Avery Johnson Makes Me Sick

(Disclaimer: Most of the time when I write a blog, I try to take the approach of a writing penning a column for a newspaper or website. Even when it's heavily biased I try to come across as grounded. Occasionally, however, a rant slips through. This is one of those rants.)

If I met Avery Johnson today I would punch him in the mouth. Just straight up, haul off and pop him one. As a diehard Mavs fan I've been furious with Avery for quite a while now for the absolute destruction of the franchise that took place over the last 2 years. But today's headline pushed me over the edge.

It should be noted that I used to be a huge Avery fan. I respect him as a person, I respect his character, and I appreciate the good work he does for the community. As a player I rooted for him, as I did for all short NBA ballers, despite the fact that he played for the hated Spurs. He was fiery and smart and he kept his teammates in line at all times in a powerful way. I was thrilled when the Mavs hired him as their coach in 2005. There are some guys that you see as players and you think to yourself, "that guy is going to be a great coach." Avery was one of those guys. That proved to be the case for about 2 years. Avery coached the team to the Finals in '06 then to a league-best 67 wins in '07 before the greatest collapse in NBA history.

But somewhere towards the end of the 2007 season things started to change. Avery started getting outcoached more and more often only to be saved by an incredible player performance. Then came the first round playoff upset during which Avery was SEVERELY outclassed by Don Nelson. The predictability of his game planning and absolute refusal to change strategy became a constant. And perhaps most importantly, you could see that his players were beginning to grow tired of him.

All of this carried over into last season which turned out to be one of the most catastrophic in team history (and we're talking about a franchise that once won 11 games in an entire season). Avery had absolutely no control over the players either on the court or off. He looked lost half of the time and just angry the other half. His substitution patterns were wretched, his misuse of timeouts was legendary, and his complete unwillingness to get his players in check was pitiful. His relentless badgering had stripped the entire team of their confidence and any semblance of "fun." Possibly most damaging was the way he continually and publicly emasculated point guard Devin Harris.

Harris was never shown any kind of trust while being coached by Avery. He was never allowed to run the offense for himself or get out and push the ball, despite the fact that this played to his strengths. He constantly (and I mean constantly) was required to look over to the bench to get a play from Coach Johnson and just about any time he didn't he was in for a tongue lashing at the next timeout. Truthfully, I don't think Avery ever liked Harris as a player because Harris was the exact opposite of what Avery was as a player. Harris is taller, faster, and more naturally gifted than Avery ever was. Harris' greatest fault was not being Avery when he was on the court.

And so Devin was sent packing last February in exchange for Jason Kidd. This has turned out to be one of the worst trades in team history, despite the fact that Kidd has played pretty well in his time here. When the trade took place, I was all for it for a lot of reasons. The number one reason being that Avery was NEVER going to trust Devin to run the show here in Dallas. Without the trust of the coach, Devin would have rotted here, never getting the opportunity to really display his skill set. I was sure that Avery would HAVE to trust Jason Kidd, one of the five greatest point guards in NBA history. In the end, Avery still couldn't relinquish control to Kidd and was eventually fired, the Mavs have become mediocre and old, and Harris is a potential MVP candidate in New Jersey.

Tonight the two teams met for the first time since the trade which of course brought a lot of attention, interviews with all parties involved, and questions. The Dallas Morning News caught up with Avery Johnson, currently whipping everyone's butt as an analyst on ESPN. The quote from the article that really caught my attention was when Avery says, "We kind of predicted it. If you go back and look at our comments we talked about him being an All-Star around this time. It's not really a big surprise."

Really? Really Avery? Because the last time Harris was in a Dallas uniform he was looking like a scared kid, knowing that the next time he didn't look at the bench before moving up the court he'd find his butt planted squarely on the bench next to the corpse of Juwan Howard. All anyone saw for the last year that both Avery and Harris were in Dallas was Avery constantly berating Harris and never adapting his worthless game plan to allow Harris to do something that fit his skills. It was like pulling teeth to get the Mavs to run for the last year of Avery's reign here and Harris' numbers in New Jersey make it pretty clear that this had a lot more to do with the coach than the player. As Dirk put it at the end of the article, "Maybe he needed to get away from Avery a little bit." Understatement of the year and a nice little backhanded jab at Avery. (Deep down inside, I think Dirk shares my desire to punch The Little General for wasting the prime of his career.) Harris has absolutely broken out in New Jersey where he is averaging 24 points per game and an insane 10.5 free throw attempts per game, something the Mavs are badly lacking.

In truth I think Devin's run as an elite player will be a short one. He's playing on a bad team which inflates his stats. He still is not a consistent outside shooter. And maybe most importantly of all, his body is just too frail to take the beating that he takes night in and out without breaking down. He's heading to one of those careers where the guy spends 25 to 35 games on the injured list each year. And his game is built around speed and athleticism which will fade with both age and injury. But the point is, the Mavs could be benefiting from those prime years prior to his body's breakdown in addition to the 2 first round draft picks they gave up to get Kidd. I love Kidd and I think he gets a bad rap for what's taken place over his short time here. But the youth, speed, athleticism, and just straight dynamism that Harris brings to the table are sorely missed right now.

And it's all because Avery Johnson couldn't get his head around the fact that there are good point guards in this league who don't play the way he did. To hear him take credit for that and claim that he knew it all along makes me sick. I hope his next coaching gig is Cambodia, which is far more than he deserves. And Perhaps Dirk would like to meet up with me sometime to take turns punching Avery repeatedly.

Some Love for G Wallace

Just a quick hit. My compatriot over at DallasBasketball.com wrote a column this week concerning why the Mavs should pursue Charlotte’s Gerald Wallace. There’s no reason for me to sum it up, just check it out for yourself.

Why the Mavs Should Trade for Wallace

What Wallace does best, as noted in the column, is get to the free throw line. He manages to produce as many free throw opportunities (6.6 per game) as Dirk does while attempting almost 9 less shots per game. Obviously Wallace’s touches and scoring opportunities would drop in moving from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the better. But keep this in mind: Charlotte is one of the lowest scoring, slowest paced offenses in the league. Playing with Jason Kidd, who is widely known for rewarding guys who run the floor, would generate a lot of touches for Wallace in fast break situations where he excels. He defends the weak side extremely well making the small lineup the Mavs have utilized over the last few weeks even more effectively. And possibly most importantly, the acquisition of Wallace (at what will be a very low price) makes Josh Howard expendable if the right deal comes along.

But even without another deal, the Mavs look pretty good with a lineup that features:
Wallace
Dirk
Dampier
Kidd
Howard

That’s a darn good lineup and Wallace plugs in to the motion offense very well. Considering the fact that he likely comes at a significantly lower price than he would have a couple of years ago in free agency, this is a guy the Mavs SHOULD make a run after.

Sports Quick Hits 12/11

1. Graham Snubbed For the Heisman
The Heisman Trophy finalists were announced yesterday and it was no surprise as to who was nominated: quarterbacks Tim Tebow (Florida), Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), and Colt McCoy (Texas). What did come as a surprise is the fact that Texas Tech's quarterback, Graham Harrell, wasn't included on the list. Under normal circumstances, the exclusion of a Tech quarterback wouldn't phase me in the least. Despite putting up ridiculous stats every single year, it's become an annual event for the Heisman Committee to overlook the numbers because of Tech's high-powered system. But this year is the biggest insult in program history in my opinion.

I don't think Harrell would have or should have won the trophy. If I had an unbiased vote, when it came right down to it I'd probably vote for Bradford myself. But leaving Harrell off the finalists list altogether is outrageous. Just take these simple facts into consideration: playing in the same division of the same conference as Bradford and McCoy, Harrell threw for more yards than both; more touchdowns than McCoy; at a better completion percentage than Bradford; and with the same number of interceptions as both while attempting far more passes than either Bradford or McCoy. All three quarterbacks led their team to the exact same record, with Harrell BADLY outplaying McCoy when the two met a few weeks ago.

Look I get upset that Tech QBs get the shaft every year when it comes to national recognition. It has never sat right with me that Tech guys get discredited because they are "system" QBs yet bums like Eric Crouch can not only be nominated but when the Heisman while running a "system" of their own. McCoy, Bradford, and Tebow, just like Crouch, Detmer, and Young, all run in various "systems" that allow them to excel. Harrell is a heck of a lot more of a traditional quarterback than any of these guys. To leave Graham out of the running for the Heisman, even if he was eventually going to end up in fourth place, is a sham and I think the Heisman Committee ought to be ashamed of themselves.

2. Yankees Spend a Quarter Billion

Over the last few years, my hatred for the Yankees has been pushed to the back of my Sports Mind because of the way they have struggled so mightily. But this week that hatred was rekindled. During the current economic crisis, the Yanks still found the money to sign not one but likely two of the biggest free agent names in baseball and may not be finished. Yesterday the Bombers inked pitcher C.C. Sabathia to a 7 year, 160 million dollar contract, and today were said to be offering another pitcher, A.J. Burnett, a 5 year, 80 million dollar deal. (The obvious question being, are they stockpiling players who have two letter first names?) Next on the list is Mark Teixeira who I hear is close to making a deal with Boston but whom I can’t imagine leaving whatever money New York offers on the table.

In truth, I guess this stuff should make me mad at baseball instead of the Yanks. It’s Bug Selig and the Player’s Association that keep the MLB from having a salary cap like every other major American sporting league. But, hey, it’s a lot easier to hate the Yankees when the team is shoved down your throat with unceasing relentlessness by every major sports news outlet in the country. It infuriates me that in baseball the rich continue to get richer while the poor get even poorer.

On the plus side, when the team still struggles to make the playoffs next year and ends up falling short of a championship, it will be hilarious to see the turmoil that ensues. You don’t spend a quarter million dollars in three days and sit idly by to watch your investment not paying off. Chemistry is something the Yanks forgot about long ago.

3. Kobe’s New Shoe
Word came today that Kobe Bryant’s new shoe, Nike’s Kobe IV, will be a low cut sneaker. Specifically designed by Kobe himself, the shoe is apparently inspired by a soccer cleat.

