NBA FanHouse

Could Nancy Lieberman Become the NBA's First Female Head Coach?

Chris Tomasson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, WNBA, D-League, FanHouse Exclusive, NBA Coaches

The D-League today. The NBA tomorrow.

Why not?

If there ever will be a female NBA head coach in my lifetime, I'm thinking Nancy Lieberman has got a shot. Lieberman took the first step toward that Thursday when she was named head coach of the Dallas Mavericks' D-League team in Frisco, Texas, that will begin play next year.

"If I am successful, I'm sure that I will be looked at (by the NBA),'' Lieberman, while on her way to her press conference to be introduced, told FanHouse by phone. "If I'm not successful, I won't be.''

More: Lieberman Officially Introduced

Lieberman, the first woman ever to be a head coach in the D-League, is thinking primarily about that stint now. But she doesn't deny an eventual goal is to be the first woman to coach an NBA team.

"I'm aspiring to be the best coach I can be,'' said Lieberman, 51, who has been an ESPN NBA analyst in recent seasons but has stepped down from that position to concentrate on next season's coaching gig.

It was the same way when the Hall of Famer was a player. She made the 1976 U.S. Olympic team at 17, starred at Old Dominion and was a top pro.

When there weren't U.S. women's leagues in which to star, she battled the guys. Lieberman made history by playing against men in the United States Basketball League with the Springfield (Mass.) Fame in 1986. She also played against NBA players in summer leagues, being coached by Pat Riley in a 1980 Los Angeles league and by Frank Layden in a 1986 Salt Lake City league.

"I've always been a pioneer,'' she said.

Now, she's one in the D-League. The league is for players trying to get to the next level, so why not coaches?

For now, Lieberman, who has been a head coach in the WNBA, doesn't think it will be a big deal coaching guys.

"The players want to have instruction, and I'm sure they will (have no problem with her being a woman),'' said Lieberman, who long has lived in the Dallas area and said she was approached about the job a "few months ago'' by Donnie Nelson, the D-team's part-owner and a Mavericks executive. "It's like in the (sports media) business. There are woman sports editors who are able to do the job.''

If any player doubts Lieberman, all they need to know is she's a Hall-of-Famer. So how many current D-League coaches are enshrined in Springfield, Mass., which is interestingly where Lieberman broke down barriers 23 years ago?

That would be zero.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@hotmail.com and on Twitter @christomasson.

Could Nancy Lieberman Become the NBA's First Female Head Coach? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Doing Lines: Kobe and Wade Go for 40

Brett Pollakoff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Heat, Hornets, Lakers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Rockets, Suns, NBA Last Night

Every night there are some stupendous, silly, stupid, or downright outlandish individual lines from around the lig. Doing Lines lets you know which one tops the list.

The last time we got together, three different players scored 40 points or more on the same night. Well, maybe it's not as rare of an occurrence as we thought, since we were just a single point away from it happening again on Wednesday.

Chris Paul missed by one with 39, but Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade each delivered, with 41 and 40 respectively.

Dwyane Wade's 40 points, four rebounds, and five assists were just enough to carry his team to a close road victory over the Wizards. Gilbert Arenas had 32 of his own in the loss, but did it on a far less attractive 9-for-27 shooting line, as opposed to Wade's 14-for-26.

Chris Paul was dazzling, and had 39 points (on 14-for-23 shooting), five rebounds, seven assists, and a couple of steals. On the other end of the court, Jason Terry had 18 in the fourth quarter (and 35 in the game), on 12-18 shooting and 4-5 from three-point land, But ultimately, his two missed free throws down the stretch may have done as more to influence the game's final outcome than his scoring did.

Kobe Bryant had an outstanding line of 41 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals. He did it by shooting a tidy 50 percent from the field, and you could tell from the opening minutes that even on the second night of a back-to-back, that Bryant wouldn't allow himself to be outshined by his former teammate, Trevor Ariza.

Speaking of Ariza, he and Ron Artest basically canceled each other out. Besides the pair picking up double technicals early, there weren't any fireworks to report, and both finished with an identical 15 points. Not only were their numbers similar, so was their play: each hit a clutch three-pointer with under 30 seconds left in regulation, Ariza's coming after Artest's to send the game into overtime.

Other notable numbers from Wednesday's action:

Carmelo Anthony finally cooled off a bit, managing just 22 points on 8-24 shooting. But when you have rookie Ty Lawson coming off the bench for 23 points in 28 minutes, on 9-10 shooting, the end result was still a blowout win for the Nuggets.

Derek Fisher played 34 minutes, and somehow managed to record 0 points, 0 rebounds, and 0 assists -- and he's the point guard! But he did manage two steals, including the one on the game's final play where he stripped the ball from Trevor Ariza.

Allen Iverson once again came off the bench, but in his second game of the season, was more productive in that role. A.I. scored 18 points (on 8-12 shooting) and handed out seven assists in 28 minutes of action.

Amar'e Stoudemire had 19 points and 11 rebounds in the first half against the Orlando Magic. It was the first flash of the old, explosive Amar'e we were used to seeing before his injury last February. Unfortunately, it didn't last in the second half, as he finished with 25 and 14, and the Suns suffered their first loss of the season.

Doing Lines: Kobe and Wade Go for 40 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Chris Paul's Play, Mavs' Missed Free Throws Keys to Hornets Win

Brett Pollakoff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets, Mavericks, NBA Last Night

Chris Paul was dazzling on Wednesday against Dallas, in what really was a must-win for the Hornets if they were going to have any sort of confidence in their ability to play with the top teams as the season goes on. Paul dragged his team to a win with 39 points, on 14-for-23 shooting, including three of four from three-point land.

But as great as Paul was and as below average as Dallas was (Dirk Nowitzki was held to just 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting), if we're going to be honest, his Hornets were fairly fortunate to be able to pull this one out.

Jason Terry had 18 in the fourth quarter (and 35 in the game), which was more than a sufficient replacement for Nowitzki's disappearance, and in fact, should have been enough for the Mavs to come away with the victory. But with 13 seconds left and a two-point lead, Terry was fouled, and missed one of two.

Paul turned it over on the next possession, and appeared to be fouled on the play, but got no call from the officials. With just nine seconds left now, and the Mavs up three headed to the free throw line, David West used some choice words to let the referees know they should have blown the whistle there, and picked up a technical.

If Dallas makes just one of their next three free throw attempts, it's a two possession game, and with so little time left, it surely goes in the books as a W for the Mavericks. But incredibly, they missed all three. Terry missed the technical free throw, and Jose Juan Barea -- a 94% free throw shooter coning in -- missed both of his.

New Orleans freed Peja Stojakovic on the next possession for a three, which he calmly drained to send it into OT. Riding that momentum, the Hornets pulled away in the extra period for an ultimately gritty, and much-needed victory.

The upcoming schedule isn't exactly easy for this team, as it includes road games against the Lakers and Suns, sandwiched by home contests against the Raptors and Blazers. But if they end up going on a little winning streak and surprising some teams that (on paper) appear to have the advantage, you can point to Paul's performance in this one -- along with a very fortunate late-game stretch -- as the starting point.

