Inside Dish: Mavs' recent moves draw criticism

[Murphy3]

Inside Dish: Mavs' recent moves draw criticism

By Sean Deveney - SportingNews.com






Midway through the season, one of the biggest disappointments has been the Mavericks. Team chemistry is an issue, but not just in the locker room. Word is the players feel somewhat betrayed by the organization's constant roster changes. Especially disheartening was the trade of PG Nick Van Exel to the Warriors for SF Antawn Jamison, and not just because Van Exel is gone. Players were disappointed that PG Avery Johnson was included in the deal after the team spent much of last year grooming Johnson as a future coach. "The team does all these things for the players, like the plane and the stuff in locker room and the facilities," a league source says, "but they'd rather see a little loyalty. When they traded Avery, guys were thinking, ‘They traded him, they could trade me, too.' " …

Van Exel had quite a week as the Warriors concluded a winless five-game road trip. He complained about something new after each loss. Van Exel is understandably frustrated, but his complaints that he does not know his role and that he never has been told by coach Eric Musselman he is the go-to guy ring hollow. The Warriors brought him in because of his ability in the clutch and to replace their go-to guy from last season, PG Gilbert Arenas. Van Exel should not need confirmation from the coach to know he should be taking over games in the fourth quarter. Rumors have surfaced that the Warriors will trade Van Exel, but such talk is premature. …

The trade for PG Stephon Marbury will be on the Isiah Thomas ledger, but actually, former Knicks president Scott Layden had been trying to pry Marbury from the Suns for weeks. The difference is Layden would not take on SG Penny Hardaway's contract. After Isiah Thomas took over, the Suns also tried to get PF Kurt Thomas, but having already moved PF Clarence Weatherspoon, the Knicks would have been too short on forwards. …

Marbury got off to an awful start in New York as the Knicks lost their first two games after the trade by a total of 43 points. Some wonder whether Marbury will fit into the Knicks' system. He has a reputation as a good pick-and-roll point guard, and the Knicks are one of the most pick-and-roll dependent teams in the league (though that might change if/when Don Chaney is fired). But Marbury often "jumps" the pick, meaning he starts his drive before the pick is set, leaving his big man vulnerable to a moving pick foul. …




Raptors C Chris Bosh suffered a knee injury last week when he came down awkwardly after fighting for a loose ball. The injury is not serious, and it might be a blessing for Bosh, who is wearing down under the strain of the NBA schedule and, more important, NBA defenses. "The book on Chris is to bang him," says Raptors coach Kevin O'Neill. "You can tell, teams are telling their guys that." …

Give Pacers C Scot Pollard some credit-he's taking the blame for his poor play this season. Pollard was supposed to replace C Brad Miller, but his limited offense has buried him behind C Jeff Foster, F Al Harrington and PF Austin Croshere in the Pacers' rotation. Foster's game is much closer to that of Miller, especially when it comes to midrange shooting, though Foster is more athletic than his predecessor and not quite the passer.



Updated on Sunday, Jan 11, 20

[Max Power]

Originally posted by: Murphy3
Word is the players feel somewhat betrayed by the organization's constant roster changes.

I wonder if this "reporter" has EVER talked to a Mavs player? Or is he getting his stories from the wire reports?

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: Murphy3
Inside Dish: Mavs' recent moves draw criticism

By Sean Deveney - SportingNews.com






Midway through the season, one of the biggest disappointments has been the Mavericks. Team chemistry is an issue, but not just in the locker room. Word is the players feel somewhat betrayed by the organization's constant roster changes. Especially disheartening was the trade of PG Nick Van Exel to the Warriors for SF Antawn Jamison, and not just because Van Exel is gone. Players were disappointed that PG Avery Johnson was included in the deal after the team spent much of last year grooming Johnson as a future coach. "The team does all these things for the players, like the plane and the stuff in locker room and the facilities," a league source says, "but they'd rather see a little loyalty. When they traded Avery, guys were thinking, ‘They traded him, they could trade me, too.' " …

Van Exel had quite a week as the Warriors concluded a winless five-game road trip. He complained about something new after each loss. Van Exel is understandably frustrated, but his complaints that he does not know his role and that he never has been told by coach Eric Musselman he is the go-to guy ring hollow. The Warriors brought him in because of his ability in the clutch and to replace their go-to guy from last season, PG Gilbert Arenas. Van Exel should not need confirmation from the coach to know he should be taking over games in the fourth quarter. Rumors have surfaced that the Warriors will trade Van Exel, but such talk is premature. …

The trade for PG Stephon Marbury will be on the Isiah Thomas ledger, but actually, former Knicks president Scott Layden had been trying to pry Marbury from the Suns for weeks. The difference is Layden would not take on SG Penny Hardaway's contract. After Isiah Thomas took over, the Suns also tried to get PF Kurt Thomas, but having already moved PF Clarence Weatherspoon, the Knicks would have been too short on forwards. …

Marbury got off to an awful start in New York as the Knicks lost their first two games after the trade by a total of 43 points. Some wonder whether Marbury will fit into the Knicks' system. He has a reputation as a good pick-and-roll point guard, and the Knicks are one of the most pick-and-roll dependent teams in the league (though that might change if/when Don Chaney is fired). But Marbury often "jumps" the pick, meaning he starts his drive before the pick is set, leaving his big man vulnerable to a moving pick foul. …




Raptors C Chris Bosh suffered a knee injury last week when he came down awkwardly after fighting for a loose ball. The injury is not serious, and it might be a blessing for Bosh, who is wearing down under the strain of the NBA schedule and, more important, NBA defenses. "The book on Chris is to bang him," says Raptors coach Kevin O'Neill. "You can tell, teams are telling their guys that." …

Give Pacers C Scot Pollard some credit-he's taking the blame for his poor play this season. Pollard was supposed to replace C Brad Miller, but his limited offense has buried him behind C Jeff Foster, F Al Harrington and PF Austin Croshere in the Pacers' rotation. Foster's game is much closer to that of Miller, especially when it comes to midrange shooting, though Foster is more athletic than his predecessor and not quite the passer.



