This article starts a brand new chapter in my NBA 2009 Season Prediction Series. These next five articles will include the teams that make up the Southwest Division of the Western Conference. First up, the Dallas Mavericks!
The Dallas Mavericks are coming off a season in which they made the playoffs. That's great for fans, but slightly disappointing for the front office.
After the Jason Kidd trade, many fans, analysts, and front office members thought that the return of Jason Kidd would give the team the juice it needed to advance far into the playoffs, and contend for the franchise's first NBA title. This did not happen as we all know, as Dallas was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the New Orleans Hornets, four games to one.
This playoff failure prompted GM Donnie Nelson to release Head Coach Avery Johnson, and hire Rick Carlisle as the team's new Head Coach.
Let's see what new additions the Mavericks have made to their roster. In the 2008 NBA Draft, the Mavericks selected Vanderbilt senior SG Shan Foster with the 57th pick in the draft, whom they did not sign. The Mavericks also have three players who are unsigned free agents, Jammal Magloire, Juwan Howard, and Antoine Wright.
The youngest player on this roster is PG Jose Barea, out of Northeastern with two years of experience. The oldest player, is a two-way tie between Eddie Jones and Jason Kidd, both with 14 years of experience. This team has a great combination of veteran leadership and young talent. With that, let's get right to my projected starting lineup:
PG: Jason Kidd
Note: After Kidd joined the Mavericks last season, the team went 3-11 against winning teams. Given that Jason Kidd and the rest of the squad will have the rest of the offseason to play with each other, I sense that this problem will work itself out. Olympic Gold Medalist!
SG: Jason Terry
Note: Before the Kidd trade, Terry was starting at the point, with Devin Harris at SG. Well folks, Harris is gone, but Terry is a great combo guard. Look for the combination of these two in the backcourt to do some great things.
SF: Josh Howard
Note: Coming off a season in which he averaged 19.9 ppg, and 7.7 rpg, Howard is the future of this franchise.
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
Note: Coming off of a high ankle sprain injury, look for him to rebound this season. We all know what Dirk is capable of. He's an Olympian!
C: Erick Dampier
Note: Dampier, well, he used to play much, much better than he does now. In 2003-2004, he averaged a double-double with Golden State, with 12.3 ppg and 12.0 rpg. Ever since, his inconsistency has shown.
Last season, he averaged only 6.1 ppg, and 7.5 rpg. If his inconsistency still continues to plague him, he will most likely lose his starting spot to DeSagana Diop.
Second Team:
PG: Jose Juan Barea
9 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Adam Bernert 10 months ago
the second team isnt really anchored by eddie jones. Stackhouse averages more minutes and has been their sixth man for the last three years.
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Cameron Jerde 10 months ago
what i really meant by that was not statistical, it's his experience and veteran leadership that anchors the second team.
you are right, if what i meant was purely statistical then Stackhouse would be their guy
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Jaime Irvine 10 months ago
Mavericks are in trouble. I see them getting to the 8th spot at best. Dont count on Kidd being the savior for this team. He is past his prime and will clash with coach Carlisle who likes to slow the game down.
Kidd has had problems with almost every coach he has had and has forced out a number of very good coaches. The only coach he got a long with was Frank who is a young walkover that Kidd wanted in NJ so he could have control. Unfortunately, Kidd forced out Scott who just happened to take NJ to the NBA finals and now has rejuvenated the Hornets organization with the help of Chris Paul.
Coaches fired/resigned with Kidd on the team:
Avery Johnson
Lou Campenelli (midway through freshman year at Cal)
Danny Ainge (resigned in 2000 as phx coach)
Dick Motta
Scott Skiles (didnt re-sign until kidd was shipped to NJ)
Byron Scott
I dont think these are coincidences.
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Cameron Jerde 10 months ago
that's a pretty compelling argument jaime, thanks for the imput
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Waleed Ershad 10 months ago
Good prediction Jaime. I think if Jason Kidd can gel with Dirk, Jet, and J-Ho then everyone will be scared when they see Dallas on their schedule. But also, I hope the bence can get a little better. I think Bass will contribute lots of enery, blocked shots, rebounding, and offense (with Jason Kidd dishing) and Diop can come in with energy, rebounding, and defense as well but I'm not that confident about the bench backcourt...hopefully Stack can drop 10-15 points a night despite his old age. I don't see Jones helping with the scoring. I think Devean George is a more reliable option than him. But mayb Green will have a breakout year with Kidd :). GO MAVS
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Wes Ward 10 months ago
Wright was resigned by the Mavs, Mcgloire was signed by the Heat. Also I do not believe Howard is the future of this team...many people see him as a young player but he is 28 now, only two years younger than Dirk. Also, Dampier has split time with Diop over the past 2 years, averaging about 40 mpg. In Golden State he played over 30 min and was in a contract year, that being said, he and Diop have averaged about 9pts and 14 reb per game since being paired. I think the time for Dirk and Howard to win it all is now or never, hence the Kidd trade which obviously backfired last year. After a summer camp together, I agree with your prediction that they will be out for revenge and Carlisle will likely inspire them with a new attitude and drive, but the future looks bleak for the current lineup unless there is drastic change somewhere.
