Tomahawk Tuesday: The Dallas Mavericks take out the Spurs and Cavaliers

One team that has been pretty quiet this season is the 18-30 Dallas Mavericks. With Dirk Nowitzki past his prime, this team hasn't been as competitive as they've been in past seasons, but after taking out the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers in back-to-back games, maybe we should pay more attention to them.

In their 105-101 win over the Spurs, Seth Curry led the charge with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists on 4-9 shooting from the field while Harrison Barnes finished with 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. In addition to Curry and Barnes, Wesley Matthews (17 points and 7 rebounds) and Dirk Nowitzki (15 points and 10 rebounds) had solid outings as well. What made the win all the more impressive is the fact that the game was in San Antonio and the Mavericks came back from a 49-59 deficit at the half to win. Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge both played solid games for the Spurs, Leonard finishing with 24 points and 7 rebounds and Aldridge finishing with 16 points and 7 rebounds. It was probably the best game the Mavericks played all season up until that point.

I say up until that point because the very next night in Dallas, the Mavericks took out the Cleveland Cavaliers by a final score of 104-97. Even with LeBron James putting up a near triple double (23 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists), the Mavericks were able to fend off the defending champs and get the win. Harrison Barnes (24 points and 11 rebounds) and Wesley Matthews (21 points and 4 rebounds) were the top performers for the Mavericks in this game, but much like their game against the Spurs, the Mavericks got help from other players as well. Seth Curry finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists while Dwight Powell finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds.

 Perhaps the most shocking contributor was Yogi Ferrell, an undrafted guard out of Indiana who is currently playing on a 10-day contract. Ferrell finished with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, which should guarantee he stays with the team for the rest of the season. Ferrell stepped up big time and is a major reason for why the Mavericks were able to get the win. If he is able to continue to prove his worth as a solid rotation player, the Mavericks will have hit the jackpot since they desperately need more backcourt depth with Deron Williams and J.J. Barea sidelined with injury.

Even though these wins over the Spurs and Cavaliers are only two games out of 82, they are still very noteworthy and should grab our attention. Especially since the Mavericks are only 4 games back of the 21-25 Denver Nuggets for the 8th seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Mavericks could be on the verge of turning the corner and making a serious push for that final playoff spot.

When looking at this Mavericks roster, there's no good reason to not expect them to make the playoffs. They've been dealing with injuries all season, but at full strength, these guys have the pieces to be a dangerous team. Dirk Nowitzki is a wily old veteran with some juice left while Harrison Barnes, Wesley Matthews, and Seth Curry are shaping up to be a very solid trio to build around for the future. Unless some other team starts to grab the bull by the horns and take command of the 8th spot in the Western Conference, I got my money on the Dallas Mavericks to be the team that gets it. They have the most talent of all the teams battling for it and the most experience. They just have to stay healthy and continue to play sound basketball on both ends of the floor.

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Wednesday Windmill: The Golden State Warriors Are RIDICULOUS

     The Golden State Warriors just thumped the Charlotte Hornets 116-99 to extend their unbeaten record to 20-0. That's right, 20-0. It's the best start in NBA history and the Warriors are showing no signs of letting up. Stephen Curry is leading the charge by averaging a ridiculous 31.6 points per game on 51.2% shooting from the field, 44.5% shooting from three-point range, and 94.1% from the foul line.
     In addition to Stephen Curry's lights out shooting and stellar defense (2.5 steals per game), the Warriors are getting very good production from Draymond Green (13.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.4 blocks), Klay Thompson (16.3 points on 41.3% shooting from three-point range), and Harrison Barnes (13.4 points and 5.0 rebounds).
     The Warriors have a lot of weapons and what's scary is that they play very unselfishly, leading the league in assists at 29.5 per game. In addition to their offensive potency, they are holding opponents to 42.4% shooting from the field, forcing 15.5 turnovers per game, blocking 6.5 shots per game, getting 8.5 steals per game, and grabbing 35.4 defensive rebounds per game.
     In truth, it's the Warriors' defense that is primarily responsible for their historic start. By holding opponents to low shooting percentages while simultaneously cleaning up the glass, the Warriors are able to get out in transition, which is where they really excel. When they have opponents on their heels, the Warriors are deadly because there are so many ways they can attack. They can hit a transition three, connect on alley-oop dunks, or hit floaters in the lane. Plus, they are very good at the foul line, shooting 76.1% as a team.
     When you break it all down, it's no surprise that the Warriors are an elite team. They have all the pieces that any team would want: Great perimeter shooting, great ball movement, and fantastic defense. However, it is still a pleasant surprise to see them start their season with 20 straight wins and counting. What they are doing is truly special and I hope that everybody who is a basketball fan is enjoying the magic that the Golden State Warriors are performing on a basketball court.
     Stephen Curry especially is out of this world. He makes shots that even Michael Jordan would have been hard pressed to do on a regular basis. While Michael Jordan is the league's greatest player, it's hard to find a shooter in the history of the NBA that is better than Stephen Curry. Stephen Curry takes shots that most basketball coaches would consider "bad shots" and he makes them with ease. For Stephen Curry, there is no such thing as a "bad shot". He's that good.
     Now, of as to how this all ends, I think it's safe to say that the Golden State Warriors should be the heavy favorites to win the 2016 NBA championship. They won the title last season and what's scary is that they appear to have gotten a whole lot better. As for whether or not they eclipse the '96 Bulls' 72-10 record, only time will tell, but at the moment, I wouldn't put it past them to finish with the best record in league history.
     A 73-9 season or better certainly seems possible so long as they stay healthy. It may sound far fetched to already put them in the same class as the '96 Bulls, but when they continue to shatter NBA records and extend their unbeaten record into the 20s, why shouldn't we put them in the same class as that Bulls team?

