NBA Finals: Game 4 Adjustments

The Cleveland Cavaliers still have a hill to climb to even the series with the Golden State Warriors.

by Rodney Fisher

Golden State Warriors

Matching Intensity

The Warriors allowed the Cavaliers to feed off their home crowd in the first quarter of Game 3. It is not that they were caught off guard, they know to expect the Cavs to come out swinging in their first home game of the series, but they normally match the intensity with a deadly three-pointer or block at the rim. In Game 4, the Golden Boys need to bring their own fight early.

Lineup Change

This is simple...If Kevin Love starts, so does Andrew Bogut. If Coach Lue keeps Richard Jefferson in the the starting five, then you make the move to start last year's NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala.

Make Free Throws

We all know the Warriors need to shoot better, but 17-26 from the charity stripe needs to improve. Free throw shooting on the road is all about nerves. It is one of the best indicators to see the mindset of the road team in the playoffs. Klay Thompson was 1-3 from the free throw line. Draymond Green was 2-4.

Make the Cavs Run Half-court Sets

This has been cryptonite for the Cavs offense. When they have to run plays the settle for jumpshots, and in Game 3 they made them. That is risk you are willing to take with you have a more superior shooting team overall. The Cavs looked their best on the break in Game 3, but Lebron could not finish at the rim in with the half-court offense.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Don't Get Cute Lue

Coach does not need to make the rookie mistake of thinking that not having Kevin Love in the starting lineup is the right move. If Love is cleared to play, you have to let him start regardless of what fans, media, or Lebron has to say. If you lose Game 4 and don't start Love even though he is ready to play, the decision may cost you more than a trophy. Richard Jefferson is available to come in at anytime, he does not have to start.

Run, Run, Run

Play like your hair is on fire! Start Game 4 just like Game 3 without slowing down in the second quarter. Running will get the Cavs easy points in the paint or free throw attempts. The Cavs outscored the Warriors 15-8 on fast break points.

Lebron Needs 40

James does not need to let his foot off the gas now that Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, and J.R. Smith have decided to show up to The Finals for only one game. He has way more at stake in this series than any other player on the team. He has to play like a man possessed. Yes Lebron, you have to channel the legends of the game like Jordan, Magic, Kobe, Shaq, Olajuwon, Jabar, and others to take over.

Maverick Fans Do Not Want Chandler Parsons

Chandler Parsons is not a fan favorite right now, but what injured player is. 

Regardless of what Mark Cuban and Chandler Parsons may say about his status with the team long-term, in a social media poll 73% of fans do not want him to stay with the team.

by Rodney Fisher

Human beings tend to live in the moment. MFFLs seem to be no different. In a poll conducting on social media this week 73% of 1,218 Mavs fans surveyed say they do not want to see Chandler Parsons remain with the team after this season for various reasons.

This comes off the heels of Mark Cuban's impromptu pregame press conference saying he wants Parsons to be here a long time if healthy.

"Everything presumes that he's healthy, and that's going to depend on his recovery and what the doctors say. I want him to be a long, long, long, long part of the franchise."

Parsons also joined the broadcast team during their home victory over the New York Knicks to proclaim the same, somewhat.

"I love Dallas...we will see this summer."

Chandler coming to Dallas over the summer of 2014 signified the turning point for the Mavericks franchise with signing free agents. Since winning the championship in 2011, the team had not been able to woe any notable free agents to join Dirk and the roster. Getting Chandler was supposed to open the gates for other young talent to come to Dallas.

Many Mavs fans that took our poll commented on the unwillingness of free agent DeAndre Jordan to join Parsons last summer as a bad omen for keeping him with the team.

"He can't bring anyone to play with him here. Look what happened to DeAndre Jordan changing his mind at the last minute."

Seems to be a stretch to blame Parsons for everything that happened with that deal, but fans have their own recollection of events.

The biggest reason fans give for not wanting Parsons is the money. If he opts-in to his last year of his current deal, the Mavs will have to pay him $19 million for next season. If he opts-out, he wants a max deal at 4 years $96 million which is doable because of the salary cap increase to $92 million net year $102 million the following year. All the while Dirk Nowitzki, still the team's best player, is making a paltry $8 million per season.

"He has to go. He is not worth the money! No player should make $19 million and never been an All-Star"

"Parsons can go. With where this team is (nowhere near contention), he's not worth that kind of over payment. Regardless of the impending salary cap increase, the state of the team and franchise don't warrant having him for that price."

The money is the hardest part to overcome when you talk about Chandler Parsons relative to Dirk Nowitzki. Fans could care less about the impending increase of money that all free agents will be making. They only see Dirk making peanuts and Parsons making steak.

