The Mavericks were down 10 points with just 3 minutes to go, but they were led back by who else, but Dirk Nowitzki. The big man scored Dallas’ last 8 points, including a three-pointer with just 2 seconds left that won the game 100-98. Dirk finished with 35 points on a ridiculous 14-17 shooting.

(H/T @shighkinNBA for the video)

One thing he can’t do, however, is lead a fast break. He tried to do so earlier tonight against the Spurs, and finished it by running right through the Spurs’ Cory Joseph.

(H/T to @SBNationNBA)

Feb 13, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings (3) sets up a play during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Bradley Center. The Bucks beat the 76ers 94-92. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

With the trade deadline fast approaching, here are some of the latest news and rumors regarding potential trades around the league.

Brandon Jennings:

Is he happy in Milwaukee or not? Conflicting reports have surfaced about the young point guard’s future in the recent days.

Chad Ford of ESPN.com cited sources saying that Jennings has

“irreconcilable differences”

with the Bucks. Jennings, however, refuted those claims, saying,

“that stuff never came out of my mouth.”

We can’t know the truth, but Jennings did turn down a long-term deal earlier in the year.

If the Bucks do decide to trade Jennings, they will certainly have suitors. According to Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks would be one of those teams.

Mavs, I’m told, do have interest in Brandon Jennings and will be in mix for him if Bucks opt to make RFA-to-be available b4 Feb. 21 deadline

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 13, 2013

The Mavericks recently traded for Darren Collison, but Jennings would be an immediate upgrade at the point guard position.

Utah Jazz:

With an excess of big men, rumors have long been swirling about the Jazz making a move before the deadline. Most people thought that Paul Millsap would be the first one to go, but that may not be the case.

According to Rich Bucher,

“While I noted several days ago that Paul Millsap appeared to be the likelier Jazz big man to be dealt before the February trade deadline, an opposing team executive said there is more league-wide interest in Al Jefferson”

Whether or not they deal one of their many big men, the Jazz will likely not be able to afford both Millsap and Jefferson, especially with Gordon Hayward coming up for an extension soon.

Jan 15, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Hornets guard Greivis Vasquez (21) shoots a layup during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA is a star studded league filled with incredible talent. Guys like Kevin Durant and LeBron James run the Association. However, it’s easy to overlook the talent of the other immensely gifted players, because a lot of people pay closer attention to the best guys on teams that are successful. If you’re on the Magic then forget it you must stink, right? Wrong. I put together a list of five guys, on losing teams, that hardly get noticed for their play. Enjoy.

Kemba Walker, Charlotte Bobcats Kemba Walker is a star in the making and since he plays for the lowly Bobcats, he’s often overlooked. I’ll admit that he didn’t live up to expectations in his rookie year but he’s really made an impact in his sophomore season. Walker has really improved in every facet of the game since last year. Through Tuesday, he’s averaging 17.3 PPG which is almost 5.0 more points a game than last years average. Although, he’s stood pat at 3.5 RPG he has increased his averages in assists, steals, and blocks. In fact, he has either tied or bettered the averages of All-Star, Kyrie Irving. Now I’m not saying that Walker should be an All-star but what I am saying is that his numbers call for more attention than he’s getting. Walker’s field goal, 3-point, and free throw percentages are also all up from last year.

Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons Am I the only one that thinks Lawrence Frank is out of his mind for playing Drummond a measly 20 MPG? According to Basketball-Reference.com, the guy is averaging 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks per 36 minutes. Those are unbelievable numbers for Drummond, who was thought to be extremely raw coming out of college. There is really no justification for starting Maxiell over Drummond and I would love to hear any sort of reasoning Frank might have. Drummond is an explosive athlete with loads of potential. Unfortunately, fans hardly know about his success due to the small amount of playing time he gets and because he plays for the Detroit Pistons. I can’t imagine it will be too much longer until Drummond makes a name for himself in this league.

O.J. Mayo, Dallas Mavericks For some reason I feel like only a handful of people have noticed how vital O.J. Mayo has been for Dallas. The USC product did everything he possibly could to keep the Mavs relevant until Dirk returned from injury. Since Dirk has returned, Mayo hasn’t been as effective but he continues to show us what he can be as a basketball player. After failing to meet expectations in Memphis a fresh start in Dallas was just what he needed. He’d no longer be buried on the bench and he would be able to silence the doubts people may have had. Mayo has averaged career highs in almost every major category. This includes his conversion rate of 42% from beyond the arc. If I’m Memphis, I wish I had kept him because he would’ve been able to fill the void left by Rudy Gay seamlessly. Oh well, all they can do is watch as he quietly does his thing for a struggling Dallas squad.

Greivis Vasquez, New Orleans Hornets Greivis Vasquez is having a career year but playing for the 15th ranked team in the Western Conference doesn’t help. It also doesn’t help that he has rookie phenom Anthony Davis, who garners all of the attention, for a teammate. Vasquez ranks third in the league in assists per game, second if you don’t count Rondo. He’s only trailing Chris Paul by 0.1 assists.

Ill give you a moment to let that sink in. Ok, time’s up. Seeing as Greivis only trails two other point guards in the race for the assist crown, that also means for more mind boggling news. Vasquez has more assists than the likes of Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, Steve Nash, etc. Those guys are all considered elite and while Vasquez isn’t elite yet, he definitely has the whole passing thing down. Look for him to only get better year after year.

Earl Clark, Los Angeles Lakers Earl Clark was supposed to be a throw in so the Lakers could get Dwight Howard, right? Well if he is just a throw in, he’s a pretty good one. Clark isn’t the kind of guy that’s going to put up eye popping numbers. However, he is someone that’s going to give 110% night in and night out. In 21 minutes per game, Clark is putting up 7 points and 6 rebounds. Again, not exactly star numbers but he’s not really a star, he’s a glue guy. He’s been a small bright spot in the Lakers nightmare of a season, filling in admirably for the likes of Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol. We’ll get to see a lot more of Clark now because of both Howard and Gasol being injured. I wouldn’t be shocked if he was a 10 and 10 guy when Gasol returns in 6-8 weeks.

*All stats from NBA.com unless otherwise noted.*

Follow @TimMaclean_StS

May 3, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) drives to the basket during game three in the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the American Airlines Center. The Thunder defeated the Mavericks 95-79. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

Dirk Nowitzki
Resume: 21.6 points (8th in league), 6.8 rebounds, 33.5 minutes, 318 free throws made (6th in league), 46% FG, 90% FT (3rd in league) and 37% 3PT… Team record in games played: 33-29 (3-1 without)… Playoffs: 26.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 44% FG, 0-4 record… All-Star, 12th in MVP Voting, 3rd Team All-NBA

A year ago today was a very dark time in the world. On this day in 2011 the NBA players and owners were once again sitting down to attempt to end the lockout, this time with federal mediator George Cohen, who was unsuccessful in his attempt to end the NFL lockout, so naturally he’d find success with a different group of millionaires and billionaires. I remain thoroughly convinced that in some of the earlier meetings the owners and players did nothing that involved rationally ending the lockout. In my head I believe the 3 day series of meetings on October 18^th to October 20^th went something like this: On day one the “negotiations” began when three NBA players and three owners decided they would try to settle the lockout the good old fashioned way: Monopoly. Of course because Monopoly takes forever, they couldn’t finish the game on day one. Day two began and they re-started the game. Three hours into the “negotiations” the players realized that David Stern (the banker) was giving the owners extra money and properties so the game came to a screeching halt. The next four hours everyone sat in complete silence. Then for the rest of day two and the entirety of day three they watched the Godfather Trilogy. The end.