Daily Dunks: 9/14-9/20/15

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source). 

Here is my Daily Dunks page for September 14, 2015 through September 20, 2015. Throughout the week, this page will be updated with news from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Hornets signed forward Sam Thompson and center Jason Washburn for training camp (Click here for details).

#2. The Lakers signed center Robert Upshaw to a partially guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#3. The Bucks have given their general manager John Hammond a contract extension through the 2016-17 season (Click here for details).

#4. The Spurs are instituting a season-tickets wait list (Click here for details).

#5. The Rockets signed second round pick forward Montrezl Harrell to a three-year contract (Click here for details). Harrell also saved a motorist (Click here for details).

#6. By signing Christian Wood, the 76ers put themselves in an interesting roster pinch (Click here for details).

#7. NBA GMs are discussing expanding the draft once the D-League reaches 30 teams (Click here for details).

#8. The D-League is planning on multi-team expansion for next season (Click here for details).

#9. The Pacers' owner is seeking a court ruling on team ownership (Click here for details).

#10. The Pelicans signed forward Chris Douglas-Roberts to a two-year contract (Click here for details).

#11. David Morway is not being retained as the Bucks' assistant GM (Click here for details).

#12. Kelly Oubre and Terry Rozier signed with Adidas (Click here for details).

#13. Trajan Langdon is joining the Cavaliers as Director of Player Administration. He is replacing Raja Bell (Click here for details).

#14. The Warriors signed guard Ian Clark for training camp (Click here for details).

#15. The Grizzlies signed guard Patrick Christopher for training camp (Click here for details).

#16. The Timberwolves hired Arnie Kander as VP of Sports Performance (Click here for details).

#17. The WNBA playoffs start on September 17. Click here to view the final standings.

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Toronto Raptors' D-League team has hired their assistant coaches (Click here for details).

#2. Moses Malone's funeral will be on Saturday (Click here for details).

#3. Gus Johnson and Marques Johnson have joined the Milwaukee Bucks' broadcast team (Click here for details).

#4. The Warriors hired Steve Nash for a consulting job to help develop their backcourt (Click here for details).

#5. Anthony Bennett may be staying in Minnesota (Click here for details).

#6. The Wizards signed forward Josh Harrellson for training camp (Click here for details).

#7. Roy Hibbert has no hard feelings towards the Pacers (Click here for details).

#8. Eric Gordon wants to stay with the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#9. Rockets center Donatas Motiejunas (back) won't be ready for training camp (Click here for details).

#10. Walt Frazier says Wilt Chamberlain is the greatest of all time (Click here for details).

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Rockets have unveiled some alternate uniforms (Click here for details).

#2. The Jazz plan to stick with the point guards on their roster (Click here for details).

#3. The Brooklyn Nets and the YES Network are near a massive TV deal (Click here for details).

#4. The Mavericks tried to sign Steve Nash this summer (Click here for details).

#5. The Suns signed five players for training camp (Click here for details).

#6. Former ASU center Jordan Bachynski has signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Pistons (Click here for details).

#7. Norris Cole has re-signed with the Pelicans on a one-year, $3.03M qualifying offer (Click here for details).

#8. Nets forward Andrea Bargnani (calf) competed for Italy in Eurobasket. He is fine (Click here for details).

#9. Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis: "I am not Shawn Bradley" (Click here for details).

#10. Stephen Curry has signed a mega-extension with Under Armour (Click here for details).

#11. The Nets signed Angolan big man Yanick Moreira to a non-guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#12. The Hawks signed small forward DeQuan Jones to a non-guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker underwent minor surgery to repair a nasal fracture. He should be ready for training camp (Click here for details).

