2010 NBA Playoffs

[PosImpos]

Barring any significant injuries, the Spurs are going to the Finals (could there be a rematch of the '07 Finals?).  

[FallGuy]

Wow. If you're Cuban, do you blow it up? I almost think you have to.

[twinbree]

I finally managed to extricate my hand from my boyfriend's death grip. I don't know if my poor fingers could have handled a loss tonoght. Congrats to the Spurs. Onto another round with an old playoff foe. Should be another good series. I do feel bad for Dirk and the Mavs though. Tough end to their season.

PosImpos we're another step closer to the Celtics/Spurs finals 

[PosImpos]

Wow. If you're Cuban, do you blow it up? I almost think you have to.

No, I don't think you do.

You have to remember this iteration of the Mavs has had a little more than a couple months to really gel, and this was their first playoff series together.  The team they lost to, regardless of seed, won 50 games and could have won 60+ if they had played the whole season the way they've been playing for the last couple of months. 

The Mavs could be really good in a year's time if the starting lineup continues to gel, they don't have any big injuries, and Beaubois continues to develop into Kidd's replacement.  Blowing up the team would be a mistake, in my opinion, unless they can swing Dampier's non-guaranteed contract and one of their pieces (not Dirk) in a sign and trade for a big name free agent.

[Mad Hatter]

i'm so depressed that the Mavs lost. they really deserve a championship. i hope that they could get talent for the DUST chip and get Dirk some real help.

[Redz]

I'm pulling for the Suns in the west.  I'd like to see Nash have a shot in the Finals.

[PosImpos]

I'm pulling for the Suns in the west.  I'd like to see Nash have a shot in the Finals.

Oh, I like the Suns a lot too, and I love Steve Nash.  I just don't see them beating the Spurs.  The Suns need to run to win and the Spurs are the masters of slowing down the game.  Ginobili and Parker should have a field day blowing past Nash and scoring inside against their soft bigs (no Robin Lopez).

In retrospect, I'm not sure why I picked the Suns to beat the Spurs.  I guess we'll see how it goes, though (assuming the Suns win).

[Mr October]

I'm pulling for the Suns in the west.  I'd like to see Nash have a shot in the Finals.

Oh, I like the Suns a lot too, and I love Steve Nash.  I just don't see them beating the Spurs.  The Suns need to run to win and the Spurs are the masters of slowing down the game.  Ginobili and Parker should have a field day blowing past Nash and scoring inside against their soft bigs (no Robin Lopez).

In retrospect, I'm not sure why I picked the Suns to beat the Spurs.  I guess we'll see how it goes, though (assuming the Suns win).

Suns vs Spurs should be a great series. It'll probably go 7, and yeah I give the edge to San Antonio.

The Jazz will play like crap on the road and LA will take them out in 5.

As for Orlando vs whoever.... yawn... Orlando in whatever.....

[nickagneta]

Wow. If you're Cuban, do you blow it up? I almost think you have to.

No, I don't think you do.

You have to remember this iteration of the Mavs has had a little more than a couple months to really gel, and this was their first playoff series together.  The team they lost to, regardless of seed, won 50 games and could have won 60+ if they had played the whole season the way they've been playing for the last couple of months.  

The Mavs could be really good in a year's time if the starting lineup continues to gel, they don't have any big injuries, and Beaubois continues to develop into Kidd's replacement.  Blowing up the team would be a mistake, in my opinion, unless they can swing Dampier's non-guaranteed contract and one of their pieces (not Dirk) in a sign and trade for a big name free agent.

But this Dallas team, though only together a short time, is old. I mean real old, with very little chance of getting young quickly due to the contracts they are bringing back next year.

At the start of next year here is their team and their ages:

Dirk Nowitzki - 32
Jason Kidd - 37
Shawn Marion - 32
Jason Terry - 33
Erick Dampier - 35
Caron Butler - 30
Matt Carroll - 30
Eduardo Najera - 34
DeShawn Stephenson - 29
Jose Juan Barea - 26
Rodrique Beaubois - 22

Just two players on the team less than 29 years old to start next season and neither is bigger than six feet tall or a starter. Cuban would do well to rip this team apart now and get something for some of these players while they still have some value. There is no way this team, one year older than they are now will go to the Finals next year.

[jdpapa3]

George Hill is a tremendously under appreciated player on the national level. He has taken a giant leap as a player this year.

It really is a big 4 now for them. That's how good he has become.

We all need to channel our collective energy towards the Spurs staying healthy because they are a heckuva matchup vs. the Lakers.

[PosImpos]

I'm pulling for the Suns in the west.  I'd like to see Nash have a shot in the Finals.

Oh, I like the Suns a lot too, and I love Steve Nash.  I just don't see them beating the Spurs.  The Suns need to run to win and the Spurs are the masters of slowing down the game.  Ginobili and Parker should have a field day blowing past Nash and scoring inside against their soft bigs (no Robin Lopez).