There was really no reason to believe that there would even be a 2011-12 season. This was particularly unfortunate for me, a LeBron James fan, because LeBron was coming off an NBA Finals meltdown that was tragically overshadowing a much bigger story. What had happened a few months prior was Dirk Nowitzki throwing his name in the discussion for 2^nd greatest power forward of all-time after delivering a legacy defining run through the postseason where he not only defeated, but outplayed Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Not an easy feat, but Dirk pulled it off and made a legitimate case that he was the best basketball player in the world, even if nobody really cared too much about it.

If anything, the NBA lockout hurt Dirk’s cause. The extra two months of offseason should’ve given us a little bit longer to discuss what he did in the playoffs, but instead too much of it was being spent discussing LeBron choking, the lockout itself, the Chris Paul trade debacle, and everything else negative.
Dirk showed up for the season out of shape, Mark Cuban decimated the Mavericks in an attempt to
clear cap space, and the Mavericks never really had a chance to compete for a Championship last season. The Mavericks didn’t even get to enjoy raising the championship banner since the Heat decimated them in Dallas on Christmas day. Suddenly everyone had completely forgotten about Dirk and the Mavericks all over again. The playoffs came, Dallas got swept in the first round and LeBron put together a much more dominant run through the postseason than Dirk did in 2011. The media talked about it for weeks, leaving me to ask the question, where was all of Dirk’s praise?

You could make the case that Dirk will be the forgotten star of his era.  Because of the emphasis on endorsements, super teams, personalities and winning multiple titles, there is a decent chance that Dirk is going to be lost in the shuffle of all of the late 90’s/00’s stars when their era is over. Since the Mavericks seemingly don’t have a roster that can compete for a title, these next few years we can’t just forget about Dirk when he is still around. We should appreciate the brilliance of a 7’0 power footer who can score the ball with incredible ease in the same ways a shooting guard and a center would. He’s the closest thing we’ve seen to Larry Bird since Larry Bird, and perhaps the greatest international player in basketball history. For two months in 2011 Dirk outplayed everyone else in the NBA, and even with an offseason that was extended by an extra two months, he wasn’t talked about enough.

• 

  Sep 28, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks shooting guard O.J. Mayo (32) poses for a portrait during media day at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

  O.J. MAYO, SG, Dallas Mavericks
  Last season: 26.8 MPG, 12.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 14.76 PER
  Mark Cuban and the Mavericks are welcoming some newcomers to Big D this season. While Darren Collison, Chris Kaman and Elton Brand will all be featured on a changed Mavs squad, it’s O.J. Mayo that I expect to be the guy who can make the true difference. After almost two full seasons (120 of 137 games) of coming off the bench for the Grizzlies, Mayo will get a chance to start in Dallas. He went as far to say earlier today that his time in Memphis was a “failure.” Think he has a chip on his shoulder? Until very recently (Championship Tyson Chandler), the Big “D” in Dallas certainly didn’t stand for “defense.” Mayo is considered one of the top perimeter defenders in the league, so his contributions on that end will improve at least the Mavs shooting guard slot. From an offensive perspective, it’s easy to forget that Mayo averaged 18.5 and 17.5 points per game in his first two seasons. He should give be able to give Dirk a boost as a third or even second option.

• 

  Oct 1, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin (7) poses for a portrait during media day at the House of Blues. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

  JEREMY LIN, PG, Houston Rockets
  Last season: 26.9 MPG, 14.6 PPG, 6.2 APG, 19.97 PER
  Linsanity makes his way back to a very unfamiliar Houston Rockets roster for the 2012-13 season. With a lineup very absent of veterans, one of the biggest questions for the Rockets this year will be if Jeremy Lin can repeat what he did last year for the New York Knicks, especially coming back from a major injury? With a potential starting lineup of Lin, Kevin Martin, Chandler Parsons, Patrick Patterson and Omer Asik, Lin will need to be a carbon copy of what he was in NY for this team to win any amount of games. Martin, a career 18.4 ppg scorer, will be option number one, but Lin will need to be option number two. With some fresh-starting bigs this season, Lin will need to be an even better distributor this time around.

• 

  May 5, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay (22) reacts after missing a shot at the end of game three of the 2012 Western Conference quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Grizzlies 87-86. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

  RUDY GAY, SF, Memphis Grizzlies
  Last season: 37.3 MPG, 19.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 17.85 PER
  Rudy Gay is certainly paid like a team’s best player, but with more focus on Marc Gasol (and even Zach Randolph) these days, are we sure he’s even that anymore? Look, I love Rudy Gay and his skill set. When he was rumored to be in talks with Toronto, I was excited that I might get to see him play more than a few times. Now there is nothing wrong with 19.0 ppg, but for Memphis to get over the playoff hump, Gay may have to assert himself even more on both ends of the floor. I may be setting the bar extremely high, as Rudy is already a fine defensive player, but when I see a guy with physical attributes like that, I selfishly demand more. This team has several “stars,” but I want to see Rudy Gay strive to make an All-Star team in the West and become that superstar the Grizzlies need.

• 

  April 4, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon (10) during the first half of a game against the Denver Nuggets at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Nuggets 94-92. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

  ERIC GORDON, SG, New Orleans Hornets
  Last season: 34.4 MPG, 20.6 PPG, 3.4 APG, 19.23 PER
  Yes, Anthony Davis is an obvious X-Factor for these young Hornets. He will be a defensive monster and likely coast to the Rookie of the Year honor. However, with Davis still lacking some offensive polish, Eric Gordon will be the MAN again to provide the biggest chunk of the points for the Hornets. Having only played in 9 games last season for New Orleans, he’ll also have to work his way back into the chemistry of the team, which has definitely added some new parts in Davis, Ryan Anderson, Robin Lopez and Austin Rivers. Gordon certainly has those intentions and was quoted recently as saying, “I definitely want to be an All-Star this year and play a lot of games, because that’s the only thing that’s been holding me back. It’s all about being a leader and helping the team win games.” I’d count on Eric Gordon having a BIG year.

• 

  Mar. 27, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard/forward Kawhi Leonard during game against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Spurs defeated the Suns 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

  KAWHI LEONARD, SF, San Antonio Spurs
  Last season: 24.0 MPG, 7.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 16.66 PER
  In a season or two, it’ll be all about the youth movement in San Antonio. Duncan will likely be retiring, Ginobili and Parker will be aging veterans and a new core will have to be formed. That’s why the continued improvement of Kawhi Leonard is extremely important to this franchise. In terms of this season, Leonard’s second, he will see his share of minutes and will be counted on for his efficiency once again. The valuable thing about Leonard is that he doesn’t need to score to be effective. Although I would expect his point average to get up near double digits this season, he’s a terrific defender and when he does score, he does it very effectively (.493%). The Spurs shouldn’t need a ton of “extra,” as they’re successful every season, but an even more dynamic Kawhi Leonard may be enough to deal with the other powers in the West.

Apr 18, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) comes off the court during the game against the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Rockets 117-110. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

11. Dirk Nowitzki, F, Dallas Mavericks: One of the league’s poster children for returning from the work stoppage out of shape (and to his credit, admitting it), Nowitzki struggled early as a result last season.  There were times in January that it was apt to wonder whether he would ever regain his form as one of the league’s best players; that’s what happens when a shot-making veteran like Dirk averages 15 points per game, looks a step-and-a-half slower than he ever has, and is coming off a championship season.  But then the light came on just as we should have always known it would, and Nowitzki was his normally awesome self in February, March, and for the most part even a humbling first-round playoff loss to the Thunder.

