After watching the Spurs and Cavs muck it up again, with San Antonio walking away with yet another NBA title, it underscores a lot of things in regards to the Mavs' situation.
1) the Mavs' defense still is not good enough.
2) the Mavs' are not mentally tough enough.
3) the Spurs aren't going away for a while.
and last, but most important:
3) the modern game is all about the double-team.
Sure, Tim Duncan stunk, but it was all the attention he drew that opened lanes for Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to combine for 51 points. And with Parker's jump shot becoming a legitimate weapon, the outcome of the series was little more than an inevitable formality.
So with Parker, 25, emerging as a shooter and more complete player, he is going to draw more and more attention. Soon teams will have a choice to make: allow Duncan to beat them or give Parker that privilege.
The Cavs chose Parker, who is just now entering his prime, and you see how that worked out. The Finals MVP -- read that again -- is only going to get better. That's not good news for the Mavs.
Can any of you see Josh Howard rising to that status? What about Devin Harris? Jet?
And there, folks, is the key. An NBA player of stature has to either command the double, or make teams pay for doubling. There is no in-between. Dirk Nowitzki is the only player on the Mavs' roster who can do both of those things.
Will he ever have a teammate who can do the same?
He better, because the Spurs now have a pair of them.
-- Garza, Mavs Lite
Tony Parker made sure the Spurs now have two Finals MVPs on their roster. Are we seeing the birth of another Shaq-Kobe dynamic, albeit a healthier, friendlier, more positive one?
The Mavs' only chance of that "another-to-be-double-teamed" guy is with J-Ho. I do not see Devin Harris getting double teamed. Certainly not Jet. Stack doesn't command that anymore as he is more a jump shooter. This is what we are...apart from J-Ho there is no legitimate slasher/go-to-the-hoop guy. Dirk is primarily a jump shooter...a great one!!! But, Jet and Stack are not! They are more spot up, streaky shooters. Devin Harris' jump shot looks lot like mine...so I always doubt whether it will go in. Well, looks like no hope on the horizon! Just kidding...
Mavs had a chance this year, and I believe they will be back next season. They are a good team. Please do not break the whole thing up. Try to find a good PG...another low post scorer, atleast with Off. rebounds put back or something! The only teams, I believe can legitimately challenge Mavs next season are Phoenix, GSW and San Antonio. All of these teams are good ball sharing teams and two of them have good shooters. I also believe that Mavs should include more ball passing in their arsenal. They are a lot of one-on-one team with isolation sets. The problem is, they don't have the AIs or LeBrons who can take anyone one-on-one.
Posted by: Vick | June 15, 2007 at 09:15 AM
The Mavs should trade Dirk straight up for Bruce Bowen.
Posted by: JT | June 19, 2007 at 02:12 PM
Trade Dirk for Bowen??? HA HA HA...very funny !! You guys will let anyone post on here, won't you? No matter how stupid the comment may be. And the Dirk for Bowen one is about as stupid as you can get.
Posted by: Cynthia | June 24, 2007 at 05:14 PM
The Mavs' best bet is to try to add Gerald Wallace. His scoring average has gone up every year. He may crack 20 or more points with the Mavs. It also doesn't hurt that he plays defense exceptionally well. I love Stackhouse but he looked tired and sluggish at the end of the season.
AS for the post game, that's the problem that has plagued the Mavs since their inception in 1980. They have never had a center worth anything! Without a C, they will never accomplish their ultimate goal of an NBA championship. Get a center and everything will fall into place.
Posted by: Joe | June 25, 2007 at 01:27 PM