First post here. Just my 2 cents about the motivations of Cuban's bad-mouthing Yao after following on this topic for a few months. 1st cent: At that time, he thought Wang Zhizhi was going nowhere, so Cuban didn't want to see Yao over Wang. 2nd cent: In his deep heart (if he has a deep one), he knew Yao would be good and actually he was interested in Yao (Mavs have been following Yao for a long time). He spread a lot of rumors and hoaxes around the media that Yao was over-rated and would not be available even if he was drafted. Then Chicago added some logs, and other media picked up. I guess Cuban¡¯s plan was that Chicago would pick Yao and trade him to Dallas for Finley. Of course the prerequisite was Houston was discouraged from executing the first pick on Yao. Thanks. Daniel
Even so, I'm sure Dallas no longer cares. Looking at their record, they can win without a great center. Hell, they've been playing with Bradley for most of their first games.
Can they win the one thing that counts, Championship? On this one, I am on the same page with Chuck. This Dallas team is going nowhere with soft middle.
Dallas trades: SG Michael Finley (20.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.0 apg in 39.4 minutes) PF Dirk Nowitzki (21.7 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 2.8 apg in 38.6 minutes) C Shawn Bradley (8.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 0.8 apg in 25.9 minutes) Dallas receives: C Shaquille O'neal (25.1 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.1 apg in 33.7 minutes) Change in team outlook: -26.2 ppg, -15.4 rpg, and -4.5 apg. L.A. Lakers trades: C Shaquille O'neal (25.1 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.1 apg in 33.7 minutes) L.A. Lakers receives: SG Michael Finley (20.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.0 apg in 17 games) PF Dirk Nowitzki (21.7 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 2.8 apg in 17 games) C Shawn Bradley (8.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 0.8 apg in 17 games) Change in team outlook: +26.2 ppg, +15.4 rpg, and +4.5 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED Due to Dallas and L.A. Lakers being over the cap, the 15% trade rule is invoked. Dallas and L.A. Lakers had to be no more than 115% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Cuban would love to get his hands on Ming. Dallas got lots of terric parimeter shooters (Steve, Finley, Dirk, Van Exel), but the inside (LaFrentz and Bradley) is a joke, compared to the Kings and Lakers. Soft inside won't win you the championships.
I would say that it's fair to doubt the Mavs until they prove they can win it all their way, no harm in that.
They can win regular season games without a great center but they're not going to win an NBA championship, or maybe even make the WCF without a force in the paint, Sacramento showed that when they pounded them in the paint last year. Shawn Bradley, Raef LaFrentz and a zone isn't going to overcome a force in the paint like Sacramento and Los Angeles and even San Antonio has.
Kings 'inside' is tough? Come on, the Queens are good. They are tough on the perimeter, floppingly soft inside.
They're good. Real real good, and they just might be able to overcome their soft middle with their crazy as **** offensive production. But I still think it might be Sac's year. They're gonna be out for the Laker's blood, and that team is both deep enough and talented enuf to take on just about anybody. I think the Mav's could take on the Spurs though, easily. Somewhere down the line, the Mav's defense is going to falter, and they will lose a string of games, then pick it back up. I'm thinking they make it as far as semifinals, possibly finals, then ultimately fail.
