Jerry Stackhouse. The name brings up a ton of controversy between Maverick fans on this board. Some love him while others hate him and want him traded as soon as possible. I myself think he is going just fine for the team and wouldn?t trade him unless the right deal came around. Until then, keep him and he?s doing just what he is supposed to do for this team. I?ve came up with a few reasons why Stackhouse shouldn?t be benched for a less experienced (Ager), or less talented (Buckner) player. Reason 1: I?m always hearing that Stack puts up way too many shots in the game. Granted that last year he took 10.9 shots a game last season, I don?t think he is putting up too many. Although he only shot 40% from the field, who else did you want shooting the ball? Diop? Dampier? Van Horn? Do you want the offense to get imbalanced and make Dirk, Howard, and Terry shoot more? All three of them shot the ball at least 13 times a game. Nowitzki shot a team high 19. The reason Stack shot the ball a ton is because he had to. Take in to account that he played most of his minutes with the 2nd unit. This unit consisted of Dampier, Van Horn/Powell, Daniels/Griffin, and Harris/Armstrong. Remember that KVH, Daniels, and Harris were injured a good amount of time last season. I definitely want Stackhouse shooting the ball more times than that 2nd unit. Powell, Griffin, Armstrong, and Dampier aren?t known for their shooting percentages while Griffin, Harris, and Daniels don?t have a consistent outside shot. Nothing wrong with him shooting the ball 10.9 times a game. Also, so far this season, his shooting numbers should go down somewhat since Howard is actually coming more into his own of the offensive end. Reason 2: Experience is always good and always beat youth. It would be a bad idea to put Maurice Ager in there due to this. Also, Ager plays EXACTLY like a young Stackhouse. In the preseason, Ager shot 38.9% from the field and 39% from behind the 3 point line. That?s statistically worse than Stack?s shooting. Ager shot the ball really inconsistent the whole preseason as well. 5-17, 4-13, 5-12, aren?t considered good shooting nights. In no way am I ragging on Ager?s play, I just don?t think he will be doing anything better for the team if he took Stack?s minutes. Neither of them play great individual defense, but Stackhouse does play pretty okay team defense. Something that is essential to play under Defense first coach Avery Johnson. There has to be a reason that Avery puts Stack in the game in the 4th quarter in close games. This is why. Reason 3: He has an expiring contract. This is pretty good since he his in the latter end of his career and is a shell of his former self. This to me has quite a bit of pros for the team and for Stack. Stack still doesn?t have a ring and is wanting one before his playing days are over. Early in his career, it was all individual stuff, but now its different. I think Stack would and has sacrificed a ton for the team. I feel he will also do so in the future. Also, why would we trade him now when this time next year, he comes of the books? Just don?t the smartest thing to do in my opinion. If all goes well, the Mavericks when a ring this summer and Stack either goes on his way with another team or he signs a smaller contract with the Mavericks and continues to groom his successor. His successor being Ager. I just really don?t like it when people bash Stackhouse when he really isn?t doing that bad. Every year that he?s been in Dallas, he?s been in the running for 6th man of the year, so I know at least some people see his importance.
The things I disagree with you about are first you saying Stackhouse plays ok defense. Not even close to ok defense imo. Second, Stackhouse isn't always playing with backups. When he's in the starting lineup he doesn't change his isolation game. Also the other players know not to give him the ball all the time unless he has it going. Stackhouse refuses to stop shooting even if he is cold and some nights he just looks super slow. Even when Stackhouse was at his best he didn't shoot a high percentage and now that he is far from that it could get worse. Another thing is his IQ. He might be a vet but he makes rookie mistakes. Ager shoots more 3's than Stackhouse so his percentage should be lower but it isn't. Stackhouse gets in some ugly shooting slumps that cause people like me to bash him. Also he dribbles off his foot a lot.