Chris Paul's Play, Mavs' Missed Free Throws Keys to Hornets Win originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

NBA HouseCast: Magic Fall, Celtics Impress, Lakers Survive

Brett Pollakoff — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, Heat, Lakers, Magic, Mavericks, Pistons, Rockets, Suns, Trail Blazers, NBA Last Night, Thunder

Welcome to the NBA FanHouse podcast, where our writers get together a few times a week to talk about everything going on in the world of hoops. Want to participate? Leave a comment, or follow us on Twitter @NBAFanHouse.

In a Wednesday edition of the HouseCast (and our first of the season), Matt Watson and Matt Moore joined me to discuss this week's Power Rankings. Of course, we couldn't do that without mentioning that once again, the top-ranked team -- Orlando, in this case -- went down the very same day the rankings were published.

We also recap a busy and interesting night of action, one where the Celtics remained dominant, the Suns remained undefeated, and the Lakers remained underwhelming, while barely surviving the Thunder in Oklahoma City.

Download MP3

NBA HouseCast: Magic Fall, Celtics Impress, Lakers Survive originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Stinkface Chronicles: A Brilliant Disguise

Rob Peterson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, Kings, Lakers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Spurs, NBA Videos

Looking back at the first week of the 2009-10 NBA season, someone missed a golden opportunity for a Halloween costume.

Wouldn't it have been great if two Lakers fans had gone as Shannon Brown and Josh Powell with the fan who was Brown holding onto a rim (a Nerf rim would have been fine) and sitting on Powell's shoulders?

"Whatever do you mean, Professor Stinkface?"

You know what I mean. Video after the jump.

Could you imagine the looks on people's faces if two guys walked into a party like that? Their faces would probably mirror the collective look on everyone's faces at the Staples Center on Oct. 30 when Brown yanked down a dunk so ferocious, so nasty we had wished Doug Collins had been announcing just so he could go all 2000 on us.

Just look at what Brown does in this video. He's at the top of the square when he lands on top of Powell's noggin. While Brown's ups are impressive, what's even more so is his timing. Remember, he's doing this off a long, missed 3-pointer. To measure the shot, the carom and then his steps? Incredible.

The four-letter network also was kind enough to do everything we would have done had we had the DVR running -- pause, slow mo, pause. The only thing they didn't do was rewind, and with the Mavericks up 12 at the time, they should have. No one would have complained. Except maybe Phil Mushnick.

Melo on Millsap

Poor Paul Millsap, he of the large contract and one more year of apprenticeship under Carlos Boozer. If riding the pine behind Boozer wasn't bad enough, Millsap suffered greviously when Carmelo Anthony unleashed all the fury of West Baltimore on his head.

Thanks to his own ill-advised and errant pass, Millsap was in the wrong place at the wrong time on Wednesday, Oct. 28 as Melo monster mashed in his mug.

'House's Brett Pollakoff covered this one quite well the night it happened and judging by the tweets, even Melo's peers couldn't help but ooh and ahh. I'll let it lay. You click the link and get your stink on.

Manu v. Bat

We've posted mulitple times on the Spurs' Manu Ginobili taking down the bat on Halloween night. And what the heck, we'll do it again because for the first time in NBA history we have "bat stinkface."

Don't believe me? As FanHouse NBA poobah Matt Watson pointed out, check out Kevin Martin's reaction at about 35 seconds. That's an epic flinch right there. It's tough to blame Martin, though. The bat was headed right for him and Manu saved him from multiple rabies shots. I think a thank you note or at least an iTunes gift card should be in the offing, don't you?

And finally...

A quick shout out to Alexe (or as he's known on YouTube as spankissimo) for not only responding to the first Stinkface post, but for being inspired enough by it to create this video, which went viral big time last week when multiple basketball blogs linked to it.

Congrats, Alexe. We look forward to more.

Stinkface Chronicles: A Brilliant Disguise originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

NBA Investigates Alleged Homophobic Heckler Response by Maverick

Tom Ziller — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:44:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Mavericks, NBA Fans, NBA Rumors

OutSports.com reported Tuesday that Drew Gooden made homophobic remarks to two hecklin' Clippers fans after the Mavericks' Saturday game in Los Angeles. One of the Clippers fans happened to be actor Chris Wylde (pictured, far right), who has -- no joke -- appearances on a show named Heckle U to his credit. (The plot of Heckle U, according to IMDB? Two dudes change the course of basketball games by heckling the opposing teams into submission.)

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban reportedly emailed Wylde, saying the team would deal with Gooden. Meanwhile, the Dallas Morning News reports that the NBA is currently investigating the matter, while ESPN's Tim MacMahon has an anonymous source who claims it wasn't Gooden who made the remark. (No word on whether that anonymous source is Gooden.)

NBA Investigates Alleged Homophobic Heckler Response by Maverick originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

NBA Power Rankings: Orlando on Top

Brett Pollakoff — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Celtics, Heat, Lakers, Magic, Mavericks, Spurs, Suns, NBA Power Rankings

We're just a week into the season, so don't get mad if your team isn't where you might have expected. It's just that if we go by what we've actually seen, as opposed to what's been predicted, then this is for the most part where teams should fall based on their early performances. But if you're offended by the spot your favorite team holds, fear not: they likely have 79 regular season games remaining to right the ship.

1. Magic (3-0)
Sure, they've only beaten Philly, New Jersey and Toronto. But they've done so by an an average margin of double digits, and they've done it without the suspended Rashard Lewis. Might be the deepest team in the league; time will tell how they match up against the big boys.
2. Celtics (4-0)
Opened the season with a solid road victory in Cleveland, before absolutely pummeling inferior competition for the next three games. If the whole team plays with that Rondo-sized chip on its shoulder for the entire season, who knows what Boston is capable of.
3. Nuggets (3-0)
Impressive wins against Utah and Portland already, and Carmelo Anthony could be to this season what Dwyane Wade was to last season: someone with something to prove, and maybe a dark horse candidate for MVP.
4. Mavericks (2-1)
Can't blame them for losing to Gilbert Arenas' supremely motivated squad in the opener, especially after they regrouped nicely by throttling the Lakers on the road in their second game. This team has one of the best pick-and-roll offenses in the league when it's firing on all cylinders, which will be extremely tough for most other teams to stop.
5. Lakers (2-1)
With Pau Gasol missing the first three games of the season, L.A. has looked far from spectacular. Their lack of depth has been exposed, and Ron Artest has yet to fit in. Still, an 18-0 run in the third quarter on Sunday put away the Hawks, and the Lakers did it with defense, offensive rebounding, and getting out on the break for easy baskets. They're the defending champs for a reason.
6. Spurs (2-1)
The one game that Tim Duncan has looked like his old self this season -- when he put up 28 and 16 against the Bulls -- San Antonio lost. In the two wins, Tony Parker was the catalyst, leading the team in scoring and getting everyone else involved. Of course, if Ginobili continues to play the role of Batman, the sky's the limit.
7. Suns (3-0)
Undefeated against the Clippers, the Warriors, and the T'Wolves, the Suns aren't exactly world-beaters. But after squeaking out a close one in L.A. to open the season, Phoenix has had no trouble imposing their will on their opponents, on the way to a couple of comfortable victories. A tough five-game road trip awaits, but this is a confident group that will likely surprise a team or two on that East coast swing.
8. Heat (3-0)
Undefeated is undefeated, and despite some fairly weak competition (Bulls excepted), that's where the Heat stand. Still, they've done it convincingly, with the second best point differential in the league at 14.3.
9. Rockets (3-1)
Yeah, I'm surprised they're this high, too. But you can't deny three straight wins, including Monday's in Utah where they held Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap to a combined nine points on 1-of-8 shooting, while getting eight players in double figures offensively.

