Mr. Dream

Posted by Rob Mahoney on January 31, 2011 under xOther | View Comments

From the glorious, glorious individuals with the Mavs’ in-house entertainment.

Casting

Posted by Rob Mahoney on under Commentary | View Comments

Sasha Pavlovic’s introduction as a Maverick was met by more than a fair bit of skepticism from yours truly, for what I deemed — and would do so again, given what we knew at the time — legitimate reason. Pavlovic, on the surface, doesn’t have a hell of a lot to offer a Mavericks team sorely missing Caron Butler; he can defend a bit, but Pavlovic really hasn’t shown much basketball aptitude since 2007. He hadn’t aged into irrelevance, merely drifted there.

After 20 days and 10 games, I feel a bit differently.

The Mavericks opted to release Pavlovic following the conclusion of his second 10-day contract rather than sign him for the remainder of the season, and I’m not quite sure why. Peja Stojakovic isn’t ready to play, and even when he eventually does hit the court for Dallas, Stojakovic isn’t a player particularly deserving of major minutes. He hits threes and struggles to defend, and while such players can be useful situationally, teams in general would benefit from not getting in the habit of playing them for considerable minutes at a time. Having an open roster spot for “flexibility” isn’t the issue; even if the Mavs suddenly needed a roster spot to complete any kind of move, they could easily cut Pavlovic loose at low cost.

From a distance, the primary motivation for letting Pavlovic go seems to be financial. And it’s on that note that I’ll grow uncomfortably silent. I try to avoid telling anyone how to spend their money, Mark Cuban included. He may have seemingly endless riches, but between the Mavs’ massive pile of salary and the luxury tax payments on top of it, Cuban is dishing out quite a bit to field a competitive team. I can’t blame him for not wanting to add a bit more on, particularly for a player of Pavlovic’s caliber.

Does having Pavlovic around make the Mavs better? Not particularly. He’s a bit player in a much larger show, and isn’t asked to do a terrible amount. Yet he’s played well enough during his three weeks with the team to warrant a season’s consideration, if only as a last resort. Butler’s injury has been damaging enough, and Pavlovic has helped fill in minutes on the wing as a member of a compromised rotation. Should another injury befall the Mavs — and the rotation become further compromised — Pavlovic would seem a convenient guy to have around. I don’t blame Cuban for not wanting to foot the bill, but Pavlovic has performed fairly well for a 10-day player. He defends. He doesn’t stop the ball. He cuts on offense and has been terrific from three-point range (Pavlovic ranks second on the team, in fact, with a .438 from beyond the arc). I’m not sure what Dallas was hoping to see from Pavlovic when they signed him, but I’d be curious to know what reasonable benchmark he failed to meet.

But as I said, even Pavlovic’s minimal financial pull would have an impact on the bottom line. Hopefully this means that either Stojakovic or Rodrigue Beaubois is on the cusp of returning (and reports seem to indicate as such; both players seem likely to suit up before the trade deadline), and that Pavlovic’s release was more than just a footnote on the ledger. Regardless, the Mavs shed some decent rotation filler this weekend, and while Pavlovic (in presence or absence) doesn’t have the gravity to turn the tide, Dallas’ decision marks the departure of a useful player nonetheless.

Starkiller

Posted by Rob Mahoney on under xOther | View Comments

Video from Get Banged On.

Marion’s leaping ability seems significantly more impressive this season than last. I don’t know if lingering injuries were the cause, but he’s been throwing down some impressive jams of late.

Also, a programming note: apologies for the lack of a recap treatment from the Hawks game; had some cable issues. Recaps return tonight for those of you craving bulleted posts. For those still looking to relive the Mavs’ latest win, I highly recommend you check out Bret LaGree’s recap over at Hoopinion.

