Dallas Mavericks Roundtable: Week 10

As promised, here is the up-to-date Mavericks roundtable for week 10 of the NBA season.

Your scores:

12/30: T-Wolves 100, Mavs 107
1/2: 76ers 86,  Mavs 96
1/4: Mavs 82, Grizzlies 102

1. How did the Mavericks look to you this week?

Janet Kessler: For the most part, pretty good, except J-ho looks lost since he went 29 on LAC. I think the Mavs forgot to pack their game for the quick trip to Memphis. It was definitely left in Dallas.

Waleed Ershad: Horrible. They seem to have no energy or desire to win at the beginning of the games. Then they try to make a comeback, which doesn't always work, as evident from the Grizzlies' game? D+

Alex McVeigh: The win against Minny was awesome to watch, but it shouldn't have come to that. Although the T-Wolves are starting to get hot. Losing to the Grizz by 20 is unacceptable though.

2. What was a personal highlight for you?

Janet: The 29 down comeback was sweet history, but they need to quit getting in the hole to start with.

Waleed: The 29-point comeback was kinda cool...but at the same time, it was really sad.

Alex: During the comeback, when Dirk was bloodied, and McHale was complaining to the ref that the player only hit the ball, to which the ref replied, "The ball ain't bleeding."

3. What is the most immediate issue that needs to be fixed?

Janet: Again energy at the start of games. Seems like they wait for Terry to spark them up from the bench, instead of bringing it on at the start of the game.

Waleed: Um...start demolishing bad teams. Good starts. More energy from our guys.  Better defense.

Alex: Playing a full 48 minutes, every game, no matter who the opponent is. Anything less and you'll be lucky to lose in five games in the playoffs. 

4. ESPN's trade machine shows that a trade with Brandon Bass, Jerry Stackhouse, and Diop for Brad Miller would work with the salary cap. Would you be willing to make this trade? Why or why not?

Janet: Sure, it not a bad deal. Singleton is doing everything Bass does, plus he shoots threes. We're not getting our money’s worth on Diop (a BIG disappointment). Stackhouse is done physically. Miller is desperate to be on a contender. So let's get someone here who can contribute to the cause of winning.

Waleed: I would definitely be willing to do this trade. Bass would be missed, but Stack and Diop...not so much. It is definitely a great trade for us. Would the Kings really want to do this trade though?  Stack is pretty much washed up, and Diop is basically just an overpaid 7’0” tree that sits in the paint, and who blocks shots and rebounds occasionally. The only way I see it happening is if Sacramento thinks Bass is a great young talent.

Alex: I don't think so. While I don't mind losing Diop's contract and Stack, Bass has been coming on of late, and I love his game. Fiddling with the numbers, you could plug in someone like Green or Singleton instead of Bass and it would work salary-wise, but I don't know if the Kings would go for that. 

5. Dallas has one of the better scoring benches in the NBA (mostly because of Jason Terry), yet it seems that people like Bass, Wright, Green, and Singleton get their minutes yanked around. Who do you think should be on the floor more?

Janet: Whoever is hot. Coach Carlisle is doing a great job with matchups. I like the way the bench is worked now. Yes I would like to see Green play more, but I want to see him do something besides mess up.

Waleed: I like all our guys. But I would like to see Bass and Green get more minutes. When's the last time Green played a game???  And I don't see how Wright is a better offensive player.  

Honestly, I haven't seen Wright defend better. And let's face it; they both have virtually the same chance of stopping Kobe. And Bass always does an incredible job finishing plays, drawing fouls, rebounding, making free throws, setting screens, running the floor, hitting open jumpshots, etc.  I don't know if Singleton can do all of that better than Bass.  

Also, what about Diop??? We signed this guy for a lot of money and he doesn't even play. He could've been used against Marc Gasol. Gasol tore Singleton up in the early parts of the Memphis game. Diop could've put him in his place.

Alex: Green could help provide an offensive spark when the jumpshot won't go in, but I think he's more of a liability on defense. I would love to see him at least get some reps so we could see where he is, he plays so sparingly now that it's hard to gauge where his game is at. 

Player of the Week

Janet: Jason Terry for his 29 against T-Wolves.

Alex: Jason Terry continues to pour in the points off of the bench, and he continues to play the other parts of the game well, even when his shot is cold. 

Games for This Week

1/6: Clippers @ Mavs

Janet: Hopefully the Mavs find some energy to start with. Ain't gonna say an easy win, but it should still be a win. Mavs over Clips

Waleed: Mavs realize they need to come out strong and destroy the Clippers.

Alex: Now that we're in 2009, it's not funny anymore to play around with bad teams. Mavs need to dominate from start to finish. Mavs win.

1/8: Knicks @ Mavs

Janet: The Mavs need to focus on getting this win and don't get caught thinking about the next game. Put this one away early, to give the starter rest for tomorrow. Mavs over Knicks.

Waleed: Mavs continue their strong play and beat the Knicks at their own run-and-gun game.  Mavs win 118-106

Alex:  The last time they played, the Mavs resurrected their season. Maybe a beat down of the Knicks can boost them again to another level. Chris Duhon will have a monster game, but the Mavs win by double digits. 

1/9: Mavs @ Suns

Janet: A game to show how far the Mavs have come, or how far we need to go.  Second game of a back-to-back. Dirk will have a big game against them, Phoenix has no one to guard him. It's a close call, we beat them in Dallas, Shaq-less and without Nash. We're a good road team, and better than we were Dec. 4. (HOPEFULLY, got my fingers crossed); Mavs over Suns.

Waleed:  Mavs win it with defense and teach Phoenix a lesson on how to play D.

Alex: Tough game, but if they can win in Portland, they can win in Phoenix. Doesn't mean they will though. Phoenix wins a close one.

1/11: Mavs @ Kings

Janet: Who they got?  Mavs over Kings.

Waleed:  Mavs win.

Alex: Another team the Mavs should be destroying by now. Mavs win by 10.

Picks as of 1/5/09:

Janet: 14-5 (1-1 this week)
Waleed: 14-5 (1-1 this week)
Alex: 13-6 (1-1 this week)