So far, So...
By Albert Nguyen
The midway point in the NBA season consequently brings forth countless questions and answers to each franchise and their respective front offices, players, and fans. For the Dallas Mavericks, such questions include:
1. Should ownership have re-signed MVP candidate and beloved all-star point guard, Steve Nash, this past off-season rather then letting him go and join with the surprising and high scoring 36-10 Phoenix Suns?
2. Can Erick Dampier improve his play and be the "true" center that Dallas has desperately needed for many years to reach their championship aspirations living up to his 70-million-dollar deal he signed this summer?
3. Will lingering injuries be an on-going problem for the two second-year standouts, plaguing the rest of Josh Howard's and Marquis Daniels's seasons and ultimately their potentially great careers?
Last season was definitely a forgettable one for most Mavericks fans across the country, thus, the summer offered management the opportunity to fix what ultimately went wrong, resulting in only six of the fifteen players from last year retaining a spot on the Mavericks roster entering the 04-05 season. Although Steve Nash may have been the most popular player on the team, Mark Cuban and others decided that it was time for Nash to leave the organization and for the team to strive towards a different direction in terms of personnel and playing style. The Dallas Mavericks are now a bigger and more athletic team with the acquisitions of Erick Dampier, Calvin Booth, Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Terry, Alan Henderson, Devin Harris, DJ Mbenga, Pavel Podkolzin, and the recent addition of Darrell Armstrong via trade providing coach Don Nelson with the most "conventional" roster since he's been a part of the team. The team has clearly been built around emerging superstar, Dirk Nowitzki, providing him with the necessary tools to blossom and take it to the next level in this league. Many believed that the loss of Nash was going to hinder Dirk's improvement as a player, feeling that the seven footer from Germany was incapable of excelling without his running mate. However, this has arguably been his best year so far in the NBA taking his all-around game which includes offense, defense, and rebounding to new heights. The synopsis of Erick Dampier's play in the first half of the season have been somewhat of a disappointment averaging just 8.8 points and 8.1 rebounds in 27 minutes a game and it is quite evident that he must step up in order for the Mavericks to be taken seriously in the playoffs and be considered as a real contender for the O-Brien Trophy. After 42 games into the season, Marquis Daniels have missed fifteen of them because of his severely sprained ankle and Josh Howard have missed six due to various injuries including his on-going back problems. It would be wise for the Dallas coaches to allow these very talented and gifted young guns to completely heal and be ready heading into the playoffs before throwing them back on the court which can be jeopardizing the rest of their bright careers. Although, it is apparent that there are a considerable amount of questions to be figured out, the first half of the season have also vindicated and administered many answers as well for the Mavericks and their fans:
1. Dirk Nowitzki can and will take his game to the next level and lead his ball club in times of need.
2. Jason Terry is more than capable of running Don Nelson's complex offensive system and being the on-court general for the squad as witnessed in his NBA Western Conference Player of the Week award.
3. Jerry Stackhouse has been a very pleasant addition to the team and the current front-runner for 6th Man of the Year award in the NBA plays for the Mavericks once again this year.
4. Devin Harris has shown flashes of brilliance in his limited time on the court and will be a key cog in many years to come for the Dallas Mavericks franchise.
As shown in his 53-point outing against Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center, Dirk Nowitzki will and at times just simply take over and carry his teammates on his back, parallel and reminiscent of his games for the German National Team. Because of the drastic changes in the lineup and the loss of Nellie's long-time quarterback, it was widely forecasted and predicted that it was going to take a lot of time for the team to develop good on-court chemistry and to gel together as a unit. Dallas has exceeded expectations up to this point in the season due partly because of the improving play and the effectiveness of Jason Terry running the point. At the start of the season, Terry had lost his starting job to rookie, Devin Harris, and was set to accept his duties as a role player coming off the bench. However, after 18 games since being inserted into the lineup as a starter in the game against Atlanta, the Terry and the Mavericks have flourished and hold a 13-5 record averaging almost 106 points a game. With the Antawn Jamison departure, there was a huge offensive void left behind, and it was extremely vital for the Mavericks to replace him with someone capable of instant offense off the bench. Jerry Stackhouse has filled that vacancy quite nicely pouring in fifteen points a game for his ball club. As their swing players continue to get healthy, Stackhouse's minutes will decline but he is the type of the player that can light it up on any given night. Rookie point guard Devin Harris, began the season as the starter but was quickly pulled by Nellie because the offense was not being ran as smoothly as he would have liked. Harris gives the Mavericks a very talented and quick player at the one position, who can apply full court pressure on the opposing team's guards. This defensive pressure is a welcomed asset the coaches have never had the luxury to have before with Steve Nash. Harris has been used sparingly in limited minutes after being benched; however, when the coaches do decide to call his number, he has given them plenty of energy and quality play. No team ever wants to peak too soon in the season; therefore, it is not how you begin the marathon, but how you finish it. Let's see what questions and answers arise in the second half of the year for the Dallas Mavericks.
