Milwaukee 103, Dallas 99
Sometimes in basketball, as in life, things just don’t add up. Take the Miami Heat, for example. Between D-Wade, LeBron, and Chris Bosh, basketball fans and talking heads alike just assumed that Miami would win it all, awarding the Heat the championship before the season even began. And then the season started, and the Heat looked mediocre at best, struggling to a 9-8 record to start off the year.
That’s kinda what happened to the Mavericks when Milwaukee came to town last week. Before the game even began, even though the Mavs were owners of a 12 game win streak, I had a bad feeling about it. It’s not that Milwaukee is an exceptionally good team (they aren’t) or that Dallas was playing poorly (they weren’t). It might have been the fact that Dallas was playing for win #13, on the 13th, or that Dirk had just been named Western Conference Player of the Week for the 13th time in his career (and the second this season) that set off my superstitious senses. But that annoying little voice in the back of my mind warned me that you can’t win ‘em all, and sooner or later, my Mavs would lose…and for some odd reason, it felt like it would be against the Bucks.
Things started out great, and the Mavs jumped out to as much as a 20 point lead early on. And then, slow and steady, Milwaukee made their comeback, leaving the Mavericks playing from behind during much of the final frame. And when it came down to crunch time, the Bucks stole a move from former head coach Don Nelson’s bag of tricks, employing the Hack-a-Shaq technique, only this time, it wasn’t Shaq, but the Mavs’ own Brendan Haywood on the receiving end of several intentional off the ball fouls. Haywood missed all four free throw attempts, which didn’t help the Mavs’ cause in the least.
But the blame for this loss doesn’t fall solely at the feet of Haywood. This was most definitely a team loss. Just like they had done against Utah two nights prior, Dallas got too comfortable with their lead and started playing to keep their lead, rather than playing to extend it. Anytime you have your opponent down by double digits, it’s time to push your foot down on the gas pedal and play harder, not let up and relax like the Mavericks did against Milwaukee.
Unlike in the Utah game, Dallas was unable to hold on for the win, thus seeing their amazing win streak come to a very disappointing end, once more in front of their home crowd. Of their five losses this season, only one (at New Orleans) has been on the road; the other four have all been here at the AAC, which is another cause for concern in a season where the Mavericks haven’t given their fans much else to be concerned about.
Wednesday night, the Portland Trailblazers made their first trip to Dallas this season, and the Mavs had the chance to start another streak, hopefully in the W column.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Dallas Dominates During 12 Game Win Streak
Here's the thing: no matter what I do, or how hard I try, I can't keep up, nor even catch up, with all of the buzz that has surrounded my marvelous Mavericks since the Thanksgiving holiday. Every time it looks as if I'm making headway, something happens, be it at work, at home, or just my life in general. And as my dear sweet Rickey reminded me last night, this blog is not a job. It doesn't pay the bills, it earns me no special favors, and very few people even acknowledge its existence, aside from my circle of family and friends. But the sole reason I continue my blog is simple: because I want to.
That being said, I’ll make this easy on you, my handful of semi-faithful readers, as well as myself. Between November 29 and December 11, although they faced different opponents in different arenas, every game had the same end result: Mavs won! Dallas went on an amazing 12 game win streak, which included an emotional matchup against old friends and mentors (former Maverick Devin Harris and ex-Mavs’ coach Avery Johnson); a surprising blowout in Salt Lake City, where the Mavs have traditionally struggled; a nailbiting, down-to-the-wire finish at Arco Arena against a young athletic Sacramento team; and an unbelievably hot shooting first quarter at home against the Jazz, in which Dallas hit seven three pointers in as many minutes and jumped out to a 29-4 lead, leaving Utah wondering what the hell happened. (Props to the Jazz, however, as they managed to get back in the game and tie it at 89 all late in the fourth quarter. I only mention this because it becomes relevant when discussing what happened when the Mavs faced Milwaukee at the AAC last Monday night).
For the better part of twelve games, Dirk played like the perennial All-Star that those of us in Dallas know him to be. J-Kidd, while he struggled with his shot at times, still managed to be the grease that kept the Mavs’ machine running. Jason Terry led the charge off the bench and Caron Butler proved to be an acceptable Robin to Dirk’s Batman. And the newest Mavs’ working man’s hero, DeShawn Stevenson, who is quite possibly the most underrated player on the roster (aside from J-Kidd, who, IMO, never receives proper recognition for his total awesomeness), proved he was much more than just an add-in afterthought in the Josh-Howard-for-Caron-Butler trade that took place over the All-Star break. Stevenson was given the unenviable task of defending the opponent’s top player(s) more often than not, and did a remarkable job. DeShawn has also made his way to the top of the league in three point shooting percentage and continued to build his reputation as a dangerous shooter from long distance.
For twelve straight games, Dallas looked like the best team in basketball. And then Milwaukee came to town.
That being said, I’ll make this easy on you, my handful of semi-faithful readers, as well as myself. Between November 29 and December 11, although they faced different opponents in different arenas, every game had the same end result: Mavs won! Dallas went on an amazing 12 game win streak, which included an emotional matchup against old friends and mentors (former Maverick Devin Harris and ex-Mavs’ coach Avery Johnson); a surprising blowout in Salt Lake City, where the Mavs have traditionally struggled; a nailbiting, down-to-the-wire finish at Arco Arena against a young athletic Sacramento team; and an unbelievably hot shooting first quarter at home against the Jazz, in which Dallas hit seven three pointers in as many minutes and jumped out to a 29-4 lead, leaving Utah wondering what the hell happened. (Props to the Jazz, however, as they managed to get back in the game and tie it at 89 all late in the fourth quarter. I only mention this because it becomes relevant when discussing what happened when the Mavs faced Milwaukee at the AAC last Monday night).
For the better part of twelve games, Dirk played like the perennial All-Star that those of us in Dallas know him to be. J-Kidd, while he struggled with his shot at times, still managed to be the grease that kept the Mavs’ machine running. Jason Terry led the charge off the bench and Caron Butler proved to be an acceptable Robin to Dirk’s Batman. And the newest Mavs’ working man’s hero, DeShawn Stevenson, who is quite possibly the most underrated player on the roster (aside from J-Kidd, who, IMO, never receives proper recognition for his total awesomeness), proved he was much more than just an add-in afterthought in the Josh-Howard-for-Caron-Butler trade that took place over the All-Star break. Stevenson was given the unenviable task of defending the opponent’s top player(s) more often than not, and did a remarkable job. DeShawn has also made his way to the top of the league in three point shooting percentage and continued to build his reputation as a dangerous shooter from long distance.
For twelve straight games, Dallas looked like the best team in basketball. And then Milwaukee came to town.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
By the Numbers: 5+4+3+2=1
Here is where the Mavericks’ story begins to get interesting, when we apply my newly created Mavericks mathematics: 5 nights + 4 games + 3 different cities + 2 sets of back to backs = one helluva week for Dallas, as they manged to sweep every single game¸ marking only the third time in franchise history they had done so. Dallas ended the week on a five game winning streak, after taking out the overhyped and underacheiving Miami Heat. Here are a few highlights of a week that the Mavs, along with their fans, were most definitely thankful for:
Mavericks 88, Pistons 84
Dallas jumped out to a quick 11-0 lead, and I screamed at my TV for the shutout, knowing it was virtually impossible in the NBA. But a girl can dream, right? Dallas took a large lead out of the gate, ending the first quarter with a 24-17 lead. But the Mavs stunk it up in the next twelve minutes, allowing Detroit not only to catch them, but to head into the locker room at the half, leading Dallas, 42-38. So Dallas did what they do best: they turned to their leader, their hero, the face of the franchise – the big German. Dirk was hot from everywhere (again except for the free throw line, where he was a mediocre 3-of-6), nailing all three of his three-point attempts and ending the game as Dallas’ leading scorer with a whopping 42 points, as well as top rebounder, with 12 boards.
Although the Mavs’ shot just 38.5%, they did manage to hold on the ball, committing a season-low eight turnovers. Dallas fought back from a five point deficit heading into the final frame in what would be the first of three consecutive comeback victories in four nights. Tonight marked Jason Kidd’s 1200th NBA game played, making him the leader among active players, and moving him into 22nd place all-time in games played. After watching Dirk in all his awesome glory lead the Mavericks to victory yet again, I was left with just one burning question: when the hell did Tracy McGrady wind up in Detroit??
Mavericks 111, Thunder 103
After the lengthy and amazing performance put on by Dirk against the Pistons the night before, some would have thought there would be no spring left in his step, no gas left in his tank. And those people would have been absolutely, positively wrong. Because Dirk did it again, leading all scorers with 34 points and sparking the Mavs back to life on an incredible and rare four point-play, hitting both the three-pointer and free throw which resulted form him being fouled on the shot attempt, late in the fourth quarter. Dallas was down by three after one quarter, down by just one point at the half, and went into the final frame facing a four point deficit. Midway through the final frame, after being down 90-83, Dallas went on a 10-0 run to take a lead which they would not relinquish.
Although the Triple J Trio (Jet, J-Kidd and JJ) struggled with their shot yet again, going a combined 8-of-30 from the floor, Dirk still had a little help from his friends, as Kidd finished with 12 assists and the Mavs only turned the ball over 12 times. Tyson Chandler was a beast on the boards, bringing down 18 rebounds to go along with his 17 points. As Coach Carlisle pointed out after the game, this was a great win for this team.
“We have never quit on a game,” Carlisle said. “We just look for good things to happen.” And if the old adage is true, and the best things actually do come to those who wait, then maybe an NBA title is somewhere in the near future for these Dallas Mavericks.
Mavericks 103, Spurs 94
I saw a tweet on Friday night, and although I can’t remember who it was from, I couldn’t have agreed more: All Mavs-Spurs games should be broadcast nationally. And they should, because barring catastrophe or major injury, there is not a better rivalry in the league (Lakers-Celtics is older, but not more interesting, nor entertaining) than the one that exists up and down Interstate 35. Even if it had been Dallas’ seventh game in as many nights, no matter how tired they should or would have been, this team would have been fired up to face the Spurs. And because Dallas came in riding a three game win streak, and the Spurs rode in on a league-best 12 game winning streak, we all knew this was going to be a great game.
Neither team disappointed in the opening quarter as the lead changed hands, ending with the Spurs up by a bucket, 29-27. Interestingly enough, over the second and third quarters, both teams managed to score exactly 44 points, which meant the Mavs headed into the final period still trailing San Antonio, 73-71. Jason Terry and Shawn Marion helped propel the charge of the Mavs’ bench, joining forces for 19 points and four assists over the final twelve minutes. Marion shot 75% from the floor (8-for-12) to go along with three rebounds and a steal. Tyson Chandler came up big yet again, with 19 points (13-of-16 from the charity stripe) and eight rebounds. As a team, however, Dallas struggled from the free throw line, shooting just 20-of-31, or 64.5%.
Oddly enough, Dirk, who led Dallas with 26 points, did not attempt a single free throw. He didn’t need to, however, as he shot a blazing 85.7% from the floor, nailing 12 of his 14 attempts. Nowitzki also pulled down eight rebounds and handed out five assists as the Mavs came to town and snapped the Spurs’ twelve game winning streak, while continuing to extend their own to four games.
Mavericks 106, Heat 95
Everyone was so excited to see the new James Gang – oops, I mean the Miami Heat – come to town to take on the Mavericks. Except me. Because I despise Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat, and everything they stand for – especially now that “his highness” King James has come to town. I have hated the Heat since they stole our championship (with the help of Bennett Salavatore and David Stern, IMO) back in 2006, and I revel in giddiness every time we have defeated them since (that would be every time our teams have met). And this, the fourth game my Mavs had played in five nights, would prove to be no exception, regardless of the Heat’s supposed “new and improved” roster.
Through the first quarter, both teams seemed to be evenly matched, as the score was knotted at 26. And at the half, Dallas had the slight advantage, up by a basket, 51-49. But Dallas was ready to pounce coming out of the locker room as they went on a 13-0 run and built a lead as large as 18 points, ending the period up, 82-66. Caron Butler was a big factor, with a dozen of his team high 23 points coming during the pivotal third quarter. Tyson Chandler was again a rebounding machine, pulling down 17 boards in 36 minutes. And JJ Barea, whose shot had all but disappeared of late, was on fire from the floor, hitting 5-of-7 shots for 13 points. Dirk was Dirk, dropping in 22 points, snagging six rebound, dishing out four assists and coming away with two steals.
There was no looking back for the Mavericks after they set foot on the court for the second half, although Miami did manage to make the game a bit of a nail biter as the final few minutes ticked off the clock. The “Big Three” led the way for the Heat in scoring (James 23, Bosh and Wade 22 each), rebounds (Wade 8), and assists (Wade 5), but the Heat were not hot enough, nor improved enough, to tackle the streaking Dallas Mavericks on this night. Not in our house, not again.
And to top off one amazing week, the following Monday, Dirk Nowitzki was named Western Conference Player of the Week for his outstanding performances in all four games. It doesn’t get any sweeter than this, right?
Mavericks 88, Pistons 84
Dallas jumped out to a quick 11-0 lead, and I screamed at my TV for the shutout, knowing it was virtually impossible in the NBA. But a girl can dream, right? Dallas took a large lead out of the gate, ending the first quarter with a 24-17 lead. But the Mavs stunk it up in the next twelve minutes, allowing Detroit not only to catch them, but to head into the locker room at the half, leading Dallas, 42-38. So Dallas did what they do best: they turned to their leader, their hero, the face of the franchise – the big German. Dirk was hot from everywhere (again except for the free throw line, where he was a mediocre 3-of-6), nailing all three of his three-point attempts and ending the game as Dallas’ leading scorer with a whopping 42 points, as well as top rebounder, with 12 boards.
Although the Mavs’ shot just 38.5%, they did manage to hold on the ball, committing a season-low eight turnovers. Dallas fought back from a five point deficit heading into the final frame in what would be the first of three consecutive comeback victories in four nights. Tonight marked Jason Kidd’s 1200th NBA game played, making him the leader among active players, and moving him into 22nd place all-time in games played. After watching Dirk in all his awesome glory lead the Mavericks to victory yet again, I was left with just one burning question: when the hell did Tracy McGrady wind up in Detroit??
