Even if you can't stand Dallas, you have to admit they've played almost every game to the wire they've lost in the past month without 3 and sometimes 4 of their best players. Not having the second best player, Howard; the top two defenders at the SG-SF position in Howard and Griffin, and the mercurial penetrator and marksman Devin Harris would have sunk more than half the teams. Van Horn was an integral scorer back in January and early February, and is hopefully going to give the Mavs 10 points and 5 rebounds and 3 assists off the bench in May. I sure hope the long wait will be worth it in terms of healthy players so we can see a Mavs team at its best in the 2nd and 3rd round of the playoffs.
Avery has been doing a good job in getting the best out of the current crew and the players have stepped up as well. We have one of the toughest schedules remaining for any team in the league. Other than Orlando, none of the other games can be taken easy. Even Orlando has been playing well lately. Wed 29 @ Cleveland Fri 31 @ Orlando Sun 2 Denver Tue 4 Sacramento Fri 7 @ San Antonio Sat 8 NO/Okla. City Mon 10 @ L.A. Clippers Wed 12 @ Golden State Thu 13 @ Phoenix Sun 16 Utah Wed 19 L.A. Clippers I don't think we can beat the Spurs to the #1 spot. Avery needs to take it easy and make sure Josh Howard, Griffin and Harris are 100% healthy when the playoffs start and give Dirk some rest as well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dallasdude:</div><div class="quote_post">Avery has been doing a good job in getting the best out of the current crew and the players have stepped up as well. We have one of the toughest schedules remaining for any team in the league. Other than Orlando, none of the other games can be taken easy. Even Orlando has been playing well lately. Wed 29 @ Cleveland Fri 31 @ Orlando Sun 2 Denver Tue 4 Sacramento Fri 7 @ San Antonio Sat 8 NO/Okla. City Mon 10 @ L.A. Clippers Wed 12 @ Golden State Thu 13 @ Phoenix Sun 16 Utah Wed 19 L.A. Clippers I don't think we can beat the Spurs to the #1 spot. Avery needs to take it easy and make sure Josh Howard, Griffin and Harris are 100% healthy when the playoffs start and give Dirk some rest as well.</div> I'm with you. It seems like the first or 4th seeds are equally challenging; sort of like deciding which side of Mt. Everest to climb on. It would be sweet to win the last 4 games heading into the playoffs. Dallas has established itself as a team that can play with anyone with any healthy part of its roster. So I agree that resting Dirk and letting Howard, Griffin and (not sure if the last one will make it back) Harris play just enough to find their legs and rhythm so they can establish their presence and games in the first round. If we are fortunate enough to make the second round, then let's hope the team's decision to shelve Howard and Griffin pays big dividends with stellar play from those two and the strong offensive game that Stackhouse has put together with his extra minutes and starting time. We need Marquis to excel with the ball in his hands that won him the big money in '04, and it will be a bonus if Harris' muscle tear which apparently had amost healed before he ripped the scar tissue let's him back on the court before July. The Diop first, Dampier second decision was a nice move for the team, and even seems to have helped Dirk's defense.
