Posted by Rob Mahoney on July 12, 2009 under Recaps | 
Houston Rockets 98, Dallas Mavericks 95
Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images.
Box Score
I wasn’t able to watch last night’s summer league game due to a little basketball tournament of my own, so of course Rodrigue Beaubois turned in an absolutely magnificent performance when my back was turned. Roddy followed up his disappointing debut with a lights-out showing in game 2, registering a stat-line almost too monstrous to believe:
32 points
12-21 FG
7-12 3FG (This cat’s got some serious NBA range)
8 assists
4 rebounds
Only 2 turnovers
This face? Right here? My Over-the-Moon Face. I’m absolutely thrilled that Beaubois was apparently able to be a more effective and efficient point guard, even if his trouble with fouling continued (9 fouls). That will work itself out as he continues to get a feel for the NBA game. Roddy is so young and so inexperienced in NBA-style basketball that it doesn’t really matter how many fouls he gets right now. What matters is that he displays the attributes to be a hellish point guard defender. He showed some of that in game one, but of course I can’t speak to what I didn’t see in game two. Among his praise of Rodrigue’s game, Rick Carlisle did note that Beaubois’ defense is far from a finished product (via Arnovitz at TrueHoop):
“He brings us a different dimension. We don’t have this kind of angular speed, or supreme-type athlete at the point guard position right now. So he gives us a different look.” Carlisle was cautious in his praise. It’s only Beaubois’ second NBA game, and he still has to learn how to play an NBA brand of defense. “When you come from a mid-league in Europe to the NBA, you have to ratchet up your level of awareness.”
David Thorpe chimed in today, on Twitter:
Beaubois has been the best pure pg I’ve seen this summer. Until George Hill. Westbrook is the most explosive game changer.
Pretty good company for the youngest Mav.
Beaubois wasn’t alone, as Ahmad Nivins continued his strong play with a near-double double (11 points, 8 rebounds). I can’t decide how I feel about Luke Jackson’s box score, considering he scored 16 points on 11 shots, but only made 3 field goals. Going perfect from the line is impressive and getting there for 8 attempts even moreso, but shooting such a low percentage from the field is never a good thing.
Not much to note otherwise from the Mavs’ perspective. From my understanding, the Mavs are still reluctant to leave Beaubois on the floor as a solo ball-handler, often playing Rodrigue and Aaron Miles together on the floor. I’ve made my position on Miles pretty clear, and again Baylor’s Curtis Jerrells superficially seems a superior candidate. It’s hard to make any kind of real judgment off of box scores alone, but if you go strictly by the numbers, Jerrells had a superior game in more limited playing time. There are a number of reasons why that could be true, but I’d love to see Jerrells get more of a run as a back-up point with the summer league team, rather than random rotation filler.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on July 11, 2009 under Recaps |
Milwaukee Bucks 65, Dallas Mavericks 59
Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images.
Box Score
The JV Mavs’ summer league debut was about as rocky as it gets. It was beyond painful to watch, and that’s coming from someone who was intrigued to see what players from both teams had to offer. I still managed to choke down turnover after turnover after turnover (the Mavs alone had 25), and saved all of you the displeasure of watching some of the worst basketball I’ve ever laid eyes on. These summer league rosters are assembled primarily from rookies, recent draftees, and D-League talent. The teams only have a handful of practices before they play under Vegas lights, and last night they certainly played like it.
I’ve got nothing against summer league, in theory or in practice. Most of the time, I enjoy the bright spots of the game in spite of some generally poor play. But last night’s game was so uncoordinated and sloppy on both sides, that it was borderline unbearable. Luckily for us (or rather, me and the other schmucks the NBA suckered into paying for the online feeds), the games usually turn out markedly better by the end. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.