Mavericks 111, Thunder 103
After the lengthy and amazing performance put on by Dirk against the Pistons the night before, some would have thought there would be no spring left in his step, no gas left in his tank. And those people would have been absolutely, positively wrong. Because Dirk did it again, leading all scorers with 34 points and sparking the Mavs back to life on an incredible and rare four point-play, hitting both the three-pointer and free throw which resulted form him being fouled on the shot attempt, late in the fourth quarter. Dallas was down by three after one quarter, down by just one point at the half, and went into the final frame facing a four point deficit. Midway through the final frame, after being down 90-83, Dallas went on a 10-0 run to take a lead which they would not relinquish.
Although the Triple J Trio (Jet, J-Kidd and JJ) struggled with their shot yet again, going a combined 8-of-30 from the floor, Dirk still had a little help from his friends, as Kidd finished with 12 assists and the Mavs only turned the ball over 12 times. Tyson Chandler was a beast on the boards, bringing down 18 rebounds to go along with his 17 points. As Coach Carlisle pointed out after the game, this was a great win for this team.
“We have never quit on a game,” Carlisle said. “We just look for good things to happen.” And if the old adage is true, and the best things actually do come to those who wait, then maybe an NBA title is somewhere in the near future for these Dallas Mavericks.
Mavericks 103, Spurs 94
I saw a tweet on Friday night, and although I can’t remember who it was from, I couldn’t have agreed more: All Mavs-Spurs games should be broadcast nationally. And they should, because barring catastrophe or major injury, there is not a better rivalry in the league (Lakers-Celtics is older, but not more interesting, nor entertaining) than the one that exists up and down Interstate 35. Even if it had been Dallas’ seventh game in as many nights, no matter how tired they should or would have been, this team would have been fired up to face the Spurs. And because Dallas came in riding a three game win streak, and the Spurs rode in on a league-best 12 game winning streak, we all knew this was going to be a great game.
Neither team disappointed in the opening quarter as the lead changed hands, ending with the Spurs up by a bucket, 29-27. Interestingly enough, over the second and third quarters, both teams managed to score exactly 44 points, which meant the Mavs headed into the final period still trailing San Antonio, 73-71. Jason Terry and Shawn Marion helped propel the charge of the Mavs’ bench, joining forces for 19 points and four assists over the final twelve minutes. Marion shot 75% from the floor (8-for-12) to go along with three rebounds and a steal. Tyson Chandler came up big yet again, with 19 points (13-of-16 from the charity stripe) and eight rebounds. As a team, however, Dallas struggled from the free throw line, shooting just 20-of-31, or 64.5%.
Oddly enough, Dirk, who led Dallas with 26 points, did not attempt a single free throw. He didn’t need to, however, as he shot a blazing 85.7% from the floor, nailing 12 of his 14 attempts. Nowitzki also pulled down eight rebounds and handed out five assists as the Mavs came to town and snapped the Spurs’ twelve game winning streak, while continuing to extend their own to four games.
Mavericks 106, Heat 95
Everyone was so excited to see the new James Gang – oops, I mean the Miami Heat – come to town to take on the Mavericks. Except me. Because I despise Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat, and everything they stand for – especially now that “his highness” King James has come to town. I have hated the Heat since they stole our championship (with the help of Bennett Salavatore and David Stern, IMO) back in 2006, and I revel in giddiness every time we have defeated them since (that would be every time our teams have met). And this, the fourth game my Mavs had played in five nights, would prove to be no exception, regardless of the Heat’s supposed “new and improved” roster.
Through the first quarter, both teams seemed to be evenly matched, as the score was knotted at 26. And at the half, Dallas had the slight advantage, up by a basket, 51-49. But Dallas was ready to pounce coming out of the locker room as they went on a 13-0 run and built a lead as large as 18 points, ending the period up, 82-66. Caron Butler was a big factor, with a dozen of his team high 23 points coming during the pivotal third quarter. Tyson Chandler was again a rebounding machine, pulling down 17 boards in 36 minutes. And JJ Barea, whose shot had all but disappeared of late, was on fire from the floor, hitting 5-of-7 shots for 13 points. Dirk was Dirk, dropping in 22 points, snagging six rebound, dishing out four assists and coming away with two steals.
There was no looking back for the Mavericks after they set foot on the court for the second half, although Miami did manage to make the game a bit of a nail biter as the final few minutes ticked off the clock. The “Big Three” led the way for the Heat in scoring (James 23, Bosh and Wade 22 each), rebounds (Wade 8), and assists (Wade 5), but the Heat were not hot enough, nor improved enough, to tackle the streaking Dallas Mavericks on this night. Not in our house, not again.
And to top off one amazing week, the following Monday, Dirk Nowitzki was named Western Conference Player of the Week for his outstanding performances in all four games. It doesn’t get any sweeter than this, right?
Mavs Fly into Atlanta, Soar Over Hawks
After being hammered on the glass in Friday night’s home loss to the Bulls, Dallas was bound and determined to grab every rebound within its grasp. And despite a 20 rebound effort from the Hawks’ Al Horford, Dallas did outrebound Atlanta, 40-37, and Dallas did win the game, improving their road record to 4-1. Although Dirk was a mere 8-of-22 from the field and again missed two free throws, he ended the game as Dallas’ leading scorer with 21 points.
For once, Dallas had a balanced offensive night, with five players scoring in double digits (Dirk 21, Jet 15, Stevenson and Butler each with 13, and 12 from Shawn Marion). Marion provided great energy and help off the bench, also leading the team in rebounds with 10. And DeShawn Stevenson, who played an extended 18 minutes, was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, including a big 3-of-3 from behind the arc, with 11 of his points coming in the third quarter as Atlanta tried to eradicate an 18 point deficit. Dallas took a nine point lead, 77-68, into the final period, but Atlanta still refused to give up without one last push, and they made it a one point-game, 94-93, before first Jet and then Dirk each nailed a pair of free throws to seal the victory for Dallas.
For once, Dallas had a balanced offensive night, with five players scoring in double digits (Dirk 21, Jet 15, Stevenson and Butler each with 13, and 12 from Shawn Marion). Marion provided great energy and help off the bench, also leading the team in rebounds with 10. And DeShawn Stevenson, who played an extended 18 minutes, was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, including a big 3-of-3 from behind the arc, with 11 of his points coming in the third quarter as Atlanta tried to eradicate an 18 point deficit. Dallas took a nine point lead, 77-68, into the final period, but Atlanta still refused to give up without one last push, and they made it a one point-game, 94-93, before first Jet and then Dirk each nailed a pair of free throws to seal the victory for Dallas.
No Bull Here: Dallas Drops Another Game at the AAC
Mavericks 83, Bulls 88
Trying to bounce back from their disappointing loss to the Hornets and avoid their first losing streak of the season, the Mavs returned home to take on the Chicago Bulls and hopefully reinstate their reputation as an excellent home team. The Bulls, however, had other ideas, as the dynamic duo of Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson dominated the glass, snagging 35 rebounds (one more than the entire Mavericks team!) and turning them into 25 second chance points.
As a whole, Dallas was terrible from the opening tip, managing only 13 points in the first quarter and trailed Chicago 28-17 after the opening frame. At the half, the Mavericks had only managed to up their total to 35 points, and they still trailed the Bulls, 39-35. Dirk was the only thing going right for Dallas, as he scored 10 of the Mavericks’ 13 first quarter points. Dirk was so good (or perhaps the rest of the team so bad) that with 2:56 left in the third quarter, Dirk had 28 points on 12-of-21 shooting, while the rest of the Mavericks had only accounted for 27 points on 9-of-31 shots. The Triple J Trio (Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, and JJ Barea) had an especially tough night, shooting a combined 4-of-26 from the field, connecting on only two of 13 three point attempts.
Although Dirk finished the game with a team-high 36 points, it still was not enough to pull this one out for the Mavericks, who could not seem to keep the Bulls off the offensive glass. And even as great as he was, literally carrying the team the entire night, even Dirk was uncharacteristically out of sorts, missing half (three) of his six free throw attempts. The Mavericks’ poor shooting (15-of-49, not including Dirk) and inability to stop Chicago on the glass and in the paint is what really lost this game for Dallas, sending their home record to a miserable 4-3 at the AAC, compared to 3-1 on the road. Luckily for the Mavs, their next game would be on the road, taking on the Atlanta Hawks the following night, and it would be the start of something special.
Trying to bounce back from their disappointing loss to the Hornets and avoid their first losing streak of the season, the Mavs returned home to take on the Chicago Bulls and hopefully reinstate their reputation as an excellent home team. The Bulls, however, had other ideas, as the dynamic duo of Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson dominated the glass, snagging 35 rebounds (one more than the entire Mavericks team!) and turning them into 25 second chance points.
As a whole, Dallas was terrible from the opening tip, managing only 13 points in the first quarter and trailed Chicago 28-17 after the opening frame. At the half, the Mavericks had only managed to up their total to 35 points, and they still trailed the Bulls, 39-35. Dirk was the only thing going right for Dallas, as he scored 10 of the Mavericks’ 13 first quarter points. Dirk was so good (or perhaps the rest of the team so bad) that with 2:56 left in the third quarter, Dirk had 28 points on 12-of-21 shooting, while the rest of the Mavericks had only accounted for 27 points on 9-of-31 shots. The Triple J Trio (Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, and JJ Barea) had an especially tough night, shooting a combined 4-of-26 from the field, connecting on only two of 13 three point attempts.
Although Dirk finished the game with a team-high 36 points, it still was not enough to pull this one out for the Mavericks, who could not seem to keep the Bulls off the offensive glass. And even as great as he was, literally carrying the team the entire night, even Dirk was uncharacteristically out of sorts, missing half (three) of his six free throw attempts. The Mavericks’ poor shooting (15-of-49, not including Dirk) and inability to stop Chicago on the glass and in the paint is what really lost this game for Dallas, sending their home record to a miserable 4-3 at the AAC, compared to 3-1 on the road. Luckily for the Mavs, their next game would be on the road, taking on the Atlanta Hawks the following night, and it would be the start of something special.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Back to the Blog
With the Thanksgiving holiday, dental and doctor’s appointments scheduled on nearly every day off, and trying to prepare our house for the holiday season, my blogging has fallen by the wayside. Although I have still been actively watching every game (even if it be time delayed on the DVR) and keeping up with my beloved Mavericks, I haven’t had much time to put pen to paper – or fingers to keyboard, as it were – and share any thoughts, review and analysis. Since work has finally started to slow down, and I have to do something to keep myself from snoring at my desk, I figured this was as good a time as any to try and catch up on my back blogs.
With as many games as I am behind as of today (a complete dozen), for the sake of saving time, space, my keyboard, and my sanity, I’ll break ‘em down into a few mini-blogs, rather than trying to cover every game individually. And hopefully, after this, I’ll be able to keep up with my blogging as well as the Mavs have been able to keep up their winning ways. But as always, I make no guarantees, because, unlike my boys in blue and white, I’m only human…
Home and Home, Take Two: Mavs vs. Hornets
Game 1, AAC: Mavericks 98, Hornets 95
Heading into the first of back to back games between Dallas and New Orleans, the hornets came in riding a league best eight game win streak and were, as of yet, undefeated. And through the better part of three quarters, New Orleans played with that swagger, knowing that they were the team to beat. The Hornets led through the majority of the game, until the fourth quarter, when the shorthanded Mavericks, who were without the services of Caron Butler due to back spasms, finally turned up the heat.
Over the final twelve minutes, the combination of Dirk, J-Kidd, and Jason Terry (who had a rough shooting night, hitting just 5-of-14 through three quarters) dropped in 27 of Dallas’ final 29 points. The trio were perfect from behind the arc, knocking down six three pointers in the final frame (Kidd 3, Terry 2, Dirk 1). And Jason Terry, who has often been known for his ability to perform under pressure and hit clutch shots, pulled through for Dallas once again, sinking what would turn out to be the winning shot with 35 seconds left.
Unlike Dallas, the Hornets’ shot disappeared in the fourth period as their starters combined for 1-of-13 shooting. Although New Orleans held a double digit lead nearly halfway through the quarter, a 21-8 run by the Mavericks, jumpstarted by consecutive Jason Kidd three pointers, helped spur Dallas to victory, snapping the Hornets eight game winning streak.
“For three minutes at the end of the game,” said Jason Terry, “we just said ‘Who wants it more?’ and tonight, we were that team.”
Game 2, New Orleans: Mavericks 97, Hornets 99
After losing their first game of the season at the hands of the Mavericks, the Hornets should have been out for blood when the two teams met again 48 hours later in Hornets’ territory. However, over the course of the first 24 minutes, New Orleans looked completely discombobulated as they headed to the locker room at the half, down by double digits, 52-42.
Aside from the locale, the only thing that changed from Monday night was the fact that Caron Butler was again on the court for Dallas, although he really had little to no impact. It was again Dirk, with help from Kidd, Jet, and former New Orleans Hornet Tyson Chandler, who almost led this Mavericks team to victory. But in the second half, New Orleans started playing with pride, paying more attention on defense, and pulling out all the stops to ensure that their first TWO losses of the season would not both come at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.
David West, whom many Mavs fans may remember as “that dude who got up in Dirk’s grill” during the Mavs’ first round playoff loss (that eventually cost the Little General his job) to the Hornets a few seasons back, was again a thorn in the Mavs’ collective side. He stole the ball not once but TWICE in the final three seconds, when the Mavs would have had the chance to take the lead and ultimately win the game. With 2.7 seconds left, West swiped the ball from Dirk (who finished with a team high 29 points and 10 rebounds), got fouled, and split the free throws, before stealing Tyson Chandler’s inbound pass with two seconds left, sealing the victory for the Hornets.
