Speaking as a Raptors fan, there is no way I would do the Vince-Nash-Brand trade. Vince Carter is younger and more valuable than Nash. I know a lot of fans here want Nash but it would be a horrible trade to give up Vince for Nash. Vince is a legitimate superstar who can create his own shots (his downside is injuries and bad defense). He is a top 10 (or maybe top 15) player in the league. He has been consistently putting up 20ppg regardless of whether the Raptors suck or not. He also consistently faces double-teams on a regular basis (just like T-Mac, Pierce and others). Nash can’t help an average to below-average team like Toronto. He would be completely shut down.

I also don’t think Clippers would give up Brand although I’m sure they would be ok with getting Vince (Vince will autmoatically put people in seats and create some excitement). Corey Maggette is similar to Vince (although not a superstar like Vince) so you would have two similar players.

I think if you want a big player for Dallas, you probably have to look at Chicago. You can probably get Tyson Chandler, who is falling out of favour in Chicago. He isn’t a superstar like Brand but he will be an upgrade over what you guys have in Dallas now. You probably have to give up Antawn Jamison or Antonie Walker. I’m not sure if salaries match but Chandler+draft pick for Antoine Walker sounds reasonable…

Reporer:”GW are there weapons og Massive destruction?”

GW:” Well uh, we’re looking…Uh..we will find them any day now..never know..uh go to go…”.

Mark the Mavs need to be overhauled. It is up to your individual players to learn the game and improve their offensive game. This something that they can do over the summer.

But, it is up to the coaching staff to teach your team how to play defense. The Mavs are lackluster in this category. Yeah, so the Mavs did shoot a bunch of threes. Boo Hoo….The Mavs still failed to get into someones face and make a defensive stop. That is the difference between the Mavs and the Kings. They Kings can get in your face. And C-Webb leads the bunch.

As a businessman you are smart Mark. You are very matured and have come to learn that winning isn’t always about championships. It is about filling the stands. But, please admit the truth. You know that the Mavs as they are now, cannot compete in the playoffs and will not win a championship with its current roster.

You have to question yourelf and your team. You have to have players that hold themselves accountable for getting after the other team.

Did any of your players or coachesgo to work the very next day after the Mavs were eliminated? Did your players start working out? How many of the Mavs are starting practice early in the morning and ending late at night. Are the players going over Dirks and playing day in and day out?

Winning teams have the ability to dominate games with defense. Great players have the ability to dominate games with offense. Put them together and you have a winning team. Do you see the difference? The Mavs have a team full of scorers.

To everyone that thinks the Mavs have a chance, your (your’re) kidding yourself. The Mavs have no commitment.

As an owner I am sure that you can detect certain attributes-which of the players is going to be the better athlete, who is going to be more successful on the court, what kind of shots each person is going to take.

You could go back two or three decades and you won’t find a NBA Championship team that did not know how to get after the ball and create stops at key moments. Each of those teams had a superstar with special ability But, they also had role players and defensive. While the Mavs might have the same kind of ability that other teams do, they lack defensive cohesion. The Mavs believe they can playany and beat them in a heartbeat. Despite their lack of defensive they think they can win. Yet the Mavs never got the same opportunities.

It is fairly easy to remain critical of you and the Mavs. You are responsible for the players and image of the Mavs. Not tomorrow or the next day, but every minute of every day. I cann’t think selfishly. There continue to be sacrifices based on the commitment of owning a team that you have. And for that, you desrve respect. It is not easy trying to put a great entertainment company together.

It is not easy to make fans see youm the players, and coaches as more like them, more of a person with problems and issues. There are many personal issues that can make it difficult to succeed on the floor. I can respect that they players are not just playing a game that pays them a lot of money and earns them adoration of millions of fans. It isn’t that simple. Basketball is a businessat the end of the day.

Watching the Spurs the game I was disappointed watching Parker. It was almost like watching Steve Nash and companyu on Defense. Park or Bowen never stayed lower than their man. Neither player was never ready to move. If you examine both players defense a little closer, you will see that their heads were up higher than the offensive player most of time. They were never in a defensive mind set.

The Spurs did a better job in the first two games and game 5 of getting a hand in the face of the ball handler. The only way the Spurs could have won was by contesting the shot and pass. When they did that they did a great job of closing on the dribbler or cutter.