You Wouldn’t Have to Ask

Posted by Rob Mahoney on January 28, 2011 under Commentary | View Comments

J.J. Barea’s season on the whole has been neither disastrous nor splendid, an exercise almost perfectly in line with expectation. Not many NBA fans — or Mavs fans, for that matter — seem to expect all that much of Barea; he’s considered more stopgap than prospect, and more than a fair share of broadcasters seem to address his game as a novelty rather than a legitimate addition. I don’t think there’s a compelling argument against Barea’s sub-mediocrity. On the whole, he’s a below average player and at times he’s either a maddening in his decision-making or a legitimate defensive liability. Worse yet: though he isn’t on the decline necessarily, this is who Barea is. He’ll get marginally better, but he’s as likely to leap in production or judgment as he is to grow four inches. The things that make Barea a limited NBA player aren’t going to change, and there are plenty of people invested in the Mavericks who just aren’t all that comfortable with featuring him, in all of his incompleteness, as a prominent part of the second unit.

That stance, though well-intentioned in its aim, seems a bit errant. Barea is sub-average. He’s also not starting, and only plays about 20 minutes a night. He’s comfortable initiating the offense, and is as capable of acting as a creator as anyone on the team aside from Jason Kidd and Jason Terry. His defense is lacking, his play is inconsistent, his jumper is good, but not lethal. This is what you get with bench players. This is what you get with seventh and eighth men, and particularly those who rely on possession of the ball to contribute. There have been plenty of players to fault for the Mavericks’ various troubles in both this season and others, but I’m not sure Barea is really the guy at which anyone should point the finger. So rarely are playoff series or even regular season games won or lost based on the strength of the eighth man in the rotation.

Instead, my emphasis with Barea has always been on those nights when he’s clearly valuable. The nights when he’s scoring well, setting up his teammates where he can, and not clogging up the offense. The nights like this past Tuesday and Thursday, during which Barea was among the top performers on the floor in consecutive contests. When he’s on his game, Barea brings an element that no other Maverick, save a healthy Rodrigue Beaubois, can emulate. He’s often described as a “change of pace” guard, but that’s honestly not Barea’s strength; though he gets his fair share of transition buckets, Barea isn’t a one-man fast break, a la Tony Parker. Instead, he’s an exceptional dribble penetrator in half-court sets, and provides some much needed balance for Dallas’ otherwise perimeter-oriented offense.

Kidd assists, but he doesn’t draw in a defense at the rim nor generate baskets for himself off the dribble. Terry runs the two-man game expertly, but the primary ending of those sets is a mid-range jumper for either JET or Dirk Nowitzki. Barea brings something very different. He may have his shot altered easily because of his height, but he’s also able to negotiate the often minimal space in the lane better than anyone else on this team. Barea gets as many shot attempts at the rim (on a per minute basis) as Tyson Chandler, and is just a shade below Shawn Marion. But of course, the fundamental difference between Barea and his teammates in this regard is rather obvious: Barea’s shots are his own, whereas Chandler and Marion’s attempts are often fed from Kidd’s silver spoon or granted due to offensive boards. They’re still capable finishers who do well to find openings around the rim, but those attempts are largely products of circumstance.

Barea doesn’t need circumstance. He just needs the ball in his hands, and on most nights, he can create a few much-needed baskets on the dribble. He’ll have oh-fer games and five-turnover outings, and on those days it’s okay to hand the ball to Terry and give Barea a nice spot on the crowded bench. On the other nights, though? Those 25-point, 9-of-12 shooting nights like he had against the Clippers this week? Or the 19-point, 8-0f-10 shooting performance he had against the Rockets last night? They are the product of an investment of minutes. They are the payoff. They are your proof of what Barea — undersized, underwhelming and inconsistent — can offer a contending team.

The Difference: Dallas Mavericks 111, Houston Rockets 106

Posted by Rob Mahoney on under Recaps | View Comments

Box Score — Play-by-Play — Shot Chart — GameFlow

You know the drill. The Difference is a reflection on the game that was, with one bullet for every point in the final margin.

