Dallas Mavericks Roundtable: Weeks 16 and 17

Back again, after a brief absence, with the Dallas Mavericks Roundtable, the running feature whose disappearance has gone alongside what could very well be the death-knell of this particular Mavericks team.

Coincidence? Of course.

Over the past few weeks we've seen the Mavs blow a lead against the Celtics, as well as a loss to the Duncan and Ginobili-less Spurs and the Durant and Green-less Thunder. Ouch.

But we also saw J-Kidd torch his old team, though unlike when Harris did the same, you won't read about this one in the media, as well as a gutsy win over the....uh....cough cough.....Thunder.

Scores for the past two weeks:

2/10: Kings 95, Mavs 116
2/12: Celtics 99, Mavs 92
2/18: Mavs 113, Nets 98
2/20: Mavs 86, Rockets 93
2/21: Kings 95, Mavs 116
2/24: Mavs 76, Spurs 93
2/25: Bucks 96, Mavs 116
2/27: Thunder 108, Mavs 110 (OT)
3/1:  Raptors 98, Mavs 109
3/2:  Mavs 87, Thunder 96

1. How did the Mavericks look to you the past two weeks?

Janet Kessler: Looks like strategy to beat the Mavs is this: Just scratch your No. 1 player, and watch the Mavs blow the game.
 
Seriously, how many times have we seen this happen this season? It worked for he Spurs, almost for the Thunders.
 
I have to remind myself, we're still waiting for JET to come back. For the grade a C-.

Alex McVeigh: Well, they've graduated to beating bad teams by double-digits. Next step: winning close games against good teams.

I would be happy with the progress if it wasn't MARCH already. Given that it's taken the Mavs most of the season to be able to lay the beatdown on a bad team, I don't think they're going to put it together in the next month and a half.

Robert Allred: Kind of mixed. I was really disappointed with the blowout loss against the Spurs without Manu and Duncan. I was also kind of disgusted that it took overtime to beat the Thunder at home.

However, I also enjoyed the payback victories over the Nets and Bucks, and we did what we were supposed to do by destroying a bad Sacramento team. It is halftime during the Toronto game as I type this, and despite the ebb and flow of the game, I have a big 'ole smile on my face. Why? Because the JET is back!!

2. What was a personal highlight for you?

Janet: Seeing our bench play like starters in the five wins. Dirk finally getting out of his funk against OK. 
 
One thing I really liked, that happened after the Nets game(I hope this won't be looked as a chick-thing).  How Little Devin hugged and greeted his old team-mates.

Alex: Dirk making his first three since the All-Star break, as a dagger against the Raptors. 

Robert: It's got to Sunday vs. Toronto with the return of Jason Terry. Win, lose, or draw, tonight was a good night. It has been a long three weeks without Jason Terry, and his return will hopefully provide a needed spark for this Mavs team.

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

Janet: Being able to beat the upper tiered teams. Let's face the fact, the Mavs have NO chance of getting anywhere, even if they make the postseason.

Alex: Not letting young, quick point guards have the best game of their careers. As good as Kidd has been this year, he is letting the young guys destroy him, and Carlisle hasn't come up with a way to help him yet.

Look at the West: Parker, Paul, Aaron Brooks, Jerryd Bayless are four guys the Mavs might have to face in the playoffs. The other ones? Only Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups and Derek Fisher. Yeah, I'd say the Mavs need some help at the point.

Robert: The most immediate issue has just been fixed. I'll have to wait until next week to think of what the second most immediate issue is. But for now, Jason Terry is back, and all is right in my little Maverick world. He just needs to continue to get healthy.

4. 4. The Two Man Game posted this interesting article about Josh Howard's ebbs and flows? Do you agree or disagree?

Janet: So Josh Howard plays by his emotions. Gee, that article made it sound like that's a first. This is an emotionally charged game. Josh is human and isn't the first player that had the things in live effect him. 
 
These players are trained and coached to block-out the outside world in, and sometimes bad things happen to star players, too. Of course it effects the team too, no surprise there.