I think he’s going to get some head scratches for this move but I applaud Kobe for pushing this design on the folks at Nike. The need for high top sneakers in one of the biggest myths in the history of sports and I hope to see the low top shoe become more popular. A high top sneaker only protects against minor ankle rolls and in fact, speaking from the personal experience gained from breaking or seriously rolling my ankles over a dozen times, a lower cut allows an ankle just to roll over rather than resisting it which causes more damage. And for players who make a lot of cuts and quick stops, a lower cut, lighter shoe is a necessity. I stopped playing in high tops a long time ago and moved to a mid cut. I’d gladly move to low top sneakers for good if I could ever find one that provides the width you need for basketball. Here’s one guy that hopes The Kobe IV leads to a revolution in the basketball shoe world.

4. Owens Does it Again
I warned Cowboy fans about Terrell Owens. I told them that he was a cancer, a guy who could and would destroy any locker room in the NFL (as proven by his take down of the Eagles, one of the strongest rooms in the league). Owens is the type of guy who can be on a team that goes 19-0 with a Super Bowl win and throw a fit that he didn’t get the ball enough. You can’t trust a guy like Terrell Owens and any Cowboy fans who have convinced themselves that they could have been fooled.

Today is came out that Owens and two other receivers held a meeting with offensive coordinator of which the basic gist was they didn’t like the Tony Romo was throwing to his friend, tight end Jason Witten, more than them. Then this news “somehow” got leaked to the media. This sounds to me like Owens got ticked, got his boys to back him up, and then let word slip about what was going on. So while the Boys are preparing to play the World Champion Giants this weekend in a game that could determine their playoff lives, the whole team gets to deal with this mess instead.

I’m pretty sure this is Terrell’s last year in Dallas and I think even the most steadfast Owens’ fan has to be saying good riddance. When it’s all said and done, Owens will go down as one of the most talented receivers in the history of football, but also as a guy who never won anything and doesn’t have a single positive contribution to show for it.

5. Dirk
I’ve talked less about Dirk this year mostly because the Mavs just haven’t kept my interest like they normally do. They seem to be destined for a lower level playoff finish and a first round exit. I’m much more interested in what kind of moves they’ll make to solidify their future.

But tonight as I watch Dallas take on the hapless Bobcats, I was reminded of what an incredible player Dirk Nowitzki is and how often he is taken for granted. The Mavs last game was a double overtime thriller against San Antonio in which Dirk played 52 minutes and 40 minutes straight. Coming out tonight it was easy to see that the team, and Dirk in particular, hadn’t physically recovered. His shot looked a little tight and his legs a bit weak. A lot of early shots that are usually automatic for Dirk were coming up short. But as he always does, Dirk adjusted and came through for his team.

One of the things I have always admired most about Dirk is that when he’s having an off shooting night he finds ways to contribute. A lot of times when you see Dirk go something like 7 for 22 from the field he’ll also come away with 18 rebounds. If he has a couple of extra turnovers he’ll also give you an extra block or steal at just the right moment. Tonight when it was obvious that he wasn’t feeling it, he became the facilitator in the half court offense, drawing the defense to him and then finding the cutter time after time. And then, when the moment was right, he stepped into a 3 and drilled it to give the Mavs the big bucket they have come to depend on him for over the last 10 years.

But I want to point out another play that will certainly go unnoticed after he finished off the night with that shot. Just a few moments earlier Dirk made the hustle play of the night. A long Jason Terry three pointer went wide. As he was coming in to crash the board, Dirk changed direction and was just able to smack the ball back in bounds as he fell into the Charlotte bench. The hustle play preserved possession and gave the Mavs another shot to put it away. As he careened out of bounds, Dirk landed in the lap of Bobcats’ coach Larry Brown, one of the games all time greats, who helped him up. As the camera panned past Brown and a timeout was called, you could see a small smile and look of admiration cross his face. You could read exactly what he was thinking: if only I could get just ONE of my guys to play like that. Here’s Dirk Freaking Nowitzki, a perennial All Star, an MVP, the best shooting big man in the league, and he’s diving into the other team’s bench after a ball in the middle of December against a crappy team like Charlotte. It stuck with me and it obviously stuck with Brown. You have to love Dirk.

Cotton Bowl Bound and Reality Sets In

I was born a Texas Tech Red Raider. My whole family is from the Lubbock area and I had two uncles, among many others, who pushed the Red Raider way on me. As a kid I chose most of the teams I root for, whether it’s the Oakland Raiders or The Ohio State University Buckeyes, but I came by Tech fandom honestly. So please allow me a moment to explain how hard it is to be a fan of a team that has ALMOST no chance of winning a football championship in my lifetime.

The past year was the best season in the history of Texas Tech football, at least since the school entered the South West Conference in 1960. Starting at around number 15 in most ranking polls to begin the season, Tech jumped as high as number 2 before the 65-21 crushing in Norman. It was a season marked by many incredible highs that most Tech fans could only dream of: the contention of both Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree for the Heisman trophy; the last second defeat of the number 1 ranked team in the nation and longtime bully on the block, Texas; the national press finally acknowledging the Red Raiders as a legitimate championship contender. It was a season that was a blast to be a part of from beginning to end. And under normal circumstances, I would be more than satisfied with 11 and 1.

But this isn't a normal season.

Sunday's announcement that my Red Raiders would be taking on Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl came as no surprise. There was perhaps a 1 percent chance that the Fiesta Bowl would choose Tech over Texas, though perhaps 1 percent is a bit high. From the moment the second quarter began in the Tech-Oklahoma game 2 weeks ago, my hopes of playing in a BCS game had all but faded away. I had convinced myself that playing in the Cotton Bowl is no laughing matter and that the steps the program took this season should still be valued. Still, when the announcement came, I couldn't help but be disappointed.

Let's get this out of the way up front: unlike some of my fellow Tech fans, I'm not going to argue that the Red Raiders necessarily should have been invited to the Fiesta Bowl instead of Texas. There's a small part of me that feels cheated in that Tech squarely defeated Texas only a short month ago and yet the Longhorns are the ones headed to Arizona. If it had been the other way around, I assure you Texas fans would be throwing a fit today. An even bigger part of me feels cheated by a ridiculous BCS system that rewards teams from lesser conferences in order to “spread the wealth.” So while Tech will take part in the best non-BCS bowl game, Cincinnati, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech, with their 8 loses between them (not to mention Penn State and Utah, both of whom Tech would crush) will all enjoy the perks of playing in major night games and approximately twelve million dollars that will be paid to each school for playing in a BCS game. Still, this system has been in place for ten years and everyone has to play by the same rules. All of this is a moot because if Tech had taken care of business and just stayed relatively close to Oklahoma they’d be preparing for the Fiesta Bowl as I write this.

I’m not writing today to complain about how unfair the BCS system is or question how Texas got into a BCS game despite the fact that Tech has the same record and also owns the tiebreaker against the Longhorns. No, today I’m more concerned with writing about what it’s like to be a Tech fan and how much reality hurts.

Fans of teams like Oklahoma, Texas, USC, Ohio State, Florida, or any other national power can’t understand what it’s like to be a fan of a program like Texas Tech. Even during down years, programs like those mentioned above always have hope of resurrection. OU was awful during the early years of the Big 12 but in the end the school’s tradition and money won out and they’ve been back in power since they hired Bob Stoops. It’s the same for places like Florida. The Gators had a couple of “bad” seasons under Ron Zook in which they still made trips to the Outback and Peach bowls then quickly reloaded with Urban Meyer and won a title a year later. Tennessee just completed a losing season and went through the process of hiring a new coach. The program is down but because of their tradition and power, in all likelihood the Volunteers will be competing for conference championships within a couple of years.

It’s not very hard to be a fan of a traditional powerhouse, and I feel like I have permission to say that considering the fact that my other college sports loves are Ohio State football and Duke basketball. It’s easy to root for a team that disappoints you when they don’t win the title. When Ohio State bombs out in the National Championship Game, despite my immense depression, I can always comfort myself with the thought that, “There’s always next year.”

There’s not such thinking about next year when it comes to Texas Tech. This year was THE year. Their quarterback will graduate, their best player will head for the NFL, and it’s likely that Mike Leach, coach and offensive genius, will leave for would-be greener pastures. Next season it will almost certainly be back to normal, meaning the Red Raiders finish with between two and four losses, go to a decent bowl, and don’t warrant any legitimate national attention.

But the key to that last sentence is “almost.” It’s “almost” certain that Tech won’t take that step into serious contention next season. “Almost.” There is perhaps a two percent chance that next season will be the one in which the Red Raiders jump into a BCS game and championship contention. And that “almost” is the kick in the pants every single year.

The truth is, as easy as it is to be a fan of a big time program like Oklahoma or Florida, it’s also easy to be a fan of a terrible team that has zero chance of winning a title in the next ten or twenty years. Fans of Vanderbilt, Baylor, Duke, etc. can enjoy a 6-6 season and then settle back in to reality when the next year rolls around and the team goes 3-9. You always hope they start winning some games but you know going into each season that there is no way your team will win a title. As depressing as that sounds, there’s comfort in having lesser expectations, in accepting your team’s doormat status and just hoping that once a year they jump up and screw up another team’s season.

“Almost” gets me every single year for the last decade of Texas Tech football. In all honesty, maybe I shouldn’t expect the Red Raiders to ever make a BCS game. Despite turning themselves into a second-tier program (a major upgrade from where they were ten years ago), they still play third banana in the Big 12 to Oklahoma and Texas. Both of those programs have an endless supply of money to support them, boosters who can quietly sweep problems under the rug, coaches who will never leave as long as things are good, and a tradition that never dies no matter how bad things get. In recruiting alone, Tech almost always comes fourth behind Texas, OU, and the other national powers that raid the Texas high school football system each year. Maybe the Red Raiders are right where they are supposed to be, a second tier team that is always exciting and dangerous but ultimately doomed to fall short against the powers of college football. But regardless of whether or not that is my lot in life as a Tech fan, the two percent chance, the “almost,” never seems to go away.

When the 2009 season rolls around, I will almost certainly convince myself that this year could be the year. That despite losing Graham Harrell, Michael Crabtree, and Mike Leach, we’re still set up to make a run. That the collection of undersized hustlers at the skill positions and an offense that can score on just about anyone will be able to bust their way through the rankings. That perhaps they’ll get a little lucky and catch Texas and OU off guard and beat both. And at the end of the season, when Tech heads to the Gator Bowl or the Holiday Bowl or maybe even the Cotton Bowl, reality will once again set in and I’ll remember that I’m a Tech fan and Tech has ALMOST no chance of winning a national title each season.

