Posted by Bryan Gutierrez on April 4, 2013 under Commentary, News | 
ESPNDallas.com’s Tim MacMahon reported prior to the game against the Los Angeles Lakers that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban would be willing to give Baylor women’s superstar Brittney Griner the opportunity to have a chance to play in the NBA.
“If she is the best on the board, I will take her,” Cuban said. “I’ve thought about it. I’ve thought about it already. Would I do it? Right now, I’d lean toward yes, just to see if she can do it. You never know unless you give somebody a chance, and it’s not like the likelihood of any late-50s draft pick has a good chance of making it.”
Griner replied with a positive response to the possibility. “I would hold my own! Lets do it.” she wrote on Twitter on Tuesday night in response to Cuban.
Brittney Griner finished her spectacular career second all-time in scoring, and her 748 blocks are the most in men’s or women’s college basketball. With 3,283 career points, Griner finished with the second-highest point total in Women’s NCAA Division I history (Jackie Stiles – 3,393 points). In his initial comment about Griner, Cuban said that if they don’t plan on using a second round draft pick on Griner, the Mavericks certainly wouldn’t be opposed to giving her an opportunity to join the team’s Las Vegas summer league roster.
The idea or notion of Griner being affiliated with the NBA was met with some obvious resistance, on multiple levels. Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma called Cuban a financial genius, but “his genius would take a huge hit if he drafted Brittney Griner.”
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Posted by Bryan Gutierrez on April 1, 2013 under News |
After playing in the friendly confines of the American Airlines Center for the last six games, the Dallas Mavericks embark on a do or die road trip that will have them going to play the Lakers, Nuggets, Kings and Trail Blazers. Dallas is one-and-a-half games back of the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers from the 8th spot in the West. The Lakers have the same record as the Jazz, but the Jazz have the tiebreaker over the Lakers so they currently hold the final spot. “There’s no need to overstate the obvious,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said before the team departed to Los Angeles. “We need to win every game we can game. This is a challenge you have to look forward to.”
Dallas is once again one game away from reaching .500. They’re in the thick – as thick as Dirk’s beard – of the race for the 8th seed and trying to become only third team since 1989 (Both the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers in 1997) to make playoffs after being 10 games or more under .500. “We’re trying to be the greatest comeback since Lazarus,” Carlisle said. “Really, that’s what we’re trying to do.” At the end of the nine games, they’ll see where they stand. The first game will be against the Los Angeles Lakers. Before the season, if you told people that the Mavs would be in a chase with the Lakers for a seed, many would think it would be for the 2nd or 3rd seed in the conference. Unfortunately for both, they’re both scratching and clawing just to get in.
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Posted by Kirk Henderson on January 30, 2013 under News |
The NBA issued a statement Wednesday afternoon with regards to a number of calls from the Tuesday night slate of games. Second on the list was an admission that the charge committed by O.J. Mayo in the 106-104 loss to the Blazers was, in fact, a block.
With 1.5 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Dallas Mavericks-Portland Trail Blazers game on January 29, officials called a charging foul on Dallas’ OJ Mayo. After review at the league office, the video replay confirmed the play should have been ruled a blocking foul as Portland’s Ronnie Price did not get his body directly in Mayo’s path prior to him starting his upward shooting motion. Mayo should have been granted two free throws.
The video can be viewed here. Two free throws would have given Dallas a chance to take the lead after LaMarcus Aldridge had tied the game on the previous possession 104-104. Obviously a frustrating admission, since a loss last night means the Mavs have a very small likelihood of making the playoffs.
However, compare this sort of thing to the league Mark Cuban joined in 1999. This sort of admission would not have happened. It’s progress, maybe not the progress Mavs fans would like to see (such as the correct call being made at the time), but its progress nonetheless.
Kirk is a member of the Two Man Game family. Follow him on Twitter @KirkSeriousFace for ranting about Dallas basketball, TV, movies, video games, and his dog
Posted by Bryan Gutierrez on December 22, 2012 under Commentary, News |
The Derek Fisher has ended. Marc Stein of ESPN.com broke the story that the Mavericks agreed to release Fisher at his request. Fisher averaged 8.6 points, 3.6 assists and 25.4 minutes in nine games (all starts) for Dallas this season. What’s intriguing is the fact that, according to sources, the move to let Fisher go had actually been in the works for a few days, but the Mavericks asked Fisher to stay with the team until another point guard could be secured. Fisher agreed to stay, but ultimately got injured in the game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Does agreeing to let Fisher go mean that another point guard is in the mix or the Mavericks have finally seen enough of Dominique Jones and/or Darren Collison to no longer need a security blanket like Fisher go.
