Mock Draft: Mavs Fanatic First Round 1.0

by Damian Jackson on June 6, 2013 in Mavs 09 comments

The NBA Draft is three weeks away and player workouts have prospects shifting positions on a daily basis. It’s time that we break out our first edition of the Mock Draft and share our thoughts on who we think will go where based on team need, workout impressions and daily reports.

 

 

1. Cleveland Cavaliers – Nerlens Noel, C Kentucky | Ht: 6’11″ Wt: 206

Noel has long been slotted as the top pick in this year’s draft and that hasn’t changed. Expect the Cavs to select the slender defensive center who’s aiming for a December return to the court.

 

 

2. Orlando Magic – Ben McLemore, SG Kansas | Ht: 6’5″ Wt: 188

McLemore has a pure jump shot and great size at SG for the NBA. Along with his shooting, Ben is an incredible athlete and many say he’s likely to be an All-Star level player for years. The Magic need that scoring infusion and McLemore can be that guy.

 

 

3. Washington Wizards – Otto Porter, SF Georgetown | Ht: 6’9″ Wt: 198

Otto Porter wins the Naismith College Player of the Year award if not for Trey Burke’s very impressive run in the tournament. Porter has an all-around game with intangibles that make him as NBA-ready an anyone in this class. Wizards keep Otto in DC.

 

 

4. Charlotte Bobcats – Alex Len, C Maryland | Ht: 7’1″ Wt: 255

Alex Len provides the Bobcats a center they need. With Byron Mullens likely gone it leaves Brendan Haywood. Bismack Biyombo could move to PF while Len offers Charlotte a solid defensive anchor in the middle who isn’t offensively challenged.

 

 

5. Phoenix Suns – Victor Oladipo, SG Indiana | Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 213

The Suns need stability. Victor Oladipo helps in that regard, he’s a relentless worker and plays hard on both ends of the floor. Oladipo would infuse energy into the U.S. Airways crowd, a step in the right direction with a new GM and head coach.

 

 

6. New Orleans Pelicans – Shabazz Muhammad, SF UCLA | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 222

ShaMu this high?! The popular pick is Trey Burke, but they do have the 6-foot-6 Greivis Vasquez running point who averaged 9.0 assists in 78 games last season. The Pelicans have a more pressing need at SF and Shabazz could be the right guy.

 

 

7. Sacramento Kings – Anthony Bennett, PF UNLV | Ht: 6’8″ Wt: 240

Kings need a PG more, but it’d be tough to pass on Bennett if he were to drop here. SI.com says Bennett may have the most star potential in the draft, but is he a tweener? Sneaky skilled for a PF-type, AB would compliment Boogie Cousins well.

 

 

8. Detroit Pistons – Trey Burke, PG Michigan | Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 187

It’s no secret the Pistons want a PG. Michael Carter-Williams could be the choice, but with   Wolverine and College Player of the Year Burke available they may go that route. Burke’s heart and competitiveness would be welcomed in Detroit.

 

 

9. Minnesota Timberwolves – C.J. McCollum, PG/SG Lehigh | Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 197

McCollum makes perfect sense for the Wolves. A combo guard with advanced scoring ability and versatility. The foot injury no longer an issue, McCollum would step in next to Ricky Rubio and relieve some of Kevin Love’s scoring responsibilities.

 

 

10. Portland Trail Blazers – Steven Adams, C Pittsburgh | Ht: 6’11″ Wt: 235

Portland hit a homerun (Damian Lillard) and a ground out (Meyers Leonard) in last year’s lottery. Steven Adams represents a true NBA center with his physical tools, rebounding and defense. Tons of upside and an solid fit next to LaMarcus Aldridge.

 

 

11. Philadelphia 76ers – Cody Zeller, PF/C Indiana | Ht: 7’0″ Wt: 230

Some have the Blazers snagging Zeller, but he’ll be more of a PF in the NBA. Either way the Sixers will be satisfied to see Zeller fall to them. Cody showed impressive athleticism at the combine and he’d be able to play the 4/5 in Philly.

 

 

12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Mason Plumlee, C Duke | Ht: 7’0″ Wt: 238

OKC could go in several directions with this pick, but smart money says they address the center position. Kendrick Perkins has been disappointing. Plumlee gives the Thunder an explosive big who rebounds very well and finishes with authority above the rim.

 

 

13. Dallas Mavericks – Michael Carter-Williams, PG Syracuse | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 185

The Mavs have their eye set on Carter-Williams. If he makes it to 13, they draft him. His size is special for the position and he owns the best court vision and PG instincts in this class. MCW would be nice addition if Dallas whiffs on Chris Paul.

 

 

14. Utah Jazz – Dennis Schröder, PG Germany | Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 165

Utah has strong interest in Schröder to replace free agent Mo Williams. The 19-year-old PG has a lot of Rajon Rondo in his repertoire. Reports say he received a promise from the Boston Celtics, but he may not make it that far.

 

 

15. Milwaukee Bucks – Jamaal Franklin, SG San Diego State | Ht: 6’5″ Wt: 191

The Bucks face a lot of uncertainties in their backcourt. If Brandon Jennings stays, Milwaukee could use help on the wing. Franklin fits the bill as an above average rebounder, elite athlete and plays aggressive on offense and defense.

 

 

16. Boston Celtics – Gorgui Dieng, C Louisville | Ht: 6’11″ Wt: 230

With Schröder likely gone, the Celtics could switch gears and find a center. Dieng owns NBA center size and is skilled defensively. There are other options, but many scouts are high on Dieng ability to contribute immediately.