“Almost.”

A Trip to the Other Side of Town

I'm coming to realize that the weeks leading up to and involving the holidays are pretty much the most jam packed, craziest, busiest weeks of the whole year. The next season is right around the corner which means my days (and often my nights) are a mad scramble to get everything together so that the year can go as smoothly as possible. When I'd really like to be enjoying the gift giving and receiving, the dumb lights and decorations, the smells, the food, and everything else that goes along with the season, I generally spend most of my time thinking about how to get more volunteers for basketball or how many kids I can get on each team.

This was the state I found myself in to begin this week. The next 10 days will be the most important days of the entire off season and my plate is absolutely full. My To-Do-List is in that awful state where things continue to be added and it doesn't feel like anything is getting checked off. I'm sure a lot of others are experiencing the same things right now. So when the powers-that-be within the church told us we were going to have a staff outing to take stuff to the homeless, I have to say I wasn't exactly thrilled. I needed to be working and when I wasn't working, I needed to be shopping and getting ready for both Lindsey's and my sister's birthday and that big event that happens toward the end of this month (not Kwanzaa).

On Tuesday morning a bus rolled up and the entire staff of Richland Hills Church of Christ piled in. Seriously, almost every single staff member got on board. If the best criminals of the Mid-Cities area would have known about this, they could have taken every valuable item in the building. Only Matt Junge and Miss Dee Dee would have been there to stop them. We crammed in, two or three to a seat and still some standing in the aisle (safety first, kiddos), and headed to Camp Bowie.

The ride was rough but nostalgic. My bus buddy, LB, and I commented on how these benches that we spent so much time in on mission trips and retreats could suddenly feel so small. Someone played the guitar while half the bus tried to sing along. David Fraze sat in the laps of those around him. It had the feel of a mission trip, missing only the goth kid sitting in the corner complaining about only being here because his parents made him come. We even had a "near death experience," a must on a Richland Hills youth group trip.

We parked in an abandoned lot and by the time we'd all gotten off the bus, people we already lining up. The staff spread out across the block and each department was in charge of a particular item. One group handed out breakfast burritos, another juice and fruit. One gave out socks, another Bible. The Children's Ministry (of which I am the only male representative) handed out gloves and hats. Chris Hatchett told us to just wait, word would get out. Sure enough, within about 3 minutes people were coming from all over.

It's been a long time since I've been a part of a homeless-outreach event. It was, as always, a humbling experience. The things you see when you're in this setting never cease to amaze me. There was the guy who'd lost fingers to an overzealous guard dog. A woman who bawled when we pointed her towards the socks, saying all of hers had been stolen. The man who told us he had everything he needed, he just wanted to come and thank us for our generosity. A hooker carrying a Bible. The man who went from person to person just to be hugged. The kids who should have been in school but instead lived in a car.

I also got to take in the images of the amazing care and out pour of generosity from my fellow staff members. There was the minister with his arm around a hooker. A group of grungy, dirty men crowded around a staff member in prayer. Another minister whipped out a Zippo and lit the cigarettes of the men in line. A member of my team gave up her shoes to a woman, while another helped put socks on her as the woman wept.

I don't know how many people came through in our short time in the area and I guess I'm not really sure how much good we really did in the grand scheme of things. We probably got breakfast and warm clothing to about 2% of the people who were within a mile radius. But I know it made a difference to that 2% and maybe more importantly, it made a difference to the 70 or so of us. How can you not be moved, and moved to change, by seeing a man cry because you gave him a pair of 3 dollar gloves and a pair of socks? Or the dad who didn't want anything for himself, he just wanted something for his 4 kids?

I accomplished absolutely nothing at work on Tuesday. Nothing. Not a single thing got marked off my to-do-list and in fact more was added to it. But the time lost from work was more than made up for by the experience that I took away from a few short minutes on The Other Side of Town. I am extremely proud to work in church that truly does place the desire to serve over everything else.

Justin Timberlake

Let's start off by saying this: There are a lot of people, places, and things in this world that I do not like. And most of the people who really know me know that I'm pretty open about my opinions. I throw the word "hate" around quite a bit to describe my feelings towards certain entities.

John Travolta. The Yankees. Quentin Tarantino. Current rap albums. John Travolta. Anything with the word "lil" in it. "Desperate Housewives." The San Antonio Spurs. John Travolta. Corn. Kobe Bryant. Traffic. John Travolta. All MTV programming. The entire state of Arkansas. Quarterbacks with "dumbface" (see: Eli Manning). John Travolta. Almost all non-Texas country music. Terrell Owens. Referees. John Travolta.

There's a pretty significant list of things I "hate." Of course, when I say "hate," I mean it in the "strong dislike or annoyance" sense, not in the "I really wish that didn't exist" sense. (Except John Travolta. Him I really hate.) But what I really hate (in the "this drives me crazy" sense) is when there's someone or something that I feel like I really SHOULD hate but I can't. When I encounter one of these people, places, or things that I should hate, I get this conflicted feeling in my stomach where I feel guilty for not hating he/she/them/it. (Again, bear in mind the many definitions for "hate".)

Tony Romo elicits this reaction. Everything about what Romo stands for is everything I stand against. He's a Dallas Cowboy for one and even worse the quarterback for the Cowboys. He's a pretty boy and insanely popular and he never gets enough of the limelight. All of these things should make me hate him. But darnit if it isn't impossible to do so. The guy came from nowhere, he seems to enjoy himself each week, and by all accounts, he genuinely is a nice guy. How can I hate that? "The O.C." also falls into this category. Lindsey forced me to watch this show in exchange for her watching "24." Every bit of my being wanted to hate this but by the end of the third episode I was dying to know what was going to happen. Creed might be the most classic example of this internal dilemma. I always knew good and well that I should despise Creed. They were pretentious, over the top, and far too popular for their own good. But I loved every minute of their 4 or 5 year reign.

But all of these "Should Hate 'Ems" comes anywhere close to the Should-Hate feelings I have toward one Justin Timberlake.

Timberlake stands for everything I hate in this world. He's a former boy band member. Blah. His current musical styling, Top 40 rubbish mixed with sort-of rap and cheesy ballads, is just slightly above blah if only because the beats are generally pretty solid. Just about every girl on the planet is in love with him. His insane popularity alone is reason enough for me, the guy who rebels against everything popular, to hate him. Yet as hard as I try I just can't hate the guy.

I was reminded of this once again this weekend when I watched a DVRed episode of Saturday Night Live from a couple of weeks ago in which Timberlake made an appearance. The last SNLs hosted by Timberlake in the past have been perhaps the best episodes that show has done over the last decade. They are absolutely hilarious. "Omeletville," "The Barry Gibb Talk Show," and "Punk'd" are inspired performances and even they pale in comparison to the digital short that just about EVERYONE has seen by now. ("Step one: you cut a hole in a box...") This time around he wasn't the host but his two segments were the best of the night. The Weekend Update would-be recap was completely genius and he followed that up by coming on stage in a leotard and high heels as a dancer in the new Beyonce video. His genius doesn't stop with SNL. The stunts he pulled at the ESPY's were classic and to my understanding he came up with quite a few of them on his own.

What makes these appearances so funny is Timberlake's refusal to take himself too seriously. That's the key here. Too many of the celebrities in our world today have read their own press and believe themselves to be as important as People magazine has built them up to be. In truth, they are ENTERTAINERS and the second they let these messages go to their heads they cease to be entertaining. This is something that Timberlake has figured out. By coming on a show like Saturday Night Live and poking some fun at himself while at the same time participating in some genius bits gives the impression that he's a good guy, a down to earth guy, a regular guy who just got lucky and happened to make it big in Hollywood. Is he a normal guy? Absolutely not! I'm sure Timberlake can be just as pretentious and uptight as anyone else in the Celebrity World. But he doesn't seem like it when he's jumping around in an omelet suit or screaming, "I'm Ashton Kutcher and I'm awesome!" over and over again.

The dude doesn't take himself too seriously and so I have to appreciate the genius that he brings to table when I do get the chance to see him outside the musical arena. He's just unhateable.

And I hate that.

Some Thoughts From Ohio State-Michigan Week

I must confess, it snuck up on me this year. The highlight of my Sports Watching Year, the Ohio State versus Michigan game, is this weekend. I feel a bit unprepared this time around. It doesn't seem like it's quite time for it yet. Maybe it's the weather. After all, it's pretty difficult to think about a late season rivalry game when I'm still rocking flip flops on most days. Maybe it's the fact that the Buckeyes have broken my heart each of the last two seasons and I've cared a little less this year than I usually do. Maybe it's that Michigan is having the worst season ever in the history of the school. Maybe it's that Texas Tech, my first college football priority, is having their best season ever and have overshadowed another ho-hum 11-2 OSU season.

Regardless of the reason, I haven't gotten ready for this year's game the way I usually do. I haven't worn a different Ohio State t-shirt every day of the week. I haven't called my buddy Jeff who happens to be the biggest Michigan fan south of the Mason-Dixon. Usually we speak on, say, Monday to talk a little good hearted smack and then don't talk again until after Thanksgiving when the loser (which, let's face it, has usually been him) has had time to cool down. I haven't convinced myself that if we can just win THIS season, I'll feel okay about losing the next year, only to run through the act again during said next year. The truth is, I expect a win and I'd be embarrassed if they were to lose to the worst excuse for a football team Big Blue has ever thrown on the field. (BTW, if you've got a decent arm and have college eligibility left, you might head up to Columbus this weekend. There's a good chance you might be able to suit up at quarterback for the Wolverines.) But after the deflating way this season started, following the two most kick-in-the-pants losses I've ever experienced in back-to-back championship games, I find myself just not quite as invested as I usually am. We better win, and I think we will, but the truth of the matter is, I'll be much more interested in Tech-Oklahoma than I will be in OSU-Michigan. (I've already started my bargaining with the football gods and I'm trying to let my fingernails grow a little so I won't have to resort to gnawing on my fingers as the game gets inevitably tighter.)

