The Mavs don’t have a very good track record when it comes to finding value late in the draft, though selecting Josh Howard with the final pick in the first round back in 2003. But the stakes have never been higher, with the Mavs’ few young assets weighing their options in free agency and the Mavs’ 2010 pick in the hands of the New Jersey Nets. This one counts big time, and it’s up to the management and the scouting team to find the diamond in the rough.
It’s tough, but hardly impossible. Quality players pass right under the noses of many a team year after year, leaving latent value late in the draft. The Mavs pick at 22, which is just a shade closer to the lottery than to the Mavs’ customary position at the draft’s tail.
Here are the picks at 22 this decade:
2008 - Courtney Lee
2007 - Jared Dudley
2006 - Marcus Williams
2005 - Jarrett Jack
2004 - Viktor Khryapa
2003 - Zoran Planinic
2002 - Casey Jacobsen
2001 - Jeryl Sasser
2000 - Donnell Harvey
Three of those players (Courtney Lee, Jared Dudley, Jarrett Jack) have shown rotation player chops. Lee is the most notable as the starting 2 guard of an impressive Orlando team just one win away from the Finals. In fact, if the Mavs could magically re-draft Lee this year, they’d be in pretty good shape.
Just for fun, here are picks in the late first round (20+) :
2008
Courtney Lee (22)
Nicolas Batum (25)
2007
Wilson Chandler (23)
Rudy Fernandez (24)
Aaron Brooks (26)
2006
Renaldo Balkman (20)
Rajon Rondo (21)
Kyle Lowry (23)
Shannon Brown (25)
Jordan Farmar (26)
2005
Jarrett Jack (20)
Nate Robinson (21)
Francisco Garcia (23)
Jason Maxiell (26)
Linas Kleiza (27)
David Lee (30)
2004
Jameer Nelson (20)
Delonte West (24)
Kevin Martin (26)
2003
Boris Diaw (21)
Travis Outlaw (23)
Kendrick Perkins (27)
Leandro Barbosa (28)
Josh Howard (29)
2002
Tayshaun Prince (23)
Nenad Krstic (24)
John Salmons (26)
It’s certainly worth noting that even the 2005 draft, predicted to be a weak draft class among pundits and largely looked at as a failure in comparison to its contemporaries, still produced productive players late in the first round. Blake Griffin is no Tim Duncan and the consolation prizes may have their flaws, but that doesn’t mean true commodities can’t be found late in the first.
Next week I’ll start examining potential picks for the Mavs, starting with those rumored and confirmed to have scheduled workouts with the team. Some of those players seem poised for success on the pro level, and others may not even be top competitors in the D-League. As fans, we can only hope that MGMT not only makes the right decision in assessing the talent of a potential pick, but also in picking talented players to fill holes in the Mavs’ rotation.
There will be a day where Dwane Casey resumes duties as a head coach in this league, but this is not it. The 76ers have reportedly filled their coaching vacancy with former Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. I’m sure it’s not the happiest news for the Casey clan, but it’s definitely a happy day for the Mavs.
Mavs assistant Dwane Casey netted a second interview for the head coaching job with the Philadelphia 76ers, and while I’m happy for a Mavs alum to draw some attention, I’d really hate to see him go. The entire coaching staff, whether it’s Casey or Terry Stotts or Mario Elie, is about as good as you can ask for, and any hit to that posse would be a sizable one.
But Casey in particular, as Tom Ziller points out at FanHouse, has all the chops to be a top dog. He was unfairly denied his proper opportunity, and Rick Carlisle was smart enough to recognize that when filling out his staff. I wouldn’t dare wish for the same again — here’s to wishing for the best for Casey and the best for the Mavs…and that those two outcomes are one in the same.
In the spirit of giving the season a full evaluation, I’ve decided to do an extended take on the point-counterpoint formula. I’ve already done the plus side, so it’s time to get our hands dirty.
Let’s start with what we do know: the Mavs are not positioned to be contenders. That was a well-known fact in ‘08-’09, and the relatively hazy future of this franchise is perhaps equally established. There is genuine talent in Dallas, a fact made all the more painful by the difficult-to-fill needs in the rotation.
