Not only does a big center like Yao anchor the team defense, discouraging opponents from driving the lane and altering countless shots........but on offense he also forces the other team to overhaul their entire defensive strategy, sending Yao a constant barrage of 2-3 defenders to the post the duration of the game.......so measuring player impact simply by comparing field goal percentage is not the least bit accurate.
They aren't even trying on defense. Last night, several times, Iverson beat Harris off the dribble, the other 4 Mavs were near the paint, and Iverson went in untouched for a finish. No one attempted to rotate, and Iverson got to the rim without anyone coming close to him. It was disgusting basketball.
Funny thing is if they would have kept Nash, none of this would have ever happened. Phoenix is so much like Dallas it's not even funny. Sure Amare has some moves in the post but their whole entire offense depends on Nash to create. If the Mavericks had Nash, the Creator, orchestrating their offense instead of Harris, the Flopper, they'd probably have a couple of rings by now.
I think it's boredom. After kicking the snot out of the regular season two years in a row, they just want to get back to the playoffs. The whole team is pulling a Shaq.
so the solution is to lose in the regular season and kick it into high gear come playoffs? doubtful. you don't lose games just b/c you're bored. it doesn't go over well with the owner and fans.
I'm just saying it's what Shaq and (as of late) the pistons do every year. I disagree. It happens. Vince Carter "coasts". Shaq saves himself for the playoffs (not much to "save" lately, but I digress) and the pistons are the poster boys of "try hard when conveniant" ever since they won the title.
In a word............GOOD! I hope they continue to fall in the standings and don't even make the playoffs this year. One less team we have to deal with in our division.
i know what you're saying, but i don't think the Mavs are coasting. they are really reeling. Cuban wouldn't put up with it. even if it's true that Carter coasts, what good has it done for him in the playoffs. besides, those players are in the East. you coast in the West, you're gonna get your ass handed to you every night.
The problem with this theory is that the Lakers still won when Shaq coasted in LA and Detroit still wins, on average, 56 games a year for the past 4 years. If Dallas thinks that they can coast without having one single championship ring under their belt, then they are sorely mistaken. The only "general" problem I see with this team on why they are playing to poorly is this: you won 67 games last year which is one of the best seasons (win-losses wise) in the history of the NBA and you get knocked off by an 8th seed? if that doesn't kill your morale and your will to bounce back (especially with the mentally soft personnel they have), then what would?
They're not good enough to be bored. GS slapped come of that fire out of them. After D-Wade went supernova on the team, then mr Jax and Baron Davis delivered a knockout blow in the 1st round, so now they don't have much to draw on. Their leader refuses to develop a post up game, they made no moves. Less fire, less confidence and the leader is the coach who they don't fully listen to.
I wonder, is Dirk the most clutchless "superstar," in the NBA? He just absolutely disappears when the game is on the line...
Shaq was a lot younger then. And the pistons play in the eastern conference. True, and that makes me happy.
Understood. I just think that the two consecutive beatdowns has them demotivated - and unlike last year, avery is not able to get them going...
I don't see how Shaq's age makes a difference. His "I'll switch it on whenever I want" in Miami is totally overblown by the media because he did the same exact thing the last few years in LA and they still manage to win and get to the Finals. Sure the Pistons play in the East but 56 wins is still 56 wins. If they were coasting (especially in the East), I'd consider 50 or 48 wins coasting. I mean, for competition and basketball sake, I hope the Mavs aren't coasting. It's just I don't think they're good enough to be thinking about coasting.
Well, I'd argue his ability to coast and then win with the lakers was because he was young enough to handle the strain of just "turning on" his beastliness. Nowadays if Shaq does that he ends up pulling his hamstring or bruising his groin or imploding his duodenum or whatever. ok, the pistons coast for 76 out of 82 games. I just want them to lose. And I don't care how.
