Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 28, 2009 under Recaps | 
Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images.
Box Score — Play-By-Play — Shot Chart — GameFlow
“Ambivalence is a wonderful tune to dance to. It has a rhythm all its own.”
-Erica Jong
To say that last night’s game has me drowning in ambivalence would be an understatement. Wins just don’t get more bittersweet.
The call with the Mavs has been to play defense when it matters, and they did just that. Down the stretch, the team came up with big stop after big stop to not only come back from 12 down, but to keep the Thunder at bay. Credit that to Carlisle’s unabashed use of the zone, which turned OKC’s lineup of non-shooters into turnover machines. Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green picked up the slack in a big way, but their work wasn’t easy. Are Westbrook and Green elite scorers? Not exactly, but when players get hot (or in this case, aggressive in their efforts to get to the line), the general measures of defensive success are bent ever so slightly. I’m not thrilled that Westbrook scored 14 or that Green scored 7 in overtime, but I’m definitely pleased with the significant ruckus the Mavs’ defense was able to raise.
That’s not to say that the defensive effort was complete. There’s a distinct reason that the Thunder turned a 5 point deficit into a 12 point lead, and it’s not solely because the Maverick offense went cold. The Thunder should have no business taking the Mavs to task on the offensive end without Kevin Durant, even with a parade to the charity stripe.
There are games where Jason Kidd’s lack of scoring is a significant deadweight. This was not one of those games. Kidd was far from an offensive dynamo in terms of his scoring output, but I’m not at all displeased with what he did for the Mavs’ offense. When the double-teams tried to curtail Dirk (who finished with 41 and was the Clutchotron 5000), Kidd was the principal influence on the Mavs ability to move the ball to the open man (either directly or through the ‘hockey assist’). He came up big with two huge threes and went 4/4 on some crucial free throws (imagine that!). Ballin’.
But where were Josh Howard and Antoine Wright? Two of the crucial cogs in the post-Terrian Dallas attack? They were there. That’s about it. Howard was plagued by foul trouble and bothered by Thabo Sefolosha. His recent uptick in defensive activity was counterbalanced by a few extra whistles. In spite of all that, Howard was +19 for the game, good for best on the team. Wright on the other hand, was out of the game for the entirety of the fourth and overtime. He wasn’t hitting his shots, but Wright wasn’t exactly terrible; his drop-off can be largely attributed to a Maverick surge behind Kidd and Barea in the backcourt.
James Singleton is a monster. That is all.
Dirk scores 41, but the offense was hardly a well-oiled machine. The Mavs defense gets stops late, but allows the Durant-less Thunder to push them to the limit. The Mavs went off on a 16-0 run to avoid disaster, but still nearly blew it against an inferior team missing their best player. Hey, if they gave us definitive answers and consistent play, they just wouldn’t be the Mavs.
GOLD STAR OF THE NIGHT: The Gold Star of the Night goes to none other than Dirk Nowitzki. 41 points (16-30) is always tasty, but Dirk did a great job of shooting and deferring at all the right moments for all the right reasons. Welcome back, Dirk.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under The Grapevine |
- A nice article from Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times detailing how NBA players feel about the zone defense. The Mavs warrant a specific mention as one of the teams that uses the zone in spots to disrupt key gameplans, and I have no qualms with that application. Would the zone worsen the NBA game if used for 48 minutes? Probably. Penetration is what the pro game is all about, but if you sell your soul a few times to stop a crucial inbounds play or force an opposing coach to take an extra timeout, it seems worthwhile to me. Royce from Daily Thunder made note of the Mavs’ zone in his recap: “Dallas’s defense was also very tricky. They would slip in and out of zone coverage with no warning at all. It worked really well in the fourth when Westbrook had back to back turnovers trying to drive.”
- A cool anecdote via Eddie Sefko on the DMN Mavs Blog: “Dirk Nowitzki on Kidd’s two fourth-quarter 3-pointers: ‘It’s funny. I said to him when we were both out of the game and were on the sidelines in the fourth quarter: Do you have one shot in you? He said: Yes, that’s about all I’ve got tonight. I knew (Russell) Westbrook would leave him as soon as I turned my back, so I was able to deliver the ball to J-Kidd and he knocked it down. That’s why he’s a hall of famer for us.’”
