"I'm pretty damn happy with our team... Let's kick some ass." - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

G-Man · 02-26-2011, 04:59 AM

I stole the title from a DevinHarrisWillStart post, but I have to agree with him.

As hard as it was to watch the rest of the league play "Lets Make a Deal," and to watch a lot of great players not land in Dallas at the trade deadline, I still think we are in great shape to make some playoff noise.

Before we added Peja and Roddy, the team we had was already 2nd or 3rd best in the West. I don't think any contenders in the West got any better with trades except perhaps OKC. I'll be stunned if Denver or Utah come back strong by April. So at minimum, we were already good enough to make the Western conference finals...or at least get to a 2nd round showdown with the Lakers.

But with the addition of Peja and Roddy, we have a great chance to be a much better team by April. And we've done it without blowing up the roster. Instead we have plenty of time to work the 2 additions in. Peja has already shown himself not to be a disruptive factor, and Roddy already fits. As fans who have watched so many trade deadline swaps, we all know how hard it is to get it totally together in 30 games. So even though I would have loved to get a Prince, SJax or GWallace, you know, big scoring agressive defending wing, there is something to be said for not pushing Marion and Jet any farther down the bench. I'd call it addition by not adding disruption.

Peja and Roddy do help with what we need most, and that's someone to take the defense away from Dirk. What I was hoping for was another guy who could demand a double team. Instead, we get Roddy, who's drives will collapse the defense in. Even when he doesn't get to the hoop, defenders will get out of position trying to contain him. And with the way the Mavs have been moving the ball, Dirk has a much better chance to be open, and to have the defense scrambling to get to him. This team thrives on early offense, and with Roddy racing down court, Peja Jet and Kidd spotting up and and Dirk trailing on the break, there will be good shots to be had.

Peja perched on the wing has a similar effect. Teams will be reluctant to leave him. That makes Roddy's drives easier, while giving him a target in the corner who is not fazed by defenders running at him. As much as I've hated the guy for the dozens of daggers he has shot through my Mavs Fan heart, I have never analysed his game the way I have since he joined our team. He's quite crafty in getting open under the basket, and he can hit that 3 standing or moving. No one is less fazed by having a hand in his face (remember the playoffs against New Orleans?) He's got a pretty good escape dribble, and he's an excellent passer. He'll be passing to 3 point specialist Kidd and Jet, or to Dirk. (Please guys, don't forget you can also drive.)

I think with the way these 2 additions force the defense to respond, Dirk will get the some of the same kind of relief as if a top tier wing had joined the squad.

I Think back to the 67 win season, as this is our best year since that fateful one. The MBT stood pat and confident at the deadline, but the year ended in disaster. However I see no similarities between the teams. That team lost because Nellie knew exactly how to attack it. He knew the ball was coming to Dirk and trained his team on how to defend his prodigy. Dirk at the time had far fewer moves and was terrible at passing out of the double team. He knew that our points, Jet and Devin, were poor passers. That is no longer the case. That team had only Jet as a 2nd offensive weapon. This team has Roddy who can drive and hit the 3. It has Peja on the wing. It has a center who can catch and finish. He can also run with the fastest bigs, where as the previous team had to bench its starting center. Dirk is rarely trapped by the DT. This team also has in DSteve and Marion, a pair of shutdown wings that the previos team lacked. And it has a coach with far more experience. I think this team wipes Nellie's boys off the court. I think with Peja, Roddy and Chandler starting, its a very different team from last year, as well.

One more thing. By not trading Butler, we still have Butler. Keeping him pays a major benefit as it shows some loyalty to keep together a tight knit squad. His teammates were clearly dreading his departure, and the poor guy was on Twiiter every day virtually begging to stay a Mav. Its nice for everyone to see him get rewarded. Much nicer still, if he comes back for the 2nd round. I think he'll come back inspired. Remember, the way the games are spaced, the 1st round seems to take forever. Even if he barely sees the court by round 2, round 3 is still 2 weeks further away. If he's back, he replaces Peja with a 3 who can defend. That's huge.

