I don't know what this means, but tonight was the first time Warriors beat them this season. And the way they played without Dirk and Stackhouse, I can actually live with it.
Dirk is a bigger problem than Avery. The way I see it, Dirk missing these few games and Dallas possibly not being in the playoffs will prevent Cuban from seeing the obvious once again... ...that Dirk is not someone you can build a contender around. 14th pick will only compensate for an even older Kidd whose FG% will drop by another 5 points. If I were a Mavericks fan, I would be hoping that Dallas makes the playoffs and gets raped once again, so that Cuban finally blows up the team.
poor poor mark chabenisky......wonder if he's already cut off the end of his MFFL embroidered necktie to honor the death of his beloved mavpricks now
I think Avery and Cuban both get too amped up, too reactionary--exactly not what that team needs. I personally think a coaching change would be good--but they would need someone really experienced and with lots of cred and discipline and whom Cuban could not influence much--Larry Brown, Phil J, Riley type. Maybe even JVG honestly. I don't think Dirk is at all the problem. Let's not forget they were a sliver away from a title--something not many teams can claim. His playoff pedigree looks spectacular compared to our superstars, quite honestly. But he needs to right kind of players and the right system. And their Kidd trade was atrocious, he, he. Oh, I would not mind them getting the 8th seed if they get Dirk back--they could do some damage to a one seed. They still have top notch talent, if they just squeak in with no expectations--dangerous team.
With Cuban being an Active & Participating owner, it will be somewhat difficult to have a situation were Cuban has minimal influence. Larry and JVG have already had the Knicks Experience, so hard to imagine them wanting to work for Cuban. Both can likely find more peaceful environments than in Dallas. Riley or Phil? Nah....... Why did Nelly fall out with Cuban?
One difference is the Mavs have the most talent among potentially open jobs, and Cuban will spend. Bill P went to work for Jerry Jones for a couple years.
Giving up 2 draft picks over the next several years will hurt. Yes, Cuban can buy some draft slots to recoup if other team(s) are selling. I don't think that Cuban would want a situation were he had to stay out of the way of the everyday operations of his team. That will curtail somewhat on coaching options for the Mavs. Not sure yet on what Coaching jobs will be open, so will just run through the situations of most teams. Seattle (OKC ?) & Portland are behind Dallas at the moment, but have brighter prospects than Dallas as their young talent emerges. Kings are behind Dallas and might stay that way for a while. Clippers are behind Dallas and might remain that way for a while. Mavs & Suns are similar with aging Point Guards and aging stars (Shaq & Dirk) that aren't dominate as they were in the past. Still give the nod to Suns with Amare and not having Cuban. Jazz are ahead of Dallas since their core of Boozer and Williams is far younger than the Mavs core. Nuggets are slightly ahead and could create some distance if they could tweak the roster in the offseason. Spurs are aging, but Pop doesn't have Cuban there. Edge to the Spurs. New Orleans is ahead of Dallas at the moment and should stay ahead as Dirk and Kidd continue to age. The Grizz are behind and should stay that way since the situation is unsettled. Timberwolves are behind, but could pull ahead if some of their young players emerge. Replacing the owner and GM would help. Bucks are behind and need a different GM to move forward. Bulls are behind, but could catch up if they are able to reshuffle the roster in the offseason. A different GM would help. Pistons......are ahead of Dallas because of their GM - Front Office. Cavs are behind Dallas, but could catch up over the next several years if they upgrade the roster and coach better. Pacers are behind and need some significant roster change. Perhaps a GM change too. Hawks are improving, but are still behind. Orlando is behind, but should improve with Dwight continuing to move up and Dirk down. Miami is way behind. Washington is behind and is still recovering from poor Management in the past. Nets are behind, but should improve with the Kidd situation resolved and extra Draft Picks on the way. Knicks..............what can I say. Boston is ahead, but will have to eventually pay for mortgaging their future. Charlotte is behind.........maybe needs improved Front Office. Toronto is behind..........weak Management in the past hurt them. Philly is improving and might be even fairly soon.
