Offical 2009-10 NBA Season Thread

Proshares wrote:
[h3]
Problem is, say the Knicks did open the vault for James and superstar No. 2. That would leave roughly $30 million to spend on the other 10 roster spots. So wave good-bye to free agent All-Star and fan favorite David Lee."
[/h3]



nobody in new york will care if david lee bounces. 2 max stars>david lee. we never even made the playoffs with him here, he's not gonna change somebody's franchise. i hope tmac staying for practically nothing helps. but i dunno if he can still play for a whole season
 
sigh.



I dont know why JJ would even leave though, Atl. is a good team, and although it might not be solid enough to get them over the top, it'll def. be a better team then he'll have.
 
Rest of it is a pretty good read today:

http://[h3]
[h3]Harden's timetable[/h3]
1:15PM ET

[h5]James Harden | Thunder [/h5]


According to Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman on Twitter, Thunder rookie James Harden will miss two-four weeks with a right hamstring strain.

Harden only played 13 minutes on Wednesday night, and sat out practice yesterday.

If Harden does miss a full four weeks, that would place him back in the lineup for only the last three games of the season, which may hinder his ability to be fully effective in the postseason.

Harden is seeing about 23 minutes a game with 9.9 points and 3.3 boards in his rookie season. He's been a solid reserve for the Thunder.

Expect Thabo Sefolosha to see more minutes now that Harden is out.

adande_j.a._30.jpg
[h5]J.A. Adande[/h5]
Thunder a team to get behind
"If you can't get with this team, your phone number must begin with 206. (Seattle residents are free to seethe at what's happened since their erstwhile SuperSonics left town in 2008. Just remember to direct your anger at owner Clay Bennett and NBA commissioner David Stern, not the players and coaches.) This group is everything you could want from an NBA team, regardless of the location. Professional skills, collegiate attitude. Actually, I'll go one step past that. They're like the Carver High team in "The White Shadow" (though coach Scott Brooks looks more like Dudley Moore than Ken Howard)."
[/h3]

http://[h3]Defensive inefficiency in Toronto[/h3]
12:55PM ET

[h5]Toronto Raptors [/h5]


The Raptors defense has long been a problem this year, as they've ranked in the basement of the league in defensive efficiency all season. Currently, they're last in the league as they give up 109.5 points per 100 possessions.

And said defense has largely contributed to them losing seven of their last eight during a critical stretch of the season in the midst of a playoff hunt.

So where to place the blame? In today's PER Diem, John Hollinger writes some of it should be tossed onto the shoulders of coach Jay Triano. Is he getting too free of a pass?

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[h5]John Hollinger[/h5]
Triano having problems getting team to play D
"Head coach Jay Triano was called out by his own players after a particularly egregious early-season effort in Atlanta and briefly seemed to get things under control. But his charges have regressed to old bad habits of late, and there's no indication that he's willing or able to squeeze anything better out of them. The league's only Canadian coach, Triano has been a protected species in Hogtown since his hiring as an assistant in 2002. (Quick: Name me one other assistant who has survived three head-coaching changes with the same team.) He probably also seems delightfully reasonable after a series of, shall we say, entertaining head coaches from north of the border. No, Butch Carter he ain't. But maybe he should be, because his current method isn't getting it done. Lots of questions jump out when watching Triano operate. Can he create defensive schemes? Can he get his players to execute them? Can he hold them accountable when they don't? Does he know Rasho Nesterovic is on the team? I'm not in the Raptors' huddle, but from afar those answers appear to be: not likely, no, no and no."

http://[h3]Raptors open to Lee?[/h3]
12:40PM ET

[h5]David Lee | Knicks [/h5]


We just mentioned a report from Frank Isola of the New York Daily News which stated Joe Johnson could very well be a Knick next season.

But here's another nugget tucked in the same report: "If Walsh can't land either LeBron James or Dwyane Wade but ends up with Johnson, another option is luring Toronto's Chris Bosh in a sign-and-trade. Sources claim the Raptors would be open to such a deal if it included David Lee."

If Bosh decides to play in New York, this might be the best possible option for the Raptors. If they can land Lee, they're getting an All-Star, a guy that can snag boards with the best of them and can score at a high rate as well.

Obviously, he's no Bosh. They'd be losing out on the better player.

But it's better than him leaving and the team coming away empty handed.

As for the Knicks, a lineup featuring Johnson and Bosh could make some noise in the East next season.

