DallasMavs.Net...2008 Offseason...

Kobe Bryant? Well the Mavs preseason just got a WHOLE LOT more interesting...

The rumors are swirling around the player once known as the Drama Queen. The LAkers star is rumored to want out of LA, and guess which team is the #1 on his list? The Mavs. The Mavs would need to part with Josh Howard, JET and more to do it, but imagine Kobe Bryant in a Mavs uniform on the floor with Dirk...Weirdness abound. BTW, if this deal does go down, the hotel managers around Big D need to talk to all of their female employees regarding their behavior around a potential #8...

Buck sent to Minnisota for Trenton Hassel? Mario Elie?

Seems I did a story similar to this a few years back...The Mavs are looking to upgrade their two guard position, so they ship off an ineffective Greg Buckner. Close enough...Farewall, Buck, alas I knew you well...Greg never got near to being the effective player he was in Denver that prompted the Mavs to reaquire him. He played decent defense, but it didn't make up for his lack of offense. Trenton Hassel? 6-5, a defender of some repute, averaged 6.7 point per game last year...

The Mavs have signed Mario Elie as an assistant coach. Elie is considered an Avery Johnson-esque coaching prospect. He has insight into the Warriors and Spurs as he has spent time on their bench since his retirement...

Nellie, Oden and Harris...

Nellie: Nellie has always been about the money. This is no secret, and now the Warriors are starting to see this. Nellie will back with GS, and if he decides to hang it up, he will have a consulting deal for 5 years after he leaves. Sound familiar?

Oden: Microfracture surgery for the #1 pick in the draft. His rookie season? Well, that MIGHT be the 2008-2009 season now it seems. Portland is now up there with the Celtics as a snake-bit franchise...

Devin Harris: Devin needs to show a consistent jump shot if he is to be the permanent starter at the point. He has the speed, and the ability to finish near the basket. But as long as his jumper is off, teams can negate that. That being said, it is good that he is locked up contract-wise. One less distraction.

Devin Harris signed to a 5-year extension...

The NBA is reporting here that the Mavs have signed Devin Harris to a five-year contract extension for an not-yet disclosed amount.

Finals thoughts...

What a mismatch. To be honest, the Cavs really never had a chance against the Spurs, who were too professional, too determined, and too unshakable to be beaten by anyone (save an MJ lead 1997 Bulls team). So, on to the draft. Which may be interesting for the Mavs who are rumored to be interested in everyone from Grant Hill to Kobe Bryant to Rashard Lewis to ~~Mike James~~...Wait, never mind the James thing, he is gonna be a Rocket...

Update

Don't expect too much until after the finals. Still messed up in the head...

Do or Die Part II: Miracle by the Bay?

When the Mavs found themselves down 3-1, they made the same old sounds about taking it one game at a time. Well, the series is now 3-2, with Game Six on tap tonight. The Mavs cannot think about what happens after tonight. There is no Game Seven without a win in Game Six. The "one game at a time" mindset is probably the best way to do it. You have to win the game at hand or you are done, and that is the mindset the Mavs need to have in Oakland.

Game Five: Dirk arrives late in 4th Quarter to rescue Mavs and season, 118-112

Trailing by 103-112 late in the 4th quarter, the Mavs were looking straight into elimination. They were all but done. Three minutes between them and living in history. But Devin Harris and Dirk Nowitzki had different ideas. The pair anchored a 15-0 run to end the game. Dirk looked deep inside and found his range, hitting two huge threes and coming up with a tremendous block on defense. Devin Harris, who was saddled by early foul trouble, slashed and cut his way to the basket hitting several driving layups and then hitting clutch FT's. Then the Warriors who could not miss just minutes earlier, could not hit anything.

The Good:

Dirk scored 30 points and had 12 rebounds and one HUGE block late.
Devin Harris was relentless in the fourth quarter going to the basket and it was his drives to the basket helped get Baron Davis off of the flour.
Diop was a monster on defense, and chipped in 11 points as a bonus (and the Mavs needed those)
Josh Howard had 23 points, but was erratic in the fourth.
Austin Croshere came in and hit 3 of his 4 three-point shots.

The Bad:

Jerry Stackhouse was off, shooting only 4 for 13, though he had 15 points.
Dampier, Buckner and George both only saw limited time and with good reason, they looked completely inept.
The "D" in Dallas was missing for most of the second half until they absolutely positively had to have it. Sure, it showed up late, but it almost came to late for the game and the season.

Other: The Fish at Dallasbasketball.com is down on the late double team on Baron Davis, mostly because the Warriors hit several three's because of it. I disagree. The double on Davis seemed to really take the Warriors out of their flow, and annoyed Davis who made a silly foul late to foul out...The Mavs radio network folks are talking about a possible altercation between Warriors guard Jason Richards and a fan at the AAC. Possible contact with the fan could mean no Richards in Game 6, so we shall keep and eye on it...The TNT crew of Dick Stockton and Reggie Miller were horrific. They sounded like the Warriors TV team than a "unbiased" national broadcast team...Well, the graphic I had ready gets to stay in the hole for another game at least...

Not much else to say: Do or Die.

Little needs to be said. Win or it is done. FOR REAL THIS TIME. The Mavs and Avery need to throw everything at the Warriors. Everything and the kitchen sink. 8:30 tonight. Afterwards, I will either be talking about Game 6 or I won't be saying anything at all.

Game Four: Fourth Quarter nightmare: Mavs lose 103-99. Trail series 1-3...

No one ever accused the Warriors of not being able to make the trick shots. Baron Davis' three from beyond half-court as the clock expired in the first half was ridiculous, Stephen Jackson hit a crazy two in the fourth quarter was almost as good, but Jerry Stackhouse had it in him too, and it was his play that kept the Mavs going on offense in the second half. DeSagana Diop was a stalwart on defense in the third and fourth, but got into foul trouble with about 6:00 minutes in the fourth. Late in the game, Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and Jason Terry could not find their offense and that sealed the game. Every time a big shot was needed, the Warriors were the ones to hit them. The Mavs couldn't hit a shot until it was too late. Give them credit for not giving up late when the Warriors went up by six. Dirk hit two quick three's with less than a minute, but a bad inbounds pass from Devin Harris cost them a final chance.

The game boiled down to clutch shots, and the Mavs couldn't hit a single one until it was too late. Dirk air balled way too many three's and Stackhouse ran out of gas.

Back to Dallas, and the Mavs are one bad quarter from joining the Miami Heat in the off-season...