So the narrative of Nowitzki’s decline for the first few weeks of 2012 are long gone, but so is the thought that he’s among basketball’s top few players.  That’s hardly a knock, but it is something that the Mavericks must recognize if they want to squeeze another legitimate title run in while Dirk can still be a team’s first banana.  Like friend and former teammate Steve Nash, Nowitzki’s game revolves so much around skill and craft that he’s likely to play near his 2012 level for the next couple seasons.  That beautiful jumper and the multiple fakes, kicks, and such that set it up won’t be going anywhere, just as Nowitzki is likely to retain his height of seven-feet, too.  He’ll remain a devastating offensive player for the foreseeable future even if he relies more than ever on long jumpers – he’s scary-accurate on long twos by the way, ranking second in the NBA last season – and loses some semblance of the dribble-drive game that made him so dominant in the 2011 playoffs.  Nowitzki is just that talented a shooter.

In analyzing these rankings, it’s become obvious how difficult it is to assemble a list of the league’s best power forwards (or PFs masquerading as centers in the small-ball era).  Kevin Love is the only one yet to be named and that deserves more scrutiny, but in the last 10 spots alone Garnett, Aldridge, Bosh, Gasol, Griffin, and finally Nowitzki have come off the board.  The difference between those guys – with the possible exception of Aldridge – is razor thin, and a case could be made for each that they deserve consideration as that group’s best.  It’s truly splitting hairs at this point, though, and memories of June 2011 alone make Nowitzki as worthy or more than the rest.

10. Deron Williams, PG, Brooklyn Nets: Considered by many to be the NBA’s best point-guard just two or three seasons ago, a slew of new lead guard stars and Williams’ trade to the Nets made him a blip on the league’s recent radar.  That changed after last season when he was the most courted free agent available, and will change even more once this one kicks off and he’s officially the face of the Brooklyn Nets.

One of the game’s most well-rounded players, Williams struggles in nary an area.  He can play the role of scorer, distributor, and defender as well as most depending on the need of his team, and with the depleted Nets in 2011 and 2012 it was the former.  So while his shooting and assist numbers dipped considerably last season, it’s not necessarily indicative of any sustained decline; more so that he was surrounded by the last ragtag group New Jersey fans ever had the “pleasure” of watching.  That’s hardly the case in 2012, as Mikhail Prokhorov and Billy King were the offseason’s biggest aggressors is resigning Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez and making a shocking trade for Joe Johnson.  So Williams has help this season, and it will be a welcome sight to see him play the way he was meant to as more of an overall creator.

The “problem” with Williams – and it’s a relative one, obviously – is that he lacks the singular trait(s) that makes the league’s other top point-guards so great: Nash’s shooting, Rondo’s vision, Westbrook’s explosiveness, Paul’s genius.  Williams doesn’t have that truly elite skill but that hardly matters.  His game isn’t always flashy (though he does this on occasion) but it’s always effective, and enough to warrant his inclusion among the NBA’s 10 best players.

9. Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder: The league’s most divisive talent deserves better than this, and it doesn’t take more than this to realize that.  With the slightest hint of projection in mind, it’s easy to imagine Westbrook will merit an unmovable place among basketball’s top quartet of James, Durant, Paul, and Howard.  It’s a small injustice he’s ranked below players like Bryant, Love, and Rose, and there’s a case to be made he’s already better than Wade, too.

The basketball world’s infatuation with the length and shot-making of his more heralded teammate has more than anything to do with the narrative that Wesbtrook can’t seem to shake: he’s not a point-guard, takes too many shots, and can’t coexist with Durant.  As little as several months ago there were many clamors for Oklahoma City to trade him, and before that consternation at his well-earned extension worth the maximum.  With a bit of improvement Westbrook will firmly hush those same critics; he’s clearly still developing the mental side of his game, and even at this cocooned stage he’s one of its most brilliant and effective players.

Imagine if Westbrook – 23 and in his fifth year ever playing point-guard, mind you – hones his three-pointer, learns the finer points of defense, or gains patience and overall understanding on the other end.  Just how much better will he be than he is now? Considering those are glaring deficiencies in his current game, warts just as or more visible than those of any other player similarly ranked, the answer is much, much better.  As in top three player in the league better.  Westbrook isn’t quite there yet, but he’s already better than two players ranked ahead of him (Bryant and Love), healthier than his closest contemporary (Rose), and perhaps already another’s equal (Wade).  And by this time next year, the rankings will show it.

May 2, 2012; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard O.J. Mayo (32) reacts after sinking a shot during the second half of game two in the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers at FedEx Forum. Memphis won 105-98. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-US PRESSWIRE

Few players in the NBA needed a change of scenery this off-season as much as O.J. Mayo. After an impressive first season (18.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists a game) where he was named Rookie of the Year runner-up to Derrick Rose in 2008-2009 and an equally solid sophomore campaign with the Memphis Grizzlies where it seemed as though the sky was the limit, Mayo was relegated to a sixth man role by coach Lionel Hollins in his next two seasons and his minutes and stats took quite a hit as a result.

After averaging 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 2009-2010 while playing 38 minutes a night, Mayo’s minutes were cut to 26.3 and 26.8 the past two seasons. His shooting percentages took a dip as he shot 40.7 (2010-11) and 40.8 (2011-12) percent from the field compared to 43.8 (2009) and 45.8 (2010) and he didn’t averaged more than 12.6 points a game during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

It also did not help that Mayo experienced some off the court troubles as well, including an infamous fight on the plane with teammate Tony Allen over a gambling debt and a ten-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program. By all accounts however, Mayo handled his new sixth man role with the Grizzlies in stride and was a professional despite the decreased playing time and frequent trade rumors. Mayo was even included in a trade to the Indiana Pacers at the 2011 trade deadline that was not completed due to the paperwork being sent to league offices too late.

Fast forward to the summer of 2012 and Mayo’s free agency, O.J. does not turn 25 until November and teams including the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns showed strong interest before Mayo eventually signed with the Dallas Mavericks on a 2-year, 8.5 million dollar deal with a player option for the second year. He joins Elton Brand, Darren Collison and Chris Kaman as part of a new look Mavericks squad expected to form a solid supporting cast for superstar Dirk Nowitzki.

It’s not as though Mayo forgot how to play the game, he is one of the most decorated high school players in recent memory and has everything it takes to be a prolific guard in the NBA. He has always been able to score, has nice ball handling skills and has shown the ability to be a very good defender in addition to his above average athleticism and strength. In Dallas, he should be immediately starting at shooting guard where his main competition is the corpse formerly known as Vince Carter and can even play the point guard position in spurts. In other words the minutes are there for the taking.

I fully expect O.J. Mayo to replicate, if not surpass Jason Terry’s production with the Mavericks and become the 18-20 point a game scorer fans and people around the league expected him to be when drafted with the 3rd pick of the 2008 NBA Draft. This is the perfect opportunity for O.J. to realize his potential, he can make himself some substantial money and find more long term security in his next contract assuming he plays at a high level in his time in Dallas. While Mark Cuban may have struck out on Deron Williams, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard this summer, he may have found himself a great discount in the signing of O.J. Mayo while maintaining financial flexibility for future seasons.

March 22, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Draymond Green (top) blocks the shot of Louisville Cardinals guard Peyton Siva (bottom) during the first half in the semifinals of the west region of the 2012 NCAA men

Let’s look at the following list of names: Manu Ginobili, Michael Redd, Gilbert Arenas, Carlos Boozer, Luis Scola, Monta Ellis, Marcin Gortat, Paul Millsap, Marc Gasol. What to they have in common? If you guessed that they are ALL successful second round NBA Draft picks, you are correct. Now obviously, some have experienced a higher degree of success than others, but the fact remains that their respective teams were (and in some cases, still are) extremely impressed with their late selection of talent and scouting abilities.