 

 

17. Atlanta Hawks – Dario Saric, SF Croatia | Ht: 6’10″ Wt: 223

Saric is believed to be the draft’s top international prospect and could go as high as No. 6 to the Pelicans. Naturally this would be quite to steal for the Hawks who will be carefully utilizing their cap space this summer. Saric to withdraw from the draft?

 

 

18. Atlanta Hawks - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG Georgia | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 204

The Hawks’ only guards with guaranteed deals are Lou Williams (ACL) and John Jenkins. There’s buzz about Caldwell-Pope and this seems like a good fit for both parties. Hometown kid stays around and Hawks get a legit all-around player.

 

 

19. Cleveland Cavaliers - Sergey Karasev, SG/SF Russia | Ht: 6’7″ Wt: 197

According to reports, sounds like Karasev’s already received a promise and word out there says this is the floor for Karasev. The Cavs really like him. He provides Cleveland a player with immense shooting ability and the size to play either wing position.

 

 

20. Chicago Bulls – Kelly Olynyk, PF/C Gonzaga | Ht: 7’0″ Wt: 238

A slide of sorts for Olynyk, but he could still crack the lottery. If the Bulls consider amnesty with Carlos Boozer, the Gonzaga product provides Chicago an ample replacement (along w/ Taj Gibson) whose skill set fit an NBA four.

 

 

21. Utah Jazz – Rudy Gobert, C France | Ht: 7’2″ Wt: 238

The Jazz could double dip in international waters by going Gobert after Schroder. Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are set to leave, so Utah could be enticed to take Gobert as a development behind ripe big men Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors.

 

 

22. Brooklyn Nets – Tony Mitchell, PF North Texas | Ht: 6’9″ Wt: 237

Mitchell is scheduled to work out for city rival NY Knicks tomorrow, but the Nets have interest as well. Brooklyn could use a PG unless they trust TyShawn Taylor as Deron Williams’ backup. Mitchell’s stock is on the rise nonetheless.

 

 

23. Indiana Pacers – Shane Larkin, PG Miami | Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 171

This would be too sweet for the Pacers. Point guard is an area of need and Larkin falling in their lap is a miracle. Chances of it happening are slim though as he could go as high as 14th or 15th to the Jazz or Bucks.

 

 

24. New York Knicks - Jeff Withey, C Kansas | Ht: 7’0″ Wt: 222

Roy Hibbert’s size was too much for Tyson Chandler and the Knicks. Marcus Camby doesn’t play anymore, Kenyon Martin was too small. Withey plugs in as the immediate backup with great basketball knowledge, physical tools and shot-blocking.

 

 

25. Los Angeles Clippers – Allen Crabbe, SG California | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 198

Crabbe is a talented player with a terrific stroke. The Clippers believe Chris Paul isn’t going anywhere and it’s always wise to surround a PG with shooters. Crabbe works well off screens and in transition, perfect wing type for a Paul-run offense.

 

 

26. Minnesota Timberwolves – Ricky Ledo, SG Providence | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 197

Ledo appears to be the mystery and possible best sleeper of the draft. Someone mentioned he had a Kevin Durant-like shot and it’s not far off. He looks like a top-notch scorer and special wing this late in the first round. Minny can use ‘em!

 

 

27. Denver Nuggets – Glen Rice Jr., SF Rio Grande Valley (NBDL) | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 211

Glen Rice Jr. looks to go from the D-League to the NBA by way of draft. The Nuggets who recently severed ties with George Karl will probably lose SG Andre Iguodala to free agency and seek his replacement. Denver will like that Rice Jr. is ready NOW.

 

 

28. San Antonio Spurs – Lucas Nogueira, C Brazil | Ht: 6’11″ Wt: 215

With already one Brazlian center on the roster in Tiago Splitter, the Spurs may entertain the idea of selecting Nogueira and stash him away for a year or two. This gives Lucas time to advance his skills and the Spurs to prep a role for him down the road.

 

 

29. Oklahoma City Thunder – Tim Hardaway Jr., SG Michigan | Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 200

The Thunder addressed a vital need in the lottery, but could seek a cheaper SG option here rather than retain free agent Kevin Martin. OKC still has Jeremy Lamb as well and could have two younger, more affordable guard competition in camp.

 

 

30. Phoenix Suns - Giannis Adetokunbo, SF/PF Greece | Ht: 6’9″ Wt: 196

Adetokunbo this late would be amazing for the Suns, who want to ignite new enthusiasm to it’s fan base. He brings different elements to the game than any Suns forward. Channing Frye remains a health concern and there’s zero faith in Michael Beasley.

 

 

 

 

Damian Jackson is a partner at Mavs Fanatic. Follow Damian on Twitter @thedfactor and like our site’s page on Facebook.

 

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Mavs Game Night: Can Mavs Resuscitate the Red River Rivalry?

by Damian Jackson on March 17, 2013 in Mavs 09 comments

You will remember the last time Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder came to Dallas; he poured in a career-high 52 points to complete the 117-114 overtime road victory.

Durant and crew are in the AAC once again to take on the Dallas Mavericks. While the Mavs fight for the final playoff spot, the Thunder own the league’s third best record and continue to jockey with San Antonio Spurs for the West’s top seed.

