I think 2011 is better, but so is the competition. Analysis skewed by Jet actually performing very well so far this year. Also in 2006 after beating the Spurs they had more of a just happy to be here feel. They were a young team that everyone thought was still a year or 2 away. This year it's an old team that still wasn't expected to win in the playoffs but there should be much more urgency now.

C - Chandler > Dampier
PF - Dirk > Dirk - 2011 Dirk is a better playoff performer
SF - Marion = Howard - Howard better offense, Marion better defense and smarter
SG - Stevenson < Griffin - Griffin did all the little things that Kidd does now. Stevenson too streaky
PG - Jet > Kidd - Kidd better team defender but Jet was a superior scorer

Bench
6th Man - Jet = Stackhouse - Stack better at getting to the line but Jet better scorer and relied on as 2nd option
PF - Peja > Van Horn - both are streaky and don't move much. Peja has been much better and more versatile
C - Haywood = Diop
PG - Harris = Barea. Both streaky. Harris was the x-factor that killed the Spurs and Barea did the same to the Lakers

Coaching - Carlisle = Avery. Avery was a superior motivator/ leader and Carlisle is better strategically. But maybe it wasn't a good thing that the vocal leader of the team was the coach.

Bench

And I know that stats may not support 2011 Dirk but he is a better all-around player and leader now

Agree mostly, but I'd say Carlisle >> Avery, and that's one of the biggest reason's we're still alive.

Harris had one good series in those playoffs, Barrea has been dangerous in every series.

Stack was nowhere near as effective in the playoffs as how Jet is playing now.

Our defense overall is infinitely tougher/better than 2006.

As said before, Carlisle is doing a much better job with this team than Avery did.

If anyone recalls, the mentality of this team was nowhere near as tough and focused as this team. Josh Howard partied his ass off during the 2006 Finals, we won't have guys pulling that **** this year.

I think 2011 is better, but as you said, the competition is better, too.

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C - Chandler > Dampier

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Chandler has more heart. Better defender.

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PF - Dirk > Dirk - 2011 Dirk is a better playoff performer

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06 Dirk averaged 27.0/11.7 compared to 11 Dirk averaging 26.5/8.4. 06 Dirk had one of the best playoff runs in playoff history until his game 4 meltdown in the Finals.

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SF - Marion = Howard - Howard better offense, Marion better defense and smarter

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I'd give Howard the slightest edge. Howard was a better rebounder, could hit the three, could slash, could play good D then. But his stupidity killed. The timeout was on Chris Webber levels of horrible.

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PG - Jet > Kidd - Kidd better team defender but Jet was a superior scorer

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Kidd does a lot of the little things to bring the team together. I don't think you can discount his leadership or his experience. Plus, actually having a guy that can create for others.

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6th Man - Jet = Stackhouse - Stack better at getting to the line but Jet better scorer and relied on as 2nd option

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No way. Terry is a 18ppg scorer and Stack was a 13ppg. Stack was really showing his age at that point. No way is he even with this year's TErry.

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PG - Harris = Barea. Both streaky. Harris was the x-factor that killed the Spurs and Barea did the same to the Lakers

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No way. Harris was scoring 10ppg on 48% shooting. Barea has had one great game (22 points) and one pretty good games (12 points on 4-9 shooting). Those two games are the only two he has had more than 3 FGs in a game in the playoffs. Harris scored over 15 in 4 straight games against the Spurs. Plus, he played pretty good defense.

Agree on Chandler, Kidd, and Terry.

I prefer 11 Dirk to 06 Dirk. While 06 Dirk was an absolute beast and certainly stuffed the stats, I think this year's Dirk is more "complete", in every way except rebounding. Mentally tougher. His passing is much better. When the Mavs are rolling, he works within the team offense and moves the ball. When the Mavs are slipping or the game gets close, he exerts his will. He's been pretty clutch so far.

Marion is a better player than Howard just on intelligence alone. Josh Howard has mental problems.

06 Devin Harris = 11 JJ. Just comparing their scoring numbers doesn't make much sense to me. JJ has a pass-first mentality and only looks to score when the defense doesn't respect him.

I agree with Judge. 2011 Dirk has way more game awareness and plays within the context of what his team needs much better.

