Monday Links: Part Deux

by Wes Cox on Mar 5, 2007 12:09 PM CST in News

Adam (A.K.A Agreen07) looks at the possibility of 72.

It will be tough to lose only a single game considering they have Phoenix twice, San Ann and Utah once, as well as a six-game road trip.

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Hey Jean-Jacques Taylor, we get it.

03/05/2007

Johnson understands there are bad wins and good losses, so to speak. Any performance that he thinks would result in a playoff loss is frowned upon even if the Mavs win by 10 points. Or 20.

That's why he hasn't been satisfied after each of the Mavs' 50 wins. This season is about a championship. Anything less will be considered an abject failure.

It must.

01/20/2007

The Mavs view this game as just another building block because their season will be judged on their playoff success. This season is not about Nowitzki winning the MVP. Or Howard becoming an All-Star. Or Harris getting a multi-year deal in the off-season.

So win or lose today, Johnson will continue pushing his team toward a champagne celebration. Everyone understands that's all that matters.

1/15/2007

The NBA is about rings. Russell, Magic and Jordan made it that way. Nothing else matters.

12/30/2006

Now you understand why Avery Johnson didn't panic when the Mavs started 0-4. He couldn't stand it, but he realized there would be some sluggish moments during the season as he created a team ready to win a championship.

Don't ever forget, that's what this season is all about. Anything less than a championship should be considered a failure.

Period.

11/03/2006

This is a championship-or-bust season for Dallas. Everyone who matters in the organization accepts that. For that, applaud them.

10/12/2006

This is a championship or bust season for the Mavs, who blew a 2-0 series lead against Miami in the NBA Finals.

This season is about a championship - not a Southwest Division title or a No.1 seed in the Western Conference. Or anything else.

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And Dwyane is going to try and give it a go.

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Comments

JJT

Don't blame him, it's a common fault of dead tree sportswriters. Because they never get any feedback whatsoever from their readers and because they seem to go out of the way to ignore sites like this, they never think of readers as real people. They just write for the paper, and (SOMEONE) reads them. So it doesn't matter if they write the same thing over and over and over- they dont think of it as readers who get bored. But when I comment here, I know that its probably going to be read by Wes, Marie, zkmavz, ditchtheplaybook, ab03, dirk41, thedirkatron, DerekSthered, and other people. People I know by name (even if they're silly names). So I try not to repeat myself. repeat myself.

by BrodyV on Mar 5, 2007 12:19 PM CST reply actions

Well said Brodyv

Wes, thanks for pointing out JJT the broken record.

I certainly feel that, as a fan, I will be disappointed by anything less than a championship this season. After last year's Finals followed up by this phenomenal regular season, Dallas really needs to bring home the jewelry.

But an "abject failure" if they don't succeed? I think not. It's been great to watch this team all year. Avery has turned into an elite coach, Dirk has cemented himself among the elite superstars, and the team as a whole has been great.

But the West is tough. It will take some luck to get through it. The good news is that the Mavs are good enough to get lucky.

by hubcityraider on Mar 5, 2007 4:05 PM CST up reply actions

I Share Your Thoughts Exactly

Mavs need good luck, but also good health.

My one wish is that neither the Mavs nor any team they face in the playoffs sees a significant injury to a key player.

I don't want Suns fans saying we only beat them because Amare and Raja Bell were hurt, like last season.

by dirk41 on Mar 5, 2007 7:38 PM CST up reply actions

Word

Though I take offense to you calling my handle "silly". :)

"I think Phoenix is fairly obviously the best team in the league right now." -John Hollinger, on January 24th

by thedirkatron on Mar 5, 2007 7:10 PM CST up reply actions

I wasn't thinking of you

I was thinking of that goober that goes by "Wes Cox." I mean, come one- how silly is that?

by BrodyV on Mar 5, 2007 7:12 PM CST up reply actions

72

just isn't going to happen. No way.

By the way wes, you ought to put up a new poll. How about this:

How many wins will the Mavs finish with?

70 or more
69
68
67
66
65 or fewer

Let me put my prediction of 68 down right now...

by BrodyV on Mar 5, 2007 12:34 PM CST reply actions

Thanks for the link Wes!

I am uncertain if 72 is possible. Maybe it is a pipe dream. But I think if this team hadn't of lost their first four games than 72 would be a very realistic win total.

I just think if the Mavs win 70 or more and win the title, this isn't just a championship team but perhaps one of the greatest ever.

by Agreen07 on Mar 5, 2007 1:06 PM CST reply actions

Playoff spot clinched

I just checked the standings and the Mavericks have the little "x" by their name, which means their playoff spot is mathematically assured. This is most likely the earliest they've clinched a playoff berth, but how does this compare to other great teams in previous years? Out of curiosity, which team secured a playoff spot the quickest?

by Marie on Mar 5, 2007 5:27 PM CST reply actions

What a Difference a Decade Makes!

Thanks for that tidbit, Marie. I'm not sure which NBA team was the fastest to clinch a playoff spot. However, since there was a strike-shortened season in 1998 it could have been one of those teams.

Now we Mavs fans just think of winning 50+ games and clinching a playoff spot as a formality!

I remember watching the Mavs in the 90s and wondering when they'd ever make the playoffs again. That was one bad decade -- 11-71 (.134) in 1992-1993 and 13-69 (.159) in 1993-1994.

In comparison, over the last 55 games, the Mavs are winning at a 91% clip. Amazing. The Mavs went from the 3 Js (Jason Kidd, Jamal Mashburn, and Jim Jackson) to Dirty (Dirk), Nasty (Nash), and Filthy (Finley) to the current Big 3 of Dirk, Josh, and JET.

After seeing Shaun Livingston and Lamar Odom go down with injuries I just want to end the season today (OK - next week when D. George is back) so that they're 100% healthy.

The playoffs start April 21st. 47 DAYS TO GO.

by dirk41 on Mar 5, 2007 7:30 PM CST up reply actions