With all that said, this is the best rivalry in college football. Even when one team is terrible and the other has just been plain disappointing, exciting things are bound to happen. Perhaps Michigan's players treat this as the Bowl Game they won't be seeing after the year's over and play their scrappy little hearts out. Perhaps Beanie Wells, sensing he could be the number one pick in the NFL Draft, will put a couple hundred yards rushing on the board. Perhaps Coach Tressel and Coach Rodriguez get into a fist fight at midfield. Maybe the Buckeye fans, even after the win, will riot through the streets of Columbus (it's happened before). Who knows. The point is, it's a huge game and you never know what will happen and it's always worth the watch (even if your mind is preoccupied by another game).

Oh, and while I'm on the subject, check this out auction on eBay. Hilarious. I'm wondering how much I can get for my Raider fandom. But more on that later.

How To Fix the Mavs - Part II: Where to Trade These Bums

HOW TO FIX THE MAVS – PART II

We're 7 games into the 2008-09 NBA season and already it's becoming clear that the Dallas Mavs, as constructed, are pretty much done. At the very best, they are likely a 6 or 7 seed in the playoffs, at worst they finish somewhere between 9 and 12. With that in mind, it's well past time to start looking at the issues that have plagued this team for the last 3 seasons and make some moves. In truth, the way in which the Mavs Brain Trust of Cuban, Nelson, and Carlisle approach the next few months leading up to the trading deadline in February will decide the direction of the franchise for the next 5 to 7 years.

There are a LOT of fans (and haters) out there who think the solution to fixing this team's problems is to trade Dirk. At some point, I may need to address the insanity of this thinking, but for the sake of time, let's just leave it at this: Dirk is one of the 10 best players in this league. He's got between 5 and 8 good to great years left in him. And unless you get a huge haul in a trade, trading a superstar almost never works out for the team losing said superstar. With that in mind, there are only two players on this roster that I would consider out of the question in a trade: Dirk Nowitzki and Gerald Green. Green has the potential to be Tracy McGrady. Seriously. The dude has more talent than 98% of the rest of the league. He is GIFTED. Up to this point, he's been just another guy who's riddled with talent and has no idea how to put it to use in a league filled with talented players. But in the short span of 7 games, Green has gone from a DNP-CD (Did Not Play, Coaches Decision) against Houston to starting and playing 35 minutes against the Lakers, who happen to be the best team in the league with the best player in the league. In addition, he's turning those minutes into production. Is he going to be an All Star this year? No, but he looks to me like a guy who's about to blow up. I'd include Jason Kidd on this list if it weren't for his age and the fact that he has an expiring contract.

Of the remaining 12 players on the roster, four have significant value (or sort of significant value) that could be turned into something if the Mavs were to trade them. Those players are: Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Jason Terry, and Erick Dampier. Let's have a look at the teams that might have an interest in those players.

JASON KIDD
The criteria: Kidd would be welcomed by all 30 teams in the league. However, there are very few that both have a need for a point guard and are in position to contend, a requirement for any team that might acquire him because of his contract. What you're looking for are good teams who need a point guard and would be able to pay him this year.

CLEVELAND – The Cavs are bordering on desperation right now. The team is good, maybe very good, and on paper, they should be able to contend for a long time. However, Lebron James is eligible for free agency in the summer of 2010. If the team doesn’t prove to James that they are willing to do whatever it takes to win a title, he could easily walk out the door. Jason Kidd might not be the perfect addition to the team. But if the Cavs want to make a statement and add a guy who will facilitate for James, Maurice Williams, and the rest of the squad, Kidd would be their best option.

DETROIT – This is a long shot. My thought process here is that, after adding Allen Iverson, the Pistons may discover that they need a point guard to set up their offense. Richard Hamilton and Iverson play very similar games and the experiment may not work out. In addition, Iverson’s salary comes off the books after this year, as does Kidd’s. Making a move for Kidd would allow them to have money under the cap in 2010 to go after Lebron, Dwyane Wade, or Chris Bosh.

GOLDEN STATE – This is also a stretch. The Warriors are completely lost without a point guard to run Don Nelson’s offense. Monta Ellis is not a real point guard, but rather a short 2 guard. Would they consider making a move for Kidd, who would be coming home to the Bay Area? Also, the Warriors front office is a mess and the opportunity to cut payroll in the upcoming years might be an incentive to make this move.

HOUSTON – The Rockets have their Big Three (Yao, McGrady, and Artest). But they lack a point guard to run coach Adelman’s open offense. Alston is more of a shooter than a point and Aaron Brooks, despite how well he’s played of late, is a backup. If the Rockets really want to make a push to make themselves title contenders with the Lakers and Jazz, Kidd could be a huge help to them.

LA LAKERS – I doubt the Lakers are really going to be looking to make a big move with the way they’re playing right now. However, as good as Derek Fisher is and Jordan Farmar appears to be becoming, Kidd would almost make that team unstoppable. Their defensive system would hide Kidd’s man-to-man struggles and highlight his ability to play passing lanes. And Kobe loves Kidd. I think the Lakers might have the most interest of any team in the league if the Mavs put Kidd on the market.

ORLANDO - Orlando is in the “Good, not Great” category and truthfully, they aren’t going to be much better with the team constructed as is. Dwight Howard will continue to grow as a player but the rest of the team is maxed out on potential. Would they be willing to give up on the youth movement to take a chance on an aging point guard who would, undoubtedly, make Howard and Rashard Lewis a thousand times better for a short period of time?

PORTLAND – Portland seems pretty dedicated to their youth movement so I doubt that they would look to make a move for Kidd. They have excellent young players at pretty much every position (point guard is in question, however) and look to be set up as a good team for years to come. Still, if they sense that the rest of the West is fading (as appears to be the case), I could see them doing something to push them over the top now rather than waiting on next season or the year after.

2 Exceptions to the Criteria Above:

ATLANTA – Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Marvin Williams are an exceptional young core. They can get out and run with great efficiency and put up a lot of points. Their point guard, Mike Bibby, isn’t really the perfect point guard for that type of offense whereas Kidd was born to run with athletes like that. It’s possible that the Hawks would look at Kidd as the guy who could push them into true contending status. Both Kidd and Bibby have expiring contracts so it wouldn’t really be much of a risk and it might save the franchise from having to make a tough decision about what to do with Bibby.

SAN ANTONIO – The Spurs have had a collective man crush on Kidd for years. Pairing him with Tony Parker in the backcourt wouldn’t do a thing to address their need for athleticism and youth. But I believe everyone, including the Spurs, sense that the team’s run as a championship contender is coming to an end. They are two years (at best) away from the Lottery. By trading for Kidd, they would be acknowledging that their window is coming to a close, but before it does, they are going to take one more BIG shot at another title.

JOSH HOWARD
The Criteria: Any team that needs a fairly young swingman who scores with consistency. As much as Josh Howard drives me ABSOLUTELY FREAKING CRAZY with his refusal to drive, disinterest in defense, and disappearing as the game gets tougher, he consistently scores 18 points per game, something that a lot of teams could use from their small forward. His contract (4 more years at around $10 million a season) isn't bad. Josh is the most important trade chip because he could fit in with just about any team that doesn't have a long term solution at the swing spot, whether good or bad, and bring something significant back in return.

CHARLOTTE – Howard is from the Charlotte area and he would fit in well with the system the Bobcats are trying to incorporate. He would be the top scoring option on the team the second he stepped off the plane. He is making quite a bit of money, however, in comparison to what cheapskate owner Robert Johnson is usually inclined to spend. The Mavs would probably have to take some serious contract numbers back in return.

CLEVELAND – Cleveland would be a pretty solid location for Howard. His unwillingness to drive would be covered up by playing opposite a superstar that does drive. Howard would add athleticism and a consistent second scorer when streaky shooter Maurice Williams is having an off night. I have no idea what the Cavs could give to the Mavs in return, though.

GOLDEN STATE – Coach Don Nelson is making quick work of his betrayal of GM Chris Mullin and will likely be in charge of the franchise in short order. Nelson is a big fan of Howard and his game and he would likely fit in well with the Warriors fast paced offense. Many of the players that made the team so successful a couple of years ago (Jason Richardson, Baron Davis, Matt Barnes, etc.) are no longer on the roster and the Warriors could be looking to reload a bit.

LA CLIPPERS – I really don’t get this one to be honest. The Clippers seem to be pretty set at the small forward position with future superstar Al Thornton. But a great deal of league gossip is focused on Howard heading to the Clippers. If the rumors are correct, there are a lot of players (or maybe draft picks) that LA could send in return for Howard.

LA LAKERS – Again I doubt that the Lakers would be willing to make a major move when their team is playing so incredibly well. But the idea of pairing Howard with Kobe and Gasol is intriguing. He would clearly be the third option but one of the best third options in the league. A trade for Howard would essentially solidify 4 of the 5 spots in the starting lineup (minus the point guard spot) for the next 5 years.

MEMPHIS – Memphis attempted to sign Josh Smith to a long term contract in the off season. Smith is a very similar player to Howard, making a very similar amount of money. Personally, I don’t see where the Grizzlies have room for Howard (or Smith, for that matter). If it were me, I’d start Mike Conley at the point guard position with OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay at the swing spots. But it appears the team is set on making Mayo their point guard. If the Grizzlies are interested in Howard, they are an ideal trade partner because they have an abundance of available young players (and draft picks).

MIAMI – Any Howard-to-Miami trade would likely involve Shawn Marion. I’m not a fan of Marion by any means, but his contract expires at the end of the season and it’s possible that the Mavs could get a third team involved to take Marion and bring the Mavs something of more long-term value. Howard fits into the youth movement in Miami and would give them a formidable starting lineup with Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, and of course, Dwyane Wade.

MINNESOTA – Howard would be a very good fit in Minnesota. He would be able to play off of post-presence Al Jefferson and provide the Wolves with a consistent scoring punch. This would allow Kevin Love and Corey Brewer to become the role players they are suited to be. The Wolves have quite a bit of young talent that they could give up in return, though for my money, they are not the quality of players that some other teams may have to offer.

NEW JERSEY – This is a serious long shot. The Nets are gearing up for the summer of 2010 to make a run at Lebron James, meaning they want to cut as much salary as possible. I have to believe New Jersey would only be interested in making this trade if they were able to get rid of Vince Carter, who is on my list of The Top 10 Players You Never Ever Ever Trade For, No Matter How Good They Are or How Little They’ll Cost You.