• The tilt of this game was odd, but not as odd as one might think. It didn’t appear as though the Mavs “blew it” or “imploded.” They were just utterly dominant during the first 12 minutes of action, in part because the Rockets seemed utterly incapable of playing either offense or defense. Houston has the sixth best offense in the entire league, and yet during that first frame, only Kevin Martin could accomplish much of anything. The Mavericks’ defense was fantastic; they jumped passing lanes as well as they have all season, and forced the Rockets into some poor shots. But don’t misplace Houston’s part in their own early depression. An offense that good doesn’t shoot 6-for-21 with five turnovers (and only two free throw attempts) in a quarter without doing some of that damage themselves. Unfortunately, Houston figured things out offensively right around the time that Dallas went cold. Without the free points generated off turnovers, the benefit of their hot shooting, and their typical ability to rely on Dirk Nowitzki in tough spots (all is still not right with Dirk), it shouldn’t at all be surprising that the margin thinned. Perhaps that it came down to just a single point within the final minute, but honestly this should be expected.
• Tyson Chandler (21 points, 15 rebounds, 5-8 FG, 11-12 FT) is so much more of a natural finisher than I ever expected. I’ve seen a lot of Chandler in the past — some in Chicago, plenty in New Orleans, too much in Charlotte — but I’m convinced that he’s at the top of his offensive game. He’s always been athletic and had fairly good body control, but for a big he’s able to contort and maneuver so well, and he’s drawing fouls like crazy. Maybe he was never featured enough offensively on those earlier teams, but this seems fairly unique. It’s quite the sight, and to combine such agility with good defense (though hardly on Thursday night; Chuck Hayes, of all players, took him to school) and a nice power game is pretty tremendous. Saying it at this point is well past superfluous, but: great get. Phenomenal get.
• Dirk Nowitzki, using J.J. Barea to hang up his warm-ups. This is how you prevent wrinkles in your nice Mav warm-up suits, guys (Image via @Norsktroll). Related: J.J. Barea (19 points, 8-10 FG, four assists, one turnover) has been absolutely tremendous, but look for me to expound on that topic a little later today.
• Jeff “Skin” Wade and Mark Followill made note of something along these lines on the Mavs broadcast, but I had noted it myself and feel a need to take it one more level: Jason Kidd’s size and strength are often cited as evidence that he should attack the post, but that strategy is predicated on a flawed approach. Kidd isn’t good in the post; Synergy Sports Technology has Kidd at 0.8 points per possession down low, and that’s absurdly high. The reason: teams jump. They overplay, they double-team, and they bite on fakes because they are so convinced that Kidd can go to work down low. In the case of last night’s game: the significantly undersized Kyle Lowry, though strong in his own right, decided to jump the entry pass despite having poor position to do so. Kidd caught the pass anyway, and spun for an easy layup If players and teams would just be content to let Kidd try to operate down there instead of swarming him and allowing him to pass the ball out to an open shooter (and thus remove all of his heavily guarded post opportunities from his numbers on Snergy, for example), they’d find that he really isn’t a consistent threat. Kidd usually resorts to a bit of a wild turnaround jumper, and it’s as awkward as it is ineffective.
• I suppose I’m focusing too much on random micro elements here, though. Dallas won because even though Nowitzki struggled again, they had seven scorers in double-figures. They won because even though their offense struggled, they kept the turnovers down and got up shot attempts, even if a lot of them were errant ones. The Mavs got the ball to Tyson Chandler whenever possible, and let him go to work against a team with no interior shot blockers. Chandler made his free throws and Dallas played just well enough defensively to hang on. The D is still way short of the standard the Mavs set early in the season, but it’s foolish to think that the Mavs’ offense and defense don’t feed into one another. If Nowitzki returns to form (notably different from “when Nowitzki returns to form…”) and Rodrigue Beaubois can contribute consistently, it could go a long way in relieving some of the pressure the defense is currently facing. I’m not saying those two mostly unrelated factors would solve all, but they help.

Blanketed

Posted by Rob Mahoney on January 25, 2011 under Commentary, News, Video | View Comments

We’re five months and 15 days removed from the announcement that Rodrigue Beaubois’ fracture would require surgery, and only now — through back channels, no less — are those outside the team finally granted an update on his status. Beaubois’ agent, Bouna Ndiaye, sees his client’s return as just a week or two away, which only puts the second-year guard a good three months or so behind schedule. Recovery isn’t a race, but it’s still nice to hear a lap time once in awhile if only to gauge progress. The Mavs remained tight-lipped on Beaubois’ status throughout, and that itself is something of a modern miracle during the Age of Leaked-and-Internet-Spread Information.