With as many games as I am behind as of today (a complete dozen), for the sake of saving time, space, my keyboard, and my sanity, I’ll break ‘em down into a few mini-blogs, rather than trying to cover every game individually. And hopefully, after this, I’ll be able to keep up with my blogging as well as the Mavs have been able to keep up their winning ways. But as always, I make no guarantees, because, unlike my boys in blue and white, I’m only human…
Home and Home, Take Two: Mavs vs. Hornets
Game 1, AAC: Mavericks 98, Hornets 95
Heading into the first of back to back games between Dallas and New Orleans, the hornets came in riding a league best eight game win streak and were, as of yet, undefeated. And through the better part of three quarters, New Orleans played with that swagger, knowing that they were the team to beat. The Hornets led through the majority of the game, until the fourth quarter, when the shorthanded Mavericks, who were without the services of Caron Butler due to back spasms, finally turned up the heat.
Over the final twelve minutes, the combination of Dirk, J-Kidd, and Jason Terry (who had a rough shooting night, hitting just 5-of-14 through three quarters) dropped in 27 of Dallas’ final 29 points. The trio were perfect from behind the arc, knocking down six three pointers in the final frame (Kidd 3, Terry 2, Dirk 1). And Jason Terry, who has often been known for his ability to perform under pressure and hit clutch shots, pulled through for Dallas once again, sinking what would turn out to be the winning shot with 35 seconds left.
Unlike Dallas, the Hornets’ shot disappeared in the fourth period as their starters combined for 1-of-13 shooting. Although New Orleans held a double digit lead nearly halfway through the quarter, a 21-8 run by the Mavericks, jumpstarted by consecutive Jason Kidd three pointers, helped spur Dallas to victory, snapping the Hornets eight game winning streak.
“For three minutes at the end of the game,” said Jason Terry, “we just said ‘Who wants it more?’ and tonight, we were that team.”
Game 2, New Orleans: Mavericks 97, Hornets 99
After losing their first game of the season at the hands of the Mavericks, the Hornets should have been out for blood when the two teams met again 48 hours later in Hornets’ territory. However, over the course of the first 24 minutes, New Orleans looked completely discombobulated as they headed to the locker room at the half, down by double digits, 52-42.
Aside from the locale, the only thing that changed from Monday night was the fact that Caron Butler was again on the court for Dallas, although he really had little to no impact. It was again Dirk, with help from Kidd, Jet, and former New Orleans Hornet Tyson Chandler, who almost led this Mavericks team to victory. But in the second half, New Orleans started playing with pride, paying more attention on defense, and pulling out all the stops to ensure that their first TWO losses of the season would not both come at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.
David West, whom many Mavs fans may remember as “that dude who got up in Dirk’s grill” during the Mavs’ first round playoff loss (that eventually cost the Little General his job) to the Hornets a few seasons back, was again a thorn in the Mavs’ collective side. He stole the ball not once but TWICE in the final three seconds, when the Mavs would have had the chance to take the lead and ultimately win the game. With 2.7 seconds left, West swiped the ball from Dirk (who finished with a team high 29 points and 10 rebounds), got fouled, and split the free throws, before stealing Tyson Chandler’s inbound pass with two seconds left, sealing the victory for the Hornets.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Holding Court: Mavs Need to Win at Home
Since 2005, the Mavericks have consistently made their home court one of the toughest places to play in the NBA. Dallas had single digit home losses over the course of each season between 2005 and 2009, and in the '06-'07 season boasted their franchise best 36-5 home record. Last season, however, the Mavericks ended up with only one more victory at the AAC (28) than they had on the road (27), finishing with their worst home record in several years. Heading into the 2010-2011 season, all the Mavs could talk about, from Coach Carlisle to Jason Terry, was how important it was for the team to get back to their winning ways at home this season. So far, it's not looking so good.
For starters, Dallas lost its second game of the season to the Memphis Grizzlies, 90-91, at home. It was a game where the Grizzlies stayed too close for comfort much of the night, and in the end, Memphis was able to pull off the upset win. Dallas' next home game (and next home loss) came a week later, when they faced Denver on the second leg of a home-and-home series. Dallas had won the first game in Denver, squeaking out a one point victory, and the Nuggets came here looking for revenge -- which they got by earning the W. Two days later, the Mavericks had a near miss with the Boston Celtics but were able to pull off the win and restore their home record to an even .500.
Things were starting to look up as the Mavs proceeded to win their next two home games against Philly and New Orleans, handing the previously undefeated Hornets their first loss of the year. But on Friday night, when Dallas let Chicago walk away victorious in what could only be called an ugly game, it again left fans (and perhaps the team and coaching staff as well) wondering, Why can't the Mavericks win consistently at home?
For Dallas, who plays 17 of its first 26 games at the AAC, finding a way to win at home is crucial to their overall success this season. The Mavericks really need to take advantage of this scheduling situation and not only beat the teams they are supposed to beat (that means you, Memphis) but also beat the teams they aren't expected to beat -- the contenders, such as the Celtics and the Lakers. Between February and the end of the regular season in April, Dallas will only play 14 out of 35 games here, in front of their home crowd. The Mavs really need to go into the home stretch with an outstanding home record and make the AAC once again a place where other teams dread coming to play.
For all their talk about home court advantage, the Mavs' need to get out on the floor and prove that it really does matter. They need to do it not only for themselves, but for their legion of loyal fans like myself, who love nothing more than to see their beloved Mavericks rack up another W here at home. As a super rabid Mavs' fan, I can definitely say that it matters to me. Let's hope it really is a matter of pride for our boys in blue as well.
Love & Basketball
No, I’m not referring to the movie, but to real life for a couple of NBA superstars, Tony Parker and Steve Nash. Let’s start with the complete and total moron, that lovely little Frenchman Tony Parker. After being one of the luckiest men on the planet and spending the past seven years in a relationship with Eva Longoria, he is now on the receiving end of divorce papers. Rumor has it (and Longoria confirmed it) that Parker was sending and receiving multiple "sexting" text messages from Erin Barry, the wife of former teammate Brent Barry. Nothing against Erin Barry – I’ve never laid eyes on the woman – but come on, Tony, we’re talking about Eva Freakin’ Longoria! Are you NUTS?? Longoria also mentioned that Parker had indeed cheated on her early on in their relationship, and he continued to maintain a Facebook friendship with the other woman.
When speaking of their split, Longoria chose the high road, noting how much it hurt to dissolve their marriage and how she still loves Tony and wishes him happiness and all the best. Personally, I just want to know – Tony, what were you thinking? You were happily married to one of the most beautiful women not only in Hollywood but anywhere in the world. Eva is kindhearted, talented, and highly successful – what on Earth could prompt you to look elsewhere? Oh wait, maybe that’s it…maybe Eva was stealing too much of your glory and your spotlight. Maybe you’re the kind of guy who can’t stand it when your woman is more successful and loved and adored than you are?
By NBA standards, Tony Parker, you’re an All-Star, but in this instance, you’ve proved to be nothing but a bonehead.
*****************************************************************************
We had it all planned out, Holly and I. We weren’t exactly sure how or when it would happen, but we were going to run into Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash somewhere in the greater Dallas area, and when we did, I would make my move on Dirk and she would throw herself at Steve. We watched Mavs’ games all season long just to watch our two favorite guys. Then reality sunk in, and I realized my husband Rickey would kill me if I ever chased down Dirk. Not to mention the fact that the whole encounter would probably end with me behind bars for stalking Dirk and doing something silly, like stealing 17 pairs of his tube socks. As for Holly and her crush on Steve Nash, she was heartbroken to learn that he was involved in a serious relationship with Alejandra Amarilla, who in 2005, would become his wife.
I was shocked and saddened recently to read that Nash and his wife were divorcing, because both they and their twin daughters Lola and Bella had seemed like such a beautiful picture perfect family…at least as far as the general public, like myself, could tell. But Nash’s announcement of their divorce came on the heels of the birth of the couple’s first son, Matteo Joel Nash, just 24 hours earlier. How difficult it must be to celebrate the new addition to the family, while at the same time facing the dissolution of that same family.
Since he first graced the court in a Mavericks’ uniform years ago, I have been a big Steve Nash fan. Not only is he an unbelievable player, but during his time in Dallas, local fans like myself were privileged enough to learn what a great guy Steve is off the court as well. I wish Steve Nash all the best as my heart and prayers go out to Steve and his family during this difficult time.
When speaking of their split, Longoria chose the high road, noting how much it hurt to dissolve their marriage and how she still loves Tony and wishes him happiness and all the best. Personally, I just want to know – Tony, what were you thinking? You were happily married to one of the most beautiful women not only in Hollywood but anywhere in the world. Eva is kindhearted, talented, and highly successful – what on Earth could prompt you to look elsewhere? Oh wait, maybe that’s it…maybe Eva was stealing too much of your glory and your spotlight. Maybe you’re the kind of guy who can’t stand it when your woman is more successful and loved and adored than you are?
By NBA standards, Tony Parker, you’re an All-Star, but in this instance, you’ve proved to be nothing but a bonehead.
*****************************************************************************
We had it all planned out, Holly and I. We weren’t exactly sure how or when it would happen, but we were going to run into Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash somewhere in the greater Dallas area, and when we did, I would make my move on Dirk and she would throw herself at Steve. We watched Mavs’ games all season long just to watch our two favorite guys. Then reality sunk in, and I realized my husband Rickey would kill me if I ever chased down Dirk. Not to mention the fact that the whole encounter would probably end with me behind bars for stalking Dirk and doing something silly, like stealing 17 pairs of his tube socks. As for Holly and her crush on Steve Nash, she was heartbroken to learn that he was involved in a serious relationship with Alejandra Amarilla, who in 2005, would become his wife.
I was shocked and saddened recently to read that Nash and his wife were divorcing, because both they and their twin daughters Lola and Bella had seemed like such a beautiful picture perfect family…at least as far as the general public, like myself, could tell. But Nash’s announcement of their divorce came on the heels of the birth of the couple’s first son, Matteo Joel Nash, just 24 hours earlier. How difficult it must be to celebrate the new addition to the family, while at the same time facing the dissolution of that same family.
Since he first graced the court in a Mavericks’ uniform years ago, I have been a big Steve Nash fan. Not only is he an unbelievable player, but during his time in Dallas, local fans like myself were privileged enough to learn what a great guy Steve is off the court as well. I wish Steve Nash all the best as my heart and prayers go out to Steve and his family during this difficult time.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Show Me Some Love..Kevin Love, That Is
First, it was Paul Millsap sticking it to the much hated Miami Heat that captured my attention and reminded me there are 29 other teams full of talented athletes playing in this league. On Friday night, my attention was drawn to the Target Center in Minnesota, where Kevin Love of the Timberwolves put on one helluva clinic, schooling the New York Knicks in post play and rebounding. Love finished the night with 31 points and 31 rebounds, a feat that had not been accomplished in nearly 30 years, since 1982, when the great Moses Malone managed a 30-30 night.
"My dad always said if you can't get close enough to the basket, throw it up there and grab the rebound like Moses Malone," Love said after the game, noting the irony of repeating Malone's 30 point, 30 rebound accomplishment. Love singlehandedly outrebounded the entire Knicks' team on the offensive glass, pulling down 12 offensive rebounds to only 11 for New York. Love snagged fifteen of his rebounds in the third quarter, helping spark the T-Wolves recovery from a 21-point deficit. Despite Love's 31 point effort, it was teammate Michael Beasley who led the Wolves in scoring with 35.
"K-Love just whispered in my ear and said, 'I'm going for 30 tonight,'" Beasley mentioned, of a third quarter exchange between he and Love as they sat on the bench. "I was like 30 what?" Beasley said, unaware at the time that Love had already pulled down 18 rebounds.
The Beasley-Love duo was primarily responsible for giving the T-Wolves their first pair of consecutive wins since last February, as Minnesota claimed an awesome 112-103 comeback victory over the Knicks, losers of three of their last four games.
"My dad always said if you can't get close enough to the basket, throw it up there and grab the rebound like Moses Malone," Love said after the game, noting the irony of repeating Malone's 30 point, 30 rebound accomplishment. Love singlehandedly outrebounded the entire Knicks' team on the offensive glass, pulling down 12 offensive rebounds to only 11 for New York. Love snagged fifteen of his rebounds in the third quarter, helping spark the T-Wolves recovery from a 21-point deficit. Despite Love's 31 point effort, it was teammate Michael Beasley who led the Wolves in scoring with 35.
"K-Love just whispered in my ear and said, 'I'm going for 30 tonight,'" Beasley mentioned, of a third quarter exchange between he and Love as they sat on the bench. "I was like 30 what?" Beasley said, unaware at the time that Love had already pulled down 18 rebounds.
The Beasley-Love duo was primarily responsible for giving the T-Wolves their first pair of consecutive wins since last February, as Minnesota claimed an awesome 112-103 comeback victory over the Knicks, losers of three of their last four games.
Little Man Comes Up Big: Barea Leads Mavs Past 76ers
Mavericks 99, 76ers 90
Maybe I made a mistake. (Ok, so it’s highly unlikely, but I guess there’s always that remote possibility.) Maybe I jumped the gun and misjudged these Mavericks. Coming out of the gate, it looked like once again, their game plan was going to be all about Dirk. Get Dirk the ball, have Dirk knock down the jumper, post Dirk up in the low block, and so on. Let Nowitzki, who has been not only the franchise player but has become the franchise itself, shoulder the load and lead this team in its journey toward the promised land. But if the last two games are any indicator, perhaps Dallas has finally realized what loyal Mavs’ fans have known all along: as amazingly talented, dedicated, passionate and committed to winning as Dirk is, he still can’t do it by himself. Other players are finally stepping up and providing that much needed help, and spurring the Mavericks to victory in the process.
“Our balance has been very good the last two games,” said Mavericks’ head coach Rick Carlisle. “It’s something we talked about heading into the season that was part of defining who we are as an exceptional team.”
Balance was definitely key last night, as six Mavericks (Barea, Nowitzki, Marion, Terry, Chandler and Kidd) scored in double figures, led by 19 points from J.J. Barea. Easily the smallest man on the floor, Barea has always played with oversized heart, and last night it really showed up on the hardwoods at the AAC. He was 7-of-14 from the field, a perfect 4-of-4 from the line, and provided a fiery spark off the bench when the game had seemingly begun to lull not only the fans but the players themselves to sleep.
