The Dallas Mavericks are the best team that no one is talking about.

[Rida]

You need good defensive big men in the NBA to be a contender.

see Boston, LA, Orlando from last season and the spurs of 3 years ago.

Even the pistons when they won had sheed and Big Ben.

Dirk will never win a title because he cant play D and because they have never put a great defensive center next to him.

[nickagneta]

I think no one is talking about Dallas because no one truly looks at them as a true title contending team. Right now if I'm making a list of my top Western Conference teams it goes something like this:

1.) Lakers
2.) TrailBlazers
3.) Jazz
4.) Thunder
5.) Nuggets
6.) Spurs
7.) Mavericks
8.) Rockets or Grizzlies

The Mavs are just simply awful defensively at PF with Dirk and the PG position with Kidd and Barea. What they have discovered about Beaubois is that he is, for now, a great combo guard, a small SG and a not so great playmaking PG(I believe this will change in the future but the here and now is what it is). And if they have to play Beaubois and get him minutes it will probably be in the starting lineup alongside Kidd. That means Kidd will be defending SGs while playing the point on offense and Roddy will be playing SG on offense while defending PGs.

Marion will be forced into a bench role, which he won't like and will let the world know about, and Butler will start. This team is going to implode and has no backbone that is necessary for play in April, May and June. I just do not see what anyone likes about this team. They will win their fair share of regular season games but I don't see them as anything of a real threat to a title.

[wiley]

I understand lots of the West's elite teams have made moves and improved, aside from Phoenix who may end up worse, but to me the biggest threat to L.A. is Ok. City.

I think they're being underrated here, principally because they're a confident, young team who just got a year older....and Cold Aldrich should be ready to help by playoff time.....

1. Lakers 2. Ok. City 3. Portland

but depending on Greg Oden's health and play, Portland could jump into the # 2 or even # 1 spot....

[Who]

I would like to see Dallas lineup like this:

Starters -- Kidd (PG offense OG defense) + Beaubois (PG defense OG offense) + Marion + Dirk + Tyson
Rotation -- Terry + Butler + Haywood

That would give Dallas a quickness advantage at least three positions (PG, SF, C) and arguably a fourth (SG -- Kidd) + would give Dallas four above average defensive players relative to their positions, one of whom is amongst the best wing stoppers (Marion) in the league and the other is one of the best interior defenders (Tyson) in the league, which would give Dallas a huge boost to their underperforming defense. It would also give Dallas three above average rebounders (Kidd-Marion-Tyson), one mediocre one (Roddy) and a serviceable rebounder (Dirk). That would give Dallas a much stronger foundation to work off of.

Rodrigue Beaubois' ball-handling, dribble penetration, strong pick and roll play, jump shooting and explosive scoring would be a great complement to Dirk's offensive game. It would give Dallas a more dynamic offense. Plus, Kidd helps protect Beaubois from his lack of PG / floor general skills. Keeps the offense ticking.

Caron Butler would switch into a sixth man role where he'd be allowed to fire up as many shots as he wants when he comes into the game. He would be the go-to guy in the second unit with Jason Terry playing backup to his lead. Shawn Marion would double up as both starting small forward + backup power forward to give Dallas a terrific defensive combination (Haywood + Marion) and running game with the second unit. A totally different type of lineup to their starters which would ask different questions of the opposing team.

And, depending on the opponent and Dallas' needs, they should finish up with either Marion (defense) or Butler (scoring) + whoever is playing better between Haywood and Tyson + the three other starters (Beaubois, Kidd, Dirk). Terry could play ahead of Beaubois on nights where he doesn't have it but on most nights Beaubois will be the better weapon because of his creativity off the dribble as a scorer.

[wdleehi]

Cuban understood.


This team needs one more star to go next to Dirk. 

[Who]

(1) LA
(2) Portland -- dropping the Blazers a notch for now. I had the Blazers in first place in the West but I was ignoring the loss of Martell Webster (Kobe stopper) on draft day. I want to see what Babbitt can do for them before putting them back in front of LA.
(3) Houston

(4) Oklahoma -- Aldrich is too green to hold down the paint by himself. OKC still 12 months away.
(5) San Antonio -- supporting cast too weak. Top players are still good enough to challenge for a ring. They just don't have the right type of pieces around them.

(6) Dallas
(7) Denver

[8] Utah
(9) Memphis
(10) Phoenix

(11) LA Clippers
(12) New Orleans
(13) Sacramento
(14) Golden State
(15) Minnesota

[soap07]

What's with all the Portland love?

[Jon]

The Mavs in many ways are everything that is wrong with NBA thinking.  They have a ton of offense, and arguably offense that compliments itself pretty well.  However, they've always been a mediocre-to-poor defensive team, which is why they'll likely never win a title with this group. 

In many ways, "best team on paper" often means best looking statistical team.  And most defensive contributions are quantified in stats. 

[Chris]

The Mavs in many ways are everything that is wrong with NBA thinking.  They have a ton of offense, and arguably offense that compliments itself pretty well.  However, they've always been a mediocre-to-poor defensive team, which is why they'll likely never win a title with this group. 

