Dallas Mavericks 2009-2010 Season Preview (Part 1)

Will the addition of Shawn Marion and a refined bench be enough to get Dallas to the top of the Western Conference?

Last year the Dallas Mavericks were 50-32 on their way to a 9th consecutive 50-win season and 1st round playoff victory over the rival San Antonio Spurs, even with Josh Howard hobbled for the majority of the season. Dallas' season came to an end in Denver after a controversial series came to an end with the Nuggets on top. This season, the Mavericks' have re-tooled their roster and Owner Mark Cuban feels these Mavs are the best yet. Let's take a look at this years newcomers in Part 1 of DPageSports' Mavericks season preview.

The Additions (in order from greatest impact to least):

1. Shawn Marion: Dallas gave up a few useless players (Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George) and one somewhat promising young player (Antoine Wright) for arguably the top wing player available through free agency or by trade. San Antonio traded for Richard Jefferson, and Orlando traded for Vince Carter, but Dallas got Marion for nearly half of what those two each command (RJ and VC both make between $14 and $16 million per season, Marion makes almost $8 million per). Now, Marion has played for 3 teams in the past 2 years (not including Dallas) and is coming off two of his least productive seasons, statistics-wise. The thought in Dallas is that Marion being re-united with a quality point-guard in Jason Kidd will turn him back into the player he was in Phoenix. So far in the preseason, Marion has been everything the Mavs want and more. In 3 games, Marion has shot over 75% from the field (.774) and averaged over 18 points. From what I have seen this preseason the majority of Marion's shots have been from in the paint or close to it which is actually what Dallas has been lacking: points in the paint. Shawn Marion isn't going to average over 20 ppg on this team, Dallas simply has too many scorers. What he will do is provide toughness, inside scoring, perimeter defense, and rebounding; all of which could be characterized as Mavericks' weaknesses. All-in-all a terrific move by Dallas which I see paying dividends all season long as the starting small forward.
   
2. Drew Gooden: Gooden seems to be widely viewed as what Dallas settled for after losing out on Orlando's Marcin Gortat, I don't see it as a bad move but I see him as merely a nice fit on a good team. Gooden has become a journeyman in the NBA but it shouldn't be lost that Gooden is a big man on a team that played a 6-6 power forward in Brandon Bass numerous times last season. Not only is he 6-10 and 250 pounds, but Gooden has proved throughout his 7-year NBA career that he can run the floor, hit an open shot, and even play some defense from time to time. Gooden might not be Dwight Howard, but he is a reliable scorer and a player that will thrive with Jason Kidd running the break. I believe he will average between 8-10 points and bring down 6 or 7 boards a game. This may not be much, but it is better than Erick Dampier who will now only play some of the time with Gooden getting the majority of the starts at the center postion while spelling Dirk Nowitzki at power forward some of the time.
   
3. Quinton Ross: The SMU product has shown in the pre-season that he is long, athletic, and willing to defend. He may not be much of a shooter or scorer, but on this team that is a good thing. He can cover anyone from the point guard to the small forward position and, despite his wiry frame at 6-6 and 193 pounds, Ross is versatile enough to cover the Carmelo Anthony's and Lebron James' of the world without getting bullied. Dallas needs toughness and a willingness to fight from their bench players and Quinton Ross embodies both of those traits. With Josh Howard expected to miss at least a couple of weeks recovering from ankle surgery in the off-season, Ross is likely to begin the season as this team's starting shooting guard.
4. Kris Humphries: This is another player Dallas got back from Toronto in the Shawn Marion trade. Humphries is more proof that the Mavericks realized they were simply too small and not athletic enough to legitimately compete in the Western Conference. At 6-9 and 235 pounds, Humphries plays to his size. Much like Brandon Bass, Humphries is a bruiser inside but also has some touch from about 15-feet away from the basket. I can see him taking the same role as Bass had last year as an energy guy off the bench who also brings some toughness.
5. Rodrigue Beaubois: The rookie point guard has shown flashes of his ability at points this preseason, but not enough for him to get any significant time this season with J.J. Barea and Jason Kidd in front of him. His day will come, but for now he will likely be buried at the end of the bench and used sparingly. Scouts proclaim that he is Tony Parker with a jump-shot and he has showed much promise thus far. Only time will tell how good he really can be.
   
6. Tim Thomas: At best the 10th or 11th man and 3-point specialist, at worst he can blow kisses at Dirk from the bench and hope for a big game. Easily the worst move of the off-season.

Turning Jerry Stackhouse, Antoine Wright, and Devean George into Shawn Marion and Nick Humphries is a steal by any stretch of the imagination. Drew Gooden and Quinton Ross were both solid signings that give this team the best depth they have had in years if not ever. Drafting Roddy B in the 1st round of the NBA draft and letting Jason Kidd tutor him is one of the best moves of the last couple of years for this franchise as Beaubois is going to be a stud in this league for many years to come, but for now he will be resigned to the bench.