Dirk, Terry and Shawn Marion scored six points apiece in the opening frame, and Brendan Haywood was a beast on the backboards early on, pulling down 10 rebounds in nine minutes and ending the night with 17 rebounds (in just 22 minutes!), nine of them on the offensive glass. Tyson Chandler was a force to be reckoned with on the boards as well, posting another double-double of 12 rebounds and 11 points before fouling out. Chandler was on the receiving end of several highlight reel plays, including the alley-oop lob pass from Jason Kidd which marked Kidd’s 11,000th career assist. Kidd is #2 in assists in NBA history, behind Utah great John Stockton. J-Kidd, aside from his poor shooting night, really filled up the box score, posting 10 points, eight assists, four steals and two rebounds. And although Dirk and Jet shot a combined 10-of-30 (33%) from the field, Dallas was still able to pull out the victory, all because of their balanced approach, not only to scoring, but to the game in its entirety.
With last night’s victory, Dallas has improved its home record to 3-2, its overall record to 6-2, and earned their first three-game win streak of the season. If Dallas can continue to find balance between their offense and defense and spread their scoring around effectively, they may truly be, in the words of Coach Carlisle, “an exceptional team” come playoff time.
Dallas’ next test comes in the form of a home-and-home series with Chris Paul and the currently undefeated New Orleans Hornets as the AAC on Monday night, followed by game two in New Orleans on Wednesday.
Maybe I made a mistake. (Ok, so it’s highly unlikely, but I guess there’s always that remote possibility.) Maybe I jumped the gun and misjudged these Mavericks. Coming out of the gate, it looked like once again, their game plan was going to be all about Dirk. Get Dirk the ball, have Dirk knock down the jumper, post Dirk up in the low block, and so on. Let Nowitzki, who has been not only the franchise player but has become the franchise itself, shoulder the load and lead this team in its journey toward the promised land. But if the last two games are any indicator, perhaps Dallas has finally realized what loyal Mavs’ fans have known all along: as amazingly talented, dedicated, passionate and committed to winning as Dirk is, he still can’t do it by himself. Other players are finally stepping up and providing that much needed help, and spurring the Mavericks to victory in the process.
“Our balance has been very good the last two games,” said Mavericks’ head coach Rick Carlisle. “It’s something we talked about heading into the season that was part of defining who we are as an exceptional team.”
Balance was definitely key last night, as six Mavericks (Barea, Nowitzki, Marion, Terry, Chandler and Kidd) scored in double figures, led by 19 points from J.J. Barea. Easily the smallest man on the floor, Barea has always played with oversized heart, and last night it really showed up on the hardwoods at the AAC. He was 7-of-14 from the field, a perfect 4-of-4 from the line, and provided a fiery spark off the bench when the game had seemingly begun to lull not only the fans but the players themselves to sleep.
Dirk, Terry and Shawn Marion scored six points apiece in the opening frame, and Brendan Haywood was a beast on the backboards early on, pulling down 10 rebounds in nine minutes and ending the night with 17 rebounds (in just 22 minutes!), nine of them on the offensive glass. Tyson Chandler was a force to be reckoned with on the boards as well, posting another double-double of 12 rebounds and 11 points before fouling out. Chandler was on the receiving end of several highlight reel plays, including the alley-oop lob pass from Jason Kidd which marked Kidd’s 11,000th career assist. Kidd is #2 in assists in NBA history, behind Utah great John Stockton. J-Kidd, aside from his poor shooting night, really filled up the box score, posting 10 points, eight assists, four steals and two rebounds. And although Dirk and Jet shot a combined 10-of-30 (33%) from the field, Dallas was still able to pull out the victory, all because of their balanced approach, not only to scoring, but to the game in its entirety.
With last night’s victory, Dallas has improved its home record to 3-2, its overall record to 6-2, and earned their first three-game win streak of the season. If Dallas can continue to find balance between their offense and defense and spread their scoring around effectively, they may truly be, in the words of Coach Carlisle, “an exceptional team” come playoff time.
Dallas’ next test comes in the form of a home-and-home series with Chris Paul and the currently undefeated New Orleans Hornets as the AAC on Monday night, followed by game two in New Orleans on Wednesday.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Revenge is Sweet as Dallas Remains Undefeated on the Road
Mavericks 106, Grizzlies 91
“No!” I screamed at the television, jumping up off the couch and covering my mouth with my hands. “No, no, no, Dirk, NO!”
As my hero lay squirming on the court clutching his ankle and the play continued at the other send of the floor, all I could do was stare wide-eyed in horror, hold my breath, and hope and pray it wasn’t as bad as it looked. For as durable as dirk has been over the past decade and change, (missing only 29 games in ten seasons), his ankles are the one thing that have continually caused him problems. Please, please, Lord, don’t let him be hurt. The grimace of pain that covered Dirk’s face as the camera flashed on him and the whistle finally blew seemed to tell me everything I needed to know: that he wouldn’t be returning anytime soon. Yet as Mavs’ athletic trainer Casey Smith rushed to Dirk’s side, an amazing thing happened: Dirk not only rose to his feet, but managed to put pressure on his ankle, pacing up and down the baseline, as it appeared he was seriously going to try and walk it off. You have GOT to be kidding me, I thought, staring in amazement as he finally headed back to the locker room of his own accord. Somehow, some way, the German Wunderkind had managed to astonish me yet again with his dedication, durability, and sheer toughness. How so many others – be they media, athletes, or even a select few Mavs’ fans, can’t see it and don’t appreciate what we have in Dirk Nowitzki is beyond me.
Although Dirk did return in the second half and played a total of 29 minutes, this was a game where the Mavericks really didn’t need him to be his superstar self in order to pull of their double-digit victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum. Still stewing over the Grizzlies’ one-point victory at the AAC less than two weeks prior, Dallas came into Memphis ready to seek revenge. And avenging their first home loss of the season is exactly what the Mavericks did, dominating the Grizzlies throughout the game, resulting in their highest scoring effort of the season, with a 106-91 victory over Memphis.
“We have a very talented team,” said Shawn Marion, who moved into the starting lineup in place of the injured Caron Butler and responded with a season-high 20 point scoring effort, which included shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field in the second half. “Everybody is capable of going out there and having a big night,” he added. And on Wednesday night, Jason Terry did just that, coming off the bench and leading all scorers with 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting. Terry also led the Mavs in steals, with three on the night. Even though he saw limited playing time, Dirk led Dallas with 10 rebounds. And Kidd, who only logged 26 minutes on this night, still managed to dish out double-digit assists, finishing with a team-high 12 dimes. DeShawn Stevenson, who replaced Terry in the starting lineup, was hot from behind the arc, knocking down 3-of-5 three pointers. Brian Cardinal, in twenty minutes of extended playing time, nailed a three pointer, dove for a loose ball, grabbed two rebounds, and added one assist and two steals.
Defense was a big factor in this game as well – particularly Memphis’ lack of it. Although going into this game, the Grizzlies led the league in forced turnovers (22), Dallas managed to do a great job of handling the ball, only coughing it up 10 times. None of those turnovers occurred during the crucial third quarter, when Dallas went on an 18-5 run, stretching a five point halftime lead to an 18 point advantage at 73-55. Memphis also averages a league high 12.5 steals per game, but managed only four against the Mavericks. The Mavs made their fair share of layups and easy baskets, accounting for their 54 points in the paint. Dallas shot 54% from the field, but managed only 45.5% on free throws, primarily thanks to Brendan Haywood, who went 0-for-5 from the line.
Wednesday night at the FedEx Forum, the Mavs feasted on something much tastier than the famed Memphis barbecue: sweet revenge, as they handed Memphis a 106-91 loss while boosting their own road record to an unbeaten 3-0.
“No!” I screamed at the television, jumping up off the couch and covering my mouth with my hands. “No, no, no, Dirk, NO!”
As my hero lay squirming on the court clutching his ankle and the play continued at the other send of the floor, all I could do was stare wide-eyed in horror, hold my breath, and hope and pray it wasn’t as bad as it looked. For as durable as dirk has been over the past decade and change, (missing only 29 games in ten seasons), his ankles are the one thing that have continually caused him problems. Please, please, Lord, don’t let him be hurt. The grimace of pain that covered Dirk’s face as the camera flashed on him and the whistle finally blew seemed to tell me everything I needed to know: that he wouldn’t be returning anytime soon. Yet as Mavs’ athletic trainer Casey Smith rushed to Dirk’s side, an amazing thing happened: Dirk not only rose to his feet, but managed to put pressure on his ankle, pacing up and down the baseline, as it appeared he was seriously going to try and walk it off. You have GOT to be kidding me, I thought, staring in amazement as he finally headed back to the locker room of his own accord. Somehow, some way, the German Wunderkind had managed to astonish me yet again with his dedication, durability, and sheer toughness. How so many others – be they media, athletes, or even a select few Mavs’ fans, can’t see it and don’t appreciate what we have in Dirk Nowitzki is beyond me.
Although Dirk did return in the second half and played a total of 29 minutes, this was a game where the Mavericks really didn’t need him to be his superstar self in order to pull of their double-digit victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum. Still stewing over the Grizzlies’ one-point victory at the AAC less than two weeks prior, Dallas came into Memphis ready to seek revenge. And avenging their first home loss of the season is exactly what the Mavericks did, dominating the Grizzlies throughout the game, resulting in their highest scoring effort of the season, with a 106-91 victory over Memphis.
“We have a very talented team,” said Shawn Marion, who moved into the starting lineup in place of the injured Caron Butler and responded with a season-high 20 point scoring effort, which included shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field in the second half. “Everybody is capable of going out there and having a big night,” he added. And on Wednesday night, Jason Terry did just that, coming off the bench and leading all scorers with 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting. Terry also led the Mavs in steals, with three on the night. Even though he saw limited playing time, Dirk led Dallas with 10 rebounds. And Kidd, who only logged 26 minutes on this night, still managed to dish out double-digit assists, finishing with a team-high 12 dimes. DeShawn Stevenson, who replaced Terry in the starting lineup, was hot from behind the arc, knocking down 3-of-5 three pointers. Brian Cardinal, in twenty minutes of extended playing time, nailed a three pointer, dove for a loose ball, grabbed two rebounds, and added one assist and two steals.
Defense was a big factor in this game as well – particularly Memphis’ lack of it. Although going into this game, the Grizzlies led the league in forced turnovers (22), Dallas managed to do a great job of handling the ball, only coughing it up 10 times. None of those turnovers occurred during the crucial third quarter, when Dallas went on an 18-5 run, stretching a five point halftime lead to an 18 point advantage at 73-55. Memphis also averages a league high 12.5 steals per game, but managed only four against the Mavericks. The Mavs made their fair share of layups and easy baskets, accounting for their 54 points in the paint. Dallas shot 54% from the field, but managed only 45.5% on free throws, primarily thanks to Brendan Haywood, who went 0-for-5 from the line.
Wednesday night at the FedEx Forum, the Mavs feasted on something much tastier than the famed Memphis barbecue: sweet revenge, as they handed Memphis a 106-91 loss while boosting their own road record to an unbeaten 3-0.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
MAVERICKS: Mavs Fans On Tour
I think I was adopted and these are my REAL parents. What I wouldn't give for this type of amazing opportunity! This couple, in celebration of their 30th anniversary, has decided to follow along on the road with their beloved Mavericks this season, visiting each of the thirty arenas that plays home to the 30 teams in the NBA. Check out their story and follow along on their amazing adventure as the season progresses!
MAVERICKS: Mavs Fans On Tour
MAVERICKS: Mavs Fans On Tour
Dirk Does It Again as Dallas Defeats Boston
Mavericks 89, Celtics 87
It was a sight that Mavs' fans have become quite familiar with over the past decade at the AAC on Monday night: Dirk Nowitzki drilling the dagger, sinking the shot that would seal the Mavericks' last second victory yet again. With 17.4 seconds remaining and the game knotted at 87, Dirk did what he does best, taking the team on his shoulders and willing them to win. Not only did he hit the game-winning shot, but Dirk was also responsible for 10 of the Mavs' last 13 points as they defeated the reigning Eastern Conference champions, the Boston Celtics.
Although Boston did jump out to a six point lead, 80-74, (their largest of the game) in the third quarter, their hot hand turned icy over the next few minutes, missing six straight shots and 11 of their last 14 attempts. During the Celtics’ third quarter push, Dallas committed turnovers on several consecutive possessions, including a rare five second call, when Jason Kidd was unable to get the ball inbounds for the Mavs. Despite their sloppy third quarter play, Dallas was in control for the better part of 48 minutes, amassing as much as a 14 point advantage over the Celtics. Boston took over 25% more shots from the field (91) than did Dallas (66), yet the Mavs shot an even 50% from the field while Boston only hit its field goals at a 41.8% clip. Boston was a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line, as was Dirk; as a team, the Mavs shot 85%, or 17-of-20 from the charity stripe. Speaking of perfection, Tyson Chandler was 5-for-5 from the floor, finishing the game with 12 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks and one steal, and notching his first double-double as a Maverick.
Coach Carlisle inserted DeShawn Stevenson into the starting lineup, giving the Mavs’ more of a defensive presence and also allowing Jason Terry to jump start the Mavs’ reserves. Jet responded with a solid 17 point performance, which included the rare four-point play that took place in the second quarter when Boston’s Marquis Daniels (a former Maverick) fouled Terry behind the arc and Terry not only nailed the three but the subsequent free throw. Terry knocked down the three-pointer that tied the game with a minute and a half to go. He was also responsible for a heads up defensive play, fouling Ray Allen with 1.5 seconds left in regulation, which reset the clock as the Mavs still had a foul to give.
J.J Barea also provided some much needed help off the bench during a stretch spanning the end of the first and beginning of the second quarter, scoring nine straight points for Dallas. Barea hit a three-point shot at the first quarter buzzer that gave the Mavericks a 23-19 lead over Boston. Although he was a scoreless 0-5 from the field, Jason Kidd managed 10 assists and two steals. Dallas displayed a good solid team effort, with five players finishing in double figures: Nowitzki (25), Terry (17), Chandler (12), Butler (11) and Barea (11).
Dirk, who has often been criticized by the media as well as other NBA players (most notably Dwyane Wade) as not having the ability to truly lead a team, proved on Monday that even though he is soft spoken and mild mannered, there is still a fire in his eyes and a passion in his gut that drives him to win games. After the game, Nowitzki noted, “We came together in that final timeout and said, ‘This is our game, let’s go out and get it.’”