San Antonio still scares me, as does the Laker's experince factor. But we have the length, and with Mahini, we have the foot speed to keep up with Odum and Gasol. We have Marion and Dsteve to throw at Kobe...our best wing defenders perhaps ever.

The rest of the season has to be about getting the defense back to where it was in December. Roddy needs serious work on defending the pick and roll. I fear what happens when we play someone good that Peja will need to cover. we'll probably have to give his minutes to Marion and Stevenson, which will hurt the offense. And we must figure out how to cover 3 point shooters. That inability is why we can't hold onto leads, and its why we've lost to Denver, Chicago and San Antonio.

But I feel we are in good shape and have the skills to fill the holes we have from within. It will take a lot of work over the next 30 games. But I think I'd rather be trying to hone what we have than integrate new guys and figure out what to do with the ones we lost.

The way the standings look, we'd face the Lakers in the 2nd round, Spurs in the 3rd and either Boston or Miami in the finals. Its a true murderers row, and the odds of surviving are tiny. But I like our chances as well as any since the Nellie debacle.

Lets kick some ass.

deamon · 02-26-2011, 06:55 AM

Yup, for sure we will kick asses in RS, but Peja and Roddy can't play defense, which is more important than offense in PO. Peja is just too slow, and Roddy defense is just poor, 4 fouls per game. If they learn how to play defense in 2 months, then maybe we can kick some asses in 2nd round. But that's not enough to stop Kobe. NJ joined leader of 7th west team, but we couldn't join leader of 7th east team. Top victims of Iguodala this season:
Kobe Bryant: 9 pts, 3-11 FG , 3 turnovers
LeBron James: 16, 5-12, 9
Carmelo Anthony: 12, 3-12, 6
Joe Johnson: 6, 3-8, 5
Manu Ginobili: 8, 2-10, 3
Brandon Roy: 10, 3-9, 2
Kevin Martin: 9, 3-12, 2
Danny Granger: 7, 2-14, 2
Paul Pierce: 10, 3-8, 4 and 11, 4-15, 2
Gerald Wallace: 8, 3-10, 1 and 6, 2-7, 1

Male30Dan · 02-26-2011, 10:00 AM

I don't agree with every single point you made, but just a tremendous post G-Man. Rep.

dude1394 · 02-26-2011, 11:33 AM

Damn straight! Let's f'em up but good!!!!!!

j0Shi · 02-26-2011, 11:41 AM

Code:

Team			W	L	Pct		PPG		OPPG	Diff		FG%		OFG%
CHI (last 8)		8	0	100,00%	94,88	88,00	6,88		44,50%	40,38%
DAL (with Dirk)		9	2	81,82%	98,64	94,00	4,64		46,55%	43,91%
SAS				9	4	69,23%	101,46	97,38	4,08		44,62%	45,69%
BOS				10	6	62,50%	94,75	92,56	2,19		48,19%	44,00%
DAL				9	6	60,00%	97,93	96,67	1,27		46,40%	44,73%
CHI				9	6	60,00%	93,47	94,33	-0,87		43,73%	42,87%
ORL				7	8	46,67%	100,20	97,13	3,07		45,00%	45,20%
MIA				4	8	33,33%	95,33	94,83	0,5		43,25%	43,42%
LAL				3	7	30,00%	89,60	94,80	-5,2		43,30%	45,20%
OKC				4	10	28,57%	96,86	103,57	-6,71		41,71%	46,50%

These are the stats from the Top8 against each other. We are looking really good especially with Dirk in the lineup. Worth mentioning is Chicago. They won 8 in a row against those opponents. None of the teams despite Oklahoma City and Boston made major moves at the trade deadline.

But I still think we have a hole at the 3. The better Roddy and Peja will play the less it will really be noticed, but its a fact. Good thing is: Other teams have issues, too. Lakers and Orlando have been struggeling, Miami can't win against the Elite, Spurs have a young backup core and you don't know how they will perform in the playoffs, Boston just traded away Perkins, Thunder have to work things out with the new pieces they got and Chicago has a big hole at the 2.

So overall I assume that playing it safe at the deadline maybe was the better option rather than shaking it up too much, because we obviously weren't getting anything decent for Butlers expiring.

