Posted by Rob Mahoney on under Recaps | 
Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images.
Box Score — Play-By-Play — Shot Chart — GameFlow
| Team | Pace | Off. Eff. | eFG% | FT/FG | ORB% | TOr |
| Charlotte | 86.0 | 102.1 | 46.3 | 27.2 | 30.2 | 18.9 |
| Dallas | | 103.2 | 41.4 | 22.6 | 39.2 | 13.7 |
“If you can’t excel with talent, triumph with effort.”
-Dave Weinbaum
Those of you conscious of the outside world may have noticed that, with a few exceptions, I don’t post game recaps on the weekends. That’s (kind of) about to change. I’ll now be posting an easily digestible recap in bullet-form, which serves two purposes: it provides more game-related content for contests that matter, and allows you and me both to get some Mavs in and get on with our weekend. Let’s go to work.
- Mark Cuban couldn’t have picked a more perfect game for “Seats for Soldiers” night. It’s probably the greatest of the Maverick traditions, and there really couldn’t be a worthier cause.
- Tonight, Dirk was Dirk when it counted. His 14 of 34 shooting is actually better than it seemed, as most of those 20 misses came off of very make-able shots. Some by Dirk’s standards (fading jumpers, but with ample space), and others by anyone’s (layups, wide open shots). But regardless of all the shots to draw rim, Dirk looked untouchable in the clutch.
- The Mavs looked like a team that needs the scoring of Josh Howard. Having the last laugh doesn’t equate to offensive proficiency, and with the Mavs completely unable to convert in the second half, Josh’s shot creation would have been an incredible boost.
- Dirk’s big shots will get all the highlight love, but Erick Dampier and Shawn Marion are the true unsung heroes. Not only were they everywhere on defense, but Marion and Damp chipped in seven offensive rebound each. When the Mavs are shooting 39.8% from the field (and 41.4% eFG), that means everything. Combined, Damp and Marion totaled 29 points (12 of 17 from the field), 33 rebounds, three steals, five blocks, and just three turnovers. Yowza.
- J.J. Barea showed his full range. For a quarter, he was brilliant; all of his passes were finding their targets and each of his attempts was finding the net. But once he started blowing possessions (a certain non-shot at the end of the second quarter comes to mind) and botching his defensive duties on the pick-and-roll, he becomes an instant liability. See, here’s the thing: Dirk, JET, Kidd, Josh, Damp, and Marion can all afford to make mistakes. They just bring so much to the team in other respects, and J.J.’s contributions are of the less essential variety. I can understand both sides of the Beaubois-Barea argument, J.J.’s lows are much more emphatic than his highs, but he still chipped in 10 points (4-9 FG, including two 3s) and five assists to just two turnovers. For now, the Mavs will just have to accept both sides of Barea’s spectrum.
- There are few offensive possessions I hate more than those that end with a Drew Gooden jumpshot.
- Basketball games can always be boiled down to details, and two stick out. First, Larry Brown’s decision not to call timeout on the final possession of regulation. Dirk had just hit the game-tying bucket, and rather than take a minute to regroup one of the league’s most ineffective offenses. Instead, Gerald Wallace, who otherwise had played a spectacular game, ended up wasting away the closing moments of the fourth quarter. Anyone think LB might want that possession back? And second, Tyson Chandler made the regrettable decision to foul Jason Terry on an inbounds play in overtime. It put JET on the line for a freebie in a game decided by one point, and while it was hardly the only possession that could have decided the final result, it’s easy to point the finger at a play like that.
- Gerald Wallace and Raymond Felton were terrific. Not only in slashing to the basket, which you’d expect, but in the mid and long range game as well. And that’s not even mentioning their work on the defensive end, which was top-notch.
- Even though the offense wasn’t very good, the Mavs’ ball movement was sublime. The ball was getting into the right hands, but just couldn’t find its way through the basket.