#2. Spain defeated France 80-75 to advance to the Olympics. Pau Gasol led Spain with 40 points and 11 rebounds (Click here for details).

#3. The Heat signed point guard John Lucas III for training camp (Click here for details).

#4. The Pelicans have unveiled some new alternate uniforms (Click here for details).

#5. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving says he is making progress in his recovery (Click here for details).

#6. The 76ers expect Jordan McRae to reject his tender (Click here for details).

#7. Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant has been medically cleared to resume all basketball related activities (Click here for details).

#8. The Bulls signed shooting guard Jordan Crawford to a non-guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#9. Power forward Jerrelle Benimon will not join the Cavaliers for training camp. He is playing in China instead (Click here for details).

#10. The Timberwolves signed shooting guard Nick Wiggins and center Kelon Penn for training camp (Click here for details).

#11. Undrafted big man Joshua Smith from Georgetown has signed with the Rockets for training camp (Click here for details).

#12. Forward Nick Minnerath has signed with the Cavaliers for training camp (Click here for details).

Thursday's WNBA Playoff results: 

Sky 77 Fever 72. Sky guard Allie Quigley had 22 points of the bench. Sky lead the series 1-0.

Mercury 88 Shock 55: Final. Mercury power forward Brittney Griner had 18 points and 8 rebounds. Mercury lead the series 1-0.

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1.The Hawks signed point guard Edgar Sosa for training camp (Click here for details).

#2. Carlos Delfino worked out for the Spurs (Click here for details).

#3. The Hawks made several hirings and promotions in their organization (Click here for details).

#4. The Nets signed forward Justin Harper to a non-guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#5. Mike Krzyzewski says some very nice things about Kobe Bryant (Click here for details).

#6. Lakers head coach Byron Scott plans to give Kobe Bryant fewer minutes (Click here for details).

#7. Lithuania defeated Serbia to advance to the Olympics (Click here for details).

#8. The Suns have unveiled a new court (Click here for details).

#9. The Hawks are getting creative with the way they try to sell season tickets (Click here for details).

#10. The NBA is studying wearable technology for game use (Click here for details).

#11. Warriors forward Harrison Barnes has signed with agent Jeff Schwartz (Click here for details).

#12. Montrezl Harrell officially signed with the Rockets (Click here for details).

#13. Yanick Moreria, won't be able to join the Nets for training camp. He suffered a minor tear to a ligament in his left foot which will take 4-6 weeks to heal (Click here for details).

Friday's WNBA Playoffs Results: 

Lynx 67 Sparks 65: Final. Maya Moore led the Lynx with 33 points. Lynx lead series 1-0.
Mystics 86 Liberty 83: Final/2OT. Mystics lead series 1-0.

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Blake Griffin says he wants to finish his career with the Clippers (Click here for details).

#2. Marco Belinelli will join the Kings next weekend (Click here for details).

#3. Spain wins Eurobasket and Pau Gasol won MVP (Click here for details).

#4. Shaquille O'Neal thinks Kobe Bryant should play beyond this season (Click here for details).

#5. Dwight Howard has signed with PEAK shoes, a Chinese brand (Click here for details).

#6. Jimmer Fredette says he is surprised the Spurs called (Click here for details).

#7. The Heat have several players playing in the final year of their contracts (Click here for details).

#8. France defeated Serbia 81-68 to finish 3rd place in Eurobasket (Click here for details).

#9. The Rockets waived guard Remi Yusuf (Click here for details).

#10. Forward DeShaun Thomas has signed with the Spurs for training camp (Click here for details).

Saturday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Fever 89 Sky 82: Final. Tamika Catchings led the Fever with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Series is tied 1-1.

Mercury 91 Shock 67: Final. Mercury win series 2-0. Brittney Griner led the Mercury with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 rebounds.

Sundays' NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Warriors plan to keep guard Chris Babb around for training camp (Click here for details).

#2. 76ers point guard Kendall Marshall isn't expected to be ready to start the season (Click here for details).

#3. Jerry West thinks Kobe Bryant could play beyond this season (Click here for details).

#4. Shaquille O'Neal has some high praise for Anthony Davis (Click here for details).

#5. Hornets big man Al Jefferson lost 20 pounds by cutting out fried chicken (Click here for details).

#6. The Bucks signed three players for training camp (Click here for details).

#7. The Warriors have offered Harrison Barnes a 4 year, $64M contract (Click here for details).

#8. Pau Gasol has committed to playing for Spain in the 2016 Rio Olympics (Click here for details).

