I think this is a major part of their problems (thank god they have problems!), along with the lack of a Mario Elie type of player. Having them on the bench coaching ain't going to cut it. Maybe they're starting to tune Avery out. It happens.
I honestly don't think Avery is that great of a coach. Honestly, I feel that he just inherited a team that Nellie built up and he was able to succeed with that. These guys have been playing with each other for a while and they already have a built in chemistry. My big problems with Avery is he tries to make too many unnecessary adjustments. When he adjusted to GSW's way of play, he made a huge flaw. I put that series loss on Avery. He also changed the lineup this year and they struggled. Why did they even need to change the lineup in the first place? When he starts tinkering with unnecessary changes, the team struggles. Plus, I just think he whines a lot and his voice annoys me
In my opinion This is the pecking order of the west San Antonio Utah Golden State But where will the rockets fall? Phoenix Dallas Denver Lakers Oh yeah Dallas sucks lol
Dallas will be back. Bottomline is they should be the back-to-back champions right now. They should've beaten Miami two years ago, and if they play anyone BUT the Golden State Warriors, they would've won the championship last year too. They'll be fine... unfortunately.
Not unless they get scoring in the paint and play some good defense.If you can intimidate them they can be beaten.
They are a better team and have more talent than us. The Rockets have got to keep on working to get better.
That is their weakness, but that didn't seem to prevent them from matching up well with the Spurs, Suns, Rockets, Jazz, etc, ... everyone EXCEPT the Warriors. That's the only team that could've stopped them. Now, if GS continues to dominate them like the Sonics dominated the Rockets in the 90's and GS keeps eliminating them in the playoffs, then they'll have to make a serious trade. They need to get someone like Jermaine O'Neal. Problem is, if you drastically change your team like that, then the matchup advantages against all the other teams may or may not disappear like ours did against the Jazz in 1997.
Exel had this wierd, unguardable low post playground shot that was money every time. And if you tried to double on him, they made you pay...everyone on that team could shoot the three well. A little more defense and they would have had a ring
They have also had the same time for a much longer time than us. We also have a new system which we are trying to figure our while they have had the same system (offensively, atleast) since Nellie and the only thing Avery has tried to do was improve the team defense. It's no just their record, but if you watch their games, you can tell they just aren't hungry enough or something is messing.
Should have, could have, would have...bottom line is they didn't. If you take that logic, than Rockets are a 2nd round playoff team. This is because they "should have" gotten out of the first round after going up 2-0 in a series two times in a row. Bottom line is that team needs Josh Howard to drop 40+ points to win a game. How often do you think thats going to happen? And yes I hate that team, the hatred was even more fueled when that moron stackhouse dunked in the final seconds after we let him keep the ball to run the time out of the game.
Inaccurate comparison, because the Mavs have PROVEN that they can beat the Spurs and Suns in the playoffs. They match up well with them, while they don't match up well with GS. They would've beaten any other team in the west except Golden State, which just so happened to be the 8 seed last year. Too bad for them. It was the perfect storm. How many times did Howard go off for 40 last year? Not many probably, and yet they won 67 games. I never thought the Rockets "should have" gone to the 2nd round from playing teams that were clearly superior to them with talent, speed, size, athleticism, and depth. No way. Honestly, I was happy to beat the Jazz and Mavs 3 times. We overachieved, and it was all JVG and his two stars.
Forget the past, especially last year. Mentally and psychologically, the Mavs are a different team this season. The hunger, all-out effort and confidence aren't there. Maybe they pull it together or maybe this team has run it's course and missed it's window. There is no guarantee they solve the chemistry issues.
You post this and the next night he goes off for 47. I think we have some Mavs players on this board. Back on topic, I think AJ is going to play this season like a horse race or marathon. You don't put the whip to the horse in earnest until the stretch run and you don't start your final kick until the end of the race. He's going to keep them fresh for the playoffs. For Dallas, that strategy works only the playoffs are officiated like the regular season-which they aren't. The playoffs require a low post defensive presence to win the trophy and that lets out Dallas, Phenoix, and GS. The finals IMO will be Boston, Orlando or Detroit and SA, Utah, Lakers, Denver or Houston. Shaq doesn't have enough left or around him for Miami to make it. However if Dallas would trade Josh H. and filler to Miami for Shaq, then Dallas could make the finals.
i think dallas is at its best when dirk is their main scorer. he's their best scorer, period. but he seems to make a habit of deferring to howard and terry now. that 3 20-point scorers thing just doesn't work.
I noticed that Dampier got 21 against the Jazz.That surprised me,I don't know who was matching up against him. The Jazz interior defense is showing some chinks. I hope Yao can get going against the Jazz too with better ball movement and in a motion offense.But we have to shoot a lot better from the outside to open things up for our big guy.
The past does matter in terms of figuring out which teams match up with who. The Mavs have the same core players, so they would still be able to beat those teams in a 7 game series. IT'S THE REGULAR SEASON! Who cares about their lack of hunger, all-out effort, and confidence right now? They're going to make the playoffs. All those things will probably be there by that time. Before this year, the Spurs weren't exactly going all out until the end of the season, just in time to get hot.
Chemistry problems aren't solved that easily. To assume the Mavs can snap back into their best form for the playoffs is a mistake. I wouldn't compare them to the Spurs since the Spurs are a much more mature and together squad. That said, you may end up being right. We'll see.
