Something in Dallas is fishy

[Ed Hollison]

For the past couple of years I've been hyper sensitive and suspicious when it comes to PEDs in sports. That especially goes for the NBA, whose testing program (from what I understand) is a joke. I see a distinct possibility that right now we're witnessing the equivalent of Barry Bonds, a hall-of-famer who catapulted himself into transcendent status; and a handful of Mark Maguires, guys whose whole career have been made by drugs.

I got this sensation again watching the DVR'd replay of the Mavs game last night. Think about this:

- Dirk is 37 and has barely seen any slippage in his game.
- Chandler Parsons had microfracture surgery in the offseason, a procedure famous for reducing guys' skills and explosiveness. His stats have slipped a bit this year, but he looked pretty much like his own self the other night.
- Similarly, Wesley Matthews tore his achilles last year and had surgery in the offseason. His stats are down, but he's more or less been able to come back and compete despite what's typically a devastating injury for players' careers.
- Deron Williams was essentially dead and buried with the Nets. This year he's scoring at a better rate despite being surrounded by much better offensive players. He looked noticeably quicker to me than he has the past couple of years.
- Raymond Felton looks diesel and noticeably quicker than when he was with the Knicks, where for the most part he was fat and slow.

I'm not saying the whole team's juiced up, but I am saying that in this current era of pro sports, there's circumstantial evidence all over the place.

Maybe I'm sore that the C's got beat, or maybe it's that I was hoping for a much better draft pick from the Mavs next offseason. Tell me I'm crazy.

[jpotter33]

For the past couple of years I've been hyper sensitive and suspicious when it comes to PEDs in sports. That especially goes for the NBA, whose testing program (from what I understand) is a joke. I see a distinct possibility that right now we're witnessing the equivalent of Barry Bonds, a hall-of-famer who catapulted himself into transcendent status; and a handful of Mark Maguires, guys whose whole career have been made by drugs.

I got this sensation again watching the DVR'd replay of the Mavs game last night. Think about this:

- Dirk is 37 and has barely seen any slippage in his game.
- Chandler Parsons had microfracture surgery in the offseason, a procedure famous for reducing guys' skills and explosiveness. His stats have slipped a bit this year, but he looked pretty much like his own self the other night.
- Similarly, Wesley Matthews tore his achilles last year and had surgery in the offseason. His stats are down, but he's more or less been able to come back and compete despite what's typically a devastating injury for players' careers.
- Deron Williams was essentially dead and buried with the Nets. This year he's scoring at a better rate despite being surrounded by much better offensive players. He looked noticeably quicker to me than he has the past couple of years.
- Raymond Felton looks diesel and noticeably quicker than when he was with the Knicks, where for the most part he was fat and slow.

I'm not saying the whole team's juiced up, but I am saying that in this current era of pro sports, there's circumstantial evidence all over the place.

Maybe I'm sore that the C's got beat, or maybe it's that I was hoping for a much better draft pick from the Mavs next offseason. Tell me I'm crazy.

I think an overall positive atmosphere, environment, and system, in addition to playing under a top-tier coach, can explain a lot of that. Carlisle doesn't get the credit he deserves at times, and though Cuban is a notorious loud-mouth, Dallas is one of the better run teams in the league.

[Eddie20]

Yep, and Rick Carlisle has gone bald in Dallas which is a side effect of Winstrol. Somebody on the team must be drug running across the border.

[max215]

I think Rick Carlisle is some sort of sorcerer/is well trained in the ways of woodland magic.

[csfansince60s]

I think Rick Carlisle is some sort of sorcerer/is well trained in the ways of woodland magic.

Kinda like Crazy Eyes wizard reference?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD4-VKTSXYs

[Neurotic Guy]

Rondo refused the juice.

And Jae Crowder, well...  delayed effect.

[mctyson]

I would note here that Cuban is a full-throated supporter of HGH use in professional sports.

[PhoSita]

If by "PEDs" you mean "the spacing created by the best shooting big man ever" and "second best coach in the league Rick Carlisle," you might be onto something.

[Bucketgetter]

If by "PEDs" you mean "the spacing created by the best shooting big man ever" and "second best coach in the league Rick Carlisle," you might be onto something.