Underdog · 02-26-2011, 11:50 AM

"Addition by not adding disruption" - excellent way of putting it...

dirt_dobber · 02-26-2011, 12:09 PM

Hell yeah! let's kick some butt. To the Finals baby!

Windmill360 · 02-26-2011, 01:29 PM

I'm in the "I still don't think they can pull it off in the playoffs" boat.

The only difference I see between this team and all the other first round flubs we put out there the last half decade is Chandler. Time will tell if he makes a difference in the playoffs. Otherwise our roster looks pretty pedestrian to me - filled with a ton of perimeter shooters and maybe a couple of undersized, dribble penetrators.

5 years of seeing the same crap puts me at this stubborn conclusion.

DMOC · 02-26-2011, 01:51 PM

Chandler should be a hell lot more of a difference than Dampier (0-8 FG I think last April, or maybe 0-7) was.

LonghornDub · 02-26-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windmill360

The only difference I see between this team and all the other first round flubs we put out there the last half decade is Chandler. Time will tell if he makes a difference in the playoffs. Otherwise our roster looks pretty pedestrian to me - filled with a ton of perimeter shooters and maybe a couple of undersized, dribble penetrators.

This roster is pretty damn different than any roster they had last decade.

LSMF · 02-26-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMOC

Chandler should be a hell lot more of a difference than Dampier (0-8 FG I think last April, or maybe 0-7) was.

And that man was a starter for christ sakes. *Facepalms*

Thespiralgoeson · 02-26-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windmill360

I'm in the "I still don't think they can pull it off in the playoffs" boat.

The only difference I see between this team and all the other first round flubs we put out there the last half decade is Chandler. Time will tell if he makes a difference in the playoffs. Otherwise our roster looks pretty pedestrian to me - filled with a ton of perimeter shooters and maybe a couple of undersized, dribble penetrators.

5 years of seeing the same crap puts me at this stubborn conclusion.

I have to agree. I really really wish I could share this "our chemistry is sooooooo friggin amazing that we shouldn't make any trade because that would ruin it" sentiment, but the roster still has gaping holes on the wings. Actually, other than Dirk and Chandler, I really don't like much of anything about how the roster is put together. Granted, Chandler makes us better than we were in past years, and hopefully Roddy can play up to his potential.

But still, it just seems strange to me to that people around here got so enthusiastic about the Mavs not making a move; not just because they didn't need to make one, but because the Mavs are just so amazingly awesome that they couldn't possibly get better in any way- Like they HAD to stand pat just to make a point. It kind of reminds me of the 2008 season (the year after we lost to Golden State), and fans were so convinced that the Mavs had lost to the Warriors because they had somehow tried too hard in the regular season and exhausted themselves. So the next season when the Mavs were severely under performing, some folks around here were actually glad that the Mavs were losing so many games, because that would mean they would somehow be more ready for the playoffs. Of course it was pure nonsense and the Mavs got trounced in the first round.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not completely pessimistic. I do think the Mavs are the second best team in the west right now and have a much better shot at making the Finals than in the past few years. I just don't share the sentiment that the Mavs are so unbelievably spectacularly superbadass that there's no way they could get better, and no move was worth the risk of ruining their oh so precious chemistry, which is totally awesome to the max.

CadBane · 02-26-2011, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0Shi

Code:

Team			W	L	Pct		PPG		OPPG	Diff		FG%		OFG%
CHI (last 8)		8	0	100,00%	94,88	88,00	6,88		44,50%	40,38%
DAL (with Dirk)		9	2	81,82%	98,64	94,00	4,64		46,55%	43,91%
SAS				9	4	69,23%	101,46	97,38	4,08		44,62%	45,69%
BOS				10	6	62,50%	94,75	92,56	2,19		48,19%	44,00%
DAL				9	6	60,00%	97,93	96,67	1,27		46,40%	44,73%
CHI				9	6	60,00%	93,47	94,33	-0,87		43,73%	42,87%
ORL				7	8	46,67%	100,20	97,13	3,07		45,00%	45,20%
MIA				4	8	33,33%	95,33	94,83	0,5		43,25%	43,42%
LAL				3	7	30,00%	89,60	94,80	-5,2		43,30%	45,20%
OKC				4	10	28,57%	96,86	103,57	-6,71		41,71%	46,50%

These are the stats from the Top8 against each other. We are looking really good especially with Dirk in the lineup. Worth mentioning is Chicago. They won 8 in a row against those opponents. None of the teams despite Oklahoma City and Boston made major moves at the trade deadline.

