NBA Playoffs 2008 2.Hornets vs 7.Mavs

[hova-]

Mavs are back. Pretty much a thing of who can steal games on the road since both teams are very good at home. The Mavs were really cleaning the glass and Chris Paul could not find his shot.

For the Dirk Haters .... how is 32/19/6 and two blocks on a .55% shooting ?
I think his stats show that he is really hot this post season.

You just need more than one star player in the Playoffs, Chris Paul may be leading his Hornets, but everybody forgets about his support.
David West for example is way too underrated .. hes averaging 21 and 7 ....

Still I think this is an exciting series. Although many say its like Paul vs Dirk or stuff ... it depends on the other key players to step up and help their stars ...

[jonthefon]

My point is proven: shut down Paul and Dallas will win. The home factor was big too. But the question is: can the Mavs do it just four out of seven times?

[Andrew]

That wasn't really the case in Game 4 though. Paul didn't have a terrible game but it wasn't up to the same standard as the first two games in the series, yet the Hornets still took the game and a 3-1 lead.

[jonthefon]

it was an awful game by the Mavs, particularly Josh Howard (4-for-15, NO FREE-THROW ATTEMPTS). They took too many jumpshots, which completely befuddled me: the difference in Game 3 was when they got to the rim and put the New Orleans bigs in foul trouble. You'd think somebody would notice that, but in Game 4, it was jumper after jumper. There was a short period in the third where Dirk and Terry drove to the rim and drew free throws: that cut the lead back to five from about 12. Nobody, outside of Brandon Bass, fed off their energy.

I can't blame Kidd greatly for the loss since hardly anybody ran off his outlet passes. Getting back to Howard: he has completely fallen in love with that jumper of his. if it were consistent, I couldn't say much. But the problem is that he no longer drives anymore. He's at his best when he gets the hustle points which forces guys to get back and give him better looks. But that never happened: he got to the rim a couple of times with reasonably easy looks, but he couldn't finish.

I sure hope somebody on the team (or Avery) realizes this and forces it into the gameplan. Keep Paul quiet (or average), drive to the rim. Avery needs to stop being a tightass and let the team play for their season. No micro-management.

I'm kind of expectant for Game 5, I want to see if the Mavs change their gameplan accordingly (and to see if Howard and Stackhouse take a step off the bench).

[Fizdale]

Wow, I feel sad for Dallas, First led 2 and O in the Finals and lost, then became a 60-win team and earned the 1st see but lost, acquired a point guard that's in his last legs, then will be eiliminated.

Priceless.

[Andrew]

It's in the books, the Hornets advance 4-1 behind a triple double from Chris Paul.

[GoHornets]

Nobody picked Hornets in 5

Wow, I feel sad for Dallas,

I feel bad for New Orleans. There is no way they can beat the Spurs at the level San Antonio is playing.
By the other side, I'm happy, first second round since I'm a team fan.
Last Playoff apaerence by the Hornets was against Miami (3-4)

[L10]

Well. I really like Dirk game style and the Mavs as a team, but they dissapoint me once again

[Lamrock]

I feel bad for New Orleans. There is no way they can beat the Spurs at the level San Antonio is playing.
By the other side, I'm happy, first second round since I'm a team fan.
Last Playoff apaerence by the Hornets was against Miami (3-4)

You feel bad for New Orleans for making the next round and facing a difficult team? Would making the conference finals as a #1 seed (and facing Spurs there) be a pitiful thing too?

I'm sure the Spurs will beat New Orleans, but no way? What kind of fan are you? They match up relatively well, are extremely talented and have Home court advantage. If the Hornets win the series; I'm going to quote that post; the post where the forum's prominent Hornets band wagoner said they can't win.

Sucks for Dallas; especially Dirk and Kidd. Those guys can never catch a break. The last 2 minutes of the game were pretty exciting though.

[GoHornets]

I Said there is no way to beat them at the level San Antonio is playing against Phoenix.
I didn't say there is no possibility that New Orleans can hold them and beat them. I was just saying that San Antonio is playing really good.
Please don't get me wrong.

You feel bad for New Orleans for making the next round and facing a difficult team? Would making the conference finals as a #1 seed (and facing Spurs there) be a pitiful thing too?

And no, It wouldn't be pitiful.

Obviously, It would be great if you could quote my last post

[benji]

Sucks for Dallas; especially Dirk and Kidd. Those guys can never catch a break.