Overall, Dallas got bigger, stronger, and better defensively this off-season. How will they do this season with their new weapons? Check out Part 2 of my Mavericks preview tomorrow.

Ware Deserves Big Deal

DeMarcus Ware received a 6-year contract extension today worth $78 million. Ware got a $20 million signing bonus. $40 million of the contract is guaranteed. (Image from dware94.com)

After leading the NFL with 20 sacks last year, DeMarcus Ware is finally getting paid. Ware didn't pout or complain about his contract situation, he just did what he does best: play football. Ware has had 57.5 sacks in his 70 career games with the Cowboys and is now one of the highest paid defensive players in the game, he has 4 sacks through 6 games this season.

Contending Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin (19) scores a touchdown after evading a tackle by Atlanta Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud, rear, for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Cowboys Prove They Belong In Playoff Hunt with Dominating 37-21 Victory Over Falcons

From owner-GM Jerry Jones, to Head Coach Wade Phillips, and down to the players; the Cowboys’ have said all week long that Sunday’s (10-25) game against Atlanta was their most important thus far this season.

"It was our best game overall,” Wade Phillips said after the game. “But that's also perception. When you beat a team that made the playoffs last year and came in here 4-1, that's impressive.”

Even though Dallas had their top 3 running backs healthy for this game, the running game never quite took flight. Luckily for Dallas, quarterback Tony Romo stole the show, showcasing his athleticism by eluding tacklers in the pocket which led to big plays. Romo passed for 311 yards and 3 touchdowns while also competing 72 percent of his passes (21 of 29). After a record breaking week before the bye against the Kansas City Chiefs, Miles Austin picked up right where he left off with 6 receptions for 171 yards and 2 touchdowns. Austin proved he was no one week wonder and has the best 2 game stretch for a receiver in Cowboys history with 421 yards and 4 touchdowns combined.

The Dallas defense also provided a break out game. Matt Ryan came into this game having not been sacked in his past 17 quarters, and he had also been sacked only twice all year.

"After the first series, I think we established that we were going to put a lot of pressure on them," Phillips said.

The Cowboys sacked Ryan 4 times for the game and pressured him on numerous occasions which led to poor decisions, including 2 interceptions and a fumble. Cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick both had interceptions and the Dallas defense had 4 takeaways for the game which is the most they’ve had all season.

It was up to Dallas to prove today that they could beat an elite NFC team, and they delivered. Even though there was still some sloppy play, the Cowboys showed that they could make up for their deficiencies with their explosive offense and an aggressive defense. Dallas plays next Sunday, November 1 at Noon, against the Seattle Seahawks in Arlington.

(Portions of this article were taken from the Associated Press)

News and Notes:

· This was Tony Romo’s 19^th career 300-yard passing game, the most in Cowboys team history.

· The Dallas defense had 2 interceptions on the day, matching their total interceptions thus far this season (2), which was lowest in the NFL.

· Both Dallas and Atlanta are now 4-2 on the year and with the Cowboys’ win they hold the tiebreaker come playoff time.

Cowboys Survive in Overtime 26-20

Miles Austin’s Record Breaking Game Overshadows Dallas’ Undisciplined Play

With starter Roy Williams out due to cartilage damage to three ribs, Miles Austin made the first start of his career and the Cowboys needed a big game from the third-year wide-out. The Dallas Cowboys wide receiver delivered 10 receptions and 250 yards against Kansas City, breaking the Cowboys receiving yards record for a game (246) held for 43 years by Hall of Famer Bob Hayes. That’s just 5 catches and 38 yards less than Austin had all of last season. Austin broke tackles to set up big gains all game long, culminating in the 60-yard game winning touchdown pass in overtime to win the game.

“I just wanted to show people I’m ready to play. I wanted to show my teammates that I want to contribute as much as I can,” Austin said. “I was able to do that.”

All-in-all, Dallas (3-2) did not have a crisp game on either side of the ball. Dallas shot themselves in the foot all game long: a missed field goal, 2 fumbles that led to 10 points for the Chiefs, dropped passes in the end zone, and 13 penalties for 90 yards at crucial points in the game led to a close contest with a winless Kansas City team.

“Our guys fought the whole game but we didn’t do all the right things,” said Coach Wade Phillips. “There are things we need to work on, but the bottom line is winning and guys coming through.”