But I still think we have a hole at the 3. The better Roddy and Peja will play the less it will really be noticed, but its a fact. Good thing is: Other teams have issues, too. Lakers and Orlando have been struggeling, Miami can't win against the Elite, Spurs have a young backup core and you don't know how they will perform in the playoffs, Boston just traded away Perkins, Thunder have to work things out with the new pieces they got and Chicago has a big hole at the 2.

So overall I assume that playing it safe at the deadline maybe was the better option rather than shaking it up too much, because we obviously weren't getting anything decent for Butlers expiring.

Uhhh...why do you only show Chicago's last 8...they have lost to some of these teams. And saying you don't know how the Spurs backup core will react in the playoffs is silly. Their only new rotation players are Neal and Splitter. Splitter will barely play in the playoffs, and Neal has experience overseas.

LonghornDub · 02-26-2011, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

I have to agree. I really really wish I could share this "our chemistry is sooooooo friggin amazing that we shouldn't make any trade because that would ruin it" sentiment, but the roster still has gaping holes on the wings. Actually, other than Dirk and Chandler, I really don't like much of anything about how the roster is put together. Granted, Chandler makes us better than we were in past years, and hopefully Roddy can play up to his potential.

I actually agree with pretty much all of your post, but seriously? I see holes too, but you don't like "much of anything"? This roster has arguably the best bench in the NBA. They're pretty much 2-deep at every position.

Big holes, I agree. But if you don't like "much of anything," you're being overly pessimistic, I say.

Thespiralgoeson · 02-26-2011, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

I actually agree with pretty much all of your post, but seriously? I see holes too, but you don't like "much of anything"? This roster has arguably the best bench in the NBA. They're pretty much 2-deep at every position.

Big holes, I agree. But if you don't like "much of anything," you're being overly pessimistic, I say.

Honestly it's the way I've felt for years. The only real difference is Chandler. I like Roddy a lot, but he's an undersized shooting guard, and I've generally never been very high on guys who are undersized for their positions. You're right that the Mavs have a great bench, but benches tend to matter a lot less in the playoffs (the Mavs have had great benches in the past and it didn't save them.) Perhaps the words I used were a bit of an exaggeration, but I was only trying to make the point that I just think it's completely asinine how so many Mavs fans this season seem to think this roster has no room for improvement.

xrobx · 02-26-2011, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

Honestly it's the way I've felt for years. The only real difference is Chandler. I like Roddy a lot, but he's an undersized shooting guard, and I've generally never been very high on guys who are undersized for their positions. You're right that the Mavs have a great bench, but benches tend to matter a lot less in the playoffs (the Mavs have had great benches in the past and it didn't save them.) Perhaps the words I used were a bit of an exaggeration, but I was only trying to make the point that I just think it's completely asinine how so many Mavs fans this season seem to think this roster has no room for improvement.

every roster that has ever won a championship could be improved in some way or another

Thespiralgoeson · 02-26-2011, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xrobx

every roster that has ever won a championship could be improved in some way or another

Yeah, but this roster has never won a championship and has a lot more room for improvement than just about any roster in history that ever actually did win a championship.