His injury history was cited in the poll also. Parsons has had to end his season early this year due to a knee injury as well as last season after one playoff game. Dallas fans are accustomed to playoff basketball and he has not been apart of it since joining the team.

Wes Matthews has come back from a devastating Achilles injury to led the Mavs in total minutes this season. Fans see that and wonder why Parsons can not stay healthy.

"That doesn't mean he's worth it though this is two years in a row he's been hurt for the playoffs he's not worth it he didn't do anything in Houston"

Even though 73% or fans do not want him, nobody had a good plan if he was not with the team next year.

"For anyone that doesn't want him, the question is who can the Mavs actually get to replace him? No one ever wants to come to Dallas, sadly."

The Mavs have disguised signing hapless veterans to join Dirk for one last push as rebuilding. Other teams with hall-of-famers approaching the end of their careers like Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade are all playing with young talent found in the draft. Their commitment to Dirk to build a championship caliber team gave them the leverage to have money to spend, but the current strategy is not working. With no draft pick in the first round due to the Rondo trade, this does not seem to be the offseason to change course.

If I am 27 year old Chandler Parsons then I definitely opt-out of the deal and get the Mavs to resign me for the max contract. He has already been promised a max deal from his hometown Orlando Magic. You take the guranteed money when you can.

As I mentioned, humans are creatures of the moment. It may hurt to see your team struggling to make the playoffs while Parsons sits on the bench with a designer leg brace on, but you have to continue to look big picture. One more year to evaluate the player and the league is the best option.

Barea Leads Mavs To Win Over Knicks 91-89 To Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

J.J. Barea to the rescue for the Mavs. 

J.J. Barea's 26 points on 10-18 shooting from the field to pull out a tough win over the New York Knicks.

by Rodney Fisher

Justin Anderson and Dwight Powell got the start for the second straight game looking to build off of their performance from Sunday's win over Denver. The night belonged to J.J. Barea again coming off the bench to score 26 points, his sixth 20+ game this season.

The Mavs will hit the road again to face the Detroit Pistons on Friday, but their next home game against the Houston Rockets may make or break their playoff hopes.

Mavs Youth Secure Big Win over Denver 97-88

Dwight Powell had a career-high 16 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a much needed victory. 

Dwight Powell and Justin Anderson lead the Dallas Mavericks to a critical win over the Denver Nuggets.

by Rodney Fisher

After losing 10 of the their last 12 games, the Mavs needed a big spark from someone. Coach Rick Carlisle has been going deep into his bench looking for someone to step up and provide the needed energy to get this team a win. Tonight, their youngest players on the roster in Dwight Powell and Justin Anderson delivered.

Anderson came alive in the third quarter with key defensive plays and shots on his way to 11 points shooting 5-8 from the floor. Powell put the game away in the fourth quarter going 5-5 on his way to a career-high 16 points. Both young players got the start tonight.

Dwight Powell on his career night:

"You got to always stay ready because opportunity is always around the corner...The guys keep telling me to keep shooting my shots and I did."

J.J. Barea led the team in scoring with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Deron Williams missed another game due to back soreness and David Lee played on 3:52 total.

"Both did a great job. Both grinding on defense and played within themselves. I felt that right now we had to make the point that anything other than your best energy or best effort will not be tolerated" - Rick Carlisle

Key State: Dallas tied a franchise record for turnovers with only four.

With the win the Mavericks move into the 8th and final playoff spot tied with the Houston Rockets who play the Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow without Lebron James.

The Mavs will come back home to Dallas to face the New York Knicks in another must win game.

Cowboys Actively Seeking Draft Trade

Dallas Cowboys looking to trade out of the fourth spot.

Sources within the Dallas Cowboys organization say the franchise is actively seeking trade partners to move down out of the #4 spot.

by Rodney Fisher

The Cowboys have been busy during the NFL free agency period locking up current players and adding new key position players like Alfred Morris at running back. As much as fans, myself including, have been salivating at the idea of drafting Tony Romo's replacement with the fourth pick, the team brass have been kicking the tires on a trade down to gain more late round picks.

There is no question. Not having Tony Romo and Dez Bryant for the majority of the 2015 season cost them big. There only reward was a high draft pick fueling the fire for Romo's replacement. Coming off yet another clavicle surgery in the offeseason, the team is content starting the season with him, Kellen Moore, and another veteran to be named later.

That leaves the door open for the Cowboys to add more depth in the draft versus the marquee player like Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, Ezekiel Elliott, Jalen Ramsay, or Joey Bosa.

Teams like San Francisco and Los Angeles Rams are speculated to be possible trade partners.

Why The Mavs Can Still Make The Playoffs

Pondering the possibilities of the Dallas Mavericks to make the playoffs.

