Mavs Moneyball: Your Chance to Interview The Mavs

by Walter Sobchak on Jun 8, 2011 7:50 PM CDT

Editor's Note: Front Paged Because You Want To Do This :)

Good Evening,

I have been fortunate enough to come into a "moonlighting" situation for an international press corps which gives me access to the Mavs (hooray) and Heat (boo!) players for Q&A. I will be attending Game 5 here in Dallas and Game 6 (and possibly 7) in Miami.

I would like to give you all an opportunity to provide questions for all players that I will ask when the opportunities present themselves: usually at set-up media stations after practices or in the locker room before/after games. All players for the Mavs have been accessible other than Dirk, who is usually only available in official press conferences. (You can submit questions for Dirk, LeBron, Dwyane and Chris Bosh - plus the coaches - and if they are REALLY good, I will ask them in the official pressers.) But I would focus more on the other players, as it's easier and higher percent chance to get to one of them.

So, please provide questions between now and the end of the series.

Thanks! And Go Mavs...

As of 4:00 pm Dallas time, all questions have been printed out and I'm heading to the game. I'll ask as many of these as I can, and hopefully provide video footage of the responses if I can figure out how to load them up and link. Look for photos, too.

Keep asking questions throughout the rest of the series, I'll print off the new ones starting after kwentin's on June 9, 2011 at 3:57 PM CST for the next opportunities.

Reader Submitted

Tweet Comment 32 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

To JJ Barea-

JJ, do you feel that the reason that you aren’t as successful in recent series is because your recent success has led to more scouting?

I’m not good at wording things correct, but pretty much ask him why he thinks he isn’t as explosive as he used to be.. And if he thinks the Laker series is responsible, because he was sooo good that teams began to scout him

~Karim!

by KarimTheDream on Jun 8, 2011 8:28 PM CDT reply actions

To Tyson Chandler-

Several players say you’re a very optimistic player. Dirk said you were the “most positive player” he’d ever been around. Even in the worst of times, how/from where do you get your positive attitude?

I have like 500 more questions, as interviewing Mavs is my dream(im 17, give me a break). I’ll stop though, to give others a chance to give their questions.

~Karim!

by KarimTheDream on Jun 8, 2011 8:30 PM CDT reply actions

ask carlisle if corey or roddy would make an appearance if haywood is out.

by go87 on Jun 8, 2011 9:38 PM CDT reply actions

Ask Brian Cardinal -

How he looks to his playing minutes, is it the “good I’m finally able to play” or the “I’ll do my best, I’m good defensively and a capable shooter too, I’ll contribute when I can”?

And does he still remember a certain altercation seasons ago when he was still with the Timberwolves and Bosh with the Raptors, and perhaps we might see it again from the Custodian?

lol

I'm reading this because it's interesting.

by entropy13 on Jun 8, 2011 10:16 PM CDT reply actions

For Roddy B

Is he not fully healed yet?

by lemonbrigade on Jun 8, 2011 11:22 PM CDT reply actions

Honest question:

Since the Lakers series when it looked like he tweaked his back, Peja hasn’t been able to get it going. Is this simply a case of the more athletic Heat being a bad match up, or is Peja laboring out there in his limited minutes?

"You're failing Seymour; what is it with you and failure?"

by Maximilian on Jun 9, 2011 1:18 AM CDT reply actions

To Caron Butler:

Do you feel like you could get out there on the court and give the Mavs 8-10 minutes right now, regardless of what the doctors are telling you?

"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel

by TXHC on Jun 9, 2011 2:07 AM CDT reply actions

And if the answer is yes...

To Rick Carlisle:

Caron Butler says he can play. Why not give him a few minutes and see how he does?

"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel

by TXHC on Jun 9, 2011 2:10 AM CDT up reply actions

...

Super Bowl XLV Champions, the Green Bay Packers!

by mike_o on Jun 9, 2011 4:10 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Not really.

I don’t think the question has been asked to either party in as straight-forward a manner as I just asked it. If it has, then I’ve missed it and would love a link. All I’ve seen is generic stuff like “could we see Caron in this series? blah blah blah” to which Carlisle has responded “don’t ever count the guy out blah blah blah”, and “how do you feel, do you think you’ll play this series? blah blah blah” to which Butler has responded “I believe in miracles blah blah blah”.

If he’s still physically not ready to go and would be a hindrance to the team in his own mind then I’d like to hear it from his mouth, because unless I’ve missed something I haven’t heard it. It’s the NBA Finals, and it’s been an absolute gauntlet of a series so far. One of our best guys is on the bench, and I’m not 100% convinced that he shouldn’t be out there getting at least a few minutes here and there.

If Caron is convinced he can go, even on a limited basis, then Walter Sobchak should try to track down some medical staff while he’s at it and ask them what the holdup is and why he hasn’t been cleared yet. If something still isn’t fully healed then that’s one thing, but if it’s just based on some kind of circumspect timetable that they don’t want to deviate from and nothing else then that’s another.

You might be tired of it, but it’s a horse worth beating.

"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel

by TXHC on Jun 9, 2011 7:01 AM CDT up reply actions

on twitter, Nelson was quoted as saying

to not expect to see Butler play at all.

