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NLL Insider - Team by Team: Dallas Mavericks

by vt, updated on Wednesday, September 09 2009, 01:22 am EST

Team by Team: Dallas Mavericks
2008-2009 Finish: 51-31

What went well

The Mavericks have always been one of the NLL strongest teams, evidenced by one NLL championship and not one season out of the playoffs. It is true that the Mavs are a two man show (Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash) usually surrounded by a cast of talented, yet lesser players. When Smokey shipped off longtime point guard Nash in the middle of last season for Carmelo Anthony, Spencer Hawes and Jason Williams, the team lost an anchor and some direction. Though they finished first in the Western Conference, they failed to return to the Finals, taken out by the lower seeded Nuggets in the semi-finals.

So after licking his wounds in the offseason, GM Smokey needed to figure out a way to bring the glory home to Dallas. First, longtime center Alonzo Mourning called it quits after a devastating injury. Then, presumed starting point guard Williams also retired. After re-signing Nowitzki and Kris Humphries to a ridiculous deal, Smokey went shopping. Unfortunately, his FA cache yielded precious no one save Derek Fisher, whom he hoped would solve the PG conundrum. Otherwise jetsam like Randolph Morris, Tarence Kinsey, Desmon Farmer and Shavlik Randolph filled out the roster bolstered by Dirk and Melo.

Smokey also made two trades before the season began. In a brilliant move, he sent Josh Boone off the Clippers for the guy who would emerge to be the next starting PG: Jarrett Jack. In another prescient move he unloaded Humphries' contract, the soon-to-be-injured Mike Dunleavy, a pick and the rights to Tiago Splitter to the Spurs for Ray Allen. Dirk, Allen and Melo. That's quite a lethal trio right there. Armed and ready, the Mavericks stormed into the season, ready to hit the Finals again and bring the title back to Dallas.


What didn't

The Mavs clinched their division and wiped up the Hornets in the first round of the playoffs. But old adversary was waiting in the 2nd round. Behind the newly acquired Tim Duncan, the Timberwolves mopped the floor with the Mavericks. Partly it was Smokey's refusal to move Nowitzki to cover Duncan, leaving Hakim Warrick on the floor to get murdered. Smokey easily could have put the benched Spencer Hawes on Brook Lopez and used Dirk to stop Duncan. But as the losses piled up, he stubbornly refused to change his lineup and the Mavs went home after 5 games.

Stars

- Dirk Nowitzki, FC-

Easily one of the top 10 players in the game, Nowitzki is and has been the backbone of the Dallas Mavericks. "After I played here for 11 years - played hurt, played sick, whatever they needed me to do, basically playing my heart (out) for the last 11 years - I don't think it would feel the same way somewhere else," Nowitzki said. "It's always been my dream here to finish my career here." He played in an amazing 82 games, averaged 21 points and 9.6 rebounds. They love Dirk in Dallas!


- Ray Allen, G –

Allen just moved across the state but the Mavs must have seemed like heaven after the Spurs grotesque collapse this season. No longer called to be one of the sole shooters, Allen played quiet, crafty basketball this season. Though his numbers may be down, just check out his 3 point percentage, hitting a whopping 55% this season. He may be getting a little old, but he's still a hot commodity.


- Carmelo Anthony, F –

Anthony completed his first entire season with Mavs shooting less but shooting better. With Allen onboard, the pressure wasn't on Melo to jack up shots from the outside if he found himself double-teamed. He also spent more time crashing the boards this season as defenders needed to make sure Dirk and Allen were locked down at all times.


Looking to the future

The Mavericks find themselves in an interesting position as the next season draws near. Dirk, Ray and Melo all draw heavy salaries and with all three under contract the Mavs only have eight players signed with less than $4 million until they hit the luxury threshold. It is quite possible one of those big 3 will see a new address. Though Allen is the most likely to be jettisoned, there may be more of a market for Melo. Either way, it seems impossible for the Mavs to continue at this rate without moving someone.

The Mavs can't look to the draft for help either. With only a 2nd round pick, they grabbed Jermanine Taylor a senior from Central Florida. Taylor is small forward trapped in a shooting guard's body. It is unclear whether the team will even bring him on.

So where does that leave the Mavs? With Hawes and Fisher under contract they have a formidable five if you move Dirk to PF. Jack, a restricted free agent, already expressed his desire to test the free agent market, so his return is not guaranteed unless the Mavs match an offer sheet should he leave. Even less likely to come back is Warrick, who feels he was unfairly used in the Timberwolves series. Should he choose to leave, Warrick is an unrestricted FA that can easily find a home elsewhere. Another unrestricted concern is Brandon Bass, who played some great ball in Dallas. The team has a lot of questions that need answering but nothing can be done until Jack and Warrick make some serious decisions.

Archive

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· Team by Team: Detroit Pistons

· Team by Team: Denver Nuggets

· Team by Team: Dallas Mavericks

· Team by Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

· Team by Team: Chicago Bulls

· Team By Team: Charlotte Bobcats

· Team By Team: Boston Celtics

· Team By Team: Atlanta Hawks

· All-NLL Teams Announced

 

 

 

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