And then Nowitzki did just that. Just like he’s done so many times before.
It was a sight that Mavs' fans have become quite familiar with over the past decade at the AAC on Monday night: Dirk Nowitzki drilling the dagger, sinking the shot that would seal the Mavericks' last second victory yet again. With 17.4 seconds remaining and the game knotted at 87, Dirk did what he does best, taking the team on his shoulders and willing them to win. Not only did he hit the game-winning shot, but Dirk was also responsible for 10 of the Mavs' last 13 points as they defeated the reigning Eastern Conference champions, the Boston Celtics.
Although Boston did jump out to a six point lead, 80-74, (their largest of the game) in the third quarter, their hot hand turned icy over the next few minutes, missing six straight shots and 11 of their last 14 attempts. During the Celtics’ third quarter push, Dallas committed turnovers on several consecutive possessions, including a rare five second call, when Jason Kidd was unable to get the ball inbounds for the Mavs. Despite their sloppy third quarter play, Dallas was in control for the better part of 48 minutes, amassing as much as a 14 point advantage over the Celtics. Boston took over 25% more shots from the field (91) than did Dallas (66), yet the Mavs shot an even 50% from the field while Boston only hit its field goals at a 41.8% clip. Boston was a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line, as was Dirk; as a team, the Mavs shot 85%, or 17-of-20 from the charity stripe. Speaking of perfection, Tyson Chandler was 5-for-5 from the floor, finishing the game with 12 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks and one steal, and notching his first double-double as a Maverick.
Coach Carlisle inserted DeShawn Stevenson into the starting lineup, giving the Mavs’ more of a defensive presence and also allowing Jason Terry to jump start the Mavs’ reserves. Jet responded with a solid 17 point performance, which included the rare four-point play that took place in the second quarter when Boston’s Marquis Daniels (a former Maverick) fouled Terry behind the arc and Terry not only nailed the three but the subsequent free throw. Terry knocked down the three-pointer that tied the game with a minute and a half to go. He was also responsible for a heads up defensive play, fouling Ray Allen with 1.5 seconds left in regulation, which reset the clock as the Mavs still had a foul to give.
J.J Barea also provided some much needed help off the bench during a stretch spanning the end of the first and beginning of the second quarter, scoring nine straight points for Dallas. Barea hit a three-point shot at the first quarter buzzer that gave the Mavericks a 23-19 lead over Boston. Although he was a scoreless 0-5 from the field, Jason Kidd managed 10 assists and two steals. Dallas displayed a good solid team effort, with five players finishing in double figures: Nowitzki (25), Terry (17), Chandler (12), Butler (11) and Barea (11).
Dirk, who has often been criticized by the media as well as other NBA players (most notably Dwyane Wade) as not having the ability to truly lead a team, proved on Monday that even though he is soft spoken and mild mannered, there is still a fire in his eyes and a passion in his gut that drives him to win games. After the game, Nowitzki noted, “We came together in that final timeout and said, ‘This is our game, let’s go out and get it.’”
And then Nowitzki did just that. Just like he’s done so many times before.
Millsap Torches Heat; Pacers Blow Up Basket
Paul Millsap is my new hero. I got much love for anyone who can singlehandedly will his team to victory over the much hated (at least by me) Miami Heat, which is exactly what Millsap did on Tuesday night. Finishing the night with a career-high 46-point performance, Millsap dropped in 11 points in the final 29 second of regulation to tie the game at 104, sending it into OT. Utah eventually won the game, 116-114, despite a triple-double from the self-proclaimed "King James" and a 39-point showing from Dwyane "I-can't-spell-my-name" Wade. Utah, who was down by as many as 22 points early in the game, handed the Miami Heat their first home loss of the young season.
Millsap, who had only made two three-pointers in his NBA career, was 3-for-3 from three-point territory, with all three shots coming during the crucial fourth quarter run by the Jazz to send the game into an extra five minute frame. Millsap made 19 of his 28 shots, but according to Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra, "It's not about Millsap's threes." On that note, Coach, we'll have to agree to disagree. Without Millsap's incredible shooting effort, the Jazz would never have had the chance to win in it in the extra period.
Let me be the first to submit Paul Millsap as a candidate for Western Conference Player of the Week. Heck, while we're at it, let's make him an All-Star in 2011!
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In other hot handed news, the Indiana Pacers scored a whopping 54 points in the third quarter of their Tuesday night matchup with the Denver Nuggets, winning 144-113 at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Pacers hit their first 20 shots from the floor to start the second half, finishing the quarter by shooting at a 92.6% clip on 20-of-21 field goals. Their only miss came on a Josh McRoberts three-point attempt with three seconds left in the quarter. Indy was hot from anywhere and everywhere in the third, hitting layups, mid-range jumpers, and making a living behind the three-point arc. The Pacers went 8-for-9 from three-point range and managed to extend their advantage from 10 points at the intermission to as much as 37 points, at 113-76. Mike Dunleavy lead the franchise record setting third quarter charge, shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field, with five of those shots from three-point land.
Quipped Pacers' head coach Jim O'Brien, "That was as much fun as you can have on a basketball court."
Millsap, who had only made two three-pointers in his NBA career, was 3-for-3 from three-point territory, with all three shots coming during the crucial fourth quarter run by the Jazz to send the game into an extra five minute frame. Millsap made 19 of his 28 shots, but according to Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra, "It's not about Millsap's threes." On that note, Coach, we'll have to agree to disagree. Without Millsap's incredible shooting effort, the Jazz would never have had the chance to win in it in the extra period.
Let me be the first to submit Paul Millsap as a candidate for Western Conference Player of the Week. Heck, while we're at it, let's make him an All-Star in 2011!
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In other hot handed news, the Indiana Pacers scored a whopping 54 points in the third quarter of their Tuesday night matchup with the Denver Nuggets, winning 144-113 at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Pacers hit their first 20 shots from the floor to start the second half, finishing the quarter by shooting at a 92.6% clip on 20-of-21 field goals. Their only miss came on a Josh McRoberts three-point attempt with three seconds left in the quarter. Indy was hot from anywhere and everywhere in the third, hitting layups, mid-range jumpers, and making a living behind the three-point arc. The Pacers went 8-for-9 from three-point range and managed to extend their advantage from 10 points at the intermission to as much as 37 points, at 113-76. Mike Dunleavy lead the franchise record setting third quarter charge, shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field, with five of those shots from three-point land.
Quipped Pacers' head coach Jim O'Brien, "That was as much fun as you can have on a basketball court."
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
No, Dirk, NOT THE HAIR!
Oops, he did it again.
Even after asking his Twitter followers their opinions, and receiving hundreds of "No, no, NO!" responses, Dirk once again commenced with his seemingly annual buzz cut. Much to the chagrin of many of his loyal female fans (including myself), he chose to shear off his golden locks rather than just trim them.
*Sigh.*
It really shouldn't surprise anyone, though, as it seems to be the way Dirk does everything in life: all or nothing, no in between. That fire, intensity and passion is what fuels Dirk and makes him who he is once he sets foot on the court: one of the best to ever play the game. So while I'll miss seeing the long lovely locks of the Blonde Bomber bouncing around his broad shoulders, I'm thankful for that intense passion and commitment, because it makes him who he is.
A silly little superstitious part of me wants to equate Dirk buzzing his hair off to the Biblical story of Samson losing his strength when he shaved his head, but if last night's game against Boston was any indication, it appears Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks will be just fine. With the new 'do, Dirk and the Mavs are officially 1-0 and have gotten back to their winning ways.
Even after asking his Twitter followers their opinions, and receiving hundreds of "No, no, NO!" responses, Dirk once again commenced with his seemingly annual buzz cut. Much to the chagrin of many of his loyal female fans (including myself), he chose to shear off his golden locks rather than just trim them.
*Sigh.*
It really shouldn't surprise anyone, though, as it seems to be the way Dirk does everything in life: all or nothing, no in between. That fire, intensity and passion is what fuels Dirk and makes him who he is once he sets foot on the court: one of the best to ever play the game. So while I'll miss seeing the long lovely locks of the Blonde Bomber bouncing around his broad shoulders, I'm thankful for that intense passion and commitment, because it makes him who he is.
A silly little superstitious part of me wants to equate Dirk buzzing his hair off to the Biblical story of Samson losing his strength when he shaved his head, but if last night's game against Boston was any indication, it appears Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks will be just fine. With the new 'do, Dirk and the Mavs are officially 1-0 and have gotten back to their winning ways.
Let's see how long it will last!
GO MAVS!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Denver Drowns Mavs, 103-92, By Raining Threes
Dallas 92, Denver 103
It’s hard enough to beat any team on any given night in the NBA. But it’s even harder to try and beat the same team in two games in a row, which is what the Mavericks set out to do on Saturday night when they faced the Nuggets here in Dallas for the second game in a home-and-home series. (Game one was on Wednesday night in Denver, where the Mavs squeaked by with a 102-101 victory). And even though statistics show that the team who wins the first game in a home-and-home loses the second game the overwhelming majority of the time in the NBA, the Mavs still had quite a few factors working in their favor.
For one thing, the Nuggets, who defeated the Clippers 111-104 on Friday night, did not arrive at the team hotel here in Dallas until after 4:00 AM on Saturday morning. In fact, the start time of the game had to be pushed back thirty minutes to comply with league regulations regarding rest periods between games. Dallas, on the other hand, had not played since defeating Denver on Wednesday, giving them fresher legs and more energy heading into the game – in theory. Nene’, who missed Wednesday’s matchup, was in street clothes yet again on Saturday night, giving the Mavs the upper hand when it came to size. If Dallas could just exploit the smallness of the Nuggets, primarily with Nowitzki, the way they had done on Wednesday, they could have walked away with a pair of wins against the Nuggets.
But they didn’t.
The first half was fan-freaking-tastic, an up-and-down, back-and-forth competition. Both teams led at different points and the game was ultra competitive. Denver, who torched Dallas from behind the three-point arc all night long, did not look like a team lacking in energy. Jason Terry was playing on a level I don’t think I’ve ever seen him at before, finishing the opening half with a team high 23 points while shooting lights out from the floor at 90% (9-of-10, including 2-of-2 on three pointers). Terry’s second three pointer came with just seven seconds left in the first half, cutting Denver’s lead to one, 53-52, heading into the locker room. And even though Denver (yes, the whole damn team) was all up in his jersey, Dirk still managed to add 14 points on 3-of-6 shots in the opening half. (At one point, Mavs TV analyst Bob Ortegel noted, “This is a physical game out there.” Well, duh, Bob – it is the Thuggets, after all!)
Although the Mavs have been a great ball handling team in recent years, Dallas did turn the ball over 10 times in the first half. With 7:30 left in the third, Dirk made a beautiful mover, spinning away from the second defender and dropping down a Thunder Dirk dunk to make it a 66-60 Dallas lead. On the other end of the floor a few plays later, Tyson Chandler and J-Kidd jointly stripped the ball out of Williams’ hands as he moved through the lane, causing us to wonder, is there such a thing as half-steal? Carmelo Anthony got the Nuggets backing the game after being down by double digits by dropping in three three-pointers during the third quarter alone. Denver killed the Mavs’ from the three-point line, knocking down 13-of-21 shots for a ridiculous 62%. By the end of the third quarter, the game was knotted at 79 and appeared to be building toward another amazing finish.
And then, the fourth quarter started and a funny thing happened: the Mavs fell apart. Missed free throws, forced turnovers, stolen balls – it was nothing but ugly. And it pains me to do this, but I have to give Denver some credit, as their defensive intensity picked it up a notch in the final frame. The Nuggets had six steals and eight forced TO’s in the last twelve minutes, setting the tone for their decisive victory. They were also able to shut down not only Dirk, but the Jet as well – the two combined for just one point in the fourth quarter. As a team, the Mavericks only managed 13 points in the final frame.
Aside from the Matrix, Dallas received very little help off the bench. The Nuggets’ reserves outscored the Mavs by a total of 40-19. Shawn Marion was a bright spot, however, finishing with 12 points, nine boards, a steal and a block. Jet led the way for Dallas with 26 points, 23 coming in the first half, which was a career high for a single half for the Jet. Caron Butler had a double-double, 13 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds, to go along with his team-high three steals. Dirk dropped in 23 points, including a perfect 9-of-9 from the stripe, but was singlehandedly responsible for seven of Dallas’ 21 total turnovers. Dallas had more turnovers (21) than they did assists (12) in the game, continuing a recent disturbing trend of turning the ball over 20+ times per game.
If protecting home court is as important as Coach Carlisle and the 2010-2011 Mavericks claim, they need to prove it by not only defeating but dominating the Boston Celtics when they come to town on Monday night at the AAC.
It’s hard enough to beat any team on any given night in the NBA. But it’s even harder to try and beat the same team in two games in a row, which is what the Mavericks set out to do on Saturday night when they faced the Nuggets here in Dallas for the second game in a home-and-home series. (Game one was on Wednesday night in Denver, where the Mavs squeaked by with a 102-101 victory). And even though statistics show that the team who wins the first game in a home-and-home loses the second game the overwhelming majority of the time in the NBA, the Mavs still had quite a few factors working in their favor.
For one thing, the Nuggets, who defeated the Clippers 111-104 on Friday night, did not arrive at the team hotel here in Dallas until after 4:00 AM on Saturday morning. In fact, the start time of the game had to be pushed back thirty minutes to comply with league regulations regarding rest periods between games. Dallas, on the other hand, had not played since defeating Denver on Wednesday, giving them fresher legs and more energy heading into the game – in theory. Nene’, who missed Wednesday’s matchup, was in street clothes yet again on Saturday night, giving the Mavs the upper hand when it came to size. If Dallas could just exploit the smallness of the Nuggets, primarily with Nowitzki, the way they had done on Wednesday, they could have walked away with a pair of wins against the Nuggets.
But they didn’t.
