The guy is just WAY too good to be a backup point guard. He completely single-handedly tore up the Wizards defense. The Wizards had to respect him so much that they were leaving Nash for some open 3's at the end of the game. So, my question is what's going to happen to Nick Van Exel after this season? Does anyone really think he's going to stay in Dallas next season, or is this just a single-season deal? Any predictions where he might end up?
OK, Adrian Griffin is decent, but you're right, NVE is way too good to be a backup. I thought the ideal starting line up would be: PG - Nash SG - Van Exel SF - Finley PF - Nowitzki C - LaFrentz Van Exel is a potent offensive player, and I always thought shooting guard would be a more natural position for the guy.
If there wasn't a God the Nuggets would already be in the NBDL. I just saw the fourth quarter, but I never saw LaFrentz. Did he not play at all, or was it just matchups?
Isnt Van Exel about 5'10? That would be one short shooting guard. Think of him guarding Kobe and T-mac.
No chance in hell of that happening. Sprewell >Van Exel Camby > Bradley Do Van Exel and Bradley's contract end soon?
No chance in hell? Van Exel > Hardaway LaFrentz > Howard Obviously, I was just throwing something out there...
I'm with Hoop-T, he just needs to be the starting SG. He might have trouble guarding the taller guards in the league, but who can hang with that much firepower on the other end? He can get help on defense when they play the Lakers; however, no one will be able to help an overmatched Laker without getting burned.
Well, as a huge Mavs fan I was wary of this trade. I did not think NVE would be able to handle a back up role. I had also heard about how much of a cancer he is, and that he would disrupt any chemistry that the Mavs have. Now that a few games have gone by, here's my assesment ... it took NVE a while to find his shot. He was able to get to the basket but was just missing some real easy shots. He also seems reluctant to take shots at certain times during the games. Now he seems to have found his nitch on the Mavs system. He's making those easy shots now. He's also a lot better passer than I first thought. As for backing up Nash, I don't think there is going to be a problem. NVE is still getting over 30 minutes a game. Also as a backup he's been facing second tier PG's. That's allowed him to dominate in certain games. It wouldn't be a good idea to move him to the starting SG for every game. Of coarse there will be matchups were NVE can start however for the most part he helps the Mavs more comming off the bench. I have heard the Mavs refer to as ... comming at teams in waves ... The Mavs start off with Nash, and once he goes out and NVE comes in the opposing coach has to decide ... does he want to leave the starter in or put his backup on NVE? Either way the opposing team is screwed. I think that NVE may be traded only if the Mavs can get a good backup PG to replace him and get a solid rebounding PF or Center. Unless we can get both I don't see NVE being traded during the offseason. If he starts causing trouble by next years trading deadline then and only then will he be traded.
As for the cancer label: I don't put much stock in it. However, if NVE is a cancer, you won't see it in Dallas until next year at the earliest. They're still in the honeymoon stage right now.
NVE a SG? No way. The guy is one of the best point guards in the NBA. He is always among the league leaders in assist to turnover ratio. That would be akin to turning Sam Cassell or Mike Bibby into a SG -- not a smart move.
You're right, NVE has a good Assist/TO ratio. HOWEVER, NVE has twice the offensive game that Cassell and Bibby (actually, three times the offensive game of Bibby), and the Mavericks have a guy named Steve Nash. So why is it not a smart move to bring NVE in as the starting SG? Van Exel can still play backup PG, they can play small ball with a three guard line up, Nash can even get some SG duties in, but I don't care what NVE's assist to turnover blah blah blah is......he's too good to bring in off the bench. Maybe a better question is this: What linup do you fear more as an opponent.... Nash Van Exel Finley Nowitzki LaFrentz or Nash Finley Adrian Griffin Nowitzki LaFrentz In my opinion, Van Exel could be a top 10 shooting guard with the arsenal he has.
The Nash/Finley/Griffin/Dirk/LaFrentz lineup may not be as "scary" but it's better suited to winning in the playoffs. Mainly because Griffin is such a stellar defender. Dal should do anything they can to trade Van Exel for any kind of defensive player, PG/SG/SF/PF/C whoever.
With the Knicks lacking something at the point and pretty well every Draft board I see having them taking a PF (unless they win the lottery and take Yao Ming) I wonder if they might accept a Kurt Thomas/ Nick Van Exel trade (if Ming comes Camby moves to the 4 spot). The money side might need balancing (Ward perhaps). Dallas gets a good rebounder, which they need, and a little scoring. They might also engineer another trade for a back up centre with promise (the likes of Magloire from Charlotte) or move up the draft. A starting five of Nash Finley Nowitski Thomas La Frentz Looks well armed.
Long before most of you were born, the categories were known as RG & LG instead of PG & SG. Case in point (no pun intended), was Cousy a PG or an SG? Jerry West? I have watched a few Mavs games since the trade and NVE/Nash on the court together causes some major matchup problems. IMO, NVE's future in Dallas is tied to how well they do in the playoffs. If they do well, the Mavs make only minor tweaks. If they bomb, NVE may be trade bait since expectations are high.
Defensive matchups are the reason NVE is comming off the bench. Being the starting SG NVE would have to guard players like Kobe, TMac, and Iverson. As great as he is on the offensive end NVE wouldn't be able to do a good job against these guys. In those cases they start Griffen or Buckner, and have NVE come off the bench. When he comes in to spell Nash the Mavs don't miss a beat and scoring drouts are very rare.
Neither Griffin nor Buckner can even slow down TMac, Iverson, nor Kobe anyway. Buckner is as good a defensive player as they have. But he doesn't start. I just don't see much logic in bringing Van Exel off the bench. For all the mismatch problems he may have against the guys you named on the defensive end (and everyone has mismatch problems against them), he is capable of causing just as many on the offensive end. Watch how the Mavs play when Nash and NVE are in the backcourt at the same time. Double team someone? They make you pay time and again. Start Van Exel. If you need defense, you can put Finley, Buckner, Griffin on players as matchups dictate, or on key plays.
It would be ugly see Nowitzki guarding someone on the perimeter. But then again, he sucks at guarding down low anyway. I agree about Kurt Thomas. I'm a big fan of his since he is a pretty good defender, rebounder and can score if needed to. He reminds me somewhat of Horace Grant.