- Another fine showing from the Mavs’ zone defense. I can’t even begin to understand what that means considering just how bad the Bobcats’ offense can be on its own, but it seemed to slow down Stephen Jackson (28 points on 25 shots) enough to make a difference. Rick Carlisle threw a handful of defensive looks at Jax, and though Jason Kidd played some superb man defense late in the game, the zone look was plenty effective.
- Take a look at the minutes column for the Mavs, and tell me Rick Carlisle doesn’t find comfort in his starters. Kidd, Dampier, Nowitzki, and Marion all logged 40+ minutes, while Drew Gooden, Tim Thomas, and Quinton Ross played a combined 27 minutes.
- Marc Stein: “Most devastated locker room I’ve seen this season: Charlotte. Bobs crushed by this 98-97 OT loss in Dallas. G-Wallace and Jack especially”
Tags: Dirk Nowitzki, Drew Gooden, Erick Dampier, Gerald Wallace, J.J. Barea, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Larry Brown, Mark Cuban, Rick Carlisle, Rodrigue Beaubois, Shawn Marion, Stephen Jackson, Tyson Chandler
Posted by Rob Mahoney on March 6, 2009 under Recaps |
Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images.
Box Score — Play-By-Play — Shot Chart — GameFlow
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
-Albert Einstein
Yes, it happened again.
In few businesses is it acceptable practice to take a product of dubious quality, repackage it, and shove it down the consumers’ throats. Personally, I kind of want my couple of hours back. I feel like I just sat through Transmorphers.
Let me start with the excuses. Chris Paul is a tough matchup for any player in the league, much less Jason Kidd, J.J. Barea, and Antoine Wright. There’s a reason why he’s the best point guard in the league, and it’s not because he allows himself to be contained. The Mavs were on tired legs, after playing their fourth game in five nights. It’s unfortunate scheduling, to be sure, but the difficulty of which was exaggerated by the dismal showing against Oklahoma City. Josh Howard was still visibly hobbled by a tender ankle, and the soreness that traditionally comes with back-to-backs left him settling for jumpers and shooting blanks. He did not return in the second half, and the Mavs collapsed.
We’re supposed to be done with all that. Come what may, the Mavs are supposed to overcome all, and prove that they have what it takes to win on the road, much less win against the league’s elite. It seems painfully obvious at this point that that’s just not going to happen. Chalk it up to the lack of defensive execution, the lack of firepower, or the almighty excuses, but Dallas just isn’t getting it done.
That was readily apparent against the Hornets, who are rolling with the punches en route to the playoffs. Tyson Chandler was almost traded? So what? He came back from injury as a man on a mission, and he’s been playing some great basketball of late. Peja Stojakovic sidelined? So what? In steps Julian Wright, and Chris Paul makes sure the team doesn’t miss a beat. So naturally, when faced with a Maverick team brimming with confidence after a great win against the Spurs, the Hornets got their hits in early, endured the eventual run, and then finished with a fatality. It wasn’t ‘Flawless Victory,’ but it was ugly.
No one is blameless, and that starts at the top. Rick Carlisle clearly did not have this team ready to defend the pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop, and I can’t even begin to explain why. It’s the Hornets. They have Chris Paul, David West, and Tyson Chandler. How could you not see this coming? Based on their track record, I don’t expect a complete denial of P&R basketball, but some resistance would be nice. It’s tough to defend with players this skilled, but rolling over and dying whenever you see a pick just isn’t acceptable. Well, it shouldn’t be acceptable.
That’s where Dirk (27 points on 19 shots, 7 rebounds, 0 turnovers), who had a brilliant game offensively, came up short. The Mavs played man to man and a matchup zone, but nothing could hide Dirk. They put him on Tyson Chandler and they put him on Sean Marks. Then he was caught watching the ball or switching onto Paul, and that was game over. Should Dirk have been switching onto Chris Paul in the first place? Well gee, that there’s an idea. But it wouldn’t be fair to focus on Dirk’s faults when he was just about the only thing going offensively. Dirk was money, hitting open and impossible shots alike. He combined stellar midrange play with some good work around the basket, and even sprinkled in a three. The Mavs have some serious work to do on the defensive end, but let’s not forget: the Hornets haven’t even come close to figuring out how to stop Dirk Nowitzki.
