Dallas Mavericks Blog Posts

NBA Opening Night Quick Thoughts

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:09:17 EDT

Happy New Year!

With the new NBA season set to tip off with four games tonight, here are some of the things I’ll be watching for in tonight’s action.

Boston @ Cleveland, 7:30pm

I can’t wait to see LeBron again this season. Last year, coming off the Olympics, you could see that his focus was on improving defensively. Now, without a summer in the spotlight, I’m curious to see if he’s made any improvements to his already unreal game. Is this the year we finally see LeBron use his Karl Malone-like body to beast on people inside?

Also, I’m curious to see what kind of pregame theatrics the Cavs come up with. You know Shaq can’t stand to be out of the spotlight, I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries to one-up LeBron’s chalk thing with something of his own.

Continue reading "NBA Opening Night Quick Thoughts"

Can the San Antonio Spurs win a 5th NBA Championship for the upcoming 2009-2010 season

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:20:14 EDT

Have the spurs put together enough talent to contend with elite teams in the NBA?

I believe the answer is a definite yes. The San Antonio Spurs have had an offseason many feel was their best ever and with the talent already in place, the spurs should be in the hunt for another title. It will be interesting to see how the new players mesh with the likes of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess will add much needed scoring and length to a team that was exposed a bit during this years surprising first round exit against the Dallas Mavericks. Looking back to last season, the spurs had quite a few issues that needed to be addressed to make the team better, younger and more athletic.

Continue reading "Can the San Antonio Spurs win a 5th NBA Championship for the upcoming 2009-2010 season"

Summer has been good to Beaubois

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:19:11 EDT

Despite the hype surrounding a lot of high picks from this year’s NBA Draft the man who seems to have been making the biggest impact in Summer League action has been Rodrigue Beaubois, taken 25th by the Dallas Mavericks and thought even then to be a bit of a reach.

The Frenchman, born in Guadeloupe, did provoke some comparisons with his compatriot Tony Parker, and the early results would suggest those comparisons might just be accurate.

Although the Mavericks team has only gone 1-4, Beaubois has impressed in averaging 17 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists on good shooting percentages as well.

The best overall performance was the most recent and last of the Vegas League (Sunday) when Beaubois ended when he hit 9-of-12 shots for 23 points and dished out five assists, the sort of line you would expect from Parker, a player he seems to have modelled his game on.

Continue reading "Summer has been good to Beaubois"

The 5 Best Second Overall Selections in the NBA Draft Since 1984

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:14:41 EDT

The Los Angeles Clippers are expected to pick former Oklahoma Sooners star Blake Griffin Thursday with the first overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

However, there is not a consensus projection for the No. 2 pick and basketball analysts remain largely uncertain who the Memphis Grizzlies will choose tomorrow in Gotham.

In recognition of the NBA Draft, I have decided to rank the five most accomplished players selected second overall in the past quarter century.

1) Jason Kidd

Kidd, 36, attended the University of California and helped resurrect the Golden Bears dormant basketball program with his stellar play at the point guard position.

After being honored as a First Team All-American as a sophomore, Kidd declared for the NBA Draft and was selected second overall by the Dallas Mavericks in 1994.

Continue reading "The 5 Best Second Overall Selections in the NBA Draft Since 1984"

Dallas Mavericks draft pick

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:15:46 EDT

The Dallas Mavericks only have one pick this year in the NBA draft and they really need help to keep from falling any further. If you look at draft boards, the list of players that could go to Dallas at the 22nd pick are too numerous to mention. But, we can look at how the past 14 drafts have done at that position.

Of the past 14 drafts, only 2 have produced mentionable players. Kenny Thomas has been a solid bench player and starter when needed. The other is Courtney Lee who started in the NBA finals in his first year. That isn't very good odds. But, it could happen. At this point, I think Dallas would take either of those players. I'm not sure what direction the team is going to go. But, Mr. Cuban dosn't look like a guy who starts from zero and rebuilds. Although he does like to wheel and deal.

Continue reading "Dallas Mavericks draft pick"

Catching up with the Phoenix Suns rumors this off season and who should be kept around for next year

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:37:23 EDT

There have been many rumors surrounding the Phoenix Suns since they missed the playoffs this season. Some of these rumored trades would actually help the team, but some of the options are only opportunities to cut payroll for the oncoming season and further destroy the team. Some of the biggest names involved in these rumors for the team have been Amare Stoudemire, Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa, and Jason Richardson.

