Mavericks TIme

I cannot remember a season sneaking up on a city like the Mavericks season has snuck up on most of Dallas. This is a classic case of “there is nothing they can accomplish between now and April that will change what most people think about this team”. Said a different way, “call us when the playoffs are about to begin” is the mantra of many.

Of course, that is not my style.

I have avoided the Mavericks pre-season (mostly by design) and have also avoided the local pundits who have assured me that everything is different, that defense is now the focus, and that Dirk’s minutes will be lower. I have also managed just a mere giggle at stories in the paper like Eddie Sefko’s story that suggests Marquis Daniels is a triple-double threat . C’mon Eddie, of course Avery is going to say silly things, but you are supposed to filter that out for the reader.

Anyway, so here we are again. When last we saw our little Mavericks, they were blowing a lead and then butchering 11 seconds I will never forget . That doesn’t even begin to consider the mess that they put themselves in against Houston, nor the discouraging playoff battles of Dirk v. T-Mac (huge advantage McGrady) and Dirk v. Marion/Amare. Also, the team made some moderate adjustments to their roster. For fun, Here is what I wrote in May about where they were supposed to go . I think that will put you in the proper frame of mind for opening night. Since that week in May, they have ushered out Finley (amazing), Bradley, Wahad, and Henderson, while bringing in Diop, Christie, and a few other spares.

What difference will it make? More importantly, what will you believe about the difference it does make until we get to April? Exactly.

Anyway, as we head to 2005-06 with the season opener tonight in Phoenix, here are some Sports Sturm exclusive thoughts on each significant member of the roster:

Dirk: For the 27th season in a row, let us ask Dirk to impress us with his new approach to his craft. Clearly, being outplayed by his opponents in the playoffs and then turning on his teammates a time or two during the Phoenix series did not encourage many. He may be what we have always known him to be. Bordering on great, but not as great as we have always hoped. If he finds another level, we can resume discussions about his place amongst the top 10 players in the sport, but I am done talking about that for now.

Josh Howard: During those playoffs last year, he demonstrated that he is continuing to improve to a point where you now clearly know who is the 2nd best player on this team. Added responsibility and soon added cash will raise the bar for Howard, but I think he is surely up for it. I am a big fan.

Jason Terry: Surely not a point guard, but the closest thing that the Mavs have right now. Made huge shot after huge shot but never found the assist to be his strength. Is a free agent next summer, so the team would be wise to decide quickly where he fits (if he does) in the big picture. Look for him to play the point, but not to play on the ball with Doug Christie in the game. Christie will distribute and Terry will basically play the #2 guard.

Erick Dampier: I am not nearly as down on him as most are. Yes, he annoys me, but he is being compared by most to top centers in this league. Those teams build everything around their center, and can afford to do so. The Mavs are built around Dirk, and in doing so, Dampier’s job is to be a presence on defense, and rebound. I have a bar that is not very high for him, and in that setting, I find his play acceptable more often than not. I base this on looking around the league. Sure you can do a lot better, but you can also do worse. He is what he is.

Doug Christie: I have no idea what to expect. But, I do remember two things about his days in Sacto besides his wife. #1 his defense, which certainly is in decline. #2 is his ability to not need shots for long stretches, and then he would stick a dagger in your heart. He has a knack for the big moment, and I think will be a valuable piece if he can stay healthy.

Devin Harris: Sadly, in a season of injuries, I am not optimistic that he took the necessary strides in his development. I hope he gets his minutes, and I hope he looks more comfortable with the ball, but honestly, I am wondering if his upside is a decent back-up point guard with a small body that could not hold up to more work than 20 minutes a night.

Jerry Stackhouse: I say let him play as long as he wants and take any shots he needs. He has proven to not be selfish, and he has proven to have that “F-em” attitude that is so rare in this organization. His knees may not be ready to roll, but his spirit is important to this team.

Marquis Daniels: No one has milked 2 good months as well as Marquis has milked March and April of 2004. To call his play in 2004-05 awful is unfair to other awful things in this world. I was ready to cut him loose in a trade, but the Mavs want to roll with him again, blaming all of his poor play on that August 2004 ankle sprain. Much like the $5 milk shake in Pulp Fiction, while that sprain may have been good, I am just not sure it was THAT good that it would render an otherwise fine player worthless. Amputation? OK. But not a sprain, right? Anyway, they think he is great, and are convinced that I will be sorry I ever said anything bad about the kid. All I know is he is a shooting guard that can’t shoot or pass. Count me among the doubters, but his preseason accolades are numerous.

