Dallas Needs A Trade

[Jordan45822]

tI am talking seriously here. Not necessarily Kidd but they need something to be taken seriously. They still a top team in the West but they are in the doghouse. Vince Carter, Mike Miller, Ron Artest, Jason Kidd, Samuel Dalembert, AK47, & Jermaine O'Neal are names I would definitely go after. Unless they sky rocket and don't collapse in the offseason this team needs an overhaul (Dirk and Josh obviously are untouchable and need to stay there). I really want to see Dirk win a championship (coming from a Bulls fan) but the way the West is its hard to see that happenng right now.

[pillwenney]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again--Artest is the absolute perfect fit there and he would definitely re-sign.

[KF10]

Has to be Artest IMO...

[Puertorique]

Artest contract is pretty cheap I'm sure a move can be made for him without sacrificing the organization.

Now if they could get any combination of Artest, Kidd or JO that would be great for them.

[JES12]

I don't think you can put much stock in the last couple of weeks without Harris. We are 6-6 without him with the only quality win against Orlando.

Obviously, a starting caliber swingman would be nice, but we are not trading our big 3 (Dirk, Harris, Howard) to get him.

But the real issue is Avery's philosophy of "pacing and peaking at the right time." He has the whole team believing that this sub-par play of the 1st half is acceptable. Many of our players like Josh Howard have become jumpshooters and has stopped making aggresive offensive plays (except Harris & Bass) and does not put as much energy on the defensive end anymore either. Dirk, surprisingly has played better defensively, but other have toned it down a notch.

This team also plays to the competition. The tougher the team, the more we try. If a team is without their star (Indy - JO, Spurs - Duncan, Wizards - Arenas, Boston - KG, etc.) we do't play up to the competition. But except for the 1st Denver game, all other full strength title contending teams, we beat.

Hopefully Avery plays his motivation cards right in the playoffs.

And BTW, everyone on this thread says Artest, but there is no trade that Sac fans like, so if the Kings FO is like the fans, he is pretty much out of the question.

[Magz50]

^ I agree there. Dallas and Spurs are both without their team leading PG right now whihc is HUGE in the way both teams play the game. Devin and Tony both bring speed and offensive play that no one else on either team can replicate. it's funny everyone is bagging on both teams not being as good this year. When a team is training all preseason to play with certain players of course they're not gonna play as good if one of their best players goes down. With the west getting alot stronger it only magnifies how important these players have been for their teams. Mark my words once Devin and Tony get back both Dallas and Spurs will take the top of the west back easily.

[G35]

^ I agree there. Dallas and Spurs are both without their team leading PG right now whihc is HUGE in the way both teams play the game. Devin and Tony both bring speed and offensive play that no one else on either team can replicate. it's funny everyone is bagging on both teams not being as good this year. When a team is training all preseason to play with certain players of course they're not gonna play as good if one of their best players goes down. With the west getting alot stronger it only magnifies how important these players have been for their teams. Mark my words once Devin and Tony get back both Dallas and Spurs will take the top of the west back easily.

No excuses about Harris and Parker. Injuries are a part of the game and no one cares honestly. Suck it up.


Golden State played without Stephen Jackson

Lakers playing without Bynum, Ariza, Mihm

Kings playing without Bibby, Artest, Kmart

Houston playing without McGrady

Portland playing without Oden

Clippers playing without Brand

Denver playing without Kenyon, Nene


Play the cards you got......

[DDansby123]

No excuses about Harris and Parker. Injuries are a part of the game and no one cares honestly. Suck it up.

Since when is "don't judge us when we're not at full strength" an excuse?

If this were the playoffs, and a team were missing a key component, absolutely, you play the hand you're dealt. But this is the regular season, and writing off teams now based on their performances with lineups that will almost certainly be different come playoff time just doesn't make much sense.

Nobody's complaining about performance; they're complaining about folks overreacting to it.


But, yes, the Mavs do need a trade.

[Magz50]

I'm not making excuses, i'm saying that's the reason why both teams aren't playing as well as they SHOULD be. That's not an excuse that's a fact. I'm just saying people want to jump on Dallas and SA for not being as good this year, there's a clear reason for that. Both teams don't need to trade, they just need full healthy squads.

It just seems like everyone so badly wants to declare the west superpowers as DONE by turning a blind eye to the injuries they both have been going through. Of course every other team has injuries too, but SA and Dallas have been the cream of the NBA for years so it's alot more evident when they drop off in form. My point is, both teams are gonna be fine once they're healthy again, no trades need to be done. That's all.

[Mad Balla 15]

They need Kidd or Carter

[G35]

-= original quote snipped =-



Since when is "don't judge us when we're not at full strength" an excuse?

If this were the playoffs, and a team were missing a key component, absolutely, you play the hand you're dealt. But this is the regular season, and writing off teams now based on their performances with lineups that will almost certainly be different come playoff time just doesn't make much sense.

Nobody's complaining about performance; they're complaining about folks overreacting to it.


But, yes, the Mavs do need a trade.

Is Sacramento going to get a pass and allowed to play in the playoff's because their team at full strength is playoff caliber?

Can Laker fans say "When we get Bynum for the playoff's we are title favorites!"


Yeah they can say that but you have to take it with a grain of salt because you prove it on the court.

That's part of the analysis of teams. Injuries, projections. People projected that the Miami Heat would be terrible this year because Shaq is older, Wade was hurt and the overall decline of the Heat. However Heat fans said a team with Wade/Shaq/Riley is a playoff team and anything can happen in the playoff's. The Spurs are getting older and they have been able to go without any major injuries. You notice how Pop manages Duncan's and Ginobli's minutes; well they have been playing way more minutes than they normally do during the regular season. The Spurs coaches realize they need these games to maintain playoff positioning.