Dallas let a close one slip away against the Spurs a few nights ago, but rebounded with a 96-86 home win on Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Mavs are in a stretch right now that has them playing 8 of the next 9 games at home.

The Mavs will be without Shawn Marion (calf strain) for the sixth straight game. His defensive impact will be sorely missed against Durant.

Team is all important to these Mavericks and recently, the Mavs have been getting solid play from its role players.

“We have to make sure that everybody’s ready,” Roddy Beaubois said. “Even if you don’t play, the next game maybe you’re going to get in.”

Roddy has seen plenty of nights pass by when the only time he’s gotten off the bench is to cheer on his teammates. Friday he was called upon to play and he sure took advantage of those 22 minutes. He scored 18 points, dished out five assists and grabbed three boards.

Meanwhile, Brandan Wright has given the Mavericks great production in March. In seven games played this month Wright averages 11.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks on 68-percent shooting.

[VIDEO] Brandan Wright Two-Hand Flush on the Break

“Anybody can get in a nice groove when they play a lot of minutes in a row and kind of know when they’re going back in and that they’re going to get opportunities,” Wright said.

 

“That’s a big-time comfort level. It can get tough being on the other side of the stick, because I’ve been there before.

The Mavericks will need to play near perfect basketball to avoid a 10th consecutive defeat against these Thunder. As has been the case for the Mavs all season, the drive to compete exists but the ability to close has not.

Jae Crowder will likely take the first crack at covering Durant, which happens to be a major size advantage for the NBA’s leading scorer. Crowder rung in a career-best 14 rebounds on Friday as he continues to improve with the ample playing time he’s received in wake of trade and injury.

Newest Maverick Chris Wright scored his first two points on a layup with under a minute to go in Friday’s win over the Cavs.

Dallas seeks to reverse the trend and battle the odds against them in this one. Stranger things have happened as people love to say. Time to resuscitate the Red River rivalry.

____________________

Playoff Picture Update:

MAVERICKS - 10th seed in West; 3 GB of the Los Angeles Lakers for final playoff spot.

THUNDER - 2nd seed in West; 1.5 GB of San Antonio Spurs.

____________________

Thunder at Mavs tips at 6:30 p.m. CT and airs on FSSW/FSOK.

Let’s Go Mavs!

Source: ESPN & ESPN Dallas

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Mavs Game Night: Mavs Hot, Renew Rivalry With Thunder

by Damian Jackson on January 18, 2013 in Mavs 09 comments

One tied to either the Dallas Mavericks or Oklahoma City Thunder has to be excited for this Red River showdown tonight in the American Airlines Center and shown nationally on ESPN.

Now in terms of victories, since the Mavs sent the Thunder home in the 2011 playoffs, the Thunder led by elite 24-year-olds Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have won eight of the last nine ball games.

It’s a little deceptive because the actual games have been much more competitive than the ultimate outcome. In the eight losses the Mavs have lost only by an average of 5 ½ points. Of course, the wins matter, not moral victories are close defeats. However, the Mavs always tend to compete until the end against OKC and tonight ought to be no different.

While Dallas is hot and on a four-game win streak, the Thunder own the league’s best win streak of five games along with the top record of 31-8. You couldn’t ask for a better time for these two to tussle.

This game means a hell of a lot more to the Mavericks. Durant and his crew are clear cut title contenders and cruising through the first half of the season. On the other hand, the Mavs are playing some of their best basketball with Dirk Nowitzki back and despite the win streak are still six games below .500.

Dirk and the Mavs understand the need to avoid the idea of ‘fool’s gold’ and they want to take down an elite opponent. A win against the NBA-best Thunder would infuse the team with even more confidence and advance the climb back into the playoff chase.

Facing the Thunder will require an intense defensive effort from the Mavs and more specifically Shawn Marion’s coverage on the recently announced West All-Star starting forward Durant. In the last meeting Durant exploded for 40 points in their 111-105 overtime win.

Westbrook, who certainly will be named an All-Star reserve, comes into tonight’s matchup averaging 34 points over his last two games. It’s always tough when he’s got his shot falling, because it’s the defensive preference opposed to allowing Westbrook attack the basket.

A key to the Mavericks success of late has been their much improved ball protection. The four-game streak consists of 101 Mavs assists and only 40 turnovers (25.3 APG to 10 TPG). With turnovers numbers dropping and assist totals increasing, the Mavs are limiting opponent possessions and increasing their own quality offensive looks.

Dirk will play this time and he’s coming off a night against the Houston Rockets in which he led the Mavs with 19 points.

“That 3 at the end of the third helped me get my rhythm. Sometimes all you need is to see the ball go through the hoop one time.”

It was the fourth quarter where Dirk really got things going and helped close out the win. It was his frontcourt teammate Elton Brand though who sealed the win with a key block of James Harden.

“The play of the game was Elton’s block,” said Nowitzki. “He said he’s got lots of practice since I let my man go by me all the time. That was a heck of a play.”

The idea of Brand actually moving to the starting lineup has been discussed. The fact Dirk and EB play much better together than starting center Chris Kaman and Dirk makes a strong case for the change.

“It’s a good question. It’s a valid question,” said Rick Carlisle. “I don’t know if we’re at a point yet where it’s time to change, but we’ll see. I’m for giving everything a legitimate chance and then making the decision to stay with it or to change course.”

Whether it’s Kaman or Brand who starts, the importance lies in who finishes. Brand professed his desire to close games rather than start and the recent games have seen that take place.