CadBane · 02-26-2011, 05:22 PM

Our main problem, IMO, is still lack of a real #2 option. Contrary to the opinions of some, a series of #3 and #4 options does not counteract the lack of a true #2 in the playoffs. Guys like Terry, Kidd, Peja, etc. are a lot easier to bottle up in the playoffs. Our success will depend largely on two things:

1. Can Roddy play at a high level?
2. Can Peja, Terry, and Kidd consistently hit their jumpshots?

mavs777 · 02-26-2011, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CadBane

Our main problem, IMO, is still lack of a real #2 option. Contrary to the opinions of some, a series of #3 and #4 options does not counteract the lack of a true #2 in the playoffs. Guys like Terry, Kidd, Peja, etc. are a lot easier to bottle up in the playoffs. Our success will depend largely on two things:

1. Can Roddy play at a high level?
2. Can Peja, Terry, and Kidd consistently hit their jumpshots?

This team cannot play the game in the half court if we match up with the Lakers, team needs to get out and run. Their are holes on this team that can be exploited big time in the half court. We need to get Roddy, Terry, and Peja get good looks in transition that will be a key

jthig32 · 02-26-2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CadBane

Our main problem, IMO, is still lack of a real #2 option. Contrary to the opinions of some, a series of #3 and #4 options does not counteract the lack of a true #2 in the playoffs. Guys like Terry, Kidd, Peja, etc. are a lot easier to bottle up in the playoffs. Our success will depend largely on two things:

1. Can Roddy play at a high level?
2. Can Peja, Terry, and Kidd consistently hit their jumpshots?

This is why I wasn't in favor of giving up assets for more #3 options like Harris or Gerald Wallace. This team has lots of #3 options, and a lot of players that fill roles. If you can't get a legitimate #2, why not keep your powder completely dry, see how the playoffs go this year and reassess over the summer?

The Mavs have a better center position than they've ever had, and they have more effective supporting players than ever. Let's see how that works in the playoffs. It's not ideal, but it's what we have, and I'm still very intrigued to see what the playoffs will bring this year.

j0Shi · 02-26-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CadBane

Uhhh...why do you only show Chicago's last 8...they have lost to some of these teams.

Their overall record is in there, too. Inserted Chicagos last 8 and Mavs with Dirk because both are worth mentioning.

LonghornDub · 02-26-2011, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

Honestly it's the way I've felt for years. The only real difference is Chandler. I like Roddy a lot, but he's an undersized shooting guard, and I've generally never been very high on guys who are undersized for their positions. You're right that the Mavs have a great bench, but benches tend to matter a lot less in the playoffs (the Mavs have had great benches in the past and it didn't save them.) Perhaps the words I used were a bit of an exaggeration, but I was only trying to make the point that I just think it's completely asinine how so many Mavs fans this season seem to think this roster has no room for improvement.

This roster has completely turned over from 4 years ago, except for 2 players. You can't have "felt that way for years" about this roster. Even setting aside Chandler, we've only had the majority of this roster for 1.5 seasons.

Benches matter a ton in the playoffs. Your 9-15 guys generally become nonfactors, but 6-8 is consistently a difference maker between teams in playoff series. The Celtics' bench was monumental in their 08 title run. Their starters weren't any better than LA's. They had random guys like PJ Brown, Powe, and Davis step up and make huge plays.

Plus, assuming that benches become less important begs the question. The biggest reason you sometimes see some teams' benches become marginalized in the playoffs is because they dont have a good bench. They play their starters for 43-44+ minutes. The Mavs don't have to do that. That's our advantage.

I definitely agree that there was room for improvement, but I actually don't think anybody genuinely believes to the contrary. The whole "yeah we preserved our locker room chemistry!!" vibe is an after-the-fact rationalization by the FO. They tried to make several trades. I think you gotta take their statements now with a grain of salt.

dude1394 · 02-26-2011, 06:26 PM

It is what it is...Winning a championship is hard...if the guys have their head right with ball and do not accept defeat, they can win it all. They have enough talent, of that I am sure. If not..well then not.

I think folks would have liked a move but imo unless we were willing to give up roddy..there wasn't a move to be made. Even at that...I completely understand them being nervous about not re-signing TY. He's been the biggest difference maker around here since the dirkster.

I don't think they didn't make a move because of chemistry, there just wasn't a viable, cost-effective one to be made.

LonghornDub · 02-26-2011, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude1394

I don't think they didn't make a move because of chemistry, there just wasn't a viable, cost-effective one to be made.

Exactly right.

(I don't necessarily agree that none of the moves were viable, but this is absolutely why a move wasn't made from the FO's perspective. The "chemistry" bit is just the company line.)