Copyright © 2005
Email: alnguyen84@gmail.com
By Albert Nguyen
The midway point in the NBA season consequently brings forth countless questions and answers to each franchise and their respective front offices, players, and fans. For the Dallas Mavericks, such questions include:
1. Should ownership have re-signed MVP candidate and beloved all-star point guard, Steve Nash, this past off-season rather then letting him go and join with the surprising and high scoring 36-10 Phoenix Suns?
2. Can Erick Dampier improve his play and be the "true" center that Dallas has desperately needed for many years to reach their championship aspirations living up to his 70-million-dollar deal he signed this summer?
3. Will lingering injuries be an on-going problem for the two second-year standouts, plaguing the rest of Josh Howard's and Marquis Daniels's seasons and ultimately their potentially great careers?
Last season was definitely a forgettable one for most Mavericks fans across the country, thus, the summer offered management the opportunity to fix what ultimately went wrong, resulting in only six of the fifteen players from last year retaining a spot on the Mavericks roster entering the 04-05 season. Although Steve Nash may have been the most popular player on the team, Mark Cuban and others decided that it was time for Nash to leave the organization and for the team to strive towards a different direction in terms of personnel and playing style. The Dallas Mavericks are now a bigger and more athletic team with the acquisitions of Erick Dampier, Calvin Booth, Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Terry, Alan Henderson, Devin Harris, DJ Mbenga, Pavel Podkolzin, and the recent addition of Darrell Armstrong via trade providing coach Don Nelson with the most "conventional" roster since he's been a part of the team. The team has clearly been built around emerging superstar, Dirk Nowitzki, providing him with the necessary tools to blossom and take it to the next level in this league. Many believed that the loss of Nash was going to hinder Dirk's improvement as a player, feeling that the seven footer from Germany was incapable of excelling without his running mate. However, this has arguably been his best year so far in the NBA taking his all-around game which includes offense, defense, and rebounding to new heights. The synopsis of Erick Dampier's play in the first half of the season have been somewhat of a disappointment averaging just 8.8 points and 8.1 rebounds in 27 minutes a game and it is quite evident that he must step up in order for the Mavericks to be taken seriously in the playoffs and be considered as a real contender for the O-Brien Trophy. After 42 games into the season, Marquis Daniels have missed fifteen of them because of his severely sprained ankle and Josh Howard have missed six due to various injuries including his on-going back problems. It would be wise for the Dallas coaches to allow these very talented and gifted young guns to completely heal and be ready heading into the playoffs before throwing them back on the court which can be jeopardizing the rest of their bright careers. Although, it is apparent that there are a considerable amount of questions to be figured out, the first half of the season have also vindicated and administered many answers as well for the Mavericks and their fans:
1. Dirk Nowitzki can and will take his game to the next level and lead his ball club in times of need.
2. Jason Terry is more than capable of running Don Nelson's complex offensive system and being the on-court general for the squad as witnessed in his NBA Western Conference Player of the Week award.
3. Jerry Stackhouse has been a very pleasant addition to the team and the current front-runner for 6th Man of the Year award in the NBA plays for the Mavericks once again this year.
4. Devin Harris has shown flashes of brilliance in his limited time on the court and will be a key cog in many years to come for the Dallas Mavericks franchise.
As shown in his 53-point outing against Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center, Dirk Nowitzki will and at times just simply take over and carry his teammates on his back, parallel and reminiscent of his games for the German National Team. Because of the drastic changes in the lineup and the loss of Nellie's long-time quarterback, it was widely forecasted and predicted that it was going to take a lot of time for the team to develop good on-court chemistry and to gel together as a unit. Dallas has exceeded expectations up to this point in the season due partly because of the improving play and the effectiveness of Jason Terry running the point. At the start of the season, Terry had lost his starting job to rookie, Devin Harris, and was set to accept his duties as a role player coming off the bench. However, after 18 games since being inserted into the lineup as a starter in the game against Atlanta, the Terry and the Mavericks have flourished and hold a 13-5 record averaging almost 106 points a game. With the Antawn Jamison departure, there was a huge offensive void left behind, and it was extremely vital for the Mavericks to replace him with someone capable of instant offense off the bench. Jerry Stackhouse has filled that vacancy quite nicely pouring in fifteen points a game for his ball club. As their swing players continue to get healthy, Stackhouse's minutes will decline but he is the type of the player that can light it up on any given night. Rookie point guard Devin Harris, began the season as the starter but was quickly pulled by Nellie because the offense was not being ran as smoothly as he would have liked. Harris gives the Mavericks a very talented and quick player at the one position, who can apply full court pressure on the opposing team's guards. This defensive pressure is a welcomed asset the coaches have never had the luxury to have before with Steve Nash. Harris has been used sparingly in limited minutes after being benched; however, when the coaches do decide to call his number, he has given them plenty of energy and quality play. No team ever wants to peak too soon in the season; therefore, it is not how you begin the marathon, but how you finish it. Let's see what questions and answers arise in the second half of the year for the Dallas Mavericks.
Copyright © 2005
Email: alnguyen84@gmail.com