As for Game 1, there was one bright, shining star for the Mavs, made even more brighty and shiningier by the dullness that surrounded him: Ahmad Nivins. I was personally anticipating the match-up between first round picks Rodrigue Beaubois and Brandon Jennings, but for the most part both point guards weren’t ready to run even a summer league offense. Nivins, on the other hand, showed plenty on both ends of the floor. On offense, Nivins was an active offensive rebounder and a sound finisher. He showed range out to the college three-point line, but wasn’t too in love with his jumper. But the superlatives don’t end there, as Nivins matched up mostly against Milwaukee’s first round pick in last year’s draft, Joe Alexander. Joe ended up 4-18 on the night with 2 turnovers, which is mostly a testament to Nivins’ defense. This is quite literally the first time I’ve ever seen Ahmad play, but if he keeps up this kind of production and activity, it will be awfully tough for the Mavs to deny him a roster spot.
Rodrigue Beaubois, flagged as the point guard of the future and the guy to watch on the summer league team, needs playing time. And he needs it badly. You could see exactly what piqued the interest of Donnie Nelson and Rick Carlisle when Beaubois demonstrated his quickness in the lane and his skill as a drive-and-kick point guard, but Roddy still has a long way to go before he can play within himself. He didn’t demonstrate a knowledge of when to push the ball or when to pull back out, his passing on the perimeter was a bit lazy, and he was caught with a careless dribble on a few occasions. Make no mistake: Roddy Beaubois is a talented point guard, but he’s still very, very raw. He may be ready for spot minutes on the pro level, but surely nothing more. Mavs fans will have to be content with flashes of Tony Parker and Rajon Rondo for now, two players that Beaubois clearly channels during his brighter moments.
Brandon Jennings seemed to suffer from similar problems, though I wouldn’t give all the credit to Beaubois’ defense. Rodrigue did an admirable job, to be sure, but also seemed very foul-prone in his first NBA contest. Jennings also didn’t help his cause by settling for outside jumpers, which have been described as one of the weaker points of his game. But Roddy (still not crazy about that nickname) clearly has the defensive ability to stay with the league’s quicker point guards…even if, for the moment, it translates to a bit of foul trouble.
Baylor product Curtis Jerrells could barely get off the bench, largely because the Mavs seemed more interested in Aaron Miles. Personally, I don’t understand the fascination; Miles is a perfect example of why slow and steady doesn’t always win the race, and why “manage the game” point guards often find their way out of the league sooner rather than later. Miles actually managed to one-up Beaubois with 8 fouls and 7 turnovers (compared to Beaubois’ 6 TOs). I know it’s the first game, but with Miles I couldn’t even find reason for optimism. Here’s to hoping that I’m proven wrong.
Shan Foster did not play well. For a shooter, he sure does have problems shooting. Several open looks for Shan that he just couldn’t convert. I don’t think Foster was really ready to make the jump to the Mavs’ roster anyway, but his first game back from Europe in a Mavs’ uniform was definitely a disappointment (1-7 FG or 2 points, though he did notch 4 rebounds and 2 assists).
Mickael Gelabale: you’ve got my attention. No star power to speak of, but Gelabale is a comfortable, athletic, role player type who could fit in comfortably as a wing defender.
Nick Calathes was nowhere to be found.
Luke Jackson was a highly-rated prospect coming out of college, and still has the potential to be a niche player in the big leagues. He’s clearly working on becoming a bit more of a play-making forward in the Luke Walton mold. He had some success on that front, but could really benefit from learning to play within himself a bit more on offense. The summer league team isn’t riddled with players who can create shots, so maybe Luke feels he needs to fill that role. Who knows. But he had a high turnover game for guy who would be a minimal usage player on the next level. Prove to the team that you can handle the ball a little, dish the rock, and hit the spot-up three. That’s what’s going to earn you a roster spot with the Mavs, not forcing the issue. Jackson also attempted a dunk in traffic, which drew maniacal laughter from one audience member. E for effort?
