Something needs to change with the Mavs
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Kangaroo
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In fact Golden State was able to negate Dirk because of speed and quickness
See Dirks issue is he is use to playing most guys and able to dribble past and shot the jumper he could not do that against GS well
See Dirk being a 7ft PF should have a post up game for teams like this that way against slow plodding PF he just does his jump shot stuff. Against smaller quicker opponents he should be posting up at least 25% of the time in the low blocks to make it hard to double team with out giving up big 3 point shots GS was able to run double team screens at him causing him to pass the ball with out getting his teammates a good look at the basket.
See Dirks issue is he is use to playing most guys and able to dribble past and shot the jumper he could not do that against GS well
See Dirk being a 7ft PF should have a post up game for teams like this that way against slow plodding PF he just does his jump shot stuff. Against smaller quicker opponents he should be posting up at least 25% of the time in the low blocks to make it hard to double team with out giving up big 3 point shots GS was able to run double team screens at him causing him to pass the ball with out getting his teammates a good look at the basket.
Maikeru-sama
Mick Green 58
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What needs to change. Very easy question.
The first thing is Dirk cannot be your be player and goto option if you want to win a Championship, I have been saying this for probably 3 years.
I don't think this team is molded in the way Avery Johnson wants it to be, it is not tough enough physcially and mentally. When opposing teams look at the Dallas Mavericks, they look a bunch of soft and arrogant players that if you hit them in the mouth, they won't fight back.
The Dallas Mavericks are the Utah Jazz of the 90s and Avery Johnson is the new Jerry Sloan. The Mavericks will continue to be a good team, winning 50+ games a year and making the Playoffs, but it is extremely hard to believe that this nucleus is going to win you a championship with Dirk as mentally weak and physically limited as he is. To his credit, in the Playoff Games where Avery Johnson didn't have a clue, it was against Hall of Famer caliber coaches ie Pat Riley and Don Nelson.
Unfortunately, Cuban made a comment in an ESPN interview with Marc Stein that he liked the nucleus of the team and didnt think alot of changes were needed, but to his credit that was before Game 6.
For this team to get over the hump, they need Dirk and a player that is better than Dirk.
- Mike G.
The first thing is Dirk cannot be your be player and goto option if you want to win a Championship, I have been saying this for probably 3 years.
I don't think this team is molded in the way Avery Johnson wants it to be, it is not tough enough physcially and mentally. When opposing teams look at the Dallas Mavericks, they look a bunch of soft and arrogant players that if you hit them in the mouth, they won't fight back.
The Dallas Mavericks are the Utah Jazz of the 90s and Avery Johnson is the new Jerry Sloan. The Mavericks will continue to be a good team, winning 50+ games a year and making the Playoffs, but it is extremely hard to believe that this nucleus is going to win you a championship with Dirk as mentally weak and physically limited as he is. To his credit, in the Playoff Games where Avery Johnson didn't have a clue, it was against Hall of Famer caliber coaches ie Pat Riley and Don Nelson.
Unfortunately, Cuban made a comment in an ESPN interview with Marc Stein that he liked the nucleus of the team and didnt think alot of changes were needed, but to his credit that was before Game 6.
For this team to get over the hump, they need Dirk and a player that is better than Dirk.
- Mike G.
Danny White
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This may sound stupid, but I think next year the Mavs would be better served finishing with about 50 wins and ending up as the 4th or 5th or 6th seed in the West... somewhere really under the radar with low expectations and a lot less pressure.
I think the worst thing they could do is have another great regular season and come into the playoffs with this year's collapse hanging over their head. Talk about 10,000 pounds of pressure!
Obviously this is difficult to execute. You don't want to tank regular season games just to lower your expectations. But I think the team would perform a lot better as an underdog rather than as a front-runner.
I think the worst thing they could do is have another great regular season and come into the playoffs with this year's collapse hanging over their head. Talk about 10,000 pounds of pressure!
Obviously this is difficult to execute. You don't want to tank regular season games just to lower your expectations. But I think the team would perform a lot better as an underdog rather than as a front-runner.
Yeagermeister
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Gasol for Dirk? 
Mavs Man
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I think Dallas has the talent to compete now. Dallas and Dirk Nowitzki made it through a touch Western Conference Playoffs last year and a record season this year. Miami and GS have shown how Dirk (and consequently the Mavs) can be exploited by putting a tall, lanky and athletic defender on him and constant double teams. During both series by doing that forced them to be a jump shooting team, which they aren't. If Devin Harris continues to improve they have players capable of "taking it to the hoop". I'm hoping Dirk takes a long hard look at himself and works on his post-up game and being more agressive to the basket this offseason.