Now that Summer League is in the books and we’ve had a quick look at the most recent draft class, are there any second round players that could contribute right away this season or better yet, become eventual stars in the league? Though it may seem like an obvious list, if I were a wagering man (I’ll never tell), here is my best bet on four potential second round gems:

Jae Crowder, Mavericks
To this day, I’m still shocked that this guy fell into the second round, although it wasn’t by much at #34 overall. I love this guy’s game. He was drafted by the Cavs, but shipped on Draft day to the Mavs in package to acquire Tyler Zeller. I happened to catch a lot of Marquette games this past season and was enamored with Crowder’s versatility in averaging 17.5 points per game. He can score by banging down low or by using a very nice shooting stroke from the outside. His work on the glass is also impressive as he plays much bigger than his listed 6’6 height suggests. A NCAA average of 8.4 rebounds per game is nothing to joke about. I think his all-around game will translate seamlessly into the pro game and while he may never become an All-Star, he should project to a sure-fire starter and solid rotation guy for many years. He also averaged 16.6 ppg in 5 Summer League games. As much as I love Tyler Zeller (I’m a Tar Heels fan), I think the Mavs made away with a the better deal on Draft night. Time will tell.

Draymond Green, Warriors
Another guy that was projected to go in the first round, but slid down just behind Crowder. Green was a big time player for a big time program (Michigan State). A few of his Michigan St. credits include: 2012 First Team All-American, 2012 Big East Player of the Year, the all-time career rebounding leader in school history (1,095) and just the third player in NCAA history to have 2 career triple doubles in the NCAA tournament (the other two guys were named Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson… not sure who they are). In the NBA, at  only 6’7 he’ll be considered slightly undersized as a power forward, but that’s really the only position that suits him. He’s still a big body at 230 pounds and any guy that averages a double-double in college (10.6 rpg) has at least the ceiling to be a solid NBA player. I just hope in a few years time, we’re comparing Green to Al Jefferson and not Ike Diogu.

Doron Lamb, Bucks
Put Doron Lamb almost anywhere but on that loaded Kentucky team, and he gets so much more attention. His creative scoring ability, as he can both shoot the ball efficiently and get the free with contact, will translate to the league. He averaged 14.0 ppg for the Bucks in Summer League, while leading them to a 4-1 record overall. He compares well to Ray Allen and Richard Hamilton in the way he is extremely active getting open off the ball. In the league, he’ll be a knock down shooter (49% and 52% three-point shooter in two seasons at Kentucky) who may get called upon to handle point guard duties when needed, since he’s slightly in between positions in the backcourt. But with his aptitude for scoring, there’s certainly a place in the league for him and the Bucks might be the perfect place to being his career.

Robert Sacre, Lakers
Sacre could be considered the “Mr. Irrelevant” of this draft, as he was taken with the very last pick. Call me bias (he is Canadian after all), but I think Sacre fell too far. I mean, can’t we see him being the perfect backup to Dwight Howard in Los Angeles? Then, when Dwight has had enough and wants out, Sacre can step up. Joking aside, I love Sacre’s bulk and array of post moves to be successful in the league. The big knock on Sacre is that he doesn’t always play to his size and didn’t dominate the other big men in his conference at Gonzaga. Instead of exploding on the boards, he relied mostly on his size and timing to rebound and block shots. He wouldn’t be the first guy coming out of college that was said to have not used his size properly in college. Carlos Boozer anyone?

Apr 14, 2012; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard O.J. Mayo (32) celebrates after shooting a three point basket during the second half against the Utah Jazz at the FedEx Forum. Memphis Grizzlies defeated Utah Jazz 103-98. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-US PRESSWIRE

A little while back, I entertained writing a post that would feature a very lonely Dirk Nowitzki, who was abruptly left to fend for himself in the upcoming 2012-13 season. I was in full write-off mode with this team. Most of his 2011 Championship friends had skipped town. In addition to Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea leaving last season, now Jason Terry decided to jump ship to the Eastern Conference to join the Celtics, Jason Kidd unexpectedly bolted to the Big Apple and even Brendan Haywood was amnestied. Combine all that with them “spurned” by Deron Williams (and to a lesser degree Dwight Howard) this offseason and really, only a skeleton remained.

That’s until Mark Cuban spun his wheels.

If you pulled up the roster back in early July, it seemed that any players that lingered were either in their  mid-30′s or barely into their 20′s, with not much in between. The source escapes me, but someone Tweeted a joke at the time that went something like this: “If your roster has more than 5 players with the #0, you’re in trouble.”

Although we never heard directly from Dirk on the lack of a full roster, there’s no way he would have been content tolerant with this collection of players, that ultimately represented a limited to non-existent chance to even make it back to the playoffs in the Western Conference next season.

But with a flurry of moves over the past few weeks, did Cuban actually improve the Mavericks enough to save the season and keep them playoff-relevant?

They signed Chris Kaman (1 year, $8 million) to replace Brendan Haywood. Also, they have created a German connection at the 4-5 positions, with Kaman being a close friend of Dirk. On a 1-year deal, Kaman will be working toward that next contact this season, so the risk is pretty low. He’s always been a productive rebounder, solid defender and can score in the post. While he doesn’t exactly lower the average age of the roster (he’s 30), he’s an upgrade from what they had at the center position last season.

Then they acquired Darren Collison and Dahntay Jones in a sign-and-trade from Indiana for free agent center, Ian Mahinmi. Like Kaman, Collison (the signature piece in the deal) is also playing on an expiring contract next season, one of only $2.3 million. After he lost his starting spot to George Hill late last season, he will likely slide into the starting point guard role for the Mavs. I liken Collison to a Jrue Holiday in Philly, a smaller PG who showed some real flashes while stepping in for Chris Paul in New Orleans two seasons ago. Given the playing time available in Dallas now, he makes the Mavericks younger and potentially could give some teams matchup fits while they struggle to guard one of the fastest players in the league. Dahntay Jones simply ran out of playing time in Indiana, but should find some minutes on this roster as a defensive specialist, similar to Thabo Sefolosha in Oklahoma City. So far, I love what Dominique Jones has been doing in Summer League and could be preparing for a breakout season in Big D.

Ah yes, the Elton Brand signing. Great career, classy vet, but declining skills. Considering that the Mavs needed major help in the back court, I wasn’t a big fan of this signing. Although the price tag was extremely reasonable, I don’t see how Brand (who is 33) is going to push this team over the top. They have Dirk and Marion in the forward spots, followed by Brandan Wright and rookie Jae Crowder (who I love) looking for opportunities to prove themselves. He makes them older again and I think if they get 11 points, 7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, they’ll be lucky. I’d love to see Brand try to handle Kenneth “The Manimal” Faried on the boards at this point in his career.

Finally, they pin down their starting shooting guard and sign O.J. Mayo  to a 2-year deal. I love this move. I feel like Mayo’s potential got somewhat restricted by having to come off the bench the past two seasons in Memphis. His first two years, he played 163 out of 164 games, averaged 38 minutes per game and put up excellent numbers (18.0 ppg) for a rookie and sophomore, with underrated perimeter defense. In Dallas, where they have penciled him in as the starter, he has a chance to establish himself as a true building block. With little depth in the back court. I expect Mayo to average at least 35 minutes a game again and possibly be featured as the second scoring option. Lord knows, they could use the scoring with the void Jason Terry will leave.

Finally, in late July, they re-signed Delonte West, which may end up being a bigger move than people think. Despite lacking a tremendous primary skill, Delonte is a well rounded guard who is capable of starting or coming off the bench. He has always found a niche as a role player for whatever team he played for. He is key to the depth of the Mavs roster.