Posted by Rob Mahoney on July 10, 2009 under xOther |
I’m a little late with this, but be sure to check out the newest edition of the Podcast Paroxysm. I’m on at length talking about the Marion deal (I may or may not have said the Mavs’ ceiling next season is the Finals…key word being ceiling.), Erick Dampier’s contract, and the Kidd signing. Trey Kerby is also on board to talk about some ‘real chill bros’ (via the nba), and the chaps from Canis Hoopus go way in-depth on all things Rubio.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under Rumors |
FanHouse’s Tim Povtak with the latest logic-defying rumor from Magic land:
…Marcin Gortat has been hanging around the Orlando Pro Summer League this week, rubbing shoulders with various NBA people. And he doesn’t like what he’s been hearing. Gortat, a restricted free agent, was ecstatic earlier this week after signing an offer sheet worth $33 million over five years with the Dallas Mavericks, believing it was his ticket to both riches and a starting position in the NBA. Now he hears otherwise…”I have a feeling now they (Magic) are going to match it…That’s what I’m hearing, they will match. We’ll have to see, but I’m kind of down right now. Either way, I’ll end up on a pretty good team.” Although Gortat also could see time at power forward in Orlando — the Magic experimented last season with Gortat and Howard playing together — the signing of free agent power forward Brandon Bass on Friday would further limit his role. “I want to develop my game and become a better player,” he said. “I just don’t know if I’d be getting the same minutes to play here as in Dallas.” …Although Gortat’s contract would seem excessive for a backup, the Magic still view him as an asset, and there are plenty of teams looking for centers. They would have to wait at least 90 days before they could trade him. “I’ve said all along, I think the number (his contract) is a little high,” Smith said. “But that doesn’t change how we think. One thing (signing Bass) doesn’t have anything to do with the other (matching Gortat). I’m still working on a few other things, and until those transpire, it’s kind of premature to say what we’re going to do.”
Losing Gortat would be a huge blow to the Mavs’ busy off-season, and seems nonsensical from Orlando’s perspective. This isn’t the biggest of markets, and investing $34 million in a back-up center after just signing another frontcourt player is ill-advised at best. It could be a smokescreen, though I’m not really sure what the benefit would be. That said, if Otis Smith is convinced he can get something in a trade for Gortat, he may end up having the last laugh at Dallas’ expense.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under News, Roster Moves |
David Aldridge of NBA.com, on a hot tip from commenter David:
The Orlando Magic are trying to keep up in the arms race in the competitive Eastern Conference, agreeing to terms on Friday with free agent forward Brandon Bass on a four-year deal believed to be worth $18 million…even if he doesn’t start, Bass will provide toughness and size for an Orlando team that now has to contend with Shaquille O’Neal and re-signed forward Anderson Varejao in Cleveland and the return of Kevin Garnett and newly signed Rasheed Wallace in Boston. The Cavaliers made a last-minute push on Bass, according to a source, but didn’t have a way to get him the money he’ll get in Orlando…Bass’s contract has an out clause after three seasons.
It’s tough to lose Brandon Bass. His meteoric rise with the Mavs came out of nowhere, and his slams, sweet jumpers, and periodic on-court flexing will be sorely missed.
Bass definitely deserves a chance to spread his wings, and the Magic may be just the team to accommodate that. May all of Bass’ wildest dreams come true…unless one of those dreams involves exacting revenge on his former team. I doubt it, considering the relatively amicable departure, but Bass is a monster just waiting to go into beast mode on anyone that lines up against him. But all the respect in the world for the noble Sir Brandon of Bass, and look for a more thorough farewell post for the man known affectionately as “The Animal.”
Of course there is a bright side to Bass’ departure: the Magic committing additional salary to Brandon Bass virtually ensures that they will not match the offer sheet Marcin Gortat signed with the Mavs.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on July 9, 2009 under xOther |
Shawn Marion checked in via teleconference, and had plenty to say regarding his new life as a Mav:
- “I’m glad to be back with my man, J. Kidd. I came in the league with J. Kidd (in Phoenix), and I went to camp with Jason Terry back in college. And I know Dirk because we’ve played so much. But it’s exciting. I’m ready to get it going.”
- “I’m a basketball player. I see myself fitting in great there. With J. Kidd running the show, you know that he is definitely going to spread the wealth. That’s what it takes. It’s just a matter of everybody getting the chemistry and gelling.”
- “I’ll play really any position. It’s just a matter of all of us going in and competing. I think that we won’t have a problem meshing. We just have to go out there and compete with each other.”
