Can Dallas go all the way

[goDees22]

I reckon they can, deepest team in the league

 

[scarecrow2k1]

I reckon they can, deepest team in the league

They go close now, but the Lakers and Cavs are probably deeper, especially since by the end of the playoffs teams are running on an 8 man rotation.

 

[Vegas.]

The Cavs... deep?

 

[scarecrow2k1]

The Cavs... deep?

Not the whole list deep, but playoff basketball is a different game, and the big names play more minutes. The Cavs, if Shaq is back starting, will have players like Varejao, Hickson, West and maybe Ilgauskas coming off the bench. Plus a very good starting 5. Pretty good to me. Better than what the Mavs can come up with at least.

The problem for the Cavs with me is that no matter how talented the team is, they need LeBron out there to play well, seeming as he either scores and assists in probably close to, if not more than, half their baskets. They struggle big time without him.

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

There's only like 2 or 3 games between LA and Dallas now though right?

Its almost certainly going to be a LA/Dal/Den/Uta top four, and I really can't see any of those teams losing a first round matchup (seeing as GSW won't be there to destroy Dallas anyway).

Really hope for the Thunder's sake they end up matching with Utah or Dallas, and definitely not Denver.

Utah could easily lose in the first round.

 

[BEEG]

Lakers down by 8 at Half Time at home against Toronto

 

[goDees22]

They go close now, but the Lakers and Cavs are probably deeper, especially since by the end of the playoffs teams are running on an 8 man rotation.

I think Orlando are deeper than both lakers and cavs, but quality of cavs first couple of subs is prob better than both

 

[BEEG]

Dallas win again at home

Had to come from behind Nets had a great start to the game

Haywood returned from injury

Pretty good team effort with the highest scorer being Kidd with 20

Dirk had a quiet game with 12

Mavs 96 - Nets 87

The streak continues

 

[Westy Bogan]

They would have to beat probably:

Nuggets in semis - I think they should be able to do that but may depend what mello does

Lakers in West finals - that will be tough in 7 games. I think Lakers will get their shit together come playoff time.

Cav or Majic in FINALS - another tuff series.


I cant see them winning all three of those final series.

 

[scarecrow2k1]

They would have to beat probably:

Nuggets in semis - I think they should be able to do that but may depend what mello does

Lakers in West finals - that will be tough in 7 games. I think Lakers will get their shit together come playoff time.

Cav or Majic in FINALS - another tuff series.


I cant see them winning all three of those final series.

Agreed. As far as the Op is concerned, they could do it, but probably wont

 

[Borgsta]

The Cavs, if Shaq is back starting, will have players like Varejao, Hickson, West and maybe Ilgauskas coming off the bench. Plus a very good starting 5. Pretty good to me. Better than what the Mavs can come up with at least.

Dallas have a better team by a long way IMO but the Cavs have Lebron.

Kidd > Williams
Butler > Parker / Gibson
Dirk > Jamison
I don't think there is anything between Shaq and Haywood right now.

Then Terry, Beaubois and Dampier coming off the bench.

 

[scarecrow2k1]

Dallas have a better team by a long way IMO but the Cavs have Lebron.

Kidd > Williams
Butler > Parker / Gibson
Dirk > Jamison
I don't think there is anything between Shaq and Haywood right now.

Then Terry, Beaubois and Dampier coming off the bench.

Its hard to say, Im warming more and more to Dallas every game. They definately have a phenomenal starting 5, if Haywood is starting at Center. I dont rate Dampier at all. Terry is great off the bench, and Beaubois has looked promising lately. But the Cavs have some great players coming off the bench too. Either way, it'd make a great finals series

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Dallas have a better team by a long way IMO but the Cavs have Lebron.

Kidd > Williams
Butler > Parker / Gibson
Dirk > Jamison
I don't think there is anything between Shaq and Haywood right now.

Then Terry, Beaubois and Dampier coming off the bench.

Varejao is important coming off the Cavs bench. Hickson as well.

 

[rick James]

Its hard to say, Im warming more and more to Dallas every game. They definately have a phenomenal starting 5, if Haywood is starting at Center. I dont rate Dampier at all. Terry is great off the bench, and Beaubois has looked promising lately. But the Cavs have some great players coming off the bench too. Either way, it'd make a great finals series

Damp is the best backup C in the league right now imo. Or Varejao if you count him as a C.

Dallas might not be brutally strong at any position apart from PF (and there are certain guys that CAN defend Dirk pretty well), but they genuinely have no weakness in either their first or second lineup. They're going to be tough for anyone, and will probably take anyone to 7.

