Griping While Winning - Send in the Guards
By:  Gary Adornato
11/05/01


It's nice when you're scrambling to get down your defense, you're stars 
aren't shooting particularly well, and you're struggling with multiple 
injuries to rotation players...

And your record is 3-1, and you're coming home.

Such is the state of affairs for the Dallas Mavericks.  Playing 
short-handed, and not particularly well, the Mavericks have found that 
there are teams more hurting (Philadelphia), more out-of-synch (Detroit) 
and just plain pathetic (Memphis) out there waiting to offer help, and 
cheap wins.

But make no mistake, the Mavericks are struggling.  Through their first 
four games, they've had uneven performances on both ends, and a large 
part of it just might be the learning curve for the two point guards.

Start - as the Mavs offense does - with Steve Nash.  Since he began 
playing to his talent two years ago, the coaches have been begging him 
to shoot more.  Nash is a fine shooter with range, and one of the most 
efficient scorers in the NBA - more shots always seem like a good idea.  
But when Nash forces his shot, two things happen:  he stops creating 
movement in the offensive set, and he misses.  Often.

Over the first four games, Nash is averaging a reasonable 14.25 points 
per game to go with 6.25 assists.  Not terribly disappointing, but a 
closer look reveals that he's shooting a very poor 34.5% from the field, 
and an even more telling 34.3% on two point shots.  Following a 
pre-season where Nash shot only 40.4% on two point shots in seven games, 
and you've got something worth paying attention to... this from a player 
who has shot 52.1% on two pointers over the last two seasons.

It's possible that Dirk is the Mavs most talented player.  It's likely 
that Finley is still the Mavs' leader.  But it's also clear that Nash is 
a critical piece to the puzzle, and if he's under par, then the team 
isn't close to its best.  Nash is playing big minutes (38.0 per game) 
but he's not getting into the offensive flow as well as he can... 
witness the 6.25 assist number, and note that in three of the four 
games, he handed out 5 or less.  When the season gets tougher, he'll 
need to be better.

The "other" point guard is Hardaway, and he's been a mixed blessing as 
well.  Offensively, it's clear that he's still a talented player, 
although his shooting woes (36.4% fg, 26.9% on 3's) makes the frequency 
with which he shoots questionable.  When Hardaway is on the ball, the 
offense is very different - Nash in gear penetrates and mixes up the 
defense, freeing teammates for open looks, Timmy plays the perimeter 
these days, and rarely moves the defense, relying on the other players 
to create openings.  And, if those openings aren't there, he's more than 
happy to jack a couple up from downtown... Hardaway already leads the 
team in three point attempts, in spite of being last among the shooters 
in shooting accuracy. 

Another problem with Hardaway is on the defensive end.  Hardaway no 
longer has the ability to move over and around picks and screens, 
especially when he's chasing one of the more athletic players.  He was 
absolutely torched by Peterson of Toronto, and even the Sixer's Raja 
Bell and Vonteego Cummings were able to get clean looks for shots.  The 
early indications are that Hardaway could hold his own for shorter 
periods of time, but he needs help - the Mavs have to switch on the 
screens more effectively, and provide him with support on the perimeter. 


Overall, Hardaway is a good addition, and a welcome backup to Nash.  But 
for this team to get out of its doldrums, Steve Nash has to assert his 
own leadership on the court, and get the team moving again.  Hardaway is 
more than happy to fill that vacuum if Nash won't, and part of Timmy's 
contribution to this season may well be forcing Nash to grab the ball, 
and remember that this is Steve's team... to lead on the court and into 
whatever success that they have in the post-season. 

Nash "getting" that may well be a large part of what this Maverick team 
needs to begin playing to its substantial potential.  And Hardaway being 
placed back into the 20-22 minute per game role that he was brought here 
for might make his game - and the team's - a whole lot prettier. 

In the meantime, the Mavs should send a note to the schedule-maker, and 
say thanks for the wins...