Do the Mavs make the playoffs ?

[-Kees-]

The problem is how good the West is and how many teams are on the rise. The Lakers, Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, Clippers and Grizz are all LOCKS for the playoffs, unless 1+ key guys are out for serious time. Are the Mavs better than the Jazz, Twolves, Warriors? Personally, I'm not sure they make it in. Their guard rotation is very weak and the big men don't fit terribly well together. I wouldn't be surprised if the Jazz/Twolves are 7/8 this year.

[Johnny Firpo]

If Dirk is out, were gonna be in the race for the nr.1 overall pick. If he's healthy, and can play, we're gonna make the playoffs. I mean, come on. It's Dirk.

[lilojmayo]

Dirk is still a Mav, so barring a serious injury to Nowitski they'll be there. Probably a 7th or 8th seed, but they'll be there. Time for OJ Mayo to become a star. No more excuses. He's the unbridled #2 and has a perfect counterpart. If he becomes the 20/5/5 player he's fully capable of being and Kaman/Brand are healthy enough to play 65-70 games each then Dallas should be more than fine. Terry was awesome in the championship run, but for a Megastar like Dirk, Terry has got to be one of the most hot/cold hit-or-miss #2s in recent memory.

He's ready.

[CrazyB0y]

lol

a team featuring Dirk will make the playoffs... no matter what.
even if he's 40 years old he'll still lead them to the post season.

so, unless Dirk misses more than 7-10 games the Mavs will make it - just as every other year in the past decade.

[Trader_Joe]

lol

a team featuring Dirk will make the playoffs... no matter what.
even if he's 40 years old he'll still lead them to the post season.

so, unless Dirk misses more than 7-10 games the Mavs will make it - just as every other year in the past decade.

A prime KG was missing the playoffs.
Even MJ wasn't making the playoffs with Washington in his late 30's.

Dirk has posted in 2 consecutive seasons his lowest PPG and RPG since his 2nd year (1999-2000).
Sure, in the playoffs give me Dirk, but I don't think he can single handedly carry a team through an 82 game schedule and guarantee playoffs.

[estelleli]

The problem is how good the West is and how many teams are on the rise. The Lakers, Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, Clippers and Grizz are all LOCKS for the playoffs, unless 1+ key guys are out for serious time. Are the Mavs better than the Jazz, Twolves, Warriors? Personally, I'm not sure they make it in. Their guard rotation is very weak and the big men don't fit terribly well together. I wouldn't be surprised if the Jazz/Twolves are 7/8 this year.

it depends on the guards, hopefully either Mayo or Beaubois could have have some good nights to win a few games.

[EntropyPR]

lol

a team featuring Dirk will make the playoffs... no matter what.
even if he's 40 years old he'll still lead them to the post season.

so, unless Dirk misses more than 7-10 games the Mavs will make it - just as every other year in the past decade.

A prime KG was missing the playoffs.
Even MJ wasn't making the playoffs with Washington in his late 30's.

Dirk has posted in 2 consecutive seasons his lowest PPG and RPG since his 2nd year (1999-2000).
Sure, in the playoffs give me Dirk, but I don't think he can single handedly carry a team through an 82 game schedule and guarantee playoffs.

2 consecutive seasons? Does the 1st consecutive season count seeing as that was the season Dallas won?

[re49gb_2gho32fp]

lol

a team featuring Dirk will make the playoffs... no matter what.
even if he's 40 years old he'll still lead them to the post season.

so, unless Dirk misses more than 7-10 games the Mavs will make it - just as every other year in the past decade.

A prime KG was missing the playoffs.
Even MJ wasn't making the playoffs with Washington in his late 30's.

Dirk has posted in 2 consecutive seasons his lowest PPG and RPG since his 2nd year (1999-2000).
Sure, in the playoffs give me Dirk, but I don't think he can single handedly carry a team through an 82 game schedule and guarantee playoffs.

2 consecutive seasons? Does the 1st consecutive season count seeing as that was the season Dallas won?

i assume it does since the argument traderJ was advocating was regular season endurance, or lack thereof.

[Trader_Joe]

lol

a team featuring Dirk will make the playoffs... no matter what.
even if he's 40 years old he'll still lead them to the post season.

so, unless Dirk misses more than 7-10 games the Mavs will make it - just as every other year in the past decade.

A prime KG was missing the playoffs.
Even MJ wasn't making the playoffs with Washington in his late 30's.

Dirk has posted in 2 consecutive seasons his lowest PPG and RPG since his 2nd year (1999-2000).
Sure, in the playoffs give me Dirk, but I don't think he can single handedly carry a team through an 82 game schedule and guarantee playoffs.

2 consecutive seasons? Does the 1st consecutive season count seeing as that was the season Dallas won?

Yes.. which is why I said give me Dirk in the playoffs.
But when discussing making the playoffs, that is where the regular season comes in.

[Texas Chuck]

[A prime KG was missing the playoffs.
Even MJ wasn't making the playoffs with Washington in his late 30's.

.

All apologies to both guys but old MJ and KG arent Dirk. KG is a terrific player and you can certainly make an argument that hes a better overall player than Dirk(in the RS only obv) but hes not an offensive anchor. He didnt make the playoffs because he cant carry a team offensively and he had very little help.

