DALLAS MAVERICKS TEAM PREVIEW
Projected Starting Lineup
C-Eric Dampier
PF-Dirk Nowitzki
SF-Josh Howard
SG-Jason Terry
PG-Jason Kidd
Key Reserves
Desagna Diop
Eddie Jones
Brandon Bass
Jerry Stackhouse
Jose Barea
Shan Foster
Same thing every year it seems for the Mavs. They play great ball all year, win 50+ games and then die in the playoffs. Last year J-Kidd arrived at the all-star break and didn't have time IMO to put his stamp on the team as their PG. With a half year under his belt he will do that and more. The guys a 9 time all-star and three time olympian but he MAY be getting a tad old. Only time will tell. If he doesn't work out you can always play around with Jason Terry and Jose Barea. I feel the Mavs and Cuban are running out of patience with Dirk and he knows this. I feel this is his last year to do something with the Mavs. Moving onto the pot smoking, drag racing Josh Howard...If he can get his act together he will be the X-Factor for this team. My only worry is the distraction he brings to an otherwise cohesive Mavs team. His 20 points and 7+ rebounds are an asset to this team and hopefully he and the Mavs can move past the most recent Howard antics. As I said above they do have a converted PG in Jason Terry, but it is best for the Mavs to leave him at the off-gaurd where he is best. He is much better in the open court knocking down jumpers than he is at controlling the tempo of the game. Again if Kidd doesn't work out and they move Terry to the PG they still have veterans Eddie Jones and Jerry Stackhouse to hold down the 2 spot. I like when the Mavs opt for their quicker lineup and move Dirk to the middle and play a much improved Brandon Bass at the PF. He meshes well with the quicker lineup and he had a tremendous 2nd half of the season and only shows signs of improvement. Although Dampier doesn't stick out because of all of the star power on this team (Dirk, Terry, Stack, Howard) he is an important piece to this team going any deeper than the first round of the playoffs. He blocks shots, gets rebounds and isn't lazy on defense. Dallas has the components and intangibles to do some damage but this all goes back to how J Kidd is going to play. If he plays like he did in the Olympics I think we will be seeing some major lineup changes. If he goes back to his old self then Dallas is going to be a very very dangerous team come Summer. I would like to say Dallas will improve on their 50+ win season but that might be being too leniant. I mean Kidd, 35, and Dirk 30, in their 15th and 11th season in the league respectively, were fully engaged in Beijing this summer and where most guys their age took the summer to rest and travel, they were playing ball. Only time will tell if this was a good thing. Its worth it to make quick mention of their draft pick. Shan Foster is a deadly shooter who will play a decent amount and if he can come off the bench and make teams guard him and respect his range this means one thing for the Mavs...more open shots for DIRK. The Southwest Division has 4 potential and probable 50 win teams. By far the best conference in the league I say the rigors of an 82 game season will ware this team down. The Mavs are a playoff team but the bad thing for them is the division they play in. The Spurs are the Spurs and the Rockets and Hornets are only getting better. Even the Grizzlies will surprise a lot of NBA fans this year.
Season Prediction: 49-33 and indeed in the playoffs, but I think they will ware down by seasons end and be one and done.