- “It’s going to be great because [Dirk]’s a monster. He’s a handful for people that have to guard him. All I have is respect for him.”
- (On winning a championship) “Why not? Everybody starts training camp at the beginning of the season with the ultimate goal of winning a championship. You have to have that aspiration. That’s what you have to focus on.”
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under News, Roster Moves |
A footnote on the Shawn Marion acquisition was added acquisition of center Nathan Jawai, fondly dubbed by one Matt Moore as the Jawaibberwocky. There was some issue with the availability of Memphis-bound Quincy Douby, so Jawai was sent to Dallas in order to balance the incoming and outgoing contracts for Toronto.
While we should all beware the Jawaibberwocky, the jaws that bite, the claws that catch, he could very well be off the team by season’s start. Or perhaps the Mavs favor his guaranteed money to the added cost of re-signing Ryan Hollins. Regardless, Jawai looks to be a relative non-factor buried deep in the rotation behind the Mavs now relatively crowded frontcourt.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under The Grapevine |
EDIT: Some additions:
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel (via TQC): “While watching summer-league action at RDV Sportsplex, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard yelled at Marcin Gortat, joking, ‘Hey, get out of here. You don’t want to play for the Magic anymore.’ Gortat had just returned from a meeting with Magic General Manager Otis Smith and Gortat’s agent, Guy Zucker, to discuss the offer sheet he signed with the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, the first day that NBA free agents can officially sign contracts with their new teams. ‘Five years, $34 million,’ Gortat said, so happy with the Mavs’ offer that he broke an unwritten rule among players who never divulge the count and the amount…The Magic could match and trade Gortat to receive compensation this season. They would have to wait 90 days from the start of the season to deal him — hoping that he stays healthy until December — but that doesn’t appear to be on Smith’s agenda. ‘It’s doable,” Smith said. “But right now I’m still thinking the other way [not to match].’”
- Jason Kidd may have been closer to New York than we thought (transcribed by Tas Melas of Sports Radio Interviews): [Host, Dan Patrick:] Was anyone else interested in you other than Dallas and New York? [Kidd:] ‘Those were the two teams - to have the opportunity to play in New York, in the sense of the Garden. (Host: How close were you to going to New York?) I was very close, New York did everything right in the sense of the three-year contract, but Cuban and the Mavs stepped up, and I think we’re pretty close to competing with the Lakers, and the elite teams, Denver, in the western conference. So, I thought it was best for me to stay.’”
- An excellent break-down of the Mavs’ summer league team (via Ridiculous Upside).
- If you think the Mavs are paying too much for Marcin Gortat or Shawn Marion, you clearly haven’t seen the contract the Cleveland Cavaliers just gave to Anderson Varejao.
- This is a damn travesty.
Original links:
- Don’t forget about Quinton Ross, who should slide into Antoine Wright’s shoes.
- Brendan K. O’Grady, author of 2nd Round Reach, crosses paths with Dirk in his very interesting analysis of Pau Gasol’s role in the league as a “Euro” in a guest post at FreeDarko: “As the best player of the 2006-2007 season, Dirk Nowitzki was poised to become the greatest Euro in history. His Mavericks were a confluence of players with complimentary and very American styles (as presented by Stackhouse, Jason Terry, and especially Josh Howard) yet all were molded around Dirk’s singular, distinctly foreign presence. He brought an alien skill set, and altered the course of the NBA’s season with the effect that only a 7-foot white shooting guard masquerading as a power forward could have on the game…And for prolonged stretches in that year, Dirk’s Euroness was synonymous with the strength of granite mountains, and no longer spoken of with the superficial novelty that once would have come in the same breath as the words “Nikoloz Tskitishvili.” After the first such sustained period of brilliance from the caste’s greatest hero, no more demoralizing a moment could have existed for the Euro than when a shattered Dirk, all sunken-eyes and vacant smile, shook hands and posed with Stern as he accepted his MVP trophy, just a week after being eliminated from contention during the anarchic Warriors’ impossible paroxysm against reality.”
