Full-Court Press

Lottery and innuendo

The NBA Draft Lottery was Tuesday night in Secaucus, N.J., and here is how it played out:

1. Portland
2. Seattle
3. Atlanta
4. Memphis
5. Boston
6. Milwaukee
7. Minnesota
8. Charlotte
9. Chicago
10. Sacramento
11. Atlanta
12. Philadelphia
13. New Orleans
14. LA Clippers

Portland all but screamed out that they are set to take Ohio State's Greg Oden with the top pick, which sparked some interesting rumors/theories in cyberland. With Oden coming aboard, the Blazers would love to move high-scoring low-post player Zach Randolph to create some space in the frontcourt.
Hmm, know any teams literally dying for a dynamic low-post scorer?
Yeah, the Mavs and Randolph would be an awful fit. Actually, Randolph and anybody is probably a poor fit, but, hey, it's fun to speculate.

-- Garza, Mavs Lite

Sam Vincent to Charlotte?

Mavericks assistant coach Sam Vincent turned 44 on Friday. His biggest birthday present, an NBA head-coaching job, might be coming soon.

Vincent interviewed for a second time with Charlotte Bobcats personnel director Bernie Bickerstaff in Dallas on Saturday. Vincent is a finalist for the job vacated by Bickerstaff, who will remain in the front office.

Michael Jordan joined the Bobcats last summer as part-owner. The team has a young core, and Jordan has said he’s looking for the next Avery Johnson to coach them. Vincent, who played two seasons with Jordan on the Bulls, said he anticipates the Bobcats making a final decision in the next couple of weeks. The Bobcats have interviewed at least eight candidates.

“The most important thing is, I like the message from the organization and Michael,” Vincent said, “which is a real strong youth movement with a focus on working hard and developing.”

Vincent said he has not interviewed for any other head coaching position.

Finley a Mav again?

Don't count on it. Although Mark Cuban Monday said he'd like for Michael Finley to consider coming back after his contract expires after next season. No kidding.

After all that went down in last season's conference semifinals, Cuban is holding out an olive branch.

Cuban: "I would hope that after his contract is over in San Antone, he would consider the Mavs as an option. I don't know that he would, but our entire organization has that much respect for him."

Cuban's offer came too late to get Finley's reaction, but it's doubtful to hell no that he'd make a return here. He hated the way the seven-game series unfolded with him being made into a villian after Jason Terry's punch to the groin.

Finley: "It was difficult. The fans in Dallas tried to make it personal. A couple of the guys on the team and the organization wanted to make it personal. But, I knew it was business."

-- Jeff in San Antone

Avery not headed to Houston

The media personality in North Texas, fellow S-T brother Randy Galloway, went to the airwaves with an Avery Johnson-to-Houston idea after the Rockets fired Jeff Van Gundy.

It's a nice job, especially when you have Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady to build around. Still, Van Gundy couldn't get those two out of the first round. The Rockets have already contacted Rick Adelman.

Avery made his mark as a player in San Antonio and as a coach in Dallas. He's played for the Rockets and makes his off-season home in the Houston suburb The Woodlands.

Galloway's suggestion makes for good radio and gives us something to talk about. But it's not going to happen. Even with the first-round collapse, Avery knows what he has with the Mavs. Not to mention the four years and $16 million left on his contract.

As one of Avery's close advisors told me, "AJ is the Dallas coach. End of story."

-- Art

Very vulnerable Mavs?

In thinking about the Jazz easily dispatching the Warriors and securing a spot in the West finals, I thought about coach Avery Johnson's comments about Golden State being the only first-round opponent that could derail the Mavs. That might be true, but so what?

If the Mavs had drawn, let's say, the Clippers or Lakers, sure, they could have taken them out, but does anyone now think they could've defeated Utah?

It's another bad matchup for the Mavs. A physical, rising true point guard in Deron Williams; a low-post monster in Carlos Boozer; a dynamic, quick, long-armed defender in Andrei Kirilenko to antagonize Dirk; and a 7-foot, dead-eye 3-point shooter in Mehmet Okur.

It all sounds to me like another recipe for disaster for the Mavs. The truth may be the Mavs had already mentally checked out by the time the playoffs came around. Maybe they really did peak too early in the season and had nothing left for the playoffs.

Regardless, this Mavs team wasn't winning anything this season, no matter the playoff matchups.  The best-case scenario would probably have been a second-round elimination ... at the hands of the Jazz.

-- Garza, Mavs Lite

Kidd to stay in Jersey?

Ever since the Mavs bowed out of the playoffs, the hot talk about what they need to do for next season has revolved around bringing in a true point guard.