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[h5]John Hollinger[/h5]
Why Bosh could bolt
"Starting with a 109-104 escape against a depleted Washington team on Feb. 20, Toronto's D the past nine games has been a brutal 113.7 in defensive efficiency (perhaps "defensive inefficiency" would be a better term in this case). Yes, the Raptors didn't have Chris Bosh for a few of those games. On the other hand, they won't have Bosh for all 82 next season if the team doesn't show some improvement at the defensive end, as the free-agent-to-be has little motivation to re-up with what appears to be a perennial first-round speed bump ... In the big picture, one has to wonder if the Raptors will look back on the defensive debacle of the past three weeks as the stretch that cost them the best player in franchise history ... and wonder whether a different coach might have prevented it."

http://[h3]Brown's future[/h3]
12:30PM ET

[h5]Larry Brown | Bobcats [/h5]


Earlier this week, ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher confirmed a report that's been floating out there for a few weeks: Larry Brown did indeed make overtures to the Clippers several weeks ago.

But it seems Brown did so amidst uncertainly of team ownership. And now that Michael Jordan will assume control of the team, Brown, and Jordan, seem to be a match ... with just one hook.

According to Peter Vescey of the New York Post: "For whatever it's worth, Brown has assured his posse he'll remain with Jordan as long as the Bobcats' new majority owner can stand his incessant demand for personnel change."

Brown is under contract with the Bobcats beyond this season. A buyout or firing could cost the team more in the long-term if they have to pay both Brown and a new coach -- something a team like Charlotte that is bleeding money doesn't want to do.

So taking all this into consideration, expect Brown to be the Bobcats' coach next season until further notice.

http://[h3]Winning at home is crucial[/h3]
11:37AM ET

[h5]Dwyane Wade | Heat [/h5]


The Heat are playing better at home recently, but only have a 18-14 record at AmericanAirlines Arena for the season. Dwyane Wade knows they can't lose home games if they're to make the playoffs.

"We have been playing better at home," Wade told The Miami Herald. "That's what we wish we would have done all year. We can't live in the past. It's an important time for us. We know we need to win every game at this time of the year, especially on our home floor."

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[h5]John Hollinger[/h5]
Miami has easy remaining schedule
"Miami's remaining slate is laugh-out-loud easy -- of its 18 remaining opponents, 11 already have been knocked out of playoff contention. If the Heat are still in the top eight March 31, they'll definitely make it, because over the final two weeks, spanning eight games, the best team they play is Philadelphia. That's why Miami projects to finish with 44 wins and the No. 6 seed in the East at the moment."

http://[h3]Tryout continues for Williams[/h3]
9:58AM ET

[h5]Golden State Warriors [/h5]


The Warriors plan on offering Reggie Williams another 10-day contract. Williams is grateful for the opportunity and isn't taking anything for granted.

"I do feel like I can do this, but I don't necessarily feel like I've arrived," Williams told the San Francisco Chronicle. "My contract is very short term. I feel like every day is an audition for me. I feel like I'm still on a tryout, and I'm still trying to make this team."

"I love him," head coach Don Nelson said. "He can do the four big things: He guards his position, he rebounds his position, he can shoot and he can pass. He's a nice find."
 
