Heard It Through the Grapevine

Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 10, 2010 under The Grapevine | 4 Comments to Read

First, a few programming notes:

  • First, NBC Sports has launched a brand new NBA blog called ProBasketballTalk, featuring yours truly. It’s an awesome scene, and with Kurt Helin (formerly of Forum Blue & Gold) at the helm and myself, Matt Moore (Hardwood Paroxysm), and John Krolik (Cavs the Blog) all contributing, there’s going to be a ton of content on a daily basis. Check it out.
  • For those of you looking for more video content, I’ve started up a video feature called “Video Killed the All-Star” over at HP. They probably won’t be Mavs-related, but it’s still a good time.
  • I’ll be in Dallas this weekend for some basketball game that’s going on in the area. I’m not exactly sure what all of the hoopla is about, but check back throughout the weekend for coverage and updates.

And on to the real Grapevine:

  • I didn’t want to mention this angle in the recap because I don’t think it’s necessarily unique to the Mavs, but yesterday’s game was horrific schedule-wise, even for a back-to-back. According to Tim MacMahon, “only one of the last 22 Nuggets foes that played on the West Coast the previous night have won at the Pepsi Center.” Could help ease the loss in the minds of some, but I don’t really see it as an excuse for the overall effort.
  • American Airlines Center may be turned into part professional sports arena, part convenience store.
  • Does anyone out there remain unconvinced of Erick Dampier’s impact? Let Dirk persuade you (via Brandon George): “Defenisvely, we have to have a healthy Damp…If you look at all the great defensive teams, you have to have a shot blocker to protect the rim. Damp was so great when he was moving well early in the season. Over the last month with his knee issues, he really hasn’t been a factor in the paint for us. And that’s where it all starts with me. We have some issues with other stuff with keeping guys in front of us, but it all starts with needing a presence at the rim. We’ll definitely need him just to establish some presence defensively in the paint.”
  • Even those with a finger on the league’s pulse right now, like Mark Cuban, are having a hard time predicting what movement, if any, will go down before the trade deadline.
  • Shawn Marion missed yesterday’s game nursing a sore back and groin. The All-Star break couldn’t have come at a better time.
  • Classic.
  • via @mavstats: “Including [last night], Mavs have 6 losses by 30+ pts since 2000-01 (3 of them in last 2 seasons).”

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  • rick

    so I wanted to figure out why the mavs have been losing. As of now they are 32-20. Thats 52 games. the first 26 games they were 19-7. the last 26 games they are 13-13. I looked at terry being in the starting lineup. they are 5-6 since he moved to the starting lineup but they were only 7-8 the previous 15 games before he started. So then I looked at damp and his hurt knee. His minutes are the lowest of the season since hes been hurt and you can just tell he’s not as fast to the ball. However, he has missed 16 games this year. The mavs are 12-4 without him. So maybe its not just the knee but the fact that hes even out there taking minutes from others. Maybe its Rick Carisles fault for how he has been giving out minutes. Where is tim thomas anyone? A lot I think has to do with that and just the fact that this is an old team with the old guys playing a lot of minutes. And with the time of year midway it just doesnt look like they care too much on defense. the last 26 games, they have allowed 100 points 17 times. The funny kinda of weird coincidence in this whole thing is that the midway point between the 52 games was dec 18th against houston when dirk hurt his elbow. They are 13-13 since that game. Before that game dirk had 9 30-point games. since that game only 2. Im sure its more lack of effort and fatigue of the players but its still interesting to note.

  • DOH

    congratulations, it’s almost a year since you used the tag “dirk nowtizki” last.

    tim thomas is with his (very ill) family member (aka wife). might not reappear this season.

  • Cynthia

    I heard Thomas was out on personal leave, but where did you get the info it was his wife and him (maybe) not coming back this season?

  • DOH

    the “might not come back this season” part is from mcmahon, the “it’s the wife with illness” part from db.com thread.

    nothing verified, but highly probable. mavs keep the doors closed on such things.

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