And that talk has led directly to the Nets' Jason Kidd, a, ahem, former Maverick. Nets GM Rod Thorn has admitted that he tried to trade Kidd to the Lakers at the tradeline. Kidd wanted the deal to happen, but the Lakers refused to move young center Andrew Bynum and that killed it.

Speculation has heated up again that Thorn could move Kidd in the offseason. Of course, when the Nets went down 3-1 to the Cavs, talk really spiked. Prior to Game 5, however, Thorn seemed to cool on the idea of trading Kidd and breaking up the Nets.

Dave D'Alessandro and David Walstein of The Star-Ledger in Trenton reported today that it would take one heck of a deal for Thorn to trade the 34-year-old Kidd. Assuming the Mavs went after Kidd, you've got to believe that Thorn would have Josh Howard at the top of his wish-list.

"I really don't think so," Thorn said when asked whether he would repeat the trade-deadline exercise of exploring Kidd's market value. "I think we already know what's out there. The only (major) change really depends on what happens with Vince (Carter)."

Carter can become a free agent...Apparently he wants to return to the Nets for 3 years, $60 mil..Nets are thinking more along the lines of $45 mil.

-- Jeff

Cuban weighs in on Suns suspensions

Not long ago Mark Cuban said he was done blogging about the NBA, HD/hi-tech stuff only. Well, the one-game suspensions the NBA handed down on Tuesday to Suns players Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw for leaving the bench area after Robert Horry's flagrant foul on Steve Nash in Game 4, got Cuban's attention.

Cuban said if the owners were to vote to change the rule about suspensions for players leaving the bench -- as commissioner David Stern suggested could happen if the owners agree to it -- he would vote against changing the rule.

Why?

Here's Cuban's take straight from blogmaverick.com: "Because its incredibly simple to educate players about the rule. Its a rule they fully understand and they understand the consequences of violating the rule. That makes the NBA stronger because it removes uncertainty. Can it result in a game(s) being impacted , yes. However, that impact results from an action a player knew violated the rules and was a mistake. There is no uncertainty about it. All they had to do was not leave the bench.

"I actually think that more rules need to be iron clad like the "don't leave the bench rule". Whenever we can remove discretion in enforcement from the NBA the game is better for it.

"Fans will hate the Suns not having Amare and Boris, but they all know the rule and recognize that the players knew it and fully understood it. What really gets fans, and me upset is when they can't understand how and why a rule is enforced.

"When Jason Terry was suspended for throwing a punch last year, our only argument was whether or not he actually threw a punch. If he did, all involved, including Jason knew and understood what the punishment would be and why.

"When Udonis Haslem got suspended a game for throwing a mouthpiece while lying on the ground, I didn't quite get that one. Fined for being mad at an official, that I understand all too well. The suspension I didn't.

"When guys throw an elbow to the head or a knee to the groin or have a habit of stepping under a player as he lands, its far too difficult for officials and the league to gauge intent. Its pretty much impossibIe. I think we need to take a no leeway position and make both a flagrant 2 foul. Make it a no questions asked rule. Watch how quickly teams re educate players on how to close out on shooters and how quickly player behavior changes. Not by all, but those who can't probably are repeat offenders and deserve the penalty. A guy missing the rest of a game is a whole lot better than injuring a player and impacting his career.

"It won't completely eliminate the need for the NBA to pass judgment on player intent and dish out punishment, but it will reduce the number of times they have to do it.

"To make the job of enforcing all of this a little easier, I would like to propose something publicly that I have proposed privately but was shot down.

"Allow officials, at their discretion, to use instant replay to review unsportsmanlike conduct or any action that could lead to a flagrant 2 foul.

"This would be an important change not only to help get the play right, but also because it lets the punitive action for a bad act take place in the game it impacts. It would also make fans feel that the officials took the appropriate action based on the best information available. It can be incredibly frustrating to everyone at the game when a replay contradicts the best efforts of an official on a matter as serious as a Flagrant Foul.

"Its not a cure, but it increases the chances of penalties being relative to the game in which the problem occurred. Plus, although it wouldn't eliminate the need for the league to take action on players, it would probably reduce the number of times they would be asked to take action over a players on court behavior."

-- Jeff

Cheap Shot Bob: Spurs benefit from stupidity

Listening to the rationalization today from commissioner David Stern and league vice president Stu Jackson, I still don’t feel any better about Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw sitting out tonight’s Game 5. Cheap Shot Bob delivered his biggest shot of the playoffs -- maybe of the season -- when he body-checked Steve Nash into the boards at the end of Game 4.