Those needs are both significant and urgent, symbolizing the flaws of Mavs past, present, and future. The most glaring of which: poor perimeter defense with no help to speak of. Good defensive teams have either quick, skilled perimeter defenders to cut off penetration or an aware frontcourt to erase defensive mistakes. Great defensive teams have both. The Mavs aren’t so lucky.
Jason Kidd is the team’s best perimeter defender, but lacks the foot speed to stay with point guards and the height to contest shooting guards. Jason Terry logs most of his minutes as the Mavs’ 2 guard, but shows an inability to defend either guard position particularly well. Antoine Wright and Josh Howard, on the other hand, demonstrate some defensive aptitude, but haven’t been able to share the floor for significant stretches. That said, neither is a lock-down defender capable of shackling the league’s elite wings. J.J. Barea is shorter than you are, and though his heart is in the right place, that won’t buy him those glittery bell-bottom jeans in the window that will transform him into a star. Put all of those defensive limitations in a blender, and you’ve got a stable of players that have trouble moving laterally and cutting off the driving lanes. By golly, if that’s not a recipe for defensive excellence, then I don’t know what is.
Oh wait, yes I do: a complete lack of shot-blocking help defense. As a defender, Dirk Nowitzki has improved by leaps and bounds since his early years in the league, but he is not, and can never be, an effective shot blocker. Dirk simply doesn’t have the frame or athleticism to challenge shots effectively in the paint. On top of that, the cheap fouls that shot blockers tend to chalk up could send Dirk to the bench and debilitate the Dallas offense. As a result, the Mavs need to get help D out of the center position almost exclusively, and Erick Dampier isn’t too great at that. Although Damp is undoubtedly the Mavs’ best on-ball defender in the post, his lack of mobility and vertical explosiveness limit his ability to swoop in for the block and the glory. That’s why things get even uglier than one would expect; the Mavs’ key bigs are capable of fouling to prevent easy buckets, but aren’t likely candidates to soar across the lane with a play-saving block. Rotating quickly to challenge the spot or coming over to challenge the shot — those are the staples of quality interior defense, and until the Mavs can find an excellent help defender to pair with Dirk, they’ll continue to suffer at the hands of quick point guards and penetrating wing players.
Out-scoring your opponents can work for a spell, but eventually you need to get some stops. That’s where the Mavs failed with flying colors. Let’s take a look at the numbers:
The Mavs were 15th in the league in defensive efficiency for the regular season. That mark is peachy for a rebuilding team, but for would-be and should-be contenders? Notsomuch. Top-10 would be nice and Top-5 ideal, but it’s clear that a middle of the pack defense won’t be enough to cut it.
Going by PER, Mavs’ opponents play at a level well over the league average. The Mavs allow opposing point guards to average a PER of 19.4, which is roughly on-par with Steve Nash. Opposing wings are coming in around the 16.6 mark, which is in the ballpark of a Lamar Odom or a Rashard Lewis. And opposing centers are registering a PER of 17.4, which is near Utah’s Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur. The rock bottom positional average for PER comes at the power forward slot, and even they play at the level of an average player (15.1).
As if the defensive shortcomings weren’t enough, the offense could use some polish. The Mavs have already been quite productive on the more beloved side of the ball, but sorely lack the offensive versatility that made them so successful in the past. The common gripe with the Mavs has been their lack of a post-up threat, but that line of thinking is misguided; true post scorers are difficult to come by and not entirely necessary. More important is getting easy baskets through any means necessary, whether it’s in the post, through dribble penetration, or off of smooth, quick cuts and expert passes. That, more than anything, is what’s missing from the Mavs’ attack. The offense has become so unbelievably one-dimensional that it’s merely great when it could be spectacular. Increasing the number of attempts closer to the basket would bump up efficiency (especially through free throw attempts), shift the burden off of Dirk’s shoulders, and give the mediocre defense some extra wiggle room. The offense sure as hell ain’t broke, but that doesn’t mean it can’t use a bit of a fix.
