Face the Facts: Dallas Mavericks' Window Closing Fast

Jason Kidd (age 36), Jerry Stackhouse (32), Josh Howard (28), Dirk Nowitzki (30), and DeSagna Diop (24)—that's the starting five for the Dallas Mavericks. It's pretty good 45-50 win team, but in the West, that's good for only ninth or tenth. It's very clear now that is not going to change, but the Mavs can be saved, in one of two ways. The first and the hardest, by firing Avery Johnson and bringing in an offensive coach. I love Avery, Mark loves Avery, but Avery just won't let Jason Kidd play his game. If that doesn't change tomorrow, then the window will slam shut without a playoff appearance. Jason Kidd needs a free role, to be able to go anywhere or do anything, a get the heck out of his way mandate. He needs to dominate the ball—but from the sampling I've seen, so far he's little more than the walk over man, then stand at the three-point line, not much dribble penetration, not many great passing lanes, to run his showtime style attack. I even understand why, Avery was a ... [link]