- Mike Fisher of DallasBasketball.com makes note of James Singleton’s increased role off the bench. Given what Singleton’s been able to accomplish on the glass and his startling offensive production, he’s earned every second of playing time he’s getting. The Mavs have yet to face a post scoring threat with Singleton as a primary contributor, and that remains my primary concern: how will Singleton match up defensively with players in prime position to take advantage of his lack of size at the 5? Luckily for the Mavs those players are few and far between, especially off the pine.
- The JET is officially “back on the runway,” and has been cleared for practice. I need you back in my life, JET.
- Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News on what I think is one of the Mavs’ biggest flaws: “…they settle for the long shot way too often. Probably the worst thing that happened was that they actually made their last two in the overtime to sack up the victory. That’s the last thing they need – thinking they can rely on the 3-ball at crunch time. The Mavericks will tell you they are shooting most of those 3-pointers in the rhythm of the game and that if they don’t take those shots, the court shrinks because the defense sags off and cuts off driving and passing lanes. That may be true. And when Jason Kidd bails them out with two of the 3-pointers in overtime, maybe it’s a case of the law of averages evening out. But you just get the feeling that the Mavericks are playing with fire.”
- Did Gerald Green see the floor because his agent happened to stop through Dallas this week? I wouldn’t put it outside the realm of possibility, but I’m sure the Mavs’ foul troubles had something to do with it as well. Either way, I never mind seeing more of Green.
- I’m sure that Rick Carlisle could pick apart the game from start to finish, but his postgame comments seemed to reflect relief (via Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News): “‘Look, we got out of here alive,’ said Rick Carlisle. ‘It’s pretty much that simple. There are some things we were guilty of that put us in a bad position in the game. We’ve got to continue to address those things. But I’m happy to win.’”
Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 27, 2009 under Previews |
The Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Dallas Mavericks
7:30 CST
Jeff Green can’t stop Dirk Nowitzki. Josh Howard can’t stop Kevin Durant. That certainly makes tonight’s game fun, doesn’t it?
One catch: Durant’s on fire, and Dirk’s sputtering. That’s a pretty significant caveat.
The Thunder aren’t as talented of a defensive outfit as the Spurs or even the Bucks, but Durant, Green, and Russell Westbrook make them dangerous. The Mavs have made it abundantly clear that they’re completely vulnerable to blowing games after demonstrative wins, and Dirk is in what is probably the biggest “slump” (by his standards) of his career. Aggressive double-teams and cold shooting have put him in a funk, and I’m not even sure that a subpar OKC defense is going to be enough to lull him out of it. Dirk’s going to turn it around eventually, but I’m of the philosophy that it happens when it happens. If the Thunder aren’t coming strong with the doubles and Dirk actually gets off a reasonable number of attempts, that’s one thing. But when Dirk struggles, it’s rarely because one particular guy is standing in front of him. He’s either being swarmed or he’s off. Not all defenders are created equal, but few can truly contest Dirk’s jumper.
Kevin Durant is really, really good at basketballing. If you’re not legitimately scared of the myriad of ways this guy can carve up a defense, you haven’t been watching enough basketball. His shot is effortless, his range is unreal, and his repertoire is unmatched for a second year player. His faults are few, and he’s improving as a rebounder, defender, and passer. It should be quite the contrast from the slightly above average Richard Jefferson, and Josh Howard/Antoine Wright/whoever draws the short straw is going to have their hands full and then some. The Durantula takes no prisoners.
Regardless if Durant and Dirk end up as two ships passing quietly in the night, whichever supporting cast steps up wins. Based on how the Mavs’ bench has been playing as of late, my money’s on Dallas. This is one of the cases where no Jason Terry may be no problem; Josh Howard, Antoine Wright, Jason Kidd, Brandon Bass, J.J. Barea, and James Singleton are all more than capable and can all cause their own unique problems for the Thunder.