The bench might be in for a similar fix. I openly applaud the work of Brandon Bass and friends, but the two most productive bench players are only building on strengths. Bass and J.J. Barea play the positions of the Mavs’ two best players, making Carlisle’s job difficult in terms of finding productive minutes for everyone. We have Bass playing some center, Kidd playing some 2 guard, and none of it coming without some take to the give. For all the production that Bass and Barea provide, they bring liabilities with their lack of size and defensive limitations. Bass is a gentleman, a scholar, and frankly a beast, but he ends up giving four or five inches to opposing centers. Barea is an underdog with a heart of gold, but he’s six feet tall in heels. For all of their strengths, those limitations are not going away, and playing out of position places them under a microscope in front of a telescope under a comically large magnifying glass. Even a Mavericks’ strength is essentially a weakness; the team is plagued by having productive players fight for minutes and effectiveness at the same positions.
Josh’s season was capped by not one, but two successful arthroscopic surgeries: one on the troublesome left ankle that made guarding Carmelo Anthony nearly impossible, and one on the left wrist that nagged Howard on numerous occasions. His rehab is scheduled to start up this weekend, but it’s impossible to say exactly how healthy Josh is or will be. Feel free to send him ‘Get Well Soon!’ e-Cards, flowers (I hear he digs petunias), balloons, and other assorted pleasantries.
In the spirit of giving the season a full evaluation, I’ve decided to do an extended take on the point-counterpoint formula. This post will shine the rose-colored spotlight on 2008-2009.
There are countless ways to evaluate a season. To some, anything short of a trophy is an abject failure. I am a stark advocate of basketball for basketball’s sake, viewing the means as an end unto themselves. If you view every season that doesn’t end with a ring as a failure, you’re sadly marginalizing not only a year’s worth of toil and trouble, but also a complex narrative (be it complete or incomplete) rife with elements of macro and micro-level intrigue. Is there really no beauty in a breakdown? No silver lining to undeniable failure? Or, in the case of these Mavericks, no redemption in the season’s smaller victories? I find that idea not only unsettling, but a bit ridiculous. The championship validates the season and the effort (and in the most supreme way imaginable; I don’t mean to devalue the almighty trophy), but
The easiest way of finding joy in the Mavs’ playoff defeat is to focus on their blatant defiance in the name of low expectations. Many projected the Mavs to fall out of the playoff race entirely at the hands of the Shaq-infused Suns. Neither Dallas nor Phoenix was burdened with particularly lofty hopes for the season, but within the twosome you can see a divergence: the Mavs certainly battled issues with consistency, but adversity was met with important plays and important wins. The Suns, by contrast, stumbled to the finish line when in need of a dead sprint. It’s not quite the championship, but it’s certainly a minor victory. The impacts of a veteran team missing the playoffs can be catastrophic, and are in an entirely different spectrum than a failure to advance beyond round X. The Mavs’ brass is blessed in a way to have the choice of continuing to tweak or blow up the team, because missing out on the postseason could certainly have forced a few hands.
The only reason that’s possible, and the only reason making the playoffs and beating the Spurs were possible, is because of the offense (5th in offensive efficiency in the regular season, 3rd in the postseason). It’s easy to lump a complicated variety of factors under that tag, but let’s look at some of the keynotes:
Dirk Nowitzki’s effect on the offense cannot be underestimated. The impact of his scoring was linear, but in providing opportunities for his teammates through improved passing and drawing in the defense. As the best player on the team, the offensive burden falls on Dirk’s shoulders. Not only did he succeed with flying colors, but accepted more responsibility without so much as a pip.
I don’t know what more we could have asked of Jason Terry offensively. With the exception of his failures to produce with any kind of consistency in the playoffs, the JET provided a much-needed bench presence and a more than adequate second fiddle. I don’t think anyone predicted that Terry would eventually come to be the emotional leader of the Mavs when he was acquired for Antoine Walker five seasons ago, but that’s exactly what he has become. Maybe his gutsy play, his constant jawing, and his showmanship gets under the skin of opponents, but it was exactly the shot in the arm that the Mavs and the fans needed. That kind of emotional connection with the fanbase is tremendous, especially when trying to use the home court as a rallying point.
Jason Kidd deserves credit for proving that old point guards can be taught new tricks, and especially for doing so without abandoning what made him great. In substantially improving his three-point stroke, Kidd added exactly what the Mavs’ offense called for. At the same time, his ability to establish his teammates with perfectly placed passes should never be overlooked. Kidd pulled points out of players like Ryan Hollins and Erick Dampier, which isn’t exactly an easy task at times.