[table][tr][td]Hollinger Stats - Defensive Efficiency[/td][/tr][tr][td]RK[/td][td]TEAM[/td][td]PACE[/td][td]AST[/td][td]TO[/td][td]ORR[/td][td]DRR[/td][td]REBR[/td][td]EFF FG%[/td][td]TS%[/td][td]OFF EFF[/td][td]DEF EFF[/td][/tr][tr][td]1[/td][td]Orlando[/td][td]94.9[/td][td]13.9[/td][td]24.2[/td][td]24.3[/td][td]77.5[/td][td]51.8[/td][td]52.7[/td][td]56.7[/td][td]108.0[/td][td]99.4[/td][/tr][tr][td]2[/td][td]Boston[/td][td]93.7[/td][td]16.6[/td][td]26.1[/td][td]22.5[/td][td]74.1[/td][td]49.2[/td][td]52.2[/td][td]56.2[/td][td]104.3[/td][td]99.6[/td][/tr][tr][td]3[/td][td]LA Lakers[/td][td]96.0[/td][td]14.9[/td][td]21.9[/td][td]27.2[/td][td]74.5[/td][td]51.1[/td][td]49.6[/td][td]53.9[/td][td]105.9[/td][td]99.8[/td][/tr][tr][td]4[/td][td]Oklahoma City[/td][td]95.4[/td][td]13.8[/td][td]24.9[/td][td]28.4[/td][td]73.0[/td][td]51.5[/td][td]48.7[/td][td]54.0[/td][td]104.0[/td][td]100.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]5[/td][td]Charlotte[/td][td]93.1[/td][td]14.2[/td][td]26.4[/td][td]26.1[/td][td]74.7[/td][td]50.7[/td][td]48.8[/td][td]53.6[/td][td]100.8[/td][td]100.1[/td][/tr][tr][td]6[/td][td]Milwaukee[/td][td]94.8[/td][td]15.0[/td][td]22.2[/td][td]26.1[/td][td]77.2[/td][td]50.4[/td][td]48.2[/td][td]51.7[/td][td]101.6[/td][td]100.6[/td][/tr][tr][td]7[/td][td]Cleveland[/td][td]93.4[/td][td]15.8[/td][td]24.3[/td][td]25.1[/td][td]77.1[/td][td]52.6[/td][td]53.7[/td][td]57.4[/td][td]109.0[/td][td]100.9[/td][/tr][tr][td]8[/td][td]Miami[/td][td]92.5[/td][td]13.9[/td][td]22.4[/td][td]26.0[/td][td]74.9[/td][td]50.5[/td][td]49.1[/td][td]53.2[/td][td]103.8[/td][td]101.7[/td][/tr][tr][td]9[/td][td]San Antonio[/td][td]93.8[/td][td]15.7[/td][td]22.8[/td][td]26.8[/td][td]75.8[/td][td]51.7[/td][td]51.1[/td][td]54.9[/td][td]106.7[/td][td]102.3[/td][/tr][tr][td]10[/td][td]Utah[/td][td]95.3[/td][td]18.0[/td][td]24.6[/td][td]26.9[/td][td]74.9[/td][td]51.4[/td][td]52.3[/td][td]56.4[/td][td]107.8[/td][td]102.6[/td][/tr][tr][td]11[/td][td]Chicago[/td][td]95.9[/td][td]14.1[/td][td]23.7[/td][td]27.1[/td][td]73.9[/td][td]50.8[/td][td]47.3[/td][td]51.6[/td][td]100.1[/td][td]102.9[/td][/tr][tr][td]12[/td][td]Dallas[/td][td]94.7[/td][td]16.6[/td][td]21.6[/td][td]24.4[/td][td]73.7[/td][td]49.3[/td][td]50.2[/td][td]54.9[/td][td]106.8[/td][td]103.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]13[/td][td]Houston[/td][td]96.2[/td][td]14.8[/td][td]23.6[/td][td]27.3[/td][td]74.3[/td][td]49.9[/td][td]48.9[/td][td]53.2[/td][td]103.7[/td][td]104.0[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td]Atlanta[/td][td]93.1[/td][td]15.6[/td][td]20.2[/td][td]28.0[/td][td]72.7[/td][td]49.9[/td][td]50.2[/td][td]54.4[/td][td]108.7[/td][td]104.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]15[/td][td]Portland[/td][td]90.3[/td][td]15.1[/td][td]22.2[/td][td]27.9[/td][td]74.6[/td][td]51.2[/td][td]50.0[/td][td]54.9[/td][td]107.7[/td][td]104.1[/td][/tr][tr][td]16[/td][td]Denver[/td][td]97.9[/td][td]14.7[/td][td]23.4[/td][td]26.1[/td][td]72.4[/td][td]49.6[/td][td]51.4[/td][td]56.7[/td][td]109.1[/td][td]104.2[/td][/tr][tr][td]17[/td][td]Indiana[/td][td]100.0[/td][td]14.1[/td][td]24.5[/td][td]21.7[/td][td]73.2[/td][td]47.2[/td][td]48.1[/td][td]52.7[/td][td]99.6[/td][td]104.