In retrospect, I'm not sure why I picked the Suns to beat the Spurs.  I guess we'll see how it goes, though (assuming the Suns win).

Suns vs Spurs should be a great series. It'll probably go 7, and yeah I give the edge to San Antonio.

The Jazz will play like crap on the road and LA will take them out in 5.

As for Orlando vs whoever.... yawn... Orlando in whatever.....

The Jazz have played pretty well on the road versus one of the best home teams in the league (the Nuggets).

I think people are sleeping a bit on the Jazz (still) just because the Nuggets are in some disarray without Coach Karl.  The Jazz have a real shot at beating the Lakers if Kobe stays in his funk and OKC continues to wear them out.  

D-Will is a matchup nightmare for LA's guards and Boozer is physical enough to push around Gasol and Bynum.  Fesenko can't do much but he can be physical down low, too.  We all know very well what you can do to the Lakers if you play tough and physical with them.  The Jazz, unlike the Thunder, don't rely on heavy scoring from their wings, which works out really well since the Lakers' two best defenders are on the wing.

I'm not saying Utah will definitely beat the Lakers, but I think they have a really decent shot at it.

[PosImpos]

Wow. If you're Cuban, do you blow it up? I almost think you have to.

No, I don't think you do.

You have to remember this iteration of the Mavs has had a little more than a couple months to really gel, and this was their first playoff series together.  The team they lost to, regardless of seed, won 50 games and could have won 60+ if they had played the whole season the way they've been playing for the last couple of months.  

The Mavs could be really good in a year's time if the starting lineup continues to gel, they don't have any big injuries, and Beaubois continues to develop into Kidd's replacement.  Blowing up the team would be a mistake, in my opinion, unless they can swing Dampier's non-guaranteed contract and one of their pieces (not Dirk) in a sign and trade for a big name free agent.

But this Dallas team, though only together a short time, is old. I mean real old, with very little chance of getting young quickly due to the contracts they are bringing back next year.

At the start of next year here is their team and their ages:

Dirk Nowitzki - 32
Jason Kidd - 37
Shawn Marion - 32
Jason Terry - 33
Erick Dampier - 35
Caron Butler - 30
Matt Carroll - 30
Eduardo Najera - 34
DeShawn Stephenson - 29
Jose Juan Barea - 26
Rodrique Beaubois - 22

Just two players on the team less than 29 years old to start next season and neither is bigger than six feet tall or a starter. Cuban would do well to rip this team apart now and get something for some of these players while they still have some value. There is no way this team, one year older than they are now will go to the Finals next year.

You may be right - although Beaubois is a great young talent.  My point is the Mavs are never going to do anything while Dirk is still in the league unless they stick to a solid core and stop making huge changes every time they lose.  Great teams need time to come together and they need multiple chances for things to go their way. 

The Lakers didn't blow up their team after they lost to the Celtics in the Finals...they gave it another year.  Now, obviously the Mavs lost in the first round, not the Finals, but like I said they lost to a legitimate contender.  I  just think Cuban would be jumping the gun if he made any huge wholesale changes to the team.  I agree it'd be smart of them to try to do something with Dampier's contract to try and get a younger piece into the mix.

[FallGuy]

Wow. If you're Cuban, do you blow it up? I almost think you have to.

No, I don't think you do.

You have to remember this iteration of the Mavs has had a little more than a couple months to really gel, and this was their first playoff series together.  The team they lost to, regardless of seed, won 50 games and could have won 60+ if they had played the whole season the way they've been playing for the last couple of months.  

The Mavs could be really good in a year's time if the starting lineup continues to gel, they don't have any big injuries, and Beaubois continues to develop into Kidd's replacement.  Blowing up the team would be a mistake, in my opinion, unless they can swing Dampier's non-guaranteed contract and one of their pieces (not Dirk) in a sign and trade for a big name free agent.

But this Dallas team, though only together a short time, is old. I mean real old, with very little chance of getting young quickly due to the contracts they are bringing back next year.

At the start of next year here is their team and their ages:

Dirk Nowitzki - 32
Jason Kidd - 37
Shawn Marion - 32
Jason Terry - 33
Erick Dampier - 35
Caron Butler - 30
Matt Carroll - 30
Eduardo Najera - 34
DeShawn Stephenson - 29
Jose Juan Barea - 26
Rodrique Beaubois - 22

Just two players on the team less than 29 years old to start next season and neither is bigger than six feet tall or a starter. Cuban would do well to rip this team apart now and get something for some of these players while they still have some value. There is no way this team, one year older than they are now will go to the Finals next year.

You may be right - although Beaubois is a great young talent.  My point is the Mavs are never going to do anything while Dirk is still in the league unless they stick to a solid core and stop making huge changes every time they lose.  Great teams need time to come together and they need multiple chances for things to go their way. 

The Lakers didn't blow up their team after they lost to the Celtics in the Finals...they gave it another year.  Now, obviously the Mavs lost in the first round, not the Finals, but like I said they lost to a legitimate contender.  I  just think Cuban would be jumping the gun if he made any huge wholesale changes to the team.  I agree it'd be smart of them to try to do something with Dampier's contract to try and get a younger piece into the mix.