Guitarsoup trying desperately to convince himself that the 2006 Mavs were a better playoff team than this one.

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No way. Harris was scoring 10ppg on 48% shooting. Barea has had one great game (22 points) and one pretty good games (12 points on 4-9 shooting). Those two games are the only two he has had more than 3 FGs in a game in the playoffs. Harris scored over 15 in 4 straight games against the Spurs. Plus, he played pretty good defense.

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Hate to agree with Guitarsoup but Devin Harris was an infinitely better defender then JJ Barea.....and he scored more.

Everybody still rips Dallas for letting Steve Nash walk....but do you wanna know how the Mavs replaced him and won 58, 60 and 67 games the next three seasons.

JET could score about as well as Nash, and Devin was a much better perimeter defender.

Jet's shooting combined with Devin's perimeter defense made up the difference with Nash.

2006 Josh Howard > 2011 Shawn Marion

2006 Shawn Marion > 2006 Josh Howard.

When Comparing Josh and Marion...just look at the stats. They are not even close.

Everyone loves to rag on Howard nowadays, but he was damn good in 2005-2007. He even played really well two years ago in the Mavs upset over the Spurs.

Josh did everything that Marion currently does......and he scored. Scored like 17-24 almost every game.

[This message has been edited by Kellso (edited 5/17/2011 2:50p).]

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Guitarsoup trying desperately to convince himself that the 2006 Mavs were a better playoff team than this one.

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Muy: unsurprisingly still a moron.

Did you read this?

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I think 2011 is better, but as you said, the competition is better, too.

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The 2006 team had a lot of talent, but the 2011 team plays together better as as unit. Terry is a much better 6th man than Stack was, and that makes a big difference. Having a better defensive presence in Chandler means a lot. Chandler adds a lot of attitude that Dampier never would.

And while Kidd's stats aren't impressive, his leadership is still overlooked. He does a good job of controlling the game and tempo. He is a big reason this team plays together as a team.


The 2006 team was immensely talented - more so than the 06 Heat. But they were led by a young PG that can't do what Kidd does and anchored by a center that only cared during contract years.

This year's team is slightly more talented, but the big difference is that they play better together, and I think that Chandler and Kidd are the biggest reasons for that. On Carlisle vs Avery - no clue. The team plays better together now, and I tend to attribute that to Kidd and Chandler more than Avery vs Carlisle. But maybe it is just because Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels aren't out there.

i agree

It was maddening watching J-Ho back then. He could be awesome one minute and then make the stupidest, most bone-headed mistake the next.

If you go back and watch game 5 of the '06 Finals the dude had 25 and 10 and got whatever he wanted in the first half. He completely melted down in the 4th quarter and overtime though. Everyone is so quick to accuse Dirk of choking, and they conveniently forget that Josh missed 2 HUGE free throws with under a minute in regulation of that game that would have pushed the lead to 4. An 80%+ FT shooter just stepped to the line and bricked them both.

Harris might have put up better stat sheet, but I think current Barea is better player.

Harris was better defender for sure. Barea isn't good enough to match up with most starting guards. But he can handle most backups, which is where Carlisle plays him. Since the other four guys are playing defense now, it isn't as big a factor.

I think Barea is better offensive player, despite the point totals. Harris was a one trick pony. He is super quick and beat guys with the dribble. No threat whatsoever with outside shot. Barea isn't as quick, but he's still incredibly fast. And if you lay off of him, he can bury a jumper. The offense flows great through JJ. When Harris got it, things hit quicksand. Barea is way better quarterback.

The defense is biggest improvement and I attribute that to Carlisle.

The second biggest improvement is use of big men. That is also because of Carlisle.

Dampier wasn't anything special. But he's really tall and can dunk. He's also a pretty good rebounder. Under Avery Johnson, his offensive role was to set screens at the elbow. Opposing big men could cheat on Dirk or fly at JET. Nobody had to honor Dallas post position.

Carlisle parks Chandler and Heywood at the bucket. If big men cheat on Dirk, he tosses alleyoop to the bigs. Because Chandler is always in scoring position, big men can not fly at Peja, Jet, etc. It's opened up the offensive tremendously.