When the Going Gets Tough..Get Chandler on the Court!

I said it after Game 2, when Mavs’ fans everywhere were celebrating and ready to call it a series: Dallas just did what they were supposed to do – win on their home floor. And this past weekend, that’s exactly what Portland did, too. Only in Game 4, having been down by 23 points with just over 90 seconds left in the third quarter, winning the game is the one thing Portland was not supposed to do. But in a tragic and preventable scenario all too reminiscent of Dallas’ colossal collapses in postseason play in the 2006 Finals and the 2007 series against the Warriors, the Mavericks allowed Portland to not only get back in the game, but essentially steal the victory right out from under them.

It was evident on Dirk’s face a few minutes into the fourth quarter, when he was already wearing the mixed mask of defeat and disbelief. It was obvious when Jason Kidd turned the ball over and Jason Terry started jacking up jump shots – the Mavs had already decided, even before the final buzzer sounded, that they let this one get away. It’s like Dallas, aside from Tyson Chandler, who again couldn’t remain on the floor as much as anyone – especially Tyson – would have liked, had mentally checked out and moved on to Game 5 here at home.

It breaks my heart to say this, since I love and adore Dirk more than probably anyone on the planet, aside from his family, but it all begins with the big German. More than anyone else on the 2005-2006 team that went to the Finals and failed, Dirk felt the sting of the lost opportunity. And it has haunted him ever since. I know that sounds like an odd thing to say about a superstar of his caliber, a former MVP, a ten time All-Star, and undoubtedly the most gifted player to ever don a Mavs’ uniform, but it’s the honest truth. Sure, Dirk has still been able to perform at amazing levels on a consistent basis, continuing to be one of the top players in the world. But on some level, in the cobweb filled recesses of his mind, the Miami (and even Golden State) series play on an endless loop, serving as an around the clock reminder of how close he (and his teammates) were to reaching their ultimate goal. And when things start moving in the wrong direction, that video loop starts moving to the forefront of Dirk’s mind, and before anyone realizes what has happened, Dirk has already admitted defeat to himself, unwittingly leading his teammates down the same mental path.

Jason Terry, as the only other holdover from the ’05-’06 Mavericks, also remembers the feelings of anger, frustration, and sheer panic that took hold of the team as Miami moved ever closer to stealing away their championship, one game at a time. Rather than look defeated, however, Terry tends to revert to the ways of the pre-Tyson Chandler Mavericks, who thought jacking up one jumpshot after another would solve and every problem the team might face. Should Dallas somehow not make it out of the first round of the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five years, I can’t imagine Cuban doing anything other than blowing this team apart. And this time, I’d almost have to agree with that decision.

The one player, for the Mavericks, who has the potential to turn this series around and help Dirk and Jet get over their past failures and move forward on a winning path is Tyson Chandler. He is the key, the lynchpin, the glue that has the power to hold this team together when times get tough. Having come into Dallas for a fresh start, not having been a part of any of their recent string of early postseason exits, Chandler doesn’t suffer from the same defeatist mentality that his comrades in arms do. He believes they can win, and if he could just stay out of foul trouble and on the floor, he could be the vocal, emotional, wearing his heart on his sleeve type of leader that could take this team to the promised land of NBA glory. But he has got to be out on the floor, in the thick of the battle, or his voice will go unheard. Simply cheering his teammates from the bench isn’t enough. Tyson has to be on the court, because without his determined and defensive presence, these Mavericks just don’t have the mental mettle to make it out of the first round. And although I survived the hellhole that was the 1990s as a Dallas Mavericks fan, and have thoroughly enjoyed the roller coaster ride that has been the Mark Cuban era, including 11 straight 50+ win season, the thought of seeing my beloved Mavericks go through another exercise in postseason futility is more than even I can stomach.

So I’m begging you, my Mavericks – please don’t let me down. I’d hate to have to become a fan of that other team in Texas…you know, the Houston Rockets.

Dallas Does It Again, Takes 2-0 Series Lead to Portland

Dear Tommy,

Happy early birthday! Hope you enjoyed the game.

Sincerely,
Your Dallas Mavericks

That’s the text message my father received right after the Mavs upped their series lead to 2-0 against the Portland Trailblazers. No, it didn’t really come from the team – I’m the one who sent the message. But I’m sure Dad appreciated the sentiment nonetheless. As we exchanged texts and reveled in the beauty of another Mavericks’ postseason victory, a nagging little voice in the back of my head kept interrupting my celebration. What are you so excited about? the annoying monotone drone asked. All your beloved Mavs have done so far is exactly what they were supposed to do: protect their home court.