10. Cavaliers (2-2)
Can't really justify having LeBron and company any lower than this, but have they really earned it? It's going to be a while before the Cavs are clicking, and with the team trying to get familiar with Shaq and work Delonte West back into the offense, the gap in the standings could be pretty big by the time things get figured out.

11. Hawks (2-1)
Played two and a half solid games really, before completely falling to pieces in the third quarter against the Lakers. This is a long, athletic team that has no trouble on either end of the floor, so consistency and mental toughness will be the qualities that they search for as the season goes on.

12. Wizards (2-1)
Gilbert Arenas appears to be all the way back, and has led his team to a couple of nice wins to start the season, even as the club is missing Antawn Jamison. Tough back-to-back at Cleveland and then hosting Miami will tell us a lot about where this team is at right now.

13. Trail Blazers (2-2)
Brandon Roy can be All-World, but he's struggled shooting the ball since the Denver game. Andre Miller is -- at least so far -- a very underwhelming addition. The injuries to Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge aren't going to help the team get straight early, but we have a long way to go, and Portland is still loaded and can be right there when it counts at the end of the season.

14. Thunder (2-1)
As Kevin Durant goes, so goes the Thunder? KD had 25 and 11, then 25 and 12 in his team's first two games -- both victories. He struggled a bit against the Blazers with 16 and 5 (on a miserable 3-21 shooting), and OKC managed just 74 points in their first loss of the season.

15. Sixers (2-1)
In just 23 minutes per game off the bench, second-year player Marreese Speights is averaging 16.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and a blocked shot per game, while hitting 18 of his 24 field goal attempts. Elton who?

16. Bulls (1-2)
Opened the season with a nice home win over the Spurs, before having to go to Boston the next night to get thrashed by the Celtics. Chicago then took Miami down to the wire, so the schedule-makers more than anyone are to blame for the Bulls' middle-of-the-pack ranking here.

17. Jazz (1-2)
Rough one against the Rockets on Monday, as Utah turned a three-point halftime lead into a 17-point home loss.

18. Bobcats (2-2)
Charlotte gets a little credit for standing at 2-2, but they did manage just 79 points against the awful Nets on Monday ... which was, in fact, good enough for a win, thanks to New Jersey's dreadful seven-point third quarter.

19. Knicks (1-3)
It took New York three overtimes to lose two of its games, before putting together a solid fourth quarter on Monday to get the team's first win of the season. Now if only they can get some consistency going so that D'Antoni doesn't have to change his starting lineup and rotations every night, they'll be in business.

20. Hornets (1-3)
New Orleans has no depth once you get past the starting unit, and the team looks to be far worse off than it was a season ago. So let me be among the first to say it: the Hornets are not making the playoffs.

21. Raptors (1-2)
Dropped two straight after beating the Cavs in their opener, but don't blame Chris Bosh: he's averaging 31 points and 14.7 rebounds through the first three games. *cough* contact year *cough*

22. Bucks (1-1)
Brandon Jennings is the story here, as he's done better than expected early, and led the team in scoring the first two games. Which is important, considering the fact that Michael Redd is going to be on the shelf for a couple of weeks with a knee injury.

23. Pistons (1-2)
Rip Hamilton has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, which has paved the way for Ben Gordon to both start and lead the team in scoring. Ws are what matter most though, and without Hamilton in the lineup, Detroit is 0-2.

24. Grizzlies (1-3)
Zach Randolph has two 30-point games in the team's first four, and O.J. Mayo put up a career-high 40 on Sunday. Allen Iverson made his debut on Monday, and big surprise: he was unhappy coming off the bench.

25. Clippers (1-4)
If Baron Davis ever finds his shot again, L.A. might become dangerous. Davis is shooting just 33% from the field through the team's first five games, having made just 18 of his 54 attempts.

26. Kings (1-3)
Kevin Martin's 48 led Sacramento to their first win of the season on Monday, an overtime joint over the Grizzlies. Between Martin and the potential of Tyreke Evans, the Kings might be worthy of more than an occasional flip over to their games on a random night of League pass action.

27. Timberwolves (1-3)
Kurt Rambis actually has his team running some basic triangle offense sets in this young season. Funny how things seemed to turn out a whole lot better with Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, and Pau Gasol involved.

28. Warriors (0-2)
Stephen Jackson and Don Nelson have completely checked out, and couldn't care less what happens to this team this season. Not cool for guys like Anthony Morrow, Anthony Randolph, and Stephen Curry, who are all talented young players with a potentially bright future in the league.

29. Pacers (0-2)
Rookie Tyler Hansbrough has been practicing, and could make his debut this Friday against the Wizards. That is all.

30. Nets (0-4)
Unbelievably bad, managing just seven points in the third quarter on Monday in Charlotte. Other lowlights included going over 11 minutes without a field goal, and getting outscored by the Bobcats 24-0 during a stretch that spanned the third and fourth quarters. Finally, the team lost Yi Jianlian to a knee injury in this one as well. I'd make a joke about how dismal things are for the Nets right now, but honestly, it's not even funny.

NBA Power Rankings: Orlando on Top originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Popeye Jones Arrested for DWI

Matt Watson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, NBA Police Blotter

Popeye Jones, a veteran of 11 NBA seasons who's now entering his fourth season as a player development coach with the Dallas Mavericks, was arrested Sunday evening and accused of drunken driving. According to the Dallas Morning News, the Richardson (Texas) Police Department received calls from other motorists complaining that someone driving a gray GMC Yukon was driving erratically.

When he was pulled over, Jones refused a breathalyzer exam -- and briefly resisted arrest. At some point during the whole incident, Jones' face hit the pavement, resulting in minor cuts and one bloodied mugshot. If he merely "lost his balance," as the Morning News reports, it won't bode well for any defense claiming that he wasn't intoxicated.

But if he were, say, helped to the ground by the officers on the scene, this case may not be as open and shut as your average DWI arrest, especially given Jones' relatively high profile as an NBA coach with more incentive than most to formally clear his name and reputation.

FanHouse has received confirmation from the Richardson Police Department that the arresting officers were using an in-car dashboard camera, although video from that device, as well as video from the detention center, will not be released at this time.

Assuming the video presents a clear angle, it's possible the footage will quickly clarify what exactly happened when it is finally released -- which is fortunate, because it doesn't seem like the Mavericks plan on being too forthcoming on the incident.

When the Morning News asked Mavs owner Mark Cuban for comment, he emailed an indignant response: "I'm not going to comment on Popeye specifically. The question I do have on the record is this: Why do you care? Do you report on every DWI that occurs in Dallas?"

