Dallas Mavericks Need To Figure Out Shooting Guard Position

Anyone who has followed Dallas Mavericks basketball the past two years knows the weaknesses they've struggled with over that time at center and shooting guard.

When Erick Dampier and Desagana Diop combined in 2005-06 to form a two-headed, 12-foul monster, it took the Mavs all the way to the finals.

But the shooting guard position has been piecemeal ever since Michael Finley left, and even he was more of a small forward.

After that season, Devin Harris was made the Mavs' starting point guard, leaving the shooting guard position a revolving door for the rest of his tenure. Terry started most of the time, and Jerry Stackhouse and Devean George, neither of whom lit the world on fire, logged some time there as well. 

When Rick Carlisle took the reins of the Mavs, he proved that unlike Avery, he was at least willing to play around with some lineups, starting Terry, Barea, Gerald Green, Antoine Wright, and once or twice a hobo dressed in a Mavs uniform.

With the luxury of the best shooting power forward in the game, the Mavericks weren't hurting for offense as much, but they have consistently been hurting for the skill set that a natural shooting guard brings.

The Mavs need a shooting guard that is A) long and explosive, B) can create his own shot, preferably off the dribble, and C) whose primary focus is driving to the basket, not jump shots.

Sure, every team would like to have it, but with the talent and resources at the Mavericks' disposal, letting this issue go unaddressed is not an option if they want to win a title.

This year, Josh Howard, Rodrigue Beaubois, J.J. Barea, and Quinton Ross have all started at the two guard

Barea isn't tall enough. Terry isn't tall enough, nor can he create his own shot off the dribble, and, while he is good off the screen, he is primarily a jump shooter, and a streaky one at that.

Howard has all the tools, and he's a good defender, but he tends to fall in love with the jump shot, and with his ankle injuries, he hasn't been nearly explosive enough.

Beaubois is more of a combo guard, but he is an interesting fit at shooting guard. We know he can put the ball in the basket from all over, and he's got the wingspan and speed to stay in front of any shooting guard not named Kobe, but he's raw and inexperienced, not the type you can rely on in the playoffs.

The group of things I listed above are exactly what the Mavs need when the offense slows down, which it has done on occasion.

You know what you're getting from Dirk, which is 20-25 points per game, and he can get to the line if he tries. But as a jump shooter, he can go cold, and if he's cold, suddenly all the pressure is on people like Jason Terry and Shawn Marion, and while they're both talented, come playoff time those guys can't be counted on to put up Dirk's numbers.

Dirk is unique in that the way he pivots and frees himself from even the toughest defender tends to draw fouls, even with jump shots.

One of the more promising developments this year is Shawn Marion's low post game, and when he's on the floor with Howard, he complements Howard's jump shooting ways.

Marion has only taken nine three-pointers this year, and that's coming from a guy that has averaged three per game for his entire career. That shows a remarkable willingness to adapt to what the Mavs need him for, because the last thing they need is another three-point shooter.

The problem with Marion is that, even though most of his shots are high-percentage shots, i.e. close to the basket, he doesn't seem to knock them down at nearly the clip he should. Part of this is because he's playing like a center, but he's only 6'7", so the shots aren't as easy for him as they are a seven-footer.

If Howard can stay on the court, I feel better about him than anyone else at the shooting guard position, but he needs to get his reps in there before the playoffs start.

As I said before, Howard and Marion complement each other very well on the offensive side, and defensively, they are a fantastic pair of perimeter defenders, something the Mavs always have trouble with.

While the merry-go-round at shooting guard has been entertaining to watch, it is wearing thin as the Mavs enter a crucial stretch. I admire Carlisle for trying new things, but it's time to get a lineup and stick with it.

We know Kidd, Dirk, Marion, and Dampier are starting, and we need to know what that fifth piece is going to be.

If the Mavs can get a handle on the shooting guard position, whether with Howard or another piece to be traded for, then they can trot out a starting five that has as much talent as any starting group in the league.

To read more of my work about the NBA's Southwest Division, click here.