Here were part of Fisher’s comments on the first day he arrived in Dallas: “This is not a pit stop. This is not kind of the final whatever before I decide to retire soon. I’m here to give everything I have to help this team right now and continue to build as we go through this season.”
In a statement he issued, he said:
With this news and the difficulty I have been having being away from my family, I have asked the organization to waive me so I can return home.
“(Mavericks owner) Mark Cuban has been extremely supportive and has granted me this request. I cannot say enough good things about this organization. From Mark, to Coach (Rick) Carlisle, to the players on the Mavericks’ team, I sincerely thank them for the opportunity.
“I have made decisions in the past, leaving money and opportunity on the table, and I will need to do that again. My family is my priority and that is where I choose to be. I won’t close the possibility that I will play again, however for now my family and being close to them remains the priority.”
Stein also reports that sources indicate that the Mavericks will call up Chris Douglas-Roberts from the Frisco-based Texas Legends to replace Fisher and take up the 15th spot on the roster. What does this all mean?
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Posted by Bryan Gutierrez on November 3, 2012 under News |
Troy Murphy arrived in Dallas and participated in the team’s morning shootaround as they prepared for their home opener against the Charlotte Bobcats. Murphy took the place of Eddy Curry on the 15-man roster. Curry was waived after playing in the first two regular season games for Dallas. Curry averaged 4.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 12.5 minutes.
After coming into town last week for workouts and participating in the team’s shootaround, coach Rick Carlisle has liked what he’s seen out of his former player. “He looks good. He’s got an idea of what we’re doing,” Carlisle said of Murphy. “It’ll take him a while to get in great shape, but he’s always in good shape. He’ll get ready to play really quick.” Murphy is a familiar player to Carlisle and assistant coach Jim O’Brien and that went a long way in bringing him on board with the Mavericks. “That’s the reason we got him,” Carlisle said. “He’s familiar with what we’re doing. He can rebound and he can shoot the ball. Those are things that are valuable things for us.”
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Posted by Bryan Gutierrez on October 26, 2012 under Commentary, News |
After playing a total of 83 minutes in 14 regular season games for the Miami Heat and being released after being a training camp invitee by the San Antonio Spurs, Eddy Curry has now joined the Dallas Mavericks. He was claimed through waivers by the Mavericks on Thursday afternoon. Curry, 29, has been widely regarded as one of the most disappointing players in recent league history. Whatever the reason has been, Curry has never lived up to the promise he had when he was selected fourth overall in the 2001 Draft. In a weird series of coincidences, Tyson Chandler joined Curry as he was selected second overall in the draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, who immediately traded his draft rights to the Bulls for…Elton Brand.
“He did a nice job this morning in shootaround,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said of Curry. “This is a good opportunity for him and for us.” Curry (7-0, 295) has played in 525 games, 411 starts, with Chicago, New York and Miami.He holds career averages of 13.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 24.9 minutes per game while shooting 54.5 percent from the field. “I feel great about it,” Curry said at the team’s shootaround. “Obviously, it’s a great organization with great players. It’s a great opportunity.
“I’m just going out there and play. I know what I can do and they’re giving me the opportunity to do it. I’m just going to make the best of it.”
Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News reported that the Mavericks would waive guard Delonte West in order to make room to acquire Curry. West was suspended for the second time, this time indefinitely, within a span of 10 days. As was the case the first time, West was suspended due to performing conduct detrimental to the team. “We have suspended Delonte for conduct detrimental to the team,” president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said in a statement. “The suspension is effective immediately and no other statements will be issued.”
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Posted by Bryan Gutierrez on October 19, 2012 under News |
News broke on Friday afternoon that Dirk Nowitzki underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his bothersome right knee Friday. The waiting game is officially over. According to the organization, the surgery was performed at Texas Sports Medicine by team orthopedic surgeon T.O. Souryal. Nowitzki is expected to resume on-court activities within approximately six weeks. “We’ve been preparing for this possibility,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said on Friday afternoon. “It’s never going to be easy to lose a game-changer for six weeks. We know that, but we’re going to have to make up for that in other areas. We’re going to have to play with grit, guts and we’re going to have to raise our level of efficiency in all areas.”
After having his knee drained on multiple occasions during the preseason and speculating if he could continue to work through the issue, Dirk decided to shut it down and begin the healing process. Dirk has been known as a machine as he’s had the ability to recover quickly from injuries, but this will push the boundary of that status, especially when it involves the knee. Carlisle did lighten to mood by sharing his own experience with the procedure, which was done during the 2010-11 season. “If it ‘s any comfort to you, I had a scope two years ago and I was back playing ping pong within six weeks,” Carlisle said. “It didn’t affect my game at all.”
