Things aren't looking good for your Mavs, Vonk.

[Dylan]

Cartoons > Sports

[Zanchief]

Dallas is a freeforall. I watch both teams as much as i can, Dallas has a great offense but its not structured. Most of their points come off kickouts and running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Its worked for them.

Only seems like that to the uninformed.

You are right on one point, Bibby is a mad clutch shooter, probably more so than Nash, but Nash is a better PG period. Bibby doesn't play much defense either, so less sucky then Nash shouldn't invoke praise.

[Rotj]

I hope Dallas gets Kidd. It would be electrifying watching them run. But definetely, no way, if he had to give up that kid Josh Howard.

[vonkaar]

That seems to be the popular consensus around here Rotj... Howard has so much potential... we have a strong group of young players that we should focus on... build the team AROUND that, trade everyone else. Howard, Nowitzki and Daniels should be our new 'big 3'. Finley is still gold... Najera should be kept... that's it... our rookies are looking great, so... give them a shot... but all else can be traded without too much flinch.

[Zanchief]

You consider Daniels a 1 or a 2 Vonk?

[vonkaar]

He can do both. I'd prefer if we could use his skills in an AI-esque role... albeit a larger shooting-guard, but still fast as hell. His best performances were when he had Nash playing the point and the two combined for a faster-than-light offense. Both Kidd and our new Devin Harris can play this quite well... it will be fun to watch their game develope.

I think I mentioned this in another post, but... the first game where we all noticed his huge abilities was his first start in Minnesota... Steve had the flu. We were all nervous... big game and all. He almost scored a triple-double (1 assist and 2 rebounds away or something similar)... but this one play was what sticks out in my mind. He was on the corner perimeter... looking for an open guy... didn't see it, so he sort of grinned... looked up, saw Sam Cassell, Kevin Garnett and Michael Olowokandi in between him and the basket... then simply went past them. Fearless! This little rookie thinks he can get past an all-star point guard, the likely league-MVP and a seasoned 7-foot tall center. No problem, easy lay-in. They ended up destroying us in that game... but Dirk and Finley were sleeping. Daniels' performance was spot-on.

[Snero]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=1851245

can somebody explain to me what atlanta is thinking? I seem to remember terry actually saying he wanted to stay there, so this trade gets rid of pretty much the only player in the NBA who wants to play for the hawks[/quote]

[Zanchief]

The Hawks are second to the clippers as worst franchise ever.

If Daniels is as good as you say he is, haven't really seen him mjch, a back court of Harris and Daniels could be real nasty. Dallas is putting together a pretty good core.

And The Candy Man is not a "seasoned 7-foot tall center", he's a tall scrub.

[vonkaar]

I was being nice. The Garnett / Cassel defensive wall was the impressive bit =p. I was being thorough.

I can't believe the whole Hawks / Dallas trade. If that doesn't pave the way for a Kidd trade... I'm starting a revolution. Don Nelson is sitting on his beach in Hawaii shaking his head. We could get so much more for Walker than a 'good' guard and ANOTHER 'who cares' Forward. Soooo pissed about that. I actually supported the trade to Washington. I stood by when we traded our beloved Nick for Jamison. I can't swallow this pill though... Walker has marketability... far beyond this fucking trade.

[Rotj]

If 'The Cubano' makes this trade he deserves a fucken slap to the head.

[Phlegm]

Maybe Dallas decide to play a little more defense next year?

[vonkaar]

Yup... that's supposed to be the key =p. Our offense really was spectacular... one of the best in a long time. If we could have had even a 'decent' defense (circa 2002) we could have gone all the way. Indiana was the only team that consistantly stopped our offense.

[Malluas]

its pretty much impossible to stop Dallas' offense. You have to do it in spurts.

[vonkaar]

That's all gonna change this year =/.

[Rotj]

Dampier to Dallas. Your take on this vonkaar?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1861620

[Ouchyfish]

God dammit I was so glad this thread was dead and you have to bring it back!

[vonkaar]

It means that Dallas is back in the running. Anyone that disagrees can suck a nut. This is ALL that we've needed for the past 4 years. Dallas has NEVER... repeat NEVER had a decent center. Sam Perkins doesn't count because he split PF. Donaldson doesn't count because his club SUCKED. Shawn Bradley doesn't count because HE IS THE WORST FUCKING CENTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE FUCKING CONCEPT OF BASKETBALL.

The Mavs email ring that I started up 2 years ago(5 friends and I) was all abuzz at the start of the season about getting Damp in Dallas. You can probably go back a few pages and read my mention of it. DO YOU PEOPLE UNDERSTAND what Dirk will do on the outside when there is a powerful presence in the middle? Mark my words: The scoring champion of 2005 will be either Kobe Bryant or Dirk Nowitzki.

It SUCKS... SUCKS to lose Najera. It sucked to lose Nash and Jamison. If this trade goes through, it was all worth it. DIRK is our weapon. Finley is our soul. Dampier is the anchor that we've needed for so many years.

I'm not so delusional to think that this puts us above San Antonio or Minnesota... but the rest of the West is open in my opinion. Dallas is abuzz, not with the thought of what Dampier will DO for us, but what he will allow DIRK to do. Ya'll either have no idea what he's going to accomplish, or you are rightfully fearing this trade. Nowitzki+Dampier+Finley > Ming+MacGrady+Howard.

Now, if Dallas has a healthy Kidd in the Winter...

NBA Champs. I'm saying it right now.

[Zanchief]

If they could get Kidd without losing Dampier or Dirk, I'd even give up Finley, Dallas would be somewhere.

Imagine if they still had Nash though, that would be crazy.

Scoring leaders in 2005
Shaq
Kobe
Tracy
Dirk
Carter(BAH~)

[vonkaar]

I think Carter will retire with Barry Sanders' appeal =/.

The rumors say that NJ would probably take a Stackhouse/Terry combo for Kidd. That would give Dallas the best starting lineup in the league, besides Detroit(arguable).

Jason Kidd - PG
Marquis Daniels - SG
Michael Finley - SF
Dirk Nowitzki - PF
Erick Dampier - C

That's an amazing group... championship worthy even. Tied with San Antone =p.

[Zanchief]

Bench?

Howard and Harris? Not great but deff a good starting 5.

[vonkaar]

BRADLEY!!!

Well, losing Najera surely sucks... but...

Bench 5 would still be an 8th seed playoff contender in the East =p.

Devin Harris - PG
Jerry Stackhouse - SG
Josh Howard - SF
Alan Henderson - PF
Calvin Boothe - C

Roleplayers: Shawn Bradley, Jon Steffansen (still haven't seen him, he's always fantastic in the Summer Leagues but gets NO time in regular season) and our last rookie pick, Luis Flores (if we sign him). Aaaand then we have our two unproven rookie centers, DJ and Pavel... that's a pretty good bench. NO, it's not the Walker, Jamison, Najera, Best, Fortson bench-from-hell we had last year, but... this is CLEARLY a better team than last year. I'm starting to see Nellie's hand in this off-season... could he have actually worked this magic??

remains to be seen.

[Rotj]

At the risk of sounding incredibly stupid here..but why would New York / Isiah resign Vin Baker? Especially for apparently half the mid-level which could have been used for Dampier.

[Zanchief]

Bench 5 would still be an 8th seed playoff contender in the East =p.

The future of the east is much brighter than the west.

[vonkaar]

It's so bright, I've gotta wear shades.

Sure, sure... but it's hella boring in the present. In five years, the West will be the boring group of old farts... the cycle always repeats itself.

[Zanchief]

NOT BORING, YOU'RE BORING~