The Mavs...

[Blame Rasho]

I hate to backseat mod, but I think I speak for everyone when I say to take the pissing contest to the Lakers or General Board.

Si!!!!!!!!!!!

[MAD MAV MAN]

Turnover King, it seems like most of the Spur Fans agree with me. The Lakers shouldn't be your teams only concern. Again, I think when it comes down to it. I think it is going to be the Spurs against the Mavs anyway. The Lakers will go down in the second round. Lets see how it shakes out.

[Donald Kaufman]

I've said it before, your additions might work. I'm just saying, I wouldn't get too excited about adding Matrix, Thomas and Gooden.

But yeah we'll likely meet up in the playoffs at some point.

Good luck with the season.

[DEEP3CL]

Outta respect for my buddy TK, I'm not going to even mention the Lakers because this topic has NOTHING to do with them. As far as the Spurs fearing the Mavs......I seriously doubt it. Do they cause concern a little ? Maybe but I doubt it, and if they do it's only because of past battles.

The OP must be sippin the "Jim Jones" juice, because the off season pick ups the Mavs made hardly scare anybody. It's easy for fans to rank their teams off season pick ups with the homer shades on, truth is all the contender made the most significant moves that bolstered the squads immensely.

Looking way ahead at the playoff positions which the OP failed to realize, but in order for the Mavs to avoid the Spurs they'd have to win the division which ain't happen'in unless hell freezes over. Same goes for the Pacific Division.

Bottom line is this.......it's set in stone for the Mavs to finish 4 cause they ain't winning the Southwest Division period.

Hey OP...what flava is that Jim Jones cult juice ?

[Donald Kaufman]

True that, Deep. The Mavs might make things interesting, but will ultimately make up the numbers in the western conference race.

They are not as much of a threat as Portland, IMO. And I think the Hornets are getting slept on big time.

[co_laper]

Honestly, I'm not worried about Portland. I think we match up very well againts them. It depends on which Oden comes to play this season thou. I think Oden needs to be Dwight-like for me to worry about Portland.

I'll say that if I have to rate the biggest worries, after LA, it is Dallas. Our troubles are well chronicled againts them and there's no real reason why we would worry about Portland or NO or Houston or Utah more than we do Dallas.

[Donald Kaufman]

We've never faced this Blazers team in the playoffs. I don't think they'll be an easy out for anyone this year. You're right though, they're unproven in a sense. Oden will not be Dwight-like, not this season at least. I don't think they need him to be for them to succeed. The continuing dominant play of Roy and Aldridge will hold them in good stead. Oden just needs to patrol the paint, rip down boards and block shots. He doesn't need t be the focal point of their offence. I still don't know why they signed Miller though, it's like they made a move simply for the sake of it. I'm not saying he's not a good player, I just don't see how he fits in with that team.

As for the Mavs, look at Dallas' performance against Denver in the playoffs. They got hosed. Beating a broken down Spurs team should not give them any confidence. Adding 3 marginal players does little for their cause, IMO.

I've got a feeling about NO. I think Okafor will be a good fit for them. Last year was an anomaly. They had a successful season in '08 and they got complacent. They didn't put the hard work in.

[co_laper]

We match up too good for Blazers IMO. Duncan vs Aldridge. Manu vs Roy. Parker vs Miller. The only trouble we could have againts Blazers is if Oden is Dwight-like. Then we won't have an answer for him since we also need to worry about Aldridge.

I don't get how you can think less of Dallas because of their performance againts another team. Dallas got their ass kicked by GS. Don't mean we could handle Dallas like GS did. Denver or teams like Miami's title team had tough and quick frontline guys like Kenyon or Haslem that would body up Dirk and knock him down. If only we had that. We had Bonner. Unless Dice turns into some sort of KG-like intensity guy, that's not gonna change. We'd still be soft on Dirk in terms of toughness.

I mean, you say Dallas adding 3 marginal players does little for their cause, but what did Portland and NO did? NO did nothing.. Changing Chandler to Okafor makes them better, but how much? Same with Portland who only added Andre Miller. Dallas atleast added one very good starter, and 2 "Marginal" player. That's more than you can say for the rest of the West.

[MAD MAV MAN]

We match up too good for Blazers IMO. Duncan vs Aldridge. Manu vs Roy. Parker vs Miller. The only trouble we could have againts Blazers is if Oden is Dwight-like. Then we won't have an answer for him since we also need to worry about Aldridge.

I don't get how you can think less of Dallas because of their performance againts another team. Dallas got their ass kicked by GS. Don't mean we could handle Dallas like GS did. Denver or teams like Miami's title team had tough and quick frontline guys like Kenyon or Haslem that would body up Dirk and knock him down. If only we had that. We had Bonner. Unless Dice turns into some sort of KG-like intensity guy, that's not gonna change. We'd still be soft on Dirk in terms of toughness.

I mean, you say Dallas adding 3 marginal players does little for their cause, but what did Portland and NO did? NO did nothing.. Changing Chandler to Okafor makes them better, but how much? Same with Portland who only added Andre Miller. Dallas atleast added one very good starter, and 2 "Marginal" player. That's more than you can say for the rest of the West.

I love when a fan speaks the truth. Turnover King really doesnt give Marion much respect, but I think he is as good as Jefferson if not better. It is true both teams have added nice complementary players, but the most important players are the one's who have been battling since Avery Johnson. I am not saying that we are superior to the Spurs, but I do like our chances. Again, lets see how the season shakes out but I think we will be the two teams that everyone will have to go through (Lakers included).

[Donald Kaufman]

The Truth. Hmmm.

Mad Mav Man, you just want to be told that your team is great.

[MAD MAV MAN]

The Truth. Hmmm.

Mad Mav Man, you just want to be told that your team is great.

There really is no need. I know we won't get the respect from the rest of the league because we havent won anything. That's cool. However, we have beaten the Spurs consistently since we went to the finals. Now, that's TRUTH.

[Donald Kaufman]

The Mavs are awesome and will challenge all comers for the Western conference crown and quite possibly win the chip.

Happy?

[co_laper]

I personally love the thought of Marion as a Spur more than Jefferson. Especially considering Marion makes nearly half of what Jefferson is making.

Marion's offensive game is better suited playing alongside our big 3 because he doesn't need the ball. Meanwhile, I see Jefferson getting enough touches only if we use Manu as a 6th men again. Otherwise, being a 4th option on the floor won't give him enough scoring opportunities unless you're talking wide open shots. Obviously, if Jefferson's offense became Bowen-like (shoot 3 pointers), then that'll be bad for us. He'd then be Bowen on offense, and a worse version of Bowen on defense.

With Marion, he'd bring better defense. better rebounding. and I have to say Marion is a better fastbreak guy than Jefferson. He'll also be a better fit for our small ball lineup with Duncan at Center and Marion at PF opposed to having Jefferson at PF.