Updated on Sunday, Jan 11, 20

OUCH!


BRING BACK AVERY!!!!!!!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

NELLIE MUST GO!!!!!!


BRING BACK AVERY!!!!!!!!

NELLIE MUST GO!!!!!!!



[ get my point? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] ]

[grndmstr_c]

No doubt there are problems and many of the guys aren't having fun right now, and I'm sure Avery is missed, but this sounds like one journalist copying another's made up BS. All the stories at the start of training camp, AFTER Avery was traded, suggested that the team was excited and upbeat about the coming season.

[rakesh.s]

i would love to hear a "Fire Nellie" chant at AAC

damn no wonder nellie didn't last in NY

[Murphy3]

MP, you never know. He probably heard it from some third party...you know how it goes.

[DNNF]

[i] Players were disappointed that PG Avery Johnson was included in the deal after the team spent much of last year grooming Johnson as a future coach.

That's why Nellie traded Avery Johnson. He affraid that Johnson will take over his job.

[kg_veteran]

Deveney does no research. This story is bogus.

[dude1394]

The point may have merit but only if it's directed at the raef trade(imho). I think everyone knew nve would be trade-bait. It had to be either him or stevie if not this year then next.

But I DO think that the mavs think the raef deal was not so hot. Especially dirk lost the only big guy on the team who with him/bradley were having to play the big boys.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: dude1394
The point may have merit but only if it's directed at the raef trade(imho). I think everyone knew nve would be trade-bait. It had to be either him or stevie if not this year then next.

But I DO think that the mavs think the raef deal was not so hot. Especially dirk lost the only big guy on the team who with him/bradley were having to play the big boys.

You're really certain about that? Raef would be on the Injured list and lost for the year so the Mavs would be in the same situation they are in right now(though Van Exel would still be here which would be good for continuity's sake but Jiri? Will he be getting the same chances to play that Daniels and Howard are getting? Doubtful).

Biggest mistake was getting rid of Avery Johnson and Yes...[b]I DO BELIEVE THAT NELLIE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH HIM GETTING THE BOOT BECAUSE HE FEARED FOR HIS JOB SECURITY.... EDIT

___
NOTE from KG: Perhaps I'm in a bad mood this morning, but what's up with all of the excess cursing and swearing lately? Knock it off.

[owne497]

don nelson needs to lose weight he can't coach d and we need avery

[dude1394]

[quote]
Originally posted by: MightyToine

Originally posted by: dude1394
The point may have merit but only if it's directed at the raef trade(imho). I think everyone knew nve would be trade-bait. It had to be either him or stevie if not this year then next.

But I DO think that the mavs think the raef deal was not so hot. Especially dirk lost the only big guy on the team who with him/bradley were having to play the big boys.

You're really certain about that? Raef would be on the Injured list and lost for the year so the Mavs would be in the same situation they are in right now(though Van Exel would still be here which would be good for continuity's sake but Jiri? Will he be getting the same chances to play that Daniels and Howard are getting? Doubtful).

Of course I can't swear to it. But we are talking about guys being upset that someone was traded. I don't think anyone was surprised that nick was traded. Heck he was almost a max point guard and they are going to have to either let nash go or semi-max him out next year. So I think everyone expected it, especially NVE, he said as much many times. However Raef had just been signed to a long-term contract. The NVE deal was to GET Raef or so the mavs said. And if I'm dirk, they are trading away the guy who had to guard shaq/duncan and bang with them in the paint, pick up all of those fouls that HE'S having to pick up now. I also thought dirk/raef kind of felt like the big boys of the team. And they were. If I were dirk I would see the raef deal as mgmt trading away the guy who had just gone through the inside wars with him and stood in there the whole way.

The knee thing is irrelevant to whether the trade was made or not.

Biggest mistake was getting rid of Avery Johnson and Yes...[b]I DO BELIEVE THAT NELLIE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH HIM GETTING THE BOOT BECAUSE HE FEARED FOR HIS JOB SECURITY.... EDIT

Childish.

[MightyToine]

[quote]
Originally posted by: dude1394

Originally posted by: MightyToine

Of course I can't swear to it. But we are talking about guys being upset that someone was traded. I don't think anyone was surprised that nick was traded. Heck he was almost a max point guard and they are going to have to either let nash go or semi-max him out next year. So I think everyone expected it, especially NVE, he said as much many times. However Raef had just been signed to a long-term contract. The NVE deal was to GET Raef or so the mavs said. And if I'm dirk, they are trading away the guy who had to guard shaq/duncan and bang with them in the paint, pick up all of those fouls that HE'S having to pick up now. I also thought dirk/raef kind of felt like the big boys of the team. And they were. If I were dirk I would see the raef deal as mgmt trading away the guy who had just gone through the inside wars with him and stood in there the whole way.

The knee thing is irrelevant to whether the trade was made or not.

Childish.

And how is that childish? Where there's smoke there's definitely fire, my friend. You don't think Nellie was looking forward to having Avery Johnson take his place, do you? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[FreshJive]

‘They traded him, they could trade me, too.'

No way any of the Mavs important players thought this. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] This is where the artricle breaks down completely. I almost thought it was one of Murphy's fake articles. Avery Johnson? I think everyone was fully aware that he was possible trade bait.

[kg_veteran]

don nelson needs to lose weight he can't coach d and we need avery

Honestly, what does Nelson's weight have to do with his ability to coach defense? Try adding something worthwhile.