The Mavs truly tumbled down the Western Conference ranks with the sudden losses they had a couple of weeks ago. With a roster filled with “#0′s” and the “Trade Dirk!” talks surely around the corner, the playoffs seemed completely out of the question. Now, I think they’re at least in playoff conversations. While I think that “saved the season” may be a bit strong at this point, Cuban certainly improved his roster.  If they do make it, they should only be a borderline playoff team, and unlike last season, there will be no fighting for home court this time around either. I think the Timberwolves make it in this year and the Mavericks will be stuck battling the likes of the Warriors and Jazz for the final couple of playoff spots in the West.

In the end we know two things. Dirk Nowitzki ain’t goin’ out without a fight and Mark Cuban will always be spinning his wheels.

Mar 21, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Vince Carter (25) shoots a three point shot during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the American Airlines Center. The Lakers defeated the Mavericks 109-93. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

Few players in NBA history have been as fiercely debated as Vince Carter. From season to season, team to team and over his entire career arc, Carter has always invoked passionate opinions of both praise and severe criticism from all walks of basketball life.

As we all know, coming out of out college, Vince drew many comparisons to Michael Jordan, particularly the athleticism and the creative scoring ability. The million dollar question at the time was, as is with any potential Jordan clones, “would Vince and his Tar Heel blue roots, live up to the hype?” Many have tried, all have failed. My apologies for speaking like he’s already retired (let’s face it, he’s got one foot half way out the door already), but it’s begs an interesting question, did Vince do enough in his career to warrant a Hall of Fame entry?

Contributions to the game

Dunks, dunks and highlight-reel dunks. Sadly, years down the road this may be all we associate with the Vince Carter era. For the most part, that will be accurate. We certainly will not remember Vince for his defensive efforts, or his very obvious lack thereof.

Aside from the several hundred incredible in-game dunks Vince has on his enormous highlight portfolio, there are two moments that truly stand out when we think “Vince Carter.”

The 2000 All-Star Game Slam Dunk Contest. To NBA fans, those words are practically enough. Carter put on the greatest Slam Dunk performance of all time. Yes, better than Spud Webb in ’86 and better than Jordan-Dominique in ’88. With cousin Tracy McGrady by his side, the degree of difficulty, the uniqueness and the ferocity in which Vince delivered those dunks will be etched in our basketball minds forever and will likely stand as the greatest set of dunks ever. This is partly due to the amazing, breakthrough show that was displayed (especially at that point in time) and partly because well, no one of significance enters the contest anymore. I mean, Nate Robinson is a three-time champion for crying out loud. But keep in mind, Kenny Smith’s “It’s ovaaaaaah!” phrase was coined in the process as well.

Although it was another dunk moment, the other Vince staple was the “le dunk de la mort” (the “dunk of death” as the French media referred to it) in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. There may be no greater basketball posterization than when Vince jumped OVER Frederic Weis’ head and threw down the most authoritative, symbolic dunk possibly of all time. Weis was promptly never heard from again. The vision of Vince with the USA on his chest and  surrounded by an emphatic Kevin Garnett (who he almost punched out while celebrating) and Gary Payton (with a full head of hair I might add), is a moment we will all point to years from now as possibly the greatest dunk ever. Now that is contribution.

To his credit, and aside from the dunking, Vince did have several fantastic seasons in Toronto and New Jersey before moving on to his native Orlando, a brief stint in Phoenix and then eventually Dallas. He is an 8-time All-Star, won Rookie of the Year in 1999, an Olympic gold medalist and made two All-NBA teams (3rd team in 2000 and 2nd team in 2001). It’s impossible to say that Vince Carter wasn’t a household NBA star during the NBA’s rise in the 2000′s decade.

What the numbers say

His career totals are obviously impressive. Even as his minutes and offensive skills have dwindled the past two seasons, he still stands at 21.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.9 apg and 1.2 spg over an average of 35.7 mpg for his career. In terms of scoring, he averaged a career-high 27.6 ppg in only his third season in Toronto (2000-01) and later, 27.5 ppg in his first season in New Jersey in 2004-05. Just last season, he became only the 37th player in league history to score 20,000 points. His playoff averages are also impressive as he holds 23.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.2 apg averages in 60 playoff games.

For comparison sake, here is a quick random sampling of how Vince Carter’s statistics measure up to a couple of very recent Hall of Fame inductees that played similar positions:

Obviously this paints only a relatively small part of the career picture, but you can see, statistically speaking, Vince stacks up very well to these highly-regarded Hall of Fame veterans.

Fair criticisms

 Here is where the argument turns sour for Vince. While his offensive talent is undeniable, he’s collected a tremendous amount of criticisms over the years about his disinterested tanking habits. Quite honestly, you could never really commit to saying that Vince Carter “gave you his all” every game, especially as a Raptor fan. At his peak, he certainly had his individual moments and when engaged fully, could go toe to toe with any star in the league. But when the smallest ”nagging injuries” became more nags than injuries, the perception of Carter’s durability as a prime scorer and team leader took a punch in the gut.

Eventually (and like more frequently today), Carter essentially forced his way out of Toronto after he became complacent with upper management, Head Coach Sam Mitchell and their commitment to winning now.

Even though he was a New Jersey Net at this point, what especially did Carter in with the fans (especially the ones north of the border) was his answer to a question asked by TNT’s John Thompson in January 2005. Thompson asked if he always pushed himself as hard as he should, to which Carter replied, “In years past, no. I was just fortunate to have the talent in being able to… you know, you get spoiled when you’re able to do a lot of things and you see that, and you really don’t have to work at it. But now, with all the injuries and all the things that have gone on, I have to work a little harder and I’m a little hungrier. That’s why getting the opportunity to have a fresh start with New Jersey has made me want to attack the basket for a lot reasons.” Seems like a confession of quitting to me.

In the seasons after Toronto and New Jersey, Carter’s reputation of carrying a lackluster attitude continued to plague him, although not to the degree of his final days in Canada. His defensive effort was and has remained the butt of many jokes across the league’s fans. By the time his playing days in Phoenix were winding down, his contract (was owed $18 million, with only $4 million guaranteed) heavily outweighed his production. He was waived in December 2011.

The Championship factor

Look, it’s plain and simple… titles do matter in this league. The “did he win an NBA Championship?” sometimes makes or breaks the case for many borderline potential Hall of Fame candidates. Whether it was the inadequate cast of characters he had by his side or his inability to effectively lead his team, or a combination of both, Vince Carter never really sniffed an NBA title. He brought the Raptors to within one shot of making the Eastern Conference Finals and actually got there with the Magic later in his career, but overall his playoff shortcomings will loom large in a serious Hall of Fame discussion.

It’s not always fair, but it matters.

The final verdict

Unfortunately for Vince, despite his contributions to the world of NBA Video, the Hall of Fame wasn’t established on video highlights, but primarily on numbers, credentials and championships. While his (offensive) contributions to the game were significant, did he do enough outside of his dunking legacy? Personally, I think he did NOT. I think that his lack of playoff pedigree and sub-100% nightly efforts on the basketball court (especially on the defensive end) caused too must unrest among even his most loyal fans and likely plenty of his peers. This stuff does and should matter when attaining Hall of Fame status is so reachable.

I will point this out as well, to settle any questions of bias. While I reside in Toronto and am a close Raptors follower (even still bitter at times), I was never a Vince “hater” or left him for dead when he left the city. I’m actually a big Tar Heels fan too, so I have watched his entire career. I’ve always respected his offensive talent and the years he gave the Raptors, even if they didn’t all add up to 100%. Even when they were a joke in the Eastern Conference, he gave the team at least a set of shoulders to rest some on.