The play of the Mavericks bench could play a role in the outcome tonight. Let’s assume EB won’t start, we’ll need to see strong efforts from the likes of Vince Carter and Jae Crowder as well. The 3-ball has been kind to Crowder lately (8-14 3PT over last 7 games).

Veteran guard Mike James made enough of an impression to earn another 10-day contract. It was his intense prowl defensively on Jeremy Lin that earned him late game minutes on Wednesday night.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m not supposed to be nowhere but the NBA,” said James.

Perhaps the Mavs need a guy with James’ attitude to help run the ship along with the younger, electric Collison.

For Oklahoma City this may be just another game along their pleasant ride atop the NBA standings, but the Mavericks know this type of game can decide they’re ultimate destination.

Mavs and Thunder – they’re ready. Are you Mavs fans?!?

The game will tip around 8:30 p.m. CT and airs on ESPN and FSSW.

Sources: ESPN; ESPNDallas; TheTwoManGame

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The Mavs Wrap Up: Mavs Lose Heartbreaker

by Ryan Wilson on December 28, 2012 in Mavs 09 comments

What’s the expression? Take the good with the bad? Let’s go with that.

Yes, the Mavericks lost in dramatic fashion last night, bringing their overtime record to a dismal 0-5 this year.

Steve Kerr said last night that he didn’t believe in moral victories. Sorry Skippy(What Bulls fans called Steve in Chicago). Last night was a perfect example of a moral victory.

All of the NBA universe can act like Oklahoma City played a bad game last night. They didn’t show up. They gave the Mavericks every chance to win.

Really? I watched every minute of that game. The Mavericks shot the ball extremely well in the 1st quarter, which had them thinking they could take down the defending Western Conference Champions.

I’m pretty sure everyone noticed that we had a point guard last night as well. A very good one at that. Darren Collison was getting anything he wanted. He hit all 4 of his three point attempts, which began to open up the floor for him to drive. He ended up with 32 points on 13-22 shooting.

This is what Dirk Nowitzki can bring to a guy like Collison. Nowitzki’s ability to spread the floor for his teammates will do wonders for some of these guys.

Then there was Dominique Jones who came off the bench and delivered two big plays. He hit a running buzzer beater 3 at the end of the 3rd Quarter, giving the Mavericks the momentum heading into the final frame. The other highlight…well you can see if for yourself.

 

Those were some of the good things. Then there was O.J. Mayo and one of his worst games of his career. Turnovers have plagued the Mavericks all season, and O.J. Mayo is certainly not an exception. You look at his TOPG and it’s only at 3.1 per game for the season. What you don’t see are some of the real bad games. Last night was one of them. Not only did he go 1-7 from the field, but he had some costly turnovers and mental errors in the final quarter.

“Juice gotta go back to playing the way he was when I was out,” Nowitzki said. “I don’t know what’s been going on lately. It looks like he doesn’t have the confidence.

Should the Mavericks have won this game? Yes. Did they? No.

Despite all of that, the Mavericks already have a different look about them since Nowitzki’s return. Let’s give Dirk a little more time and then we can start to see what they can be with their star back in top notch form.

If we can get Collison playing at a high caliber level, and get Mayo to gel more with the new look, the Mavericks can still surprise some people.

What’s Next? 

Unfortunately, the Mavericks don’t have much time to recover from last night’s debacle. They return home to face a Denver Nuggets squad tonight, fresh off of their win over the L.A. Lakers Wednesday night.

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Mavs Game Night: Mavs Look To Get Back On Track

by Ryan Wilson on December 27, 2012 in Mavs 09 comments

One would assume that tonight’s game between the Dallas Mavericks and host Oklahoma City Thunder would be an ideal Western Conference showdown.

There’s a problem though, it’s not 2010, but rather the end of 2012. This isn’t our Mavericks of old with savvy veterans, a host of defenders and a healthy Dirk Nowitzki playing at an all-time high.

We have Dirk, Shawn Marion and Rick Carlisle. Over on their side still stands Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and head coach Scott Brooks. Swap out James Harden for Kevin Martin and the Thunder look relatively the same, but Dallas lurks as a former shell of itself.

No longer is there that rock of point guard stability named Jason Kidd. Kidd’s wisdom and post-prime talents are now at work for the Knicks. It only took Dirk’s 20 minute season debut to realize the drop in the mental advantage of his current point guards.

“Our basketball IQ obviously went down a little bit with J-Kidd leaving,” Nowitzki told reporters in San Antonio. “I think that’s pretty obvious.”

Obvious, you are correct Dirk. The lack of basic basketball smarts has outweighed the benefits of new youth and energy.

“Offensively, our decision-making has been brutal. We’re averaging 20 [turnovers] a night. It’s impossible to win, especially on the road.”

Dirk is used to playing on fundamentally sound veteran squads who have excelled away from home which always had the Mavs in the conversation as a top road team. They’re 4-12 this season.

The Mavs were blitzed in San Antonio 129-91, knocked out with some remarkable shooting from beyond. The Spurs connected on a franchise-record 20 three-pointers led by Danny Green’s six made and 25 points.

Now the task shifts an Oklahoma City team who even at 21-6 come into this one with an edge. The Thunder lost a highly contested NBA Finals rematch on Christmas day against the Miami Heat. Looking to rebound, OKC might feel Dallas is the perfect opponent to bounce back.

There’s no such thing as a perfect game in basketball, right?