Desagana Diop: Hearing he lost 30 pounds would really mean something to me if I had ever seen him do anything that qualified as a memory. Sadly, despite 4 years in the NBA, he has not made even the slightest impression on me. The good news is that the Mavericks center position has been so un-athletic over the years that he cannot help but be a shot-blocking upgrade. But, shooting 28% from the field in the preseason for a 7-footer was previously thought impossible, and therefore he should not shoot for any reason.

Keith Van Horn: The other member of the team who is a free agent next summer (Jason Terry), Van Horn is the player most likely to be traded at mid-season if things are not going well. But, he is quite an insurance policy for the inevitable Dirk Ankle sprain that causes him to miss 10 days. Does nothing to help the defense, but certainly provides instant offense.

Others; Mbenga, Pavel, Josh Powell, Erick Strickland all will be wearing warm-ups. And, just in case you think my opinion of him has changed, Pavel remains the biggest waste of a roster spot since Shawn Bradley. Of course, that is a huge insult to Bradley, because Pavel will never be 10% of the player Shawn was. Digest that for a moment.

In closing, Mavericks season is here, and I am ready to roll. This is a very cluttered sports season with football, football, football, hockey and now, hoops, but there is always room for Mark Cuban and his fighting Mavericks.

DMN previews the Mavs …

Art Garcia on the Mavs getting nastier …

"I wish we'd have two or three fights this year as long as nobody gets hurt," Johnson said. "That stuff don't bother me. I don't want us to be a pretty-boy team.
"I don't think from what people saw last year that we have that label. We haven't arrived, but we've made some strides to change the personnel, to play a certain way, that we're not a pretty-boy team anymore."

There haven't been any fights in practice or during the preseason. There have been some testy moments during training camp and in games against New York and Detroit.
Nowitzki traded words with Pistons guard Carlos Arroyo last week, leading to some brief pushing and shoving.

"Dirk gets into it all the time. He doesn't back down, and I like that," said Armstrong, a 12-year vet whose grit has probably overshadowed his talent. "Dirk talks [stuff] the same way everybody else talks [stuff]."

Armstrong went on to list others on the team who don't back down, such as Jerry Stackhouse, Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels. The trick, he said, is having that swagger and confidence infect the entire team.
And if it does, others will notice.

Barnhouse thinks VY is in front for Heisman …

1. Vince Young, Texas: Trailing 28-9 didn't help UT's national profile. Gaining 506 total yards in leading the Longhorns' comeback victory ... yeah, that helped Mr. Young's Heisman hopes.

2. Reggie Bush, USC: The junior running back didn't have a big game against Washington State, but nationally, he's still the favorite.

3. Matt Leinart, USC: He seems to have regained his mojo. Lit up Washington State, completing 24 of 34 passes for 364 yards and three touchdowns.

Albert Pujols passes Teixeira as #1 player in baseball …

Complete player rankings …

NY Times on the Baseball GM insanity …



Phil and Kobe – together again …

Unbeknownst to a breathless media, the feud ended months ago. Jackson thought Bryant would demand some kind of accounting for calling him "uncoachable," but the first time they saw each other after Jackson was hired, Bryant hugged him. They never had the talk, and Jackson isn't planning one.

For the Lakers, the good news is, it's not like it was. Of course, that's the bad news too.

Bryant and Jackson aren't likely to feud, or come anywhere near a title. With O'Neal, the three of them teetered constantly on the brink of dysfunction … into the Finals for four of their five seasons together.

The present configuration is an alliance, not a triangle — and isn't expected back in the Finals for four or five seasons, if then.

Jerry Buss may believe they're playoff-bound, but then, he's merely the owner. "He said that?" said Jackson, smiling. "Wow, we didn't talk about that."

This is the netherworld between the Lakers' last dynasty and their next one, assuming there is a next one, and it's only a year since O'Neal left.

Finally! The White Shadow is released on DVD …

Yoda cuts a rug …

Looks like our radio station has been sold …it’s been fun everyone…

This made me very pleased:



Not Photo-shopped …we saw this live…