Does stomping the Thunder represent a quality win? Probably not, unless there’s a complete Durant lockdown. A win doesn’t mean much in terms of the team’s progress, but it also means the Mavs aren’t losing any ground in the standings. I doubt the Mavs are circling this game on their calendar, but at this point in the season it’s as much about winning as it is not losing.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under xOther |
- The Rockets defense is stupid good. Ron Artest was already the best perimeter defender in the league, with Shane Battier not far behind. You combine those two with a shot blocker in Yao Ming and an aggressive defensive gameplan, and you’ve got quite a powerhouse on your hands. Losing McGrady for the season and Rafer Alston via trade was supposed to hurt the Rockets’ offense, but in the process they may have also ditched their two worst defenders in favor of more minutes for Battier and bullish point guard Kyle Lowry. (EDIT: But don’t take my word for it. Read Kevin Arnovitz’s redonkulous breakdown of the Rockets’ defense on LeBron James in last night’s game.)
- It can’t ever feel good to be traded. Even though on a lot of levels I’m sure it feels good for a Pau Gasol to go from a team like the Grizz to a team like the Lakers, it’s also a team giving up on you. Whether you’re the star, a role player, or a bench warmer, the knowledge that the general manager and coaching staff that you trusted does not believe that you can help them win games (even if it’s not the case) has to hit hard. Antoine Wright reflects on his feelings about his trade to the Mavs a year ago (Eddie Sefko, Dallas Morning News): “‘I felt betrayed a little bit because I wasn’t supposed to be in the trade,’ Wright said Thursday. ‘[The Nets] said ‘Don’t worry about it. Go on vacation.’ Then I’m in Miami [during the All-Star break] and I’m looking at the bottom of the screen and I’m going, ‘Wright? Is that me?’ That was the first I heard of being traded.’ Sure enough, that was Wright’sname crawling along the ticker. ‘That’s when it hit me that I was a throw-in,’ he said.”
- Part 3 of Dirk’s interview with Five Magazine.
- Rick Carlisle on Josh Howard, echoing my thoughts in this post yesterday (Eddie Sefko, Dallas Morning News): “His spirits are better. You can just tell the way he’s bouncing around the court. The game’s a lot more fun when you’re not in some kind of pain.”
Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 26, 2009 under Recaps |
Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images.
Box Score — Play-By-Play — Shot Chart — GameFlow
“Quality is not an act, it is a habit.”
-Aristotle
Better late than never, right?
Oh, I was talking about the Mavs getting a quality win. What are you talking about?
Right. Well, it is past six already and I accidentally closed the notepad window that was keeping my game notes cosy. The perils of modern technology.
I’ll keep this brief: the Mavs finally showed up. Another relatively pedestrian effort from Dirk was balanced by a swarming defense, aggressive play from Jason Kidd and Josh Howard, and superb bench play. The Mavs ruled the paint on both ends, and the combination of J.J. Barea, Brandon Bass, and James Singleton (all bench players, notably) grabbed as many rebounds as the entire Bucks squad. That, my friends, is awesome.
Charlie Villanueva’s first quarter explosion (18 points on ridiculous shooting) at Dirk’s expense was just about the only thing Milwaukee had going until a run early in the fourth quarter that trimmed the lead to 11. Credit to the Mavs for keeping their foot on the Bucks’ throat throughout, and to Brandon Bass and James Singleton for locking down on C-Nuv.
Josh Howard had a game to remember, for a variety of reasons. He shot 10-16 overall, including 4-6 from deep. He recorded 7 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 blocks. However, Josh also turned the ball over four times, and two of his six misses were airballs. And they weren’t even close. Josh was clearly feeling it and that confidence opened up the rest of his game (if Josh continues to attack the basket and cut hard down the lane like he did last night, I would have to seriously re-evaluate this team’s potential), but how does a guy who is that dialed-in suddenly throw up two whiffs on perfectly makeable shots?
A quality win won on the glass and on the defensive end. Is it too much to ask to bring that kind of effort just 24 hours earlier?
Gerald Green Watch: 5 points on 1-2 shooting in 4 minutes of garbage time. He also ran like a gazelle to stop a free layup for Keith Bogans. Free Gerald Green! The gazelle with sublime dunks and three-point range!
All in all, as it happens oh so often in this league, the team with the better looking jerseys won.