You could get tricky and specific with details, but the point is our Mavs will have to be close to perfect to win tonight. The Thunder will feast on our turnovers and an overflow of easy baskets could swing this into a Red River massacre.

National television hasn’t been favorable for the Mavericks this season. Tonight’s game will be seen on TNT. In the five national TV games the Mavs are only 1-4. The lone win was opening night’s surprise 99-91 win against the LA Lakers.

The Mavs enter having lost three straight by double figures and each by an average of 21 points.

Dirk will continue to come off the bench for the Mavs as he gradually catches up to full game speed and conditioning.

Mavs at Thunder tips at 7:00 p.m. CT

We need a win to get Mavs Nation Rowdy, Loud and Proud! GoDallas!

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Young Mavs Fall to Proven Thunder in Kansas

by Ryan Wilson on October 25, 2012 in Mavs 09 comments

The Dallas Mavericks took on the Oklahoma City Thunder last night on neutral grounds. The game took place in Wichita, KS and gave the fans some glimpses of the powerful and young Thunder squad, as well as the young guns that reside in Big D.

Kevin Durant scored 18 points and James Harden added 16 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to an 88-66 preseason victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

Serge Ibaka scored all 15 of his points in the first half for the Thunder.

The Mavericks were playing without Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion and Vince Carter, and Chris Kaman. This allowed the young guys to step in and show #UncleRicky what they could bring to the table. It has become no surprise that Jae Crowder can deliver, and he didn’t let up again last night. After starting the game 1-6 from the field, he ended up finishing the game with 21 points on 10-19 shooting, to go along with nine rebounds and three assists.  Brandan Wright was another bright spot adding 11 points. Late in the 2nd half, he twisted his ankle, and never returned to the game.

“Not believed to be serious, but you know we’ll let you know,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We weren’t going to bring him back in either way.”

Overall, on a night where the Thunder had their big guns, and the Mavericks did not, they still battled all the way to the end. They got out rebounded again, firmly keeping their rank as worst rebounding team in the pre-season so far. That was obviously in large part to a lack of size.

The Mavericks will look to finish the pre-season at .500 as they take on the Charlotte Bobcats Friday night at the AAC.

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Pre Game Report: Dallas Mavericks (3-3) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (3-3)

by Ryan Wilson on October 24, 2012 in Mavs 09 comments

Our Dallas Mavericks (3-3) are in Wichita,Kansas for a meeting with the Oklahoma City Thunder (3-3) Wednesday night. The Western Conference power Thunder abruptly ended the Mavericks disappointing 2011-2012 title-defense campaign.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook lead the still very young and athletic, but now well experienced Thunder. Coach Scott Brooks rested stars Durant and Westbrook Tuesday night inChicagodue to a back-to-back situation, but both are expected to play tonight. Serge Ibaka led the team with 24 points and eight rebounds in a 94-89 defeat. Rookie Perry Jones III added 14 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field.

Fourth-year guard James Harden has struggled shooting the ball in the preseason. Harden and the Thunder have had contract extension talks, but a resolution hasn’t been met. In three games, Harden is connecting on a only 24-percent of his field goals and 23-percent from deep.

The Mavericks play tonight’s game short-handed once again. Dirk Nowitzki (knee) and Chris Kaman (calf) did not play in Monday’s 87-74 home win over the New Orleans Hornets. Veterans Shawn Marion and Vince Carter stayed back in Dallas for a scheduled night off.

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle will rely heavily on the younger guys without his entire starting frontcourt. Rookies Jae Crowder and Bernard “Sarge” James figure to log ample playing time.

Crowder continued his hot streak Monday night, scoring in double figures (12 points; 5-5 FT) for the fourth consecutive game. Brandan Wright, who left Monday’s game in the fourth with a tightened quad, has blocked at least two shots in the past four games. Wright expects to play tonight.

Darren Collison and O.J. Mayo will start their seventh straight game together in the Mavs backcourt. We’ve seen both the positives and negatives from Collison and Mayo as the gradually adjust toCarlisle’s system and one another.

Collison possesses lightening quick speed and needs to consistently utilize it to his advantage in the half-court, but even more on the fast-break. He’s done an admirable job thus far creating for his teammates and picking his own spots to score. Watch Collison continually improve from game to game as his comfort levels increase and he makes adjustments within the Mavs system.

Reserve guard/forward Dahntay Jones will likely join Crowder with the arduous task of slowing down the silky smooth, two-time reigning scoring champ Durant.

A Red River rivalry has developed between the Mavericks and Thunder over the past few seasons. This will be an excellent test for the decimated Mavs and allows them to see which guys have it in them to step up as a go-to guy.Carlisle will provide guys the opportunity tonight.

Game action tips at 7 p.m. CT and available to watch on Fox Sports Southwest.

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NBA Releases Schedule: 5 Games To Circle

by Ryan Wilson on July 26, 2012 in Mavs 09 comments

Perhaps not since the 2003-04 season when Mark Cuban brought in Antawn Jamison and Antoine Walker have the Dallas Mavericks been a bigger mystery than they are entering the 2012-13 season.

With the roster now appearing to be finalized – barring any trades before the start of training camp in late September — the re-tooled Mavs now know who and when they’ll play as the NBA released the full 82-game regular-season schedule Thursday.