The Spurs knew they had to PREVENT PERIMETER PASSES TO KOBE, in spite of screens or other diversions. They knew that HUSTLE, once KOBE gets the ball, IS TOO LATE. They should have DOUBLED and made someone else hit shots. This is exactly what LA did to the Spurs.

Think the Mav’s can learn for this?

I hope your not buying Don Nelson’s, “Mitch Richmond for Billy Owens” trade talk. The Mavs need to make a trade. Now, with that in mind, you don’t make the trade if your going to get the short end of the stick. But, if you can move Steve Nash and a few other players, for some quality players take it.

Don’s breath would better be wasted trying to teach players to learn to play without the basketball. Of course, your team does not have to many players with similar games who need the basketball in their hands to be effective. Of course Steve Nash keeps his man in front of him. Of course the Mavs can fustrate KG, Shaq, or Tim Duncan in the lane.

We all know that you don’t have to concentrate so much on scoring in the NBA. Everyone can shot the lights out if they get a good look. But, if they Mavs play defense, we can see how good they really are. It would be interesting to see how the Mavs would respond in half-court games. Would they win? Or, would the other team be able to limit the Mavs looks at good shots. Could Steve Nash actually rank among league leaders in a half-court set?

ANY COACH THAt SAYS,”EVERYBODY TRIES. WE JUST DON’T HAVE THE DEFENSIVE ABILITIES,” needs to be fired.

Come on Don. Who are you fooling. The Mavs are lazy when it comes to D-Fense. You know that the only way the Mavs can make the came interesting is to run and gun. If the Mavs played in more half court sets they would be killed, attendance would fall, and the Mavs at best would be a 50-45 wins a season team.

If defense is such a priority of your players, why why don’t we see them put a body on the rebounder consistantly, or inbounder. Why don’t the Mavs get a hand in the passing lane or in the face of every defender. Playing mised defenses is not going to fool anyone at that level. It is only going to make it easier for the best players in the world to find out open looks and knock down shots. But, that is want you want. It is all about the stands. Its about keeping the stands full at the end of the day.

You want to speed up the game. And your players agreeing to employ such a bad defensive strategy shows that they have no heart.

If you were serious about winning the Nelsons and Harris would be gone. You would bring in fresh blood, perhaps Kenny Smith. You would hire a new GM who could exert pressure on players.

A GM that knows the game. A GM that understands the balance of business on and off the court. I am going to go out on a limb and make a prediction. New York will be in the Finals next season.

If Dirk cannot carry his offensive toughness to the defensive end, then he needs to go. Yeah he can shoot, but if he is going to allow the other guy to score, what good is he? Isn’t a superstar someone who out performs his man by a considerable margin. He outscores and outrebounds his oppossing defensive man. He even outpasses him.

Something needs to shaken up in Dallas. Another superstar needs to be on the court if you decide to keep Dirk.

“We play hard at both ends,” Nowitzki says. “It isn’t like we aren’t trying.” Trying aint good enough. You’ve go to do it like your survival depends on it. You have to be hungry. Cannot teach hunger.

Trade’em.

Reporter:”GW are there weapons of Mass destruction?”

GW:” Well uh, we’re looking…Uh..we will find them any day now..never know..uh go to go…”.

Mark the Mavs need to be overhauled. It is up to your individual players to learn the game and improve their offensive game. This something that they can do over the summer.

But, it is up to the coaching staff to teach your team how to play defense. The Mavs are lackluster in this category. Yeah, so the Mavs did shoot a bunch of threes. Boo Hoo….The Mavs still failed to get into someones face and make a defensive stop. That is the difference between the Mavs and the Kings. They Kings can get in your face. And C-Webb leads the bunch.

As a businessman you are smart Mark. You are very matured and have come to learn that winning isn’t always about championships. It is about filling the stands. But, please admit the truth. You know that the Mavs as they are now, cannot compete in the playoffs and will not win a championship with its current roster.

You have to question yourelf and your team. You have to have players that hold themselves accountable for getting after the other team.

Did any of your players or coachesgo to work the very next day after the Mavs were eliminated? Did your players start working out? How many of the Mavs are starting practice early in the morning and ending late at night. Are the players going over Dirks and playing day in and day out?

