Posted by Rob Mahoney on March 4, 2010 under News | 
In the third quarter of last night’s game, Corey Brewer’s elbow became better acquainted with Jason Terry’s face last night. It was an incidental play that couldn’t be classified as a cheap shot or anything even more sinister, but it did take JET to the ground and gave trainer Casey Smith quite a challenge in stopping the bleeding. But Terry finished the game, helped to ice a win despite some pain and an eye that was slowly being swollen shut.
But this morning, we have a more precise diagnosis of exactly what ailed Terry in the third and fourth quarters last night: a broken orbital bone. According to the team, JET will undergo surgery tomorrow, but there’s no official timetable for his return as of yet.
Hedo Turkoglu suffered a similar injury earlier this season, but only missed two games with a fractured, non-displaced orbital bone. That said, Hedo’s injury wasn’t serious enough that it required surgery, meaning Terry’s could be significantly more serious. But having said that said, JET, when asked how long he might be sidelined, responded “Not long.” So we have a point of comparison, even if it’s one that could be fundamentally different due to magnitude, a prognosis from a hopeful patient, and no official timetable from a team that won’t release further details until Terry’s surgery tomorrow at the very least. Gotta love the wealth of information in the modern age, right?
Terry will certainly be missing some time, though, even if the exact length is undetermined at this point. Rodrigue Beaubois, J.J. Barea, DeShawn Stevenson, and Von Wafer are all candidates to see an increase in opportunity, but also don’t count out the option of Carlisle bumping the minutes of Caron Butler and Shawn Marion. Each could see a slight uptick both in terms of their overall minutes and their minutes on the floor together, as no JET at the 2 could mean more of Butler. Beaubois is the clear fan favorite to leap into Terry’s role, and he’d appear to have a leg up after his big night against the Wolves. But if Roddy doesn’t see an increase in minutes over JET’s absence, it wouldn’t be the first time that Carlisle has surprised.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on March 3, 2010 under News |
For fans who have been following the Mavs closely, the news of what has been keeping Tim Thomas away from the team is hardly breaking. That doesn’t make anything any less hard or breaking for Thomas, but it very well should change how we see Thomas as a person. His time with the Mavs has been entirely without incident, unless you happen to consider coming in off the bench with unreliable playing time and just doing his job an incident. Based on the way that Tim’s career has gone thus far, I wouldn’t blame you.
But this is a case where Thomas deserved the benefit of the doubt. He fell off the map somewhat mysteriously, and it’s easy to whisper that this was just another case of Thomas being Thomas. After all, who would have been all that surprised if Tim had fallen into the very bed he had made for himself?
But he didn’t. He was doing exactly what he was supposed to do, and he’s still doing it today. It’d be nice if he could still be providing depth at forward and bench scoring, but life isn’t always so accommodating. Instead, Tim and his family are going through some very trying times, and to ask anything more of him would be ridiculous.
All the best to Tim’s wife, Tricia, Thomas himself, and their three children. We don’t know exactly exactly what ails Tricia or how serious it is, but she should have plenty of thoughts, prayers, and positive thoughts coming her way from the Mavs family and MFFLs everywhere.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under News |
NBA culture is incredibly far-reaching, as basketball is rarely, if ever, just about basketball. The players are versatile people with an incredible variety of interests and hobbies, and the cultural intersection between basketball and those spheres is more or less inevitable.
Chief among them (and not just at the NBA level) are hip-hop and video games. The crossover is fairly obvious: one is a genre of music that functions as the soundtrack to the league, and the other a deeply embedded part of the traveling NBA lifestyle. Players can hear their names dropped, make an album of their own, or meet and greet the music industry celebs that are regulars on NBA sidelines. They can challenge their friends to games online from the comfort of their hotel room, have an option for entertainment at odd hours, and even play as themselves through NBA gaming titles.
The lines between the three are fuzzier than ever, and to be a fan of any one of the three — basketball, hip-hop, video games — makes you, even unknowingly, a fan of the others as well.
So it’s only natural that I (thanks to the fine folks at GameStop) give you guys a chance to integrate all three of those worlds at once with a chance for some serious personal benefit.
First, GameStop will be hosting a DJ Hero Battle this Saturday, March 6th, at over 100 different GameStop store locations in the metroplex. The events will go from 10 AM to 9 PM at all of the official locations, and if you stop by, compete, and enter your score online, you’ll have a chance to win a pretty tremendous Mavs prize package. The package includes:
- A chance to DJ for a night at center court for a Mavs game
- Suite Night – 10 tickets to take in a game from a luxury suite, including the minimum food & beverage package
- A $100 gift card to the Mavs Fan Shop
- A $100 gift card to GameStop
- An Autographed Dirk Nowitzki Authentic Jersey
- 10 Dirk Bobbleheads
Not bad, eh?