GOLD STAR OF THE NIGHT: The Gold Star of the Night goes to Josh Howard, who really brought it, yo. I’ve already told you his stats, but the real prize came with Josh’s renewed efforts to get into the lane, and to completely abuse his defender in the post. He didn’t fade, he didn’t blink, and he made me fall asleep with a smile on my face.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under Commentary |
On the court, Josh Howard lives and dies by his emotions. That much is certain. His highest peaks are brimming with confidence and joy, and his lowest valleys are shadowed by self-doubt and disinterest. It’s an influence that goes beyond momentum; Howard’s emotions inevitably force him into a series of positive feedback loops, self-sustaining spirals that intensify and reinforce themselves over time.
I’m no Al Gore, but I do play one on a blog; positive feedback loops are one of the main reasons that global warming (which may or may not exist, ha) is so damning. Regardless of efforts to control and limit humanity’s impact on climate change, such loops cause huge complications because they exacerbate events that have already occurred. I think what I’m trying to say is that Josh Howard’s propensity to fall into feedback loops is a direct cause of global climate phenomena.
Don’t worry, I’m not here to preach…or talk about anything that’s not related to up-and-down Maverick swingmen. Howard’s ‘heart on his sleeve’ approach to the game makes him incredibly susceptible to positive feedback. He is in a constant state of building upon the foundation of his success or crumbling under the weight of a tremendous burden. It’s a problem that has lingered on the minds of Mavs fans for a long time, but there is one interesting note: the inciting forces of Howard’s career have largely been external:
It’s not as if Josh’s career has consisted of one giant cycle of behavior. His early career was characterized by nightly demonstrations of athleticism, hustle, and energy, a culmination of the rage of a man denied what he deemed rightfully his: a spot in the 2003 Draft lottery. It should come as no surprise that Howard’s determined play earned him consistent minutes and a concrete role on the team, which only fueled his confidence and provided him a bigger soapbox to voice the world’s transgressions against him. Howard thrived and, in turn, the Mavericks thrived.
Of course, that couldn’t last forever. Howard had earned a reputation as a premier defender, but that status faded as he became more of an offensive threat. Defense is the work of peasants, and obviously something that emerging stars simply cannot be bothered with. Next came the jumpshots: crossover pull-ups, turnaround fadeaways, and contested jumpers in transition. Becoming an All-Star talent meant taking All-Star shots, degree of difficulty be damned. Lovely.
All of that was manageable, but then a mini-slump was amplified by the death of Josh Howard’s mentor/father-figure and college coach at Wake Forest, Skip Prosser, his god-grandmother, and his great-grandmother. Then, with the grieving Howard at his most vulnerable, the Mavs traded his closest friend on the team (Devin Harris) to the New Jersey Nets. So much for support structure.
The 2008 calendar year was about injuries and bad press for Howard. His on-court troubles were trumped by his inability to keep his name out of the headlines, but injuries hobbled the Mavericks’ “most important player” and rendered him almost completely ineffective as he struggled to return to form.
Enter 2009, where a rejuvenated Josh Howard is finally finding himself. Howard’s recovery from his various ailments still had Howard tentative in his approach, an issue that wasn’t resolved until…the Mavericks brought on Darrell Armstrong as an assistant coach. Does it make a lot of sense? No, not really, but maybe all Howard needed was a familiar face and veteran influence to adjust his basketball compass.
Howard’s post-Armstrong stats may not blow your mind. They are, in effect, only marginal upgrades over his early season performances. But his scoring is up, and his shot attempts are down. His free throw attempts are back up, and his turnovers are back down. He’s posting season-highs in February for steals and blocks. More importantly, he looks like he actually wants to be here. Late last season, Josh Howard played basketball like it was his job. He went through the motions, got his paycheck, and went home. Considering the circumstances, I don’t blame him. What matters going forward is that Josh is finding joy in the game, and anyone watching the Mavericks lately can see that spring in his step once again.
It’s strange that Howard’s rise and fall are due to events that have very little to do with basketball: his own reputation, deaths to those closest to him, the distancing of a good friend, and reuniting with an old mentor. Upon further inspection, though, should it really surprise us that an emotional, sensitive, and aware player is so affected by events outside his control?