The problem with their "heart" is more troubling - more to do with production and attitude than talent.
The problem with their "heart" is more troubling - more to do with production and attitude than talent.
zrinkill
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Ok which 2 of you Mavs fans made this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoPRPGBMXiU
My guess is Heavyhitta31 and mickgreen58 .....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoPRPGBMXiU
My guess is Heavyhitta31 and mickgreen58 .....
Mavs Man
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zrinkill;1488449 said:Ok which 2 of you Mavs fans made this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoPRPGBMXiU
My guess is Heavyhitta31 and mickgreen58 .....
I think I saw that last year.
It's a good spoof of the SNL Chronic-cles of Narnia video.
You should search for the Brady Bunch Mavs one. It's pretty lame.
Bob Sacamano
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mickgreen58;1487757 said:
Tim Duncan
:jay cee
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Danny White;1487460 said:
That is the exact deal I have been thinking about for almost 2 years now.
The Mav's need a more traditional power forward who can score down low, or they need to pair Nowitzi with a Bonzi Wells type of swingman who can post up the other teams smaller players.
It makes perfect sense to me. I don't know what Minnesota's management thinks about it.
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Jean-Jacques Taylor on the Mavs (5/4)
02:24 PM CDT on Friday, May 4, 2007
SportsDay columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor answered questions about the Mavericks on Friday, May 4.
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I'm working on fumes after partying with Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson and Kate Hudson into the wee hours of the night and getting two hours of sleep before catching a 6 a.m. flight. That said, I'll do my best to answer all of your questions.
tville: What happened?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: That's easy. The Mavs failed to compete in the second half when Golden State made its run. They accepted defeat far too timidly. There's no shame in losing when you play hard and compete to the best of your ability. But that didn't happen last night. From the owner on down, they should be ashamed of their performance.
From e-mail: What a knee-jerk reaction column you wrote. Zero insight. Zero analysis. Dirk "proved" the Mavs will never win a title with him? Are you serious? So, what happens if they win the title next year? Does the world come to an end? Do you quit? Saying what you said is the same as the 1,000 sheep sports writers who wrote Jordan would never lead a team to a title back in his first several years in the league. Boy they were all right, weren't they?
Jay
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Why are you mad at me? I didn't miss a single jumper or commit any turnovers last night. I hold Dirk to the standard that his owner, coach and teammates have told me to hold him to. He played timidly last night and was the person most responsible for the Mavs' lethargic performance. The stage was set for him to deliver a big-time performance and he failed to hit double-digits. That's not my fault; it's his.
fnv2001: Will we see Devin Harris and Maurice Ager get more playing time next season?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Ager I don't know about. This is a huge summer for him. He has to prove he has the work ethic to earn Avery Johnson's respect, which will lead to playing time He also needs to shoot 500 jumpers a day. As for Devin Harris, you'll see more of him next year, no doubt. He needs to get stronger and become a bettter finisher. No one can keep him from getting to the rim, but too many times he comes away without points.
From e-mail: Will the media and fans in Dallas stop giving Avery a free ride now that he has presided over two straight layoff meltdowns?
Wesley
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Avery is not getting a free ride. You can read tomorrow's paper just to make sure. When the game ended last night, it was too late to cover everything. You have to take a hard look at Avery because the Mavs looked unprepared in three of the six games. He has lost eight of his last 10 playoff games and hasn't figured out how to right the ship when it turns the wrong way in the last two series.
From e-mail: Not that this is a news flash, but Dallas has no one who scores in the paint regularly outside of Devin Harris. Watching all of them settle for jumpers last night was painful. I agree with your article that the Mavs must make a major acquisition this summer, and I add that this must be an inside presence; either post player like Kevin Garnett or another slasher like Vince Carter (sign and trade?). Could they land either player and what would it cost?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Garnett will cost a king's ransom and his teams have never really done anything in the playoffs – even when they were good – aside from one deep postseason run. I love to watch him, but I don't know that he's worth Josh Howard, Devin Harris and probably a No.1 pick. Vince Carter has a lot of style but not much substance. I can't respect a guy, though I love to watch his athleticism, who says he basically laid it down so Toronto would get rid of him.