And second, to get everyone amped for the Battle, I’ll be hosting a little contest of my own here at The Two Man Game. In the spirit of GameStop’s DJ Hero Battle, I want everyone to get in the proper frame of mind. With prizes on the line, all you have to do to enter is drop some Mavs-centric rhymes of your own. Just comment on this post (or send me an email at thetwomangame[at]gmail.com) with a short verse that’s either directly or indirectly related to the Mavs, and you’re in.
Here’s the thing: it’s all about creativity. So feel free to go the mash-up route if you so choose, or if you just want to pen your own verse, that’s cool too. Maybe you want to take a bit from “Empire State of Mind,” but make it all about Dallas from Dirk’s point of view. Maybe you want to spin Drake’s “Last name ever, first name greatest” line for your ultimate ode to Matt Carroll. Hey, I’m not here to judge.
Well, I guess I am. Two winners will be picked based on creativity and quality, so bring your A-game. And hey, if this type of music isn’t your scene, then by all means; feel free to write lyrics or mash-up existing ones in whatever format you like, as long as it’s somehow related to the Mavs.
As for what’s at stake: one $100 gift card for NBA.com and one $100 gift card for GameStop. That’s a lot of dough for just a little bit of work, so you might as well give it a try, right? So let’s get this party started. I’m anxious to see what you guys can come up with, so let’s get this party started. Remember to send in all submissions via the comments on this post or through my email by 9 PM central time on Saturday, March 6th, and be sure to check out GameStop’s DJ Hero Battles going on all throughout the Dallas area this Saturday.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 26, 2010 under News |
Caron Butler fully participated in shootaround today, but according to the team, he’s still a game-time decision for tonight against the Hawks. Whether Butler or DeShawn Stevenson gets the start, they better come ready to play; Joe Johnson is very much the key to Atlanta’s offensive success, and if Caron could make Johnson work on the defensive end (though Joe is quite accomplished there as well), it could go a long way toward a Mavs win.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 24, 2010 under News, Roster Moves |
The Mavs have officially signed Von Wafer to a 10-day contract, according to a team press release. HE IS EXPECTED TO START TONIGHT AGAINST THE LAKERS AND WILL PLAY AT LEAST 36 MINUTES, DRAWING THE PRIMARY DEFENSIVE ASSIGNMENT ON KOBE BRYANT AND CARRYING THE OFFENSIVE LOAD FOR THE MAVS.
Or maybe he’ll just sit on the bench in a new uniform, waiting for his first opportunity for in-game action. I wouldn’t count on it coming tonight unless there’s a decisive margin in favor of either team, but Wafer should still be valuable as a practice player.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under Commentary, News, Roster Moves |
The Mavs’ big man search is back to square one. Dallas was close to signing D-League All-Star Dwayne Jones to a 10-day contract to provide depth at center, but the Mavs were apparently left unimpressed by his workout today with the team. Marc Stein notes that Jake Voskuhl could be Jones’ replacement, a move which I find to be a bit uninspired and plenty underwhelming. We know what Voskuhl can do, and we know plenty about what he can’t do. But Jones deserves a legit shot at the pro level, and I think his unassuming, low-maintenance game would have been a nice addition for Dallas off the bench.
Apparently it wasn’t meant to be. But Stein also reports that the Mavs still plan on signing Von Wafer to a 10-day and will possibly put pen to paper tomorrow.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 23, 2010 under News, Roster Moves |
Per Marc Stein, the Mavs are bringing in the Austin Toros’ Dwayne Jones for a workout and likely a subsequent 10-day contract. The Mavs will also bring in Von Wafer for another workout, though mostly to gauge his back rather than his abilities. The Mavs have just 13 players on the roster, meaning they could sign both players to contracts (10-day or otherwise) if they so choose. Not a bad idea considering Wafer’s potential as an explosive scorer and Jones’ ability to contribute as a third big man.
If you’ll recall, we actually discussed Dwayne Jones around these parts over a month ago when the Najera-Humphries swap opened up a roster spot. Steve Weinman of D-League Digest was kind enough to point out the most logical call-up candidates given the Mavs’ position, and among them (along with Anthony Tolliver, who was since called up by the Warriors) was Jones. Here’s what Weinman had to say at the time:
Dwayne Jones (Austin): Gets pooh-poohed a bit because he doesn’t have much to speak of in the way of shot-creation skills and certainly won’t be initiating his own offense at the next level. Doesn’t really seem to dominate games at the defensive end, though he can definitely hold his own in that realm. All that said, we’re talking about a guy with legitimate NBA size (6-11, 250 pounds) who is posting 17 points per game on better than 60 percent shooting from the field thanks to the fact that he hammers the offensive boards (more than six per game) and does a ton on put-backs and tips. He leads the league in per-game rebounding at more than 15 per game (and yes, it would be great if someone out there were tracking rebound rate in the D-League, though the Toros don’t play an especially fast pace - so I don’t think the figure is too misleading). Given that you don’t call a guy up from the D-League to dominate the ball or be some kind of star, I think this may be the guy for the spot if the decision to push for a big man because he’ll be able to do much of what he already does at the next level - scrap around for rebounds and get a few garbage buckets while forcing opponents to put a body on him on the offensive glass. Plus, he has the size to guard opposing bigs.