There’s no Christmas Day game and no Martin Luther King Jr. day game. Dirk Nowitzki and his new pals won’t be on national television at the rate that they were a season ago as defending champs. Still, the Mavs will have eight games on TNT — including the opener at the Lakers — seven on ESPN, seven on NBATV, one on ABC and two on ESPN Radio.

None of it means this won’t be one of the more intriguing seasons of Cuban’s ownership. At the moment, just about anything — from being lottery bound to a top-four finish in the Western Conference — seems possible.

We take a look at five games to circle, and why not start with the opener?

No. 1: Mavs at Los Angeles Lakers, Oct. 30
Not only will it be the first real game for a Mavs club that features five new key players around Nowitzki, but it will also be Steve Nash‘s debut with the Lakers. And for that matter, since we’ve already mentioned Jamison, he’ll also be wearing the purple and gold for the first time. The big question as of July 26 is if Andrew Bynum will still be calling the Staples Center home or if Dwight Howard be manning the rim and playing alongside Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant and Nash?

No. 2: New York Knicks at Mavs, Nov. 21
Coach Rick Carlisle predicted that Jason Kidd would receive a standing ovation when he returns to the American Airlines Center. We won’t have to wait long to find out if he’s right — and he probably is. Two-fifths of the Mavs’ championship starting lineup will suit up for the Knicks as Tyson Chandler makes his second trip back to Dallas since the title. Kidd’s last-minute departure to the Big Apple was stunning, but in retrospect it’s allowed the Mavs to add a bit more shake-n-bake to their backcourt with Darren Collison and O.J. Mayo.

No. 3: Mavs at Boston Celtics, Dec. 12
A trip to the Garden is always special, but now that Jason Terry will be writing ctc on his green and white sneakers, it’s extra special. And don’t think that Terry, who played eight seasons with the Mavs, won’t want to drill about 15 buckets from downtown and send his former team out of town with a loss. Terry never wanted to leave Dallas, but he knew he was no longer in their plans. He’ll try to fill the very large shoes of Ray Allen, who took his talents to South Beach. Terry won’t make his Dallas return until March 22.

No. 4: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Mavs, Jan. 18
It’ll take a few months for the Western Conference champs to make it Dallas, which isn’t a bad thing since the Mavs will need some time to break in the new rotation. Although Dallas is a drastically different team than the past two seasons, consecutive playoff series have elevated the Thunder to the top of the Mavs’ rival list, or at least just notch below the Spurs. This game will show the Mavs how far they’ve come or how far they still have to go.

No. 5: Mavs at Brooklyn Nets, March 1
Who knows if the Nets will have Dwight Howard by this first meeting of the two teams, but this game is all about Deron Williams, who spurned his hometown Mavs to re-sign with the Nets as they move to Brooklyn. In the grand scheme of things, this game will mean little, but the free-agent process was emotional for Williams and the two teams, and that could make this the most intense Mavs-Nets game of all-time. Less than three weeks later, Williams will make his return to Dallas. He won’t be staying.

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Heat Hold Off Thunder

by Ryan Wilson on June 15, 2012 in Mavs 09 comments

LeBron James has seen his share of great starts turn into faulty finishes.

So with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh providing the help he needed, he wasn’t letting another one get away Thursday night.

James scored 32 points, got a disputed big stop on Kevin Durant and the Miami Heat held off a furious fourth-quarter rally behind their three All-Stars to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 100-96, tying the NBA Finals at one game apiece.

“We had played too well in the first 36 minutes to try to let this one slip away from us,” James said. “We just wanted to make one more, two more plays than they made and come out with a victory and we were able to do that.”

Wade rebounded from a poor opener to add 24 points and Bosh had 16 points and 15 rebounds in his return to the starting lineup for the Heat, who snapped a four-game Finals losing streak with their first victory since Game 3 against Dallas last year.

“It’s been so long since we’ve had them all together,” Heat forward Shane Battier said. “They played like the All-Stars that they are and that’s the effort that we need.”

Now they go home to host Game 3 on Sunday and the next two after that, knowing they don’t have to hear the noisy Thunder fans again — not to mention all their critics — if they win all three.

Miami blew a 13-point lead in Game 1 and seemed headed toward a repeat of the second game of the Finals last year, when it blew a 15-point edge on its home floor.

Not this time.

“This is a good team and we didn’t want to be down 2-0,” Bosh said. “We know in order to accomplish our goal, we have to win on the road. We’re a good road team. We’ve done it before. They posed a great challenge because they haven’t lost up until today. But we felt that we let one get away and we felt that we could play a much, much better game in Game 2.”

Durant scored 32 points for the Thunder but missed a short jumper with 9.9 seconds left after appearing to be bumped by James. The basket would have tied a game the Thunder trailed the entire way.

Oklahoma City’s explosive point guard Russell Westbrook finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists but shot 10-of-26 from the field.

James Harden tried to keep the Thunder in it early and finished with 21 points, but this time the Thunder couldn’t come back from a double-digit deficit after spotting Miami a 17-point advantage during their worst first half of the season.

“That was the game. We can’t start off down 18-2,” Durant said. “We can’t go down that much, especially at home. We’ve got to correct it.”

It was the first home loss in 10 postseason games for the Thunder, who had overcome a 13-point deficit in Game 1.

James had what was his career high, 30 points, in the opener, but afterward said Wade needed to be Wade — All-Star, Olympic gold medalist and finals MVP.

In Game 1, Wade was 7-of-19. He wasn’t sharp in the last round and continues to hear reports that something is physically wrong with him. He was all but asked Wednesday if his explosiveness was a thing of the past, what must have been insulting to a player who, though 30, still believes he’s not far from the top of the game.