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]18[/td][td]New Orleans[/td][td]94.7[/td][td]15.5[/td][td]22.3[/td][td]24.6[/td][td]73.9[/td][td]48.8[/td][td]50.1[/td][td]53.9[/td][td]104.6[/td][td]106.2[/td][/tr][tr][td]19[/td][td]LA Clippers[/td][td]94.8[/td][td]15.3[/td][td]25.7[/td][td]27.3[/td][td]73.4[/td][td]50.3[/td][td]48.9[/td][td]52.8[/td][td]100.8[/td][td]106.3[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td]Washington[/td][td]94.6[/td][td]13.2[/td][td]24.1[/td][td]27.7[/td][td]72.5[/td][td]49.8[/td][td]48.0[/td][td]52.4[/td][td]101.7[/td][td]106.3[/td][/tr][tr][td]21[/td][td]Philadelphia[/td][td]94.2[/td][td]14.5[/td][td]24.1[/td][td]27.9[/td][td]72.9[/td][td]50.1[/td][td]48.9[/td][td]53.1[/td][td]102.8[/td][td]106.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]22[/td][td]Memphis[/td][td]95.6[/td][td]13.3[/td][td]24.2[/td][td]31.7[/td][td]73.2[/td][td]52.6[/td][td]49.7[/td][td]53.8[/td][td]105.1[/td][td]106.8[/td][/tr][tr][td]23[/td][td]Detroit[/td][td]91.3[/td][td]13.6[/td][td]23.2[/td][td]31.0[/td][td]73.8[/td][td]51.1[/td][td]46.7[/td][td]50.8[/td][td]101.0[/td][td]107.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]24[/td][td]Sacramento[/td][td]96.8[/td][td]14.0[/td][td]24.3[/td][td]28.3[/td][td]72.7[/td][td]50.3[/td][td]49.3[/td][td]53.1[/td][td]102.9[/td][td]107.2[/td][/tr][tr][td]25[/td][td]Phoenix[/td][td]98.0[/td][td]15.6[/td][td]24.1[/td][td]27.6[/td][td]70.6[/td][td]50.1[/td][td]54.1[/td][td]58.0[/td][td]111.7[/td][td]107.7[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td]New York[/td][td]96.1[/td][td]15.2[/td][td]23.1[/td][td]22.5[/td][td]72.2[/td][td]47.0[/td][td]50.5[/td][td]54.2[/td][td]103.8[/td][td]107.7[/td][/tr][tr][td]27[/td][td]New Jersey[/td][td]93.8[/td][td]13.2[/td][td]24.7[/td][td]25.1[/td][td]71.5[/td][td]47.2[/td][td]45.3[/td][td]50.3[/td][td]96.5[/td][td]107.8[/td][/tr][tr][td]28[/td][td]Minnesota[/td][td]98.5[/td][td]13.4[/td][td]25.6[/td][td]27.5[/td][td]74.2[/td][td]50.4[/td][td]47.6[/td][td]51.5[/td][td]98.6[/td][td]108.0[/td][/tr][tr][td]29[/td][td]Golden State[/td][td]102.4[/td][td]14.7[/td][td]24.0[/td][td]21.4[/td][td]68.7[/td][td]44.7[/td][td]51.0[/td][td]55.3[/td][td]104.1[/td][td]108.5[/td][/tr][tr][td]30[/td][td]Toronto[/td][td]95.8[/td][td]15.2[/td][td]22.7[/td][td]24.8[/td][td]72.8[/td][td]49.3[/td][td]51.8[/td][td]56.3[/td][td]108.3[/td][td]109.5[/td][/tr][/table]  
[*]PACE: Pace Factor - the number of possessions a team uses per game. [*]AST: Assist Ratio - the percentage of a team's possessions that ends in an assist. Assist Ratio = (Assists x 100) divided by [(FGA + (FTA x 0.44) + Assists + Turnovers] [*]TO: Turnover Ratio - the percentage of a team's possessions that end in a turnover. Turnover Ratio = (Turnover x 100) divided by [(FGA + (FTA x 0.44) + Assists + Turnovers] [*]ORR: Offensive rebound rate [*]DRR: Defensive rebound rate [*]REBR: Rebound Rate - the percentage of missed shots that a team rebounds. Rebound Rate = (Rebounds x Team Minutes) divided by [Player Minutes x (Team Rebounds + Opponent Rebounds)] [*]EFF FG%: Effective Field Goal Percentage [*]TS%: True Shooting Percentage - what a team's shooting percentage would be if we accounted for free throws and 3-pointers. True Shooting Percentage = (Total points x 50) divided by [(FGA + (FTA x 0.44)] [*]OFF EFF: Offensive Efficiency - the number of points a team scores per 100 possessions. [*]DEF EFF: Defensive Efficiency - the number of points a team allows per 100 possessions.
Couldn't combine the two posts for some reason...
 