Adding Jones would be a terrific addition for the Mavs, who could use him to fill the role of a Ryan Hollins-type big man…if Ryan Hollins could actually rebound. He’s not going to revolutionize the game or win Player of the Week honors anytime soon, but Jones is more than capable of coming in to provide solid minutes for a Mavs team lacking in big bodies.
But just as important: bringing in Jones for a workout would be the first significant interaction the Mavs have had with the D-League since the days when J.J. Barea ruled the world as a member of the now-defunct Fort Worth Flyers. These types of interactions will obviously become more regular next season when the Mavs’ new D-League affiliate in Frisco is actually open for business, but this is a positive development. It’s unlikely that Jones would be anything but a short-term replacement, but a baby step is still a step, and the closer the Mavs get to the D-League, the better the chance of mining some real, rotation-caliber talent.
EDIT: For more on Dwayne Jones, I’d urge you to check out a few more links from Weinman at D-League Digest:
- Jones, on what he needs to do to take his game to the next level: “Just show what I can do offensively, and just continue to hustle and show what I can do. They’re not going to bring me in to score 20 points; they’re going to bring me in to hustle, rebound and defend, so I just got to keep showing that.”
- Some very cogent analysis on why Jones’ game is perfect for translation to NBA production. Don’t expect the 16.8 points and 15.4 rebounds per game that he’s averaging in Austin (or, as Steve notes, the 17 double-doubles in 20 games), but it’s excellent to note that the things that Jones does best don’t require high usage or a ton of opportunity.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under News |
If one team is covered in brilliant sunshine, another must be cloaked in darkness.
Josh Howard went down in last night’s game between the Wizards and the Bulls, and had to be helped off the court. It looked to be a knee injury, and while Josh was clearly in some pain, nothing seemed terribly serious. But according to Mike Jones (formerly of the Washington Times), Josh has torn his ACL and is done for the season.
I know Josh isn’t a Mav, and has had his fun taking a shot or two at the Mavs since he was traded. But how can you not feel for him right now? Howard’s already low value as a free agent just fell even further, and Josh’s opportunity to redeem his rough start has been completely obliterated. Nothing but sympathy for Josh, who has already fought to overcome a bucket-full of injuries in the last few years, and doesn’t deserve the hand he’s been dealt.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on February 22, 2010 under News, Roster Moves |
According to Mike Fisher of DallasBasketball.com and Art Garcia of NBA.com, the Mavs are all set to sign Von Wafer to a 10-day contract pending he passes a physical. It’s not a given, especially considering that Wafer already failed one physical this year, and 10-day prospects are on thin ice to begin with.
You’ve already heard enough about Wafer from me, so I enlisted the help of Rahat Huq of the superb Houston Rockets blog, Red 94. Wafer’s last NBA court time came with Houston last season, which makes Rahat just the man to talk to. Here are his lasting thoughts and impressions on Von Wafer:
I still feel fondly about Von Wafer because were it not for his contributions in ’09, we don’t have the surprising success that we did.
To his game: Wafer is a scorer; he’s not looking to pass. He’s at his best when slashing to the basket off the rotation of the defense. He’s not freakish, but still very athletic, and he uses this trait to feast on opponents when not given sufficient attention. He can also pull up for the jumper after taking one dribble. His handles are very poor for a guard. The extent of his 1-on-1 capabilities is a move where, if he has sufficient space against a backed up defender, he takes one hard dribble in either direction and then crosses back over to the other hand for either the pull-up or the drive. Fans often mistook this for an ability to create assuming high potential. Don’t – if guarded closely, Wafer doesn’t have a chance off the dribble.
Despite his size and athleticism, Wafer is a poor defender who often gets lost in rotations and in fighting around screens. Defense is his biggest weakness and what kept him off the floor on many occasions when his offense was desperately needed.
Finally, while it endears him to fans, Von Wafer’s emotions can sometimes destroy him. He was kicked out of a playoff game for getting into a shouting match with Adelman. If things are going poorly for him, it can spiral out of control very quickly.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under News |
The Two Man Game has been around for over a year now, which is roughly one millennium in internet time. Over that millennium, I’ve done my best to provide quality Mavs-related content in all forms and fashions…in the most generic blogging layout possible. No longer. As of today, The Two Man Game will boast a new look thanks to a brand spankin’ new banner.
All of the credit in the world goes to Steven Ligatsa: graphic designer by day, MFFL by night. He did an absolutely incredible job bringing the concept to life, and I can only hope it brings Steven a certain pride to see his work represent his team in such style.
So for those of you who check in via RSS reader, stop by for a visit to check out the new look. And for those of you who visit the site regularly, I hope you’ll enjoy the fresher start to every page load.