It’s really hard to imagine the Basketball Hall of Fame without Vincent Lamar Carter and all his death-defying Sportscenter highlights included. However, when you look at the body of a true Hall of Fame career, a certain standard of winning basketball games needs to be an absolute priority when casting that ballot. While it’s an incredible argument to be debated by many when the time arrives, I think Vince falls just short.

Thankfully, YouTube will always hold Vince’s legacy.

May 6, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) celebrates with forward Peja Stojakovic (16) late in the fourth quarter of game three against the Los Angeles Lakers of the second round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Mavs beat the Lakers 98-92. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Well, for the 2011 Dallas Mavericks, the story was all of those things rolled up into one.

This team was filled with “old-timers,” as they were a bunch of aging players who starred in the previous decade.  The Mavs’ 12-man playoff roster had a combined 120 years of NBA experience.  Just envision that one guy at the YMCA who is much older than everyone else, but uses his old-school tricks and wit to outplay everyone.  Dallas was basically a whole team of guys like that, plus Corey Brewer.

Coached by Jim Carrey look-alike, Rick Carlisle (who is now more relevant than Carrey), and led by 38 year-old Jason Kidd, Dallas smooth-sailed through the regular season with consistently great offensive execution and good team defense.  Not surprisingly, the big question mark was whether they’d be able to endure the playoff games.  Other aging teams in the past few years (such as the Celtics and Nash-Stoudemire Suns) had shown that age can catch up with you as the playoffs progress.   The first round threatened to prove that sentiment true, but Dallas battled through 6 games to get past the less-endowed Trail Blazers.

Strangely, Dallas would end up doing just the opposite of what other old teams have done.  They got stronger as the playoffs moved along.  Awaiting them in the 2^nd Round: back-to-back defending champs, the Los Angeles Lakers.  Easy.  Dirk made his patented awkward shots, and started getting fouled more often.  Apparently fouling Dirk wasn’t enough, because for some reason the Lakers kept hacking Tyson Chandler, who is only an offensive threat when he’s dunking the ball.  With LA’s big men in foul trouble and the guard play out of sync, LA was held under 90 points per game.  The defining moment of the series, and possibly the whole postseason, for Dallas happened in game 4 of this series.  Jason Terry lived up to the ridiculous hype he was giving himself, and Peja Stojakovic proved this was the best game for him to be put in.  They took out their 23 total years of frustration from losing to the Lakers, combining for 15-16 from three point range.  Jose Barea scored on everyone, frustrating Andrew Bynum to the point of committing an ejection-causing foul.  Just like that, the defending champs were swept.

With the Lakers out of the way, the Mavericks got to face the youthful Thunder of Oklahoma City, whose best players were each under the age of 23.  No matter how athletic or skilled Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were, the Mavericks were going to take care of business.  In this Western Conference Finals series, Dallas pretty much told OKC to get off their lawn and go back to the playground with the rest of the kids.  It was getting late and Dallas needed some sleep so they could get up early for the senior citizen breakfast special at Denny’s.  After 5 games, playtime with the adults was over for the Thunder.  Dallas had one final piece of business to take care of.

The biggest test, and the one for all the chips, was the NBA Finals against the favored Miami Heat.  Not only that, it was a finals series in which both teams’ arenas were sponsored by American Airlines.  From the start of of the series, it appeared the plan to put 3 superstars together was working for Miami, as James, Wade, and Bosh took flight for a high-powered attack.  It had only been one game, a convincing Miami victory, but it appeared the Mavs were spent.  It was too late, however, to turn around and drive the ’99 Buick Century back home.  Jason Kidd and company decided to set the DVR to record The Lawrence Welk Show, and they went to business.  Dallas won 4 of the next 5 games, and played their best in crunch time.  Jason Terry made a million threes.  Dirk didn’t miss a free throw.  Shawn Marion was dunking like it was 2004.  As a team they constantly switched into different zone schemes that helped minimize LeBron James’ effectiveness.  Dallas closed out Miami in Game 6, which meant Dirk Nowitzki didn’t have to destroy everything in the locker room tunnel.

The 2011 NBA Championship was so much more than an event that will go in record books.  Despite having over a century of combined experience, none of the Mavs players had a championship ring.  Rick Carlisle had coached several very good playoff teams, and never won a championship ring.  Kidd and Nowitzki are two legends of the game, and neither had ever won a ring.  Even the city of Dallas, whose Cowboys hadn’t seen greatness since Jimmie Johnson was the coach, was waiting for something good.  The 2011 Dallas Mavericks was a story for the ages, and that type of championship run with such aging personnel and an “underdog” status may never be matched.

Apr 28, 2012; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots the game winning shot against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter in game one of the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

MVP candidate Kevin Durant struggled with his jump shot all night long.  But did that stop him from taking the last shot in the final seconds when Oklahoma City was down by one?

Not a chance.

Durant’s difficult, contested floater from the foul line barely dropped in before the clock struck zero, and  the Thunder escaped with a 99-98 victory against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the First Round.

Should Dallas be encouraged or discouraged?

After Dirk Nowitzki’s and-one play with 2:20 left in the fourth quarter, the Mavs were up by a comfortable seven points and had this game won.  But some costly turnovers and giving up back-to-back three point plays in the final minutes became their undoing.  Rick Carlisle and Nowitzki blamed the loss on not only these crucial mistakes in the final minutes, but also their inability to get the ball to red-hot Jason Terry (who had 20 points in the first 3 quarters, but none thereafter).  Terry’s explosion in the first half made up for a relatively so-so overall game for Dirk, who put the Mavs in a position to win when he scored 11 of his 25 points in the last 5 minutes.

Still, the Mavs should be encouraged despite the loss.  Not many expected them to be in a position to steal home court advantage, yet they really dictated play for all but the final two minutes of this game.

Apr 26, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Jason Terry (31) looks on against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 106-89. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-US PRESSWIRE

Should Oklahoma City be encouraged or discouraged?

Durant may have provided the last-second heroics, but it was really James Harden who kept OKC in the game.  In his first game since suffering a concussion from Ron Artest’s vicious elbow, Harden scored 19 points and made several timely baskets to keep the Thunder within striking distance.

In the end, I’m not sure if the Thunder should be too high on this win.  Many of the issues that made OKC a mediocre team for the month of April aren’t going away like most expected, perhaps chief among them that Durant still can’t find consistency with his jumper.  One saving grace is that Russell Westbrook seemed to have found his shot, days after going a miserable 3-22 against the Lakers earlier last week.  Still, if not for Harden and an above-average scoring performance by Serge Ibaka (22 points), Dallas could very well have dominated this game.  Durant and Westbrook need to find ways to penetrate Dallas’s zone defense and not settle for outside jumpers,  a trend that has really hurt them all month long.

What should we expect in Game 2?

As I said in my series prediction, Dallas has no fear of the Thunder – a team they made relatively quick work of in last year’s Conference Finals.  Durant, Westbrook, and Harden all have to be playing well in order to knock off Dallas in this series.  For Dallas, as long as they can out-rebound the Thunder and get to the foul line as well as they did in Game 1, I expect Rick Carlisle to rally his guys and come out with the same effort and steal home court advantage. Either way, this is shaping up to be the best first-round series in the playoffs.

MVP – Coach of the Year – Defensive Player of the Year – Most Improved Player

2011-2012 Sixth Man of the Year Candidates:

• James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder

Currently having a break-out season, Harden might even be a candidate for Most Improved. Player  His superstar teammates Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook might get all the attention, but Harden is a hugereason why OKC is on pace to earn the league’s best record this season.  He might even be the team’s best playmaker and wing defender, often drawing the tougher assignments (e.g. guarding Kobe Bryant in their Sunday game vs. LA).