Because Dirk choked away yet another series: 27/12 on 59% shooting.

Incredible that Kidd didn't go to the line in three of the games. Those first four games of his were pretty much worthless.

[[Q]]

a Hornets matchup vs the Spurs would be tricky (they went 2-2) but it's doable. Their 2 wins included one in San Antonio and were blowouts. their 2 losses, though were about 10 points apiece. As long as NO plays the same solid defense they've been playing all year, there's no reason why they can't beat the Spurs in a 7 game series.

and the level the Spurs are playing the Suns? did you see Game 4? yeah not so great huh?

[benji]

As long as NO plays the same solid defense they've been playing all year, there's no reason why they can't beat the Spurs in a 7 game series.

Except the Spurs defense that they played all season long was about four points better...the Hornets advantage comes from their offense, which was fifth in the league and during the season outscored the Spurs by almost 4.5 points.

This doesn't look like the Spurs year anyway. They're more like the 2003-04 Spurs team with lesser defense than last years Spurs team.

[GoHornets]

It was just one game.
Did you see the first three games of the series?

[Lamrock]

This doesn't look like the Spurs year anyway. They're more like the 2003-04 Spurs team with lesser defense than last years Spurs team.

I don't know. I'm feelin' the Spurs. I didn't know their defense was any worse. I'll look into it. Kurt Thomas didn't do anything for them?

GoHornets, The Spurs aren't playing at that high a level. Just because they had one blowout (and followed with a game they gave to Phoenix) and started the series with a 3-0 lead doesn't mean the Spurs are playing all that special. They only won the first game because of terrible coaching, and Game 2 was just a mater of Phoenix collapsing. Just because a team that did well in the regular season has been playing poorly doesn't mean their opponent has been unstoppable.

Uh-oh. being a smart ass? Do you aspire to be the next Benji, GoHornets? If so, change your username to a lowercase version of your first name.

[GoHornets]

Uh-oh. being a smart ass? Do you aspire to be the next Benji, GoHornets? If so, change your username to a lowercase version of your first name.

Sorry, but I didn't get that

[jonthefon]

I'm off to cry in my pillow. Comfort anyone?

I was ranting that the trade was a mistake and looks like that's been proved. At least I don't have to have high hopes for the Mavs next year.

Anyway: crazy thought: Dampier+Howard+something else for Yao? Of course, Howard's trade value just plunged underground after his utter suckage, but perhaps Rick Adelman could get his wheels going and he's still got the talent to score when he mixes the mid-range game with his near-unstoppable drive. Dampier is the replacement center and the add-on could be a role player or to balance contracts. Meanwhile, Yao plays 55 games and (hopefully) the playoffs, either takes a beating as usual in that case he can dish it to Dirk (who doesn't have the pressure to create), Terry. Maybe Mavs pick up a budget SF in FA with the cash they have available with Bradley (godforbid) and Finley's contracts off the board.

Okay, I'm delusional but you can't blame me.

[Andrew]

I don't see the Rockets dealing Yao anytime soon, but it would be a nice thought for a lot of teams if he was on the block and fairly easily attainable.

[hova-]

Tough for the Mavs. But it has proven what not everybody (including me) wanted to accept. The Kidd deal sucked.

Kidd could not find his game in Dallas all season long and so he did in the post season. Hell, he did not even play better than I would have expected Devin Harris to play. Harris might even be more capable of defending Chris Paul.
Its not like I am a Kidd hater now or stuff, I love this guy since his Phoenix Suns days. But I think the Mavs were at their best when they did not have floor general at the PG spot. When they did not run the breaks that often.

Obviously, Josh Howard was struggling, but I think you can compensate that when the rest of the team is playing its best ball game. But for the Mavs, this has not been the case since the furious 67-15 run last season. In the 06-07 regular season the Mavs had at times 4 players who were capable of playing the best basketball of their career and harmonise together.
Okay, the struggled in the first round against a Warriors team that was hot, motivated and had a decent coaching advantage (imho), but why did the Mavs give up so quick and turn things around by giving up Devin Harris and Desagana Diop for a player they did not really have AND needed before.
Harris and Diop, two excellent defenders, who fit into the team. I dont get it when I think about it now. Harris has always been able to step up, damn I remember the series against the Spurs in the 05-06 playoffs where his quickness and his driving ability were like a secret weapon.
And Diop was way underrated he was able to defend the low post, which is really missing now. It just worked out. Now look at the stats.
The Mavs are the weakest team when it comes to forcing turnovers with only 12 per game. In 06-07 they were forcing like 14.5 per game.
They are also playing LESS assists than they did the season before the Kidd trade. Imho two things that show that the team is missing harmony and adjustments.