[kenifvintage]

Spurs, OKC, Lakers, Memphis, clippers will make the playoffs. so its only 3 spots left, i think Dallas could make it.
Suns - no
Hornets - no
Rockets - no
Warrior - may be
Wolves - yes. (but would be eliminated in the first round)
Nuggets - may be
Jazz - may be
Kings - no
Blazers - no
Dallas - may be

[ZB9]

The Mavs have a better roster this season than they did last season. The schedule will also be normal this season, unlike last season. The Mavs made the playoffs last season. The Mavs havent missed the playoffs since the Bill Clinton administration. Yes, Dallas will make the playoffs this season.

[Kibago]

nope. I love Dirk but the West is too strong. I'm not even sure they're better than a team like Portland, let alone one like Minnesota who will definitely be looking for a spot in the top 8.

assuming they have their first-rounder, if they start badly and Dirk does need knee surgery, doing it mid-season wouldn't be the worst idea. they might even end up with their next franchise player.

[Trader_Joe]

The Mavs have a better roster this season than they did last season. The schedule will also be normal this season, unlike last season. The Mavs made the playoffs last season. The Mavs havent missed the playoffs since the Bill Clinton administration. Yes, Dallas will make the playoffs this season.

You think it's better?
I think they will miss Kidd, Terry, Haywwod, Mahinmi and others. It's younger, with arguably more talent, but I don't know about better.

[ZB9]

The Mavs have a better roster this season than they did last season. The schedule will also be normal this season, unlike last season. The Mavs made the playoffs last season. The Mavs havent missed the playoffs since the Bill Clinton administration. Yes, Dallas will make the playoffs this season.

You think it's better?
I think they will miss Kidd, Terry, Haywwod, Mahinmi and others. It's younger, with arguably more talent, but I don't know about better.

I agree that they will miss Terry on offense for sure, as well as his leadership. Although Terry regressed last season, and that will probably continue this season as he is 35. He will fit in better with Boston in a limited role opposed to being the #2 in Dallas. As far as Kidd, I think he's done. They will definitely miss the 2010-2011 Kidd, but they missed that Kidd last season

Yes good point. It's a more talented roster than last season, but we will have to see if it is indeed better. It's good that they got younger overall. They needed to

[TruSkool]

it'll be a 4 way dogfight between the mavs, blazers, jazz, and wolves...2 of them will make it

the other 6 teams are in for sure (LAL,LAC,OKC,DEN,SAN,MEM)

[cs hauser]

A prime KG was missing the playoffs.

Why are you assuming KG > Dirk?

Prime Dirk led the Mavs to 11 consecutive 50-win seasons, 2 NBA Finals appearances, and 1 NBA Title. He hasn't been in the lottery since his sophomore season. Prime KG made 7 consecutive first round exits. He made it out of the first round only once in his prime. KG finished his Timberwolves career with 3 straight lottery seasons, before they finally gave up on him as a "franchise" player.

KG may look great on stats sheets, but his biggest problem was that he regularly disappeared in the clutch. He's not a guy who can reliably make the big shot at the end of games. That's why he was a failure as a franchise player in Minnesota. Being around Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rondo has covered up that huge flaw in KG's game.

That is the one big thing that separated Dirk from KG. After Nash & Finley left, Dirk stepped up his game in the face of adversity. That's something KG never could do.

Even MJ wasn't making the playoffs with Washington in his late 30's.

Dirk is only 34 years old, same age Michael Jordan was midway through his 2nd three-peat. The Jordan who missed the playoffs in Washington was almost 39 years old.

Dirk has posted in 2 consecutive seasons his lowest PPG and RPG since his 2nd year (1999-2000).

That has more to do with Rick Carlisle reducing Dirk's minutes. Dirk's minutes over the last two seasons have been at their lowest since his rookie year. No coincidence that his PPG & RPG have taken a dive.

Dirk's efficiency in 2010 was actually one of the best he's had in years. And his stats last year was badly skewed by a terrible start to the season. He averaged like 15/6 with a bad knee during the first month of the season. But from February until the end of the year, he was 23/7 which is comparable to his championship season.

[cs hauser]

I think they will miss Kidd, Terry, Haywwod, Mahinmi and others. It's younger, with arguably more talent, but I don't know about better.

Kidd was utterly terrible last year. The guy was logging nearly 30 minutes every night, but averaged only 6.2 ppg on 36% FG and only 5.5 apg. Those are atrocious numbers, and no amount of "intangibles" could possibly compensate for that. Mahinmi was a joke. Don't pretend like he's a talented piece the Mavs will miss.

It boils down to this:

2012: Chris Kaman, Elton Brand, Darren Collison, OJ Mayo

or

2011: Jason Terry, Brendan Haywood

I'll go with 2012.

[EntropyPR]

Mahimi and Haywood? LMAO! Surely anyone who says that never saw them as Mavs.

[Trader_Joe]

Mahimi and Haywood? LMAO! Surely anyone who says that never saw them as Mavs.

Saw plenty of them in person. I always like Mahinmi as underrated bench piece and Haywood has always been a decent rebounder and defender.

So, you guys think you will be better than last year's team which was roughly a 45 win pace?