Wade bounced back in a big way, not quite at the level he was as the 2006 Finals MVP, but certainly good enough with the help around him now for the Heat to win another one.

“Just know that I’m always going to keep coming back until I don’t play this game no more,” Wade said. “I know my abilities, I know what I’m capable of and it was good.”

He spun into the lane and found Bosh for a dunk that seemed to have the Heat safe at 98-91 inside the final minute, but a 3-pointer by Durant cut it to 98-96 with 37 seconds left. After James missed a 3-pointer, the Thunder got the ball into Durant, who appeared to be knocked off balance by James as he missed the baseline shot attempt.

Durant said only that he missed the shot, saying he would have to watch the tape to see if he was fouled.

James then sank the insurance free throws — finishing a 12-for-12 night at the line — as fans booed loudly over the no-call.

Bosh started after coming off the bench in every game since returning late last round from his nine-game absence with a strained lower abdominal muscle. The Big Three joined Battier and Mario Chalmers in the lineup, the first time Miami had gone with that first five all season.

It sent the Heat on their way to a terrific start, and Battier matched his surprising 17-point performance in Game 1 by going 5-of-7 from 3-point range, providing all the help the superstar trio needed.

James had his fifth straight 30-point game, breaking Wade’s franchise playoff record, and added eight rebounds. He defended Durant early in Game 1 and helped put the league’s scoring champion in early foul trouble, just one of the problems the Thunder had early.

Another loud, blue and white crowd tried to inspire them to rally, but the team could just simply never get close enough to until the final minutes.

For most of the first three quarters, the home team would get the deficit to around 10, and James would get himself into the post or drive powerfully into the lane to score or set up a teammate.

Durant nailed a 3-pointer and drove into the lane to throw down a dunk over Battier that cut it to 82-74 with 8:22 remaining. His 3-pointer from the wing trimmed it to 90-86, and the Thunder got it all the way to 94-91 when Westbrook dunked Durant’s miss with 1:48 to go.

James answered by banking in a jumper for his first basket of the final period, as the Big Three combined for all but one of Miami’s seven field goals in the fourth quarter.

The Thunder missed 11 of their first 12 shots, and when James capped a run of 13 straight Miami points with a basket, it was 18-2 with 4:51 remaining in the period.

Coach Scott Brooks had talked to his team about its poor starts — this was three straight games with a double-digit deficit — and told the Thunder during a first-quarter timeout that the Heat were playing harder than they were. The Heat kept it up, pushing it to 25-8 on Wade’s jumper with 2:39 left.

“We kept missing good shots,” forward Serge Ibaka said. “We can do better.”

 

Game notes

The Heat used their 25th different lineup in their 86 games this season, including seventh of the postseason. The most frequently used lineup in the regular season, with James, Wade, Bosh, Chalmers and center Joel Anthony, has not opened a game in the postseason after going 27-10 during the regular season. … Reserve James Jones checked in for the Heat in the first quarter after missing Game 1 with a migraine. … Former Oklahoma star running back Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings was at the game. … A powerful storm knocked out cable in many South Florida homes, keeping Heat fans from seeing the entire game.

 

 

 

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Consider The Big German Impressed

by Ryan Wilson on June 13, 2012 in Mavs 09 comments

The premise presented to the 7-footer who shoots it better than any other 7-footer ever has is that no one else on the NBA map could possibly have a better grasp of how it feels to be Kevin Durant these days.

Who better to size up the long-limbed bomber lighting up the 2012 playoffs than the greatest singular (and similarly built) force of the 2011 postseason?

Dirk Nowitzki listened to that suggestion and just laughed.

For all that these lanky Southwest scoring machines purportedly have in common, given their size and the mere three-hour drive that separates Dallas and Oklahoma City, Nowitzki knows the truth and isn’t afraid to say it out loud.

“KD,” Nowitzki says, “is way ahead of my curve.”

Since the defending champs were broomed out of the first round by Durant’s rolling Thunder, exiting the playoffs faster than any other team, Nowitzki admits that he hasn’t missed a dribble of Oklahoma City’s ride to its first NBA Finals, except for the time bad weather knocked out his satellite during OKC’s Game 6 clincher over San Antonio. When the Thunder are on — avenging a 2010 first-round exit to Kobe Bryant‘s Los Angeles Lakers in a mere five games or letting the shell-shocked Spurs run their winning streak to an eye-popping 20 before sticking them with four straight L’s — Dirk doesn’t leave the couch.

He wants to track precisely how much higher Durant is nudging the bar for supersized shooters that Bob McAdoo set and Larry Bird raised.

“He’s arguably the best player in the league right now,” Nowitzki told ESPN.com over the weekend. “I see a guy that really has no holes.

“He’s a 6-10 guy with a 7-4 wingspan who can shoot it from the parking lot. He’s posting up now. In transition he’s so long that, when he gets a pass from the 3-point line, it’s a layup or dunk with one step. He’s got the one- or two-dribble pull-up, which you need to be a great scorer, because you can’t just shoot 3s or go to the basket if you want to be a great scorer, ’cause sometimes you can’t get all the way to the bucket. He can go both ways, one or two dribbles and up.

“And he’s clutch, too. He’s hit big shot after big shot all season long. He made three game winners on us this year. I thought he’s always been clutch, but now it’s almost like you know he’s going to make them. He’s phenomenal.”