jlust22: You really killed Dirk in your column this morning. How does Dirk recover from this disgrace? Does it make him tougher and more resolved than ever or does he continue to cower in the big moments?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: There's one way to recover: Man up, work on your low-post game and do whatever you must do to create some mental toughness. Dirk is one of the game's most talented players, but his defeatist attitude is a liability. There's no way he should ever lack confidence, given his skill set but that's what happened in this series. I would love for him to prove me wrong down the road. Maybe he will.
mavzzz: Who should they get to lead this team, with or without Dirk?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Perhaps they can land Chauncey Billups, a free agent at the end of the season, in some type of sign-and-trade. Just a thought. He would give them a true point guard with mental toughness.
mike in addi: Would the presence of a pure point guard (Steve Nash type) help Dirk get to the basket more in games like we just saw?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Absolutely. Jason Terry is a nice player, but he's not a true point guard and that hurt them in the series. He made too many bad decisions and struggled to get the ball to Dirk in positions where he could score more easily.
From e-mail: A major problem for the Mavericks was the lack of any kind of effective bench with all three of the new components (Austin Crosherre, Greg Buckner, Devean George) being a major bust during the season and in the playoffs. That was Nellie Junior's creation. How much blame falls on his shoulders? Is his job in jeopardy from a stewing Mark Cuban?
Chuck
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I must say I was surprised by that. Once the Mavs had to start Diop, they couldn't play Devean George or Greg Buckner because that meant there were two players on the floor who couldn't score. So that limited their bench. I thought the bench was a strength much of the year, but it turned out to be fool's gold.
AmishGuy91: How awkward will the MVP ceremony be?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I'm not sure I want to be there because I really feel bad for him after the way he played. Dirk had a great regular season and deserved the MVP he's expected to get. The problem is he didn't perform like the game's best players when the Mavs needed him most. As I wrote, he'll never live this down unless he leads the Mavs to a title – and I don't think that's going to happen.
GTL: It seems like the current team is built just to beat San Antonio, but the game is moving to an up-tempo style (Suns and Warriors). If Cuban fails to act now, I fear that the Mavs will be in a similar situation next April/May. Thoughts?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I hate to sound like a GM, but one day after the season ends is really too early to figure out what exactly the team needs and how it's going to get whatever it needs. Obviously, they signed Dampier to help compete with San Antonio. But I contend the problem is not with this team's athletic ability, the problem is with its mental approach. This team is too soft mentally.
carbon_dated: Do you see Golden State advancing past this next round?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: It really depends on who they play. They're going to be a tough out because they play such an unconventional style. But it also depends on how bad Baron Davis and Matt Barnes are injured because the Warriors don't use a lot of players.
gym: Looks like Tony Romo's dropped FG attempt will be forever overshadowed by the Mavs' dropped series. Thoughts?.
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I think you're right, Romo's off the hook – at least for now.
BBFan: I think Avery tried to overcoach and Nellie outsmarted him. Thoughts?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: You're probably right in terms of tinkering with the lineup in Game 1 because it gave Golden State an immediate advantage and instantly put doubt in the mind of his fragile team. Even though it was just one game, it set the tone. After the first game, the story goes Stephen Jackson called one of his buddies on another team and said they had the Mavericks and were going to win the series. Guess he was right.
Jon77: Do you think Cuban, et al will be foolish enough to believe that this team doesn't need a new infusion of attitude and athleticism?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I hope not. Once he sits down and evaluates the team, I figure he'll decide some changes have to be made. After all, how does he market this team next year. No one is going to care what they do in the regular season. It's going to be, "prove it to me in the playoffs." He's going to have to make some move to generate fan interest.
chuckyld: You know this team is turning into the Milwaukee Bucks of the early-mid '80s – win a lot of games in the regular season, fail to advance far in the playoffs. And who coached those Bucks teams? Don Nelson. What can the Mavs do to change that perception?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Win. This is not a "try hard" business. Professional sports is about winning. The Mavericks had everything in their favor last season and didn't get it done. Not winning that championship is going to hurt a long time because a win last year might have given them the intestinal fortitude to handle the adversity they faced with Golden State.
MavsGM2007: Everyone is saying that Dallas didn't have a low-post offensive presence against Golden State. Where was Dampier? Isn't he the center who is supposed to supply offense? Seems to me that starting him and feeding him the ball would have slowed the game down.
Jean-Jacques Taylor: This series wasn't built for Dampier. Golden State's small lineup neutralized him just like Phoenix's small lineup keeps him on the bench. He seems like a waste of money, if there are certain teams he can't even get off the bench against. He wouldn't have been much help against the Warriors.
