Sports Talk with MC

by MC

The Mavs are down 3-1. I repeat- the Mavs are down 3-1.

67 wins in the regular season. An all-star spot garnered by wingman Josh Howard. Dirk Nowitzki looking like a man on a mission to win an NBA championship and dispel thoughts of him and his team being a ragtag bunch of floozies after last season’s collapse against Miami.

Against the Golden State Warriors, Avery co. have looked more like the Atlanta Hawks rather than the mighty Dallas Mavericks.

Esteban Batista, is that you at forward?

Many sports articles written all over the internet have already talked about how Golden State has dissected Dallas’ defense with quick hits. Allow me, then, to take on a different angle in discussing this affair.

I think it’s about time Mark Cuban made major roster changes. Yes, you heard me right. It’s time to do some spring cleaning.

Option 1: Make a bid for Kevin Garnett or Jermaine O’Neal.

-Maybe they should join the “overhaul my team” bandwagon. As much as possible, though, they should try and get another established star without giving up BOTH Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki. Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse seem expendable, at this point. Dallas ought to get a real, pass first, point guard, perhaps someone in the Steve Blake or Mo Williams mould. What’s more, they need more depth in the four spot whether or not they get an all-star back from any sort of deal, perhaps someone similar to a Drew Gooden, Nene, or a Darko Millicic.

*Projected, ideal, starting five–> C- Diop, PF- Garnett/ONeal, SF- Nowitzki, SG- Harris, PG-Blake

It’s obvious at this point that Dirk cannot do it alone. Hence, maybe it’s high time we got him some help.

Option 2: Trade Dirk.

As painful as this may sound for Mavericks fans, maybe it’s high time Nowitzki was treated to a change of scenery. With his salary, and market value, Dallas should be able to get a franchise player back, or at least, should be able to get a host of solid players and cap space. In my view, Josh Howard is good enough to become the focal point of a franchise, and so, maybe, just maybe, they should consider trading Dirk, if and when teams like Seattle (Rashard Lewis and others?), Minnesota (KG?), and Memphis (Gasol?) come knocking.

Option 3: Trade Howard, Stack, Terry, and maybe even Devin Harris

Retaining Nowitzki, and giving up Stack, Howard, and Terry could give Dallas a star player plus a few solid roles. This might work for the Texans too.

If the Mavs can become a more athletic and speed driven team, while still hanging it’s hat on defense, then perhaps that would manage to get them over the top.

Please, do not acquire Vince Carter from free agency. Chauncey Billups, though, is another story altogether. He’s clutch. He’d fit right in.

Whatever happens to the Mavericks after tomorrow, after this round, and after this season, one thing’s for sure- owner Mark Cuban will probably shake things up in a big way, that is, if he doesn’t think of selling his stock first. Fans of the Bavarian Bomber and co. could have a long summer ahead whether or not Dallas eeks by the Warriors. Trigger fingers have been itchy all season long, and aren’t going to get any less settled anytime soon, not after witnessing pressure totally devour the number one team in the league for 2006-2007 once the odds were stacked way high.

Tomorrow will be a day wherein everyone associated with the Dallas Mavericks- the fans, Cuban, the coaching staff, the players, the citizens of Dallas, the trainers, etc., should take a page out of Golden State and Nellie’s playbook, for application on the hardwood and in life:

“Once in a while, it might not hurt to be loosey-goosey. Being so might make daunting tasks seem oh so easy to conquer, as opposed to making them seem exactly as they are- absolutely intimidating. Nothing to lose, nothing to prove, all the room in the world to simply express, the leave as you came.”

What’s in the number 67, people? Thanks to attitudes, and levels of passion, we’re all even.

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