Winning teams have the ability to dominate games with defense. Great players have the ability to dominate games with offense. Put them together and you have a winning team. Do you see the difference? The Mavs have a team full of scorers.

To everyone that thinks the Mavs have a chance, your (your’re) kidding yourself. The Mavs have no commitment.

As an owner I am sure that you can detect certain attributes-which of the players is going to be the better athlete, who is going to be more successful on the court, what kind of shots each person is going to take.

You could go back two or three decades and you won’t find a NBA Championship team that did not know how to get after the ball and create stops at key moments. Each of those teams had a superstar with special ability But, they also had role players and defensive. While the Mavs might have the same kind of ability that other teams do, they lack defensive cohesion. The Mavs believe they can playany and beat them in a heartbeat. Despite their lack of defensive they think they can win. Yet the Mavs never got the same opportunities.

It is fairly easy to remain critical of you and the Mavs. You are responsible for the players and image of the Mavs. Not tomorrow or the next day, but every minute of every day. I cann’t think selfishly. There continue to be sacrifices based on the commitment of owning a team that you have. And for that, you desrve respect. It is not easy trying to put a great entertainment company together.

It is not easy to make fans see youm the players, and coaches as more like them, more of a person with problems and issues. There are many personal issues that can make it difficult to succeed on the floor. I can respect that they players are not just playing a game that pays them a lot of money and earns them adoration of millions of fans. It isn’t that simple. Basketball is a businessat the end of the day.

Watching the Spurs the game I was disappointed watching Parker. It was almost like watching Steve Nash and companyu on Defense. Park or Bowen never stayed lower than their man. Neither player was never ready to move. If you examine both players defense a little closer, you will see that their heads were up higher than the offensive player most of time. They were never in a defensive mind set.

The Spurs did a better job in the first two games and game 5 of getting a hand in the face of the ball handler. The only way the Spurs could have won was by contesting the shot and pass. When they did that they did a great job of closing on the dribbler or cutter.

The Spurs knew they had to PREVENT PERIMETER PASSES TO KOBE, in spite of screens or other diversions. They knew that HUSTLE, once KOBE gets the ball, IS TOO LATE. They should have DOUBLED and made someone else hit shots. This is exactly what LA did to the Spurs.

Think the Mav’s can learn for this?

I hope your not buying Don Nelson’s, “Mitch Richmond for Billy Owens” trade talk. The Mavs need to make a trade. Now, with that in mind, you don’t make the trade if your going to get the short end of the stick. But, if you can move Steve Nash and a few other players, for some quality players take it.

Don’s breath would better be wasted trying to teach players to learn to play without the basketball. Of course, your team does not have to many players with similar games who need the basketball in their hands to be effective. Of course Steve Nash keeps his man in front of him. Of course the Mavs can fustrate KG, Shaq, or Tim Duncan in the lane.

We all know that you don’t have to concentrate so much on scoring in the NBA. Everyone can shot the lights out if they get a good look. But, if they Mavs play defense, we can see how good they really are. It would be interesting to see how the Mavs would respond in half-court games. Would they win? Or, would the other team be able to limit the Mavs looks at good shots. Could Steve Nash actually rank among league leaders in a half-court set?

ANY COACH THAt SAYS,”EVERYBODY TRIES. WE JUST DON’T HAVE THE DEFENSIVE ABILITIES,” needs to be fired.

Come on Don. Who are you fooling. The Mavs are lazy when it comes to D-Fense. You know that the only way the Mavs can make the came interesting is to run and gun. If the Mavs played in more half court sets they would be killed, attendance would fall, and the Mavs at best would be a 50-45 wins a season team.

If defense is such a priority of your players, why why don’t we see them put a body on the rebounder consistantly, or inbounder. Why don’t the Mavs get a hand in the passing lane or in the face of every defender. Playing mised defenses is not going to fool anyone at that level. It is only going to make it easier for the best players in the world to find out open looks and knock down shots. But, that is want you want. It is all about the stands. Its about keeping the stands full at the end of the day.

You want to speed up the game. And your players agreeing to employ such a bad defensive strategy shows that they have no heart.

