Kidd trade doesn't add up for Dallas MavericksTalks have cooled for now, source says; Stack, Harris rumored in deal
11:36 PM CST on Wednesday, January 30, 2008
BOSTON – Officials from the Mavericks and New Jersey have been in contact, just like the Nets and just about every other NBA team have had conversations since it became public knowledge that Jason Kidd has requested a trade. hottest rumor Wednesday involved the Mavericks, Nets and Portland Trail Blazers and would have sent Devin Harris to the Blazers and Jerry Stackhouse and others to the Nets, along with several players from the Blazers going to the Nets.
Several aspects of that proposal, including a possible buyout of the remainder of Stackhouse's three-year $21 million contract he signed in the summer, would make that deal problematic, to say the least.
Several NBA executives said Wednesday that they expect this process to drag on, although the Nets apparently are working feverishly to make something happen quickly.
Third-quarter blues: The Mavericks have statistical data on everything. No matter how much useful – or even useless – information any fan thinks they have stored up, the Mavs have more.
Avery Johnson said that, according to their data, the Mavericks have had trouble in the third quarter of games.
A quick check shows they are averaging 25.4 points in the third quarter, compared with 24.3 for opponents. It's their second-best quarter behind the first.
But over the last 17 games, the Mavs have been outscored eight times in the third quarter. They have scored more than their opponents eight times, with one tie.
That's enough evidence to search for ways to improve, Johnson said.
"We analyze everything," he said. "That's part of our job, to analyze how we function on the road, at home, in the first halves of games.
"Third quarters have been a problem for us. We took a look at how long we talk at halftime, how much information is being presented, how quickly they get out on the floor for [second-half] warm-ups. We analyze everything around here."
Johnson said he hopes the third quarter at Memphis on Monday is a sign of better things to come. The Mavericks beat the Grizzlies 23-19 in the period, the third time in the last four games they've won the third quarter.
Bar still set high: The Mavericks will be without Jerry Stackhouse (right hamstring) again tonight, and Devin Harris (left ankle) is on the shelf for at least two more weeks.
But just because two of their top players are out doesn't mean the Mavericks are giving themselves any excuses.
"The standards are still the same," Johnson said. "We have five games and we want to see if we can get high defensive ratings in those games and how we're going to function offensively. And we never use injuries as an excuse. It's a fact."
The biggest goal at the moment is to extend the amount of time they play quality basketball, which currently is in the high 20-minute range, Johnson said.
"And that's not good enough," he said. "Once we start putting together 38 minutes of good basketball every game, then we'll start being a better team. We're not there yet."