J.J. Barea and Brandon Bass really evolved into dependable offensive players late into the season. Barea’s size and recklessness painted him as a man doomed to fail, but J.J. has reined in his game and transformed from wild card to solid playmaker and effective spurt scorer. His decision-making has improved by leaps and bounds in the last year, and no attribute is of more import for a backup point guard. Bass exercised equal discretion, using more selective attempts and possessions based on position and mismatches. He tries to throw down everything around the rim, and his midrange jumper provides an excellent complement. Though the Mavs don’t have the best track record when it comes to drafting, both have proven to be welcome additions to Donnie Nelson’s resume when it comes to acquiring “low-level”, low-priced talent in free agency.
Of course, the offense isn’t truly given a chance to shine without Rick Carlisle’s willingness to install his system and let go. In handing playcalling responsibilities to Jason Kidd, he not only instilled confidence into the team’s core, but also allowed a very capable and talented floor general to control the pace of the game. The fact that Rick was able to have that kind of faith in his players in his first year as a coach here was tremendous, and the dividends were as obvious as they were impressive.
Rick Carlisle’s successes as a coach were exemplified in the series against the Spurs, where he out-coached Gregg Popovich. Pop is probably my favorite coach of all time (and I know how blasphemous that sounds coming from a Mavs fan), and to see our man Rick win out over one of the best in the biz was a treat. Carlisle made all the right moves in regard to tinkering with the rotation (notably pulling Barea out of his magic hat) and altering the defense the best he could. As a result the Mavs picked up the series in only five games, an impressive feat by almost any standard. However, Carlisle’s regular season adjustments and willingness to compromise were crucial to the Mavs not only securing the 6th seed in a tight playoff race, but even making it into the postseason. At the season’s dawn, Carlisle planned on running more of a motion offense that would create more ball and player movement. The goal was to produce easy shots, but the system never clicked. Rather than shove his agenda down the players’ throats, Rick catered to the team’s strengths and adjusted the offense to include similar concepts and sets from years past, with a strong emphasis on the Dirk-Terry two man game (imagine that). It was a central reason why the team was able to rebound from its slow start, and exactly the adjustment needed to combat the loss of Josh Howard to injury. A little familiarity goes a long way.
Donnie Nelson made quite the blunder in inking DeSegana Diop to a midlevel deal this summer, but like Carlisle he was willing to admit to the fault. Diop’s miserable start to the season signalled to the Mavs to get while the getting’s good almost rock bottom. Nelson responded by ditching the expensive, appreciating midlevel deal for Matt Carroll’s depreciating one, and netting a surprise addition in Ryan Hollins. Hollins was a welcome surprise and — at a bargain bin price — an ideal candidate for frontline depth. I don’t think Hollins will ever be a starting caliber center in the league, but he’s more than capable of bringing energy, shot-blocking, and athleticism in a role similar to the Birdman. There’s plenty of room for improvement, but right now that sounds pretty good.
James Singleton also proved to be a stellar addition for little risk, and his ability to fill any frontcourt position in a jam was quite valuable. He also looks like a miniature version of Erick Dampier, which is both weird and kind of cool. But Singleton’s rebounding and activity were nice additions to the squad, and he’s exactly the kind of situational role player you want to have on your roster.
Though Singleton and Hollins didn’t play prominent roles in the series against the Nuggets, both (in addition to J.J. Barea and Brandon Bass) were indispensible in creating some semblance of a bench. Jason Terry distorted the Mavs’ bench scoring, which was completely nonexistent early in the season. But as Carlisle grew more comfortable with his reserves and as they grew into the system and as players, we saw several guys capable of putting their fingerprints on a game. I still don’t feel like the bench is strong enough in the right places, but I do have a tremendous amount of respect and pride in what the bench was able to accomplish given the limitations.
