01/08/13: Mavericks chat with SportsDay beat writer Eddie Sefko

Headline this morning in the LA Times: Big, big, big problems for Lakers. Ha!!! What Maverick-affiliated person wouldn't trade problems straight up right now? It's time to open up the weekly chat. I'm starting a little early because at 9 a.m. LA time, I don't type as fast as I do at a more reasonable noonish time. Bear with me. And by the way, it's hockey season, so you'll have something to divert your attention away from the Mavericks soon. I'm not sure what hockey is, but they tell me it's a good sport.

Mark Cuban addressed that very subject recently when he was having a pregame media powwow. I think the subject actually was Jason Terry or Jason Kidd's jersey, but he mentioned that the first order of business would be to get Harp's jersey in the rafters. Long, long overdue. If the losing keeps going on, expect it to happen sooner than later.

They would kill it in the D-League because they'd play with unbridled confidence. Both of these guys have ability (when healthy in Roddy's case). Both lack supreme confidence, which is what separates a lot of players in their situations. I agree that the Mavericks wouldn't feel any major shock waves if both players were gone. But who would you replace them with? As we've seen with recent pickups, there aren't any all-stars out there hanging around waiting for job offers.

George Karl is the master of perspective in the NBA. The Denver coach came through Dallas after Christmas and he said, wisely, "this league will tell you who you are." That's exactly right. Two years ago, the league told the Mavericks they were champions. They beat everybody. This year, the league is telling them they aren't very good. Right now, they can't beat anybody other than the team with the worst record in the league. That's a harsh, but accurate commentary. Look at the point guards if you want. I personally don't think it's been a lack of effort lately. But the talent level isn't all that great. Even Dirk Nowitzki has admitted that they're not as talented as the good teams in the league. When you're in that situation, you have to get by one of of two ways -- either you work harder than anybody in the league or you do one thing really great (shoot threes, rebound or defend). The Mavericks haven't qualified in either scenario on a consistent basis.

Say hello to Al Jefferson. But don't necessarily turn your back on Dwight Howard. A bust, he is not. Injured a lot lately? Yes. But a bust? No. He may decide that LA is simply not his kind of place. He wouldn't be the first. There are a lot of us who don't see LA as the greatest place on earth. If that happens, the Mavericks will be No. 1 in line to woo Howard this summer with Atlanta and perhaps Cleveland in on the action. I personally think the Cavaliers are in good shape to get better quickly next season with great young talent and a center (Varejao) who will be great trade bait. Anyway, the Mavericks will be watching Howard, Jefferson and Andrew Bynum (if he ever plays) very closely the rest of the season. And all three are free agents this summer.

Sure looks that way. When you see Washington beat Oklahoma City, you just have to wonder if that sort of breakthrough win is waiting out there somewhere for the Mavericks. They played really solid at Utah last night until the final six minutes. Tha's the sign of a team that knows how to lose, not how to win.

That's why Elton Brand is going to have to play a bigger role. He's here for the whole season because you can't trade guys you picked up via the amnesty clause. So he needs to be involved and I think you'll see him play at least the 20 minutes he had against Utah on a regular basis. As for interior defense, Kaman tries, but he's just not wired to be a great defender. The Mavericks need to stay in the zone, which they do most of the time anyway in some form or fashion, and try to put guards on the floor who can limit dribble penetration. The big guys need a fighting chance to be able to help and if the guards play statue defense, then the bigs are helpless.

By all accounts, last year was the year to be in the lottery. That's probably not what you want to hear. But that's what people say a lot at this time every year. The draft always gets better as you get closer to it. I confess I haven't done any homework on the draft-eligible or early-entry names out there. Hmmmm, maybe I better put that on the to-do list. Anyway, just know that if you're in the top 10, you need to find a player who can help immediately. And by the way, it would surprise nobody if the Mavericks are in the lottery that they would package their pick and a player to try to move up into the top three if they see somebody they view as a franchise changer.

Absolutely. Still think they will find a point guard that way more than the hunt-and-peck style they have employed so far. And by the way, how does Devin Harris grab you? Nah, just kidding. He's a last-year contract guy this season and would instantly be the Mavericks' starter, but haven't heard anything about him being on the block. But think along those terms. Jose Calderon is going to be in huge demand going toward the trade deadline and there will be some other point guards who will be available, too. Patience, people, patience.

Yes.