Home Dallas Mavericks Friday Mar 8 2013

Dirk's coming to town. Where's Walter Herrmann when you need him?

Dirk Nowitzki looks like an alpaca.
...jus sayin.

I never really watched that show but Charlene Tilton played an important role in my life during my pubescent years.

Bynum cannot run an offense and contribute to running a game plan that involves anything other than alleyoops to Drummond and driving and creating his own offense. But it is what it is. He tries, and he'd succeed if we had a team of big fella around him.

On defenses, teams bully us. Mike freaking James and Vince going off in the 4th. Put him alongside Knight and Singler, the traditional wing players, and we just get killed. Other teams make this work, but...

a lot of this has to do with a trend in the NBA. The traditional PG-SG pairings are going somewhat extinct. So it is no wonder that we are getting killed every time we are doing this two and three guard crap. No assortment of two PG's/three guards are every going to succeed in the NBA We are not so well-rounded that every single man can keep their opponent in check on defense. And God forbid we add Stuckey and CV into the mix, two of the worst team defenders in the NBA.

EDIT: And as I say this... Both Bynum and Jose are in, at once. Whatever. We can be lights out (as we are right now with Middleton) but it will not generate stops.

I've always respected Victoria's Principals............

The usual 4 point guard attack. Worthless. However, for a stretch, in crunch time, we used two decent shooters out there with Calderon, Middleton, and CV. That worked pretty well. Too bad our coaching staff has zero imagination and won't consider 1)Starting such a unit, with shooters Calderon can pass off too, and two, keeping that theme all game long.

This is what the rotation should have looked like tonight:

Start Calderon, English, Middleton, Kravtsov, Monroe.

Bench: Knight, Singler, JJ, CV, JMAX

Or, if you want to maximize Calderon's options, start CV and have Kravtsov come off the bench.

How refreshing to have in the game guys the other team actually had to guard on the perimeter. Like, how many games has it been now since Bynum & Stuckey made more than 2, combined, outside shots? Bynum and Stuckey do absolutely nothing for our offense as we are running it.

Still, at least we gave one of our future stars, Middleton, who only fell out of the lottery due to injury if you recall, some time on the floor. A lot better than last game, a worthless loss that truly got us nowhere.

Middleton did well, hit a variety of shots including a couple of threes, and did just fine on defense at small forward. I would love to see us run some sets with him at shooting guard and have him drive on smaller defenders. He is a slasher, as well as a good outside shot.

Here is another possible starting unit. As Knight can hit shots when left open, it could work:

Start: Calderon, Knight, Middleton, CV, Monroe

Bench) Stuckey, English, Singler, Kravtsov, JMAX

JJ becomes the 11th man in the rotation, to fill in for foul trouble here and there as needed. Or to simply replace one of our bigs to spread the floor better. One of the worst things we did in this game is let JMAX shoot outside shots in crunch time. Totally rediculous.

PS, I like this last rotation largely because it allows Stuckey to play point surrounded by shooters, opening the floor for him to drive in. I like him drawing fouls. It helps Monroe everytime Stuckey draws a foul on a big.

When will the Pistons figure out that the other team wants Maxey catching and shooting? Calderon hasn't help out in that regard. The Mavs didn't go to Nowitzki as often as DET went to him at the end.

I smile when Middleton is in the game. It is fun watching him play.

The Pistons might have to sign a couple of 10 days if Singler is out for any time because the entire roster will have to play to make up for the minutes he got.

Watching Charlie V run is both sad and really funny.

I like Stuckey sitting.

Nice comeback. Made watching it worthwhile. Middleton's stroke is legit. Charlie got a great look at the end.

That was a nice look. BK7 was setting a nice, illegal screen to get him open.

I hope we get to see more of Middleton.

Middleton can play 40 MPG in this league. Make him a starter.

He has played one solid 20m game.

Lets not jump to conclusions here.