In a lot of ways, that was the Mavs’ season in a nutshell: success in spite of limitations. Josh Howard was limited by injury all season long and fittingly, in the playoffs. But that didn’t stop him from being quite effective against the Spurs, or from competing to the best of his ability against the Nuggets. The offense was able to thrive despite going the season with essentially two proven scorers. The team’s pivotal decision-makers were able to adjust their game plans for the better when met with failure. The Mavs weren’t good enough to continue on the the conference finals and beyond, but they did remedy some of their weaknesses, and improved markedly by the end of the season. That’s the reason why we saw the Mavs hang tough with the Nuggets in a series of close games before ultimately falling in 5. The final tally is misleadingly lopsided, but the team that seemed incapable of solid, sustained play just months ago put together a wonderful offensive performance and a significant change in mentality. The Mavs toughness didn’t really manifest itself in ways that would make Kenyon Martin proud, but the refusal to surrender despite an insurmountable 0-3 hole and the refusal to bow down to the Nuggets’ physicality is certainly an improvement.
Like it or not, the Mavs have changed. This isn’t the same team that was the cream of the Western crop in ‘06 or that won 67 games the following year. Jason Terry’s role has changed, Devin Harris and Jason Kidd are remarkably different players, there’s a new coach at the helm, and the depth is not what it once was. Playoff berths and 50 wins are reasonable goals for this squad, but to expect them to repeat past successes because this team shares laundry with its predecessors isn’t quite fair.
The Mavs are still a very good basketball team, and to be honest they’re still finding themselves. Offensively, I think the Mavs have it figured out. But they have yet to achieve anything close to their defensive potential. That might sound like a criticism, and to some extent it is, but it’s also a reason to be optimistic about things to come. Were the Mavs’ defensive failures this season a product of poor scheming, poor execution, or poor effort? Likely some combination of the three, which means we’re looking at a perfect time for improvement. It’s up to Carlisle to reinforce his defensive system and create an environment that rewards playing solid defense. It’s not that grown men need a “GREAT JOB!” sticker for every accomplishment, but the foundation of the team needs to congratulate effort and execution. Regimes run by fear and intimidation eventually crumble, but a defensive scheme hinging on mutual respect and team incentive can go far. Just ask the Spurs.
The buzzword on this blog for the playoffs has been resiliency, and that’s why I don’t feel dirty doling out points for a morally victorious season. I have no idea whether that mindset will translate into next season, but the very possibility has me excited. Not necessarily excitement that requires championship validation, but nonetheless excitement for another successful season that keeps the championship dream, however distant, alive.
Two big game sevens today, and both should be great games. Here’s to hoping for a Rockets’ upset (don’t mess with Texas) and that the Magic actually show up to play. It’s practically illegal to root for the Lakers or Celtics if you have another team.
Bethlehem Shoals of The Sporting Blog had a great post during my mini hiatus on Jason Kidd’s confusing status as quality, underrated point guard/aging star in decline: “Fine, when Dallas acquired him it was a calculated risk. Kidd wasn’t long for this league, and at first, didn’t mesh well with Dirk and especially Josh Howard. Then eventually they worked together, at least to the point where the Mavs could upset a Manu-less San Antonio and for a couple of games, trouble a Nuggets team that has “juggernaut” written all over it. Yes, it shows that Rick Carlisle is an excellent coach. But it’s also a testament to Jason Kidd’s abilities — and at the same time, quite possibly the last time we’ll get to see him make any meaningful use of them. Like Tas said, this might be the last hurrah. Why doesn’t anyone care about Jason Kidd anymore? It’s not because the media doesn’t love to dote on veterans, especially the great ones, when they’re at the tail-end of their primes. In fact, that’s when they somehow warrant the most superlatives. No, in this case, there are just too many young(er) point guards making noise in these playoffs for anyone to put on airs about an aged master. Heck, the league itself is too rich with point guards, and Chris Paul has not only already laid claim to Kidd’s mantle, but arguably has a chance to be the best ever. For Kidd, it’s just bad timing.”
Tim MacMahon of the DMN Mavs Blog: “The Great Free Agent Summer of 2010 is a backup plan at this point. Mark Cuban wants to strike now instead of letting another year of Dirk’s prime go by without the supporting cast he needs to make the Mavs legit contenders. The likelihood of convincing Jason Kidd to return also increase significantly if the Mavs can make a major deal early on this summer. The Mavs, according to Cuban, will be aggressive and opportunistic this summer. He has three significant expiring contracts to dangle: Josh Howard (team option for 2010-11), Erick Dampier (2010-11 not guaranteed) and Jerry Stackhouse, who is an especially valuable trade chip in these economic times because his $7 million salary can be bought out for $2 million.” Regardless, some salary will have to be moved around if the Mavs intend on being players in this summer’s trade market or the 2010 blowout. The numbers just don’t add up, otherwise. Damp and Stack appear to be prime candidates for relocation, but don’t be surprised to see Josh Howard and Jason Terry’s names in the trade buzz as well.