With Josh’s confidence booming, his offensive mentality less passive, and his defensive intensity higher than I’ve seen from Josh in the last two years, I’d say things are looking up. One can only hope that unlike all things Mavericks these days, Josh’s return is more than a mirage. If so, a vintage Josh Howard coupled with a fully-recovered Jason Terry only makes this team that much more formidable and that much more interesting.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under The Grapevine |
- Five Magazine continues their extended interview with Dirk, this time focusing on the German national team.
- If it makes you feel any better, Tony Parker and the Spurettes have another victim: the Portland Trailblazers. Parker had 39 points (on 63% shooting), 9 assists, and 5 rebounds. One hell of a wounded tiger.
- Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News addresses Shawne Williams peculiar disappearance from the Mavericks’ bench: “Williams has been in Memphis for the last month or so, ostensibly to let a foot problem heal. But owner Mark Cuban said Wednesday: ‘We’re helping him work through some issues.’ According to the Mavericks’ players’ log, the 6-9 forward has not been with the team for ‘personal reasons’ since Jan. 23. But he’s also battled the same foot problem Jerry Stackhouse had for more than three months.” Carlisle notes that these aren’t the same kind of “personal issues” that have made Williams an off-the-court bother in the past.
- I’m glad to see the Mavs get some love from The X’s and O’s of Basketball, one of my favorite basketball blogs on the internet. Watch the clips and see how the Mavs dealt with Milwaukee’s double teams, then contrast them with what we saw against San Antonio. The fact that the Mavs are doing the right things against the double is important, but seeing improvement after they ‘learned their lesson’ the night before is even moreso.
- The Mavs TV ratings are down a whopping 25% for the season, and they rank 16th in the NBA in that regard. It’s funny how a closing window and a public sense of dismay (despite a perfectly respectable record) affect the economic side of things. (via DMN Mavs Blog)
- The Mavs outscored the Bucks 46-28 in the paint last night. Huzzah! Doesn’t it feel good to be on the winning side of that stat for once?
- The Mavericks apparently have a go-to squad when the going gets tough. Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News: Based on Wednesday’s evidence, maybe they do. When they started out lifelessly against Milwaukee, coach Rick Carlisle went to this foursome: Josh Howard, James Singleton, Jason Kidd and Antoine Wright. When Dirk Nowitzki was struggling, Brandon Bass joined them. It was a group that triggered a 16-0 run to put the Mavericks ahead, 23-15, and set the tone for the rest of the night. They brought energy, of course. But they also seemed to match the Bucks’ physicality. ‘That’s what Coach calls us, the nasty-defense guys,’ Singleton said. ‘When we come in, we have to play a little faster and be a little more physical.’”
- Another game, another struggle for Dirk. His troubles carried over to the defensive side of the ball in the first quarter, as Charlie Villaneuva got hot, hot, hot with his jumper. Some of Charlie V’s attempts were definitely heat checks, but that didn’t stop him from racking up 18 points in the first quarter. Alex Boeder of BrewHoop continues to shell out the praise for Villaneuva’s explosion: “New Nowitzki? At first sight, a 31 year-old German with blonde locks might not make you immediately declare ‘Charlie Villanueva!’ But a closer basketball-look reveals similarity. Power forwards, both of them, and height and weight are close. Their offensive arsenals, distinguished by a most deadly outside shot, bear a certain resemblance. They also share an underrated ability to rebound and are labeled as soft defenders. Lots of differences, make no mistake. And early on, there was a big difference between the two power forwards, as CV poured in a quick 18 points before the former MVP etched his first point on the score card.” It’s hard to argue against the fact that Villanueva out-shot Dirk on this particular night, but those are some big shoes to fill.