Projected Starting Lineup
C-Eric Dampier
PF-Dirk Nowitzki
SF-Josh Howard
SG-Jason Terry
PG-Jason Kidd
Key Reserves
Desagna Diop
Eddie Jones
Brandon Bass
Jerry Stackhouse
Jose Barea
Shan Foster
Same thing every year it seems for the Mavs. They play great ball all year, win 50+ games and then die in the playoffs. Last year J-Kidd arrived at the all-star break and didn't have time IMO to put his stamp on the team as their PG. With a half year under his belt he will do that and more. The guys a 9 time all-star and three time olympian but he MAY be getting a tad old. Only time will tell. If he doesn't work out you can always play around with Jason Terry and Jose Barea. I feel the Mavs and Cuban are running out of patience with Dirk and he knows this. I feel this is his last year to do something with the Mavs. Moving onto the pot smoking, drag racing Josh Howard...If he can get his act together he will be the X-Factor for this team. My only worry is the distraction he brings to an otherwise cohesive Mavs team. His 20 points and 7+ rebounds are an asset to this team and hopefully he and the Mavs can move past the most recent Howard antics. As I said above they do have a converted PG in Jason Terry, but it is best for the Mavs to leave him at the off-gaurd where he is best. He is much better in the open court knocking down jumpers than he is at controlling the tempo of the game. Again if Kidd doesn't work out and they move Terry to the PG they still have veterans Eddie Jones and Jerry Stackhouse to hold down the 2 spot. I like when the Mavs opt for their quicker lineup and move Dirk to the middle and play a much improved Brandon Bass at the PF. He meshes well with the quicker lineup and he had a tremendous 2nd half of the season and only shows signs of improvement. Although Dampier doesn't stick out because of all of the star power on this team (Dirk, Terry, Stack, Howard) he is an important piece to this team going any deeper than the first round of the playoffs. He blocks shots, gets rebounds and isn't lazy on defense. Dallas has the components and intangibles to do some damage but this all goes back to how J Kidd is going to play. If he plays like he did in the Olympics I think we will be seeing some major lineup changes. If he goes back to his old self then Dallas is going to be a very very dangerous team come Summer. I would like to say Dallas will improve on their 50+ win season but that might be being too leniant. I mean Kidd, 35, and Dirk 30, in their 15th and 11th season in the league respectively, were fully engaged in Beijing this summer and where most guys their age took the summer to rest and travel, they were playing ball. Only time will tell if this was a good thing. Its worth it to make quick mention of their draft pick. Shan Foster is a deadly shooter who will play a decent amount and if he can come off the bench and make teams guard him and respect his range this means one thing for the Mavs...more open shots for DIRK. The Southwest Division has 4 potential and probable 50 win teams. By far the best conference in the league I say the rigors of an 82 game season will ware this team down. The Mavs are a playoff team but the bad thing for them is the division they play in. The Spurs are the Spurs and the Rockets and Hornets are only getting better. Even the Grizzlies will surprise a lot of NBA fans this year.
Season Prediction: 49-33 and indeed in the playoffs, but I think they will ware down by seasons end and be one and done.
hno: The Nuggets still will score 100+ like they did last year night in and night out, but they will miss Camby's 13+ Rebounds and his NBA league leading 3.6 blocked shots. Good thing for the Nuggets is they still have Melo, JR Smith and Iverson. They will win their share of games because they will score and they will score in bunches but they are going to miss the playoffs this year. Sorry Denver fans. The good news is come 2009 you will have a lottery pick and maybe, just maybe management will see the problem and draft a center who plays defense. When you dont play defense it is hard to put big winning streaks together and with the toughest first month scheduled IMO the Nuggets are in a world of shit. How's this for a first 9 games. @ Utah, @ Clippers, Lakers, @ Golden State, Dallas, Memphis @ Charlotte, @ Cleveland, @ Boston...ohhhh boy. Don't be surprised if Denver starts the season 2-7 before getting to play Minnesota at home. Phewwww...finally a win...but then you get to go to Milwuakee, go to LA and play the Lakers and then go play the Spurs in San Antonio...OUCHHHHH...this team really might start the season 5-15. Making them an easy winner in the under category in one of my biggest season props. Books will give them much more credit than they deserve and they will get shit stomped all year long. Here is exactly what will happen. The Nuggets have made it very clear that money is more important than winning and with players with huge EGO's like Iverson and Melo I will see this team quit very early in the season. Iverson is the type of guy that will do the following...If management doesn't care about winning and is only concerned with money that is exactly what I will do...I will be a ball hog...I will take my shots and I will do me...As much as I love him...I think the same goes for Carmelo.
