Yes. But again it is how healthy everyone is. That team last year was the only team that gave the Spurs a run for the money. Chandler is back to help Dirk. I hate the Mavs with a passion hut as of right now they are looking like a better team. It definitely pains me like a bullet in the nutsack to say it. Dirk Chandler and Parsons definitely sound better than Ariza, Terence Jones, Dwight. Man it makes me want to throw up.
They'll be a playoff team again barring injury. But they aren't a title contender unless they have a miracle season.
I can see it now: 7th game of Conference Semifinals, 10 seconds left and Rockets down 1, Harden gets ball, and his defender is Chandler Parsons. Harden dribbles, 9, 8, 7...He shakes, Parsons doesn't bite. 6, 5, 4...Harden drives, Parsons is like glue following as he passes by him. 3, 2...Harden dribbles, steps back...1...Harden shoots.... Omg I just had a heart attack
Totally disagree. Dallas lost a lot that worked for them last year, primarily VC. Dirk's a year older, as is their defensive savior Tyson Chandler. Monta is potentially playing in a contract year (give me the rock). Parsons will be trying to prove himself as a Max player while defending poorly. Lines up to be a difficult season for them. Dallas will be fighting it out in the 7-10 range, and if they make the playoffs, it will be due to excellent coaching. I put these teams in front of them pretty easily: Spurs, Thunder, Clips, Rox, Portland, Warriors, Griz (much improved). So then they're fighting it out with Phoenix and New Orleans (a squad which could actually leapfrog into the earlier list).
Dallas has become my most disliked club…I hope that they don't make the playoffs for the next 5 years…at least.
I think Rick Carlisle manages to make them frisky. If things break right then they might end up in the WCF like the Grizzlies 2 seasons back. They aren't a legit contender (that's the Spurs, Thunder, Cavs IMO) or a secondary contender (Clippers, Bulls) but they're a dark horse. Don't see much separation between them and Houston/GSW/Memphis to be honest. Assuming Dirk can play at a similar level to last year.
That's the big if, I think. He's played over 42,000 NBA minutes now, having just turned 36. Last year was the only one in the last four that he was healthy and appeared in 80 games. Even then, it was his worst rebounding year since 1999-2000. His minutes have been declining pretty steadily since 2006, so he should clock in around 30 mpg, when healthy. Predict he steps back closer to his 2011-2013 self, playing about 55-60 games. It's just mother nature, and he hasn't shown himself to have a Carla Malone like durability. When Dirk's out, it will be entertaining to watch CP25 try to create his own looks with the shot clock winding down.
