The Mavs have just traded away two of the players who created the most problems for the Spurs.  

The Mavs have just traded away two of the players who created the most problems for the Spurs.  Devin Harris was the only point guard in the league who was able to give Tony Parker problems driving to the basket.  Diop guarding the rim made life miserable for both Manu and Tony, and he provided 6 extra fouls to use on Timmy.  Not that anywhere near all the fouls committed on Tim inside get called anyway - watching him get hacked almost made you feel for Shaq, who had it much worse in terms of officiating.

Like the Suns, the Mavs have suicided themselves trying to match up with their nemesis.  Exactly what they intended to accomplish by replacing a competent-and-young point guard with an once-exceptional-but-aging point guard is beyond me.  Like the Suns, they swallowed a huge salary penalty for little or no on-court gain.

At least with the Suns, there was a semblance of reason - even if the stench of desperation hung heavy in the air - in their trade for Shaq.  They felt that a strong inside defensive presence was the missing piece to finally get them out of the Western Conference.  

With the Mavs?  God alone knows what in the twisty and demented mind of Mark Cuban inspired this debacle.  Granted, the Mavs have trouble against Golden State, but they've been more or less wiping the floor with every other Western Conference power for the last two years.  Trading for Kidd may give them some extra offensive fire-power to match up with the run-and-gun madness that is the Warriors, but it crippled their defense.  

Kidd may give Dallas the ability to match up with Golden State, but they'd better hope they meet the Warriors in the first,second, AND third rounds, cause they no longer match up with anyone else in the West.