Even more interesting, though, is that the implied complications with Beaubois’ injury became a bit more public, albeit through a French outlet. In an interview with BasketNews* (translated via Google Translate, so add salt to taste), Beaubois was surprisingly forthcoming; he was apparently close to a full recovery when a small crack reappeared, thus setting him back substantially in his recovery timeline. It’s been obvious for some time that something had gone awry in Beaubois’ rehab, but to have the fortress surrounding the team hold for this long before — ahem — cracking in the final chapter seems odd. Not odd as implying that there’s something more to this reveal than there is, but just generally odd given how secretive the entire recovery process has been up to this point. As of a few days ago, Beaubois’ status was as mysterious as ever, but now we have not only a prospective timetable courtesy of someone very close to the situation, but an indication of what may have derailed the recovery process.

These are strange days of sports media and subsequent media consumption, and the fact that Beaubois’ status was so secretive for so long is much more the exception than the rule. Though, at the risk of stretching this topic further than its bounds will allow: do teams have any kind of obligation to release updates on player injuries to the media and in turn, the fans? Is there any distinct reason why those updates should be on the daily menu other than our own hunger for them? There are plenty of cases in which withholding injury information could be beneficial, but there doesn’t seem to be too much of a benefit in that level of disclosure. The more available information the better, but lest we forget: injuries are just another ground on which sports media seek to know that which teams often choose to protect. Coaches won’t disclose their exact game plan, general managers won’t tip their hand, and, if they so choose, teams can turn into a strongbox when it comes to the specifics of a player’s injury.

*Link via Mavs Moneyball.

The Difference: Chicago Bulls 82, Dallas Mavericks 77

Posted by Rob Mahoney on January 21, 2011 under Recaps | View Comments

Box Score — Play-By-Play — Shot Chart — GameFlow

You know the drill. The Difference is a reflection on the game that was, with one bullet for every point in the final margin.

• In the last two games, the Mavericks have experienced contests of completely different complexion. Against the Lakers, both teams moved the ball well and poured in points with only periodic defensive resistance. Against the Bulls, neither team could score even remotely well, and the offensive struggles were far more deep-seated than players missing makeable jumpers. Neither team could set up and execute on account of the other team’s defense, and though it was an ugly product from a basketball standpoint, it’s nice to see the Mavs’ D in full effect. 90.6 points per 100 possessions is a hideous number, but 96.5 points allowed per 100 possessions? Oh so pretty.
• Dirk Nowitzki (19 points, 6-16 FG, four rebounds) is not completely healthy. You can see it on his turnarounds, particularly deep in the post. Many of his attempts look like poor imitations of his usual routine, as Nowitzki fails to create the same amount of space that affords him time to release. You can see it on his help defense in man-to-man or when he rotates in the zone; Dirk is just a half-second slower when an opponent makes a quick pass or cut. The Mavs’ offense looks even more painful with Nowitzki out, but it’s hard not to wonder if a bit more rest would have best for Dirk. Here’s to hoping the training staff knows what they’re doing, because without Nowitzki in the mix, the Mavs are a miserable watch.
• Jason Terry (12 points, 5-14 FG, four assists) returned to Earth, DeShawn Stevenson attempted all 10 of his shots from beyond the arc, Jason Kidd leveled out (2-of-4 shooting from three but only eight points overall, six rebounds but only three assists to six turnovers), Shawn Marion (six points, 2-7 FG, three turnovers) misfired, Sasha Pavlovic disappeared, and J.J. Barea missed each of his four shot attempts. Maverick basketball! Catch the fever!
• It’s honestly shocking that the turnover numbers for both teams weren’t more horrendous. Both teams had a lot of trouble holding onto the ball, but in a lot of cases, it translated into wild shot attempts or recovered loose balls, but neither team was in any kind of offensive sync, and that applied on the catch as well as the shot.
• In the game against L.A., the Lakers’ offensive rebounds were painful, but only because their misses were so few. Dallas struggled to get any stops whatsoever, so it was noticeable when they squandered the opportunity due to poor rebounding. Yet overall, the L.A. didn’t have a particularly effective night on the offensive glass. Chicago was a bit different. The Bulls pulled in 34.7% of available boards on the offensive end, with the geriatric Kurt Thomas accounting for five of Chicago’s 51 offensive boards. Nowitzki and Brendan Haywood weren’t much help on the defensive glass, and Tyson Chandler and Shawn Marion alone couldn’t box out everyone. Four of the Bulls’ starters had at least three offensive rebounds. That’s a failure in rebounding team-wide, and these defensive rebounding problems have been a recurring theme for the Mavs all season.

