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: dalmations202

He did it in reverse this time. He traded the BIGGER guy in Raef for the All-Star in Walker. Didn't work this time either.

Which one was the dumbest trade he ever made ? ? ?

He was referring to the Trade of Mitch Richmond for Billy Owens....

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: LRB
<q>Tell me who you would rather have a guy that has five more years on his deal or one guy that has one. </q>


I have a feeling that the Mavs won't be able to trade Walker for anything of value before the season starts next year. In that case I'd be for just cutting Walker and eating his contract.

If this team can get Ostertag as a FA and a coach that will play a Tag/Bradley rotation for most of the minutes and center as well as stress playing on both sides of the ball, the Mavs will be a dramatically improved team defensively. Daniels and Howard won't be rookies next year either which will help tremendously. Let Dirk play the 4 spot exclusively, and I think that we will see great improvement from him defensively with a coach who will actually coach him there.

ROFLMAO!! Keep dreaming, LRB. Cuban will NOT cut Walker.....He could, though, keep him until the trading deadline to see if he can raise his stock some and if not, he can always let him go after his final year....

Just like he found a sucker to take Raef from the Mavs, he will find someone to take Walker...Don't underestimate Mr.Cuban, good sir. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[EricaLubarsky]

Raef's a cripple with a whopper contract and Jiri is redundant and dissapears in the clutch. We dont need another swingman and we don't need another player who dissapears when it's his time.

Walker will be great trade-bait after this season and even if he isnt traded, he's gone after a pair of seasons. Even without playing Walker (and I dont think we really should) the deal was better than the M-ritch one.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: EricaLubarsky
Raef's a cripple with a whopper contract and Jiri is redundant and dissapears in the clutch. We dont need another swingman and we don't need one who dissapears when it's his time.

Walker will be great trade-bait after this season and even if he isnt traded, he's gone after a pair of seasons.

EXACTLY, Erica. It's a win-win situation for Cuban and the Mavs organization. LRB just doesn't want to see past his nose apparently...

[EricaLubarsky]

EXACTLY, Erica. It's a win-win situation for Cuban and the Mavs organization.

It's not lose as bad and not lose as bad. The LaF contract was the stupidest thing Cuban has done and Taking Walker was a way of mitigating his 5 or 6 year investment. LaF was an overpaid underacheiver with a multi-year contract. Walker is an overpaid underachiever with a shorter contract.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: EricaLubarsky

It's not lose as bad and not lose as bad. The LaF contract was the stupidest thing Cuban has done and Taking Walker was a way of mitigating his 5 or 6 year investment. LaF was an overpaid underacheiver with a multi-year contract. Walker is an overpaid underachiever with a shorter contract.

Lesser of two evils, then? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[EricaLubarsky]

<q>Tell me who you would rather have a guy that has five more years on his deal or one guy that has one. </q>

Have you been cheating on us, LRB? Your use of HTML tags is like lipstick on your collar! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]