Mavs Player-By-Player Analysis: The Backcourt

So what have we learned? A summer of transactions, a month of camp, a handful of preseason games, and here we are on regular-season’s eve. … with our player-by-player Who’s Who of the Mavs roster. This morning, we’ll go Part I, Player-by-Player in the Dallas Backcourt. (On Tuesday morning, we’ll do the frontcourt):

JJ BAREA

Strengths. On defense, he is supposed to be a liability. But he’s developed a knack for absorbing charges at an NBA-elite level, doing so against everybody from Tony Parker in the playoffs to Gilbert Arenas in the preseason. On offense, he also has a habit for coming up big – even though he’s not. He’s one of the few Mavs who have established they can break down a defender on the dribble. He’s a fearless penetrator; amazingly, half his shots come from inside the paint. And he’s a 3-point threat. Fans and teammates rally around him. He milks more from his God-given talent than anyone on the roster

Weaknesses. The 5-11 JJB is a man without a position. He’s done some of his best work at the 2, but last year Jason Terry got most of the important minutes there, so JJB played the 1, where he plays behind Kidd, of course, and is not a great natural creator for others. At some point, we wonder when he’s going to see a steady diet of opponents simply posting up on him, but it hasn’t happened effectively and steadily yet.

The Plan: He’s now in competition for minutes at the 2 not only with Jet but also with Josh Howard. So he’s a point guard – but there the competition includes not only Kidd but also rookie Roddy Beaubois. Will he get 20 mpg again? The Mavs have faith that he can handle that, but have hopes that eventually this season, Roddy will steal some of those minutes.

The quote. "I'm always a believer that anything is possible. Would I have predicted it? No. Am I shocked? Absolutely not." -- Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, on JJB's from-nowhere emergence.

JASON KIDD

Strengths. He leads the league in BBIQ, a factor that was sorely lacking in Dallas before his acquisition. And that BBIQ trickles down into everything this team does and everything Kidd does. His intelligence is the reason he’s the best rebounding PG in the NBA. Same for why he’s still the smartest passer in the game. And for why he might not always make his shot, but why he never takes a bad one. Kidd is in fact a stunningly clutch long-range shooter (41 percent on 3’s last year) and depending on the matchup, he is also stunningly clutch as a defender. He muscles up superstar swingmen, outhustles kids who are a fraction of his age, and out-thinks most everybody.
Weaknesses. Ideally, you wish Kidd could guard the waterbug PGs. He can’t … but heck, maybe nobody else can, either. One of the reasons he makes those 3’s is because he’s left unguarded from the perimeter; still, this is a pick-your-poison thing because opponents know that if they rotate to his shot, Kidd will pass on the shot and locate a more open and superior shooter. He’s a great post-up option on offense because at 6-4, he pushes around defenders. Unfortunately, once he’s inside, his most fluky weakness is exposed: J-Kidd is allergic to shooting layups. Kidd will habitually forfeit an opportunity for his own shot from 12 inches from the rim to kick it out so somebody else can shoot it from 12 feet. It’s unselfishness gone mad – but it’s also because Kidd’s weird knuckleball shot causes him to miss that 12-incher.
The plan. Kidd's greatest skill is the ability to think ahead of the other nine guys on the floor. That manifests itself best when the Mavs run. When Kidd gets a defensive rebound or a steal he is at a mental advantage over the opponent and Dallas needs to run more and more effectively to take advantage of that. It’s one of the reasons Shawn Marion is such a fine fit here. The Mavs believe they can justify Kidd’s new $25-mil deal (and more debatable, the three years given a 36-year-old) by knowing that in a key situation, in a key game, in a key series, they have a singular and unmatchable edge: Jason Kidd’s BBIQ.
The quote. "I'd rather lose a step and know what I know than have that step back and not know anything." -- Kidd.

JASON TERRY

Strengths. Terry sincerely believes that he as effective a crunch-time shooter as there is in the NBA … and the numbers almost reflect that. Last year he averaged more than six 3’s per game, and turned his big-shot, big-game knack into the league’s Sixth Man Award. Terry happily swallows his ego to be a bench guy – he started just 11 games last year and probably won’t start that many this season – and uses his buoyant attitude to serve as a heart-and-soul guy for the franchise. He’s a sparkplug when he does get to the basket, too, a finisher at just 6-2. Jet is a brilliant “receiver’’ on a Kidd-led break; he’s got favorite spots and his QB knows it. He’s durable, he’s still got his quicks at age 32, and he’s a showman who understands how important it can be over the course of an 82-game grind – to teammates and fans – to be that.

Weaknesses. Though this team went to the NBA Finals with Jet at the 1, he really isn’t a point guard. His instincts as a passer and ball-handler aren’t there. He does nothing on the boards and his quickness on offense never seems to quite translate to the defensive end. The Mavs have worked to incorporate him in more pick-and-roll stuff on offense, but that wrinkle demands that he make decisions on the fly when frankly, he’s better off with the ball in his hands and lettin’ ‘er fly.
The plan. He very much wants to repeat as the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, and will get his shot because while he won’t start games, he will almost always finish them.

The quote.  “Believe what I’m telling you: I like our team, the way we’ve put this team together. We're going to knock some people around!'' -- Terry.