The Difference: Dallas Mavericks 109, Los Angeles Lakers 100

Posted by Rob Mahoney on January 20, 2011 under Recaps | View Comments

Box Score — Play-by-Play — Shot Chart — GameFlow

You know the drill. The Difference is a reflection on the game that was, with one bullet for every point in the final margin.

• Before we all get too riled up about last night’s events, let’s go over one thing, first: the Lakers played pretty poor defense. Good on the Mavs to capitalize, but the story of last night wasn’t Dallas overcoming a titan, but claiming victory over a powerhouse that was a bit off their game. The Mavs deserve credit for their defense in the third quarter, but it’s best not to get carried away with praise for their overall defensive execution, either. Both teams shot and scored well, and the Mavs shot and scored more. A valiant and much-needed win, but no one should be giddy over allowing 120.3 points per 100 possessions. Dallas won against an excellent team, and that’s fantastic. But the defense needs to be better.
• And it will be. As Dirk Nowitzki continues to work himself back into game shape and be more and more comfortable on that wobbly knee, his defense will improve. When Tyson Chandler is playing a full game with a clean bill of health (he battled flu-like symptoms last night, and sat out for a portion of the second quarter), the back-line rotations will be crisper. When the team (sans Caron) is back into a rhythm, the elite defense will resurface. These are the kinds of lulls that happen to every team in the regular season, only the Mavs’ recent injuries have acted as a catalyst for their defensive troubles.
• Jasons Kidd and Terry combined for 43 points (on 17-of-27 shooting, and 9-of-14 from three, no less) and 17 assists (with just one turnover). L.A. seemed content to leave Kidd open from three, and for the first time in a millennium, he drained his open looks. Terry was more forceful; he curled away from Derek Fisher, sprung for threes in transition, and triggered his trademarked pull-up game. Sustainability always comes to mind when anyone but Dirk springs for a huge scoring night, and this is hardly the kind of production to which Mavs fans should grow accustomed. That said, it was exceptionally well-timed and hopefully acts as a precursor to a progression toward the mean for Kidd and Terry both.
• Rick Carlisle elected to have Shawn Marion reprise his role coming off the bench, which left an opening in the starting lineup on the wing. He had tried Terry in that slot in the past, with mixed results. J.J. Barea isn’t an option because he needs to run the point for the second unit. Dominique Jones should be in the running, but Carlisle apparently wasn’t too pleased with his play in the wake of Caron Butler’s injury, and has relegated him to mop-up duty. So naturally, the newest Maverick — Sasha Pavlovic, on the last day of his 10-day contract — was thrown into the starting lineup. Crazier, still: it worked. Pavlovic looks good. He defends well, and last night he mad five of his seven shots from the field to finish with 11 points. He doesn’t have any explosive potential, but Pavlovic is a steady, low-usage vet that the Mavs would be wise to keep around.
• As heavily as Carlisle has leaned on Alexis Ajinca and Ian Mahinmi this season, he clearly isn’t ready to give either burn against such a productive front line. DNP-CDs for both of the bench bigs.
• Though, as I mentioned before, I think the Mavs deserve credit for their third-quarter run, the substantial turnaround wouldn’t have been possible without Shannon Brown (two points, 1-4 FG, one turnover) and Luke Walton (zero points, 0-5 FG, one turnover). Both players kept the ball away from more capable scorers, and took shots that the Dallas defense was more than willing to give them.
• Shawn Marion (22 points, 10-13 FG, four rebounds) played a fantastic game, but he was more reliant on the Lakers’ lax defense than anyone. Marion exploited the Lakers’ interior D with cuts and post-ups off of switches, and while he should still be able to do the same on most nights against typical opponents, a finely tuned defense can take away those looks far more easily than Terry’s pull-up game or Kidd’s three-pointers. Marion’s presence is still important; defense will be forced to account for him when he dives into the lane or sets up on the block against a smaller opponent. This kind of box score production isn’t Marion’s regular, but his intangible impact can be just as profound on a nightly basis.
• A bit of an oddity: both teams shot so well from the field (62.5 eFG% and 58 eFG% for the Mavs and Lakers respectively) that neither got to the line all that much. Contrary to popular belief, L.A. doesn’t attempt a lion’s share off free throws (they’re a below average team in free throw rate). Still, they get the free throw line about three times as often as they did last night. Defense, officiating, whatever the cause — a bit strange.
• Kidd, Pavlovic, and DeShawn Stevenson (as well as Jason Terry on some zone possessions) all did an admirable job on Kobe Bryant, but it doesn’t matter. He shoots over you, he drives around you, and he finds his teammates. Then he finishes the night with 21 points on 18 shots along with 10 assists, and probably has nightmares about those eight shots he missed and his few giveaways. You don’t need me to tell you, but the man is damn good at what he does.