How do the draft picks work, exactly? Is it lottery protected this year, but not next year? I know they give up a pick in 2010, too, right?
Mango, let's just say I am Larry Brown or JVG and I want another 2-3 stint at a title staring next year. The only jobs I can think with the remote possibiliy of having the same kind of chance would be Phx (if MDA gets axed?), Cleve (Mike Brown--if they continue a down year and Lebron wants a change?) or Den (if Karl has worn out his welcome?). No other top team I could even imagine a coaching change. But at Dallas you have a core of Dirk, Howard, Kidd, Terry + some vets. You also have an owner who will spend in FA and spend to get lopsided deals to his team. Say if they go get Carter or J Oneal for Terry + or something, and use their MLE on a shooting guard or big depending on that move. Dallas isn't that far from anyone else talent wise. If I were Larry Brown or JVG--I might say, yeah, I'd have a fighting chance for the couple of years I have left in coaching with that team. It also looks like Boston is at least 50/50 to show the buy now, mortgage later, approach can actually work. I am sure Cuban is watching.
Since Dirk and Kidd are starting to age, then the Boston approach of buying it now should be the one that Dallas should take. In regards to choosing either Larry Brown or JVG, then they pursue JVG since Brown probably fits better with a younger team that needs to grow compared to a veteran team like Dallas. I realize that Larry never stays anywhere very long, so he would fit better for a 2 - 3 year window thing as you outlined, but the Dallas situation isn't the best fit for him. I think he would fit Cleveland better. Not sure whether Larry or JVG would work best for Phoenix. Denver should work on the roster........ then work on getting the right coach. Karl is getting Stale in that situation and Denver needs to change either the roster or coach. J O'Neal? O'neal scares me..............yes Dallas can likely get a Deal because of his injury history, but still spooky to gamble on him. Vince? Is he what Dallas needs? Marrying the Nets and Mavs rosters together is interesting, but don't know where that leads. Perhaps Dallas can get a Deal on Vince since they overpaid for J Kidd. NBA Contracts Dallas is staring to run low on tradeable assets and J Terry would likely have to go to work some deals. Even then, they will have to find some other salary to add in to make deals for players like Carter or O'Neal. Dallas has a fair amount of expirings, so that would have to be researched. As long as they aren't interested in moving Dirk, then Dallas will be limited on the upside. NBA Salaries O'Neal makes a huge chunk of money and Vince makes a fair amount. With Chicago and NY possibly getting significant roster changes this summer, it might put other things in motion that Dallas could take advantage of. My suggestions for Cuban: 1) Buy some contracts for this Draft and the future...........provided that teams are willing to sell them. From the middle of the Second round and back up to the First Round in 2008 and then be fairly open for future years. They need to have some Extras to throw in for any potential deals. 2) Inquire with Chicago about their roster. Hope to get a deal if they panic. 3) A few interesting pieces in NY, but not sure whether that situation will resolve in enough time for Dallas to get something done. 4) Ask about Brand. Not sure how the option would work on a trade, but ask. Yes, he also has an injury history, but I would rather gamble on him than on J O'Neal. 5) Ask JVG, but not Larry. Still contemplating other ideas.
With the loss today, GS will be probably out of the playoffs. Both Nuggets (2 less losses in Conf vs GS and lead the series 2-1) & Mavericks (lead series vs GS 3-1) will have tie-breakers over the Warriors. Too bad. The Warriors fight all season and it's a shame that a 50 wins team misses the playoffs.
Looking at their schedule, 50-32 is their most likely finish. Losses @NO and @PHX. Wins @MEM and at home against SAC, DEN, LA CLIPS and SEA.
You gotta feel bad for the Warriors. They finally broke their playoff drought last season after 13 years(I think it was that long) and upset #1 seeded Dallas in Round 1 no less. And how are they rewarded? By potentially missing the playoffs the following year despite winning 50 games.