Even with Chandler Parsons out for the rest of the season, the Dallas Mavericks can still make the playoffs.

by Rodney Fisher

Four teams all vying for the last three playoff spots in the Western Conference. What do the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, and Portland Trailblazers have in common? They are all losing.

The Mavs high hopes for securing a #5 seed have collapsed since the All-Star break. Poor bench play, an experimental small lineup, and the poor play of their young nucleus of Parsons and Wes Matthews have been the biggest factors. The news that Parsons will miss yet another playoff run for the Mavs is not the death blow most fans think it is.

Looking back at how the Mavs played at the beginning of the season, you see them taking advantage of a jump-shot heavy league with Zsa Zsa Pachula surprisingly becoming an instant double-double. Keep in mind that he barely missed being the only Maverick to make the All-Star team by fan vote. For whatever reason, he has been relegated to the bench but with Parsons out the hope of running a small starting lineup with Dirk playing the five does not work.

Add in the emergence of one Saleh Majri, the 28-year old NBA rookie. He is not next great Big Man, but has shown enough flashes to twist Rick Carlisle's arm to start. This could get the Mavs back to playing the winning basketball they played prior to the All-Star break. Maybe.

Missing Parsons is not like missing Dirk. Sure they will have to rest Dirk a few games to preserve him, but he us playing great basketball right now. Now Wes Matthews can get back to playing offense on the perimeter and shooting the three. Deron Williams can put-up-or-shut-up if he wants to really reestablish himself in the league as an elite point guard. Everyone, including Javale McGee, will have to make a major contribution.

The other three teams in the hurt are facing their own problems. Houston, currently on a three game losing streak, is nursing their own injury plagued squad and dealing with a new coach with a fractured locker room. Utah has some tough games against San Antonio, Golden State, Clippers, and the Mavs to break the 1-1 series tie. The Blazers young squad led by Damon Lillard is fiery and quick, but how much can one man do.

This is the opportunity for the Mavs to galvanize as a unit and make the playoffs. An eighth seed, no matter the team, will be the sacrificial lamb for the Golden Warriors, but making the playoffs is the standard for Mavericks basketball.

Do you think the Mavs can still make the playoffs?

Mavs Release Official Statement on Chandler Parsons Knee

Chandler Parsons out for the Dallas Mavericks again...  

Sources have confirmed that Chandler Parsons will miss the remainder of the NBA season to have surgery on his right knee.
by Rodney Fisher

Here is the Mavs official statement:

MAVERICKS FORWARD CHANDLER PARSONS TO MISS ROAD TRIP

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks announced today that forward Chandler Parsons will not travel with the team on the upcoming road trip due to a right knee injury.  Treatment options are currently being explored.

Chandler (6-10, 230) has played in 61 games (51 starts) and has averaged 13.7 points, while shooting .490 from the field and .414 from 3-point range in 29.5 minutes.  He also has averaged 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

© 2016 Dallas Mavericks

Anthony Davis is Being Too Nice To the Pelicans

Anthony Davis will miss the remainder of the NBA season and Olympic Rio Games. 

The news of Anthony Davis, the 23-year old basketball phenom, will mess the rest of the NBA season to finally fix his bad shoulder and knee disturbs me.

by Rodney Fisher

You draft a 19-year old freak of nature, NCAA champion, and Olympic gold medalist as your cornerstone building block for a franchise and a city to promote, but because you want to remain marginally relevant and stay in the conversation with free agents you allow your him to forego getting his torn labrum fixed for three years?

I don't see the rationale here by the Pelicans to let this linger so long.

"If I think about, 'Oh well, I can keep playing with my knee and all this,' I think that's just being selfish."

I commend Davis for playing through off-and-on pain in his left shoulder, but son you have to put your young body first when it comes to a team that can not make the playoffs or put adequate pieces around you. Don't wait for three more years to pass and you start to have knee trouble before you decide to finally do something.

With his partially torn labrum, Davis has still proven to be one of the NBA brightest young stars. We should all be more impressed today by his 21pts, 10 board career average.

Why do the Pelicans believe that now is the time to have this surgery done? Does it have anything to do with a $24 million bonus added to his contract extension if he makes an All-NBA team this season? Hard to do if you only play 61 games.

"Of course it came up. But nah, I told them, at the end of the day, I'm worried about my health. It it happens, it happens. I mean, it's gonna take care of itself."

This is what happens when there is no true veteran leadership on the team to guide Davis. I can't see Kobe, LeBron, Garnett, Duncan, or any of the All-Star players that he has played with telling him to let this linger on for this team. If you were a legitimate contender in the conference or a perennial playoff team, then maybe. But for the New Orleans Pelicans...a franchise that can't get him a solid coach?

This is expected to sideline him for five to six months, missing his opportunity to play for the Olympic team. This honor that only comes around every four years is too important to pass up for a young player looking to grow his brand.