NEW ORLEANS – I’d love this scenario if it didn’t involve helping a division rival get exceedingly better. Howard would bring a tremendous amount of athleticism to a team that is a bit lacking in that department. The Hornets need a swingman badly and with Chris Paul, Peja Stojokovic, and David West positioned as the top three offensive players on the team, Howard wouldn’t be depended on for big plays. I’m not sure what they have to offer in return, however.

PHOENIX – This seems to be just about out of the question. The Suns have one of the three cheapest owners in the NBA who is constantly looking to cut costs, not add them. Also, like the Mavs, the Suns’ window has pretty much closed and they’re probably more inclined to reload than add another player to make a last ditch run at a title. Still, Howard would fit in extremely well with Nash and Stoudemire and the Suns have a few assets the Mavs might be interested in.

PORTLAND – Portland is the ideal team to make a deal with from the Mavs perspective. They have a TON of young players who are ready to break out that could be brought in with a trade and they are in need of a consistent scorer. The Blazers are more in need of a point guard than a swingman but the need is still there. Bayless, Howard, Roy, Aldridge, and Oden are a collectively TREMENDOUS future. I think the biggest hold-up here might be Howard’s off the court issues. Portland has finally gotten rid of all the trouble makers and malcontents that plagued the franchise for the last 10 years and while Howard’s trouble are small compared to those of some of the guys that have played in Portland recently, it could be of concern.

SACRAMENTO – Sacramento has perhaps the worst team in the league, both in terms of the short term and long term. Beyond Kevin Martin, the Kings are almost completely devoid of anything resembling serious talent. Shelden Williams, Spencer Hawes, Jason Thompson, Francisco Garcia, Quincy Douby, and Beno Udrih are decent young players but in my opinion, none of them are going to break out into All-Stars. Howard doesn’t fit here as the long term solution and future of the franchise. But what he would do would be to provide a cushion between complete and utter futility (which they’re on the cusp of right now) and the salary cap flexibility that will allow them to reload in a year or two. They have enough young players to provide the Mavs some options in a trade and Sacramento would be a good home for Josh.

SAN ANTONIO – I think San Antonio would kill to get their hands on Howard and unfortunately, I think he would really reach his potential under coach Popavich. The Spurs are absolutely desperate for youth and athleticism and Josh would fit in very nicely with their team. Still, I can’t see the Mavs willingly helping the Spurs and there’s almost nothing the Spurs have to offer that would be of any interest.

TORONTO – Perhaps more than any other team in the league, the Raptors are searching hard for a good swingman. If the Mavs were to openly put Howard on the market, I have to believe the Raptors would be first in line. Toronto badly needs a guy who can score from the swing spot. Do they have much to offer in trade, though, is the big question.

UTAH – This is another team that would I would think would show heavy interest in Howard. He would give them another dimension to pair with Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. The Jazz have lacked an athletic swingman who can score since…well, since forever. Seriously. Right now Ronnie Brewer, a Josh Howard-starter kit, is showing signs of turning into that player. The question is, are the Jazz willing to hold on the hope that Brewer will continue to progress or would they prefer to take the known commodity in Howard? The Jazz are dangerously close to the top of this league and I think they might take a swing for the fences if given the opportunity.

JASON TERRY
The criteria: A team that has a true slashing, scoring, swingman and/or a significant post presence for Terry to work off of would benefit most from Terry's acquisition. But any team that needs quality shooting could be interested, as would be a team that needs stability at the point guard position. Because of his contract, it is likely that only contending teams would be interested in Terry.
NOTE: I've been SCREAMING for the Mavs to trade Terry for the last 2 seasons. Now the two most likely trade partners, the LA Clippers and Cleveland, have moved past the point of needing Terry.

ATLANTA – The Hawks have the absolute worst bench in the history of basketball and I really don’t think I’m exaggerating with that statement. They are also short on quality outside shooters. Terry probably wouldn’t start for Atlanta but he would provide a great deal to that young team.

CHICAGO – The thinking here is that the Bulls might look to pair an outside shooter with super-freshman Derrick Rose, who is far more threatening while driving rather than shooting. Terry would be the replacement for Ben Gordon whom the Bulls are sure to lose this off season and he could bring a little bit of veteran leadership to a team that is getting ready for a rise.

GOLDEN STATE – Terry would fit in extremely well in Don Nelson’s offensive system. Without the added pressures of playing defense and making some attempt to get to the bucket, Terry would be free to just shoot the ball and shoot it often. Terry would be a good pairing for Monta Ellis as well. As with Howard, Don Nelson has been a fan of Terry in the past and could be interested in bringing him on once more.

HOUSTON – This is probably a stretch. But Terry is an upgrade over Rafer Alston and the Rockets might be willing to make a move to add him to the Big Three of Artest, McGrady, and Yao. Adding Terry would allow the Rockets to start Aaron Brooks to go up against the other young and quick point guards in the West and then go to a solid, stable guard off the bench.

NEW YORK – Terry fits in best with a team that either has a strong post presence to work off of or runs a fast paced offense. The Knicks are definitely the latter. Terry would be a great fit in Mike D’antoni’s system and would provide a little bit of backcourt stability to a team that SERIOUSLY lacks that. The Knicks are no strangers to bad contracts, either, which makes any trade a possibility.

PHILADELPHIA – The Sixers have, perhaps, the worst outside shooting starting five of any contending team in the NBA. Not a single starter is a feared shooter. I’m not sure if Philly would start Terry over Thaddeus Young or not, but my gut tells me he would likely finish games most of the time. This is really a good fit for Terry.

TORONTO – The Raptors don’t need a shooter but they could definitely use some solid backcourt help off the bench. Terry would work well both with the offensive system and in the sense of being able to play both point guard and shooting guard. I’m not sure what the Raptors have to offer in return, but this is a possibility none-the-less.

ERICK DAMPIER
The criteria: A team that is looking to make the move into the playoffs or from playoff team to contender and is seriously lacking in the middle. Dampier's contract isn't so bad at this point but his statistical contribution is pretty low.

ATLANTA – Picking up a legitimate center like Dampier would allow the Hawks to move Al Horford to the power forward position where he really belongs. Dampier is a great fit in Atlanta because he would give the team a physical presence in the middle without taking any shots away from their young talents.

CHICAGO – Currently the Bulls are starting 6-8 Drew Gooden at center, who has just about as much business playing center in the NBA as my dog does. Dampier definitely does not fit into Chicago’s youth movement, but in the weak East, if the Bulls were to make a run to get themselves into playoff contention, they could consider making a move to strengthen their front line.

ORLANDO – The Magic have been looking for a big man to compliment/effectively relieve Dwight Howard for quite a while now. Adding Damp would give Orlando the flexibility to play Howard as the power forward from time to time, a position that he needs to learn how to play, in my opinion. As with Atlanta, Orlando doesn’t really need anyone taking shots away from their numerous scorers and Dampier is perfect in that role.

SAN ANTONIO – The Spurs have been looking hard for a legitimate center to play next to Tim Duncan. The smart money is on Eddy Curry, but Dampier could be on that list as well if he was made available. As with Kidd, the addition of Dampier would only be considered if the Spurs decide they want to make one more title run before their window closes completely.

WASHINGTON – The possibility of a Washington trade lessens every day as the team just gets worse and worse. But with the small lineup the Wizards employ, a big guy in the middle who blocks shots would be a major asset.

How to Fix the Mavs - Part I: How We Got Here

HOW WE GOT HERE

Over the last few seasons, this team has gone from 9 minutes away from a 3-0 lead in the Finals to an historic first round playoff upset after winning 67 games in a season to a disinterested early playoff exit last season. As it stands right now, the Mavs are looking square in the eye of the team’s first playoff-less season since 1999-2000. They stand 2-5 in the ridiculously deep Southwest Division of the Western Conference and exhibiting many of the same flaws that have doomed them over the last few years. The franchise needs a major overhaul and this is the time to start doing that.

But before we can discuss the future of the team, we must first look back on the moves of the past to see how this team was constructed. Let’s have a look at the trades, signings, and drafts, both good and bad, that have made this team what it is.

We will begin this little history lesson with the moves made following the 2004-05 season. That season, their first without Steve Nash, the Mavs finished 4th in the West. Avery Johnson took the coaching reigns with 18 games left in the season and the team responded well, finishing the season 16-2. In the playoffs, the Mavs fell behind the Rockets 2-0 before storming back to win the series in 7 games. In round 2, the team struggled against Phoenix and lost the series in 6 games.

THE GOOD

Signing Brandon Bass (Summer, 2007) – I’m still not really sure if the Mavs knew what they were getting in Bass or if they just lucked out. Personally, I always thought Bass had something to offer so I have to believe the Mavs saw some potential there. Still, my gut tells me they signed him to be summer league filler and unearthed a gem. Either way, the signing of Bass to a minimum contract in the summer of 2007 was a great find. Bass has brought incredible energy and toughness to this team, something they seriously lacked beforehand.

Commitment to Young Players (Summer 2006 and 2007) – Prior to the 2006 season, the Mavs gave Josh Howard an extension worth 40 million dollars over 4 years. The following off season, they extended Devin Harris for 5 years and 50 million. As has usually been the case, Mark Cuban made it clear that money was not a concern and that they were making a commitment to their young players. This seems like such a small thing but in truth, there are plenty of owners in the NBA who don’t put the resources into their teams that Cuban does. They don’t even come close to doing what Cuban does. That’s not something that even the most hardened Cuban-hater can underestimate.

And therein lies the problem, doesn’t it? The truth is, GM Donnie Nelson has done almost nothing in the past few years that I would have to unquestionably count as a great move. The big pieces on this team (Dirk, Terry, Howard, Stack, Dampier, etc.) minus Jason Kidd were put in place prior to the 2004-05 season. In that time, for good or for bad, the team has stayed relatively intact. Very little change has taken place in that time and the change that has happened hasn’t been great.