- John Hollinger takes his sword, and playfully prods one of the gaping holes in the Mavs’ armor: “That continues a trend that’s been apparent since Terry went out. Since losing him early in the Chicago game, Dallas has played five games against quick point guards and two games against a team with no point guard (Sacramento); in the two Sacramento games he had the same huge plus-minus he’s had all season, but in the others it wasn’t pretty: Kidd was a minus-nine in an OT win over Chicago (facing off against Derrick Rose), minus-nine in a home loss to Boston (Rajon Rondo), plus-21 in a 15-point win over New Jersey (Devin Harris), minus-11 in a loss to Houston (Aaron Brooks), and minus-19 against Parker last night. That’s minus-27 in five games in which the Mavs as a whole were minus-15. While this hardly constitutes damning evidence — game-to-game plus-minus data is extremely variable and thus requires large samples to reach scientifically valid conclusions — I believe in this case the numbers on Kidd underscore a larger point.”
Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 25, 2009 under xOther |
The Dallas Mavericks visit the Milwaukee Bucks
7:30 CST
Bounce back. Response. Answer. Whatever you’d like to call it, the Mavs need to show something real and tangible tonight. The blown game against the Celtics was disappointing, implosion against the Rockets was embarassing, and last night’s disaster was inexcusable. Jason Terry is missing some games, but that doesn’t give anyone the excuse to go out there and lay an egg.
The wins against Orlando and Portland were meaningful, but their significance are completely eclipsed by the number of disappointing losses the Mavs have endured in the month of February. The team’s win percentage on the season is .589. They’ve won 6 out of their 10 games so far this month and yet they’re taking alternating steps forward and backwards, ignoring the opportunity to gain ground in favor of jogging in place. It’s good exercise I hear, but it’s not going to get you anywhere.
What really sickens me is how the Mavs have wasted golden opportunities via the exploits of the back end of the rotation. Antoine Wright has found new life with consistent minutes, attacking the basket and defending well. J.J. Barea sometimes seems like the only active player for games at a time. Brandon Bass is money on his short-to-midrange jumper, and his rebounding on both ends is commendable. James Singleton has been a monster. When you take all that they’ve done in Terry’s absence, this team should be better. They really should. If production is a factor of talent as well as the give and take of touches and minutes, Terry’s injury and the bench’s success have provided plenty of give. The team as a whole just has yet to take advantage, and that burden goes top down from Carlisle, to Dirk, to Kidd, and to Howard.
The Mavs need a win tonight, if for no other reason than to prove they still can. It’s a strange thing to say for a team on a .600 month, but winning in the Maverick way and winning in a legitimate, contending way haven’t exactly been similar lately. Beating the Bucks doesn’t hold any inherent glory, but for a team still striving to create some sense of cohesion going forward, games like these are ever-important. The clock is ticking, Mavs.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under xOther |
Yesterday, Chad Ford broke down the ten players most likely to change teams (via trade) this summer. Stack came in at number 3, but there’s another Maverick-related listing:
6. Tyson Chandler, Hornets
The Hornets are in a tough pinch because they will exceed the luxury tax threshold next year once Chris Paul’s new contract kicks in. They traded Chandler to Oklahoma City, but the Thunder rescinded the deal based on some concerns about Chandler’s turf toe injury.
The Hornets (and Chandler) don’t believe his injury issues are significant and they’ll try to trade him again as soon as the season is over. Expect them to target Indiana and Dallas.
The contracts would make a deal difficult, unless New Orleans is keen on taking either Erick Dampier or Matt Carroll. In that case, where do I sign up?
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under The Grapevine |
- Please. Please. Please. Put Gerald Green in the 2010 dunk contest.
- Graydon Gordian of 48 Minutes of Hell has some love for Michael Finley after last night’s game, and he better, after that flashback of a performance: “No discussion of this evening’s game would be complete without a brief mention of Michael Finley, who nailed three straight 3-pointers in the 4th to put the game solidly out of reach. Finley may not be the scorer he once was, but he plays with an air of grizzled malice that I continue to appreciate. He remains a fearless contributor, and although his fearlessness is just as likely to produce misguided fadeaways as it is dagger 3s, I do love the stern sense of pride he emits when his shot is dropping (I’m going to ignore the fact that, if you take away Finley’s 4 3-pointers on 4 attempts, the Spurs were 2 of 16 from beyond the arc).”