The first half was fan-freaking-tastic, an up-and-down, back-and-forth competition. Both teams led at different points and the game was ultra competitive. Denver, who torched Dallas from behind the three-point arc all night long, did not look like a team lacking in energy. Jason Terry was playing on a level I don’t think I’ve ever seen him at before, finishing the opening half with a team high 23 points while shooting lights out from the floor at 90% (9-of-10, including 2-of-2 on three pointers). Terry’s second three pointer came with just seven seconds left in the first half, cutting Denver’s lead to one, 53-52, heading into the locker room. And even though Denver (yes, the whole damn team) was all up in his jersey, Dirk still managed to add 14 points on 3-of-6 shots in the opening half. (At one point, Mavs TV analyst Bob Ortegel noted, “This is a physical game out there.” Well, duh, Bob – it is the Thuggets, after all!)
Although the Mavs have been a great ball handling team in recent years, Dallas did turn the ball over 10 times in the first half. With 7:30 left in the third, Dirk made a beautiful mover, spinning away from the second defender and dropping down a Thunder Dirk dunk to make it a 66-60 Dallas lead. On the other end of the floor a few plays later, Tyson Chandler and J-Kidd jointly stripped the ball out of Williams’ hands as he moved through the lane, causing us to wonder, is there such a thing as half-steal? Carmelo Anthony got the Nuggets backing the game after being down by double digits by dropping in three three-pointers during the third quarter alone. Denver killed the Mavs’ from the three-point line, knocking down 13-of-21 shots for a ridiculous 62%. By the end of the third quarter, the game was knotted at 79 and appeared to be building toward another amazing finish.
And then, the fourth quarter started and a funny thing happened: the Mavs fell apart. Missed free throws, forced turnovers, stolen balls – it was nothing but ugly. And it pains me to do this, but I have to give Denver some credit, as their defensive intensity picked it up a notch in the final frame. The Nuggets had six steals and eight forced TO’s in the last twelve minutes, setting the tone for their decisive victory. They were also able to shut down not only Dirk, but the Jet as well – the two combined for just one point in the fourth quarter. As a team, the Mavericks only managed 13 points in the final frame.
Aside from the Matrix, Dallas received very little help off the bench. The Nuggets’ reserves outscored the Mavs by a total of 40-19. Shawn Marion was a bright spot, however, finishing with 12 points, nine boards, a steal and a block. Jet led the way for Dallas with 26 points, 23 coming in the first half, which was a career high for a single half for the Jet. Caron Butler had a double-double, 13 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds, to go along with his team-high three steals. Dirk dropped in 23 points, including a perfect 9-of-9 from the stripe, but was singlehandedly responsible for seven of Dallas’ 21 total turnovers. Dallas had more turnovers (21) than they did assists (12) in the game, continuing a recent disturbing trend of turning the ball over 20+ times per game.
If protecting home court is as important as Coach Carlisle and the 2010-2011 Mavericks claim, they need to prove it by not only defeating but dominating the Boston Celtics when they come to town on Monday night at the AAC.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Dallas Drops Denver, 102-101
Dallas 102, Denver 101
It would figure that on the one night I’m so exhausted I can’t see straight from a long “weekend” (which included driving 500+ miles in less than 48 hours) would be the one night that the Mavs’ would pull out a nail biter of a win over that punk ‘Melo and the Denver Nuggets. We made it home after the start of the second half, but I did manage to watch a good bit of the third quarter. After seeing the Mavs’ push their lead to double digits at 73-63, I decided to call it quits and head to bead, hoping their lead would hold up. I left Merenda and Trystan, my Mavs-fan-in-training, watching the game, and asked T to let me know who won in the morning.
I guess Trystan was too excited to wait, because about 45 minutes later, I heard her faint tap-tap-tapping on my bedroom door and climbed out of bed to open it.
“Mavs won!” she said, jumping up and down excitedly.
“We did?” I asked, giving her a high five to celebrate. “What was the score?”
“Um, it was good,” she said, and trotted her happy little behind back into the living room.
Merenda, who heard the whole exchange from the living room, hollered out, “You missed it – it was a good game, 102-101.”
Well, hell. Of course I missed it. That’s just the way the ball bounces for me so far this season. But I did jump online Thursday morning and check out the highlights, and I checked the box score and saw that, had Dirk not been Dirk, Dallas would not have been in position to win this game like they were.
Don’t get me wrong here, I adore Dirk as much as anyone, probably more so than most. But realistically, he is advancing in age, and if Dallas has to keep riding him for extended minutes just to eke out one-point wins, especially starting this early in the season, is he going to have any gas left in the tank, say, even by the time we hit the All-Star break? Neither Mavs’ fans, nor players, nor the coaching staff can or should expect the big German to put up 35 points and pull down 12 boards night in and night out. And as hard as he can sometimes be on himself, I don’t even know if Dirk expects that much out of his aging body.
Jason Terry dropped in 20 points (16 in the third quarter, when he got hot from behind the arc) and Caron Butler had 16, but Dirk has got to get more help if the Mavs want to continue their winning ways deep into the postseason. So far this year, he has been nearly unstoppable from anywhere on the floor, his FG percentage well over 50% through the first four games. But, like all mere mortals do, eventually, Dirk is bound to have an off night. Isn’t he?
It would figure that on the one night I’m so exhausted I can’t see straight from a long “weekend” (which included driving 500+ miles in less than 48 hours) would be the one night that the Mavs’ would pull out a nail biter of a win over that punk ‘Melo and the Denver Nuggets. We made it home after the start of the second half, but I did manage to watch a good bit of the third quarter. After seeing the Mavs’ push their lead to double digits at 73-63, I decided to call it quits and head to bead, hoping their lead would hold up. I left Merenda and Trystan, my Mavs-fan-in-training, watching the game, and asked T to let me know who won in the morning.
I guess Trystan was too excited to wait, because about 45 minutes later, I heard her faint tap-tap-tapping on my bedroom door and climbed out of bed to open it.
“Mavs won!” she said, jumping up and down excitedly.
“We did?” I asked, giving her a high five to celebrate. “What was the score?”
“Um, it was good,” she said, and trotted her happy little behind back into the living room.
Merenda, who heard the whole exchange from the living room, hollered out, “You missed it – it was a good game, 102-101.”
Well, hell. Of course I missed it. That’s just the way the ball bounces for me so far this season. But I did jump online Thursday morning and check out the highlights, and I checked the box score and saw that, had Dirk not been Dirk, Dallas would not have been in position to win this game like they were.
Don’t get me wrong here, I adore Dirk as much as anyone, probably more so than most. But realistically, he is advancing in age, and if Dallas has to keep riding him for extended minutes just to eke out one-point wins, especially starting this early in the season, is he going to have any gas left in the tank, say, even by the time we hit the All-Star break? Neither Mavs’ fans, nor players, nor the coaching staff can or should expect the big German to put up 35 points and pull down 12 boards night in and night out. And as hard as he can sometimes be on himself, I don’t even know if Dirk expects that much out of his aging body.
Jason Terry dropped in 20 points (16 in the third quarter, when he got hot from behind the arc) and Caron Butler had 16, but Dirk has got to get more help if the Mavs want to continue their winning ways deep into the postseason. So far this year, he has been nearly unstoppable from anywhere on the floor, his FG percentage well over 50% through the first four games. But, like all mere mortals do, eventually, Dirk is bound to have an off night. Isn’t he?
Mavs Sink Clippers, Gain First Road Win
Mavs 99, Clippers 83
It’s the start of a new Mavs’ season, and I hate to admit it, but I haven’t quite gotten my bearings and jumped back into the swing of things just yet. I’m trying my darnedest to get my butt in gear but as I’ve said before, sometimes life just gets in the way. For instance, I brought three Mavs’ pocket size schedules home with me from their season opener last week. That same night, when I threw my jeans in the washer, I absentmindedly left not one or two but all three of them in my pocket; alas, I had none, aside from the magnetic schedule I had taken to work and slapped on my file cabinet. So on last Saturday night, I was shocked when I started reading tweets from Matrix31 and DallasMavs talking about being in LA. Why are the Mavericks in LA? I asked myself, thinking that their next game was not until Wednesday the 3rd in Denver. And amazingly, my dear husband Rickey-the-misguided-but-lovable-Spurs-fan knew the answer I sought: the Mavs were scheduled to play the Clippers in LA on Halloween Sunday afternoon.
“Didn’t you see at the end of the broadcast the other night, they were saying the Mavs’ next game was Sunday in LA?” he asked innocently. “Oh wait, you couldn’t have…you were at that game!” Well, duh, but still shame on me for not knowing when my boys in blue would be hitting the hardwoods.
Halloween Sunday was inconvenient for me personally to have the Mavs playing, but of course, the schedule maker neglected to consult me, darn it. First and foremost, my work schedule has changed yet again, and my “new and improved” weekends now come on Tuesday and Wednesday, rather than Saturday and Sunday. Not so bad, except that I play in two fantasy football leagues (for money, mind you) and now all I can do is watch the points rack up on my computer rather than enjoying the games themselves. Secondly, World Series baseball was being played here in Arlington for the first time…well, EVER. So even though I am a self-proclaimed anti-baseball junkie, I was still on the Rangers bandwagon, savoring every minute of their unlikely ride towards a championship, in hopes that maybe if they could do it, then my Mavs could finally win their title, too. I’m not really superstitious, but what harm could there be in trying to promote some local sports karma among the fandom? Lastly, my hapless, hopeless Cowboys were also playing on Sunday, and I had planned to listen to them on the radio, but forced to choose between the two, of course my Mavs came out on top.
So as I sat at my desk clickity-clacking away on my ancient keyboard with its letters rubbed off after years of abuse at my fingertips, I tried to listen intently to the Mavs as they appeared to handle the Clippers rather easily. Unfortunately, the only part of the game I heard in its entirety was the final 37 seconds, because by that time I was in my car, away from overly chatty colleagues, and able to truly focus my attention on the game itself. I wish I had more insight to offer on the Clippers game, but in the end, the Mavs did what they had to do, stomping on the bottom-dwelling Clippers and rebounding from their sad showing against Memphis two nights earlier. The one thing I did notice – and really wished I could have seen, rather than heard – was Jason Kidd’s ri-dic-u-lous shot from behind the top of the key on the Clippers’ end of the court that swished through the Mavs’ basket on the other end of the court to end the first half, giving the Mavs a 52-50 lead, which they would hold onto for the remainder of the game.
Dirk (16 points in 30 minutes) didn’t have to play 40 minutes and score 30 points for Dallas to win this game; the bench was a big boost, particularly Brendan Haywood (10 points on 5-6 FG, to go along with four offensive rebounds) and Shawn Marion, who brought great energy to the game, finishing with 12 points, two boards, two assists, a block and a steal. How’s that for some help off the bench?
Fortunately for me, the Mavs won’t play another Sunday afternoon game until January 2, 2011, when they will face the King-less Cavaliers in Cleveland. (I almost want the Cavs to win, just to burn LeBron’s booty…notice I said almost.) By that time, even if my work schedule hasn’t changed, the Cowboys will be so far out of the NFL playoff picture I won’t be distracted by them anymore and I can focus solely on what matters most: my Dallas Mavericks.
It’s the start of a new Mavs’ season, and I hate to admit it, but I haven’t quite gotten my bearings and jumped back into the swing of things just yet. I’m trying my darnedest to get my butt in gear but as I’ve said before, sometimes life just gets in the way. For instance, I brought three Mavs’ pocket size schedules home with me from their season opener last week. That same night, when I threw my jeans in the washer, I absentmindedly left not one or two but all three of them in my pocket; alas, I had none, aside from the magnetic schedule I had taken to work and slapped on my file cabinet. So on last Saturday night, I was shocked when I started reading tweets from Matrix31 and DallasMavs talking about being in LA. Why are the Mavericks in LA? I asked myself, thinking that their next game was not until Wednesday the 3rd in Denver. And amazingly, my dear husband Rickey-the-misguided-but-lovable-Spurs-fan knew the answer I sought: the Mavs were scheduled to play the Clippers in LA on Halloween Sunday afternoon.
“Didn’t you see at the end of the broadcast the other night, they were saying the Mavs’ next game was Sunday in LA?” he asked innocently. “Oh wait, you couldn’t have…you were at that game!” Well, duh, but still shame on me for not knowing when my boys in blue would be hitting the hardwoods.
Halloween Sunday was inconvenient for me personally to have the Mavs playing, but of course, the schedule maker neglected to consult me, darn it. First and foremost, my work schedule has changed yet again, and my “new and improved” weekends now come on Tuesday and Wednesday, rather than Saturday and Sunday. Not so bad, except that I play in two fantasy football leagues (for money, mind you) and now all I can do is watch the points rack up on my computer rather than enjoying the games themselves. Secondly, World Series baseball was being played here in Arlington for the first time…well, EVER. So even though I am a self-proclaimed anti-baseball junkie, I was still on the Rangers bandwagon, savoring every minute of their unlikely ride towards a championship, in hopes that maybe if they could do it, then my Mavs could finally win their title, too. I’m not really superstitious, but what harm could there be in trying to promote some local sports karma among the fandom? Lastly, my hapless, hopeless Cowboys were also playing on Sunday, and I had planned to listen to them on the radio, but forced to choose between the two, of course my Mavs came out on top.
So as I sat at my desk clickity-clacking away on my ancient keyboard with its letters rubbed off after years of abuse at my fingertips, I tried to listen intently to the Mavs as they appeared to handle the Clippers rather easily. Unfortunately, the only part of the game I heard in its entirety was the final 37 seconds, because by that time I was in my car, away from overly chatty colleagues, and able to truly focus my attention on the game itself. I wish I had more insight to offer on the Clippers game, but in the end, the Mavs did what they had to do, stomping on the bottom-dwelling Clippers and rebounding from their sad showing against Memphis two nights earlier. The one thing I did notice – and really wished I could have seen, rather than heard – was Jason Kidd’s ri-dic-u-lous shot from behind the top of the key on the Clippers’ end of the court that swished through the Mavs’ basket on the other end of the court to end the first half, giving the Mavs a 52-50 lead, which they would hold onto for the remainder of the game.
Dirk (16 points in 30 minutes) didn’t have to play 40 minutes and score 30 points for Dallas to win this game; the bench was a big boost, particularly Brendan Haywood (10 points on 5-6 FG, to go along with four offensive rebounds) and Shawn Marion, who brought great energy to the game, finishing with 12 points, two boards, two assists, a block and a steal. How’s that for some help off the bench?