And as much as I hate to admit it, the voice was right. These two games mean nothing if Dallas can't go into Portland and walk away with at least one more victory.

Sure, it was another fantastic game, and the Mavs found ways to improve on defense. And even facing the officiating horrors of Dan Crawford, a nationally known Mavs killer, Dallas still managed to walk away with the W. (Which now makes us 3-16 with Crawford in the house, and 48-41 under everyone else in the postseason since 2001). Dirk had another off game – amazing how 33 points is an “off night” for the big German – and Jason Kidd played out of his mind yet again, finishing with 18 points on 7-11 shots, including 3-of-6 from behind the arc. And Peja Stojakovic, the “Serbian Sniper” (thanks, Mark Followill!) did exactly what the Mavericks brought him here to do: he made the enemy pay for leaving him open, drilling 8-of-13 shots (5-for-10 on three pointers) for 21 points. And Blazers’ Coach Nate McMillan’s bellyaching about the officiating in Game 1 even paid off, as Portland attempted one more free throw than Dallas this time around.

Not that it mattered. Last night, aside from Brendan Haywood’s continued poor free throw shooting (has there ever been an NBA player with a worse percentage than Haywood this season?), Dallas did everything right. They spread the floor, they got good shots, and quite surprisingly to many people, the Mavericks played some killer defense. In fact, their defense was so good late in the fourth that it prompted former-Maverick-turned-TV-analyst Derek Harper to repeat the oft quoted mantra, “Defense wins championships.”

While I’m not ready to hand the NBA title over to the Mavericks just yet, as a lifelong Mavs fan and eternal optimist when it comes to my boys in blue and white, I’m heading in that direction..one game at a time. Should the Spurs and Lakers continue to play as lackadaisically as they did on Sunday (which unfortunately I don’t really think they will), the road out of the West might be even easier than anyone previously expected. A girl can dream, right??

**The picture is of Dad's name on the scoreboard for the birthday announcements just prior to tipoff.***

Chandler, Terry Recognized for Outstanding Efforts

Jason Terry almost did it again. Already named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year once before, Jet came in second overall in the voting, behind this year’s winner, LA’s Lamar Odom. Speaking from a sheer statistical standpoint, Terry’s scoring average (15.8) and assists per game (4.1) were higher than Odom’s totals (14.4 ppg and 3 assists), so the award could have easily gone either way.

Earlier this week, the NBA announced that Dwight Howard had become the league’s first three-peat Defensive Player of the Year. Fantastic for Howard, whom I love and adore (see, I can be a fan of great basketballers, even when they sport the wrong colored jerseys!), but what I found even more exciting is that the Mavericks’ own Tyson Chandler came in THIRD in the voting. I, along with legions of other loyal Mavs’ fans, have definitely noticed the change in attitude and the trend toward playing more complete defense that has come to this team in the form of Tyson Chandler. But I’m thrilled to see that Chandler’s impact has been recognized not only locally, but at the national level. The difference he has made in this team is unmistakable, and it’s great to see the media acknowledge Chandler’s efforts.

And while I’m sure both Jet and Tyson may feel a twinge of disappointment at not winning their respective awards, basketball isn’t now nor has it ever been an individual sport. More than any other professional sport, basketball is all about the team. And besides, the only real hardware I think any of these Dallas Mavericks are hoping for, plain and simply, is a championship ring.

The REAL Reason for the Mavs' Struggles

I did a favor for a friend, and in return, I was given not only two lower level tickets to Wednesday night’s game against the revamped Denver Nuggets, but also two postgame passes which would get me down on the floor after the game. Not to mention, it was the Dirk and J-Kidd Future Hall of Famer double bobblehead giveaway. Needless to say, I was more excited than usual as Dad and I made our way to the arena. And then the game started…and it was all downhill from there, as the Mavs lost yet again.

As a tried and true blue Mavs fan, I’ve been very disheartened of late, especially since the second half debacle that took place against the Lakers. In a game we needed to win, not only did we lose, we lost in the worst possible way…and then followed that up with two more losses, this time to inferior teams. Then we add in another loss, this time against a potential playoff opponent, and it’s no wonder I’m bummed and had to take the day off work yesterday. (Ok, honestly, it was just exhaustion catching up with me – at least that’s what I’m telling myself!)