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Posted by Bryan Gutierrez on October 15, 2012 under News |
Coach Rick Carlisle sat down before Monday’s preseason home opener against Houston and said: “Dirk’s not playing tonight. He’ll talk to you after the game. Next subject.’’ Dirk Nowitzki would reveal after the 123-104 victory over the Houston Rockets that he will re-evaluate his knee in the next few days and likely come to a decision next week on what the next step is. “The knee hasn’t really responded great over the last couple of days,” Nowitzki said to the media. “The good news is that it (the swelling) isn’t as much as it was last week in Barcelona.”
Dirk participated in the team’s morning shootaround, but was held back due to the right knee. The big man was seen working out on the elliptical after coach Carlisle had his pregame meeting with the media.
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Posted by Rob Mahoney on October 8, 2012 under News |
UPDATE: This job posting has been closed; many thanks to all that applied.
With the commencement of the exhibition schedule, the long dormant basketball season has met a welcome alarm. Actual, meaningful NBA games will be played before we know it, and this blog will be back up at regular season speed.
There’s just one tiny problem. Beginning this season, I’ll no longer be contributing to this blog as a writer. That leaves a bit of a void; in taking on a purely editorial role, I’ll soon cede this stage to a writing cast that’s yet to be fully determined. We already have a few contributors in the works, but this site is very much in need of basketball scribes who are able to contribute regularly and are interested in covering the Dallas Mavericks.
If you meet both of those vague criteria, then you could be just what I’m looking for. If you don’t quite fit but know somehow who might, then please, pass this message along. We’re looking for proven basketball writers, relative newcomers, would-be analysts, hoops-obsessed essayists, and budding statisticians. Don’t be deterred from applying based on some minor factor; It’s a simple enough application process for a simple enough gig, and all are welcome to make their case.
All that’s needed from prospective applicants is an email to thetwomangame[at]gmail.com, complete with the following:
- Some information about yourself, your background, and your writing experience.
- Some explanation of your weekday schedule. Do you have a full-time job? Are you a student? How often would you be able and willing to write?
- A few writing samples that you feel are indicative of your ability and style. If you don’t have any NBA-specific writing experience, feel free to put together some thoughts on a Mavs-related topic of choice.
Note: These positions will be unpaid. If that’s a deal-breaker for you, then no hard feelings. But otherwise, this platform can still be incredibly useful to up-and-coming writers looking to break onto the NBA scene or reinforce their brand.
There is currently no deadline for applications, but keep in mind that once this void is filled, that’s that; the search could theoretically wrap at any time, so be sure to submit your emails as soon as possible.
I’m looking forward to filling out this staff, and better yet: to meet those who will hopefully come to define the next era of this blog’s life.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under News |
Today is an odd day.
i’m thrilled to announce that as of this week, I’ll be joining SI.com’s NBA staff — along with the tremendous Ben Golliver of Blazer’s Edge and CBS Sports — to take over Zach Lowe’s stead at The Point Forward. Yet on the heels of that announcement comes another, more somber note; after three years and change of commentary, recaps, and finding ways to justify the performance of Erick Dampier, I’ll be stepping down as the lead writer of this fair blog. This isn’t an actual goodbye, per se, but an acknowledgement of a transition; I’ll still be involved here at The Two Man Game as editor-in-chief, but this is likely the last you’ll have to deal with my written indulgences in this particular space.
This day would be much more difficult if I weren’t still able to claim to be a member of both The Two Man Game and the TrueHoop Network, but I’ll be hanging around. I’ll still be coordinating all of the coverage here and writing elsewhere. I’ll still be available on Twitter (@RobMahoney) and via email (thetwomangame[at]gmail.com). I’ll still be a member of the THN family. The specifics of the coverage here may change, but only in the way that all things eventually do.
It’s been an absolute pleasure to write The Two Man Game, and I can’t thank you all enough for lending me your attention and feeding this site with your comments. I sincerely hope that you’ve enjoyed your stops here—however frequent or infrequent, lengthy or brief — and that you’ll be back to check out all that we have in store going forward. The Two Man Game rolls on, even without my blathering, but this seemed an appropriate time nonetheless to thank you all for everything this site is, was, and will someday become. You all make The Two Man Game work, and while I know that means a lot to the TrueHoop Network as a whole, it means far more to me.
Regards,
Rob Mahoney