Im really excited of what will happen with the Mavs. There is definitely no way how they can go on with the same roster that just does not work.
Except Dirk and Josh I would give up anybody.
I would also love to see the Mavs giving Dirk a low post partner who can help cleaning the glass and scoring near the basket.

[jonthefon]

The big reason on why Houston wouldn't trade Yao is because it would be a PR nightmare: China would riot (kinda). Also Yao generates way too much revenue and good publicity for him to be shipped off. If he was some other 7"6 averaging 23/10 but with injury-prone problems, perhaps the team would be rather open to dealing.

I tried to think towards the positive side of the Kidd trade but I never found anything. I just supposed that if it worked out, I'd eat humble pie all offseason.

Mark Cuban loves making panic trades every year when the Mavs aren't absolute top.

At the 2001 and 2002 trade deadlines, he made massive trades, both of which kinda worked out.

In 02-03, at the deadline, the Mavs had the best record in the league and the most unstoppable trio in the league. But a 60-win season and a narrow loss to San Antonio in the WCF, Cuban felt that it was just one piece left in the championship puzzle, so he traded for two All-Star calibre players who couldn't play defence (i.e. two "Kidd" deals, giving up the depth which had been part of the success.)

Over the three seasons afterwards, generally at the deadline, the Mavs were on top of the league standings and looking comfortable and Cuban had calmed down too (especially after seeing how his previous move had panned out).

But when the deadline hit this year, Harris was out injured, the Mavs looked stagnant because of Harris being out and were fifth in the West. Hence Cuban pulled another panic trade. I doubt he would've made it if Harris hadn't been injured.

Why would you want to keep Howard for now? He was utter shit and if he doesn't learn to mix his great drive and hustle with that sometimes jumper and fadeaway, he'll continue to be inconsistent and won't be All-Star calibre again.

I'd like to see Bass step up as a consistent board-cleaner, but I'm not begging that out of him: he was fantastic this season and maybe an extension (just a couple of years: no Erick Dampier crap) is on hand.

[hova-]

I guess I would keep Josh since he i still developing although hes already 27 I think and he is also just a very good starting swing man. You should not expect "star-like" things from him, maybe he wont be an All-Star again, but when he is at his average game he is still a great swing man who can hustle hard. Just a type of player you need and you wont find too often in this league (without giving up very much)

Bass is really good. I love his attitude, his aggressive style and his confidence in his actions (I always think "dont shoot the ball", but he often prooved me wrong)

Erick Dampier is just an overpaid center. I would love to see him being traded. You give up nothing when you trade him except a huge contract.

We should also not forget that the Mavs have to be considered an old team. They should try to get a mixture of young, hungry players and veterans like Dirk, Jet or maybe Kidd. Currently the Mavs are missing young players ..

[benji]

Erick Dampier is just an overpaid center. I would love to see him being traded. You give up nothing when you trade him except a huge contract.

Except for his awesome offensive production.

[GoHornets]

Erick Dampier is just an overpaid center. I would love to see him being traded. You give up nothing when you trade him except a huge contract.

Except for his awesome offensive production.

...and his contribution on the boards. 4.2 rpg against the Hornets.

[Andrew]

Why would you want to keep Howard for now? He was utter shit and if he doesn't learn to mix his great drive and hustle with that sometimes jumper and fadeaway, he'll continue to be inconsistent and won't be All-Star calibre again.

He had an unimpressive series against the Hornets but it was just one series; it happens. He had a good season and his previous playoff performances haven't been so lacklustre. He may never be an All-Star again but a lot of borderline All-Stars make a lone appearance or only a couple of appearances in standout seasons while still being effective for their regular teams. I wouldn't write him off so quickly over one series. If one series makes the player, Dirk should be gone too but he bounced back this year. Not even the elite players are immune to disappointing playoff series.

[benji]

...and his contribution on the boards. 4.2 rpg against the Hornets

I don't understand this fetish for five game sample sizes. Also, incase you didn't notice 2.4 of those were still offensive. In the lone Mavericks win he grabbed five in just 25 minutes.

He said Dampier brings nothing, the last two years would disagree with that, one set of five games here or there notwithstanding.