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Every team seems to be improving themselves in some way. I feel like we are just being left out while all the other teams are getting better than us. There have been quite a few big moves and I'm quite jealous. I guess we can say that our big move was getting Kidd midseason. We still have not gotten a chance to see Kidd play his game for us, so there is still reason for us to be optimistic. But I think we a really stagnant right now and no one on our team is getting younger. It doesn't look like there will be any big moves coming in this offseason.

I'm still thinking optimistically about our team because we do have a new coach and we might as well call Kidd our new point guard even though we played half a season with him.

I'm just afraid of the other west teams. Especially now that the Rockets have Artest. If they can stay healthy they will be a big problem for us along with the Lakers, Hornets. These 3 teams are the team I feel pose the biggest threats to a Mavericks championship run.

Dirk hasnt always played well when Battier was guarding him, and now they have Artest. Defensively this team will probably shut us down.

However, I still feel like this may be a great year for the Mavs. I know we will see a different Jason Kidd and I feel like we are gonna see the Dirk we are used to seeing. The one who shoots more threes. But this time around he has a lot more skills to go to.

i really don't see us making a big change either. to be honest, i think how well we do is going to depend if j-ho can find his old self again or not

We need a "Big Upgrade" not a "Big Change"

And most trades involving Howard are only the later.

If they don't happen though we are forced into developing younger players to have any hope of getting further in the post season. Green Wright Singleton Rhodes and RAT must develop if we are to improve. Howard and Kidd should improve over last season and Dirk is the franchise so the core is fine. Diop and Dampier is solid at the 5 once more. What we need is improvement at the 2.

How does our big 3 matchup in the West? Seems like you need 3 quality players to win it all. Do Dirk, Jason and Josh match up?

JES12 wrote:We need a "Big Upgrade" not a "Big Change"

And most trades involving Howard are only the later.

I agree. I don't think trading Howard will improve our team in any way with what is available on the market. However, I actually think we should downgrade our talent by trading Dirk and Howard for youth and future draft picks. If we are going to suck this season anyway, why not have some high draft picks next year?

sweet daddy wrote:How does our big 3 matchup in the West? Seems like you need 3 quality players to win it all. Do Dirk, Jason and Josh match up?

My answer is no.

Yao, McGrady, Artest > Dirk, Howard, Kidd
Duncan, Ginobli, Parker > Dirk, Howard, Kidd
Kobe, Gasol, Odom > Dirk, Howard, Kidd
Paul, West, Chandler > Dirk, Howard, Kidd
Nash, Amare, Shaq = Dirk, Howard, Kidd
Williams, Boozer, Okur = Dirk, Howard, Kidd
LMA, Roy, Oden = Too young to tell but potential is certainly there.

That leaves us basically in the 5-8 range depending on development, injuries, and future acquistions/trades.

The problem is Kidd is not part of any big 3. Kidd is a facilitator to go along with our big 3 of Dirk (a 1-2 tweener) Howard (a 2-3 tweener) and Terry (a 3-4 tweener). Tweener meaning on a great team, they would be the 2, 3 & 4 options, but on a mediocure team, they are the 1,2, &3 options.

Oh, and I would not necessarily say the LA 3 are better than the Mav 3, but their role players are better than our role players. I also think we are better than Utah's big 3 of Okur, Boozer, Williams, but equal to a big 3 of Kirilinko, Boozer, Williams.

I also consider Bynum to be a real factor, making Lakers even better.

We should tank this season and then use what little value our team does hold (draft pick) to improve our team for the future. We're screwed enough as it is trying to keep up with San Antonio, New Orleans, Portland, and now Houston

dirkforpres wrote:We should tank this season and then use what little value our team does hold (draft pick) to improve our team for the future. We're screwed enough as it is trying to keep up with San Antonio, New Orleans, Portland, and now Houston

Completely agree. I'd rather start developing some of our youth and get rid of all these ridiculous contracts of very average or worse players.
The best way to tank the season is to trade Dirk (he's not one of those average players though) for draft picks and young players along with expiring contracts. We should do the same with Howard.
That will ensure some high picks and at least some hope for the future.

Right now, there is absolutely nothing to look forward to as a Mavs fan.
Only the real die-hards can have optimism for this team now.

This team is not even close to being a contender.

our big 3?
I think we have only a big 1!
outside of nowitzki there is absolutely nobody who can be considered to be a part of a big 3.
kidd would have been but that was 5 years ago. terry is a nice sixth man on a contender. howard plays good for one quarter, definitely not enough to be part of a big 3.
I brought up that "big 3" thing a couple times last year and I am full aware that we cannot compete as long as we dont have 3 legit players who can form a big 3 of their own.
so I guess I'm moving closer and closer to the teffer section where a rebuild is welcome

italy_23 wrote:our big 3?
I think we have only a big 1!
outside of nowitzki there is absolutely nobody who can be considered to be a part of a big 3.
kidd would have been but that was 5 years ago. terry is a nice sixth man on a contender. howard plays good for one quarter, definitely not enough to be part of a big 3.
I brought up that "big 3" thing a couple times last year and I am full aware that we cannot compete as long as we dont have 3 legit players who can form a big 3 of their own.
so I guess I'm moving closer and closer to the teffer section where a rebuild is welcome

But Wait:

We tank and get one of the best SGs available in the draft in 2009.
Artest flocks to NY because Houston is not above using a rental.
San Antonio gets even older.
The only team in our division in the 2009-10 season to really worry about is New Orleans.
Dallas would be back then and be better because of the fact they played their young players in the 2008-09 season.

I have deferred optimism back so to speak...

yeah, let's do it!
we'll rock the house in 2010!