Dirk isn’t done, either.

“He’s way more of a 3-man than I ever was,” Nowitzki continued. “He handles the ball way better on the break than I ever did. He’s got deeper range. And he’s doing all this at 23. He’s won the scoring title three times in a row, so that he means he won the first one at 21. I barely got through my rookie year. When I was 21, Gary Trent was still killing me in practice.”

OK, OK. The gap between the kid and the ousted champ, who turns 34 later this month, is not nearly as wide as Nowitzki makes it sounds. Obviously.

Durant, though, has made it easy to get swept up in the hyperbole over the past month. Another playoff victim has fallen prey to it, too, with San Antonio’s Stephen Jackson proclaiming during the last round that trying to slow Durant down at the minute is the tallest of orders.

“Imagine Dirk with Blake Griffin‘s athleticism,” Jackson says.

Durant isn’t quite there yet, either, but you get the idea. Sixteen straight points in the fourth quarter of Game 4 against the Spurs, followed by his 34 points and 14 rebounds while playing every second of the 48 minutes in the Game 6 clincher, will bring out the superlatives.

This was also the first season that you could call Durant a two-way player, but it’s probably wisest to grade his D after the Finals, with Durant sure to draw some LeBron James duty to test that athleticism. Yet the louder questions clearly persist about what sort of mindset James will tote into the Finals — his third Finals — with the memories of last spring’s epic failures against Nowitzki’s Mavericks sure to be brought up far more often than LeBron’s punishing 33.6 points per game in a seven-game epic against Boston in the East finals.

Durant, meanwhile, hits the big stage in the zone of his life, with seemingly no one wondering if he might be overwhelmed by his first taste. The assumption, amazingly, is that he’ll just continue to roll, pumped up by home-court advantage and emboldened by the way OKC just mowed through the three teams (Mavs, Lakers and Spurs) that combined to represent the West in the championship round for the past 13 seasons.

This is the stuff Nowitzki can unquestionably speak to with the utmost authority. A year ago, like the T-shirt says, Dirk was That Dude. The 2011 playoffs, especially the middle two rounds against the Lakers and Thunder, were his own personal party. A rewriting-his-legacy kind of party.

“The opponents are great, the challenges are great, but when you’re that hot it feels like you step on the court with a great rhythm shooting,” Nowitzki said, rewinding to his own magical run that included a five-game schooling of Durant’s Thunder in the West finals. “Any 3 I took during the playoffs felt great. It felt like it was going in every time. You feel like you never get tired. You just want to stay out there as long as you can.

“For me, at the beginning of my career, I was basically a third or fourth option. We had [Michael Finley]. We had Steve [Nash]. We had Nick Van Exel that one year [in 2003]. Then we got rid of everybody and it was kind of my team, so I had to grow into the [closer] role. I never had to take big shots when I was 20 or 23. Once everybody left, it took me awhile to get used to being in that position. But now I like being in that position. I like to be in that situation. Everybody is looking at you to get it done at the end. And it’s a great feeling when you do.

“But I gotta admit [that] their whole team is playing well. [James] Harden shot 14-for-23 from 3 in the San Antonio series. [Derek] Fisher can’t even miss a shot right now. [Russell] Westbrook has gotten so much better playing under control. He looks for the other guys. He’s still shooting a lot, but he’s gotten better with the midrange game. He killed us with the midrange shot.

“I think all those guys got better. [Serge] Ibaka got better. [Kendrick] Perkins is a great defender. They’ve really got all the ingredients I think you need to be a great team. They’ve got defenders in [Thabo] Sefolosha and Perkins, they can spread the floor and they have three legit scorers. Three legit playmakers. Two is not even enough anymore. They’ve got three guys that can create their own shot at any time and score at any time.”

Which isn’t the most comforting thought if, like Nowitzki, you’re in the same neighborhood as Durant and the Thunder and you have to figure out how to keep up with them in a conference they now own.

“If you look at ‘em, it looks like they’re going to be great for the next 10 years if they find a way to keep Harden and Ibaka,” Nowitzki said. “Hopefully that’s going to be hard for them, ’cause I think after this playoff run, people might throw a lot of money at those guys.”

Pessimism trumps Nowitzki’s hopes in most Western Conference outposts, such is the speed of Durant’s progression from skinny gunner who couldn’t cope with the weight-room rigors of the bench press to ruthless, ring-chasing go-to guy in just five seasons. He’s seemingly getting only more well-rounded as opposed to getting older, consistently making people around him better for the first time, fueled by a drive that — to hear Dirk tell it — sounds Kobe-esque.

Well aware that Durant has been working for months to try to master Nowitzki’s one-legged fadeaway jumper, Dirk said: “I just think, as you get older, it’s an easy shot to get off. I think Kobe [Bryant] recognized that. All you do is create a little separation and you can shoot over the defender. But I don’t really know what [pushed Durant] to try it.

“I think he’s such a basketball freak that he just watched it a lot and decided to copy it. At the All-Star Game, their coaches told me that Kevin is such a basketball fanatic and freak that he watches film on everybody in the league all the time. He practices for hours and hours and stays extra to shoot and work on different things. He’s a freak of nature and a workaholic and he deserves all the praise he gets.

“Every time he shoots now I think it’s going in, I’m surprised when he misses.”

Surprised and not surprised is more like it.

Dirk said it again: “He’s so far ahead of my curve.”

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