The Wade Phillips led Dallas defense faltered with the game on the line in the 4^th quarter for the third time in the last four weeks. With a 20-13 lead and only 2:16 left in the game the Cowboys had a chance to put the game away with a defensive stop. Instead, Kansas City drove 74 yards in 10 plays to tie the game at 20-20 with 24 seconds left in regulation. Luckily for Dallas, the defensive unit shut the Chiefs down in overtime and allowed the offense to win the game.

The Cowboys offense managed only 170 total yards in the first half and went into the locker-room down 10-3 at halftime. Dallas picked it up in the second half, though, accumulating 328 yards and 17 points. The running game picked up the pace as Marion Barber and Tashard Choice combined for 145 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown. Quarterback Tony Romo also had a bounce back game. After failing to throw a touchdown pass for a total of (a career high) 13 ½ consecutive quarters, Romo was 20-34 for 350 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions. Romo did have a fumble in the first half (which led to the first Kansas City touchdown of the game) on what appeared to be a botched play in which offensive lineman Leonard Davis knocked the ball out of his hands.

Dallas legitimately stared a 2-3 record in the face going into their bye week. The Cowboy’s can’t expect to play like they did in this game and compete with any reasonably good NFL team. Dallas now has a week off to work on their deficiencies.

The Dallas Cowboys next game is Sunday Oct 25 at 3:15 pm, in Dallas against the Atlanta Falcons.

(Portions of this article were taken from the Associated Press)

Missed Opportunities

Terrence Newman (41) and Brandon Marshall (15) fight for what ended up being the game winning touchdown pass. (AP Photo/ Jack Dempsey )


Sloppy Play Leads to 17-10 Loss to the Broncos
Overthrown receivers, ridiculous penalties, costly turnovers: these are the things that summed up the Dallas Cowboys play today, Oct. 4, in Denver. Tony Romo led the pack as he consistently missed open wide receivers and accounted for both Dallas turnovers, including a fumble in the first half that led to Denver’s first touchdown of the game. Numerous times in the fourth quarter Romo found open receivers downfield and could not seal the deal, consistently throwing high or out in front of wide-outs who had beaten their man. Seven penalties for 70 yards didn’t help either as Dallas time and again shot themselves in the foot.

The Dallas defense had another strong effort, but failed to step up with the game on the line in the fourth quarter. With under 3-minutes left in the game, on first down from the Denver 49-yard line, Broncos’ quarterback Kyle Orton threw it up to the right side of the field high to wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Terence Newman, who was in coverage on Marshall, rose up to snatch the pass away before Marshall could seize the ball.

"I couldn't have played that play any better," Newman said. “I could have sworn it was going to be a penalty. He grabbed my jersey and threw me to the side. If that wasn't a hold, I don't know what is.”

Unfortunately for Dallas, no penalty was called and Marshall caught the ball, weaved, broke tackles, and sprinted his way to a 51-yard touchdown catch and run, giving Denver a 17-10 lead with under 2 minutes left in the game.

The Cowboys weren’t done yet, after a miraculous Tony Romo fourth-down scramble away from pressure, touch pass, and subsequent 53-yard catch and run by Sam Hurd; Dallas had a chance to tie the game with 53 seconds left in regulation. The Cowboys drove all the way to the Broncos 2-yard line, but consecutive passes batted away by All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey (both intended for Sam Hurd) on third and fourth down with 2 seconds left on the game clock ended the Dallas threat. Romo tested Bailey all game, and didn’t learn from his interception early in the third quarter as he dubiously challenged him consecutive times with the game on the line. Although Romo considered foul play a possibility.

“Their good all over,” Romo said of Denver’s (4-0) top ranked defense. "I understand Champ's good. It's questionable. I think you could go either way on that call. It's a bang-bang play and the corner's always driving on the ball. If he gets to the ball early, that's part of the game. ... Those are always going to be contested throws."

The Cowboys offense found out just how good Denver’s defense was the hard way as they were held to their lowest total yards (315) of the young season. Romo was sacked 5 times on the day and was held to 255 yards, completing only 25 of his 42 attempts along with no touchdowns and an interception. This is the first time in Romo’s career that he has gone consecutive games without a touchdown pass.

Dallas was also held to their lowest rushing output (74 yards), as their giant offensive line was beaten to the point of attack all game by the smaller, quicker Denver defenders. Coming back from a quadriceps injury, Marion Barber carried the ball only 11 times for 41 yards but had the Cowboys only touchdown of the game on a 1-yard rush in which he bullied his way into the end zone.

With Tony Romo’s play being helter-skelter from one week to the next along with an equally inconsistent defense; Dallas finds itself at 2-2 for the season. As former Cowboys’ coach Bill Parcells used to say, you are what your record says you are and the Cowboys right now are a mediocre football team.

Dallas plays next weekend (10/11) at Noon, in Kansas City against the Chiefs.

(Photo and portions of this article were taken from the Associated Press)