JOSH HOWARD

Strengths. When he is on the floor, he is the self-described X-Factor, the guy who elevates Dallas from “good’’ to “can play with anybody.’’ He did so in the Spurs playoff series a year ago, just as he did in the spring when he returned from injury to drive the Mavs to the point where they were winning two out of every three games. Josh is an improved perimeter shooter (there’s a “but’’ coming there), can be a creative offensive player as a slasher, which was his specialty when he first emerged as a legit star in the NBA. His length has long made him Dallas’ version of a defensive stopper, and at 6-7, it will certainly mean a different look for the league’s 2-guards who will oppose him at his new position. A good sign: Josh seems to have learned to control his temper, or better, to funnel his anger in a positive direction.

Weaknesses. Every time you think you are done with the enigmatic part of Josh Howard … it sucks you back in. When he’s healthy, he shows up ready to play; he’s LeBron-like as a first-quarter scorer. Unfortunately, he’s unable to keep up that pace, and often reverts to “shot-hunting’’ – and the Dallas offensive can unravel from there. He can drive but he’s not a drive-and-dish guy. He’s not the 3-point shooter he thinks he is. And he exhibits a need to be coddled by the organization.

The plan. The biggest issue, the first issue, is getting him back on the floor. The rehab from ankle surgery has been a slow process (too slow?) and coach Rick Carlisle is iffy on when he’ll even see J-Ho. Howard battled ankle problems last year – valiantly, it could be argued -- and missed 30 games. When he’s back, he’ll start at the 2 and then switch to the 3 in crunch time. Here’s hoping for good health, for Josh learning from Marion’s example, and for a terrific season in what is essentially a contract year.

The quote. "It may be a while before Josh plays.’’ -- Coach Rick Carlisle.

QUINTON ROSS

Strengths. He qualifies as a “street-free-agent’’ signing after being lured here from Memphis, but the Mavs made the move believing Ross might be worthy of a starting job. And now with J-Ho hurt, the Mavs might be right. Ross will open the season getting time at the 2. He is long, quick and has a stopper mentality; the Mavs think he can contend with standout 2’s and even taller swingmen. Dallas insists he can make the 3 … but I don’t hear anybody actually telling him to shoot them. Ross is very good at playing the passing lanes and when you put it all together, he’s got some Griffin/Buckner/Wright in him.

Weaknesses. On the other hand, the Mavs were hoping to be much better at the 2 this year than Griffin/Buckner/Wright. If Q is truly an elite defender, Dallas will take it. But he is not a strong ballhandler, not a good scorer and not a rebounding threat. So his one dimension had better be really good.
The plan. We addressed his ability to guard 2’s and 3’s. However, if Ross starts at the 2-guard alongside Kidd, who is going to guard the other teams’ PGs? That would seem to be Ross’ responsibility, too, and it might be a stretch. As a minimum-wage guy, Ross represents front-office value. But to start the season, the Mavs are going to need on-the-court value, too.
The quote. "Q is a go-to guy. It's just that he's a go-to guy on defense.'' -- Mavs GM Donnie Nelson.

MATT CARROLL

Strengths. Once upon a time, Matt Carroll was able to make his 3’s. He has three years left on a deal that will pay him $15 mil more, all based on that year when he nailed 43.6 percent behind the arc. So he can do it. …

Weaknesses. But … He got his money and his opportunity in Charlotte. That didn’t work. He got his trade but no opportunity last year in Dallas. And this fall? The opportunity was there, but Carroll didn’t take advantage of it. He got his Lasik surgery and shot extremely well in training-camp practices, but as was the case in games last year, it never really translated to the games. In addition to being a 3-point specialist who isn’t making his 3’s, he has no ability to create his own shot. And he’s a defensive liability.

The plan. It doesn’t appear that he is a serious part of the rotation. Can he be a specialist here? Who would he sub for to shoot a 3? Not Dirk, not Marion, not Jet, not Josh … maybe not Kidd and, when he’s healthy, probably not Tim Thomas. The Mavs like him as a guy, but if they can get somebody to take his contract in trade, they will do so.

The quote. "We know he’s a good player, a terrific shooter, and a weapon for us.’’ -- Coach Rick Carlisle.

RODDY BEAUBOIS

Strengths. Beaubois gets compared to an assortment of fast and athletic point guards. … but maybe he doesn’t quite fit into a box. Is he like Tony Parker? He speaks French and he’s got blazing speed. But Roddy is much longer and a much better leaper. (Roddy is 6-foot-2 with a 6-10 wingspan and a 40-inch vertical; the Spurs don’t often run alley-oops for Parker). He is already a skilled man-on defender who will block shots using that style. He’s also already about as effective a one-on-one driver as anybody on this roster. The Mavs also rave about his qualities as a person, which can’t hurt as they pin big future hopes on him being Kidd’s heir.

Weaknesses. Roddy can play the 1 or the 2, but for not, there is still a huge adjustment to this level of play and, for that matter, a new lifestyle and a new country. He looked erratic at times in Summer League and can be expected to look that way again if he’s ever asked to actually be Parker or Barbosa or Paul for a real NBA game.

The plan. He’s not part of the regular nine-man rotation – yet. It’s certainly crowded in this backcourt … Kidd and Howard, Terry and Ross, JJB, too … but Beaubois does some things that not even that impressive group of NBA veterans and stars can do. We can see him being inserted into games for quick spurts here and there to try and play defense against the NBA’s unstoppable CP3-type points. But only quick spurts.

The quote. “I hear ‘Little Frenchie’ is pretty fast and pretty good.’’ – Dirk Nowitzki.

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1114am oct 26 2009