THE QUESTIONABLE

Releasing Michael Finley (Summer 2005) – I put this in the “Questionable” department because I’m not sure where I really fall on this. I am a self-admitted Finley apologist who was ADAMANTLY against this move when it took place. Regardless of his legacy with the team, Finley represented far more than the 16 points and 4 rebounds per game that he averaged in that 2004-05 season. He was a team leader, the best shooter on the squad not named Dirk, and one of the faces of the franchise. More to the point, his release didn’t do anything to bolster the team, it was a simply a move made to save money, something that Cuban had never done before. Whether or not the 16 million dollars saved actually went back into the team or not is in question. In addition, Finley promptly signed with the Spurs and helped them to a championship in 2007.

Trading for Jason Kidd (February 2008) – I think I am one of about 5 people in this world who still counts this move as “Questionable” and not “Terrible.” I admit the results haven’t been pretty. Devin Harris, Gana Diop, and two 1st round picks is a lot to pay for an aging point guard who isn’t fast enough to stay with the other points in the West. I still defend this trade for a couple of reasons. The Mavs DESPARATELY needed an infusion of basketball IQ and Jason Kidd is one of the smartest players in the league. At the time of the trade Kidd was averaging close to a triple double and leading the league in assists, something else the Mavs seriously lacked. And while Devin Harris is a really nice player, never in the history of the NBA has a player’s contribution to a team been over exaggerated after his departure. Harris is inconsistent and a poor shooter who was constantly in foul trouble and showed no signs of growing out of that. In addition, the game that he plays, driving and getting into the lane, combined with his slender frame is very, very likely going to lead to a short career as an effective guard in the league during which he will continually miss 12 to 25 games a season because of injury.

Most importantly, this trade was based upon the fact that then-coach Avery Johnson was never going to trust Devin Harris to run the offense. Spending 10 million dollars a year on a kid that was never going to have much of a chance with the coach is a waste. The thinking was (and it’s clear that Avery professed this when the trade was discussed no matter how much he tries to backtrack on that) that Johnson would be more willing to trust Kidd, who is one of the top 5 point guards in NBA history. Obviously that didn’t happen and Johnson was let go. But I contend that Cuban (not Donnie, mind you, because Donnie hasn’t done anything but talk to the media in four years) did what he thought was best for the franchise with what he had to work with.

With that said, Kidd was destined to struggle here because the Mavs lack the athletes that fly to the bucket like Kidd has had to work with in the past. Kidd and Dirk excelled together but everyone else has had issues ever since the trade. The Kidd-Dirk offensive benefit doesn’t make up for Kidd getting torched on a daily basis by the speed of the Western guards. In hindsight, I believe Cuban wouldn’t have pulled the trigger on this trade. Instead, he would have just allowed the team to take their lumps for the remainder of the season, fire Avery Johnson, and come back with Harris at the point under a new coach who would (presumably) allow him to play the game instead of constantly looking over his shoulder. But how can you think in those terms in mid season? To finish out the season with the intention of just firing the coach at the end of the year rather than trying to make the team better now is a tough pill to swallow that I can’t blame Cuban for fighting against.

Resigning Jason Terry (July 2006) – The Mavs team that made the Finals in 2006 overachieved, plain and simple. They were carried by a determined Dirk to the Finals and then fell flat on their face when Dirk couldn’t carry them any longer. What that team did was amazing and as a fan, I was stoked to be a part of it. But that overachievement led to some poor decisions. The biggest one of all may have been the resigning of Jason Terry. Up until the playoff run, Terry was considered trade bait and a guy who might be too expensive to bring back after the season. But after the Finals run, of which Terry was a big part, how could they allow him to walk away? It would have been a major hit to let Terry move on to the highest bidder no matter how much it cost to keep him.

Look, Terry is what he is. He’s a dynamic shooter. He’s a great guy and a great locker room influence. He makes clutch shots. And he’s capable of playing a couple of positions. But he’s also too small to play the shooting guard spot and lacks the mentality and skill set of a real point guard. When he is asked to run the offense it is a train wreck. His history of taking and making big shots is impressive but I’ve said numerous times that if he’d play well consistently throughout the rest of the game, those big shots wouldn’t be needed. His lack of penetration has been a sore spot for the Mavs since he first came on board. The Mavs were caught in a bad spot in that some owner was going to pay him a contract similar to the one he ended up getting from Dallas (6 years, 57 million dollars). I think everyone involved would admit that 10 million dollars a year for a guy who doesn’t have a position is an overpayment but it was either that or let him walk away for free. I guess the real issue with Terry is not that the Mavs resigned him but that in the time since that resigning, they haven’t traded him to bring in the big 2 guard they’ve so badly needed.

Resigning Jerry Stackhouse (July 2007) – This signing is a lot closer to “Bad” than “Good” in my opinion. The contract (3 years, 21 million, partially guaranteed) isn’t really so bad. The issue has more to do with the fact that Stackhouse had a big bag of nothing to contribute when he was resigned and has since dipped further into said bag of nothing. Here’s what to expect from Stackhouse each year: He’s going to miss between 20 and 30 games a year with a variety of injuries; by the playoffs, he’s going to have next to nothing left to give; his free throw attempts per game, the stat that used to make him so valuable, will continue to decrease; every game he will force up between 4 and 8 terrible shots and give out 3 very bad turnovers; and approximately once out of every 5 games he will come up with a big night and score 15 or 20 points, thereby insuring his place in the rotation for the rest of the season. What Stack brings in terms of intensity and passion is almost always overshadowed by his complete lack of tangible contribution. There is almost nothing sadder in the whole realm of sports than an aging slasher.

Signing Gana Diop (July 2008) – It should be said that I really like Diop. He works hard, he’s a good rebounder and shot blocker, and he’s a valuable part of a good team. With that said, he isn’t worth the value of the full mid level exception, which is the contract he got this off season (5 years, 32 million). 6 million a year for a guy who will average around four points per game is risky, at best. More to the point, this team was going to be seriously lacking in available bodies going into the season because of the number of free agents they had. The MLE badly needed to be used on a couple of quality players to fill out the roster rather than to one single player who isn’t going to make THAT much of a difference. A play could have been made for any of the following players, all of whom could have easily had more impact on this team than Diop: James Posey, Leon Powe, Chris Duhon, Matt Barnes, Kwame Brown, Mickael Pietrus, Dorrell Wright, Ronny Turiaf, and even Ricky Davis. Instead, the MLE was spent on Diop, which is why the current roster is being filled out by JJ Barea, James Singleton, and Devean George.

Signing Eddie Jones (July 2007) – I was behind this move when it was made so I have no room to talk. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Eddie was brought in to shoot and help with ball movement. The investment (2 years, 4 million dollars) was minimal. Unfortunately, Eddie was never able to get on the floor because of injury and ineffectiveness and the Mavs went into the season relying on him to be their starting shooting guard.

THE BAD

Trading for Shawne Williams (Fall 2008) – Shawne Williams is destined to be out of the league in two years and he is currently sitting at the end of the Mavs bench. Donnie Nelson, in all his wisdom, felt it would be a good idea to give up two 2nd round picks for a guy that will never see the floor on a good team. This came just months after Nelson told the media that the reason they didn’t make a move on Draft Night was that 2nd round picks were selling extremely high. Following that logic, isn’t there a slight possibility that those picks will have a high value yet again this year and three years from now when Dallas has basically given these picks to Indiana?

Signing Greg Buckner (July 2006) – This was an overreaction to the BEATING Dwyane Wade put on the Mavs in the 06 Finals. In search of a defensive stopper to go up against the Wades and Kobes of the world, the Mavs quickly handed out a 5 year, 30 million dollar contract to Buckner. Buck is a great guy and a quality complimentary player. But to pay him like a starter is insane. This was destined to backfire.

Resigning JJ Barea (July 2008) – I want to like JJ Barea. Believe me, I do. There’s a place in my heart for a short guy trying to make it in the NBA. But in all honesty, Barea just isn’t a true NBA player. Maybe he’s a backup point guard on a bad team but he’s AT BEST a third stringer who never makes it onto the active roster for a good team. For some reason the Nelson and Cuban are in love with the scrappy little guy and decided it would be a good idea to sign him to a 3 year, 5 million dollar contract. If Barea was the third string point guard, this wouldn’t be such an issue. The real issue is that Nelson has left Barea as the backup point to an aging Jason Kidd, meaning either he’ll have to play significant minutes for the Mavs this year (not a good idea) or Jason Terry will have to play the point for a significant amount of time (also not a good idea).

Resigning Devean George (Summer 2008) – The contract (2 year, 4 million dollars) isn’t the issue. The issue is the message that this resigning sent to both players and fans. George was the guy who blocked the original Jason Kidd trade last February which resulted in the Mavs giving up even more than they had initially intended. For all intents and purposes, he burned his bridges here. But then, because the team was seriously lacking in viable options to fill out the roster, George suddenly became an option again. I don’t care if the guy ends up averaging 20 points per game (though it’s more likely that he’ll score 20 points all season). It’s the principal of the matter that gets to me here. The message was sent that the setback George helped push the franchise into wasn’t as important as filling out the roster. A bad move all around.

Trading Marquis Daniels (Summer 2006) – I was completely okay with trading Daniels. As much athleticism and potential as the guy had, it was pretty clear that he was very likely to never be able to put it together consistently. I was tired of seeing him hustle one game, shrug off the next, and never seem to have a problem with that. With that said, the trade the Mavs pulled off for Quisy was awful. Austin Croshere, in his one year here, was used less than even Daniels was. He never found his way into the rotation and on the occasions that he was allowed to step onto the floor, he almost always disappointed. The team got older and MUCH slower in one fell swoop. Daniels could have been moved for a much more significant player than Croshere. Essentially, the Mavs gave up an asset for nothing.

Drafting Maurice Ager (June 2006) – After the 2006 Finals, it was clear that the Mavs needed a few things: a little more athleticism; a little more toughness; backup point guard help; interior offense (and defense); and someone who could penetrate and get to the basket. When the NBA Draft rolled around a couple of weeks later, the team ended up taking Maurice Ager with the 28th pick in the draft. I really wanted to like Ager and I tried to convince myself to buy into what the Mavs were selling me about him. But the truth is, every scouting report concerning Ager said that he was a streaky shooter who relied on his outside shot too much, shirked away from big pressure shots, and lost focus on defense. Pretty much all of the things the Mavs needed LESS of. Mardy Collins, who would have been a solid backup, was drafted right after Ager and there were several other players who went in the second round that could have really helped the Mavs. The big name here is Paul Millsap, who the Mavs considered at pick 28 but ended up passing on. Millsap is a bit undersized but he’s a big body who rebounds EXTREMELY well and can score with his back to the basket. He ended up going 47th to Utah and has given the Jazz production from Day 1.

