From SI.com
The Dallas Mavericks (the top wannabe)
Of all the wannabes, they're the only ones who have to find a way to keep the status quo. They have to keep believing that their salvation is their 10-deep roster. They have to keep believing that DeSagana Diop, a free agent making $2 million this season, is a better center than Erick Dampier, who was given a contract worth $73 million through 2011. They have to keep Dirk Nowitzki as their focus, but figure out when Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Terry and Devin Harris can win games. They have to keep sending Marquis Daniels and Josh Howard out there in their matching headbands so no one can tell them apart or figure out how they're mucking everything up.
They have to find a way to win the Southwest Division and get home-court throughout the Western playoffs because, right now, they appear to be heading for a showdown with the Spurs in the second round, not in the conference finals.
Finally, they have to find a way to encourage Mark Cuban to keep writing his fascinatingly insulting blogs, but not to direct one to, say, Spurs star Tim Duncan or Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. Best not to make them mad, Mark, let them think you're still a bunch of wimps who will fold in the stretch.
I must admit, this guy is head on… I mean, the Mavs haven’t proven as much as they would think they have… and the thing is, AJ knows it. And if there is a coach out there who can prove things when they need to be proven, I have confidence AJ is the guy. He makes this team play like a team, unselfish in their play… and they win games when the do that. I don’t know if the Mavs will make it 13 tonight, I think they will, they are a more sound team than Miami, who are 13-13 away from home, and Dallas is 19-4 at home… Mavs average 99.8 per game and give away 93.2 – while Miami averages 100.3 per game and gives away 96. The edge is Dallas is winning by 6.6 on average while Miami wins only by 4.3… so what’s the big deal? Well, Dallas is a put away team, at least more so than Miami. They did play earlier this season (November 25th), which Dallas won in Miami, who played without Shaq, 103-90. But the really interesting thing I find about it all is that Miami played much better defense in this game… in some aspects. Miami had 6 blocks to Dallas’ 2, 9 steals over 7, and 2 fewer turnovers. Miami also had 4 more offensive boards than Dallas. In reality, we are going to be seeing 2 different teams than those who played in November. Miami has their inside threat of Shaq, and Dallas has a new defensive method that will prove to be the reason why they will win.
The Dallas Mavericks (the top wannabe)
Of all the wannabes, they're the only ones who have to find a way to keep the status quo. They have to keep believing that their salvation is their 10-deep roster. They have to keep believing that DeSagana Diop, a free agent making $2 million this season, is a better center than Erick Dampier, who was given a contract worth $73 million through 2011. They have to keep Dirk Nowitzki as their focus, but figure out when Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Terry and Devin Harris can win games. They have to keep sending Marquis Daniels and Josh Howard out there in their matching headbands so no one can tell them apart or figure out how they're mucking everything up.
They have to find a way to win the Southwest Division and get home-court throughout the Western playoffs because, right now, they appear to be heading for a showdown with the Spurs in the second round, not in the conference finals.
Finally, they have to find a way to encourage Mark Cuban to keep writing his fascinatingly insulting blogs, but not to direct one to, say, Spurs star Tim Duncan or Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. Best not to make them mad, Mark, let them think you're still a bunch of wimps who will fold in the stretch.
I must admit, this guy is head on… I mean, the Mavs haven’t proven as much as they would think they have… and the thing is, AJ knows it. And if there is a coach out there who can prove things when they need to be proven, I have confidence AJ is the guy. He makes this team play like a team, unselfish in their play… and they win games when the do that. I don’t know if the Mavs will make it 13 tonight, I think they will, they are a more sound team than Miami, who are 13-13 away from home, and Dallas is 19-4 at home… Mavs average 99.8 per game and give away 93.2 – while Miami averages 100.3 per game and gives away 96. The edge is Dallas is winning by 6.6 on average while Miami wins only by 4.3… so what’s the big deal? Well, Dallas is a put away team, at least more so than Miami. They did play earlier this season (November 25th), which Dallas won in Miami, who played without Shaq, 103-90. But the really interesting thing I find about it all is that Miami played much better defense in this game… in some aspects. Miami had 6 blocks to Dallas’ 2, 9 steals over 7, and 2 fewer turnovers. Miami also had 4 more offensive boards than Dallas. In reality, we are going to be seeing 2 different teams than those who played in November. Miami has their inside threat of Shaq, and Dallas has a new defensive method that will prove to be the reason why they will win.
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