False Hope

Posted by Rob Mahoney on January 19, 2011 under Commentary, News | View Comments

Let’s for one second forget that the Mavs were on the verge of true contention with Dirk Nowitzki glowing after every jumper and Caron Butler settling into a rotation he could finally call his home. Let’s momentarily misplace the fact that without Butler, Dallas is hurting for complementary scoring, and that Jason Terry is no longer reliable enough to carry that burden on his own. Let’s just wipe clear the notion that without Butler performing at a high level, another year of Dirk Nowitzki’s prime could end in a premature playoff exit.

All of that matters, I’m sure, but frankly none of it should be relevant in any way that impacts Butler’s decision-making. It’s a damn shame that Caron couldn’t be a part of some magical Maverick effort that toppled the Lakers and soared past the Spurs, but does that mean he should attempt a comeback this season when doing so would scrape the bottom of his rehabilitation projections? Why try to rush back into things at the four-month mark when recovery from this kind of injury could take six months and then some? Hasn’t Butler seen what happened to Brandon Roy? To Josh Howard? To all of those who haven’t respected the course of nature and medicine?

The notion that Butler could — or worse, should — return to the team for a playoff push is absurd. It would be a detriment to the team, and potentially a huge detriment to Butler’s health. The fact that he wants to play for the Mavs is admirable, but foolishly so. If it’s merely a mechanism to facilitate Butler’s rehab, then I wouldn’t dare take it away. But if he or the Mavs are seriously considering a pre-playoff or mid-playoff return a real possibility, I fear for the repercussions for both parties. Dallas has done a great job this season of refusing to wait on anyone. They didn’t bide their time and wait for some disaster to befell the Lakers; they grabbed the conference by the throat and played top-notch defense (before their recent drop-off, at least). When Rodrigue Beaubois’ return kept getting pushed back, the Mavs made it work offensively, and turned Beaubois into a welcome addition rather than a bare necessity.

If Caron’s return is touted as a possibility, it would only be deluding this team — from players to management to ownership — into thinking they may eventually have an asset at their disposal that they certainly do not. Even if Butler could return this season, he’d be limited. Even if you think that’s better than nothing, it’s not. When healthy, Butler was a genuine asset to this team, and he worked terribly hard (both in terms of his conditioning/physique and his understanding of the offensive and defensive systems) to get to that point. But without the same ability to move both laterally and toward the basket, Butler isn’t worth all that much. He’d likely be frustrated, as any capable player would be when reduced to a spot-up shooter. The Caron Butler Mavs fans had slowly grown to appreciate over the course of this season is no more — until after his full recovery, anyway — and even the most diligent rehab work won’t change that.

Wade through trade rumors if you must, but this team has to get better, and they’ll have to do so without even whispering Caron’s name.

You Know the Rules, and So Do I

Posted by Rob Mahoney on January 13, 2011 under xOther | View Comments

Video from the great minds responsible for the Mavs’ in-house entertainment.