Originally Posted by Proshares


I didn't wanna post it, I knew your $*@ would be the first one with the

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http://[h3]
[h3]Johnson to Knicks a done deal? [/h3]
12:04PM ET

[h5]Joe Johnson | Hawks [/h5]


Earlier this week, we talked about how Joe Johnson's agent, Arm Tellem, could influence his client's decision in free agency this summer.

And in that same note, we provided quotes from Johnson saying even though he's from a small town, he could see himself in a big city like New York.

Now here's the latest wrinkle from Frank Isola of the New York Daily News: Tellem, Johnson and the Knicks may already have an under-the-table agreement in place for Johnson to sign with New York in the offseason.

Writes Isola: "There is a growing sentiment among opposing team executives that at the very least the Knicks will sign Atlanta's Joe Johnson, whose agent, Arn Tellem, orchestrated the Tracy McGrady trade to the Knicks and has been friends with Walsh for 20 years. It's called a 'wink-wink deal,' and even though it is against NBA rules, the practice does exist and is nearly impossible to police. 'I think that's a done deal,' said one Eastern Conference GM."

If this is the case, take Dwyane Wade -- who was a long-shot for New York in the first place -- off the Knicks' list, as two free-agent shooting guards doesn't make a ton of sense.

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[h5]Ric Bucher[/h5]
If Knicks land two superstars, there's little money for rest of roster
"[Donnie Walsh] knows New Yorkers are convinced that he aims to land not just James but also another superstar from the pool of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer and Amare Stoudemire ... Problem is, say the Knicks did open the vault for James and superstar No. 2. That would leave roughly $30 million to spend on the other 10 roster spots. So wave good-bye to free agent All-Star and fan favorite David Lee."
[/h3]



They shouldnt max out JJ, or Bosh. They need 3 solid really good players and then try to keep Lee and even Tmac for the veteran mid-level maybe. I wouldnt put anything past Walsh, he did what he said he would do 2 years back or so, with the exception of getting rid of one fat-@*! in Curry.
 
I'm still looking for first and second half defensive splits. I guarantee the Hornets are the worst in the league in the first half of games.
 
I wonder why those defensive and offensive efficiency numbers are different from the ones on basketball reference. Those Hollinger numbers are lower across the board.
 
Originally Posted by JD617

I wonder why those defensive and offensive efficiency numbers are different from the ones on basketball reference. Those Hollinger numbers are lower across the board.
He calculates them slightly differently, he has a different way of calculating the amount possessions in a game I think.
 
John Hollinger insists that the Mavericks are at best 13th best off this season.


I know I've been hyping our chances to POTENTIALLY be a threat, but 13th best in the L?

I'd be fine with someone trying to make an argument that we're at worst 7th or 8th best, but THIRTEENTH? Yikes.

Dude wrote a full article about us not being that good either, saying how we have too many close games against bad teams, and even though we win it counts against us and we're not that good.
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Last Mavs news bit I'll post, but last Friday Jason Terry underwent surgery after breaking his orbital bone.

Today, he underwent a full-practice.



Hate him or love him, the guys willingness to help his team is unprecedented.
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Originally Posted by Chester the Cheetah

Originally Posted by Animal Thug1539

Originally Posted by DubA169

I still don't understand why the cavs didn't give up jj hickson for amare.


Can someone tell this dude why...please.
The Cavs need someone young to build around after LeBron leaves...

...to the bathroom? I don't get it.
  
 
Here's the Hollinger article JA is speaking of:

[h1]
[h1]After 13 in a row, Mavs still No. 13[/h1][h3]PER Diem: March 11, 2010[/h3]
Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty ImagesThe Mavs are four-and-a-half games up on the Thunder. But can they beat KD & Co. in the playoffs?

This is the fourth season of the Power Rankings, and most of the time the world order is fairly straightforward. Generally, the teams at the top (and bottom) are there for a reason, and the rankings more or less follow the general consensus of NBA observers.

Every once in a while, however, the rankings deviate from the norm, and the e-mails pour in. For some reason, the Dallas Mavericks have been more involved in these controversies than most teams. In 2007, the Power Rankings had hardly debuted when I was excoriated for ranking a 58-win San Antonio team ahead of the 67-win Mavs. Columnists in both cities called me an idiot, marking possibly the first time the two Texas rivals agreed on something. Alas, the Spurs won the NBA title that season, and the episode was forgotten quickly.

This time around, we have another difference of opinion regarding the Mavs. Dallas has won 13 straight games, owns the fourth-best record in basketball, is tied for the NBA lead with 22 road wins and has most folks considering it a strong title contender in the wake of a deadline-week trade for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood.

The Power Rankings? Not so much. They place the Mavs at a modest 13th in a 30-team league.

Why the disconnect? Well, I can pinpoint a couple of reasons. For starters, I've been writing for a while about how compressed the top of the league is this season relative to the middle and the bottom, and the Mavs provide an object lesson.