Good topic but only one person on here bags on him. I know there's a topic on dallas-mavs.com called the Hate Stackhouse bandwagon(or something to that degree). But it's basically done in a humorous way such as with Bradley in the past. I think moreso then anything regarding his shots, is his shot selection, not amount of shots. He takes pretty bad shots, but seems to hit the tougher ones for some odd reason. I agree though, without him, our bench is crap scoring wise. Hence also why I agree with your comments about the number of shots he takes. He's just a guy that makes you pull your hair every game. But bottom line he's made an impact since he's been here. Whether you want to admit or not. His attitude is solely needed on this team, he plays with fire and does not give up on plays(his blocks in a Dallas uni have been amazing). You want someone like that on your team.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>When he's in the starting lineup he doesn't change his isolation game.</div>No offense mavsfan, but our offense is basically made of isolations. Besides, Stack is a decent post up player when he gets a smaller player on him. If he has that, you go to him. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Even when Stackhouse was at his best he didn't shoot a high percentage and now that he is far from that it could get worse.</div>His past game he shot a good percentage. But really, Stack's never been a high percentage shooter. There are other players in this league who don't shoot a great percentage. But they shoot it, not everyone shoots at an high percentage. Just accept Stack for who he is.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Ager shoots more 3's than Stackhouse so his percentage should be lower but it isn't.</div>More reason for Ager's bad shot selection. Who cares if he shoots more 3, that's worse because Ager is younger. He should be driving more then Stackhouse. But yet shoots more 3's. That's horrible.
I rather someone shoot a low percentage by shooting 3's than low percentage by midrange jumpers. I disagree that 3 pointers are bad shots. Only bad for players who can't make them. (Harris and Stackhouse) Shooting 33% from 3's=Shooting 50% from 2's so in way if you shoot higher than 35% from 3's that is a great shot for you. Maybe I'm overly optomistic but I think Ager could become a good outside shooter if he hasn't become one yet. The worse shot in basketball is a deep 2 and Stackhouse shoots a lot of those.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I rather someone shoot a low percentage by shooting 3's than low percentage by midrange jumpers.</div> I don't, who wants a guy shooting from a longer distance at a low percentage. Your basically saying both shoot low percentages, but you take the guy shooting longer jumpers? That's worse. You can tell me that person shooting longer makes his percentage lower but that's why I wouldn't want him. That's like Antoine Walker, your stuck with a guy launching 3's he shouldn't be taking. I'll take the other low percentage shooter who doesn't camp on the arc. Also, it's not like Stack hardly takes 3's. So his percentage is made up of outside jumpers as well. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I disagree that 3 pointers are bad shots. Only bad for players who can't make them.</div> And so far, Ager is not shooting well at 3. Plus you didn't even acknowledge his slashing ability, being younger, he should be driving more. And he doesn't. Instead he takes jumpers at a low percentage. Be optimistic all you want but he's a little Stackhouse so far.
I agree that sometimes he takes questionable shots, but how many of those shots are at the end of the shot clock when everyone out there is playing hot potato with the ball? I dont have an answer for that, but I'd say a good amount of his shots are like that. Without Stack, we wouldnt have as great a bench, and we wouldnt have a quality scorer coming off the bench when Dirk, Terry, or Howard arent having a great game. Out of last season, he played in 55 games.Games scored 1-5=5gamesGames scored 6-10=18gamesGames scored 11-15=14gamesGames scored 16+=18gamesGames where he scored over 20=11games.I think all but 2 of those games he came off the bench. 20 points off the bench is good. Having a player that is a threat to get you 20 points off the bench is a great thing to have in my opinion.
I think Ager's biggest flaw is his handles so his athleticism is great but if he loses control of the ball it won't matter if he is athletic. I think of him as more of a Finley than a Stackhouse. He just needs some more work on that outside shot.
I agree with pretty much everything pj and Rok said. I wish I could go more in depth, but there really isn't a whole lot else to say. Putting in Ager for Stack is just silly. He hasn't earned the minutes. Eventually, I hope he can, but now is not the time. Stack is a beast, plain and simple. Being overzealous is not something you dislike unless a player is not worthy of acting that way. I think Stack really has the right to act like that. He's got talent.The thing I really hate is how many dunks he misses. That pisses me off to no end.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I think of him as more of a Finley than a Stackhouse. He just needs some more work on that outside shot.</div> Finley in his earlier years as a Mav and into his prime was a good slasher. Only on the the tailend of his career with the Mavs, did he start shooting more jumpers/fadeaways. His handles were never that great, but it didn't stop him from driving. Ager as a rookie has not shown a strong sense of driving. Shooting jumpers should be second nature at this point. If he threw in both aspects during preseason. He probably would have shot a better percentage overall. Too bad, it was stuck on 3s. I'm not worried about his handles as it should not take away any ability to drive occasionally.