Dirkadirkastan · 02-27-2011, 04:49 PM

This was the roster that entered the '09 playoffs:

Kidd/Barea
Wright/Terry/Green/Carroll/Stackhouse
Howard/Singleton/George
Nowitzki/Bass
Dampier/Hollins

Only four of these players are still here. You could argue that the current roster is similarly constructed, but you would have to admit an upgrade has been made with almost every replacement, which I've broken down as best as I could. By replacement I mean role replacement, so I've replaced Dampier with Haywood even though they played on the same team for awhile:

Wright -> Stevenson (defender, 3-pt shooter)
Green -> Beaubois (young, athletic guard)
Carroll -> Stojakavic (3-pt shooter)
Stackhouse -> Jones (some guard that never plays)
Howard -> Butler (small forward)
George -> Marion (utility forward off the bench)
Singleton -> Cardinal (wily forward)
Bass -> Mahinmi (young 4/5 that plays his @$$ off)
Dampier -> Haywood (slow, strong center)
Hollins -> Chandler (quick, athletic center)

mavs777 · 02-27-2011, 05:46 PM

Lets just assume Caron doesn't come back, I would think this is our 9 man rotation as knowing RC he wouldn't want to go too deep in the playoffs

Kidd/Barea
Roddy/ Jet
Peja/Marion
Dirk/Marion
Chandler/Haywood

dalger · 02-27-2011, 06:13 PM

That's pretty much the rotation I'd expect in the playoffs, too.

There's no question that we've made some good moves in recent history (Peja, Tyson for Damp, Roddy in the draft, Butler and Haywood for Josh and Gooden, Marion for Stack). The problem is that other teams have made decent moves as well, which makes it really difficult to win a championship these days.

The fact that Butler and Stevenson have essentially been replaced by Peja and Roddy worries me with respect to our defense. Our starting lineup is no longer a team that can be expected to play great defense. Contrary to earlier in the season, we're now more dependent on our offense to deliver in order to win games. Peja and Roddy could be able to do that, however, I'm not sure that guys like Jet, Peja, Roddy, JJB or Marion can be consistent enough to provide us with the offensive punch that's needed to offset less-than-stellar defense.

LonghornDub · 02-27-2011, 07:17 PM

Roddy's on pace for like 9 or 10 minutes again tonight. I wouldn't pencil him in as a serious contributor in the playoff rotation just yet. That remains to be seen.

BGMaverick9 · 02-27-2011, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

Roddy's on pace for like 9 or 10 minutes again tonight. I wouldn't pencil him in as a serious contributor in the playoff rotation just yet. That remains to be seen.

Carlisle said he didn't think it would be until April that everyone would see Beaubois get to 100%. Everyone who has missed time this year needed some time to get back into a groove...it won't be any different for Beaubois.

LonghornDub · 02-27-2011, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGMaverick9

Carlisle said he didn't think it would be until April that everyone would see Beaubois get to 100%. Everyone who has missed time this year needed some time to get back into a groove...it won't be any different for Beaubois.

He can say that, but I'm not sure I believe he'll play him more than 12-15 mpg in the playoffs anyway. Coach-speak is coach-speak, you know?

I'm also not sure that playing him less than 15 mpg right now is the way to help him "get back into a groove."

dude1394 · 02-27-2011, 09:34 PM

Dang Longhorn..the kid just does NOT deserve any more minutes than he is getting. He's starting both quarters and if he plays worth a durn he'll get more minutes...if he doesn't they have to yank him...this isn't the roddy beaubois charity club.

ribosoma · 02-27-2011, 10:01 PM

He still seems out-of-sorts at times defensively. I think that once he fully comprehends that he doesn't need to body-block his man on every penetration (that's what he said?) due to Tyson's presence in the middle, he will be just fine and probably get more minutes. Those stretches of three fouls in 3-4 minutes seem to indicate a little bit of pressing from a mental standpoint. I think he just needs to relax a bit and do his thing. Of course, I'm hoping that that metamorphosis takes place sooner rather than later. We could really use what he brings to the court when he is comfortable and in the flow.

