NastyN44

What do you guys think because I dont Know about yall but hes just not doing what he used to do! Is he showing signs of aging and is it time for him to maybe become a sixth man?

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HKF

In his career, I really believe leading the NBA in minutes all those years wasn't a good thing. It ages you much faster, which is why I want to see Lebron's minutes (and Kobe's) go down.

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Tersk

I think its becoming pretty blatant, besides losing the power dunking, he's also lost consistensy

That said, he's deadly important to our team. As other have stated out, he provide 3 point shooting to take the pressure of Dirk, it ain't like Josh Howard is a good 3 point shooter

(Hopefully) Quis will turn into the player that we all thought and slowly take over Finleys role as a starter.

Orrrrr, does anyone think Finley will start as a Mav until his contract runs out?

MFFL

As others have mentioned, Finley was drastically overplayed earlier in his career. I think he can still be effective as long as his minutes are managed properly.

His recent slump has been caused (IMO) by all the minutes he has been playing recently combined with all the games in a short amount of time and the amount of travel the Mavs have had. I expect he'll improve now that Howard is back.

Petey

Yes, he only has 3 more years left on his contract after this, there is no way he is opting out. But in the 3 years, if he slows down a bit he is still one of the hardest working players on the floor, he gives it his all, and he is a great example for younger players. He may be the 1st subbed off the floor, but I think they have the respect for him to let him keep starting.

-Petey

mavsman

Finley has looked alot like Jerry Stackhouse earlier in the season taking alot of forced shots.

And consequently he is shooting it alot like Stack was earlier, poorly.

I think Stack is not forcing as much now and Finley is forcing alot. Stackhouse at least gets to the line more because he attacks the basket much more than Finley. Finley will force a jumpshot and will not get fouled much.

Hopefully the problem is too much playing time recently. With Howard and Daniels back they should get into a better rotation where Finley is not playing 40 minutes.

XYRYX

Well said!

He's always been one of my favorites. Giving it all every night and he wasn't just trying, he was one of the best over the last years. I was asking me the same about his situation with the team. There were never as many good players as now on the mavs roster playing on the perimeter, Daniels, Howard, Stackhouse, Fin. This could be the last season for him beeing a starter and playing big minutes. But I think this won't be a step backwards for him. He can help the team much more if his is 100% fit to play as hard as he's playing now. He will be ok for the next years. I don't think that he's just burned out right now. He just needs a little more breaks to rest his body. How many players have played as many minutes as him over the last years?

Nice avatar Petey

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Talent is Fiction

Tersk

Just some stats I'm looking at now

Michael Finley NBA.com bio

- He played in every single game from 96/97 to 00/01, on an average of 40.44 minutes per game

- In his career, he has played 701 games, averaging 39.5 mpg

- His PPG is second lowest ever as a Mav (worst is in his first year, 16ppg in 34 minutes. He is 17ppg in 38 minutes this year)

- He is having his worst FG% season ever, he is shooting 42% FG, his next worst is 44% in 02-03

- He seems to have lost that little edge, he is having his worst rebounding and passing season ever

Dre™

Seems like he's trying to shoot himself back into respectability. I agree with the consensus, it was about time all that time on the court caught up to him.

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Petey

Some of that has to do with depth of the quality of the team. If you think about it. Take Stackhouse off the Mavs. Finley's importance in the offense goes up. He will take more shots. Also hasn't Dirk's shot attempts gone up? If so, others are stealing his shots.

-Petey

maverette04131

Ditto!

Much props to you Petey, that was eloquently lovely, indeed!

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Cinco de Mayo

Finley's scoring numbers have also decreased the past five seasons, starting in 99-00, when he averaged 22.6 ppg.

Since then...

00-01 - 21.5
01-02 - 20.6
02-03 - 19.3
03-04 - 18.6
04-05 - 17.0

Coincidentally (?), Finley missed his first NBA game in 01-02.

These decreases may be in part due to his gradual decline, increase in injuries, and the rise of Dirk Nowitzki (and to a lesser extent, Steve Nash) and the reigns essentially being handed to him. Over the years since then, Dallas has added more and more pieces (Juwan Howard, Van Exel, LaFrentz, Antoine Walker, Antawn Jamison, Marquis Daniels, Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse), and those additions have lessened Finley's shot attempts and also the need for him to put up the numbers he used to.

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