In many ways, "best team on paper" often means best looking statistical team.  And most defensive contributions are quantified in stats. 

Really?  They have a defensive minded coach, and a lot of very good defensive players.  Kidd has lost a step, but is still a decent defender, Haywood is a very good defensive center, and Chandler is one of the best in the league when he is healthy.  They have Butler, who is an excellent defender as well, and Marion is still very good.

My biggest problem with the Mavs is that they still don't really have a SG.  They have a bunch of combo guards, and a couple good SF's, but no true SG's.  I think their number one priority right now should be trying to turn Jason Terry into a more traditional SG.  If they can do that, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

[Fafnir]

What's with all the Portland love?

They have an elite SG, a good PF, and Pryzbilla and Oden.

They need Roy, Oden, and Joel to come back healthy. But if they do they'll contend.

[Who]

The Mavs in many ways are everything that is wrong with NBA thinking.  They have a ton of offense, and arguably offense that compliments itself pretty well.  However, they've always been a mediocre-to-poor defensive team, which is why they'll likely never win a title with this group. 

In many ways, "best team on paper" often means best looking statistical team.  And most defensive contributions are quantified in stats. 

Really?  They have a defensive minded coach, and a lot of very good defensive players.  Kidd has lost a step, but is still a decent defender, Haywood is a very good defensive center, and Chandler is one of the best in the league when he is healthy.  They have Butler, who is an excellent defender as well, and Marion is still very good.

Agreed -- Dallas is very talented defensively.

In fact, I believe the reason Dallas doesn't have a chance at winning a title is their offense. Not their defense. Their over-reliance on Dirk for go-to scoring and inability to create easy shots for him when teams are defending him tightly.

The Mavs have enough defensive talented to be a top 5 defensive team -- if their players are used correctly ... and if not, they should still be a top 10 defensive team.

[Who]

My biggest problem with the Mavs is that they still don't really have a SG.  They have a bunch of combo guards, and a couple good SF's, but no true SG's.  I think their number one priority right now should be trying to turn Jason Terry into a more traditional SG.  If they can do that, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

I like Dallas switching Jason Kidd to the shooting guard role defensively. He is an above average defender + rebounder at that position. And you still get to use him as a point guard offensively and get all his wonderful floor leadership, passing and creativity.

Then use Beaubois as an explosive scoring point guard. Similar to a Mo Williams only Beaubois plays defense + Beaubois's offense is much more difficult to limit (in large part due to his superior athleticism).

Then wheel in Jason Terry as a combo guard off the bench.

[Chris]

My biggest problem with the Mavs is that they still don't really have a SG.  They have a bunch of combo guards, and a couple good SF's, but no true SG's.  I think their number one priority right now should be trying to turn Jason Terry into a more traditional SG.  If they can do that, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

I like Dallas switching Jason Kidd to the shooting guard role defensively. He is an above average defender + rebounder at that position. And you still get to use him as a point guard offensively and get all his wonderful floor leadership, passing and creativity.

Then use Beaubois as an explosive scoring point guard. Similar to a Mo Williams only Beaubois plays defense + Beaubois's offense is much more difficult to limit (in large part due to his superior athleticism).

Then wheel in Jason Terry as a combo guard off the bench.

In theory, I agree with you.  I just really think things like that always seem to look better on player than they actually play out.  You just don't see teams win championships without a more prototypical lineup. 

I just cannot think of any championship level team that played a player out of his natural position.  It's different than just making switches based on matchups, they would be crossmatching by design, which just never seems to work. 

I hope I am wrong, because I would love to see Dallas give LA a run for their money, but I just think they are a move away from doing that.   

[BballTim]

The Mavs in many ways are everything that is wrong with NBA thinking.  They have a ton of offense, and arguably offense that compliments itself pretty well.  However, they've always been a mediocre-to-poor defensive team, which is why they'll likely never win a title with this group. 

In many ways, "best team on paper" often means best looking statistical team.  And most defensive contributions are quantified in stats. 

Really?  They have a defensive minded coach, and a lot of very good defensive players.  Kidd has lost a step, but is still a decent defender, Haywood is a very good defensive center, and Chandler is one of the best in the league when he is healthy.  They have Butler, who is an excellent defender as well, and Marion is still very good.

Agreed -- Dallas is very talented defensively.

In fact, I believe the reason Dallas doesn't have a chance at winning a title is their offense. Not their defense. Their over-reliance on Dirk for go-to scoring and inability to create easy shots for him when teams are defending him tightly.

The Mavs have enough defensive talented to be a top 5 defensive team -- if their players are used correctly ... and if not, they should still be a top 10 defensive team.

  They haven't been in the top 10 in the last 3-4 years. They might be able to crack the top 10 but that's not really a given.

[WBrownTrophy]

What's with all the Portland love?

They have an elite SG, a good PF, and Pryzbilla and Oden.

They need Roy, Oden, and Joel to come back healthy. But if they do they'll contend.

Completely agree. When they were healthy last year, they were a team to be reckoned with. They play hard and with great balance. Watch out for them if they are healthy...big if though.