Q&A with Mike Fisher of DallasBasketball.com

For today’s game against the Mavericks, we visit the world of Dallas Basketball with Mike Fisher of DallasBasketball.com.  On today’s Q&A, we explore what Dallas fans really think of the Jason Kidd trade, the progress of Rick Carlisle, and potential roster moves.  Cooincidentally, Fish wrote a great column on the recent trade rumors involving Josh Howard and the Toronto Raptors.  Make sure to give Fish and DallasBasketball.com a bookmark - fantastic insight on the Mavs.  In a lot of ways, they are a lot like the Suns in that they have generally been viewed as a “past threat”.  I made sure to pose this question to Fish as well.  Ben’s Note: I LOVE Fish’s response to question #1 - great stuff. 

For my responses to Fish’s questions, click here.

Ben:  What do Dallas fans really think of the Jason Kidd/Devin Harris swap?
 
Fish:  The Mavs were well aware of all the potential potholes here – potholes that might take a decade to fill. (Hey, just like the government!) The Law of Steve Nash (don’t lock into max contracts for aging point guards). Devin’s efficiency in leading last year’s Mavs (they were second in the NBA on offense). Devin’s salary of $4 mil to Kidd’s $20 mil. Devin at 24 being a decade younger than Kidd. The acrimony Kidd often leaves in his wake. Devin already being a comparable player to Kidd so why divorce Jessica Alba so you can bang Halle Berry?

And then, knowingly, they swung from their heels in an attempt to hit a grand-slam home run.
So assuming the critics of the deal are completely right – that Devin will be a 10-time All-Star while Kidd never makes the Mavs substantially better than they were before – how troublesome is it, really, that Dallas hit a double off the wall?

It’s not like Kidd hasn’t been darn good. It’s that they didn’t (and according to Las Vegas, won’t) win a title. I think there is a parallel with the Suns’ signing of Steve Nash: What if Phoenix never wins a title during his time there? Technically, isn’t that a “failure’’?  And when it’s all over with – when Kidd is retired and dating all the models (instead of just half of them) and when Nash is retired and playing soccer in Brazil or something – the Mavs and the Suns will use the vacated salary slot to sign their replacements.
Circle of life, and all that.
 
Ben:  Jason Terry has been a stud this year coming off the bench.  Talk about his play and importance to the team.
 
Fish:  He’s ranked 18th in the NBA in scoring and the next best bench scorer is ranked 59th. That is just one of a bushel of statistical evidence of how special he’s been, but there’s something else: Terry conducts himself in a manner that rubs on teammates and even fans. His professionalism, his willingness to come off the bench, his enthusiasm, his chippiness (as Michael Finley’s testicles for testimony). … it helps set the tone around here.

Oh, and so does his flair and his confidence. A couple of years ago, Dirk was hitting 3’s in practice and after one of the makes, held up four fingers – a playful expression of how he’s a clutch (fourth-quarter) shooter.
It took no time for Jet to good-naturedly steal the gesture, and now, you watch: Terry will make a big clutch shot, or a momentum-grabbing shot, and Dirk’s invention becomes Terry’s trademark.
 
Ben:  Rick Carlislewas a favorite of mine for the vacant Suns coaching position this past off-season.  With the Mavs getting off to a slow start but playing much better basketball the past few weeks, what’s the consensus on Carlisle thus far?
 
Fish:  Our initial concern was that in terms of attitude and approach, he might be a repeat of Avery Johnson – thus our early-on nickname of “Ivory Johnson.’’

He is without a doubt a substantially superior in-game to his predecessor, he doesn’t have the same sort of relentless ego, and he’s willing to admit, concede and change when something doesn’t work. (Example: Over the summer, he intended to install some Princeton Offense stuff into the gameplan. The players didn’t take to it, it wasn’t effective in camp, so he scrapped it.)

The Mavs’ search came down to D’Antoni, Jeff Van Gundy and Carlisle (with Flip Saunders, who would’ve been a finalist, not yet available during the search). Some around here called the choice “uninspired’’ – I guess they wanted Wooden – but Carlisle’s turned out to be a good fit.

He and GM Donnie Nelson attended the same New England prep school. So I kind of knew at least the two of them would fit.

Ben:  The Mavs, like the Suns, have generally been written off as a threat this year.  What are your predictions for the playoffs as it pertains to the Mavericks?
 
Fish:  I’m always slow to concede. It was just last month that Boston was never going to lose. It was just three months ago that Cleveland was never going to win. Is the Lakers’ ascension to the title an automatic? It certainly wasn’t last year.

I believe that the acquisition of Kidd was an attempt to vault into greater contention. Assuming the Mavs remain as they (and Phoenix are) now – that is, with a very legit hope of being the No. 2 seed in the West – I am sure they’ll take another trade-deadline “attempt.’’

Seriously, since when should a team vying for a top-four seed in one of the toughest conferences in the history of sports “blow it up’’? Has that every been demanded before?
 
5.  How are the Mavs positioned long term?  Do you foresee a blow-up if things don’t go well this year?

I don’t believe “windows close’’ in the permanent sense, and either does Cuban. So the Mavs are trying to juggle two balls at once: Do everything possible to be ready for an opportunity for contention now, and also do everything possible to “keep their powder dry’’ (a term borrowed from cross-town owner Jerry Jones) in preparation for 2010.

That’s not too much to ask, is it? After eight years here of winning 50-plus, to ask that the Mavs keep doing so into perpetuity?

 

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