Alex: It makes me look at Howard in a different way, but in the end, he needs to perform on the court. If he doesn't, sure, I might feel sorry for him, but he's not helping the Mavs get to where they need to be.

Robert: I think there is some merit to the argument, although the little chart they drew out to illustrate their point was a little hard to follow.

That being said, there can be no denying that Howard has seen his ups and downs, many of which can be attributed to both personal struggles and on-the-court success/failures.

I don't know if I am willing to say that the addition of Darrell Armstrong to the coaching staff is the key in Josh Howard's recent turn around, but if it is? Welcome back to Dallas, Darrell!

5. This season has been marked by the Mavs' inability to play above their competition. While this has led to them blowing winnable games, it has also kept them in teams with more talent than they have, though they rarely those games out.

Do you think this could translate to some unexpected playoff success, sort of like how the Warriors did in 2007

Janet:  I want to believe they will pull it together in time, to make a big impact in the post-season. This team so far has been so inconsistent.

Alex: The Warriors were able to upset the Mavs because they had players that wore their emotions on their sleeves, they were able to steal one on the road, and their home crowd would not let them lose.

While the first point may apply to the Mavs, I don't see them stealing one at the Staples Center, though maybe in New Orleans, San Antonio or Houston. But I don't see their crowd pumping them up to that level.

Robert: I haven't thought of this before, but it might be a good point. The Mavs' most frustrating quality—playing up to better competition while playing down to inferior competition—could give us some unexpected success come playoff time.

The real problem with the Mavs is that we still have absolutely no idea what they are, or can be. They have shown us flashes of brilliance, and have also had stretches where they looked absolutely terrible.

I'm going to cross my fingers and hope that there is something to this. Maybe, just maybe, the Mavs will surprise us all when the playoffs roll around.

Player of the week

Janet: James Singleton.

Alex: James Singleton, for his unreal numbers. He's putting up Griffin/Thabeet style numbers in the pros, and in little minutes.

Robert: If we are talking strictly this week, it has got to be either Dirk or Howard. Nobody played well against the Spurs, Howard pulled through against the Bucks, Dirk beat the Thunder, and they are both playing well tonight (vs. the Raptors)

Player of the month for February

Janet: Jason Kidd.

Alex: Kidd has come through in a big way, even on the scoring front when he's needed. But I'd have to give it to Wright, for coming through when Terry was out, and the Mavs weren't hurting as much on the offensive end as we all thought.

Robert: Let me give this to Josh Howard for his improved play. In reality, monthly awards are tough for me without going back and thoroughly checking out the numbers (which I'm admittedly too lazy to do right now), so I'm shooting from the hip here.

Games for this week

Mar. 4 - Spurs

Janet:  Against the Spurs:  With the Jet back on the runway, it will be for revenge.  Dallas takes one over the Spurs.

Alex: I can't in good conscience pick the Mavs, but I would love to be disappointed. 

Robert: Spurs- Another chance to make up for a disappointing effort, and the Mavs win a close one.

Mar. 5 - Hornets

Janet: The Mavs need to show they mean business, about making a run for post-season.  Mavs over Hornets.

Alex: Toughest back-to-back of the season, and I'd love to believe they could win one of them. I think Paul will get close to a quadruple-double, but I'm picking the Mavs

Robert: Give me CP3 and the Hornets here. I'd love to predict a Mavs victory, but I see a letdown after a big Spurs win

Mar. 7 - Wizards

Janet: Gotta beat the bottom dwellers too.  No time left to play around, put this one away and get ready for the next.  Mavs over the Wiz.

Alex: As bad as the Thunder are, the Wizards are infinitely worse. The Mavs should dominate from start to finish.

Robert: The Mavs get back on their winning ways against a really bad Washington team.

Picks as of Mar. 4

Janet: 24-15 (2-1 last week)
Waleed: 25-10 (2-1 last weeks)
Alex: 25-11 (0-0 last week)
Robert: 6-3 (0-0 last week)