This is where the offensive superlatives end. The next highest point total for the Mavs was Jason Kidd’s 13, which came on 4-11 shooting and trust me, it sounds better than it was. Kidd was basically in a practice gym for most of the game, shooting open jumpers against a team that refused to respect his shot. And that’s what we’ve been getting all season with Kidd; one night he’ll not only stick the dagger, but twist it in the opponent’s back, and the next he’ll be a complete offensive liability. When Chris Paul has 27 points (10-18 FG) and 15 assists, Kidd’s 13 and 2 just isn’t going to cut it.
For what it’s worth, Chris Paul didn’t really torch Jason Kidd. Barea, Terry, and Wright each had their shot at guarding CP3, and the Mavs switched to a matchup zone in part to stop Paul’s penetration. Nothing was particularly effective. But in the background looms a bigger problem: how many players can the Mavs hide defensively? Dirk is hardly a stud on that end, Jason Terry has his troubles, and Jason Kidd, despite his particular defensive strengths, isn’t able to guard point guards. Something’s gotta give, and when everyone’s trying to hid behind one another, someone is going to be exposed.
Jason Terry and Antoine Wright couldn’t provide the shooting to support the offense in Howard’s absence. The Hornets played heavily to Terry’s right, fully aware of his awkward post-injury handle to his left. He took tough shots, and missed some makeable ones. Antoine Wright on the other hand, was trying to do too much. He pump faked the three and attempted a drive almost every time he touched the ball. His intentions were noble, but the results less so.
Brandon Bass and James Singleton logged a combined 25 minutes, and I don’t understand why. Erick Dampier can’t guard David West and protect the rim at the same time. So if Dirk is on the floor, the Mavs aren’t getting much of an advantage by playing Dampier over Singleton or Bass. Both have the strength and speed to bother West, and would likely be better at contesting after the pick.
After the first half, it really seemed like the Mavs had a shot. They had played just one good quarter, and yet found themselves all square going into the 3rd. That changed in a hurry, as the Mavs’ offense turned impotent and Chris Paul found new and exciting ways to remind you that the Mavs can’t guard him. You’re not going to shoot 39.5% from the field and win many games. That applies when the Mavs play Sacramento or Washington, much less when they play a team as good as the Hornets.
Some random thoughts:
- Henry Abbott has ruined basketball for me. Since reading his series on the traveling rule, I can’t stop watching feet. Among the Mavs, Jason Terry is probably the biggest culprit. Whenever he receives the ball on a pass, it seems like he prances across half the court, and whenever he gets the ball on a handoff, he’s taking steps immediately.
- Moving screens are EVERYWHERE. I’m actively worried that Dirk’s going to get whistled for them, and David West has turned it into an art.
- As Erick Dampier rolled to the basket for what he thought was an alley-oop, James Posey ended up knocking him flat on his back. All of Damp’s weight and all of that force…straight into Damp’s back and elbow, as he fell straight to the floor. Not cool.
GOLD STAR OF THE NIGHT: The Gold Star of the Night goes to Dirk Nowitzki, if only because no one else on the Mavs even came close to helping. Dirk was awesome offensively, and finished with 27 points on 50% shooting, and 8-9 FTs.
Tags: Brandon Bass, Chris Paul, David West, Dirk Nowitzki, Erick Dampier, James Singleton, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Rick Carlisle, Tyson Chandler
Posted by Rob Mahoney on March 5, 2009 under xOther |
The Dallas Mavericks visit the New Orleans Hornets
7:00 CST
I am not afraid of the New Orleans Hornets.
Chris Paul and David West fancy themselves Maverick boogeymen, but their particular brand of play isn’t terrorizing. It doesn’t torment me like a Manu Ginobili flop, an Amare Stoudemire tomahawk, or a Kobe Bryant dagger. I’m sure that one might paint the Hornets as a silent killer in light of those remarks, but they’re not. The Hornets, frankly, are just not that good.