With a rating of 102.4, the Mavs are about as close to top-ranked Orlando (107.3) as they are to No. 18 Chicago (97.7). Only 3.4 points separate No. 4 Los Angeles from No. 14 Miami, implying that a meeting between nearly any of those 11 teams would hinge on home-court advantage. As if to prove that point, the Lakers and Heat went to overtime in Miami last week, and the Heat prevailed.

The other thing to keep in mind is that first and foremost, the Power Rankings are a predictive tool. The idea is to compare the rating to the left of each team's name, add three points to the team with home-court advantage, then make a prediction. Wednesday night, for instance, the Power Rankings had the Mavs as 13.6-point favorites at home against New Jersey; Dallas actually won by nine.

It may surprise people to learn that in building a predictive tool, scoring margin and schedule strength are more important than wins and losses. (Or maybe it's not a surprise, since I've railed about this for so long.) Dallas doesn't grade terribly well in these categories -- the Mavs' scoring margin is the league's 12th-best, for instance, against opposition that's a perfectly average .500 when not playing the Mavs.

The Power Rankings weigh a team's most recent 25 percent of games most heavily, which you'd think would favor the Mavs because they've won 13 straight. Actually, it doesn't. Included in the mix are a 36-point beatdown in Denver and an awful home loss to Minnesota, and no victories by more than 13 points. As a result, their scoring margin in their past 17 games, which have been against the league's fourth-weakest schedule (.458), is an unimpressive plus-3.1.

If you're curious, the Minnesota defeat will go off Dallas' recent-games résumé after Saturday's game against the Knicks, while the Denver fiasco won't disappear until March 21. (In a scheduling quirk, Dallas only plays three games in the next 10 days.) Barring any other meltdowns, the Mavs' power ranking should improve by about a point, which would move them to 10th -- still well short of their perceived place in the universe.

Let's get back to the predictive tool thing for a minute.

Believe it or not, the Power Rankings have predicted recent Mavericks games quite well. It installed Dallas as a favorite in all but three of the 13 games in the streak (at Atlanta, at Charlotte and at Orlando), with the Lakers game seen as a toss-up. In other words, 10 of Dallas' 13 wins didn't do much to change their standing in the world of the Power Rankings. Once you adjust for home-court advantage, Dallas' six previous games all were won by the higher-ranked team as well, meaning the Power Rankings have gone 16-3 with one push in the Mavs' 20 most recent games. Not too shabby.

I also should point out that my predictive model is not the only one that is dismissive of Dallas. The predictor of USA Today's Jeff Sagarin has it ranked 12th.

Nonetheless, most fans seem flabbergasted that I have Dallas just 13th. So let's take it team by team with the franchises ranked ahead of Dallas and ask two questions: 1. How are they ranked ahead of the Mavs? and 2. Would I pick the Mavs to beat them in a series? Walk through the exercise, and perhaps their positioning will become more understandable:

orl.gif

[h5]1. Orlando Magic[/h5]




How are they ranked ahead of Dallas?
The Magic are only a half-game ahead of Dallas in win-loss record, but they are miles ahead in scoring margin both on the season (plus-6.4, second in the NBA) and in recent games (a league-leading plus-10.2), enabling the Magic to take the top spot in the Power Rankings.

Would I take Dallas to beat them in a series?
No. Dallas' win in Orlando on Feb. 19 was the most impressive of the 13-game streak, but Orlando also shot 4-for-25 on 3s in that game -- an event unlikely to repeat itself in future meetings. The Magic are playing better than any other team in basketball right now, so the Mavs will have their hands full when the two clubs reconvene on April 1 in Dallas.

uth.gif

[h4]2. Utah Jazz[/h4]


How are they ranked ahead of Dallas?
The Jazz are 23-5 in their past 28 games and have the best scoring margin in the West in the past 25 percent of their schedule. For the season, the Jazz' scoring margin is nearly equal to the conference-leading Lakers', and they've played the league's most difficult schedule to date. (Opponents have a .520 winning percentage when not facing the Jazz.)

Would I take Dallas to beat them in a series?
No. The Jazz have won two of three meetings between the clubs and on paper appear to be a much better team this season. The two sides won't face each other the rest of the regular season but could very well meet in the second round of the playoffs.

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[h4]3. Cleveland Cavaliers[/h4]


How are they ranked ahead of Dallas?
The Cavaliers have the league's best scoring margin (plus-7.2) and, despite injuries to LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal, have managed to improve on that margin in recent play (plus-8.5), including a win over San Antonio on Tuesday without either player.