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Taylor Gram 10 months ago
Watch for Gerald Green to back up Howard and Stack come in at SG leaving Eddie Jones out of the mix. With this team they have endless possibilities in the backcourt, it's the front court that deeply worries me.
Desagna Diop will definetly end up the starting C. Dampier has been very dissapointing, and fans in Dallas are screaming for his removal from the starting lineup, but couldn't get the chance to see it when the Mavs traded Diop to the Nets.
This Mavs team was severly shaken up after their leave from the first round 2 years ago against the Warriors(it still hurts to say that). Dirk was some what disapointing after having his MVP season, and Josh Howard failed to produce in the Playoffs.
The reason the Mavs could not make their offense work with Kidd was because Avery Johnson played a pure isolation offense which Jason Kidd cannot play nearly as well as Kidd-ball, running up the court every chance you get a beating the D down court. Carlisle made sure he was going to let Kidd play his way, understanding what Avey didn't, Kidd is only affective while playing Jason Kidd style basketball.
It's going to be a challenge for the Mavs to make the playoffs because of their division which everyone, except the Grizzlies, made the playoffs. To stay in the playoff race this year the Mavs are going to have to win at home, and against division rivals, plain and simple.
Look for Brandon Bass to have a breakout year. Last year Bass's season started good but slowed down after he had to take over the backup C because of Diop's leave in the Kidd ttrade, but now that Diop is back Bass can have a full season at PF.
Bass is a good young player but he's not very versatile in terms of position change. He is way too big to be a SF, but can't match up at C because of his size.
Overall I agree, the Mavs can be vey successful next year depending on injuries, and the play of Jason Kidd.
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Kythe Tarkin 10 months ago
Championship Rotation for Mavericks in 2008-2009:
1st Team: Kidd/Wright/Howard/Dirk/Diop; 2nd Team: Terry/Green/Charles Rhodes/Bass/Damp; 4th Quarter Crunch Time Lineup: Kidd/Terry/Howard/Bass at PF/Dirk at Center
Staying at the Bench: Devean George (Should only be used if injuries to other guys); Jerry Stackhouse (Should be a player coach on bench)
Unactive List: Eddie Jones(For insurance purposes); JJ Barea(For insurance purposes);James Singleton(For insurance purposes)
Charles Rhodes is a Larry Johnson clone and Brandon Bass is a Larry Johnson clone; having two Larry Johnson clones on the team isn't a bad thing, but a good thing.
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Waleed Ershad 10 months ago
Who is Charles Rhodes? And I think Stack still has game in him and won't take a backseat to Wright or Green. He is a smart player and a terrific shooter and great finisher at the rim and that is perfect for Kidd.
But I really hope Barea, Wright, and Green can help the backcourt because I think we are solid with Damp, Diop, Dirk, and Bass at the frontcourt. All of them have proven to be consistent even Bass last year and he will only get better with Kidd. Also, Damp did some scoring himself last year when he ran with Kidd.
I think the backcourt has great potential to be deep and solid but there's no solid evidence that we have. J-Kidd, Terry, J-Ho, and Stack are what we are looking at for the one, two, and three for sure but I think we will need Wright or Green to help out. Hopefully, they can mature with Kidd and the other veterans.
I don't think Devean George or Eddie Jones will play big roles. Avery Johnson loved using veterans like them and Juwan Howard but I think Carlisle will use the youth more. But i may be wrong...George and Jones are terrific defenders and can make shots.
I think we have plenty of depth at every position and the roster is solid. It just all comes down to Carlisle and if he's willing to fully allow J-Kidd to run the offense. Avery's isolations were really useless!!! I love Avery and all that he has done for the Mavs but...his plays weren't working. Hopefully, a training camp with Kidd will really really really help :) Go Mavs!!
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