ESPN’s John Hollinger (insider): “There probably isn’t much Dallas could have done against the Nuggets, and Rick Carlisle squeezed about all he could from the Mavericks’ limited roster. But one thing he may kick himself for is not giving Brandon Bass a more extended run. Bass only averaged 19 minutes a game in the playoffs, but his production was monstrous — he ranks 11th among all players in postseason PER, right behind 10 rather prominent NBA stars. Bass closed things out with arguably his best performance, contributing 17 points and seven boards in 25 minutes off the bench. It was his third straight double-figure effort after being used sparingly in Games 1 and 2.” Here’s to hoping that Rick’s conservative use of Bass early in the series doesn’t come back to bite us in free agency.
David Stern will be looking into the possibility of more replay in the NBA, as well as a different system of stadium security for friends and family of visiting players. Obviously both are products of the Mavs-Nuggets series. Look, we’re making a difference!
Dirk Nowitzki, via AP: “After I played here for 11 years — played hurt, played sick, whatever they needed me to do, basically playing my heart [out] for the last 11 years — I don’t think it would feel the same way somewhere else,” Nowitzki said. “It’s always been my dream here to finish my career and win a championship. I think my window has not closed yet and I’ll still see what we can do.” The possibility of trading Dirk is so difficult to dissect because he really hasn’t done anything to warrant the speculation. That means that the onus is on others within the organization for failing to do their jobs. Professional sports are a strange beast in which players are asked to express undying loyalty to their teams, with no such guarantee of a team’s loyalty to a player. That said, I’d love for Dirk to retire a Maverick. I don’t know how anyone who has watched this team for an extended period could argue otherwise, given what he’s been able to accomplish as a player and a leader when given the short end of the stick.
Dirk may have made the official All-NBA 1st team, but according to a wide variety of statistical measures, Tim Duncan actually had a slight edge. Even more interesting though, is that those same statistical measures voted Jason Kidd to the 3rd team, over his playoff opponents Tony Parker and Chauncey Billups.
First and foremost, I want to thank all of you for joining me on this five month ride through Mavdom. It’s been fun, it’s been exciting, and it’s been decidedly lacking in defensive execution. You regulars are pretty rad, and I hope you’ll all stick around for more good times this offseason and beyond.
And another thank you to our neighborhood friendly Nuggets and Spurs fans, who (for the most part) were respectful and amicable and, if nothing else, …interesting. Hope to see you guys around.
As for now, I’m going to wait until next week before launching into the season review. I’ll be looking at the entire season and the relative success the Mavs were able to find, dwell a bit on both playoff series’, and of course full coverage of the team’s offseason strategy, both real and proposed. The draft is sneaking up on us as well, so expect a comprehensive review of players in the Mavs’ draft range. The off-season can be slow news-wise, but it should be good times. Lucky for me (and all of us) this team has plenty of issues to dive into, and each player provides a multitude of avenues for discussion and analysis.
So spend just one weekend away from Mavericks basketball, and then I expect to see you all first thing in the morning on Monday to break it down.
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”
-Voltaire
The Mavs’ season ended not with a bang nor a whimper, but with the sigh of a team that just didn’t have enough. The Nuggets were the better basketball team, and they played like it. That’s why, for the first time in a long while, I rested easy after the Mavs bowed out of the postseason. There was no implosion and there was no letdown. Although we Mavs fans were holding onto the hope of another Western Conference Finals, they should be able to find solace in the way these Mavs fought and the way that Dirk thrived.
All the credit in the world has to go to the Denver Nuggets. The Mavs were a good basketball team playing their best basketball at the right time, but the Nuggets are a superior basketball team playing even better basketball with more two-way consistency. Personally, I’m ecstatic every time I get to watch the player that Carmelo Anthony is morphing into. Something about his game was both equally troubling and appealing, and to see him do away with the silly turnovers and the forced shots is to see him morph into an incredible basketball player. He showed every bit of that transformation in this series, and put the cherry on top in Game 5 with 30 points on 13-22 shooting (he had to miss 6 straight attempts to fall to that mortal mark). Melo will never be the playmaker (read: LeBron) that some wished he would be, but I sincerely doubt that many will be disappointed with his finished product.