From e-mail: What kind of retooling can we expect this off-season?
Matt
Jean-Jacques Taylor: It's too early to tell. Most of the Mavericks' core players – Nowitzki, Terry, Howard – are locked up long-term. They're going to have to make a blockbuster trade to jolt this team and change the complexion of the team. It will be a risky move, but I think this core has gone as far as it can go.
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I've enjoyed it folks, but I gotta get to work on tomorrow's column about Avery. Be blessed.
02:24 PM CDT on Friday, May 4, 2007
SportsDay columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor answered questions about the Mavericks on Friday, May 4.
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I'm working on fumes after partying with Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson and Kate Hudson into the wee hours of the night and getting two hours of sleep before catching a 6 a.m. flight. That said, I'll do my best to answer all of your questions.
tville: What happened?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: That's easy. The Mavs failed to compete in the second half when Golden State made its run. They accepted defeat far too timidly. There's no shame in losing when you play hard and compete to the best of your ability. But that didn't happen last night. From the owner on down, they should be ashamed of their performance.
From e-mail: What a knee-jerk reaction column you wrote. Zero insight. Zero analysis. Dirk "proved" the Mavs will never win a title with him? Are you serious? So, what happens if they win the title next year? Does the world come to an end? Do you quit? Saying what you said is the same as the 1,000 sheep sports writers who wrote Jordan would never lead a team to a title back in his first several years in the league. Boy they were all right, weren't they?
Jay
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Why are you mad at me? I didn't miss a single jumper or commit any turnovers last night. I hold Dirk to the standard that his owner, coach and teammates have told me to hold him to. He played timidly last night and was the person most responsible for the Mavs' lethargic performance. The stage was set for him to deliver a big-time performance and he failed to hit double-digits. That's not my fault; it's his.
fnv2001: Will we see Devin Harris and Maurice Ager get more playing time next season?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Ager I don't know about. This is a huge summer for him. He has to prove he has the work ethic to earn Avery Johnson's respect, which will lead to playing time He also needs to shoot 500 jumpers a day. As for Devin Harris, you'll see more of him next year, no doubt. He needs to get stronger and become a bettter finisher. No one can keep him from getting to the rim, but too many times he comes away without points.
From e-mail: Will the media and fans in Dallas stop giving Avery a free ride now that he has presided over two straight layoff meltdowns?
Wesley
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Avery is not getting a free ride. You can read tomorrow's paper just to make sure. When the game ended last night, it was too late to cover everything. You have to take a hard look at Avery because the Mavs looked unprepared in three of the six games. He has lost eight of his last 10 playoff games and hasn't figured out how to right the ship when it turns the wrong way in the last two series.
From e-mail: Not that this is a news flash, but Dallas has no one who scores in the paint regularly outside of Devin Harris. Watching all of them settle for jumpers last night was painful. I agree with your article that the Mavs must make a major acquisition this summer, and I add that this must be an inside presence; either post player like Kevin Garnett or another slasher like Vince Carter (sign and trade?). Could they land either player and what would it cost?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Garnett will cost a king's ransom and his teams have never really done anything in the playoffs – even when they were good – aside from one deep postseason run. I love to watch him, but I don't know that he's worth Josh Howard, Devin Harris and probably a No.1 pick. Vince Carter has a lot of style but not much substance. I can't respect a guy, though I love to watch his athleticism, who says he basically laid it down so Toronto would get rid of him.
jlust22: You really killed Dirk in your column this morning. How does Dirk recover from this disgrace? Does it make him tougher and more resolved than ever or does he continue to cower in the big moments?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: There's one way to recover: Man up, work on your low-post game and do whatever you must do to create some mental toughness. Dirk is one of the game's most talented players, but his defeatist attitude is a liability. There's no way he should ever lack confidence, given his skill set but that's what happened in this series. I would love for him to prove me wrong down the road. Maybe he will.
mavzzz: Who should they get to lead this team, with or without Dirk?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Perhaps they can land Chauncey Billups, a free agent at the end of the season, in some type of sign-and-trade. Just a thought. He would give them a true point guard with mental toughness.
mike in addi: Would the presence of a pure point guard (Steve Nash type) help Dirk get to the basket more in games like we just saw?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Absolutely. Jason Terry is a nice player, but he's not a true point guard and that hurt them in the series. He made too many bad decisions and struggled to get the ball to Dirk in positions where he could score more easily.