Popeye Jones Arrested for DWI originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Jumping to Conclusions After One Night

Matt Steinmetz — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:05:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Celtics, Clippers, Lakers, Mavericks, Rockets, Trail Blazers

Home sweet home. Well, for one night anyway. In front of a 42-inch big screen on opening night in the NBA. Let's go ahead and try to read too much into it ...

o. You can't tell me the Cleveland Cavaliers aren't going to come knocking for Stephen Jackson at some point. Looks like LeBron James is going to need some more help.

Hard as this is to say, it doesn't seem like Shaquille O'Neal can even be your No. 2 option. Apparently, the Cavs are reluctant to give up Zydrunas Ilgauskas for Jackson because Cleveland doesn't want to get smaller.

Then again, Jackson would make the Cavaliers tougher, and he would give them someone other than James who can make a play. Besides, the Warriors have Ronny Turiaf to sweeten the deal if need be.

o. With all due respect to Dallas owner Mark Cuban, this year's version of the Mavs isn't better than that team that went to the Finals in 2006. The reason: it was the pre-exposed Dirk Nowitzki in 2006.

Back then, the belief was that a team with Nowitzki as its best player could win it all. But now we know better. And far as anyone can tell, Nowitzki is still Dallas' best player, a healthy Josh Howard or not.

Look, Nowitzki is a wonderful player. But after watching the Mavericks falter against the Heat in '06, then get dismantled by the Warriors in the first round the following season, it seems apparent the Mavericks aren't going to win a title (which is the only way they can be better, right?) until Nowitzki becomes his team's second-best player.

o. Didn't really notice the officiating on opening night, did you? Oh, that's right. The big boys were back.

o. Gilbert Arenas sure looked good in the opener, but Caron Butler might be the most important piece on that team. He's the Wizard most likely to do things other than score to help his team win.

And, yes, I say that even on a night he took 17 shots and had just one assist. By the way, Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld is the early leader in the Executive of the Year Award chase.

o. Pretty troubling sequence from the L.A. Clippers at the end of the first quarter against the Lakers, when they already were down 13. Baron Davis rushed a 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining -- just for the sake of a 2-for-1 -- and missed badly. Davis missed so badly that the ball rebounded long to the opposite-of-shy Ricky Davis.

Time to get a good one, right? Exactly. Ricky Davis then proceeded to immediately launch another 3-pointer instead of running down the clock. Banked it home.

o. Houston coach Rick Adelman had to be thinking Warriors -- tonight's Rockets opponent -- down the stretch of their loss to Portland.

Interesting Adelman wasn't even considering coming back with Shane Battier, Trevor Ariza and Luis Scola after some of his subs got Houston back within four of Portland with a couple minutes left.

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

Jumping to Conclusions After One Night originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Player to Watch: Jason Terry

Tom Ziller — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, NBA Preseason

FanHouse previews a player to watch from each NBA team in advance of the 2009-10 season.

Over the past two seasons, Jason Terry has taken on a new role with the Dallas Mavericks, coming off the bench for the first time since his first two NBA seasons in Atlanta. But despite the drastic difference between starting and performing as a sixth man, Terry has continued to perform at a high level, doing the same thing he's done his entire Mavericks tenure: shoot the lights out, and put up points.

Terry turned 32 last month, but he's still well above average in his role as a contributing scorer. In Terry's first three seasons as a Mav, he started all but 24 of his games 241 games. His role effectively in replacement of Steve Nash was that of a secondary scorer alongside Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard ... and Terry did it well, punching in roughly 17 points per 36 minutes on excellent efficiency.

In 2006-07, that third season as a Mav, Terry moved to starting shooting guard as Devin Harris became a regular starter at the point. Terry performed well, but the Mavericks needed a bigger two and more bench firepower. So in 2007-08, Terry came off the bench for the majority of the season. He still did awesome, and gave the Mavs a powerful weapon to spring on opponents. But something else happened when Terry moved to the bench: he got a bit more room to operate. In a starting lineup with Nowitzki and Howard, you might defer more than you'd like. While Terry still played a lot of minutes with Dirk off the bench, he had plenty of stretches as the offensive focal point. His usage rate got a small boost in 2007-08 (his first as a reserve) and a huge bump in 2008-09.

But through all that -- the changed role, the boosted shot frequency -- Terry kept his efficiency well above league average.

Terry's efficiency -- denoted above by True Shooting percentage, which is points per shooting possessions halved -- has drifted only slightly, a big deal considering the substantial increase in shots Terry took last season. Although he's 32, Terry doesn't look like a guy who will become a sinkhole on offense any time soon ... which is important, given his non-optimal size and athleticism.

How Terry produces so efficiently provides an interesting twist. Unlike most guards who push the True Shooting meter to its greatest heights -- like Nash, Chauncey Billups and Kevin Martin -- Terry hasn't been an elite three-point shooter over the past two seasons, nor does he draw fouls at any notable level. Terry is just a murderous shooter on long two-pointers. Terry led the league in two-point jumper shooting last year, hitting 49.2 percent of his myriad attempts from that depth. The so-called "mid-range" shot is death to many offenses, but that's because the wrong players usually take them. That's not the case in Dallas, where Terry and Nowitzki take most of the team's long twos ... and hit them more regularly than most of the league. (Nowitzki finished sixth in two-point jumper shooting last season.)

So long as Terry can get his shot off, he figures to be a plus for the Dallas offense. Certainly, that shouldn't be a problem this year, which means the Mavericks can count on having one of the top bench scorers in the league once again.

Player to Watch: Jason Terry originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

FanHouse Preview: Dallas Mavericks

Matt Moore — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, NBA Preseason, NBA Previews

FanHouse previews all 30 NBA teams in advance of the 2009-10 season.

It has become popular nowadays to take a movie or idea that was popular 20 years ago and revitalize it, tweaking it for a more modern touch, in order to attract both new and old audiences. It incorporates the base elements of the original and then features a modern "twist" in order to seem "hip."

In a lot of ways, that's the story of the 2009-10 Dallas Mavericks. They're not the same old Mavericks, but they're not the new Mavericks either.

The Mavericks retained their entire rotation from last year, save Ryan Hollins, replaced by Drew Gooden, and the addition of Shawn Marion. Those two additions are meant to radically change the essential makeup of a team that made it to the Western Conference semifinals last season. The problem is that very few people believe that the Mavericks earned that win over the Spurs because San Antonio was melting away thanks to age and injury. Part of that surely had to do with the fact that the Mavs ranked eighth in point differential last season, coming in behind the Jazz and Suns (who didn't even make the playoffs).

So what's the huge change this season? Another year under Rick Carlisle, who has put together an unbelievable resume in the quietest of conditions. A further augmented bench. And the addition of Marion, which on top of providing a more solid overall roster, allows for a more liquid rotation. So far in the offseason, we've heard of Erick Dampier, Dirk Nowitzki, Drew Gooden, and Shawn Marion all spending time at the five spot. Marion's ability to play the three means that Jason Terry can reserve his Sixth Man Award slot, while the Matrix's ability to play the five means Dirk never has to go that route. And that makes Nowitzki happy.