Sunday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Liberty 86 Mystics 68: Final. Tina Charles led the Liberty with 22 points. Series is tied 1-1.

Sparks 81 Lynx 71: Final. Candace Parker led the Sparks with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Series is tied 1-1.


---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news and like my Facebook page NBA Lord Nation. 

Wednesday Windmill: It's a good thing the Warriors didn't trade Klay Thompson to get Kevin Love

                                            (credit: rantsports.com) 

In the Summer, one of the teams in the mix to land Kevin Love was the Golden State Warriors. Their main piece of trade bait to lure the Timberwolves was Klay Thompson, who has become one of the NBA's finest shooters. While many think that giving up Klay Thompson for Kevin Love would have been a good move for the Warriors, I am of the opinion that it is actually good that the Kevin Love trade talks fell through and that Klay Thompson is still a member of the Golden State Warriors. What's better, is that the Warriors are now looking to sign him to a multi-year contract extension.

The reasons I have for holding the opinion that I do has to do with both the present state of the Warriors and the future of the Warriors. I.e. I think retaining Klay Thompson keeps the Warriors better for the present and for the future. I will now state what those reasons are as well as an explanation for why they are good reasons.

First of all, trading Klay Thompson would have been a radical departure from the Warriors' identity as a three-point shooting team. What has made the Warriors so dangerous over these past couple of seasons has been their ability to stretch the floor and knock down shots from three-point range. Last season, the Warriors made 38% of their three-points shots, which tied the Wizards for 4th best in the entire NBA in that category. In addition, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry were both ranked in the top ten in the entire NBA for 3-point percentage, making them the best three-point shooting duo in the NBA.

                                            (credit: www.willitsnews.com)

Trading Klay Thompson for Kevin Love would no longer give the Warriors the distinct advantage of having two elite three-point shooters in their starting backcourt which is an advantage the Warriors should hang on to at all costs. Barring a trade which lands them Kevin Durant or LeBron James, the Warriors would be foolish to make a trade which would give up that distinct advantage over every other team in the NBA.

A second reason I have for why it's good the Warriors still have Klay Thompson has to do with the emotional and psychological well-being of Stephen Curry, their superstar point guard. Stephen Curry says he likes playing with Klay Thompson and there is no reason not to believe him judging by how he plays when Thompson is on the floor. Curry is coming off of his best season ever, a season in which he made the All-Star team and averaged 24.0 points per game and 8.5 assists.

If Stephen Curry says he likes playing with Klay Thompson, that in and of itself is a good enough reason to hang on to Klay Thompson. We can just end the conversation right there. Of course, there's more than just that reason, but it's a very good one and one that the Warriors' management probably didn't consider as much as they should have during the process of courting Kevin Love.

I also think the fact that Klay Thompson keeps getting better is another great reason for the Warriors to hang on to him. If Thompson showed signs of regression or stagnation, the Warriors might be wise to trade him while his value is high. But since he continues to improve and get better, there really is no good reason for the Warriors to trade him.

In his third and most recent season, Thompson averaged 18.4 points per game which was almost 6 points better than his rookie season in which he averaged 12.5 points per game. I expect Thompson to average over 20 points per game next season and possibly as much as 24-25 points per game in his prime. The potential for that kind of improvement is just too much for the Warriors to give up on after just three seasons.

Finally, I don't think trading Klay Thompson for Kevin Love brings the Warriors a championship. If I thought that such a trade would bring the Warriors a championship, then I obviously would be writing a very different article right now. The fact of the matter is that trading Klay Thompson to get Kevin Love would make the Warriors different but not necessarily any closer to their goal of winning a championship.

                                              (credit: cbssports.com) 

As a matter of fact, it might have had a negative effect on the team. In order to get Love, the Warriors would also have had to part ways with Harrison Barnes and likely David Lee. Those guys are important players on the Warriors, too and there's no telling what their departure in addition to Klay Thompson's departure would have done to the team. It's better to keep a good thing intact than to blow up a good thing in hopes that what gets pieced back together is somehow better.

 I personally don't think adding Love at the expense of Lee, Barnes, and Thompson would have been worth it. I'm certain that such a move would not bring the Warriors a championship and I'm confident that at best it wouldn't have made them any better. The risk simply wasn't worth the reward in this case.

In conclusion, the Warriors are better off with Klay Thompson on their roster than they are with Kevin Love. It's no knock on Kevin Love, who is arguably the best power forward in basketball. His ability to rebound the basketball and score from a wide range of places on the court makes him a very desirable piece to add to your basketball team. However, he doesn't fit with the Warriors nearly as well as Klay Thompson does, which is why it's best for the Warriors to stick with Klay Thompson and see how they can fit him into their long-term plans.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord