Lottery or playoffs?

[sosafan70]

Playoffs, of course. If Dirk returns healthy, we match up with just about everyone in the Western Conference. And with the West being so tight this year, why not take our chances?

[Chester0]

Lottery. It makes the summer more exciting!!

I just don't see us winning it this year, and as close as we have been for the last 5 years, a title is the only thing worth shooting for. Plus, it makes May a less stressful month. I have an aneurysm every damn playoff game.

[Teffer10]

Lottery. It makes the summer more exciting!!

I just don't see us winning it this year, and as close as we have been for the last 5 years, a title is the only thing worth shooting for. Plus, it makes May a less stressful month. I have an aneurysm every damn playoff game.

I agree, there are too many negatives going on with this team right now. I just don't see this team turning it around quick enough (if at all) to make it deep into the playoffs. I questioned whether we had the talent before Dirk's injury but now it is even worse. Anything less than winning a championship would be a disappointment so it is better to compromise this season to increase our odds for next.

A lotto draft pick would be a decent trade piece to help address some areas of dire need like SG and backup center..

[studcrackers]

im fine either way, i do think theres a ton of depth in this draft (not the complete top end talent like the lebron draft but a great draft and possibly better then last years)

[luhbron]

Doesn't New Jersey receiver your 1st round pick in 2008 and 2010?
is it lottery protected or something?

[Basketballmania]

yes its lottery protected.
i also do not think we'll win a title this year, although we play well against teams like SA or PHX.
but the lakers and hornets i.e. are too versatile for us.
when are we going to have a lottery pick next time? probably in the year after dirks retirement! so use th chance, and use dirks injury as an excuse for missing the PO's. way better than another first round exit and then having nothing in our hands, which leads to a disappointing offseason again.
i thinbk our pick will be between #10 and #14 but because its a lottery we could get up to #5 as well. unlikely but everything could happen!

[Darren]

Those guys are possibility available. I like Nicolas Batum the most.

#15 JaVale McGee 7-0 237 C

http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profile ... mcgee.html

NBA Comparison: Andrew Bynum/Patrick OBryant

Strengths: Long athletic bigman who is absolutely bursting with potential ... Runs the floor exceptionally well ... Improving at a rapid pace on both ends of the floor. Has freakishly long arms: around a 7-6 wingspan which makes him a great rebounder and shot blocker ... Can really become a force defensively when he adds strength and discipline on opponent's shot fakes ... His length makes it extremely difficult for opponents to get shots over ... His offensive game is showing a lot of promise with developing back to the basket skills. He even shows some ability to face the basket and make drives or spot up ... Has a competitive spirit that is not apparent in many bigmen who picked up the game because of their size. A late bloomer who went underrecruited out of Chicago. McGee's parents were both professional basketball players so he has been around the game from a young age ... Shows solid form and touch on his shot ... Has a tremendous frame which should allow him to get much stronger and retain his great agility and athleticism ... Gives great effort and shows very good stamina for a bigman his age ... Added strength will give him better balance and make him a lot more effective imposing his will inside ... Has the potential to be a top 5-10 center in the league someday (if he's patient about entering the NBA) ... Has even shown the ability to knock down shots from college 3, no question influenced by the presence of Nick Fazekas last year ...

Weaknesses: Still must gain maturity. He gets frustrated far too easily and loses his composure quickly when calls go against him, or when he's struggling ... Still growing into his body and game, learning what he's capable of and steadily becoming a factor night in and night out ... Needs to develop some go to moves. A reliable jump hook would make him an absolute force ... Must improve from the free throw line (50% wont cut it). He has solid shooting touch and should be able to raise his FT shooting to at least 70-75 percent over time if he develops a consistent routine and works at it ... Should be wary of leaving school early. It's likely he would be a first rounder this year, but a third year in college would really help him in the long run as he would be much better prepared for the NBA and not run the risk of losing confidence and falling short of his full potential ...


#13 Donte Greene 6-10 226 SF

http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profile ... reene.html

NBA Comparison: Rashard Lewis/Marvin Williams

Strengths: Greene is an especially long and talented wing who can score in bunches. When he

[Darren]

My Offseason Plan:

1. Trade Josh Howard and Jason Terry for Shawn Marion.

2. Draft Batum.

3. Use the MLE to sign Diop and Wright.

4. Retain Malik Allen, Tyron Lue and Jose Juan Barea with minimum.

5. Fire Avery and replace him with Jason Kidd as player coach.

C - Damp - Diop / Magloire
PF - Dirk - Bass / M.Allen
SF - Marion - DG / RAT
SG - Batum - Stack / Wright
PG - Kidd - Lue / J.J.Barea

[your_dallas_mavericks]

I may not have always been a posative poster, but to give up and choose lottery instead of at least contending for a title in the post season is for losers and I'm not ready to call our players losers.

I know I shouldn't, but I take that personally. I am not saying to quit, I am saying take a step back and come back next year with a vengeance. Sometimes a retreat in battle allows an Army to attack with fewer losses and achieve battle supremacy. If we made the playoffs, we would be slaughtered and it would hurt us more in the long run. Not making the playoffs is tactical and allows us to keep our pick and use it to our advantage.

A draft pick could be a draft pick or it could be coupled with Howard to bring us a player that could put us waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over the top like a Redd or a Marion or who knows who else.

Kidd needs a training camp with the players and he needs the offense tailored around him. The offseason can do that, with our without Avery at the helm.

So 2007, you can say what you want - but I am not saying what I am saying out of a defeatist attitude. I am saying it because it's tactical, just like getting the 5th seed is tactical because that team would more than likely have home court over Utah. San Antone has beaten us 3 times now and holds the tie breaker over us.

We aren't winning on the road
Avery is really no longer effective
The team needs to scrap the ISO's and make it Kidd's team
Dirk is out for an undisclosed period of time
Either we end up with a high pick, or no pick at all
Players such as Marion and Redd could be obtained for Howard + pick

We gain much more by not making the playoffs than we do by making it!

We stick it to the Stern this way and come back in 2009 with a vengeance.

Tell me how you can't see the benefits of this 2007?

[your_dallas_mavericks]

I am not saying our players are losers, but our coach is a complete MORON and doesnt know how to use them. Everytime I look at our roster I am in awe that we are actually 0-8 against teams that are above .500. Id rather miss the playoffs in general than go out in the first round again.

Here, here! I agree with dfp!

[your_dallas_mavericks]

im fine either way, i do think theres a ton of depth in this draft (not the complete top end talent like the lebron draft but a great draft and possibly better then last years)

I am going to change my original statement to mirror what sc said. There is a ton of depth in this draft, but not complete top end talent but nonetheless a great draft...

Thanks sc for posting what I was thinking but for some reason was unable to convey. You da man sc!

[Teddy KGB]

We should suck it up and go quiet the doubters and win the MFin' championship!

[your_dallas_mavericks]

ss, I like your posts, and I like your attitude. Everyone here agrees that we have the talent to go all the way. We have the depth to go all the way. This is sadly the best Mavericks team in history. What is sadder is we have a coach that cannot lead his team properly. He has lost them. They don't believe in him and that is where we are at.

Every player knows Kidd is a superstar and they also realize that he is playing within a completely different system that he is used to playing.

These players can play Kidd's way. Avery won't let them.

Is this season disgusting on a lot of levels? Yes. We could never see this kind of talent assembled in a Mavs uniform again.

Do I believe we can win it all, yes I do. Do I think it's an impossibility with Avery and his ego walking the sidelines? I believe so. It's time for a change, ss.

Oh, let me give one final disclaimer...

If Avery was fired now, and someone like a Paul Westphal or a Joe Prunty took over I would say go for it and shoot for the playoffs. I like, er, love our chances with this talent and depth minus Avery.