What's going to be the difference maker for the Mavericks this season will be how this team finds its rhythm. As opposed to prior years where the Mavericks have taken too long to discover their chemistry, this year's squad needs come out and figure out who they are on both sides of the ball early. It's OK if that means that Marion is playing more of the role he has with other teams lately, but the Mavericks need to know. It's okay if J.J. Barrea has an off year and can't reliably fill in at the point, but the Mavericks need to know. At some point, you have to wonder how much longer Mark Cuban et al will continue pushing a roster with few positive bright spots.

Last Season By the Numbers

Record: 50-32 under Rick Carlisle. Finished 3rd in the Southwest Division, 6th in the Western Conference. Defeated the Spurs (4-1) in the first round. Eliminated by Nuggets (4-1) in conference semifinals.

Offense: 110.5 points per 100 possessions, 5th in the NBA. 11th in shooting, 3rd in turnover rate, 16th in offensive rebounding, 22nd in free throw rate.

Defense: 108.4 points per 100 possessions, 17th in the NBA. 9th in shooting defense, 25th in opponent turnover rate, 8th in defensive rebounding, 10th in opponent free throw rate.

Top Performers: Dirk Nowitzki led the team with 25.9 points per game. Jason Terry scored 19.6 points, primarily off the bench. In 52 games, Josh Howard averaged 18 points. Nowitzki was also the team's top rebounder at 8.4 rebounds per game, with Erick Dampier following with 7.1 rebounds in 23 minutes. Jason Kidd was the top passer with 8.7 assists per game. Kidd also contributed an average of two steals.

All statistics via Basketball-Reference.com.

Player to Watch

FanHouse's Matt Moore and Tom Ziller preview one player to watch from each team. Here's a snippet of Ziller's post on Mavericks guard Jason Terry.

How Terry produces so efficiently provides an interesting twist. Unlike most guards who push the True Shooting meter to its greatest heights -- like Nash, Chauncey Billups and Kevin Martin -- Terry hasn't been an elite three-point shooter over the past two seasons, nor does he draw fouls at any notable level. Terry is just a murderous shooter on long two-pointers. Terry led the league in two-point jumper shooting last year, hitting 49.2 percent of his myriad attempts from that depth. The so-called "mid-range" shot is death to many offenses, but that's because the wrong players usually take them. That's not the case in Dallas, where Terry and Nowitzki take most of the team's long twos ... and hit them more regularly than most of the league.

See Ziller's full post on Terry.

Offseason Tracker

IN: Shawn Marion (trade), Kris Humphries (trade), Rodrigue Beaubois (draft), Tim Thomas (free agency), Drew Gooden (free agency).

OUT: Jerry Stackhouse (trade), Antoine Wright (trade), Devean George (trade).

FanHouse Preview: Dallas Mavericks originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title

Matt Watson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Cavaliers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hornets, Jazz, Magic, Mavericks, Nets, Nuggets, Pacers, Raptors, Suns, Timberwolves

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Tuesday, there are 14 days remaining.

For everything the NBA has done to level the playing field -- the draft lottery, the salary cap, the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax -- only a select handful of teams have a legitimate chance to win the championship in any given year.

I know optimism is supposed to reign supreme in October, but here's a harsh dose of reality: in the past 26 years, only seven different organizations have hoisted the Larry O'Brien, and six of those teams have won more than once. In fact, in a league where fluke success is rare and dynasties are the norm, there are 14 teams that have yet to win a title.

Will any of these perennial losers buck their unfortunate losing streaks in the near future? While the Lakers, Spurs and Celtics (winners of nine of the last 11 titles) would disagree, it's a very real possibility.

While many expect the Lakers to repeat -- and at least one Celtic has predicted Boston will win 72 games -- the Magic and Cavaliers have re-tooled through trades and free agency after finishing last season as the two strongest teams in the East.

In fact, this might be Cleveland's last chance in a long time -- if LeBron James can't close the deal this year, he might bolt via free agency (surely you've heard, right?), adding a sense of desperation to their usual motivation. If the Cavs can't separate from the pack early, don't be surprised to see Danny Ferry make wholesale changes by the trade deadline.

The Magic are somewhat better positioned for long-term success, although they mortgaged their future by swapping the promising Courtney Lee in a package for the aging Vince Carter. It also remains to be seen how they perform with the expectations of being an elite team now that they're no longer able to play the underdog role, although you can never accuse a Stan Van Gundy team of being unprepared.

But if Cleveland and Orlando fall short, are we destined to watch yet another dynasty stamp their name in the NBA record book? The Denver Nuggets, who took the eventual champion Lakers to six games in the Western Conference finals last year, beg to differ, as do fellow non-champions like the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets.

As for the Clippers, Grizzlies and Timberwolves? They all fall into the never-were and never-will-be categories (or at least not-anytime-soon). Same goes for the Suns, who don't seem to know if they're building for the future or playing for today, as well as the Nets and Pacers, who have some interesting building blocks but not much else.

The Raptors and Bobcats hope their rebuilding process is nearing completion, but they'll be considered a success if they simply reach the playoffs, let alone win a game or two in the first round. And if there's anything we can learn from past champions, it's that the real winners are built to last and are never content to simply be there.

Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

New Look, Same Explosive Arenas

Tim Povtak — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:17:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, Wizards

WASHINGTON -- Gilbert Arenas may be eliminating the often outrageous, sometimes peculiar behavior that once added to his popularity, but the rest of his game is coming back just fine.

The explosiveness has returned.

The 28-29-point scoring average may be fading into history, along with the Agent Zero and the Hibachi personas, but a more valuable, more productive 20-point, 10-assist guy could be brewing inside him.

It's what the Washington Wizards need.

Arenas missed 149 games combined in the last two seasons because of multiple left knee problems, but during a brief third quarter stretch Friday against the Dallas Mavericks, he looked as potent as he ever did.

Yes, he was rusty -- as expected. He committed five turnovers, mostly from trying to pass too much, but he also dominated the third quarter when he hit all six of his shots from an assortment of angles, bringing alive an otherwise bored home crowd.

He exploded past Jason Kidd on one drive. He tangled up Drew Gooden's legs when he swept past on another. He hit mid-range jumpers with mid-season confidence. He was teasing the Mavericks, just like he teased the home crowd in the first period with his passivity.

This comeback will come on his terms.

"I think he put to rest the notion that he couldn't score now,'' said Wizards coach Flip Saunders. "After being away for 15 months, it doesn't happen overnight. Every time he goes out there, he's more confident. I think you saw that in the second half.''

Arenas had 12 points and five assists in 11 third-quarter minutes when he flipped the switch to his aggressiveness. He played nine minutes in the first quarter, but he looked bored by the game, like a role player too content to move the ball to his teammates.

He didn't take a shot in the first nine minutes. He didn't even look at the basket, although he had four assists, setting up Brendan Haywood for one easy score and Caron Butler for another.

The Mavs won, 123-115, but Arenas was the biggest topic.

"He looks good. He looks explosive again, getting wherever he wants on the floor,'' said Haywood, who left early with a slight ankle sprain. "He seems like a more willing passer now, a distributor as well as a scorer. I think at this point of his career, he really wants to put his stamp, his mark, on the game.''