Would I take Dallas to beat them in a series?
No. The teams split their two meetings this season, but the Cavs sport the ultimate trump card in James. They also arguably improved themselves more than the Mavs at the trade deadline with the acquisition of Antawn Jamison, a deal that will have cost nothing after the return of Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

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[h4]4. L.A. Lakers[/h4]
How are they ranked ahead of Dallas?
The Lakers sport the best scoring margin in the West at plus-6.0 and have played a very difficult schedule (.516, even though they're the only team that doesn't have to face the Lakers). Although they've scuffled in recent games, the Lakers' plus-3.3 margin in the past 25 percent of their schedule is still stronger than Dallas' plus-3.1, and it has come against much stronger opposition.

Would I take Dallas to beat them in a series?
No, but I'd think about it. The two teams split their four regular-season meetings, and the Mavericks appear to match up pretty well against L.A.'s size, especially in the wake of the Haywood trade. Dallas also has defended Kobe Bryant very effectively in their four meetings. The problem is the Mavs can't score on L.A., either.

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[h4]5. Phoenix Suns[/h4]


How are they ranked ahead of Dallas?
Thanks to a recent spurt after the insertion of Robin Lopez as the starting center, the Suns are 14-4 in their past 18 games with a plus-7.2 scoring margin -- against strong opposition, too. For the full season, the Suns' scoring margin isn't much better than the Mavs', however.

Would I take Dallas to beat them in a series?
No. Dallas won two of the three regular-season meetings but also was home for two of them, and a single point decided the first one (a 102-101 Mavs win on Nov.
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. Basically, it's a wash on that front. I'd take Phoenix based on its vastly improved D in the wake of the Lopez move. These two teams could meet as the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in the West, in which case Dallas' home-court advantage would be another factor to consider. But I'd still take Phoenix.

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[h4]6. Denver Nuggets[/h4]


How are they ranked ahead of Dallas?
The Nuggets haven't awed, but they've been consistently solid. They have a plus-5.1 scoring margin for the season, and although that's down to plus-4.0 in recent games, they've played the league's second-toughest schedule during that stretch. All those marks are superior to Dallas'.

Would I take Dallas to beat them in a series?
You saw the playoffs last year, right? Although the Mavs have somewhat addressed the glaring athletic deficit that faced them in their second-round smackdown by the Nuggies in 2009, this probably would be the worst matchup for Dallas. I should note that the 127-91 beating by Denver in February came on a terrible back-to-back for the Mavs, so that's probably an unfair indicator. The two teams will meet March 29 in Dallas, and if the Mavs win, they'll take the season series 2-1 thanks in part to having two of the games at home. But home or away, I'd take Denver in a series.

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[h4]7. San Antonio Spurs[/h4]


How are they ranked ahead of Dallas?
Because the Spurs are great at beating the teams they're supposed to. San Antonio has struggled mightily against the big boys, but when Sacramento or the Knicks come to town, they take of business. As a result, they have a solid scoring margin (plus-4.4) despite a strong schedule overall (.506). Subjectively, though, I think the Power Rankings have overrated San Antonio for a while thanks to some early-season blowouts.

Would I take Dallas to beat them in a series?
Yes, especially if it started today. Tony Parker is the one problem matchup for Dallas, and he's out for the next six weeks. Even with Parker, I'd be inclined to take Dallas because the Spurs don't match up well defensively against Dirk Nowitzki, and the Mavs beat San Antonio in five games last year. Dallas also has won two of three meetings this season, making it seven of nine going back to last March.

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[h4]8. Oklahoma City Thunder[/h4]


How are they ranked ahead of Dallas?
The Thunder's overall scoring margin (plus-3.5) doesn't beat the Mavs' by much, but they've picked it up lately -- OKC has outscored opponents by 5.8 points in the most recent quarter of its schedule. The Thunder also benefit from a relatively strong season schedule, so they have slight advantages on Dallas in the four main categories that the Power Rankings consider (home-road differential being the fifth, but that's rarely a factor this late in the season).

Would I take Dallas to beat them in a series?
No. Oklahoma City was the last team to beat Dallas, 99-86 on Feb. 16; the Mavs won the first two meetings, but one was by a single point on Jan. 15. Since that game, the Thunder are 18-6, and youngsters Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are still improving. The Thunder also have a lot of length to throw at Nowitzki defensively and are a tough cover for Dallas' wings with Durant. My theory will be tested on April 3, when the Mavs and Thunder meet again in Dallas.

