MIAMI — Just when the Dallas Mavericks appeared to figure out that it takes interior defense as well as outside firepower to win a championship, they go and scrap that successful formula.
The Mavericks, who upset the Heat in six games in the NBA Finals in June, let defensive-minded center Tyson Chandler sign with the New York Knicks and then added versatility and offense by acquiring Lamar Odom and Vince Carter.
Dallas certainly will be exciting as it attempts to defend its title starting Sunday against the Heat. But could this be a repeat of all those years of 50-plus wins and post-season flameouts?
"Tyson Chandler was the anchor of their defense," said Hall of Fame guard and NBA analyst Magic Johnson. "And now he's gone."
Most of the core of the club that went 57-25 in the regular season and 16-5 in the playoffs returns.
Forward Dirk Nowitzki, who averaged 27.7 points in the post-season and was the Finals MVP, guards Jason Kidd and Jason Terry and forward Shawn Marion now welcome to the nucleus Odom, Carter and Brendan Haywood (who replaces Chandler in the starting lineup).
The biggest addition is Odom.
"When you have his type of versatility, there is not one team that he can't fit into right away," Heat forward LeBron James said Saturday.
Odom, who spent one season with the Heat, averaged 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season while shooting a career-high 53 percent from the field for the L.A. Lakers.
He was traded twice after the lockout ended with the first deal, which would have brought Chris Paul to the Lakers, being vetoed by the league.
The Lakers then shipped him to Dallas for an $8.9 million trade exception.
Dallas plans to use Odom (6-10, 230 pounds) off the bench. With Odom and Terry in reserve, the Mavs have two of the top "sixth men" in the league.
"They certainly will be unique when you add a player like Lamar," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
But while Nowitzki, Odom and Marion form what coach Rick Carlisle says may be "the best forward trio in the league," a lot will fall on the shoulders of the 7-foot Haywood. He is an 11-year veteran who averaged 4.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 18.5 minutes a game for Dallas last year.-http://www.palmbeachpost.com/
0 comments:
Post a Comment