Drafting Nick Fazekas (June 2007) – I count this as potentially the worst move the Mavs have made over this period of time. On paper, it wasn’t a bad pick. Fazekas was labeled as a great shooter who also had a knack for pulling down important rebounds. And, in the grand scheme of things, it was only a second round pick, which is always a crapshoot in the NBA. And really, there weren’t many players taken after Fazekas that would have made much of a difference (Glen Davis one pick later would be one that would have helped). But follow my reasoning here.

The Mavs were fresh off one of the best regular seasons in NBA history and one of the worst playoff upsets in NBA history. In the series against Golden State the team was shown to be lacking in athleticism and SERIOUSLY short on gritty, tough minded players. The team didn’t have a first round pick in 2007 but an early second round pick like Fazekas is just as good. What they ended up with was a guy who possessed none of the qualities they needed so badly. Fazekas is slow. He is unathletic. He is pasty white. He is lanky and awkward looking. Whether true or not, one look at him shouts out, “SOFT” to anyone who sees him. In their first attempt to address the issues of the team that had just been embarrassed in front of the entire country, the team drafted Nick Fazekas. Whether anyone else taken after Fazekas would have made a difference or not is beside the point. This pick sent a message to the fans and to the team. The GM was content with the direction of the team and had failed to notice the issues of the team that everyone else in the league was pointing out.

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE

Not Using the Mid Level Exception for 2007-08 Season – During the 2007-08 off season, the Mavericks decided to sit on their mid level exception rather than taking the opportunity to potentially fix some of the team’s issues. Steve Blake, Grant Hill, Jason Kapono, Desmond Mason, Joe Smith, and James Posey, all of whom would have helped the team last year, moved to new teams. Travis Outlaw, Andray Blatche, Mickael Pietrus, and Kelenna Azuibuike took qualifying offers to stay with their teams but could have easily ended up in Dallas if the team would have made an offer. More importantly to me is that the team didn’t use this exception later on in the year when it would have benefited them. The signing of Gerald Green is one of the best moves the Mavs have made in a long time. But unfortunately, if he does end up having a great season, he’s likely to either leave in free agency next year or force the Mavs to use their MLE to resign him, thereby eliminating any opportunity to sign other free agents. Green was on the market two weeks before the 2007-08 season closed. He was ineligible to play in the playoffs, but that doesn’t matter. The Mavs could have signed Green to a two year contract and secure partial Larry Bird rights to resign him after this year. Keep this in mind should Green blow up this year.

Not Trading for Allen Iverson (December 2006) – At the time of Iverson’s trade to Denver, it was reported that Dallas could have had him Iverson in exchange for Devin Harris and Jerry Stackhouse. Apparently Cuban was interested in this move but Avery Johnson shot it down. To me there was no question that, no matter how well the team was playing (and they were playing VERY well), this move had to be made. Iverson would have given the Mavs the unquestioned scorer to compliment Dirk that they so badly needed. In addition, Iverson is one of the toughest players in the league and a guy who gets to the free throw line with incredible consistency.

Not Trading for Kevin Garnett (January 2007) – This lack of a move kills me even more after having watched the Celtics win the NBA Title last year. According to reports, Garnett was offered to the Mavs for Josh Howard and Jerry Stackhouse. Again, the idea was the team didn’t want to disrupt their winning ways by making a major move. At the time I was on the fence about this trade but eventually came around to the fact that the team HAD to make this move. As Howard has continued to regress, I’ve thought about this potential move more and more. And then watching Garnett lead the Celtics and the way the entire team took on his persona was almost too much to take. A combination of Dirk, Garnett, Harris, Terry, and whoever else would have brought home a championship.

The Loss of the Keith Van Horn Contract (February 2008) – This is the worst “What Could Have Been” potential move in my opinion. Because of the way the NBA salary cap works, Keith Van Horn’s Bird rights were a HUGE HUGE HUGE trade chip. Basically, the Mavs could sign Van Horn to a one year contract for any amount of money they wanted in order to trade for another player with a big contract from a team that was looking to save money. This loop hole doesn’t make any sense to anyone who doesn’t really understand the NBA salary cap. But the ability to potentially use this in a trade could have made a big difference. Because of Devean George blocking the Jason Kidd trade, Cuban had to use this chip in that trade, rather than holding on to it when it could have been a bigger player. I have no idea if Cuban intended to use KVH’s contract at some point or not, or even if the possibility to make a move for a big name player would have come up, but to have it in reserve could have made a big difference to this squad.

Allen Iverson's Detroit Debut

There are a lot of great, exciting players in the NBA these days. You have the Dwyane Wade's and Kobe Bryant's of the world, players who score at will in breathtaking and heartbreaking fashion. You have the Tim Duncan's and Kevin Garnett's, guys who do everything every night. You have the Chris Paul's, Deron Williams', and Steve Nash's who make every single player around them better than they've ever been before. You have the Lebron James' and Dirk Nowitzki's, players who have redefined their positions. Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Shaq, Dwight Howard, Paul Pierce, Yao Ming, Jason Kidd...the list goes on and on. The league is filled with superstars.
But for me, none of them quite compare to Allen Iverson.

I'm not going to argue that Allen Iverson is the best player in the league. That debate comes down to Bryant or James, dependant upon your point of view. I'm not even going to argue that, at this point, Iverson is one of the 10 best players in the league. He's been in the game since 96, he's aging, and he's likely been passed up by some of the kids of the great draft classes in the last 5 years. What I am going to argue is that Iverson might be the baddest, toughest, most iron willed player in the league today.

Over the years I've written several columns extolling Allen Iverson's greatness. Just as he has himself, I've always acknowledged his failures and mistakes (the rap album, the infamous"Practice?!" press conference, among others) while celebrating his excellence. And there is a LOT of excellence to celebrate.

In his 14 seasons in the NBA, Iverson is a 4 scoring champion and a 9 time All Star. He won an MVP trophy in 2001 and Rookie of the Year in 1997. He has averaged over 30 points per game in a season 5 times and 22 or more every year of his career. For his career, he has third highest points per game average in NBA history, behind only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. He is one of the most feared scorers in the league today and it has been that way since he did this to MJ himself. And contrary to the belief that Iverson is a ball hog who only scores, he has averaged over 6 assists per game each of the last 6 seasons and over 2 steals per game 11 times in his career. He is a dominating, devastating player that is among the most respected the league has ever had. Above all of these accomplishments, however, at least for me, is his resiliency.

Iverson is an incredibly gifted athlete, but unlike Kobe, Lebron, Michael, etc. he isn't a physical specimen. Iverson clocks in at a GENEROUS 6 feet tall and 180 pounds after a big Thanksgiving dinner. He's tiny by NBA standards. Most players of that size who experience long term success in the league are perimeter players, true point guards, guys who don't get knocked around too much. Iverson is not that guy. Instead of hanging around the perimeter, Iverson is routinely in the paint, mixing it up with the big guys, hanging out among the trees. He doesn't play above the rim but he does play around the rim. It takes tremendous intestinal fortitude to do that, to willingly go into the paint and take the physical punishment that Iverson does each night. I would be willing to bet that no one in this league today has seen the floor up close as many times as AI. In his career, Iverson has averaged over 9 free throw attempts per game. That's an ASTOUNDING figure for the uninitiated. No point guard in the history of the league has come anywhere near that figure.

In short, Allen Iverson has given his team every single thing he's had every single night, 832 times in his NBA career. I've seen him play with broken bones. I've seen him play with a dislocated shoulder. I've seen him play with a seriously messed up elbow. I've seen him take hits that might have sent some players to the hospital then jump up, get in the guy's face, and calmly sink his free throws. I've seen him strike fear into the heart of opponents, teammates, and referees alike. When he walks onto the floor, everyone in the gym RESPECTS him in a way that few men anywhere can understand. He is the toughest dude in the game today.

Tonight Iverson will make his debut with the Detroit Pistons. He was recently traded from the Denver Nuggets, a team going nowhere, to the Pistons who might just be the favorite to win the championship these days. In his illustrious career, the only thing missing from AI's resume is a title. He's hungry, he's determined, and he's willing to do ANYTHING to win. And I can't wait to see what he does in Detroit.

Mavs Season Preview 2008-09

Note: So, I know, we're already 4 games into the season, how can this be a preview? Well, sue me, I'm a busy guy. If it helps, consider the fact that 4 games in, the Mavs have shown absolutely nothing in terms of consistency and are just as much of a mystery now as they were before the season actually started.

THE RECAP

Last year Dallas had its worst season since 1999-2000...and still finished with over 50 wins and a playoff berth. Still, the season was marred by all kinds of issues, both on the court and off. If they weren't before, the Mavs officially became a jump shooting team and reaped the benefits and consequences of that. When their shots were falling, they won. When they were off, they lost. Period.

Issues with head coach Avery Johnson abounded. His lack of a consistent rotation had pretty much everyone not named Dirk or Josh guessing what their role would be night in and night out. Avery abandoned what had made the Mavs successful in their two previous seasons by reigning the offense in even more and dictating every single play of the game. His refusal to make adjustments often left the team in disarray as the players made vain attempts to execute a game plan that was obviously ineffective to everyone except the head coach. Possibly worst of all, Avery routinely threw his players under the bus in press conferences and interviews, refusing to take on any blame for the team's struggles. All of this eventually led to a team that no longer listened to its coach.

Mid way through the season, the Mavs made a dramatic move that may end up drastically affecting the direction of the franchise. Jason Kidd was brought in to run the offense in exchange for Devin Harris and a ton of spare parts. The reasoning for this trade was that, while Harris is younger, faster, and more apt to score points, Kidd was the right guy to "quarterback" a team that, at the time, seemed to have enough firepower and lacked someone to really run the show. All of this was passed primarily on the fact that Avery Johnson refused to turn Harris loose and allow him to play the game he was equipped to play and that he would be more willing to trust a top 5 point guard of all time like Jason Kidd.