Managing Editor of MavsMoneyball.com

by LJRotter on Jun 9, 2011 7:53 AM CDT up reply actions

We've gotten to the NBA Finals without him... I'd say the Mavs are doing just fine.

And Caron didn’t just strain a quad or tweak an ankle, a tendon in his knee snapped. How smart would it be to bring him back, only to have him snap it again?

Super Bowl XLV Champions, the Green Bay Packers!

by mike_o on Jun 9, 2011 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions

It wouldn't obviously, if it's not fully healed yet.

It’s been 6 months though, it’s healed. I simply want to know what about his rehab is causing him to still have to miss games.

"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel

by TXHC on Jun 9, 2011 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions

It's been 5 months.

His rehab is supposed to last 6 months.

Super Bowl XLV Champions, the Green Bay Packers!

by mike_o on Jun 9, 2011 6:46 PM CDT up reply actions

To Carlisle

Why not roll with Trix and Corey on the wings to start instead of Trix and JJ the penetrator? Or are you saving Corey as a game changing trick?

Gotta admit, Trix and Corey on Wade and James… That eases up the load on Kidd defending Wade at the start. Plus, Corey can jump, get him to do the alleyoop to.

Don't need another perfect line... Don't care if critics ever jump in line...

by Pongskie on Jun 9, 2011 3:34 AM CDT reply actions

to barea

why is he shooting 20% and averaging only 3 assists and why are his layups clanging off the rim and why doesn’t he pass the ball Dirk

by dimitrious on Jun 9, 2011 7:08 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

To Terrry

What do you feel when being branded as someone who just talks and talks and does not walk the walk?

by papant7 on Jun 9, 2011 8:50 AM CDT reply actions

To Marion

How is your strained calf muscle and will it limit your movement and/or minutes for game 5 and beyond?

by mwfontan on Jun 9, 2011 11:13 AM CDT reply actions

To Fuhrer Dirk

How does your back feel after the first 3 rounds?

Apologies to anyone that already posted this...
…but Thor is an impostor. Dirk is the true God of Thunder

by Steve Estep on May 23, 2011 9:46 PM PDT

by AfterSchoolSpecial on Jun 9, 2011 1:34 PM CDT reply actions

For Jason Terry

(we are both friends of the UofA as he matriculated in Tucson and I, of course, did the Mormon mission down there as well as El Paso, but anyway…), do you think your experience as a national champion at UofA in 97 helps you in an NBA championship series? You always step up when it matters most, which I really appreciate:)

Brad James

Follow me on Twitter

With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!

by the new Bradfather on Jun 9, 2011 2:02 PM CDT reply actions

Also for Carlisle

is Roddy B not ready to contribute, and if so, is he worth the investment in the future?

Brad James

Follow me on Twitter

by the new Bradfather on Jun 9, 2011 2:03 PM CDT reply actions

Question for Dirk:
[I think this question could get an interesting answer.]

You’ve really been carrying this team on your back for years now, especially in important situations like these… How good would it feel to win the championship this year, and be able to look back and say “This time I had help”?

Question for LeBron:
[Notice how the question doesn’t leave much room for LeBron to gloat about himself.]

You’ve really been struggling with some shots you normally make. How much of that is defense, and how much of that is just you being off your game?

Question for D-Wade:
[In Heat fandom, a lot of sparks have been flying over whether this is Wade’s team or LeBron’s team. Wade’s answer on this one could reignite some of those sparks.]

In the 2 games the Heat have won this series, you’ve really turned it up and made some unbelievable shots. Is this your team now?

Question for Bosh:
[In the past, Bosh got in a tricky situation by talking about himself calling for the ball more and wanting more touches. His answer to this may get that started again.]

In the past few games, you’ve been the second leading scorer on your team, behind Dwayne Wade. Is that because LeBron is struggling, or have you just been calling for the ball more?

[enter some witty remark here]

by fanoftheunderdogs on Jun 9, 2011 2:05 PM CDT reply actions

For Lebron:

“Do you still have a goal to bring an NBA championship to cleveland?? Do you plan to bring the finals trophy to Cleveland if you are able to win this series?”

my better is better than your better.

by rangerjake on Jun 9, 2011 2:09 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

For Dirk

Can I call you “Big German Sausage”?

"I'm a unitard!" - Ralph Wiggum

by stupidsexyflanders on Jun 9, 2011 2:20 PM CDT reply actions

TWSS

Apologies to anyone that already posted this...
…but Thor is an impostor. Dirk is the true God of Thunder

by Steve Estep on May 23, 2011 9:46 PM PDT

by AfterSchoolSpecial on Jun 9, 2011 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions

For Kidd

You’ve started your career in Dallas, came full circle back to Dallas in what was once a disliked trade move and have made the finals. So, what may the future hold for Jason Kidd now, one more year left in the tank maybe?

(Dont know if that would be a good question to ask i just threw something there.)

by kwentin on Jun 9, 2011 3:57 PM CDT reply actions

To Terry

If you win the championship this year, will you get a tattoo of the trophy on you other arm for good luck heading into the next season in hopes of back to back championships?

by captainamerica* on Jun 9, 2011 10:56 PM CDT reply actions