Had a look at the Mavs salary situation. It's grim. Marion for another four years. Kidd for another two.

The problem with the Mavs is they have one superstar, and as we've seen almost every single year for the last thirty, you need two to win a title. That's why the Lakers were okay. They had Pau and Kobe. Both are top 15 players. Kobe's a top 2 (or he was when the won the title).

Dirk is top 10. But who's their second best guy? Nobody you're afraid of.

They're in trouble.

[Mr October]

I'm pulling for the Suns in the west.  I'd like to see Nash have a shot in the Finals.

Oh, I like the Suns a lot too, and I love Steve Nash.  I just don't see them beating the Spurs.  The Suns need to run to win and the Spurs are the masters of slowing down the game.  Ginobili and Parker should have a field day blowing past Nash and scoring inside against their soft bigs (no Robin Lopez).

In retrospect, I'm not sure why I picked the Suns to beat the Spurs.  I guess we'll see how it goes, though (assuming the Suns win).

Suns vs Spurs should be a great series. It'll probably go 7, and yeah I give the edge to San Antonio.

The Jazz will play like crap on the road and LA will take them out in 5.

As for Orlando vs whoever.... yawn... Orlando in whatever.....

The Jazz have played pretty well on the road versus one of the best home teams in the league (the Nuggets).

I think people are sleeping a bit on the Jazz (still) just because the Nuggets are in some disarray without Coach Karl.  The Jazz have a real shot at beating the Lakers if Kobe stays in his funk and OKC continues to wear them out.  

D-Will is a matchup nightmare for LA's guards and Boozer is physical enough to push around Gasol and Bynum.  Fesenko can't do much but he can be physical down low, too.  We all know very well what you can do to the Lakers if you play tough and physical with them.  The Jazz, unlike the Thunder, don't rely on heavy scoring from their wings, which works out really well since the Lakers' two best defenders are on the wing.

I'm not saying Utah will definitely beat the Lakers, but I think they have a really decent shot at it.

The Nuggets of the past month have been kind of bad though.... they were due to loose to anyone. The Jazz are so mediocre on the road, especially and perhaps specifically against the Lakers. The Laker front line will overwhelm the Jazz as usual. I wish I were wrong.

Who do you think will win the series, and in how many games?

[PosImpos]

Wow. If you're Cuban, do you blow it up? I almost think you have to.

No, I don't think you do.

You have to remember this iteration of the Mavs has had a little more than a couple months to really gel, and this was their first playoff series together.  The team they lost to, regardless of seed, won 50 games and could have won 60+ if they had played the whole season the way they've been playing for the last couple of months.  

The Mavs could be really good in a year's time if the starting lineup continues to gel, they don't have any big injuries, and Beaubois continues to develop into Kidd's replacement.  Blowing up the team would be a mistake, in my opinion, unless they can swing Dampier's non-guaranteed contract and one of their pieces (not Dirk) in a sign and trade for a big name free agent.

But this Dallas team, though only together a short time, is old. I mean real old, with very little chance of getting young quickly due to the contracts they are bringing back next year.

At the start of next year here is their team and their ages:

Dirk Nowitzki - 32
Jason Kidd - 37
Shawn Marion - 32
Jason Terry - 33
Erick Dampier - 35
Caron Butler - 30
Matt Carroll - 30
Eduardo Najera - 34
DeShawn Stephenson - 29
Jose Juan Barea - 26
Rodrique Beaubois - 22

Just two players on the team less than 29 years old to start next season and neither is bigger than six feet tall or a starter. Cuban would do well to rip this team apart now and get something for some of these players while they still have some value. There is no way this team, one year older than they are now will go to the Finals next year.

You may be right - although Beaubois is a great young talent.  My point is the Mavs are never going to do anything while Dirk is still in the league unless they stick to a solid core and stop making huge changes every time they lose.  Great teams need time to come together and they need multiple chances for things to go their way. 

The Lakers didn't blow up their team after they lost to the Celtics in the Finals...they gave it another year.  Now, obviously the Mavs lost in the first round, not the Finals, but like I said they lost to a legitimate contender.  I  just think Cuban would be jumping the gun if he made any huge wholesale changes to the team.  I agree it'd be smart of them to try to do something with Dampier's contract to try and get a younger piece into the mix.

Had a look at the Mavs salary situation. It's grim. Marion for another four years. Kidd for another two.

The problem with the Mavs is they have one superstar, and as we've seen almost every single year for the last thirty, you need two to win a title. That's why the Lakers were okay. They had Pau and Kobe. Both are top 15 players. Kobe's a top 2 (or he was when the won the title).

Dirk is top 10. But who's their second best guy? Nobody you're afraid of.

They're in trouble.

Yeah, you're probably right.

But is just blowing up the roster going to solve the problem?  Probably not.  So I say they stand pat unless they can pull off a trade that nets them that #2 guy.