When the trade for point guard Rajon Rondo happened, I’ve
got to admit I was stoked. I mean it was pure genius how Mark Cuban and Donnie
Nelson re-tolled the roster and brought it back into title contention in just a
few short years. Now the Mavs have an All-Star point guard that can help guard
the elite point guards in the West and help cement another title for Dirk
Nowitzki.
That dream didn’t last long.
Now that the NBA season is winding down and the march to the
playoffs is starting, the Mavs are struggling to co-exist in the Rondo-era.
Even with the addition of Amar’e Stoudemire, the team is still trying to find
its identity. Though the defensive numbers have improved dramatically since
adding Rondo, the offensive end is still a mess. You would think adding one of
the elite point guards in the game would elevate it, but sometimes you can’t
force certain players with certain teams.
The Mavs run a flow offense, which generally means that
there are no set or called plays. It is about playing the pick-and-roll and
creating spacing all across the court. Rondo, however, is a much different
point guard. He prefers to have the ball completely in his hands and to use
most of the shot clock. This is not what the Mavs are comfortable with, especially
when you have a ball-dominant shooting guard in Monta Ellis. Ellis needs the
ball in hands to create shots and drive to the basket.
That brings us to another problem with Rondo and that is he
sucks on the offensive-side of the ball. He currently is shooting .408 percent from the
floor and a dreadful .382 percent from beyond the arc. Even his free-throw
percentage is at a career low .280 percent. These numbers aren’t what the Mavs
need in their point guard.
Add in the fact that Rondo and head coach Rick Carlisle are
fighting on-court over play calling, you got yourself a very volatile situation.
If the Mavs don’t have a long playoff run, they will have to make some tough decisions
this off-season with their All-Star point guard.
Dallas Cowboys:
Yesterday I mentioned that I figured it would be time for
Cowboys fans to get used to the fact that Demarco Murray won’t be returning. I
bet a lot of them are wondering then, who will replace him next season? That is
going to be a tough question to answer, but of course there are some
interesting candidates. We all know of Adrian Peterson, but I figured that will
be a pipe-dream because of the mess he has up there in Minnesota. We could name
draft prospects and I am sure Melvin Gordon or even Todd Gurley would be a
great addition.
The name I am focusing on is free agent running back Mark
Ingram. The former Heisman trophy winner hasn’t made a huge impact in the NFL,
but in the right situation he could flourish. The Cowboys don’t need a home-run
hitter or a workhorse like Murray, but behind this offensive line Ingram and
other backs can contribute big time. Ingram, at the right place, would be an incredible
fit for this team.
Texas Rangers:
If the Rangers are going to do anything this year, they
really need Yu Darvish to make a huge impact. I know he is coming off injury,
but he has to make an impact and be one of the top pitchers in the league this
season. If he isn’t in the conversation for the Cy Young award, don’t be
surprised if the Rangers aren’t in the conversation for making the playoffs.
Quote of the Day:
“It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up.”
— Vince Lombardi
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