Normally, I’m not one to play the blame game when it comes to losing. I figure it is what it is, a failure, and many people had a hand in it. But after watching my beloved Mavs fall apart yet again and continue in their current process of backpedaling into the playoffs, it’s time for me to step up and start pointing the finger (no, not that finger!) at all those responsible for the Mavs’ sudden decline at the most inopportune of times:

1. For Wednesday night’s loss to Denver, I blame Dad. For the first time that I can remember, he did not wear a Mavericks’ shirt of some shape or sort to the game. True, he does get credit for his Mavs hat, but just as Dallas fell short, so did my Dad’s game day attire.

2. I blame my Mom. No, she didn’t even go to the game, but as we were leaving work, she noted how I would be “so happy” when I returned to work on Thursday because the Mavs would win the game. Erhh, wrong answer. Predicting a win somehow always seems to end in defeat….kinda like how the Mavs always seem to lose once Charles Barkley decides to jump on their bandwagon.

3. I blame my friend Jay, for being upfront and honest with me. He told me before the Mavs went on their recent six game West Coast road swing that he had “a bad feeling” about this. Being the eternal infernal optimist, I felt compelled to defend my boys and disagree. There’s so much egg on my face right now I could whip up an omelet. Next time, if you’re really my friend, lie to me, please!

4. Enough of the ridiculousness. Although I’m rarely one to criticize the coach when a team fails, primarily because he is not out on the court when it counts, after Wednesday night, I can keep quiet no longer. The only question is, where do I begin? How about with the starting lineup? Why in the world, in a game with potential playoff implications, would you “rest” Jason Kidd? True, Kidd’s legs aren’t as young and fresh as they once were, but there are three straight games coming up against non-playoff teams, and any one of those would have been a better night to rest Kidd. Besides that, it was Kidd-Dirk bobblehead night, an evening to honor the future Hall of Famers, and people came to see Kidd play. So why disappoint the fans?

Secondly, starting Roddy B at point guard is just plain dumb. First of all, the Mavs’ coaching staff seriously needs to quit trying to make the poor kid be something he’s not. Beaubois, by nature, is not a point guard, yet Dallas insists on throwing him in that position. Granted, Roddy is quick and athletic, but he’s much more of a slasher than a distributor. He’s a natural two guard, but the Mavs are increasingly reluctant to give him meaningful minutes – or any, actually – in his rightful position. If you’re gonna sit J-Kidd, only one of the best point guards in the history of the damn game, don’t do it in favor of Roddy. It puts too much pressure on a kid who isn’t ready to handle it, and likely never will be. If you must start someone else, why not Barea? He may be undersized, but what he lacks in height he makes up for in heart. He is fearless on the floor, unafraid to mix it up with the big men in the paint, and unafraid to fling his body to the floor if he thinks he can draw the charge. Plus, as evidenced by his double digit assists on Wednesday, Barea knows how to distribute the basketball.

Thirdly, Coach Carlisle needs to learn how to use Dirk and Peja together more effectively. When teams double down on Dirk, Peja needs to be open on the perimeter, prepared to sink the three or the open jumper which have become his trademarks over the years. But against the Nuggets, every time Carlisle put Dirk in the game, he pulled Peja our or vice versa. Again, the coach was not making the most of the weapons he had available to him. In the postgame presser, I overheard Carlisle talking about how his playoff rotation is “still wide open.” Say what?!? We’re ten days from the freaking playoffs, and the Coach has no idea who he plans to play when it really counts? Nevermind the fact that the players have been consistently shuffled in and out of the lineup (Terry, Stevenson, and Marion); the Coach needs to know where he intends to go with this, and Carlisle seems essentially clueless.

I’m starting to think maybe Dad’s right. Maybe the real problem with Coach Carlisle is...

5. …his lack of hair. Maybe like Samson’s superhuman strength, Carlisle’s amazing coaching abilities will only reappear when his hair grows back, and he once again looks like a Jim Carrey impersonator.

For the sake of the entire organization and Mavs’s fans everywhere, let’s hope it’s not the hair, because the playoffs are a week away, and unless someone substitutes Miracle-Gro for Carlisle’s shampoo, we’re all in a world of hurt.