From e-mail: A major problem for the Mavericks was the lack of any kind of effective bench with all three of the new components (Austin Crosherre, Greg Buckner, Devean George) being a major bust during the season and in the playoffs. That was Nellie Junior's creation. How much blame falls on his shoulders? Is his job in jeopardy from a stewing Mark Cuban?
Chuck
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I must say I was surprised by that. Once the Mavs had to start Diop, they couldn't play Devean George or Greg Buckner because that meant there were two players on the floor who couldn't score. So that limited their bench. I thought the bench was a strength much of the year, but it turned out to be fool's gold.
AmishGuy91: How awkward will the MVP ceremony be?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I'm not sure I want to be there because I really feel bad for him after the way he played. Dirk had a great regular season and deserved the MVP he's expected to get. The problem is he didn't perform like the game's best players when the Mavs needed him most. As I wrote, he'll never live this down unless he leads the Mavs to a title – and I don't think that's going to happen.
GTL: It seems like the current team is built just to beat San Antonio, but the game is moving to an up-tempo style (Suns and Warriors). If Cuban fails to act now, I fear that the Mavs will be in a similar situation next April/May. Thoughts?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I hate to sound like a GM, but one day after the season ends is really too early to figure out what exactly the team needs and how it's going to get whatever it needs. Obviously, they signed Dampier to help compete with San Antonio. But I contend the problem is not with this team's athletic ability, the problem is with its mental approach. This team is too soft mentally.
carbon_dated: Do you see Golden State advancing past this next round?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: It really depends on who they play. They're going to be a tough out because they play such an unconventional style. But it also depends on how bad Baron Davis and Matt Barnes are injured because the Warriors don't use a lot of players.
gym: Looks like Tony Romo's dropped FG attempt will be forever overshadowed by the Mavs' dropped series. Thoughts?.
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I think you're right, Romo's off the hook – at least for now.
BBFan: I think Avery tried to overcoach and Nellie outsmarted him. Thoughts?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: You're probably right in terms of tinkering with the lineup in Game 1 because it gave Golden State an immediate advantage and instantly put doubt in the mind of his fragile team. Even though it was just one game, it set the tone. After the first game, the story goes Stephen Jackson called one of his buddies on another team and said they had the Mavericks and were going to win the series. Guess he was right.
Jon77: Do you think Cuban, et al will be foolish enough to believe that this team doesn't need a new infusion of attitude and athleticism?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I hope not. Once he sits down and evaluates the team, I figure he'll decide some changes have to be made. After all, how does he market this team next year. No one is going to care what they do in the regular season. It's going to be, "prove it to me in the playoffs." He's going to have to make some move to generate fan interest.
chuckyld: You know this team is turning into the Milwaukee Bucks of the early-mid '80s – win a lot of games in the regular season, fail to advance far in the playoffs. And who coached those Bucks teams? Don Nelson. What can the Mavs do to change that perception?
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Win. This is not a "try hard" business. Professional sports is about winning. The Mavericks had everything in their favor last season and didn't get it done. Not winning that championship is going to hurt a long time because a win last year might have given them the intestinal fortitude to handle the adversity they faced with Golden State.
MavsGM2007: Everyone is saying that Dallas didn't have a low-post offensive presence against Golden State. Where was Dampier? Isn't he the center who is supposed to supply offense? Seems to me that starting him and feeding him the ball would have slowed the game down.
Jean-Jacques Taylor: This series wasn't built for Dampier. Golden State's small lineup neutralized him just like Phoenix's small lineup keeps him on the bench. He seems like a waste of money, if there are certain teams he can't even get off the bench against. He wouldn't have been much help against the Warriors.
From e-mail: What kind of retooling can we expect this off-season?
Matt
Jean-Jacques Taylor: It's too early to tell. Most of the Mavericks' core players – Nowitzki, Terry, Howard – are locked up long-term. They're going to have to make a blockbuster trade to jolt this team and change the complexion of the team. It will be a risky move, but I think this core has gone as far as it can go.
Jean-Jacques Taylor: I've enjoyed it folks, but I gotta get to work on tomorrow's column about Avery. Be blessed.
Mavs Man
All outta bubble gum
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jay cee;1488791 said:
KG's teammates have been less than stellar over the years, but how many playoff games have his teams won? Until he got Sprewell and Cassell he couldn't even get out of the first round. He has a better low post game than Dirk, but I don't think it would be as quick a fix as many think.