My Real Mavericks Preview
I was a little under the gun yesterday, so I didn’t have time to do more than, as Jessica pointed out, lazily redirect you sweet, sweet FBvians elsewhere in search of Mavs talk. But now I’m ready. It won’t be as funny as this, but let’s do it anyway. After the jump, of course.
The Mavericks were downgraded in the offseason for various reasons. Including:
- The devastating first-round loss to the Warriors.
- MVP Dirk Nowitzki’s lack of fortitude in said series.
- Their failure to make any dramatic moves in the trade or free agent markets.
- Mark Cuban paying more attention to possibly buying the Cubs and dancing on TV.
- People hate the Mavericks and were giddy for the chance to take them down a peg or five.
Me? The first three are why I think this will be the year the Mavs finally take home the title. The loss to the Warriors provides more motivation than anything you could script. Dirk’s performance means a legit MVP has reason to be even better. And why tear down a team that won 67 games and only really had a problem with one team, which happened to be run by their former coach? Makes no sense.
You keep a team like that together. You supplement, sure, but you don’t do anything major. Love the trade that swapped Greg Buckner, who I honestly don’t think could check me (I realize I have a deceptive first step, great court vision, and a supernatural left hand — but I’m also just around six feet tall and couldn’t jump over a copy of D), for a real defensive threat, Trenton Hassell. Love the signings of Eddie Jones and Juwan Howard, guys who’ll contribute a bit on the court and in the locker room. Love giving the keys to Devin Harris (finally), and turning Jet Terry into the team’s Vinnie Johnson.
Beyond that, the Mavs have an ever-improving J.J. Barea, who could turn into a pocket Steve Nash off the bench. They have Josh Howard, who is ready to become a perennial All-Star. They have a coach who just learned some valuable lessons. And they have the reigning MVP with a gigantic fire under him. They match up well with the Spurs and the Suns. They have good team chemistry. Solid on offense and defense, especially with the addition of assistant coach Paul Westphal (who took the 1993 Phoenix Suns to the brink against an unstoppable Chicago Bulls team).
So, yeah, I think they’re going to win it all. I’m a homer, but I’m also a realist. I say they win 61 games, beat the Spurs in the Western Conference finals, and take down the Celtics to win the title.
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No more DJ Daryl Moose Johnston Mbenga
I know this isn’t exactly the right place for this discussion but… why are the Celtics going to be any better than the Karl Malone Lakers, Charles Barkley Rockets & Antoine Walker Mavericks??
Juwan sure will contribute in the locker room! Recall a lawsuit about him contributing to some women in Chicago? He is such a contributor that his gift keeps on giving.
Here’s what the San Antonio Express-News thinks of the Mavericks’ chances: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/SpursVideoSpecial/
Spurs Own.
Creth: Gary Payton and Karl Malone were too old to make a difference, and same goes with the Barkley Rockets. The Antoine Walker Mavericks, though, had a different problem: Antoine Walker is terrible, but at that point in his career still demanded (and got) the ball plenty. He couldn’t make a layup with a stepladder and a 9-foot goal.
thanks for the response, and I agree with you but after a day with my thoughts I’ve come up with the best way to sum up how I feel about the KG Celtics- Ray Allan Houston. I need Ray Allen to prove to me that he’s better than Allan Houston (which if you factor in He Got Game, Ray’s legs gotta be tired…)
and the fact that Minnesota rode KG more than we ever dreamed of riding Mike Finley. no tread on those tires.