Deion Sanders never hit anybody that hard. So with the Spurs about to lose at home and Robert Horry obviously frustrated they gave away the lead in the fourth quarter, Cheap Shot Bob changes the whole complexion of the series. Not with a 3-pointer. With a 3-point takedown.

Stoudemire and Diaw acted as any human would when their MVP, the two-time MVP, went sprawling after a senseless and stupid play. That’s not basketball. That’s not a hard foul. There’s no need for a hard foul there. Steve wasn’t shooting a layup. If you want to foul him, wrap him up. Grab a hold of his jersey. Swipe at the ball.

Don’t be an idiot, Cheap Shot Bob. Too late for that.

But who pays? The Suns. Stu Jackson actually said that when Tim Duncan left the bench in the second quarter, it was out of concern for his teammate Francisco Elson who fell after landing on Phoenix’s James Jones. So are you telling me Stoudemire and Diaw weren’t concerned. And if Duncan took a couple more steps, might a confrontation have started?

And it’s been pointed out that none of the Spurs left the bench. Why would they? Tell me what would have happened if Jalen Rose had cold-cocked Tim Duncan. I'm pretty sure someone would have gone 20-25 feet away from the bench area.

Had the league not suspended Stoudemire and Diaw, would anyone have complained? Yes, the Spurs would have. I’m sure behind the scenes they lobbied hard for the suspensions. But NBA fans would have applauded the league for using some common sense and following the spirit of the law.

Stoudemire and Diaw didn’t escalate the situation. They got back to the bench in plenty of time and never got close to the altercation on the court. Cheap Shot Bob also threw a forearm at Raja Bell.

So the guy (Cheap Shot Bob) that hit two people (Nash and Bell) gets a two-game penalty. Two guys that didn’t come close to touching anyone get the same punishment -- a game each for Stoudemire and Diaw equals two games.

That’s not right. If the Spurs win tonight and perhaps go on to win the title, they should send Stern and Jackson a playoff share. Cheap Shot Bob ought to get two.

-- Art

Dirk officially the MVP

The worst kept secret in the sports became official today as a dapper-looking Dirk Nowitzki received the MVP award at a packed press conference inside AAC. NBA commissioner David Stern presented the trophy, along with coach Avery Johnson and owner Mark Cuban.

Still hurting and disappointed from the early playoff exit, the ever-humble Dirk did allow himself a chance to enjoy the event. He flashed his smile, cracked us up with a couple one-liners and really seemed proud to be recognized as the best in the league this season.

“Dirk, you were the best player in the NBA this year,” Avery said. “Congratulations.”

Cuban’s eyes welled up as he talked about Dirk’s work ethic and commitment, and how far he’s come to be the player he is today. The two shared a hug before Dirk took the stand.

For the first time that I can remember, Dirk referred to himself as the franchise player. We all know he is the franchise and it’s been that way for several years, but to hear him say that really puts into perspective the sense of responsibility he has for the Mavericks.

“I want to be the one to take this franchise to the championship,” Dirk said.

He’s the first Maverick and first European so recognized, which can’t be overlooked. He’s the embodiment of the dream to make the NBA a global game. Stern called Dirk the “iconic elite athlete from Europe.”

He said it may take 20 or 30 years to fully appreciate being named MVP. Here’s hoping it doesn’t take that long. That’s just the hurt talking.

Dirk isn’t the first MVP to lose in the first round. He’s also not the first MVP without a title on his résumé. Just ask Charles Barkley and Karl Malone about that.

But unlike those guys, Dirk still has time.

The MVP voting results are as follows:

Player, Team                  1^st     2^nd     3^rd     4^th     5^th  Total Points

Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs       83      39      7       --      --        1138

Steve Nash, Suns           44      74      11     --      --        1013

Kobe Bryant, Lakers        2       11      65      30      9        521

Tim Duncan, Spurs          --       3       25      39      23       286

LeBron James, Cavs        --       --      11      31      35       183

Tracy McGrady, Rockets   --       2       6       16      18       110

-- Art

Dirk wins Sporting News POY

The accolades keep coming for Dirk Nowitzki. The soon-to-be official MVP picked up the Sporting News' Player of the Year award today, easily besting Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant. Dirk received 18 first-place votes from 23 NBA personnel people who voted. Bryant and Nash each received 2 votes and Tracy McGrady got the other one.

As for the MVP, Dirk gets the hardware tomorrow morning at 11 from commish David Stern at American Airlines Center. Fans are invited to watch the press conference live on the AT&T South Plaza video board. Parking is free in Lot F.