Shake-up needed in Dallas

[deuceSUNS]

Hey, I am a Suns fan first and foremost, but I see the same problem with the Mavs as I did with the SUNS. Here is what I saw with both teams so far.

1) Not having fun
2) Soft
3) Predictable

Since the SUNS have made the trade for Shaq, they are all smiles, having fun and the crowd is loud again. They are enjoying theirselves. With the addition of Shaq, they become less predictable. They are definitely not soft anymore with him and Stat, thats a powerful 1-2 punch. There is a whole new light to the SUNS team now. The trade was necessary and good. Shaq aint going to dominate but he will change teams approaches to the SUNS.

Now onto the Mavs. THey are not a happy group of guys right now. They are very predictable: Jump shot, Jump shot, Jump shot and one on one, one on one, one on one. No team goes into dallas and says they are going to pound us down. THey say lets pound the Mavs into submission. NO one on the mavs is averaging more then 5.3 assists or more then 8 rebounds game. Conclusion there is no passing or power for the Mavs so a trade is not only needed it is NECESSIARY!

US suns fans have been complaining about the same stuff as you Mavs fans. Only the management in PHX isn't playing a blind eye to the team like Cuban is.

This is not a bashing statement, I just see alot of similarities in both teams and just thought I would put in my two cents and see what you guys think.

[from_ro_to_dirk]

i agree the Mavs need a change, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a major, drastic one. I just want some infusion of new blood for our role players. I want guys who can play NOW, not guys who could play 5 years ago. I'm sick of the Jones, Juwons, Hassells, Buckners, Georges and worthless young guys like Ager, Mbenga etc that we've had the past few years that are nonfactors when we get to the playoffs.

I'd be happy with some minor trades for guys who can fill specific roles (like they tried to fill with Jones, Hassell, Juwon) but can still actually play! Thats why guys like Barnes and Mo Pete would have been nice signings. Let's bring in some new blood to be our role players. There's gotta be guys out there who are available that are not star players but can contribute for 15 - 20 mins per and do a better job than these guys and may not cost too much.

Any ideas anyone? We can use said scrubby guys or KVH, and/or picks, and/or cash to get them. Guys like Mobley, Tim "Lips Like Sugar" Thomas, Wally Szerb., Earl Watson? (id want him), someone from the Twolves?, Pietrus?

[JapanAir21]

I seem to be the only Mavs fan right now who's not pushing the panic button, and I don't really understand WHY people are panicking, I mean I understand that we're struggling right now yes, but given our situation, with our injuries, and we have the 3rd best record still, and yes we're losing a lot of games, more than we normally do, but a few things, were losing games to eastern conference teams, and were losing to teams when we are injured. The spurs are going through the same thing, they've never made any significant changes recently, adding ime udoka and damon stoudemire, nothing huge. We haven't lost too many games in the west against quality teams, I like where we at under the current circumstances, all this has been happening while DEVIN IS OUT THROUGH INJURY, AND HE'S THE KEY TO US DOING WELL.

I understand why we would make some moves, but I don't see why we would do anything major, we have a good core with devin, josh, and dirk, and with this tea we can't make anything too major unless we move one of those three because we can't just unload danpier or devean, or jones because quite frankly no one would want them. We could package them all together but itd kill our depth as a team so I don't really see what we could do. Yeah we could try some of our fantasy deals as want-to-be GMs, but how often do deals get done in this L, not too often, and not usually anything big. Other than this year, there hasn't been too many big moves that didn't happen through FA, last year there was AI coming to denver but they aren't substaintially better than they were before, the lakers have gasol now but who would guard dirk from la? Odom? Bynum? Gasol definitely can't. As for the suns, they haven't shown much of anything with Shaq, and losing Marion will prove to be a bigger loss then most people think, yes they could havwe let him go, but now they're strangled by shaqs contract now, that's 20 million a year for the next two without nash/amare in their plans. With barbosa, diaw, bell, etc, it'll be interesting to see how they fair.

[JES12]

Any ideas anyone? We can use said scrubby guys or KVH, and/or picks, and/or cash to get them. Guys like Mobley, Tim "Lips Like Sugar" Thomas, Wally Szerb., Earl Watson? (id want him), someone from the Twolves?, Pietrus?

1) I wouldn't touch Tim Thomas with a 10 foot pole. I'd rather have Antoine Walker back than have Timmy.
2) Mobley is the old player that you just talked about with a much higher price tag.
3) Watson would be fine if Terry was traded for a bigger shooter (like Miller).
4) Wally cost too much to be realistic unless Seattle wanted Stack & Hassell.
5) Pietrus would be nothing more than an expiring as we would not have any bird rights to resign him, so I don't see what a crash course of mavs 101 would do for someone who supposedly is not too bright.