In two exhibition games, Arenas has combined for 17 points and 19 assists in 45 minutes. As part of his return this season, he has repeatedly told Butler and Antawn Jamison and other teammates that he wants to spend more time setting up their scores instead of looking for his own.

Saunders, since being named head coach of the Wizards this summer, has stroked Arenas constantly, emphasizing the importance of keeping his teammates involved while maintaining his aggressiveness.

Arenas declined again Friday after the game to answer any questions or discuss his comeback. He has not spoken with the media since the day training camp opened last month, telling reporters he would let his play do the talking for him.

"He's been everything you could ask for,'' Saunders said. "And the irony is that he has to be careful not to go overboard (distributing the ball). He has the unique ability to be a multi-dimensional point guard. There are points who can really score, and those who can really distribute it. There aren't many who can do both like he can.''

Arenas, 27, averaged 27.8 points combined during his three All-Star seasons (2004-2007), which led to the five-year, $111 million contract he signed before last season. During that stretch, he scored 40 points or more 26 times. He scored 50 points or more three times during the 2006-07 season, the last before his knee first buckled.

He spent this summer working with acclaimed trainer Tim Grover in Chicago, where he worked harder than he ever has. It's also where he decided that it was time to change his reputation as a too-selfish gunner. Even in his best seasons, the Wizards never won more than 45 games.

"He's still the key around here,'' said teammate DeShawn Stevenson. "He's back. He can score so easily whenever he wants, but he wants to be more of a team player now. When we find the right balance, everything will be all right.''

New Look, Same Explosive Arenas originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

NBA Twitter Mailbag: Social Media, Stockton or Kidd and Replacement Refs

Matt Steinmetz — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, Mavericks, NBA Twitter

Let's get right to it. We asked for your Twitter questions and got some. Now for some answers:

jesiree: Since there are so many NBA players who tweet, how do they feel about new social media rules?
There have been virtually no complaints about the new policy regarding social media and Twitter. By and large, players don't have a problem with them and shouldn't. All the league is asking from the players at this point is to refrain from using Twitter and the like during games.

Players can't use cell phones or communication devices from 45 minutes before a game until their responsibilities with the team are completed afterward. Most seem to agree this is an even-handed and fair guideline.

What is likely to be more of an issue is what players actually end up tweeting. For example, Warriors guard C.J. Watson said on Twitter earlier this week that he had banged up his knee at practice and that he was hoping it wasn't anything serious.

It seemed like a relatively harmless communication at the time; however, that's the kind of tweet between a player and his followers that gets dicey. Turns out, Watson will miss one-to-three weeks with the injury.

That's the kind of information teams do not want players passing along to the media or their followers. That's the kind of thing that will fall into a gray area. But clearly NBA players have to be pleased, in general, with the league's forward thinking as it relates to social media.

pcon34: John Stockton or Jason Kidd in their primes? The Stock was the consummate pro and had no ego. Kidd deadly on the break and could board.
That's a great question. Initially, my first thought was Stockton. Then, after considering further I realized I needed to go to Basketball-Reference.com to get a better look at the numbers.

After taking in some stats it became official: still gotta go with Stockton. It's close, though. Keep in mind, my vote for Stockton is not a repudiation of Kidd.

Stockton's numbers are unbelievable. First and foremost, Stockton's durability is virtually unparalleled. He played 19 seasons, and in 17 of those seasons he played every single game. He played the full 82 games in 16 seasons, and the full 50 during the lockout-shortened season of 1988-99. That is remarkable.

Obviously, when it comes to passing both guys are among the all-time greatest. In fact, it's difficult to make a distinction between the two when it comes to ball-handling, playmaking, and decision-making. Stockton may have been a little more fundamentally sound, but that doesn't mean Kidd isn't right there with him when it comes to delivering the ball, finding the open man and getting teammates involved.

Then again, Stockton's career assist and steal numbers, at this point anyway, are better than Kidd's.

If there is one statistic that jumped out at me regarding these two point guards it would be shooting percentage. The bottom line is Stockton shot 51.5% from the field, and Kidd's field-goal percentage currently resides at 40.2%. That is what you call a major disparity.

On the other hand, Kidd is one of the greatest rebounding point guards in basketball history. Kidd has averaged 6.7 rebounds per game over the course of his career, including seven seasons averaging 7.3 rebounds per game or more. Quite frankly, those are forward rebounding numbers.

Neither player has won an NBA title, so there's no advantage there. Again, great question. But I'm taking Stockton.

DaveSilva58: How much of an impact will replacement refs have. When will this get resolved?
If you're looking for some kind of dramatic impact by replacement officials, that's not likely to happen. By all accounts, replacement officials were adequate in Thursday night's Jazz/Nuggets' game.

It's not like the game will completely deteriorate because of replacement officials. But the replacement officials won't be as good, and because of that, the quality of play will drop, too.

The bigger issue for the NBA is that, in essence, it is acknowledging that it isn't putting the best product out on the floor, and that's something it supposedly prides itself on.

On a practical level, I think what you'll see are far more whistles. It's only natural for an official -- or player, for that matter -- to try to do much when they're given their first opportunity. It won't be unlike Las Vegas Summer League games where you'll see too much scoring from the foul line.

NBA Twitter Mailbag: Social Media, Stockton or Kidd and Replacement Refs originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Kenyon Martin Says He's Not a Thug, Tries to Continue Feud With Mark Cuban

Brett Pollakoff — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:11:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, Nuggets

During last season's playoff series between the Nuggets and the Mavericks, things got a little crazy between Kenyon Martin and Mark Cuban. After Game 3, Cuban said a fan yelled out that the Nuggets "were thugs," and he couldn't resist yelling over to Martin's mother, who was in the stands at the time, "That included your son."

Things got uglier after that, with Mavs' fans harassing some of the Nuggets' players' family members in the stands, and culminated with Martin yelling some obscenities in Cuban's direction, before the Mavs' owner attempted to end all of this by posting a late night apology on his blog.

It would probably have been best for everyone involved to leave this incident in the past, but Kenyon Martin, in an interview with Yahoo! Sports, couldn't resist getting in one more shot at Cuban.

K-Mart called Cuban a "coward" for the way he spoke to his mother, before defending himself from the "thug" label that got all of this started in the first place.

"My mom wasn't playing. She didn't suit up," Martin told Yahoo! Sports. "She was there to see her baby play like she is at every game. She didn't do nothing to nobody but have me. So therefore, for you to approach my mom, you're a coward. That's who you are, a coward. A tuck-your-tail-between-your-legs coward."
...
"I've never sold dope," Martin said. "I've never been to jail. I've never been shot at. I've never been stabbed. I've never shot at nobody. I never got a DUI. Never got caught with a gun. None of that. I never broke into nobody's house. I used to steal [food] as a kid to get by, Lunchables. I was hungry and I went through it.

"But I'm not a thug. A thug shoots people, gets shot, goes to prison and does stuff like that. I've never done any of the above. So how am I a thug?"