Chauncey Billups (28 points on 10-16 shooting, 12 assists, 7 rebounds) made the point guard match-up a bit of a joke. While the Mavs’ veteran floor general was ignoring easy layup opportunities, being caught in the air with nowhere to go, and getting completely abused by a fairly rudimentary two-man trap in the half-court, Chauncey was doing more than his fair share to push the Nuggets over the edge. His shots were timely and brutal, and the lack of mistakes in his decision making was a perfect way for Billups to put his stamp on this series.
But before I get too gushy about the Nuggets’ stars, let’s not forget our own. Dirk Nowitzki finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, and the rest of the team simply could not carry the burden of doing the rest. Dirk was positively glorious. He was drawing fouls on any Nugget that dare try to defend him, and when Dirk wasn’t waltzing his way to the free throw line he was draining jumpers that barely touched net. Though his 5 turnovers are quite uncharacteristic, I think he’s done more than enough to absolve himself. After all Dirk has done to carry the Mavs this season and this postseason, he’s certainly earned that much.
The Mavericks’ defense was undoubtedly their downfall. Though it’s easy to point the finger to the careless turnovers or flubbed offensive possessions, you hardly even need to single out the atrocious transition defense and nearly as miserable half-court execution. The perimeter defense just isn’t good enough to stay with quality NBA players, and the Mavs lack the type of help side defenders that can compensate for that weakness. The result is layups, and dunks, and free throws, which are a bit easier than the Mavs’ jumpers. Dirk is a fantastic jumpshooter, but he can hardly keep pace with a Nugget layup drill.
Jason Kidd (19 points, 9 assists, 5 turnovers, 5 threes) had a tough time running the offense, and couldn’t stay in front of Chauncey Billups to save his life. But to Kidd’s credit, he came out in the second half ready to make a difference. The Mavs trimmed their 10-point deficit in a jiffy, in large part to Kidd hitting open three after open three. It was a nice second half effort to step up as Dirk’s scoring bro, but needless to say I expected a more complete game (and series) from Kidd.
Brandon Bass (17 and 7) was great, and J.J. Barea (7 points on 3 of 5 shooting) played some good minutes to spell Kidd during his turnover phase. Unfortunately for both of them, J.R. Smith (18 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists) was better. How many momentum-killing long threes did Smith hit in this series? He can shoot from the damn parking lot.
The Mavs had chances to win this game, but here’s the important thing: they earned those chances. Dallas sprinted out of the gate to a quick lead, but eventually ceded it to the Nuggs. Then they fought back several times in the second half, only to be held at arm’s length by a Carmelo three or a J.R. heartbreaker. But this outcome is something the Mavs should have been expecting since Game 2, and rightfully so. Congrats to the Nuggets, but plenty of congratulations to the Mavs for putting up a helluva fight, staying within reach, and hoping for a miracle. The fact that it never came doesn’t make their effort any less impressive.
Closing thoughts:
Dear Jason Kidd, You need to eliminate the jump pass from your brain. I don’t want you to be able to perform that action anymore. Know who you’re going to pass to, stay on your feet, and be a damn point guard. Love, Rob.
Chris Andersen was rendered a non-factor in the last two games he actually played, largely because Dirk was very aware of his presence. Andersen tried to swoop in on several occasions for a weak side block on Dirk, only to find Nowitzki waiting patiently to draw the foul. Great stuff as always from Dirk.
This was not a good series for Jason Terry. I might go as far as to say that this was the worst playoff run of his career. Rick threw him into the starting lineup, and it did a whole lot of nothing.
Can someone explain to me how Anthony Carter got three offensive rebounds, all of which were around the basket?
Great season, guys.
GOLD STAR OF THE NIGHT: The Gold Star of the Night is practically a formality. I’d feel dirty if I gave it to anyone else but Dirk. Well deserved, buddy.
It’s over. Good season for the Mavs, who played ten more games this season than a lot of people thought they would. And hey, they even won half of them.
Full recap treatment on the way, and of course, thoughts on the end of the season.
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