LonghornDub · 02-27-2011, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude1394

Dang Longhorn..the kid just does NOT deserve any more minutes than he is getting. He's starting both quarters and if he plays worth a durn he'll get more minutes...if he doesn't they have to yank him...this isn't the roddy beaubois charity club.

I don't think that's an accurate assessment of the situation at all. He played four minutes in the first half tonight. He missed a couple shots, but had no TO's and no negative plays otherwise. That's not playing poorly enough to deserve 4 minutes for an entire half. @Washington was the only game so far where he actually had a negative impact such that giving him <5 first half minutes would make sense.

But besides, I wasn't even really commenting on the quality of his play or whether he "deserves" more minutes. I'm fine with him riding the pine if he's not doing anything. Read my two posts again. I just said I don't know that Rick will play him much in the playoffs, and I don't buy the lip-service he's giving right now.

dude1394 · 02-27-2011, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

I don't think that's an accurate assessment of the situation at all. He played four minutes in the first half tonight. He missed a couple shots, but had no TO's and no negative plays otherwise. That's not playing poorly enough to deserve 4 minutes for an entire half. @Washington was the only game so far where he actually had a negative impact such that giving him <5 first half minutes would make sense.

But besides, I wasn't even really commenting on the quality of his play or whether he "deserves" more minutes. I'm fine with him riding the pine if he's not doing anything. Read my two posts again. I just said I don't know that Rick will play him much in the playoffs, and I don't buy the lip-service he's giving right now.

He was pulled tonight because the team sucked.. Dirk/Roddy were pulled to get shawn/jet in there. We were down 2-16... Yea...RC should have hung with the starters.

dude1394 · 02-27-2011, 10:27 PM

I find it difficult to believe that rc is going to start roddy for the next 26 games and then when the playoffs starts..he sits. If so RC deserves to be called an idiot.

LonghornDub · 02-27-2011, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude1394

He was pulled tonight because the team sucked.. Dirk/Roddy were pulled to get shawn/jet in there. We were down 2-16... Yea...RC should have hung with the starters.

That's not the issue. It's fine that he took him out when he did. The issue is he only played 4 minutes all half. Excluding garbage time he only played like 7 minutes all game. I'm not saying leave him out there to the team's detriment for 15 straight minutes. I would like to see him get a second chance in the first half after a 4-minute stint.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude1394

I find it difficult to believe that rc is going to start roddy for the next 26 games and then when the playoffs starts..he sits. If so RC deserves to be called an idiot.

I don't think he "sits," but at this point, it wouldnt surprise me if he starts every game but his minutes become marginalized when Terry and JJB come in and play heavy (relative) minutes every game.

Rick loves him some Jet and JJB. That's not gonna change.

xrobx · 02-27-2011, 11:37 PM

if/when he starts out a game playing well, he'll play more minutes. his first game back is evidence of that. when he's ineffective, he'll be pulled.

Underdog · 03-01-2011, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Team has talent and depth behind Dirk to break string of postseason disappointment

by Marc Stein

Suffer the playoff indignities that the Dallas Mavericks have over the past decade and no one even wants to hear about their supposed championship credentials. You think folks are skeptical about how far LeBron and D-Wade can go in their first year together in Miami? This is the NBA's No. 1 prove-it-to-me team among the elite.

Yet I'm gullible enough to believe that this is the season when Dallas can indeed prove something.

I've seen pretty much every significant dribble of the Mark Cuban era from up close, which is how I know things are different. This collection of Mavs is doing things we've never witnessed from a Dirk Nowitzki-led team, largely because Nowitzki -- who remains as freakishly potent and efficient as ever in his 13th season -- finally has the good fortune to be flanked by a dependable, difference-making center who does all the things Dirk can't do.

Tyson Chandler is the long, athletic, hyperactive 5-man that Nowitzki has never before had at his side. The Mavs would obviously feel even better about their title-worthiness if the West weren't so stacked at the top and if they had an elite shot creator from the perimeter to complement Dirk, too, but there's a noticeably different spirit and toughness coming from these Mavs in 2010-11, much of it emanating from Chandler. These Mavs, after adding some TC, are actually capable of playing credible D.