I don't think anyone has said that Dallas/SA are done. But they aren't the favorites that they were in previous years and their fans have to know that. One thing that is noticeable of winning teams is lack of injuries. It's a big part of the game and in retrospect no one cares.

The West is packed and if they are both so dependent on their PG's to sustain excellence, well they might be in trouble. Because the rest of the West is continuing to win. That loss to Philly is a wakeup call to Dallas imo. The loss to the Celtics by SA was a wakeup call also. I bet Pop is concerned........

[JES12]

No excuses about Harris and Parker. Injuries are a part of the game and no one cares honestly. Suck it up.


Golden State played without Stephen Jackson

Lakers playing without Bynum, Ariza, Mihm

Kings playing without Bibby, Artest, Kmart

Houston playing without McGrady

Portland playing without Oden

Clippers playing without Brand

Denver playing without Kenyon, Nene


Play the cards you got......

Oden doesn't count. Until he become a crucial part of you team, there is no reason to include him.

But anyways, Dallas has a better record than all those teams, yet the OP decided to focus on the mavs for this thread. Interesting! To add to that, Dampier, Stack and George have missed many games and Howard missed a few, but I did not mention them because Harris is the PG, the player that drives the offense.

BTW, from that list, only LA has a better record than the Spurs. So It's not like either team is playing the injury card; all I said was not to put too much stock into the 6-6 record without Harris.

[LakersSquad]

tI am talking seriously here. Not necessarily Kidd but they need something to be taken seriously. They still a top team in the West but they are in the doghouse. Vince Carter, Mike Miller, Ron Artest, Jason Kidd, Samuel Dalembert, AK47, & Jermaine O'Neal are names I would definitely go after. Unless they sky rocket and don't collapse in the offseason this team needs an overhaul (Dirk and Josh obviously are untouchable and need to stay there). I really want to see Dirk win a championship (coming from a Bulls fan) but the way the West is its hard to see that happenng right now.

Eddy curry for Dampier

[JellosJigglin]

I give you DJ Mbenga for Diop.

[JES12]

Correction...we are 6-6 without Harris (6-5 was a mistake)

The West is packed and if they are both so dependent on their PG's to sustain excellence, well they might be in trouble. Because the rest of the West is continuing to win. That loss to Philly is a wakeup call to Dallas imo. The loss to the Celtics by SA was a wakeup call also. I bet Pop is concerned........

Dallas is 34-17. We are currently 3rd in the west. 2nd going into lastnight. We are 2 games away from having the best record in the West. So, what exactly is the point you are tryiong to make?

Harris out 12 games thus far.
Dampier out 10 games (including the Philly game; Dirk & Terry play much better with his picks)
George out 25 games (more important than Ariza and Mihm are to the Lakers)
Howard 3 games
Stackhouse 12 games

So do injuries play a factor? Absolutley. Is Dallas making that an excuse? With a 34-17 record for 3rd best in the west, no!

[LakersSquad]

G35 I think your being a lil hard on them considering the past 3 years we had the same problems they're having now.

[DDansby123]

Is Sacramento going to get a pass and allowed to play in the playoff's because their team at full strength is playoff caliber?

Can Laker fans say "When we get Bynum for the playoff's we are title favorites!"

Nobody's suggesting that the Mavs or Spurs should be able to say anything similar, so I don't understand how this applies.

The West is packed and if they are both so dependent on their PG's to sustain excellence, well they might be in trouble. Because the rest of the West is continuing to win. That loss to Philly is a wakeup call to Dallas imo. The loss to the Celtics by SA was a wakeup call also. I bet Pop is concerned........

Nobody's saying we're not concerned, but there has been sentiment throughout the year writing both these teams off, and it's come after losing stretches following injuries to key players. The injuries are not serious enough to realistically affect playoff performance, so why judge the teams based on their performances without guys who will likely be there come playoff time? Again, this line of thinking doesn't make sense.

[Jordan45822]

Spurs don't need to do anything. I doubt they do anything. They might get a Joe Smith - Andres Nocioni - JR Smith type player though thats it.

Houston, Dallas, & Denver are the teams I am looking at that needs to do something if they really qant to win a championship. Sure Dallas is 10 times better with Harris but I still think they need to do something.

[Milan24]

I would be more concerned with their 12-14 road record more than anything. Do they need a trade, probably not. They will still be in the playoffs and if they hit their stride, they have as good a chance as anyone. That being said, I think Artest could put them over the edge.

[G35]

I would be more concerned with their 12-14 road record more than anything. Do they need a trade, probably not. They will still be in the playoffs and if they hit their stride, they have as good a chance as anyone. That being said, I think Artest could put them over the edge.

That was a point I was going to make.

Losing to Philly and New Jersey is bad no matter how you want to spin it.

It's not that Dallas is bad or SA is bad it's just that the West has IMPROVED.

NO and LAL are both significantly better. In particular the Lakers who have done pretty well on the road and incorporating Gasol. Phx you have to withhold judgement until we see what Shaq is going to bring.

But the standard has been raised and using injuries as a reason for how a team is performing is a copout. It's happened to the Lakers the last 2 years.

You know there is a reason why the Spurs have never repeated. That mentality that you don't have to make any improvements until you are eliminated isn't going to work. Teams should always be looking to improve, especially to compensate for injuries.

I don't see how the Spurs are any better than they were last year. But I do see how a lot of other teams have improved. Putting your head in the sand and saying we'll be ok isn't dealing with reality........