Re: Mavs hoping depth isn't paper thin Mavs hoping depth isn't paper thinBy RANDY GALLOWAYStar-Telegram Staff WriterWe've got one team that's close.Close to winning a championship.We've also got the Cowboys, who talk Super Bowl, but then get defensive when someone brings up the offensive line.Or the fact there hasn't been a playoff win in 10 years.The Rangers? Check with your doctor. See how many more years he thinks you've got.The Stars gave us the last local championship. Another one is not in the forecast anytime soon.But then there are the Mavericks, who spent the summer recovering nicely from sudden June doom after cracking the NBA Finals.In the last calendar year, no local club has done a better job of filling its off-season needs than the Mavs.The only thing missing was a muzzle for Mark Cuban (thank you, Dirk, for bringing that up).Otherwise, this team is better than it was. Much deeper and more talented.Give credit to Donnie Nelson and Avery Johnson for picking up the right pieces this summer.Over in Maui a couple of weeks ago, I heard a proud daddy say, "How 'bout that Donnie?"Don Nelson is now in the process of cutting all ties with Cuban, but the guy who rebuilt the Mavs remains a big fan of his son and of Avery."It's the best off-season we've had since we drafted Dirk and traded for [Steve] Nash in the same summer," said Big Nellie. "But we were trying to start something with those moves. This time, the Mavericks are trying to finish something."In the Western Conference of the NBA, that won't be easy.Getting back to the Finals will probably be harder than getting there the first time last season.The Mavericks had to be aggressive this summer, but the off-season started with the failure to land No. 1 free-agent target Mike James as a shooting guard.Avery thought he had James locked down for delivery, then he goes to the Timberwolves."That was a temporary setback," admitted Donnie Nelson, the general manager. "But we couldn't allow it to be the end of the world."In some ways, losing James was like piling on after the Mavs won the first two games of the Finals, then got hit with a Miami tidal Wade."As much as we enjoyed getting there, that's how much we hated the end result," said Donnie. "In the worst way, we want to go back. So the off-season goal was to try and load up with some veterans who will make us deeper, make us more versatile and make us better."From here, it appears the Mavericks accomplished that.On paper, it's a better team than the one that was in gloom walking off the floor after Game 6. Except when that was mentioned to Nelson, he balked a bit."What appears on paper doesn't mean much in this business," he said. "That chemistry has to be there, and in adding players to what was already a good team, you've got to have guys who will sacrifice, like maybe their minutes, to reach a goal."We made a lot of changes, but in each case, I feel we have added good character guys who understand the situation here."These additions came with the talent core remaining in place. "Plus, there's still the good mix of youth and veterans," added Nelson.For backcourt toughness, and improved defense, guard Greg Buckner is an upgrade.For a point guard who can distribute the ball, and maybe give 18 to 20 minutes a night, there's Anthony Johnson (personal opinion -- he's the steal of the summer).For frontline or two-guard versatility, there's Devean George, an excellent depth addition. "He's had a lot of years of going head up against the best in the West, plus he guarded Kobe every day in practice," said Nelson of the former Laker.For a Dirk backup, or even his running mate on the frontline at times, there's Austin Croshere, who is considered a tougher version of Keith Van Horn with the same shooting touch.Plus, first-round draft selection Maurice Ager will be a rookie who will figure into the backcourt fight for playing time."Going in," said Nelson, "we didn't look at this as a prime free-agent class, and it was the same with the draft. But for our needs, and what we came out of the summer with, we're pleased."Then again, I've been doing this long enough to know that you never know until you see how it all fits together on the floor."For starters, however, the Mavericks did well.On paper, they are closer than ever to a championship. Nobody else around here can say that.
Re: Mavs hoping depth isn't paper thin Great article. The Mavs depth will surely carry them back to another NBA Finals in my opinion. Very well written article, good find mavsfan.
Re: Mavs hoping depth isn't paper thin Yeah Galloway is one of the better writers in the local scene, and even has a local radio show that's the best on on IMO>
Re: Mavs hoping depth isn't paper thin I not only hope, but I expect another Finals appearance next yearThe only thing standing in our way would be an enraged Duncan and a healthy Amare, which I think we can take both
Re: Mavs hoping depth isn't paper thin My number one concern this year is Dirk being fatigued. He had very little rest this year. He had like a month off and than goes right to play in the Exhibition games for the WC.
Re: Mavs hoping depth isn't paper thin ^ This isn't the first year he's done it though. Also, our roster is better depth wise, so Dirk should be able to have his minutes stay down.
Re: Mavs hoping depth isn't paper thin During the Mavs Rockets series he said the problem was he was getting tired and fatigued towards half time and he needs more playing time so he can keep up his stamina and things like that.I have no problem with thatThough I want Dirk to learn to play some respectable D to where no body will call him 'Irk anymore.