- Anthony Parker appears Cleveland-bound, so cross him off your biannual exception wish lists. Should be good times for the Cavs.
- Interestingly enough, the Shawn Marion trade has temporarily stalled the Zach Randolph-to-Memphis deal. It shouldn’t be anything more than a hiccup, but Clippernation is still holding its collective breath. (via Clips Nation)
- Bethlehem Shoals of The Baseline: “It’s worth noting that, before [Steve] Nash, [Shawn] Marion put up nearly identical stats with [Stephon] Marbury as the Suns point guard, which means The Matrix is either more independent than we thought or Marbury deserves a little credit for something. He’s also 31, which matters more for him than Dirk since his game is premised on athleticism. But it’s not like the Mavs have an option other than to load up now, try the best they can to win a championship in Dirk’s later years, and then start over. While Marion’s far from ideal, with a more up-tempo offense he might get some of his groove back, and it doesn’t hurt that he once played with Kidd (and Kidd’s good at making life easy for his kind of player).”
- Marcin Gortat, on advice he’s received regarding his first big contract (via Eddy Rivera of Third Quarter Collapse): “Yeah, I’ve had a chance to talk to a couple of guys. They all told me that I have to stay humble and just don’t forget about the stuff that I was doing the last two years. I’m talking about being the first in the gym, working on my game, improving every part of m y game so like I said, it’s going to be a huge opportunity for me. I believe I’m going to get more playing time and my role might be bigger next year so I’m just going to try to show that I’m a better basketball player.” More with Gortat here.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under Commentary |
Marion’s move to Dallas didn’t come without a catch: Antoine Wright is now a Toronto Raptor.
Jerry Stackhouse was longer tenured and surely the most celebrated outgoing Mav, but Stack’s journey out of the organization’s favor left a bad taste in my mouth. I appreciated Stack a bit in all of his tunnel-visioned glory during the Finals run, but his departure has been a long time coming. Devean George’s slim contributions on the court will no doubt stand eclipsed by that time he single-handedly vetoed the initial Jason Kidd-Devin Harris deal. Man, that was a real knee-slapper, right guys?
Antoine Wright was never the most talented guy in a Maverick uniform, but he was endearing. He worked defensively and didn’t dominate the ball offensively, and though he still has plenty of room to improve, he seemed to make significant headway over the course of the 2008-2009 season. His shot was coming along, his drives to the basket were more assertive, and the defense was still his calling card. It takes time for skilled defenders to find their place in this league, especially when they’re transitioning from offensive-minded athletic types. It took Bruce Bowen, one of the toughest perimeter defenders of this generation, seven seasons in the league before he really hit his stride with the Spurs. The upcoming season will be Wright’s fourth. I’m as guilty as anyone of treating Wright like a veteran when it came time to dissect his weaknesses, when instead I should’ve been considering his potential and his strengths.
Antoine Wright had far from a flawless season for the Mavs, but his efforts in Dallas are in dire need of some appreciation. Wright has the capability to be a very solid player in the near future, and though that future likely won’t be in Dallas, I wish him all the best.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under Commentary, Roster Moves |
Shawn Marion is a Maverick. He’s a big name and a notable contract to be sure, but the Mavs are banking on him being more than a shade of his former self. They’re banking on him being more than his 16 PER last season, on more than his 18.9% from three last season, and more than an aging athlete on tired legs.
For what it’s worth, I think the Mavs’ brass may have been on-point with this one.
There are a lot of reasons not to like Marion as a Maverick, or really Marion on any team for any substantial amount of money going forward. He’s coming off of a miserable season, one that lends plenty of credence to claims of a decline. Marion made a name for himself as an impressive finisher with unbelievable athleticism, and as a quick, strong wing defender. While Shawn can certainly still get above the rim, I think it’s safe to say that 28,000 minutes have taken the edge off of his vertical. Sadly enough, the same goes for Marion’s defense. Marion was once a modern marvel on the defensive end, capable of guarding just about anyone on the floor. He had the lateral quickness to keep up with guards and the height and reach to contest forwards. Dirk once credited Marion as one of the best defenders he had ever faced, which is no light praise. But the Marion that will be suiting up for the Mavs this season is likely not that same Marion. That is, if you accept what recent memory has told us about Marion’s regression.