Fortunately for me, the Mavs won’t play another Sunday afternoon game until January 2, 2011, when they will face the King-less Cavaliers in Cleveland. (I almost want the Cavs to win, just to burn LeBron’s booty…notice I said almost.) By that time, even if my work schedule hasn’t changed, the Cowboys will be so far out of the NFL playoff picture I won’t be distracted by them anymore and I can focus solely on what matters most: my Dallas Mavericks.
Whatchoo Talkin' Bout, Willis: Mavs Drop One to Memphis, 90-91
Mavs 90, Grizzlies 91
A simple text message I received from Dad after the final buzzer sounded at the AAC on Friday night summed up my feelings: “HOW exactly did we lose to MEMPHIS?”
Good question. And judging by the befuddled looks on the many faces still standing on their feet, lingering at their seats long after the final horn, I wasn’t the only one at a loss to explain this Mavericks’ loss.
The simplistic answer is that the Mavericks’ were their own worst enemies in this game. They played sloppy basketball (20 turnovers in the game, nine of them in the final frame) and made poor decisions, like fouling Marc Gasol with 6.7 seconds left, allowing him free throws to give the Grizzlies their go ahead points and seal the victory. Dallas was uncharacteristically awful at the charity stripe, shooting a meager 66.7% on 16-of-24 free throws. Two of those misses came off the hand of Dirk Nowitzki, whose regular season consecutive made free throw streak ended at 82, becoming the third longest in NBA history.
Aside from the two missed free throws, Dirk was again nearly perfect from the floor, racking up 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting to lead the way for the Mavs. Butler added 18 points and one helluva block early in the game that caused the arena to sound a collective “Oooh!” Jason Terry also finished in double digits with 13 points, five assists, and only one turnover. And while Jason Kidd was just shy of a double-double with nine points and 10 assists, he was also responsible for five turnovers, including his misstep on the final inbounds pass which could have set Dallas up for an easy shot and a chance to win the game. If only Kidd had been able to toss the ball in over Marc Gasol the way he did over Yao Ming in the Mavs’ one-point win over the Houston Rockets during their preseason finale, perhaps we would be lamenting the brilliance and veteran leadership and experience that Kidd brings to the hardwoods, rather than laying a large part of the blame for a pitiful Dallas loss at his sneakered feet.
The bottom line is that an injury depleted Memphis team (minus Zach Randolph and his bruised tailbone and playing with a less than 100% healthy Gasol brother) was able to come in to the Mavs’ house, where the Grizz had lost nine straight games, and eke out a one point win. Dallas was slack on defense (as evidenced by their zero steals in this game) and returned to its jumpshooting ways, allowing Memphis to hang around for too long, ultimately costing themselves what should have been an easy W.
And as much as that irritates me, especially when my Mavs come out on the losing side of things, it’s also a big part of why I love the NBA. Because on any given night, any perceived underdog can step on the court and compete with the reigning NBA champions. That’s reason #1341 why I love this game!
A simple text message I received from Dad after the final buzzer sounded at the AAC on Friday night summed up my feelings: “HOW exactly did we lose to MEMPHIS?”
Good question. And judging by the befuddled looks on the many faces still standing on their feet, lingering at their seats long after the final horn, I wasn’t the only one at a loss to explain this Mavericks’ loss.
The simplistic answer is that the Mavericks’ were their own worst enemies in this game. They played sloppy basketball (20 turnovers in the game, nine of them in the final frame) and made poor decisions, like fouling Marc Gasol with 6.7 seconds left, allowing him free throws to give the Grizzlies their go ahead points and seal the victory. Dallas was uncharacteristically awful at the charity stripe, shooting a meager 66.7% on 16-of-24 free throws. Two of those misses came off the hand of Dirk Nowitzki, whose regular season consecutive made free throw streak ended at 82, becoming the third longest in NBA history.
Aside from the two missed free throws, Dirk was again nearly perfect from the floor, racking up 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting to lead the way for the Mavs. Butler added 18 points and one helluva block early in the game that caused the arena to sound a collective “Oooh!” Jason Terry also finished in double digits with 13 points, five assists, and only one turnover. And while Jason Kidd was just shy of a double-double with nine points and 10 assists, he was also responsible for five turnovers, including his misstep on the final inbounds pass which could have set Dallas up for an easy shot and a chance to win the game. If only Kidd had been able to toss the ball in over Marc Gasol the way he did over Yao Ming in the Mavs’ one-point win over the Houston Rockets during their preseason finale, perhaps we would be lamenting the brilliance and veteran leadership and experience that Kidd brings to the hardwoods, rather than laying a large part of the blame for a pitiful Dallas loss at his sneakered feet.
The bottom line is that an injury depleted Memphis team (minus Zach Randolph and his bruised tailbone and playing with a less than 100% healthy Gasol brother) was able to come in to the Mavs’ house, where the Grizz had lost nine straight games, and eke out a one point win. Dallas was slack on defense (as evidenced by their zero steals in this game) and returned to its jumpshooting ways, allowing Memphis to hang around for too long, ultimately costing themselves what should have been an easy W.
And as much as that irritates me, especially when my Mavs come out on the losing side of things, it’s also a big part of why I love the NBA. Because on any given night, any perceived underdog can step on the court and compete with the reigning NBA champions. That’s reason #1341 why I love this game!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Kidd, Dirk Prove Ageless in Season Opener
Mavs 101, Bobcats 86 -- Kidd and Dirk Seem Ageless in Season Opener
Being the rabid Mavs’ fan that I am, most people are surprised to learn that, in the 25 years I have followed this team, I’ve never once been to a season opener. Usually when I am able to get tickets to games, they come later on in the season, and for the past several years, Dad and I have made a habit of attending the Mavs’ final home game each season, using his birthday as our excuse for buying tickets. So while I’ve often been there for the ending, up until this past week, I’d never been there for the start of a new season. And after enjoying Dallas’ home opening win against the Bobcats, it looks like I picked the right time to come.
If Dallas has owned any team over the past several seasons, it has been the Charlotte Bobcats. The Bobcats were 0-12 against the Mavericks heading into Wednesday night’s game, when history repeated itself as Dallas won handily, 101-86, at the AAC. Dallas remained the only team in the NBA that Charlotte has yet to beat since the Bobcats joined the league in 2004.
Dallas got off to a great start, opening up with a 16-0 run before Charlotte was able to get on the board. (By that point, I was calling for a shutout, however unrealistic it might have seemed). Charlotte began steadily chipping away at Dallas’ early lead, especially once the Mavs pulled their starters in favor of the bench. Dallas’ second unit was not nearly as effective, allowing Charlotte back in the game. With Dallas’ starters out, particularly Kidd and Nowitzki, the Bobcats managed to take a lead at 31-27 early in the second quarter before the Mavs righted the seemingly sinking ship. At the half, Dallas led 49-45, a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the night.
As usual, Dirk was his smooth-shooting self, finding the basket on 11-of-13 shots from the field, as well as shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the line. Dirk extended his consecutive made free throw streak to 78, dating back to last season. He led the team in scoring with 28, to go along with his team-high 13 rebounds.
Jason Kidd finished with a double-double of his own, racking up 13 points and 18 assists. His 18 assists set a franchise record for an opening night, and left him one short of tying John Stockton (19) for the all-time opening night assist record. Kidd also had three steals and a block, proving that age is nothing but a number to this 37-year-old future Hall of Famer.
Jason Terry also poured in 22 points on 10-of-15 shots, and his effort at improving his defense this off-season seemed to pay off, as he led the Mavs with four steals. J.J. Barea was one bright spot off the Dallas bench, helping to keep the Mavs from stumbling too far without their starters on the court. Barea finished with 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.
Even though there was no shutout like I had hoped, both Dirk and Kidd proved they still got game, and I can’t wait to see more of it as the season goes along…
Being the rabid Mavs’ fan that I am, most people are surprised to learn that, in the 25 years I have followed this team, I’ve never once been to a season opener. Usually when I am able to get tickets to games, they come later on in the season, and for the past several years, Dad and I have made a habit of attending the Mavs’ final home game each season, using his birthday as our excuse for buying tickets. So while I’ve often been there for the ending, up until this past week, I’d never been there for the start of a new season. And after enjoying Dallas’ home opening win against the Bobcats, it looks like I picked the right time to come.
If Dallas has owned any team over the past several seasons, it has been the Charlotte Bobcats. The Bobcats were 0-12 against the Mavericks heading into Wednesday night’s game, when history repeated itself as Dallas won handily, 101-86, at the AAC. Dallas remained the only team in the NBA that Charlotte has yet to beat since the Bobcats joined the league in 2004.
Dallas got off to a great start, opening up with a 16-0 run before Charlotte was able to get on the board. (By that point, I was calling for a shutout, however unrealistic it might have seemed). Charlotte began steadily chipping away at Dallas’ early lead, especially once the Mavs pulled their starters in favor of the bench. Dallas’ second unit was not nearly as effective, allowing Charlotte back in the game. With Dallas’ starters out, particularly Kidd and Nowitzki, the Bobcats managed to take a lead at 31-27 early in the second quarter before the Mavs righted the seemingly sinking ship. At the half, Dallas led 49-45, a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the night.
As usual, Dirk was his smooth-shooting self, finding the basket on 11-of-13 shots from the field, as well as shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the line. Dirk extended his consecutive made free throw streak to 78, dating back to last season. He led the team in scoring with 28, to go along with his team-high 13 rebounds.
Jason Kidd finished with a double-double of his own, racking up 13 points and 18 assists. His 18 assists set a franchise record for an opening night, and left him one short of tying John Stockton (19) for the all-time opening night assist record. Kidd also had three steals and a block, proving that age is nothing but a number to this 37-year-old future Hall of Famer.
Jason Terry also poured in 22 points on 10-of-15 shots, and his effort at improving his defense this off-season seemed to pay off, as he led the Mavs with four steals. J.J. Barea was one bright spot off the Dallas bench, helping to keep the Mavs from stumbling too far without their starters on the court. Barea finished with 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.
Even though there was no shutout like I had hoped, both Dirk and Kidd proved they still got game, and I can’t wait to see more of it as the season goes along…
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Fan Jam
Every year for the past eight years, I've eagerly awaited the start of Mavs' training camp, not only because it signals the start of my favorite season of the year -- basketball season -- but because it means that Fan Jam, my favorite Mavericks' event of the year, is right around the corner. Although I missed the first four events, once I attended my first Fan Jam in 2002, I've made it a point to find a way to be there each year since. Because I love to share my passion for basketball with anyone who will allow it, I've been accompanied to Fan Jam by many different faces over the years as well: Chintamani; Holly and her son Jake; Joella and her family; Merenda; Dad and Trystan; last year's surprise guest, Mom; and I've even attended one solo. (No shame in going it alone when I'm supporting my Mavs!) This year, Fan Jam was an extra special event because I finally got to bring along Trystan, my little Mavs fan in the making, when she was old enough to enjoy and remember it.Thanks to a little help from my friends with the Mavericks, I was able to score four passes to the exclusive VIP autograph session that began an hour or so before the doors opened to the public. While getting to be up close to my Mavericks is always a thrill for me, I already have enough autographed hats, shirts, jerseys, and other memorabilia to fill an entire room, so my main goal for Fan Jam was to make something good happen for Little T, by helping her meet her favorite Maverick, Dirk. So myself, Trystan, Merenda and her boyfriend Bubba all waited in line outside the AAC for the doors to open so we could make a run for Dirk's table, knowing his line would naturally be longer than anyone else's. Even though we had inside knowledge as to where his table was located, by the time we ran around there (yes, literally ran!) and made it to his table, there were already about 75 or 100 people ahead of us. But since our goal was for T to finally meet her hero, we waited patiently until it was our turn to approach the table where he sat.
Bubba walked up first, handing over his new Mavs basketball for Dirk to sign it. Before Bubba had a chance to say a word, Trystan threw her blue basketball up on the table and said, "Spurs suck!", which sent us into fits of laughter. Dirk, however, didn't hear her at first. After signing Bubba's ball, Dirk turned his attention to Little T, saying "How are you, Princess?" to which Trystan proudly and loudly replied, "SPURS SUCK!" This time, Dirk heard and understood her and he, too, got quite a kick out of it. Due to Dirk's overwhelming popularity, they wouldn't let us take a picture of T and Dirk together, but we got a few good ones of her at the table across from Dirk, courtesy of my good friend Chintamani and her excellent photographic skills. (Although I did actually remember my camera this year, and even switched to rechargeable batteries, I kinda forgot to charge the batteries before we left home. Oops, my bad...again!)
Being the HP Insider earlier this year definitely had its perks, one of them being that I am now a familiar face to several people affiliated with the Mavericks. It has given me some small sense of mini-celebrity when I'm at a game or Mavericks event and Fan Jam was no exception. As we waited in line to see Dirk, Kyle (works for the Mavs) and a photographer came by and stopped to snap a couple pics with me, which is always fun. And to a certain brown-eyed little girl, it makes me seem like I'm a superstar. (Ok, sometimes as a 34-year-old, it makes me feel like a superstar, too!)
Once we achieved our goal of helping Trystan meet Dirk, we wandered over to Jason Kidd's table, as he is my other favorite Maverick, and waited in his long line. The security guard was going to end the autograph session with the people directly in front of us, but something about Trystan and her cuteness (a lethal weapon at times) convinced him to let us through anyway. So in an hour's time, we got to meet Dirk, Dee Brown (who was at Kidd's table but didn't end up making the final team cut), and J-Kidd. Mission accomplished, plus we had fun in the process.
After the autographs, we made our way to some great seats behind the bench for the team's blue and white scrimmage, where they are split into two seemingly equally talented teams and play against themselves. The PA announcer suggested one half of the arena root for the blue team, and the other half for the white, but I love my Mavs so much I couldn't root for one bunch of guys over the other. It proved to be a close game though, with some quick moves and high flying showstopping highlight reel type dunks, providing an end to a great night's entertainment and leaving me longing for the start of the regular season yet again.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Offseason Offerings: Reviewing the Summer
Hello friends, family, followers, and fellow Mavs fans! Although I've been silent the past several months, preoccupied with life away from basketball (imagine that!), I'm so excited that my favorite time of year is finally here! Three cheers for the start of another wonderful NBA season, and my return to my other love -- writing all about it.