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[h4]9. Atlanta Hawks[/h4]


How are they ranked ahead of Dallas?
The Hawks are a point ahead of Dallas in the Power Rankings based almost entirely on their superior scoring margin during the course of the season. Of late, the Hawks haven't played particularly well, but their scoring margin in recent games still isn't any worse than the Mavs'. Of note is that the Hawks came the closest to beating Dallas in the recent streak, leading by 14 in the fourth quarter before succumbing in overtime, thanks in part to the infamous Jason Kidd versus Mike Woodson encounter.

Would I take Dallas to beat them in a series?
Honestly, I'd probably flip a coin. The Hawks outrate Dallas at the moment but also have benefited from being unusually, ridiculously healthy. Presuming the Mavs are at somewhere near full health, too, that advantage for the Hawks would go away in a series. Head-to-head, it's about as even between these teams as you could get: They've split six meetings during the past three years. This season, Atlanta won the first meeting in Dallas, and the Mavs won the second one in overtime. In a seven-game series, I'd go with whichever side had home-court advantage.

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[h4]10. Portland Trail Blazers[/h4]


How are they ranked ahead of Dallas?
The Blazers are only a half-point ahead of the Mavs in the Power Rankings and have virtually identical marks across the board. The lone difference is that Portland's recent games have come against relatively strong opposition (.508), while the Mavs' have come against some of the league's weakest (.458).

Would I take Dallas to beat them in a series?
No. Not even with home-court advantage, which could prove interesting because they may face each other as the No. 2 and No. 7 seeds in the West. Portland beat the Mavs twice in Dallas already, once without Brandon Roy and twice with Juwan Howard manning the middle. The Blazers arguably also made more impactful deadline additions than the Mavs by trading for Marcus Camby and bringing Nicolas Batum back from injury. The state of Roy's hamstring is a lingering worry, but that would be the only reason to shift my choice to Dallas. The two sides will meet in Portland on March 25 and again on April 9.

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[h4]11. Milwaukee Bucks[/h4]


How are they ranked ahead of Dallas?
Of all the e-mails I get, the most common is, "How you can have MILWAUKEE ahead of the Mavs?!?!?!" This is unfair to the Bucks. Unbeknownst to most Mavs fans or the larger world in general, the Bucks may be the hottest team in the league right now. Since acquiring John Salmons, they've won nine of 10, with the lone defeat coming in overtime in Atlanta (immediately after Dallas went to overtime in Atlanta -- that was a heck of a basketball weekend in the Peach State).

Would I take Dallas to beat them in a series?
No. Dallas won both meetings versus Milwaukee but by the smallest of margins (one in overtime, the other by a single point). Because both contests happened before the Bucks' recent rejuvenation, I'd lean toward Milwaukee in a neutral-site series. The Bucks are unquestionably the East's most dangerous low seed heading into the playoffs.

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[h4]12. Boston Celtics[/h4]


How are they ranked ahead of Dallas?
The Celtics land one-tenth of a point ahead of Dallas based almost entirely on their body of work the first two months of the season, when Boston was 23-5 and competing for the top spot in the Power Rankings. Since that point, it's 17-18 with a barely positive scoring margin and in the most recent 25 percent of their schedule, its margin is a scant plus-0.3 despite a schedule nearly as soft as the Mavericks' (.472).

Would I take Dallas to beat them in a series?
Yes. Emphatically so. We'll get a test of that view on March 20 when the Celtics visit Big D, but the C's aren't looking real strong right now. Boston's veterans are running on fumes, and there's not enough help on the bench to drag it past the finish line, as Wednesday night's home blowout loss to Memphis further showed. It's possible the Celts won't make it out of the first round.
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Originally Posted by Do Be Doo

Originally Posted by Chester the Cheetah

Originally Posted by Animal Thug1539

Originally Posted by DubA169

I still don't understand why the cavs didn't give up jj hickson for amare.


Can someone tell this dude why...please.


The Cavs need someone young to build around after LeBron leaves.
wow.....
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got em

that dallas article was horrible
 
Good pickup imo.



Larry Brown might be able to keep this guy under control. He'll play well with the 2nd unit, and can actually play defense.



Its surprising how much that team has been getting better, year after year lately.
 
Originally Posted by JumpmanFromDaBay

Originally Posted by Menacin Methods

Originally Posted by Chester the Cheetah

Originally Posted by Animal Thug1539

Originally Posted by DubA169

I still don't understand why the cavs didn't give up jj hickson for amare.


Can someone tell this dude why...please.
The Cavs need someone young to build around after LeBron leaves.
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