 

[Spriteftw3]

Damp is the best backup C in the league right now imo. Or Varejao if you count him as a C.

Dallas might not be brutally strong at any position apart from PF (and there are certain guys that CAN defend Dirk pretty well), but they genuinely have no weakness in either their first or second lineup. They're going to be tough for anyone, and will probably take anyone to 7.

Wait wut

 

[scarecrow2k1]

Is Dampier even the backup centre? I thought the plan was to have him start and Haywood backup. I know it got thrown off because of Haywood's fantastic play while he was injured.

Still, he makes $12 million a year. For a backup centre that is alot. I would rather have someone like Chris Andersen for bargain money than pay Dampier $12mil.

 

[scarecrow2k1]

I did a stat check- Dampier is averaging 7 points a game, and has started alot this season. Not so convinced he is the best backup centre in the league

 

[Spriteftw3]

Dampier is nowhere near the best back up center in the league most people would probably take these over him:

Big Z, Zaza, Nazr Mohammed, Birdman, Gortat hell add in Frye and Ibaka

 

[rick James]

Dampier is nowhere near the best back up center in the league most people would probably take these over him:

Big Z, Zaza, Nazr Mohammed, Birdman, Gortat hell add in Frye and Ibaka

Big Z isn't playing for anyone right now though is he? Or has he already started playing again for Cleveland?

I'd take a fit Dampier ahead of all the others, even though I love Gortat and Ibaka for what they bring off the bench. Not sure Damp will be able to bring the energy required for the backup role, but as far as his size and skillset, he's right up there.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

According to Hollinger, we should be glad we might even make the playoffs.

What pisses me off about Hollinger isn't his over-reliance on stats- it is his selective use of them to back up his own subjective viewpoiints. He is just another opinon writer, except he has gone to extra lengths to give himself a veneer of obectivity.

Read this article- he hops around all over the shop. Some of his facts are simply wrong, selective and inconsistent.

1. Orlando Magic

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.


2. Utah Jazz

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.


3. Cleveland Cavaliers

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.


4. L.A. Lakers

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.


5. Phoenix Suns

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. 8). 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.


6. Denver Nuggets

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.


7. San Antonio Spurs

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.


8. Oklahoma City Thunder

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.


9. Atlanta Hawks

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.


10. Portland Trail Blazers

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.


11. Milwaukee Bucks

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 acquiringJohn 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.


12. Boston Celtics

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.

 

[rick James]

Ok, I love OKC but who the **** would take them over Dallas in a 7 game series? Especially considering Dallas will have home court?

Let alone Milwaukee, I mean... ffs. Bogut's defensive excellence is completely hampered by facing Dallas who don't score in the post on iso's that much anyway. What Jennings can take Kidd? well ok, that's one matchup they likely win and can maybe exploit - but Caron/Marion as the wings against Delfino and.. whoever their SG is... and Dirk vs Luc is a joke too.

They aren't getting much love, but they never do.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Hollinger's selctive use of evidence is staggering.

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.

1. he failed to mention their only win over us came on Butler and Haywood's 1st game for us after the trade.

2. yes they are 18-6 our win, but we are 13-0 since their win.

3. What length do they have to throw at Nowitzki? 6'9 Green? 6'8 Collison?

4. Durant is a tough cover for our wings? Duran is a tough cover for every team. With Marion and Butler, I'd suggest we are better placed than most.

Hollinger, you are a clod

 

[rick James]

Salmons was the SG I was thinking of for Milwaukee... Butler is a better player at both ends imo.

Yeah he's got some wierd logic and some blatant factual errors.

Like you said, saying "durant is a tough cover" is like saying "the sky is blue".

Is anyone in the NBA even capable of stopping Durant? No. So all teams should be equal in that equation right?

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Like you said, saying "durant is a tough cover" is like saying "the sky is blue".

Is anyone in the NBA even capable of stopping Durant? No. So all teams should be equal in that equation right?

Exactly.

Although I will point out that with Marion we have held him to 12 points (4/18FG), 30 points (6/18FG) and 25 points (9/28FG) this year.

So Trollinger, for a stats guru how did you miss the fact Durant is avgeing 22ppg on 29%FG shooting against us?????

 

[rick James]

Exactly.

Although I will point out that with Marion we have held him to 12 points (4/18FG), 30 points (6/18FG) and 25 points (9/28FG) this year.

So Trollinger, for a stats guru how did you miss the fact Durant is avgeing 22ppg on 29%FG shooting against us?????

That's got to be close to best in the league.

Durant is putting up "Shaq in his prime" numbers since the new year - you'd be happy with simply giving him single coverage I would think.