O.J. Mayo – Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

•  O.J. Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies

Here’s a guy who has been openly shopped by the Grizz for the last two seasons – and nearly traded to the Pacers last season (which wasnixed only because the trade occurred shortly after the trade deadline).  Yes, his production has slipped considerably since his first two seasons, where he averaged 18 PPG.  But this year, Mayo has accepted a lesser role, and his on-court performance suggests he holds no grudge against his team despite being in trade rumors and losing his starting role.   With Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph missing a lot of time this season, Mayo is a big reason why Memphis has stayed afloat in the loaded Western Conference.

Jason Terry – Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

•  Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks

Terry is a perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate, consistently providing a spark off the Mavericks bench.  With the team acquiring several players adding to their bench, Terry was not expected to carry as much of a load this year.  However, with various injuries to several players and with Lamar Odom struggling mightily, the Mavs have had to rely on Terry’s scoring just as much as before.  We’re all grown accustomed to Terry’s consistent production and effort on a nightly basis.  But with the Mavericks still in position to make a playoff push, you still have to appreciate Terry for his off-the-bench contributions.

•  Mo Williams, Los Angeles Clippers
  

  Mo Williams – Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

With Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups coming on board, many questioned Mo Williams’ fit to this much-improved Clippers squad.  But Mo has fulfilled his lessened role extremely well, averaging a very efficient 13.6 PPG and 3.1 APG in 28.8 MPG.  With three current/former All-Stars on their roster – Paul, Billups, and Williams – the Clippers have one of the better guard rotations of the league, before an unfortunate season-ending Achilles injury to Billups.  Now out with a sprained toe, it remains to be seen whether Mo-Will can finish the season strong upon his return.  And now, with Billups out for the season, the Clippers will need Williams at his best if they are to make any noise in the playoffs.

Who Should Win:  James Harden, OKC

Who Will Win:  James Harden, OKC

James Harden – Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

I don’t think voters will be able to ignore Harden’s indispensible presence on the league’s best regular season team.  And rightfully so.

*Coming Soon:  Most Improved Player Prediction

So let’s take a closer look at some of the elite teams of the league.  Whether your team is flying under the radar, or is subject to having a longer-than-expected summer, here’s what we should pay close attention to during the second half of the season:

More Vulnerable Than You Think:

•  Los Angeles Lakers

Coming off back-to-back road losses against the Pistons and Wizards, you really have to wonder if the trade rumors are getting to this team.  Pau Gasol recently sat down with GM Mitch Kupchak to address the trade rumors concerning him, but did not get a firm answer as to what the Lakers’ intentions are.

Gasol uncertain future has him unable to focus 100% on the court

On the court, there’s some underlying issues as well.  As great as Kobe’s been, one still has to wonder if Mike Brown’s unimaginative 1-on-5 offensive schemes will work in the playoffs.  Beyond their Big 3, this team does not have many options on offense.  Metta World Peace, Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, and the rest of the Laker bench have underperformed for the most part; they are DEAD LAST in the league in bench scoring.  If they end up trading Gasol by the trade deadline, they better get some depth in return.

•  Los Angeles Clippers

The other LA team has its issues as well.  After losing Chauncey Billups for the season (which WAS a big blow; make no mistake), the once-stellar guard rotation has weakened quite a bit – especially with Randy Foye playing inconsistent basketball.   As potent as a CP3-Mo Williams backcourt is offensively, their lack of size in the backcourt is a legitimate reason why their defense has been so poor this season; they are currently 22^nd in Defensive Efficiency.  As dangerous as they are, they may struggle against teams with size.

•  Oklahoma City Thunder

To win a title, the dynamic duo of Durant and Westbrook MUST be on the same page in late-game situations

As great as their record is, I’m just not entirely sure if they are good enough to win it all yet.   I see three issues with this team preventing me from considering them favorites to win the West:  1)  they only have three players (Durant, Westbrook, Harden) capable of generating offense – and they are all jump shooters, 2) they turn the ball over at an alarming rate (ranking WORST in the league along with New York), and 3) in crunch time, it’s still not clear whether Westbrook and Durant is the go-to guy.  All three of these issues WILL pose problems in the playoffs.  In general, teams that excel in a slower, half-court offense that don’t turn the ball over and have a clear go-to scorer are most successful.  To me, OKC still has some work to do in those areas.

Still, none of their best players (Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Harden) are older than 24 years of age, so this team will contend for years to come – even if they come up short in 2012.

More Dangerous Than You Think:

•  Dallas Mavericks

This team has had its fair share of turmoil recently, but I’m still sticking with them to win the West.  Even after putting up sloppy performances – including their meltdown against OKC on Tuesday night – and even with Lamar Odom’s tumultuous personal situation keeping him from fully investing in the Mavs.

Odom’s psyche isn’t the only one in question; after winning last year’s title, it’s fair to ask if reigning Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki is motivated enough to carry his team through the playoffs this year.    After getting the gorilla off his back and winning a title, he’s been pacing himself through a condensed NBA season while nursing knee and back injuries along the way.  He’s also hoping to be healthy enough to play for his home country, Germany, in the London Olympics this summer.   You just gotta wonder if he’ll turn the switch on in time.  Based on some of his recent performances, including dropping 40 on Utah last week, I’m predicting that he will.

•  Memphis Grizzlies

Western Conference beware: Zach Randolph should be coming back soon

Quietly, this team has darted its way up to #4 in the Western Conference standings.  When Zach Randolph returns, they will officially be ‘The Team No One Wants to Face in the Playoffs.’  They peaked at the right time last year by upsetting the 1^st-seeded Spurs after squeezing into the playoff picture without Rudy Gay.  With a healthy Gay and Randolph, I think winning the West is not beyond the realm of possibility for them.

• Atlanta Hawks

Once again, the Hawks have me underestimating them.  They have been particularly impressive without their two best players – taking down the red-hot Thunder last Saturday, and giving Miami a run for their money Wednesday night.  Jeff Teague has proven to be a HUGE upgrade over Mike Bibby (which makes you wonder why he lasted so long as their starting point guard), and their bench has been making considerable contributions.  Tracy McGrady has filled the void that Jamal Crawford left – that is, when he’s healthy.

Much like the last couple years, the true test for this team will be if they can get over the hump against the East’s elite.  They looked strong in the playoffs the last two years, but flamed out in the second round.  This year, they would most likely face either Chicago or Miami in the second round.  All signs point to that trend continuing, but with the way coach Larry Drew has them playing, they can be dangerous.

Can Joe Johnson and Josh Smith take the Hawks to new heights?

While teams with the three best records in the league – Miami, Chicago, and OKC – are still considered the best in the league, there should some dangerous opponents waiting for them during May and June. Whether the teams discussed here are in a vulnerable position or pacing themselves, contending for a championship is a matter of whether they can work out the kinks by the time they face the elite contenders.   Either way, expect some juicy playoff series and don’t expect any team to just breeze through the playoffs.

Dirk and the Mavs show off their hardware

This series was significant for a myriad of reasons that go far beyond the simple fact that it was for the NBA’s biggest prize—the Larry O’Brien trophy. (more…)

(more…)

The Miami Heat’s failure to capitalize on its first shot at an NBA Championship, with their “Big 3,” in place, will undoubtedly go down as one of the biggest disappointments in Sports History.  It’s not the fact that a team so top-heavy in talent can lose a series; it’s what happened prior to this point, that’s the problem.  This series wasn’t about what Dallas Accomplished, but more about what Miami failed to Accomplish.  The series wasn’t about the dynamic leadership displayed by Dirk Nowitzki, but the lack of leadership by LeBron James.  All of these things are magnified due to the brash and very bold statements made by James, starting with “The Decision.”