Of course, neither are the Mavs.
Chris Paul is definitely a top 5 player in the league, if not higher. I have nothing but the utmost respect for him and his game. My real quarrel is with David West, the Hornets’ second best player. You may remember him from that one time where he OMG PUNKED DIRK. Like totally, man. I’m not going to get into that particular incident that has long since passed. What I will say is this: David West just doesn’t intimidate me, and I would doubt very much that he intimidates the Mavs. He’s a pretty decent midrange shooter. He’s got some cool post moves. He’s a solid interior defender. That’s sweet, but to even imply that he’s on Dirk’s level is a travesty.
Looking to the rest of the Hornets roster, it definitely falls short in the way of intimidators. Peja is a has-been. Tyson Chandler is a defensive presence against a Maverick team that rarely goes inside. Who else are we really looking at here? James Posey? Mo Pete? Julian Wright?
…okay, who doesn’t love Julian Wright? But that’s not the point. What I’m hinting at is this: the Hornets are infinitely beatable. Last season’s squad was unnaturally good, and this year’s model inexplicably weaker. What really transpired between then and now? Aging, certainly, among the NOLA peripheral. Don’t even get me started with Jannero Pargo, the poor-shooting lost cog who is oft claimed to be the lynchpin to the 2007-2008 Hornets’ success. Chris Paul may be among the best in the NBA, but I think it might be time to accept a simple fact: last season’s Hornets overachieved.
I do realize that I’m probably coming of as a complete jerk. The Hornets are typically a likable bunch, and I’m not trying to take that away from them. But while they remain among the league’s elite in some sense, comparing the success of the team a year ago and the relative lack thereof this season proves illuminating. Maybe not in a way that’s as obvious as a spotlight on a blatant flaw or a trade that acts as a clear point of reference, but in an equally demonstrative manner that has removed them from championship talk entirely. Make no mistake, I generally have no delusions about the Mavs’ ceiling and don’t consider them to be a better team than the Hornets. Far from it. But the Mavs aren’t a little pig, and the Hornets aren’t the big bad wolf.
From that point, there’s only one question that really needs answering: are the Hornets closer in quality to the Mavs and the playoff borderline, or the Lakers and talent supreme?
Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 25, 2009 under xOther |
Yesterday, Chad Ford broke down the ten players most likely to change teams (via trade) this summer. Stack came in at number 3, but there’s another Maverick-related listing:
6. Tyson Chandler, Hornets
The Hornets are in a tough pinch because they will exceed the luxury tax threshold next year once Chris Paul’s new contract kicks in. They traded Chandler to Oklahoma City, but the Thunder rescinded the deal based on some concerns about Chandler’s turf toe injury.
The Hornets (and Chandler) don’t believe his injury issues are significant and they’ll try to trade him again as soon as the season is over. Expect them to target Indiana and Dallas.
The contracts would make a deal difficult, unless New Orleans is keen on taking either Erick Dampier or Matt Carroll. In that case, where do I sign up?
Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 19, 2009 under News |
Tyson Chandler met up with Doc Brown late last night, and apparently that whole trade thing will be undone. Back to the Hornets it is. The situation should still be of interest to the Mavs and the rest of the West, however, because Chandler’s only heading back to New Orleans because he failed his physical. His injury situation is apparently enough of a cause for concern for the Thunder to nix the deal entirely. What does that mean for the Hornets’ long-term championship dreams? No one can really say, but if it’s a big enough red flag for OKC to rescind the trade, I’d wager there’s something there.
You can check out my thoughts on the latest trades at Hardwood Paroxysm:
This is How You Give Every Team in the League ‘The Cold Shoulder’ (Miller/Salmons for Nocioni/Gooden)
You’re a Sly One, Mr. Wallace (Chris Mihm to the Grizzlies)
Somebody Forgot to Call ‘No Takesies Backsies’ (Chandler trade rescinded)