Martin has a point regarding the "thug" label, and he realizes that his appearance (read: tattoos), along with the language he uses on the court, can give some people the wrong impression. But Martin is clearly playing a role out there, as Tim Thomas hilariously noted back in 2004 with his famous "fugazi" comment.

Whether Martin's tough guy act is real or not is up for debate, but it's clear his lingering anger at Cuban over last season's incident is still there. Here's hoping that three more months is enough time for him to forgive and forget, since the Nuggets won't face the Mavericks on the court until a home game on December 27th.

Kenyon Martin Says He's Not a Thug, Tries to Continue Feud With Mark Cuban originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Gooden at Center Makes Mavs Better

Tim Povtak — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks

Now with his seventh NBA team, Drew Gooden has played a variety of roles in his much-traveled NBA career. He is about to have a new one -- starting center for a Western Conference contender, according to a radio report cited by DallasBasketball.com.

When Gooden was signed as a free agent this summer by the Dallas Mavericks, it was widely assumed that he was coming mostly to provide depth in the front court for a veteran team still hoping to make a final push before it starts to rebuild.

That just wasn't true, apparently.

Much to the dismay of Erick Dampier, last season's starting center, Gooden now will open training camp perceived as the key to a smaller, more versatile lineup with him assuming a starter's role. This just might give them a chance to reach the conference final.

To everyone's surprise this week, first general manager Donnie Nelson talked about Dampier coming off the bench, then coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that Dampier is no longer considered the team's starter.

"Our plan is to start Gooden at center on most nights,'' Carlisle said in a segment on Dallas radio station The Ticket, according to DB.com's Mike Fisher. "Things can change. And when we play a guy like Shaq, Damp probably will start.''

With so few good true centers in the West and only one Shaq, moving Gooden from forward to center makes sense for the Mavs, who won 50 games last season but lost to Denver in the first round of the playoffs.

Gooden has averaged 12 points and 7.9 rebounds through stops Memphis, Orlando, Cleveland, Chicago, Sacramento and San Antonio. He will be playing in an improved lineup that also includes newly-acquired Shawn Marion, along with Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard. They won't be as big as the Lakers, but without Dampier slowing them down, they could be quicker and more athletic overall.

They might be a good dark horse pick to come out of the West if the Lakers somehow stumble. They could be real good defensively if they buy into Carlisle's system.

Gooden still has a good low-post game, runs well and knows how to rebound. He can score without plays being run for him. He also sports the league's most intriguing facial hair, which makes him one of our favorites.

Gooden at Center Makes Mavs Better originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Who Will Start for the Mavericks?

Tom Ziller — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:40:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Magic, Mavericks

On Monday, Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson mentioned at a press event that incumbent starting center Erick Dampier could come off the bench this season. Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News followed up to report that it's not a set-in-stone matter, and that Nelson was just generally speaking about the team's flexibility.

That got Matt Moore and I thinking -- err, talking -- about the Maverick rotation. Our discussion (with a somewhat relevant Magic-Cavs vignette) is after the jump.

Matt Moore: I think this season, more than usual I suppose, you're going to see liquid starting rotations, fluidity born out of something more than injury-inspired desperation. So many teams are going to have options they can use against different teams, and the Mavs are up there (probably behind Raptors, only because San Antonio won't mess with what works).

Nelson had said earlier in the year that Damp would start, meaning the lineup would be Jason Kidd-Josh Howard-Shawn Marion-Dirk Nowitzki-Dampier. But if you're playing a team that gives them fits -- say, the Warriors -- couldn't you go with Kidd-Jason Terry-Howard-Marion-Dirk and have a better matchup?

Watching Howard work so much at the two will be interesting, along with a possible J.J. Barrea-Terry-Marion at the 1-2-3.

They really should have kept [center] Ryan Hollins.

Ziller: I'm not a huge Hollins fan, though at the price Minnesota got him (three years, $7 million) it certainly wouldn't have hurt. Marcin Gortat, though, would have been great with this lineup. A Gortat-Dirk-Marion frontline with Kidd and Howard or a defensive specialist in the backcourt ... that might have been the best defensive rebounding team of the decade. And I think Kidd could have gotten Gortat 10-12 easy points a night.

I'm concerned with three things for Dallas: offensive rebounding (after losing Brandon Bass and Hollins, they have none outside of Damp), foul drawing (none outside of Dirk), and perimeter defense (Dallas gave up 37% on threes last season, didn't limit threes as well as elite teams either). Like Phoenix, the offense should hum, and Dallas will be able to effectively control second-chance points with the right lineups. But the holes that exist are pretty gaping.

Moore: It's possible, though unlikely, that the move for Howard to the two could fix some of those issues. It gives them a longer perimeter defender with offensive ability, while adding a more rebound-capable small forward.

That small lineup of Kidd-Terry-Howard-Marion-Dirk features their best five players. Yet they can't run with that except in very particular situations because they'll be absolutely murdered on the glass.

I still have to remind myself that Orlando managed to add Vince Carter, keep Gortat AND add Bass. How is that sequence not greater than +Shaq - (Wallace+Pavlovic)?

Ziller: Because of the minus Hedo Turkoglu, minus Courtney Lee part. But I do think Cleveland and Orlando are neck and neck ... I rely on the greatness of LeBron when favoring the Cavs.

I think Dallas' small lineup would be fine on the defensive glass -- Dirk's great, Marion's fine at PF, Howard is solid, Kidd is extraterrestrial. The problem with the big lineup (Howard at the 2) is that guys like Chris Paul and Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook and Steve Nash and Aaron Brooks are going to murder you off the bounce. Kidd can't keep up with Derek Fisher, let alone the quicker PGs. And Howard isn't agile enough to stay in front of them either. So you almost have to swap in Barea or maybe Terry in those situations. Which is a huge downgrade.

You could say this about most teams, but it really sticks out here because of the age of the team. But if they lose Kidd (age 35) or Dirk (31) for a month, they are toast.

Moore: I have a distaste for Carter as much as the next moral human being but I look at the ability plus Hedo's deceptive age and the immaturity of Lee (though I love that kid) and still can't put them below Cleveland, with how much they are going to dominate the glass. They may not allow an offensive rebound that isn't a three-pointer for a month. And the top defensive efficiency team in the league added size and versatility.

Maybe that's one of the reasons the Mavericks are putting out that lineup versatility, to be able to combat smaller lineups. Terry-Howard-Marion-Dirk-Dampier gives you speed on the front end, ability in the middle and rebounding/size with the ability to run.

I've been thinking about this more and more. How flawed is it to try and make a move solely to combat a premier player who's going to beat you anyway? It's like trading for Raja Bell just to try and stop Kobe, when he's still going to score 40. No one's slowing down Parker and Paul; they're two of the fastest guys in the league. Maybe that illustrates something significant about Cavs vs. Magic as well. The Cavs seem to repeatedly try and add individual players to counter players on teams that beat them, while the Magic seem to try and create lineups that cause matchup problems.That's pretty much the story of the '08-09 playoffs.

Although I will say Cleveland's done a very small handful of things to provide themselves with some options. Being able to bring in Jamario Moon and slide LBJ to PF could be great for them.

