Going into the All-Star break in a few days, the Mavericks are 26-19 (.578) and 8th in the West - only 2 games behind 5th position and 1.5 games out of slipping out of the top 8 <table class="genStatTable mainStandings" border="1" bordercolor="#cccccc" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr class="title"><td class="name">Western</td> <td>W</td> <td>L</td> <td>PCT</td> <td>GB</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <td class="team">L.A. Lakers<sup class="super">1</sup></td> <td>35</td> <td>9</td> <td>0.795</td> <td>0.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="team">San Antonio<sup class="super">2</sup></td> <td>30</td> <td>14</td> <td>0.682</td> <td>5.0</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <td class="team">Denver<sup class="super">3</sup></td> <td>30</td> <td>16</td> <td>0.652</td> <td>6.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="team">New Orleans<sup class="super">4</sup></td> <td>28</td> <td>14</td> <td>0.667</td> <td>6.0</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <td class="team">Portland<sup class="super">5</sup></td> <td>28</td> <td>17</td> <td>0.622</td> <td>7.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="team">Houston<sup class="super">6</sup></td> <td>28</td> <td>19</td> <td>0.596</td> <td>8.5</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <td class="team">Phoenix<sup class="super">7</sup></td> <td>25</td> <td>18</td> <td>0.581</td> <td>9.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="team">Dallas<sup class="super">8</sup></td> <td>26</td> <td>19</td> <td>0.578</td> <td>9.5</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <td class="team">Utah</td> <td>25</td> <td>21</td> <td>0.543</td> <td>11.0</td> </tr></tbody></table> Transactions - Dallas traded DeSagana Diop to Charlotte for Matt Carroll and Ryan Hollins. - Dallas traded Eddie Jones, 2009 2nd round draft pick, and a 2010 or 2011 pick, and cash (about $1.9 million) to Indiana for Shawne Williams. Questions to ask - Is Rick Carlisle getting the job done? - Which players are not fitting ni with the system? - What does this team need to get upto the 4th/5th spot in the West - How far can we go? - Jason Kidd deal, any further thoughts? - Rebuilding mode soon? Just thought this would open up a bit of discussion hopefully
Although the Mavss are far from done, I just don't think they can pass the first round of the playoffs. Mavs are very inconsistent. They are 1 piece away from being a force. I still believe that Josh Howard has to go. With regards to your questions: 1. Is Rick Carlisle getting the job done? - I'm still waiting for him to actually give the ball to Kidd. Other than that, he's doing fine. I think the problem falls more on the players than him. 2. Which players are not fitting ni with the system? - Josh Howard. On the floor, he seems to be doing his own thing. 3. What does this team need to get upto the 4th/5th spot in the West - Defense. TO be able to make a stop on crucial situations. Execution on offense. Dallas' game on the half court is very suspect. Nobody really can play the post. Dirk most of the time takes a fade away j. Howard doesn't seem to want to drive towards the basket and takes a lot of contested shots. Terry is always itching to fire up a 3 and Kidd is left somewhere on the floor taking a 3 with time expiring. Kidd needs to have the ball. Like I said, I'm still waiting for Carlisle to give him the ball. Where's the motion offense Coach? 4. How far can we go? Looking at the roster alone. You would think that Dallas is at least sitting on the 4th spot. With the lineup Dallas has right now, they can do just that. If they can get their act together. 5. Jason Kidd deal, any further thoughts? If they can get Kobe, go for it. If not, what's the point? Getting Kidd to Dallas was a circus ride to say the least. Why would Cuban just let Kidd go for a couple of draft picks and another good player? Yeah his turning 36 and all. But how many 20 year old can produce a stat line like Kidd does? Not to mention the things he do that are not in the books? The Mavs need a trade, yes. But Kidd should not be involved. 6. Rebuilding mode soon? Nowitzki, 30, Kidd, 35, I'd say pretty soon. By soon I mean after the summer of 2010.
- Is Rick Carlisle getting the job done? Tough call, when I watch him coach I usually get angry with his "Antoine Wright hit his first two shots, he gets to play the rest of the game" philosophy. I understand playing these guys if they have the hot hand, but our youth needs time to show what they can do. What happened to Gerald Green? - Which players are not fitting in with the system? Depends which system you are talking about. In the halfcourt, Howard seems to be struggling. However, if we ran as much as Carlisle said we were going to, Dampier would probably be the odd man out. Also, I expected more from Bass this year, but that hasn't panned out. - What does this team need to get upto the 4th/5th spot in the West Defense, consistency, and a trade. This is essentially the same roster that has led to many letdowns for us, and something needs to change. I was hoping Michael Redd could be that guy via a trade, but we know what happened with him. Kidd doesnt score enough to be the X factor that gets us over the top. - How far can we go? Western conference semis with the way the roster is currently constructed - too many holes that need to be plugged. - Jason Kidd deal, any further thoughts? When Kidd plays well, I think it was the best trade we've ever made. I dont think its quite as bad as people make it out to be because Devin Harris would have NEVER put up the stats he is putting up for the Mavericks. That dribble drive offense wouldnt work here, so i expected him to level out at something like 17-18 pts, 5-6 assists, 2 steals per. Of course, we could really use that extra scoring. - Rebuilding mode soon? I think retooling is already being thought of, but completely rebuilding? Not until Dirk is closer to 40 than 30.