- How exactly does a cast of Kurt Thomas, Matt Bonner, and Fabricio Oberto manage to handcuff one of the premier offensive talents in the league? Mike Fisher breaks it down: “I believe during the telecast Mark and Bob mentioned something about Dirk being ‘in a war,’ a compliment to SA’s rugged defense. And after the game, Dirk noted all the double-teams he faced. I’m sure they’re right, but I’ll tell you what I saw: A journeyman in Kurt Thomas squaring up with Dirk and surviving it. A complete stiff like Bonner (hehe, I said “stiff’’ and “bonner’’) playing ball denial and Nowitzki and the Mavs finding no solution for it. Fabio getting in his face, one-on-one, and Dirk not being able to spring free.”
- Thank you, David Moore, for allowing us all a sigh of relief. From the Dallas Morning News: “But when New York reached a buyout agreement with its petulant star Tuesday, the Mavericks never discussed adding him to the roster. The decision had nothing to do with reports that Marbury is destined to land in Boston. It had everything to do with the improved play of J.J. Barea. ‘We looked at it early in the season,’ owner Mark Cuban said of pursuing Marbury if he were released. ‘But J.J. is playing a whole lot better.’” With Barea’s play of late, he deserves it. He does tend to force the action on occasion, but his helter skelter, penetration-heavy style is a nice contrast to the passivity the rest of the team comes to embody from time to time.
- Rick Carlisle shares our displeasure with last night’s efforts. Via David Moore of the Dallas Morning News: ‘About 42 minutes of a [butt]-kicking…We threw about six, tough minutes at them in the second quarter. The rest of the time, they dominated the game with their disposition and how they played.’
- Mark Cuban refuses to let sleeping dogs lie, and decided to rip into SanAn’s premier attraction once again: “‘Now that they’re cleaning it up, my next project is to tell them they need to put up those little aluminum things to keep people from falling in,’ Cuban said before his team played the Spurs. ‘Maybe I’ll start a website, Ifellintheriverwalk.com to find out how many people have fallen in and what has happened to them. I just want to know. Send me your pictures to Ifellintheriverwalk.com.” For what it’s worth, he’s right. And for what it’s worth, the Mavs made sure that the Riverwalk wasn’t the only thing in San Antonio that was “ugly-ass” last night.
Dirk did an interview with Five Magazine. Here are some highlights from Part 1:
- On why he works so hard to improve his game every summer: “…That’s what makes it a challenge, playing away from your weaknesses or attacking those of your opponents. That’s what makes a team sport attractive. Finding a way to win despite your own weaknesses is important. But, sure it’s bitter sometimes when a teammate doesn’t invest the necessary time. The best example was Shawn Bradley. He would some times come to training camp and not had a ball in his hands for four months. But what can you do? There is no rule. Everyone needs to figure out for themselves how to stay fit.” (Emphasis mine.)
- On the possibility of missing the post-season: “Not even reaching the playoffs? I am too old for that now. And Mark Cuban and General Manager Donnie Nelson know that. I cannot imagine us making any moves which would cost us a spot in the playoffs. We still have a playoff-caliber team. And even if things absolutely do not work out with Kidd, I cannot imagine that we would drastically make the team younger as long as I’m in Dallas.”
- On the notion that he may never win a title: “I saw an interesting interview with Charles Barkely. He was talking about his career and said he can’t blame himself because he always gave 100 percent. That’s how I see it. I have given my all for the last 10 years in Dallas. And if that’s not enough, I can’t do anything else. Then at 35, 36 - however long I can go - I can retire and say: “In the summer and winter I gave everything I had for my team.” Unfortunately not everybody can win. But I hope that I can still fulfill my dream in the future.”
- On his basketball future: “Of course it would be more exciting to do it in Dallas and being the franchise player. The best thing would be me carrying the team to the title. But the other teams have gotten so strong, also through some unfair trades - Pau Gasol to Los Angeles and Kevin Garnett to Boston. Maybe I will see if it helps changing teams in like three years. Maybe it won’t be fun any more or I can’t keep up with the athleticism anymore. Maybe I will play in Europe again. I can imagine all of that. What Karl Malone did back then - heading to L.A. after all those years in Utah - yeah it was a little questionable. But when you want the championship so bad, then you can’t rule out a move like that.”