Ziller: I love that we got through an 800-word discussion of the Mavs frontcourt without mentioning Drew Gooden or Tim Thomas. How the moderately mighty but basically mediocre have fallen!

Who Will Start for the Mavericks? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Could Mavs Swap Lead Bucks to Match Offer for Sessions?

Tom Ziller — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:55:00 EST

Filed under: Bucks, Mavericks, Timberwolves, NBA Rumors

The agent for Ramon Sessions has told FanHouse he does not expect Milwaukee to match Minnesota's four-year, $16 million offer sheet for the point guard. But a new trade rumor leaves open the possibility that Milwaukee is trying to cut enough salary to fit Sessions back into the equation.

DallasBasketball.com reports that the Mavericks are discussing a deal to send Greg Buckner to Milwaukee. Buckner is a great little asset right now: he's on the books for $8.2 million over two seasons. But only $2 million of that is guaranteed. If his team waives him by November 30, Buckner is only owed $1 million this season -- and that applies to the cap space he takes up.

DB.com proposes Buckner to Milwaukee for veteran big Kurt Thomas, who could certainly help the Mavs. The trade (and a waiving of Buckner by the Bucks) would allow Milwaukee to match the Sessions offer without exceeding the luxury tax thresold. The Bucks have until the end of Friday to make a decision on Sessions.

Of course, that doesn't mean the Buckner trade has to get consummated Friday -- teams have until the trade deadline, effectively, to sneak under the tax threshold. Provided Bucks GM John Hammond feels comfortable that he can make a deal to get under the tax, using Buckner or one of the three teams currently under the salary cap, he can match Sessions and worry about the rest later.

Hammond may not be in such a position of faith, though. Earlier this week he told FanHouse's Chris Tomasson that the Bucks will absolutely not pay the tax this season.

Thomas has still proven to be a valuable defender, despite his advanced age. (He'll turn 37 during the preseason.) He was arguably the Spurs' second best defender last season; San Antonio desperately needed offensive help, and swapped away Thomas, Bruce Bowen and Fabricio Oberto in exchange for Richard Jefferson. The Mavericks' frontline currently features Dirk Nowitzki, Erick Dampier, Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden, Tim Thomas (seriously) and Nathan Jawai.

Could Mavs Swap Lead Bucks to Match Offer for Sessions? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Dirk Nowitzki's Jailed Ex Not Pregnant

Tom Ziller — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:26:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks

At the tail end of Dallas's playoff run, the live-in girlfriend of Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki was arrested for violating parole. Speculation abounded that Dirk had hired a private investigator to look at his girlfriend's past, which turned up news that she had warrants out for her arrest. The 37-year-old woman, Cristal Taylor, later told the media that upon being booked in jail, a urine test revealed that she was pregnant -- and she claimed it was Dirk's child.

However, Nowitzki's lawyer told ESPN that a court-ordered pregnancy test has found that Taylor is not currently pregnant. No one knows whether Taylor miscarried or if she had never actually been pregnant. Dirk's camp maintained that Taylor was not pregnant with Dirk's child. (That belief might have been betrayed by the fact that Dirk filed for custody of the alleged unborn child in June.)

Dirk Nowitzki's Jailed Ex Not Pregnant originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Is Stephen Jackson Headed to Dallas?

Tom Ziller — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, Warriors, NBA Rumors

On Friday, Warriors captain Stephen Jackson put himself on the trade block. By late Saturday, dots were being connected, and Jackson was being rumored to be a possibility for the Dallas Mavericks.

Mike Fisher of DallasBasketball.com reported that, separate from the Jackson rumor, Golden State coach Don Nelson had been talking to folks in Dallas about potential trades. Of course, Nelson's son Donnie runs the Mavericks front office, which would make this wholly uninteresting ... if not for the ongoing war between the elder Nelson and Mavs owner Mark Cuban, which makes this sort of aisle-reaching notable.

So, is it Jackson that Nelson is trying to peddle? Or is something else going on?

Tip-Off Timer: Pettit Goes Bonkers in '58 Finals

First off, it's impossible to pass on any rumor from Fisher without noting that Fisher's site is owned by a company owned by ... Mark Cuban. Each has denied Cuban has ever been involved in any rumor which has been published on the site, but ... Cuban has been caught in a lie before. So, not to besmirch Fisher's reputation, but when he's reporting rumors about Cuban adversaries, take it with an extra grain of salt.

Fisher reports that Nelson could be trying to lose Monta Ellis, who is an older, more athletic Stephen Curry without the range. Curry, of course, will be a cheap Warrior for the next four seasons ($13 million). Ellis will be expensive for the next five years ($55 million). Without a guarantee Ellis will be much better than Curry over the span, and with no need for two undersized combo guards with questionable defensive tools, you can see why Nelson would look to move Ellis.

But Jackson may fit Dallas better, in that the Mavericks don't really have quality cheap talent or draft picks to offer the Warriors for the talented Ellis. The Mavericks have no qualms being old and expensive. The team re-signed Yoda Kidd this summer, and gave Shawn Marion a five-year deal. There's probably a max extension waiting for Dirk Nowitzki at his Dallas home for when he returns from Germany this month. Salary (Jackson has $36 million of it over four years) doesn't scare Cuban, and age (Jack is 31) doesn't scare the front office. This franchise is going for it ... right flipping now. On the other end, Golden State would probably just prefer to undo the Jackson extension by trading him for an expiring contract.

Between Dirk, Kidd, Marion, Erick Dampier and Josh Howard, it would seem Dallas has a starting five in place. But Jackson's playmaking skills and versatility could be an attribute, either in some concert with Marion and Howard, or coming off the bench with Jason Terry. Or Jack's selfish offense and erratic shooting could destroy the real chemistry Kidd, Terry and Nowitzki have developed. Either way, it'd be interesting.

As for the thaw in the Nellie-Cuban Cold War ... let's all pray that's the unbelievable rumor here. I can't imagine a world without $5 million ass pimples and wishy washy hugs.

Is Stephen Jackson Headed to Dallas? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

NBA FanHouse

Could Nancy Lieberman Become the NBA's First Female Head Coach?

Doing Lines: Kobe and Wade Go for 40

Chris Paul's Play, Mavs' Missed Free Throws Keys to Hornets Win

NBA HouseCast: Magic Fall, Celtics Impress, Lakers Survive

Stinkface Chronicles: A Brilliant Disguise

NBA Investigates Alleged Homophobic Heckler Response by Maverick

NBA Power Rankings: Orlando on Top

Popeye Jones Arrested for DWI

Infamous Mugshots

Jumping to Conclusions After One Night

Player to Watch: Jason Terry

FanHouse Preview: Dallas Mavericks

Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title

New Look, Same Explosive Arenas

NBA Twitter Mailbag: Social Media, Stockton or Kidd and Replacement Refs

Kenyon Martin Says He's Not a Thug, Tries to Continue Feud With Mark Cuban

Gooden at Center Makes Mavs Better

Who Will Start for the Mavericks?

Could Mavs Swap Lead Bucks to Match Offer for Sessions?

Dirk Nowitzki's Jailed Ex Not Pregnant

Is Stephen Jackson Headed to Dallas?