If you were serious about winning the Nelsons and Harris would be gone. You would bring in fresh blood, perhaps Kenny Smith. You would hire a new GM who could exert pressure on players.

A GM that knows the game. A GM that understands the balance of business on and off the court. I am going to go out on a limb and make a prediction. New York will be in the Finals next season.

If Dirk cannot carry his offensive toughness to the defensive end, then he needs to go. Yeah he can shoot, but if he is going to allow the other guy to score, what good is he? Isn’t a superstar someone who out performs his man by a considerable margin. He outscores and outrebounds his oppossing defensive man. He even outpasses him.

Something needs to shaken up in Dallas. Another superstar needs to be on the court if you decide to keep Dirk.

“We play hard at both ends,” Nowitzki says. “It isn’t like we aren’t trying.” Trying aint good enough. You’ve go to do it like your survival depends on it. You have to be hungry. Cannot teach hunger.

Trade’em.

The only team in the entire NBA that had more than 60 wins were the Pacers.

So, if I take your comment to heart.. do you mean to tell me that the Lakers (who only won 56 games) and the Spurs (who won 57) and the Kings (who won 55) and the Timberwolves (who won 58).. I won’t dip into the East.. because the sad fact is most of those teams who are in the Playoffs.. did not even win 50 games..

Do you mean to tell me that NOT one of those teams is not “taking a run” at the championship because they didn’t win 60 games?

Give me a break. Cuban is not gonna “revolutionize” the Mavericks following your precious little game plan because you took 5 minutes out of your day to post on a blog.

Get some capital, buy your own NBA team and spare us your diatribes about how “you think” the Mavs should be run. Nobody cares.

First, let me list the key components. I will use the bulls, lakers, and spurs championship teams to illustrate.

1)Dominant Player: One of the league’s top 7.
-History
#Bulls: Jordan obviously, and some would say
Pippen.
#Lakers: Shaq, Kobe
#Spurs: Duncan
*Mavs are close with Dirk but I’m not quite
sure he is “complete” enough right now.
2)”Dawg” as I like to call it. This player is
the other team’s nightmare. Attitude and
elbows, as well as productivity.
-History
#Bulls: Pippen locked down on D, Rodman was
unbelievable; whether anybody “liked” him
or not as a person (turned being a “dawg”
into an artform against Malone and the
Jazz.
#Lakers: Kobe shows flashes when he plays
like the 1st team all-defensive player he
is. Mark Madsen! (And he can dance!)
#Spurs: Bruce Bowen; lock down D and a nice
stroke from the corner.
*Mavs have Finley, he fits this role very
well. Howard also fits well into this
category because he is so hungry.
(Ron Artest is possibly the best of all
time in the spot and the Pistons have
a team full of players that fit this
role)
3)Shooter: Hits very consistently from outside
but in the realm of what the team is trying
to accomplish as a whole.
-History
#Bulls: Paxson several years, then Kerr.
#Lakers: Glen Rice came in for a year,
Derrick Fisher.
#Spurs: Bruce Bowen, Sean Elliot before him.
*No lack of shooters on the Mavs, and I know
this sounds so old, but dang, shot
selection inside of the TEAM is huge.
4) Balls: Guts, Kahunas, Intestinal Fortitude..
Many names, same meaning; sometimes it’s
a team attitude from the start, sometimes it
takes one guy to step up and nake it
happen.
-History
#Bulls: Jordan (Crap he’s All-Everything),
Gutting out wins with the flu is not for
the weak hearted and winning six rings isn’t
either.
#Lakers: Shaq’s got ‘em, Kobe goes out of
his way to show ‘em, and Robert Horry wore
‘em out for the world to see…(Ain’t that
right Maloof Bro’s?!)
#Spurs: Am I the only one who see’s the
“Quiet Giant” spew fire out of his mouth
when it’s time to get dirty? Make no
mistake, Tim’s demeanor is mild, even in crunch time, but when it comes down to it, even the Big Fundamental gets the fire of a champion.
*This, unfortunately is what I see the Mavs
lacking, which is unfortunate because I
think this would put them over the top.

Bear in mind, this is strictly what I see as far as personel goes. The Mavs are a very good organization with potential to be great. The only way to go all the way is to have all the pieces filled and the Mavs are sooo dang close.

<3 cali (plano, tx)