It’s easy to say that Shawn Marion isn’t quite the athlete he used to be, but it’s more difficult to pinpoint exactly why 2008-2009 was Marion’s worst outing since his rookie campaign. Marion did look shackled, but not necessarily by the rigors of an aging body; he looked completely uncomfortable in offenses that weren’t tailor-made to his strengths, he seemed lost without Steve Nash’s guiding passes, and he seemed overwhelmed as an offensive focal point.
The Mavs do (or will, if you want to be technical) employ one Jason Kidd, whose lobs and knack for maximizing the talents of role players with finishing abilities should make Shawn flashback to brighter days. That’s one regard in which the Heat and the Raptors could never compete. Jose Calderon is a fine point guard, but isn’t a gun-slinging, risk-taking playmaker in the Kidd/Nash mold. Dwyane Wade is a good passer, but he was created of flesh and metal to score the damn basketball, not appease Marion.
While the Mavs won’t be confused with the SSoL Suns, it’s still easy to see Marion fulfilling his same duties as a one-man fast break. But more than anything, the Mavs are somewhat reliant on the notion that putting more weapons around Marion will boost his effectiveness and his efficiency on offense. Marion was a second offensive option on his last two stops, but with the Mavs he moves a bit further down the totem pole. The Mavs have an elite scoring talent in Dirk, but also boast shot-creators in Jason Terry and Josh Howard. The attention that those three draw should definitely relieve some of the pressure from Marion, but the question is: Will it be enough?
Of course, the offensive end has rarely been the trouble with the Mavs. That end of the court has a tendency to work itself out. Far more glaring problems present themselves on the defensive end. Josh Howard and Shawn Marion are both natural small forwards, so something has to give. Logic points to Howard moving into the backcourt. As far as offense goes, I couldn’t care less; Howard will likely contribute in exactly the same way against similar wing defenders. The defensive end is going to be where the Mavs could struggle, and Josh Howard’s ankles will be right in the cross-hairs. It’s what happens when you make periodic appointments to go under the knife; Surgeries make men from myths and introduce mortality into the equation. Howard may have once been an elite defender for his position, but asking him to defend quicker guards on two bum ankles seems poised to end in failure. It’s the kind of thing that can fly under the radar for most of the regular season, but that comes front and center under the playoff microscope.
Josh Howard and Shawn Marion do, however, significantly deepen the Mavs options in regard to the perimeter defense. Antoine Wright was option 1A on the wing last season, with Jason Kidd also drawing significant assignments on opposing 2 guards. But with both Howard and Marion, gimpy and aging though they may be, the Mavs have quite the defensive pedigree. If Howard’s technique and physical attributes don’t fly against a particular opponent, then maybe Marion’s will. They’re somewhat interchangeable as far as position goes, and yet both possess very different approaches to defense. Beyond those two, new Mav Quinton Ross should see plenty of time as a stopper off the bench, a role left unfilled by last seasons’ Mavs. While the group off the pine last season did a lot of things right, they were light on providing defensive reinforcements. That’s about to change, with Ross coming off the bench along with either Marcin Gortat or Erick Dampier, and with both Josh Howard and Shawn Marion capable of playing multiple positions alongside the reserves.
It’s hard to say exactly where the Mavs’ moves thus far put them in the context of the Western Conference. They’re clearly still inferior to the Lakers, and probably the Spurs, but I’d certainly put Dallas in the “right there” group. It’s not a bad place to be, all things considered. For every little flaw I’ve picked at in this post, this is still Shawn fricking Marion. Even Shawn’s harshest critics would have to concede that Dallas improved as a result of this deal. For every minor issue Marion brings to the forefront, he solves a handful of others. While he may not fit like a glove, the acquisition of Marion is far from forcing a square peg into a round hole.
Donnie Nelson and Mark Cuban showed some creativity in getting Marion to Dallas, and now it’s up to Rick Carlisle to show some creativity in getting him to excel here.