As for our team, I think we need a coaching change or the same coach change his motivational style. I know he is a young coach, but he has been out coached the last 2 post-seasons to Nellie and Riley. If, like everyone says, our window is closing, we should invest in in another coach. Maybe Larry Brown, but I'm not all that of a Brown fan. I think Phil Jackson and Pat Riley could turn this squad into a 70 win team with playoff and championship sucess.

[JES12]

Oh, snap! Dale Hanson is talking about Avery Johnson should be fired before Wade Phillps.

[HMFFL]

Health is the biggest problem right now. We need our team to get healthy and stay healthy for the push into the playoffs. A drastic trade is far from being needed, but some minor changes need to happen, and it was a mistake adding the veterans we did during the offseason.

[dirkforpres]

Health is the biggest problem right now. We need our team to get healthy and stay healthy for the push into the playoffs. A drastic trade is far from being needed, but some minor changes need to happen, and it was a mistake adding the veterans we did during the offseason.

Word. But I do think Terry is bringing this team down lately, and we should look to trade him if we get the chance.

[Teffer10]

I seem to be the only Mavs fan right now who's not pushing the panic button, and I don't really understand WHY people are panicking, I mean I understand that we're struggling right now yes, but given our situation, with our injuries, and we have the 3rd best record still, and yes we're losing a lot of games, more than we normally do, but a few things, were losing games to eastern conference teams, and were losing to teams when we are injured. The spurs are going through the same thing, they've never made any significant changes recently, adding ime udoka and damon stoudemire, nothing huge. We haven't lost too many games in the west against quality teams, I like where we at under the current circumstances, all this has been happening while DEVIN IS OUT THROUGH INJURY, AND HE'S THE KEY TO US DOING WELL.

I understand why we would make some moves, but I don't see why we would do anything major, we have a good core with devin, josh, and dirk, and with this tea we can't make anything too major unless we move one of those three because we can't just unload danpier or devean, or jones because quite frankly no one would want them. We could package them all together but itd kill our depth as a team so I don't really see what we could do. Yeah we could try some of our fantasy deals as want-to-be GMs, but how often do deals get done in this L, not too often, and not usually anything big. Other than this year, there hasn't been too many big moves that didn't happen through FA, last year there was AI coming to denver but they aren't substaintially better than they were before, the lakers have gasol now but who would guard dirk from la? Odom? Bynum? Gasol definitely can't. As for the suns, they haven't shown much of anything with Shaq, and losing Marion will prove to be a bigger loss then most people think, yes they could havwe let him go, but now they're strangled by shaqs contract now, that's 20 million a year for the next two without nash/amare in their plans. With barbosa, diaw, bell, etc, it'll be interesting to see how they fair.

I don't think it is necessarily pushing the panic button but some of us feel that this team has not addressed some of the issues that have prevented us from winning a championship.
I think some of our biggest issues in the POs have been:

1. Lack of floor leadership
2. Inside scoring
3. SG position
4. Perimeter defense
5. Athleticism
6. A solid sidekick for Dirk (someone to take some of the pressure off of him)

Bass has solved some of those issues, but there are several important ones that are still in question.

We are 2-8 in our last 10 PO games. That should be enough of a warning sign that something is wrong.

[Teffer10]

-= original quote snipped =-



Word. But I do think Terry is bringing this team down lately, and we should look to trade him if we get the chance.

I can't image who would want him.
I wonder if Miami would consider a 3 way deal like this:

Miami trades J.Williams
Receives: Terry

Dallas trades Terry, Ager, 08 #1
Receives: Mike Miller

Memphis trades Miller
Receives: J.Williams, Ager, Dallas 08 #1

I don't think Miami would want that contract though.

[HMFFL]

-= original quote snipped =-



Word. But I do think Terry is bringing this team down lately, and we should look to trade him if we get the chance.

With four years left on his contract, I doubt he draws much interest, and if he does teams are most likely not going to trade much for Jason. Give it another two or three years and some interest may come knocking at our door.

[JES12]

^^^
Miami fans were on board with somthing similar to that until this latest rumor of Miller to Miami for Williams. However, 4 days ago, their fans wanted us to take Smush parker and I was completly fine with getting any PG back if Terry leaves and since we were getting a swingman, I sent Ager to Miami in my trade proposals.

4 days ago, they liked

Miami trades J.Williams, S. Parker, Miami 2nd
Receives: Terry, Ager

Dallas trades Terry, Ager, 08 #1
Receives: Mike Miller, S. Parker

Memphis trades Miller
Receives: J.Williams,, Dallas 08 #1, Miami 2nd (high 2nd)

I was later told they don't have their 2nd rounder anymore.