Shaq Rumors

Shaquille O’Neal has not been shy about the fact that he would not mind playing for another team other then the Phoenix Suns and is interested in a contract to extend him for one to two more years. Some of the rumored teams to be interested in Shaq are Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, and New Orleans Hornets.

Continue reading "Catching up with the Phoenix Suns rumors this off season and who should be kept around for next year"

Top 10 Things Mark Cuban MEANT TO SAY to K-Marts mom

Sat, 16 May 2009 13:48:41 EDT

When Mark Cuban told Lydia Moore that her son, the Nuggets' Kenyon Martin, was a "thug" after Game 3 of the Nuggets-Mavs series, he crossed a line. I thought I'd point out the Top 10 Things he MEANT TO SAY to Ms. Moore:

10) "I know he's not a thug. No real thug would ever get sponsorship from K-Mart."

9) "I meant to say, 'Your son's a cool dude,' not, 'Your son included.' Had some margaritas during the game. Slurred my words."

8) "THUG is an acronym. It stands for Totally Hip Underestimated Gamer."

7) "I want Kenyon to be in my new show, 'Thuggin' It,' about a group of NBA players cleaning up run-down neighborhoods."

6) "I was trying to reward you! Every thug-mama received a free chalupa that night."

Continue reading "Top 10 Things Mark Cuban MEANT TO SAY to K-Marts mom"

Dallas Mavericks weakened by Denver Nuggets physical play in Game 1

Mon, 04 May 2009 19:51:25 EDT

The Mavs have just finished the series with the San Antonio Spurs who plays with speed and finess. Now, they face a Nuggets team that plays a different brand of basketball: a physical, pound the paint, and defensive style of playing that the Mavs could not adjust to in Game 1.

The Nuggets went for every block and every steal while clogging up the lane and batting away any one who dares come near the basket. The Mavs were frustrated by the non-calls and could not play their slow, half court game. The Mavs became careless with the ball and just gave away the ball in the second half. That, and the Mavs bench didn't show up.

What will the Mavs need to do to have a chance at winning this series? Take care of the ball, and play some defense in the paint. Nene scored 24 points in game 1 when he averaged only around 10 in the Nuggets-Hornets series.

Continue reading "Dallas Mavericks weakened by Denver Nuggets physical play in Game 1"

Playoff Excitement Part 1 Winning in the West

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:03:19 EDT

With the first round of the playoffs slowly crawling towards the end, and so much excitement developing around the league, I want to take some time out side of the Blazer Box and take a quick look at the two conferences and what they have brought us this playoff season.

We’ll start with the West…

Los Angeles Lakers versus Utah Jazz: It was no question as to which of these two teams would be moving on in the first round, but building up to their season finale match up, a lot of people wondered: “Is L.A. going to give their final home game of the season away to Utah for a chance to play Dallas in the first round?” Most of us expected as much to happen, but there was obviously something the Lakers knew that we didn’t. We saw it once Dallas destroyed San Antonio in the same fashion that Los Angeles destroyed Utah. Not much excitement out of this series.

Continue reading "Playoff Excitement Part 1 Winning in the West"

Ryan Moats You Are a Better Man Than Me

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:42:05 EDT

By now we've all heard the story and probably seen the video. Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats was driving his family to the Baylor Regional Medical Center in the Dallas Suburb of Plano, to make it to see his mother-in-law as she was in critical condition. She was suffering from breast cancer, and they had been told she didn't have much time. Moats put on his hazards, and by his account rolled through a red light after making sure the way was clear. Officer Robert Powell was parked nearby and attempted to pull him over. Moats continued to drive a short distance to the hospital, as Powell pursued. As he pulled up near the entrance of the hospital, the family jumped out of the car. Officer Powell instructed them to get back in the car, but Moats wife Tamishia and another family member ran inside. Ryan Moats tried explaining the situation to Officer Powell, who over the course of the next thirteen minutes would not listen, and herein lies the controversy.

Continue reading "Ryan Moats You Are a Better Man Than Me"