I totally understand the widespread instinct to dismiss such achievements, since the Mavs have been racking up regular-season plaudits for years. I could point to their 6-2 record against the Spurs, Celtics, Heat and Lakers -- blemished only by a couple of losses to Chicago -- but I know no one's terribly impressed by those kinds of superlatives. Ditto for the Mavs' current 16-1 roll and their gaudy record of 41-9 when Nowitzki is healthy. No one wants to hear it after three first-round exits in the four seasons since their trip to the 2006 NBA Finals.

The Mavs themselves understand as well as anyone that there won't be any national buy-in until they do some playoff damage. But if/when they deliver, it'll be because:

- Dallas has stockpiled more dependable length than the Mavs have ever had to throw at the likes of the Spurs and Lakers, with Brendan Haywood and Ian Mahinmi backing up Chandler.

- Dallas has quietly surrounded Nowitzki with a bevy of shooters, most recently adding Peja Stojakovic and the healed-at-last Roddy Beaubois to that Jason Terry-led crew, with J.J. Barea likewise playing the ball of his life since the calendar flipped to 2011 … and with Caron Butler stubbornly telling anyone who'll listen that he's going to be back from knee surgery in time for the playoffs.

- Dallas consistently generates the best ball movement in the league, features two accomplished game managers in Jason Kidd and coach Rick Carlisle and suddenly looks as deep as Cuban thought they were in the summer when he talked up their depth so much.

- Dallas has built up a nice bit of self-belief and swagger on the road from all those quality wins outsiders are so quick to discount, in a locker room full of tested-but-desperate vets that possess a total of zero rings between them.

- Oh, yeah: Dallas happens to employ the best player in the conference when it comes to guys who can single-handedly win you a game. At worst, Nowitzki is No. 2 in the category behind the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, assuming that Kobe is operating at full capacity physically when the playoff start.

Don't get it twisted. The Mavs have their usual array of flaws, starting with the fact that they've had trouble holding leads all season, play way too many close games for their own good as a result and still have to convince us (and maybe even themselves) that their offense won't bog down in the slower grind of the playoffs like it has so often in the recent past. Which so often results in a Dirk-or-bust formula that is way too hard to sustain against teams with multiple All-Stars.

Yet there's a reason Charles Barkley is always touting the Mavs as the best team in Texas. As debatable as that is when the Spurs have been ruthlessly good all season and are on pace to go 68-14, Dallas is a smart, hungry and dangerous sleeper in the title discussion, loving the fact that all the other 40-win teams -- even Chicago -- have been getting all the attention.

In a season when the West turned out to be more wide-open than any of us know-it-alls ever imagined in October, it would be somewhat fitting if the Mavs survived the four-way crunch with the Lakers, Spurs and Thunder and wound up repping the conference on the Finals stage. This much we know: It really shouldn't shock you if that happens, because these really aren't the same ol' Mavs, no matter what you're programmed to believe.

And this much we can guarantee: Mavs versus Lakers in the second round, which is clearly where we're headed, is going to be a sensational series. Dallas and L.A. haven't seen each other in the postseason since the epic seven-gamer they staged in 1988 with a spot in the Finals on the line, which means we've never been treated to seven games' worth of Cuban and Phil Jackson lobbing barbs back and forth. I'd likewise say that seeing the reigning champs at that stage, before the Lakers have a chance to roll up a lot of playoff momentum, is one more plus point to support a case that's bound to be scoffed at anywhere outside of Big D.

Scoff at your own risk.

.

SMC0007 · 03-01-2011, 01:02 PM

I scoff at others risks...

Kidd Karma · 03-01-2011, 02:30 PM

To play devils advocate, who says we must shrink our rotation down to 8-9 men? Why don't we shuttle players in and out to find the hot hand, you have a Dirk that can milk points and a defender like Tyson at the goal to keep us close. Shuttle in Jet and Marion, shuttle out Peja and Boobs, mix and match. It keeps the opponent on their toes, never knowing what to look for. Lets push the pace, even if the first break option is not there, the d is scrambling, hunt for the secondary option.