The Decision

James’ announcement of his choice of team via Television Special, followed by a proclamation of at least 7 Championships, ultimately set the Heat up for failure.  James was so confident in the team’s ability to succeed, that he hinted at victories even if Pat Riley was the team’s starting Point Guard.  With a team this talented, who’s going to argue LeBron’s statements?  I for one saw the Heat as a dead-lock for the Finals, which was correct.  I initially picked them to lose the Finals versus the Lakers, but uhh…We saw how that turned out for “Showtime!”  Once the Lakers were ousted, I didn’t see anyone standing in the way of Miami’s Destiny.  As a team, they entered the playoffs clicking on all cylinders, and even watched LeBron mature as a player through the first 3 series.  But then came the Big Stage…(Here’s where you insert for favorite sad face : ( perplexed style : / or the highly emotional crying face (,-__-,)

James basically disappeared in the Finals, averaging 18pts, 7ast, & 7reb!!! LeBron is a former NBA Scoring Champ, and averaged 18 ppg!  Let’s also note that James averaged 21ppg as a ROOKIE!  Now, not taking anything away from his overall playoff performance, because he is the reason Miami got to the Finals.  James was playing like a man possessed in the first 3 rounds, and hit some huge shots in both the Boston and Chicago Series’.  You can argue that it’s a team game, and all of the blame can’t be placed on James, which is correct.  However, LeBron’s actions coinciding with his talents are what create the enormous bulls-eye on his back.   He also doesn’t help the scrutiny by his comments, and almost nonchalant attitude at press conferences.  Again this is a team game, but the team itself doesn’t share in the talking aspect, which James excels in.  If you go back to the introduction of “The Heatles,” it was LeBron who did the most talking, and predicting on behalf of the Heat.  Look at it like this…Muhammad Ali was known for his trash talk before, and during, some of the biggest fights of his life.  While Ali didn’t have an unblemished record, he always came back to avenge a loss, thus backing his proclamations.  LeBron doesn’t have a history of closing games, playing to his full potential, nor being the leader that the “Face of the NBA,” should; but talks as if this isn’t the case.  If LeBron showed a little more humility, I don’t believe the backlash would be to this unbelievable level.

So What Exactly Happened?

Aside from LeBron’s shortcomings in the Finals, what else seemed to go wrong for Miami, that didn’t for Dallas?  Let’s start with Miami’s consistency outside of its core.  The bench play was much uninspired throughout the series, while Dallas had its role players contribute on a nightly basis.  But despite the poor role playing on behalf of the Heat, they controlled this entire series.  Splitting the first 4 games, could have easily been a 4-0 Miami Sweep.  Dallas turned the Heat into a jump shooting team, and prevented them from attacking the paint, which is their
strong suit.  Along with Dallas’ defensive adjustment, was Dirk’s relentlessness as a leader.  There wasn’t a moment in this series that Dirk wasn’t in attack mode.  This same thing can be said about Dwayne Wade, who played his heart out throughout the series, and if not for injury, wouldn’t have let up.  If you take each team at 100% attack mode, the Heat should win out every time.  My reasoning is simple; Dwayne Wade and LeBron James excel on BOTH sides of the court, which is a headache for every team in the league.  I fully believe that if LeBron guarded Nowitzki for the entire series, and Wade on either Terry or Barrea (depending on who’s in the game), I don’t see Miami losing this series at all.  This tactic then forces other players to beat you, who aren’t as offensively gifted as the aforementioned Nowitzki, Terry or Barrea.

I also believe that the Heat lost some faith in the process at some point.  Squandering big leads in games they controlled from the beginning, is inexcusable.  The team got extremely passive during the final moments of Game 6, and the stars of the team almost seemed to defer to its role players.  A play that replay’s endlessly in my mind, is the Chalmers turnover under the basket.  With 3 players making over 100 million dollars each, and have the ball in Mario Chalmers’ hands in crucial parts of the game in ridiculous!  I just don’t see the team letting up if Pat Riley is who you have to face when you come off the floor, versus Erik Spolestra.  While Spolestra did improve as the season went on, I think his lack of big game experience is what ultimately did him in.  But again, the coaches aren’t the ones who perform on the floor…it’s the players!

The Fallout

While the Heat are the early favorite to win next year’s Title, something has to change.  With 7 players as unrestricted free agents, 3 will likely return with their player options (House, Jones & Illgauskas).  Mario Chalmers is the team’s lone restricted free agent, and has already been rumored to be receiving a qualifying offer from Miami.  Two things that need to change are the team’s ability to score off the bench, along with the team’s interior defense.  When your Shooting Guard is blocking as many, or more, shots than your big’s…There’s a problem!  But not only does the interior defense need to improve, but the overall toughness of the team.  As it stands, it seems as though when Wade isn’t at 100%, the team loses its heart and backbone.  If Miami is lucky enough, there are a few players that I feel could be added at a bargain price to aid in the team’s improvement.  Perimeter Players – Tracey McGrady, Tayshaun Prince, Al Thornton, Michael Redd, T.J. Ford, Shane Battier, Andrei Kirilenko, and Josh Howard.  Interior Players – Kenyon Martin, Samuel Dalembert, Chuck Hayes, Craig Smith, Chris Wilcox, Boris Diaw, Troy Murphy, and Etan Thomas.  While these are all unrestricted free agents that are all possibilities for the Heat, bigger players like Jason Richardson, Jamal Crawford, Nene, and J.R. Smith, are all likely to command too high of a price tag on the market.  Players like Redd, Prince, Ford, Battier, Kirilenko, Martin and Dalembert, would dramatically improve the Heat’s overall roster.  Dalembert provides added shot blocking, along with Martin, who also would be an enforcer that the Heat desperately need.  Battier, Prince and Kirilenko provide length, and solid perimeter defense, as they can defend several positions on the court.  TJ Ford would be a tremendous upgrade at the Point Guard position, while Redd provides more scoring ability off the bench to go along with Mike Miller & James Jones.  Players like McGrady, Josh Howard and Michael Redd are all very injury prone players, but can be very serviceable if their health/minutes are preserved for a playoff run.

Along with these changes, I have a strong feeling that Pat Riley will step in as the new coach.  Riley worked too hard to put this team together, to see them fail.  Riley is often linked with the great Phil Jackson, as they not only were great coaches, but managed some of the game’s biggest personalities.  Riley has the pedigree to get the most out of this Heat team, and surely would not have allowed them to relinquish those late game leads.  Look for major changes in South Beach, which will result in Miami’s hoisting of the Championship Trophy.  The only thing that could prevent a title run from happening, are another implosion by the team itself, but if Pat is patrolling the sideline, I wouldn’t bet on it!

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This years remarkable NBA Finals capped off with a remarkable Game 6, one watched by 23.5 million people, producing ABC’s best non-Oscar sunday in five years (and the most watched game 6 since Jordan beat the Jazz in 1998.

Now that the season is done, we’ve got plenty of time to get into intricate detail on how this year’s series stacks up against the greats. We’ve also got a lot of cool things a’brewing here at Saving the Skyhook for the offseason, including a live blog during the NBA Draft, but for now, I’d like to offer up some love for the first time NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks.

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Maybe this is a reflection of the tabloid crazy society we live in, where people are more interested in celebrity than actual craft, maybe not; but this year’s NBA Finals has been covered in tabloid-like manner.

All series long the news has been inundated with stories about Mark Cuban, Dirk’s flu, Wade and LeBron’s mock sickness, and LeBron’s personal life; but there has been surprisingly little focus on what really matters—the game itself.

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