[Teffer10]

^^^
Miami fans were on board with somthing similar to that until this latest rumor of Miller to Miami for Williams. However, 4 days ago, their fans wanted us to take Smush parker and I was completly fine with getting any PG back if Terry leaves and since we were getting a swingman, I sent Ager to Miami in my trade proposals.

4 days ago, they liked

Miami trades J.Williams, S. Parker, Miami 2nd
Receives: Terry, Ager

Dallas trades Terry, Ager, 08 #1
Receives: Mike Miller, S. Parker

Memphis trades Miller
Receives: J.Williams,, Dallas 08 #1, Miami 2nd (high 2nd)

I was later told they don't have their 2nd rounder anymore.

If Miami were to trade Williams for Miller, I wouldn't mind seeing the Mavs trade Terry for Ricky Davis. I'm not a big Ricky Davis fan, but this would be the time to bring him in to see if he might fit. If not, we would at least dump Terry's contract which at this time doesn't sound like a bad move.

[JES12]

And that would be the only reason why I would do that, as I would hope Davis leaves via free agency. To lower payroll and be more flexible would be an advantage.

Now that Cuban has his core (Dirk, Harris, Howard), he can start paying the role players, role player money. Terry is a role player here and would be a starter in Miami, thus earning his money. Terry/Wade/Haslem/Marion is a nice group.

I would still like to get Miller or Artest and have 4 solid starters.

[DDansby123]

Now that Cuban has his core (Dirk, Harris, Howard), he can start paying the role players, role player money.

I think that trio has too many shortcomings to win a championship surrounded by role players. With that group, you'd have to find guys who make up for those shortcomings, and most role players don't have strengths where our Big 3 are weak (e.g., passing/creating/slashing). Role players tend to be San Antonio-type guys (Finley, Barry, Horry, et al) who live offensively off the shots created for them by the Big 3. Our Big 3 don't create enough of those for role players to have an impact (see our current situation with Jones, George, and Hassell).

So you either have to improve your Big 3 or improve the quality of the role players. Maybe bringing in somebody above a roleplayer but below an All-Star (like Artest or Maggette) would do the trick, but I still think we'd see long glimpses of the same stagnant, jumpshooting offense we've seen the past two playoff series.

[ppp000]

I also don't think our big 3 can get it done. Especially not with the current supporting cast.

Dirk and Josh--> the two just don't complement each other that well. Now that Josh has become primarily become a jumpshooter as well, their games, while not the same, provide no versatility.

My opinion:
-Dirk either cannot be the first option OR we need to get a better 2nd option. In the 4th quarter, Harris would probably have his hands full with the opposing, often star, pg. Howard has his disappearing act. Terry has regressed to apoint where I dont trust him to even inbound the ball (ok too harsh, but I'm fed up with him this season). When the other team doubles up and plays tighter D on Dirk, who's going to step up and make them pay and keep the defenses honest??

Lets be honest: this offseason instead of trying to get guys like Barnes, Blatche, etc we went after the same redundant vets (EJ, Juwuan, Hass, kept George and Stack) that give us nothing. Avery always talks about veteranly leadership and crap, same reason why we got rid of Quis, a guy who was actually athletic and able to get to the basket. Instead, we targetted guys like Jones whos career was over 5 years ago. GREAT JOB FO.

Now that we're stuck with the oldies and the monster contract of Terry, the ONLY trade pieces we have that could net us anything of value is the big 3. You think the Clippers would do a terry-Maggette trade right now? Think again.

[DDansby123]

Dirk and Josh--> the two just don't complement each other that well. Now that Josh has become primarily become a jumpshooter as well, their games, while not the same, provide no versatility.

I agree completely. Howard has fallen in love with his jumpshot, and he has tunnel vision when he attacks the basket. There's nothing wrong with that, generally, as he's far from being a chucker. But it's not a good thing for this team, and it's not good playing alongside Dirk, Terry, and all the other jumpshooters we have.

There's actually a handful of non-superstar wings we could trade Josh for and make the team significantly better, IMO (Manu Ginobili, for example).

-Dirk either cannot be the first option OR we need to get a better 2nd option.

This is pretty much what we've said for three years now. And let me ask you and everyone else here: are we any closer to a championship now than we were three years ago? Having waited on Josh and Devin to develop, where do we find ourselves? Three years older and deeper in debt, to borrow a line.

Re: Terry, I think other GMs are smart enough to realize that he's not in the best situation here, because he's trying to be something he's not: a PG. I still think he'd be incredible next to pretty much any wing who handles the ball a lot (LeBron, Wade, McGrady, et al).

[dirkforpres]

I think we can all agree that not pulling the trigger on the Maggette-Terry deal was stupid on our part.

[Sken]

From the reports I read, Dallas had pulled the trigger on JET for Maggette, but Sterling pulled the plug on it.

I think the problem related to long term salary for the Clipps