Taking It For Granted

Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.  -  Aldous Huxley.

The universe around us is complex, intricate and goes on forever; yet we know pretty much all there is to know about life and how it works.  Right?  Sure the earth is complex, people are diverse and not just sterotypes buuuutttt, I’ve got the score.  I’ve been given a brain that can observe all the complicated factors and make decisions, judgements, about people and things.  I know what things should be like and what I deserve.  God has sent geniuses amidst the backdrop of this earth and I am one of them.  I’m a reasonable man.

But how does this work out with our sports teams.  We forget these are actually people, who are actually made up of flesh and blood, and not just robots in which you invest a certain amout of money into and it always does the same thing again and again.  So where are we going with this?  Let’s talk about the Mavericks for a bit.  For eight staight seasons they have finished with 50 or more wins, making the playoffs in each of those years.  They’ve made a run to the NBA finals – losing in six games (The other team had a player who was terribly stricken with a disease every time a maverick came near him.  The refs acted accordingly and blew the whistle on those cruel mavericks – giving that player the record for the most free throw attempts in an NBA finals.  Did I mention it was a six game series and not seven?  Did I mention it was the all time NBA record in the NBA finals, surpassing the infamous Jordan partiality?  OK.)  The Mavericks have had a good run.

Now it looks inevitably like they’re going to lose in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive year.  The future doesn’t look bright with 2 future first round picks seemingly gone along with a solid young point gaurd under contract for years, while the other western conference teams get tougher.  There are many people who believe Avery Johnson will not be back next season and that this team’s future is decending like Josh Howard’s game towards the end of this season.  But we’ve taken this team for granted and forgotten that there was a time, specifically the 90’s, when this team played like our beloved Rangers have this decade.

That is - becoming too angry over getting to the playoffs and losing (in a very tough western conference) could have lasting repercussions and set this team back for years to come.  You need not look beyond this season’s trading deadline to have evidence of what overlooking, and taking for granted, the good things you have on this team can do to harm the future of this team.  And to remember we have short memories and just because Josh Howard is in a funk now, doesn’t mean he will never be able to play like an all star again.  And just because Avery Johnson doesn’t look like the best coach now, does not mean he has lost his ability to coach.

Does this team need changes?  Yes.  But making changes to make changes, or because we’re dissapointed in our beloved Mavericks exiting the playoffs in the first round for the second consecutive year and heads need to roll because of that, does the Mavericks and their fans no good.  What is best for this team moving forward, that is the question.

The Four Horsemen

Our four major teams all have business to attend to this weekend.  Let’s start with the Mavs:

The Mavericks played horribly in game 2 and come back home in need of 2 victories.  The Mavericks have played a total of 4 halfs in this series, giving up 40, 64, 67, and 60 points respectively each half.  The first one (the 40) is good, the rest are abysmal.  My three Keys to the game going forward are:

1.  Fast break points.  They have to go up for the Mavs and down for the Hornets.  In Game 1 the Mavs had 10 fast break points, the Hornets 15.  In Game 2 the Mavs had 13, the Hornets had 29.  The Mavs need to score in the 20 to 30 range and hold the Hornets under 20.

2.  Play defense.  This shouldn’t be as hard as the Mavs are making it out to be.  And I have some concern that Avery just doesn’t look like he knows how to coach this team anymore, the attitude to play defense just isn’t there.  The easy baskets and points in the paint for the Hornets are out of hand.  Also the turnovers run the New Orlean’s way as well.  In Game 1 the Hornets only turned the ball over 8 times, the Mavs 14.  In Game 2 The Hornets 6, The Mavs 15.  The Mavs should be causing more turnovers and allow less points in the paint.  In Game 1 they allowed 36, in Game 2 they allowed 48, that’s terrible.

3.  Jason Terry.  In Game 1 he shot 3-7, in game to he shot 5-8.  He has to take more attempts than seven and eight.  Then he has to make most of them.  What has happened to him since he received his contract I don’t know, but he has to start doing the things he did in the run to the finals.  I don’t know how he lost it, but most point guards have the shot where the beat their man, but when they see someone hanging around the basket pull up and float the shot in.  Jason Terry did have that shot, it’s a shot you have to practice.  I don’t know if he just doesn’t practice it anymore, but he was good at it and now he just doesn’t attempt it anymore.  Shots like that and three pointers he has to attempt and make.  Jason Terry has to become a scorer, then that will open things up for everyone else while Dirk and him are on the floor. 

This men have to grow some intestinal fortitude on the way from New Orleans to Dallas if they want to have a chance in this series, they need to be the aggressors.

Now the Stars:

Marty Turco was good, not great.  I’m glad they’ll be taking on the San Jose Sharks, it gives them a chance to go back to Caly and play two road games to start off a series.  This series will go 6 games, don’t know who wins.  But offense will be the key.  The Stars were the aggressors against the Ducks.  They will need to continue that, winning the battles along the boards and flying to loose pucks.

Now for the Cowboys:

If no one falls unexpectedly to pick #22 I trade the pick and pick #61 if I can for a first rounder next year and an earlier pick in round 2 this year.  I then pick a WR at pick #28.  I like Mario Manningham although there have been character issues and concerns with him.  If his character checks out I pick him.  If not, going with a Malcom Kelly isn’t too bad.  I don’t like the DeSean Jackson pick just because of the overvaluing of a punt returner.  I then try and go for a corner with my early second rounder and a running back with one of my later picks.  Obviously I wouldn’t go to far away from my pick the best player on the board, but I would lean toward the WR, CB and RB positions.

As for the Rangers:

Pitching, starting and bullpen need to work together in order to win.  Until they do this we won’t go on any prolonged winning streak, but we will go on prolonged losing streaks as we are in right now.  And just for fun I’m going to point out the guys I think should be on the team looking at the rest of this season.  Catalanotto.  Botts.  Kinsler.  Young.  Blaylock.  Hamilton.  Bradley.  Vasquez.  Duran.  Murphy.  Byrd.  Salty then Laird.  Millwood, Padilla, Jennings (if only to trade or cut in mid season, unless something unforeseen happens here), Gabbard, McCarthy, Loe, Rupe, Littleton, Franscisco, Wright, Benoit, Wilson.  And if had to pick I might bring a young lefty up in place of Loe and bring Loe up when a righty was hurt.