In the end, the Kidd experiment failed if for no other reason than Avery. Just like he had with Harris, Avery refused to allow Kidd to play the game, instead trying to call every play from the bench and force the team into a grind it out half court offense that none of the players were suited to play. Kidd and Dirk seemed to click instantly but the rest of the team trailed far behind the level of excellence the two superstars displayed. Kidd also had GREAT difficulty defending the younger, quicker point guards of the Western Conference, such as Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Tony Parker. The team's lack of true depth was exposed as backups Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Terry, Devean George, and a host of others failed to provide any kind of consistent punch off the bench. Ultimately, while Dirk delivered perhaps a better season than the one before in which he won the MVP award, the team faltered and for the second straight season, bombed out in the first round of the playoffs.

THE OFF SEASON

It was, to say the least, a tumultuous offseason for Dallas. First, quickly after their playoff exit (as in approximately 2 hours later on the plane ride home), owner Mark Cuban fired Avery Johnson. It was a sad day for a lot of Mavs fans because at one point, Avery could have been considered one of the best young coaches in the league. His ego, pride, stubbornness, or sheer stupidity kept him from achieving a great deal with the Mavs. His firing was widely considered a relief to players and fans alike.

Then the Josh Howard saga really took off. Just before the playoffs started, Josh made some comments on a local radio show describing his occasional use of marijuana in the off season. Later, after a Mavs devastating defeat, he threw a huge birthday party for himself which several teammates attended. During the summer he was arrested for drag racing in his hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Then, just before training camp opened, a video was released on the web in which Howard disrespected the National Anthem and generally made a fool of himself. It was a seriously of events that added to the already prevalent notion that Josh Howard has the mental capacity of a rabbit.

While Cuban and GM Donnie Nelson talked about making big moves just as the off season began, none really took place. Rick Carlisle, a good if uninspiring choice, was hired to replace Avery Johnson. The roster, however, took on very little change. Some of the aging veterans who manned the end of the bench in the previous season, such as Juwan Howard and Jamaal Magloire, were let go, and replaced by younger, more athletic players. James Singleton, Shawne Williams, and particularly Gerald Green were viewed as inexpensive options who could pay big dividends. Antoine Wright and Jose Juan Barea were resigned, as was the once hated, now apparently needed (?) Devean George. The Mavs came into camp without making a single significant roster move.

THE FORECAST

Most national (and all but the most homerish of local) media members have predicted a mediocre season for the Mavs, picked to finish somewhere between 6th and 9th place in the Western Conference. The team is seen as over the hill and past their prime, a collection of players that has been exposed over the last 2 years and hasn't changed much. Almost every commentator has stated that their window of opportunity for winning a championship has closed.

MY TAKE

Coming into this season, I am cautiously optimistic that the Mavs could be contending for the Western Conference championship...but doubtful that they will actually wind up making a real playoff run.

I'll start with the positives.
1. I really like that the MBT (Mavs Brain Trust of Mark Cuban, Donnie Nelson, and Rick Carlisle) got rid of the old collection of washed up players at the end of the bench and replaced them with young kids who are looking to prove something. Brandon Bass was a HUGE surprise last year and I believe his impact impressed upon the MBT to bring in some fresh blood. James Singleton is a nice complimentary player who can clean the boards and be a lock down defender when needed. Shawne Williams could potentially turn into a strong contributor and if he learns how to run on the break, his athleticism combined with Jason Kidd's court vision could translate to a big return.

But the key guy in all of this is Gerald Green. Green has now played on 4 teams in 4 years. Up to this point, he has never been able to take the INCREDIBLE amount of God given talent and athletic ability that he is overflowing with and turn it into actual, consistent results on the floor. Whether it is attitude, immaturity, or just not knowing how to make it happen yet, he's had trouble sticking around anywhere he's been. However, he seems to recognize that this is likely his last chance in the NBA. Don't get me wrong. Green could absolutely tank and provide nothing this season or in any season to come. But if Green ever figures out how to turn his potential into actual results, he has the talent to be the next Tracy McGrady. This is a kid who could become a perennial All Star and a 20+ point per game scorer. He is insanely athletic (2007 Slam Dunk Champ) and has the tools to become a lock down defender. And if he doesn't pan out, it costs the Mavs nothing.

2. I am glad to see that Rick Carlisle has at least left the possibility open to making Antoine Wright the starting 2 guard for the duration of the season. Since Michael Finley was cut after the 2004-05 season, the Mavs have continually started aging, spare veterans such as Adrian Griffin and Eddie Jones at the shooting guard position, broken up only by the occasional Jerry Stackhouse or Jason Terry sighting. It has, essentially, been a lost position. I have no idea whether or not Wright is actually capable of being a quality starting 2 guard in this league, but I do know that he has the potential to be just that. He's young, he's athletic, he works incredibly hard on the defensive end, and he's capable of hitting the outside shot and slashing to the basket. He's the best option the Mavs have had at shooting guard since Finley was cut.

3. Whether or not Rick Carlisle has anything significant to offer as a head coach or not, he's GOT to be better than Avery Johnson was in his last season. In all honesty, my obese dog Ali could do a better job as head coach than Avery did last year. Seriously. Carlisle has said all the right things so far and that's a change from the Little General who made a habit of saying the exact opposite of what he needed to say, whether he actually believed it or not. Carlisle says he plans to turn the offense over to Jason Kidd, who has been the best or possibly second best point guard over the last decade, and his strategy is to us a Motion Offense, which I'm a huge fan of.

And now the bad.

1. This team still has the EXACT same flaws that led to it's blowing of the 2006 NBA Championship. They still rely too heavily on the jumpshot. With the exception of Dirk and Kidd, they still lack smart players with high basketball IQs. They still do not have a consistent post presence or a slashing swing man. They still have a lot of guys who THINK they're good outside shooters who really have no business launching the number of long jumpers that they end up taking. And they still lack a serious tough guy who gets to the free throw line consistently and isn't afraid to knock another guy down when it needs to happen.

2. The Mavs are relying on some players to do some things they've never consistently done before or haven't done in years. This applies particularly to Josh Howard, Jason Terry, and Jerry Stackhouse.

Josh Howard, even before his INCREDIBLE string of off court issues, was quickly losing the confidence of everyone involved with the organization. The fact of the matter is, Josh earned his 10 million dollar a year contract by playing defense, slashing to the basket, and just being active in every phase of the game. And he hasn't done any of those things on any kind of consistent basis for the last season and a half. This doesn't even take into account his complete lack of mental processing when he's on the court (or apparently off).

Jason Terry is a solid scorer and a seriously clutch shooter who has had a lot of success in those roles for the Mavs over the last 4 years. Unfortunately for both Terry and the team, he has no position. He is too short to play and defend the shooting guard position. And he is one of the absolute most DREADFUL "point guards" I have ever seen. No starting caliber point guard in the NBA has more trouble with the simplest of things, such as the entry pass. When Terry is running the offense, there is no flow and no strong decision making. He often dribbles the shot clock down to 6 before taking an ill advised, long distance shot.

And Jerry Stackhouse is borderline useless at this point. I can predict exactly what Stack will do this season: every 5th or 6th game, he will "break out" for 15 or 20 points and make a major impact on the game; the other 4 or 5 games in that stretch he will take numerous bad shots, give away a ton of turnovers, and look absolutely lost on defense; his already dropping free throw attempts will drop even further; and he will miss between 30 and 40 games this season. There is perhaps nothing sadder than watching a slasher age. And Stack is aging FAST.

All of this seems to go unnoticed to the MBT, however. The Mavs are depending on Howard to slash and play defense, on Terry to score consistently and run the point when Kidd is out, and on Stack to show up each night and provide big baskets. And if those things happen, then that's great. The Mavs will be hard to beat. But it is beyond me to understand how Carlise, Nelson, and Cuban can expect these things out of those players when it hasn't been shown over the last 2 years.

3. It really bothers me to see the GAPING HOLES the Mavs left on their roster going into the season.

The team brought back Gana Diop to backup Dampier at the center position, which I was in favor of. Yet they have neglected to bring in another player who is capable of coming in when both Diop and Damp inevitably get into foul trouble. This means that Dirk and Bass will spend time at the 5, which neither of them are good at.

As I have been complaining about FOR THREE YEARS now, the Mavs did not go out to get a slashing, quality, starting caliber shooting guard. This team has been in DESPARATE need of a guy who can score 15 points per game, all going toward the basket and getting to the free throw line. (Corey Maggette has been the PERFECT player for this role and it boggles my mind why the Mavs haven't made a move for him during this time).

And perhaps most troubling of all is the point guard position. Jason Kidd is old. He's still got 2, maybe 3 good years left in him. But the fact is, he's slowing down and he's now playing in a conference dominated by quick, young point guards. To combat this issue, a solid, young, quick point guard needed to be brought in to backup Kidd. Instead, the Mavs resigned JJ Barea to a 3 year contract. This signing inspired me to go out and try to make the roster myself because if JJ Barea can get a 3 year contract in the NBA, surely I could as well. JJB has absolutely no business being a backup on a decent NBA team. At best, he should be playing backup in Charlotte or Oklahoma City on teams that are going nowhere fast. Because of this, Jason Terry will end up playing the role of backup point guard, which is, as noted above, a horrible solution.

All in all, I have a lot of questions about the direction of the franchise and the moves (or lack of moves) made in the off season. It saddens me to think that Dirk Nowitzki's prime may be wasted on a team that's too good to land in the lottery where it might get some real help but not good enough to truly contend for a title. As the season progresses, I have a feeling the likelihood of major moves, such as trading away Jason Kidd and his expiring contract, will increase.

As much as it pains me to say it, I have to agree with many members of the national media in asserting that the Mavericks window of opportunity for a championship has indeed closed. It's been a great run, an exciting run, a run that SHOULD have produced a title, if not two. And that's not to say that I think the Mavs will miss out on the playoffs altogether. In fact, I think they might surprise a few people and finish with 50 plus wins and in the 5th or 6th playoff spot this season. I think they are far from the decrepit, old, worthless team they've been portrayed as and it's possible that they could even make some noise in the playoffs. But in the end, I don't see this team, as constructed, making a serious run for a championship. My hope is that, should that happen, next off season will be the one in which Cuban recognizes the issues the team has and makes the changes needed. Otherwise this continues to be a slowly downward sliding cycle of mediocrity.