I wouldn't trade CBS for him..

[Ed Hollison]

I would note here that Cuban is a full-throated supporter of HGH use in professional sports.

Here is an article on this: http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/14288703/michigan-study-funded-dallas-mavericks-mark-cuban-lead-rethinking-hgh

[footey]

This is so speculative, it is not worth discussing.  If you have a source that indicates players using, then show it.  We can speculate about anything. 

[Snakehead]

This is so speculative, it is not worth discussing.  If you have a source that indicates players using, then show it.  We can speculate about anything.

That's how I feel.

There's a lot of possibility to do this kind of thing in the NBA from my knowledge of how they drug test.  I just hate the subject frankly.  Even when we catch an athlete dead to rights on it I imagine a bunch of others just were not caught.

[Ed Hollison]

There's a lot of possibility to do this kind of thing in the NBA from my knowledge of how they drug test.  I just hate the subject frankly.  Even when we catch an athlete dead to rights on it I imagine a bunch of others just were not caught.

To be clear, I don't necessarily disagree. I think PEDs are rampant in pro sports, including basketball. It's possible that the Mavs aren't one of the worst offending teams. The original point was just that the Mavs this season look like a perfect illustration of the issue. I just find it impossible that all of those things I listed are happening concurrently without PEDs being part of the equation.

Some people prefer to just resign themselves to this reality -- maybe lots of guys are using, but you can't know who -- and not think about it. But others of us are bothered by it, because it makes it difficult to feel comfortable extolling certain players' accomplishments. Is Lebron the greatest small forward of all time? Gee, I'd feel more comfortable answering this question if I knew for sure he wasn't on steroids and/or HGH. To hammer the point home: Is Peyton Manning's 55 touchdown passes at age 37 after having his neck vertebrae fused together the greatest single season QB performance of all-time? You get the idea.

I get the sense that no one else finds this to be an issue, so I'm done now.

[Snakehead]

I get the sense that no one else finds this to be an issue, so I'm done now.

Yeah I just don't care.  The two examples you mentioned, even if they were fishy, would be fish in a pond of fish doing the same things so I don't care against that field.  And I hit a wall comparing players, teams, etc across historical periods where I just don't care.  Too many factors.  It's stupid "Embrace Debate" type discussion.

If a league has rules and they catch someone they do what they have to.  I just find it impossible to care as a fan.  And if you do I think you are lying to yourself about how much information you are basing your opinions on.

[Smitty77]

For the past couple of years I've been hyper sensitive and suspicious when it comes to PEDs in sports. That especially goes for the NBA, whose testing program (from what I understand) is a joke. I see a distinct possibility that right now we're witnessing the equivalent of Barry Bonds, a hall-of-famer who catapulted himself into transcendent status; and a handful of Mark Maguires, guys whose whole career have been made by drugs.

I got this sensation again watching the DVR'd replay of the Mavs game last night. Think about this:

- Dirk is 37 and has barely seen any slippage in his game.
- Chandler Parsons had microfracture surgery in the offseason, a procedure famous for reducing guys' skills and explosiveness. His stats have slipped a bit this year, but he looked pretty much like his own self the other night.
- Similarly, Wesley Matthews tore his achilles last year and had surgery in the offseason. His stats are down, but he's more or less been able to come back and compete despite what's typically a devastating injury for players' careers.
- Deron Williams was essentially dead and buried with the Nets. This year he's scoring at a better rate despite being surrounded by much better offensive players. He looked noticeably quicker to me than he has the past couple of years.
- Raymond Felton looks diesel and noticeably quicker than when he was with the Knicks, where for the most part he was fat and slow.

I'm not saying the whole team's juiced up, but I am saying that in this current era of pro sports, there's circumstantial evidence all over the place.

Maybe I'm sore that the C's got beat, or maybe it's that I was hoping for a much better draft pick from the Mavs next offseason. Tell me I'm crazy.

I think you are on to something here!!!  How many even took the time to read the article about Cuban's stance and financial support for research on HGH before deciding that this has NO merit??  Own up and admit it IF you didn't read that article before calling Ed out on this!!!! Man up.

Smitty77