"Twenty-three years old...A couple more Olympics, maybe? But it's definetely a tough situation. I love USA basketball, love when I was there in 2012, love when I played in the World Cup in 2014."

Maybe the change of heart by Davis and the Pelicans to finally make repairs will signify a postive change for both parties. Maybe the Pelicans will take their time and finally put together a team around their young star. For others in the NBA, be ready for a two-arm Anthony Davis to return...

Do you think Anthony Davis is being too nice to the Pelicans?

Be Careful What You Wish For

Tom Brady and Robert Kraft may want to rethink their strategy. Photo credit: NY Post

Is going to court to prove the NFL and Roger Goodell wrong really the best strategy for the Patriots, Robert Kraft, and Tom Brady?

by +Rodney Fisher

Could Buzzer-Beater Lead To Series Loss?

LeBron James steals Game 4 in Chicago to even series 2-2. Photo credit: SI

By now, if you don't live under a rock, you know that LeBron James tied the Cavs-Bulls series 2-2l with a buzzer-beater shot at the end of regulation. Sure it was a magnificent performance by one of the great players of our time, but will this cost the Cavs the series?
Let me explain..

by +Rodney Fisher 

The Bright Stars of Minnesota

Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine celebrate their NBA All-Star
trophies. Photo credit: USA Today  

They may not be a playoff team, but this NBA All-Star Weekend has proved that the Minnesota Timberwolves have the best young team in the league.

by +Rodney Fisher

Dirk Nowitzki Ready For Bright Lights of New York

Dirk Nowtizki making his 13th NBA
All-Star Appearance. Photo credit: USA Today

After having mixed emotions about cancelling a vacation to Florida in order to play in his 13th NBA All-Star game, German-born Dallas Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki has found spending the weekend in the Big Apple worthwhile.

by +Rodney Fisher

The Marathon Continues

DeMarcus Cousins hits game-winner over Phoenix Suns. Photo credit: ABC/News

After hitting the game-winning shot to lift the Sacremento Kings over the Phoenix Suns, first-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins let us all know the reason behind his breakout season. As he put it, it's"God's plan" with more to come.

by +Rodney Fisher

WTF Tiger!

Tiger Woods withdrew from the Farmers Insurance
Open after 11 holes. Photo credit: PGA 

After hearing that Tiger Woods withdrew after only 11-holes this week, following his worst performance ever, I am finally fed-up. Bro, WTF!

Editorial by +Rodney Fisher

2015 NBA All-Star Kicks

J Wall 1 All-Star will be on display during the NBA All-Star Weekend NYC.
Photo credit: Adidas

The NBA All-Star's will be wearing the All-Star editions of their signature shoes. We take a look at the new designs that everyone will be clamoring to get their hands on All-Star Weekend.

by +Rodney Fisher

Steph Curry Goes Off For 51, Russell Westbrook Goes For 45

NBA All-Stars Steph Curry and Russell Westbrook light it up

We all know that playing point guard in the Western Conference is hard in the NBA. Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook proved last night that you have to be ready to put up the big numbers.

by +Rodney Fisher

Atlanta Hawks Starting Five Named Eastern Conference Player of the Month

The starting five for the Atlanta Hawks are all named Eastern Conference
Players of the Month by the NBA. Photo credit: NBA 

After going 17-0 in the month of January, a NBA record, the entire starting five for the Atlanta Hawks is named Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Another first in NBA history.

by +Rodney Fisher

2015 NBA All-Star Reserves Named; Cousins In, No Lillard or Mavs included

DeMarcus Cousins selected to replace Kobe Bryant. This will
be his first NBA All-Star selection. Photo credit: NBA

The NBA has announced the All-Star game reserves with many new names, but also some noteable misses. The heated debate of selections has carried over to social media, television, the web, and soon to be your local barbershop. The Portland Police department even got in on the debate.

by +Rodney Fisher

Kyrie Irving Goes Off For 55 Against Portland

Kyrie Irving scores a career-high 55 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the
Portland Trailblazers. Photo credit: CBS Sports 

In case you missed it, Kyrie Irving had a career high 55 points in the Cavs win over the Blazers. With LeBron James out, Irving filled in just fine...

by +Rodney Fisher

Mavs Drop Third Straight Game Leaving Players and Coaches Pondering

Marc Gasol defends Rajon Rondo as the Memphis Grizzlies hand the Dallas Mavericks
their third lose in a row, 109-90. Photo credit: AP 

Dallas-- The Dallas Mavericks can't seem to figure it out. They have now lost their third game in a row for the first time this season, losing to the Memphis Grizzlies 109-90. Both players and head coach have their ideas on how to get back to winning.

by +Rodney Fisher