I feel better now...

[sweet daddy]

I've got zero respect for any team that would consider tanking at the end of the season to get a better draft pick, or to avoid getting a bad playoff matchup. If you can make the playoffs, you make the playoffs and take your chances.

That being said, I personally believe that we might miss the playoffs in spite of our best efforts if Dirk is unavailable for any period of time. Like it or not, we are built around him.

Man, what a crappy year so far.

[Darren]

I've got zero respect for any team that would consider tanking at the end of the season to get a better draft pick, or to avoid getting a bad playoff matchup. If you can make the playoffs, you make the playoffs and take your chances.

That being said, I personally believe that we might miss the playoffs in spite of our best efforts if Dirk is unavailable for any period of time. Like it or not, we are built around him.

Man, what a crappy year so far.

I understand your frustration. But I think we do respect San Antonio Spurs who won a championship after a tanking season to welcome Tim Duncan to form the twin tower.

Ordinary thinking is the Mavs isn't going anywhere without Dirk. I'm fine they prove me wrong. You can have Damp and Bass going crazy in Dirk's shoes with the Mavs winning a champion. But for the time being, it's quite safe to say, even if we try, we can barely make it.

Without Dirk, we lose a scorer and crunch player as well as rebounder and defender (compared to his backup, of course). And we should re-invent our system in limited time span.

We are who we are. Roman isn't built overnight. And I don't want to rush Dirk back to end his career early.

This team can compete. Whether it is the largest come back against LAL, a down-to-wire game against Boston, or bored-to-dead game versus SAS. They compete really hard. But the sad thing is: they're a starter away from the top-tier teams. I like our chance to land one in the draft.

[mavsfoty]

-= original quote snipped =-
I like our chance to land one in the draft.

Who? Everyone keeps saying this draft is good and we can address some need but who are we going to get? Chase Budinger? Thabeet?

Seriously the only one that interests me is Westbrook from UCLA but even then what makes you think Avery will give him a shot?

Josh Howard and Dirk aside Dallas has never done great in the draft. Donnie's at his best scouring for unheralded talent like Nash or Bass.

If we get a lotto pick it needs to be traded to bring in proven talent. Period.

[MainEv3nt]

I may not have always been a posative poster, but to give up and choose lottery instead of at least contending for a title in the post season is for losers and I'm not ready to call our players losers.

the first thing i thought. if rockets can win without yao, we can do it without dirk!

[tisbee]

As a Rockets fan I want you to tank ,but looking at the overall picture,there's 3 things to consider.
1)Money. Yes the NBA is a business and even 2-3 home games w/all the t-shirts,caps,unis sold are some serious coin. On other hand,a rookie draft pick in th 14 range is relatively cheap roster fodder. Slight edge tanking.
2)Talent. Picking up a good young player who you can develope for a couple of yrs is not a bad thing,even if he can't help right away. Significant edge tanking.
3)How tough will the West be after all? There's no dominant team this yr. The Spurs look to be suffering from their every other yr letdown,the Lakers have no idea what they will end up being,Utah is unbelievably poor on defense,GS Houston and Denver are 1 trick ponies and Hornets are young. The West is wide open this yr.
Overall edge,get in Playoffs and see what happens.

[BMF Jet Jaguar]

i like

batum
green
DJ Augustine
Love
Randolf
Arthur
Hibbert
Tyler Smith

[NuclearPalsy]

-= original quote snipped =-


There's no one at 14 in the draft who can help us win a title in his 1st year imo. I think we would be better off trading the pick (package it with Terry or Howard maybe) for the best player we can get.

It's not like we are going to do anything in the playoffs anyways...

Kevin Love, Hibbert, Augstine, Jordan are all possibilities at 14 but this is the lowest possible pick. With Cuban's luck we how can you say we won't end up higher.

However this is not the Lebron, Mellow, D-Wade draft by a long shot.