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After the LeBron James fiasco, in which I completely misjudged the kid's character and integrity, I became temporarily disillusioned with the idea that once again, dollar signs meant more than loyalty. It disheartened me to think that LeBron could so easily turn his back on the team and the town that had loved and adored him for so long, deciding to join Wade and Bosh in Miami instead. There are SO many problems with that arrangement I don't even know where to begin. So I won't, except to say I hope Miami tanks it in the worst possible way. Nothing -- aside from a Mavs' championship, of course -- would make me happier than to see LeBron and D-Wade go down in flames this season.
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This summer, real life got in the way of my enjoyment of basketball and reminded me that even though I don't always acknowledge it, there IS life outside of basketball. The first night of our summer vacation in Houston, my husband Rickey had a heart attack, which pushed his one remaining kidney into failure, ultimately resulting in him having to go on dialysis. Dialysis has been a complete lifestyle change for the both of us, as it involves being up at 5am three days a week for treatments, as well as dietary changes that neither one of us have enjoyed much. On a positive note, however, Rickey's health is much improved and we are both beginning to adjust to our new healthier way of life. We had another surprise this off-season as our niece Merenda, who, along with her soon-to-be five-year-old daughter Trystan, is currently living with us, found out she would be having another baby. So as usual, things around our house have been a bit hectic, to put it mildly. I'm definitely excited that, with the start of basketball season, life can return to some degree of normalcy.
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As eventful as my offseason was, I was initially disappointed in the lack of movement made by the Mavericks this summer. Once again, it seemed as if we missed out any and all of the big name free agents, and even the middle of the road veterans who might have been the final puzzle piece to put this ball club into true championship contention. Or at least lead them out of the first round of the playoffs. The most notable move the Mavs made this offseason, aside from resigning Dirk, was picking up Tyson Chandler.
I hadn't really followed Chandler's career prior to the Mavs signing him, but I clearly remembered how he had given Dallas grief several years ago in their first round playoff exit against the New Orleans Hornets. Watching him in preseason, and in the World Championships this summer (in which the USA won its first gold medal in many moons), I was quite impressed. Not only is Chandler long and athletic, but unlike former Mavs' center Erick Dampier (sorry, old friend), he can actually catch the ball when you throw it to him around the basket. He can slam it, he can jam it, he can block shots and play defense. And unlike Brendan Haywood, Chandler realizes he is a center and actually plays down low around the basket, rather than standing around the top of the key looking lost on defense.
So while we missed out on the LeBron sweepstakes (and thank God, all the drama that will surely come with it), and didn't sign Carlos Boozer (my personal favorite free agent target), I do think Chandler will have a noticeable impact on the Mavericks this year, giving them a true viable scoring option up under the basket.
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As impressed as I am with Chandler, I still don't know if he is the final piece of the Mavericks' championship puzzle. With both Dirk and Kidd not getting any younger, the Mavs and their fans are all too aware that their window of opportunity is slowly sliding shut. Can the Mavericks finally finish what they started back in the 2005-2006 season and claim their championship? Only time will tell, and the clock has already begun ticking...
****************************************
After the LeBron James fiasco, in which I completely misjudged the kid's character and integrity, I became temporarily disillusioned with the idea that once again, dollar signs meant more than loyalty. It disheartened me to think that LeBron could so easily turn his back on the team and the town that had loved and adored him for so long, deciding to join Wade and Bosh in Miami instead. There are SO many problems with that arrangement I don't even know where to begin. So I won't, except to say I hope Miami tanks it in the worst possible way. Nothing -- aside from a Mavs' championship, of course -- would make me happier than to see LeBron and D-Wade go down in flames this season.
**********
This summer, real life got in the way of my enjoyment of basketball and reminded me that even though I don't always acknowledge it, there IS life outside of basketball. The first night of our summer vacation in Houston, my husband Rickey had a heart attack, which pushed his one remaining kidney into failure, ultimately resulting in him having to go on dialysis. Dialysis has been a complete lifestyle change for the both of us, as it involves being up at 5am three days a week for treatments, as well as dietary changes that neither one of us have enjoyed much. On a positive note, however, Rickey's health is much improved and we are both beginning to adjust to our new healthier way of life. We had another surprise this off-season as our niece Merenda, who, along with her soon-to-be five-year-old daughter Trystan, is currently living with us, found out she would be having another baby. So as usual, things around our house have been a bit hectic, to put it mildly. I'm definitely excited that, with the start of basketball season, life can return to some degree of normalcy.
************
As eventful as my offseason was, I was initially disappointed in the lack of movement made by the Mavericks this summer. Once again, it seemed as if we missed out any and all of the big name free agents, and even the middle of the road veterans who might have been the final puzzle piece to put this ball club into true championship contention. Or at least lead them out of the first round of the playoffs. The most notable move the Mavs made this offseason, aside from resigning Dirk, was picking up Tyson Chandler.
I hadn't really followed Chandler's career prior to the Mavs signing him, but I clearly remembered how he had given Dallas grief several years ago in their first round playoff exit against the New Orleans Hornets. Watching him in preseason, and in the World Championships this summer (in which the USA won its first gold medal in many moons), I was quite impressed. Not only is Chandler long and athletic, but unlike former Mavs' center Erick Dampier (sorry, old friend), he can actually catch the ball when you throw it to him around the basket. He can slam it, he can jam it, he can block shots and play defense. And unlike Brendan Haywood, Chandler realizes he is a center and actually plays down low around the basket, rather than standing around the top of the key looking lost on defense.
So while we missed out on the LeBron sweepstakes (and thank God, all the drama that will surely come with it), and didn't sign Carlos Boozer (my personal favorite free agent target), I do think Chandler will have a noticeable impact on the Mavericks this year, giving them a true viable scoring option up under the basket.
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As impressed as I am with Chandler, I still don't know if he is the final piece of the Mavericks' championship puzzle. With both Dirk and Kidd not getting any younger, the Mavs and their fans are all too aware that their window of opportunity is slowly sliding shut. Can the Mavericks finally finish what they started back in the 2005-2006 season and claim their championship? Only time will tell, and the clock has already begun ticking...
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Free Agent Free-for-All
The clock is slowly winding down on the largest free agent free for all the NBA has seen in quite some time. A huge crop of talent, headed by LeBron James, is or has been up for grabs over the past seven days, and things will really get interesting starting tonight, when King James will hold a press conference to announce to the universe his intention: to stay with Cleveland. Once the other 29 teams realize they are all losers in the LeBron sweepstakes, it’s anyone’s guess who will end up where in the star-studded scramble for the remaining big names -- D-Wade, Chris Bosh, and the like. One thing’s for certain though: it’s going to be a wild ride.
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Speaking of certainties, I was never more relieved than when I received the text message from ESPN that Marc Stein was reporting the Dallas Mavericks and my man Dirk Nowitzki had agreed, in principle, to a four-year, $80 million contract. Honestly, when Dirk opted out and chose to become a free agent, I felt in my heart he would remain Mr. Maverick. I hoped and prayed I would never have to see him sporting some other team’s colors and sitting on the opposing bench, but in reality, if Dirk had chosen to go to a championship contender, as heartbroken as I personally would have been, I really couldn’t blame him. For Dirk, having tasted a championship and ultimately lost it, winning that ever elusive title is all that really matters. It’s not about the money; it’s all about the ring.
That fact partially explains why Dirk has agreed to a less than max contract. Obviously, Donnie Nelson, Mark Cuban and the Mavericks would have given Dirk whatever he wanted to keep him here in Dallas. And apparently, judging by his acceptance (at least verbally) of a less than maximum contract, Dirk has made it abundantly clear what he wants: a legitimate shot at winning a championship, here in Dallas, the only home he has known in his professional basketball life. Hopefully, the money that Dirk has given up will be used to lure the missing piece (or pieces) of the championship puzzle to the Mavericks.
At least, for Dirk’s sake, let’s hope so. There’s no one in the NBA (no, Cavs fans, not even LeBron) who deserves to win it all as much as Dirk does; no one has carried their team more, made more changes and sacrifices, nor been the loyal face of the franchise for longer, than the big German. If a championship could ever be awarded based on loyalty, longevity, desire, drive, determination, and a pure basketball heart, Dirk would be the undisputed winner. Here’s hoping Dirk did the right thing – not just for Mark Cuban and Mavericks’ fans, but for Dirk himself – by staying in Dallas and giving it another shot.
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Reports from early this morning claim that both Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade have verbally committed to play for the Miami Heat. D-Wade staying in southern Florida really came as no surprise, nor did Bosh’s reactionary decision to jump ship to the Heat. League sources, reporters, even the average NBA fan was fully aware of the proposed Bosh-James-Wade grouping that had been repeatedly mentioned in Miami. Although he’s a very talented player and a great second option, I’ve never really thought Bosh was the superstar type player that franchises build around, and therefore, was not surprised to see him opt for Miami, someplace with a proven superstar capable of winning (some might say stealing) an NBA title.
I was sad, however, to hear that Wade chose to stay in Miami. As much as I expected his decision, I really would have loved to see him playing here, in the blue and white, alongside Dirk. As much as it pains me to say this, and as much as it goes against every fiber of my being to even consider being a fan of Dwyane “Crybaby” Wade as one of my beloved Mavericks, I truly believe he could have been the key to Dallas, finally, winning that ever elusive championship. Unfortunately, now we’ll never have the chance to find out if it would really work.
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Personally, I believe at 9pm tonight, on ESPN, before a captive crowd, LeBron is going to announce that he is going…nowhere. I think he plans to stay in Cleveland and try yet again to be the hometown boy who made good, the hero who brought Cavs’ fans their championship, even if it took a little longer than everyone – including James himself – anticipated. Even if I’m wrong, and James does decide to jump ship, as much as I would love to see it happen, that ship won’t be setting sail for Dallas, either. Having said that, if I were Donnie Nelson, my number one free agent target this offseason would be….(drum roll, please)…Carlos Boozer.
Even if Stoudemire hadn’t gone to the Knicks (I’ve always thought he was too injury prone and highly overrated), and Joe Johnson hadn’t received an unbelievably ridiculous offer to stay in Atlanta (sure, he’s tough, but do we really need another Jason Terry?), Boozer still would have been my first choice, aside from Wade. If you wanna talk tough, there’s not many tougher than Boozer the Bruiser. Boozer would give the Mavericks something they have been forever lacking: a physical presence in the post. Dallas has tried to substitute anyone and everyone in all sorts of strange combinations to fill this need over the years, but so far, nothing has worked well as a legitimate long-term option. Boozer is the physical post player Dallas needs to help them get over the hump.
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In just a few short hours, LeBron James will make his big announcement and officially end the suspense, as well as the hopes and dreams of 29 NBA franchises. Phones will light up and players, managers, and owners will hold conversations into the wee hours of the night, trying to make moves to put their teams over the top and not come away empty handed from the free agent free-for-all. When all is said and done, I’m just hoping my boys in blue will be on the winning side of the equation as we prepare for the upcoming season.
***************************
Speaking of certainties, I was never more relieved than when I received the text message from ESPN that Marc Stein was reporting the Dallas Mavericks and my man Dirk Nowitzki had agreed, in principle, to a four-year, $80 million contract. Honestly, when Dirk opted out and chose to become a free agent, I felt in my heart he would remain Mr. Maverick. I hoped and prayed I would never have to see him sporting some other team’s colors and sitting on the opposing bench, but in reality, if Dirk had chosen to go to a championship contender, as heartbroken as I personally would have been, I really couldn’t blame him. For Dirk, having tasted a championship and ultimately lost it, winning that ever elusive title is all that really matters. It’s not about the money; it’s all about the ring.
That fact partially explains why Dirk has agreed to a less than max contract. Obviously, Donnie Nelson, Mark Cuban and the Mavericks would have given Dirk whatever he wanted to keep him here in Dallas. And apparently, judging by his acceptance (at least verbally) of a less than maximum contract, Dirk has made it abundantly clear what he wants: a legitimate shot at winning a championship, here in Dallas, the only home he has known in his professional basketball life. Hopefully, the money that Dirk has given up will be used to lure the missing piece (or pieces) of the championship puzzle to the Mavericks.
At least, for Dirk’s sake, let’s hope so. There’s no one in the NBA (no, Cavs fans, not even LeBron) who deserves to win it all as much as Dirk does; no one has carried their team more, made more changes and sacrifices, nor been the loyal face of the franchise for longer, than the big German. If a championship could ever be awarded based on loyalty, longevity, desire, drive, determination, and a pure basketball heart, Dirk would be the undisputed winner. Here’s hoping Dirk did the right thing – not just for Mark Cuban and Mavericks’ fans, but for Dirk himself – by staying in Dallas and giving it another shot.
*****************
Reports from early this morning claim that both Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade have verbally committed to play for the Miami Heat. D-Wade staying in southern Florida really came as no surprise, nor did Bosh’s reactionary decision to jump ship to the Heat. League sources, reporters, even the average NBA fan was fully aware of the proposed Bosh-James-Wade grouping that had been repeatedly mentioned in Miami. Although he’s a very talented player and a great second option, I’ve never really thought Bosh was the superstar type player that franchises build around, and therefore, was not surprised to see him opt for Miami, someplace with a proven superstar capable of winning (some might say stealing) an NBA title.
I was sad, however, to hear that Wade chose to stay in Miami. As much as I expected his decision, I really would have loved to see him playing here, in the blue and white, alongside Dirk. As much as it pains me to say this, and as much as it goes against every fiber of my being to even consider being a fan of Dwyane “Crybaby” Wade as one of my beloved Mavericks, I truly believe he could have been the key to Dallas, finally, winning that ever elusive championship. Unfortunately, now we’ll never have the chance to find out if it would really work.
***************
Personally, I believe at 9pm tonight, on ESPN, before a captive crowd, LeBron is going to announce that he is going…nowhere. I think he plans to stay in Cleveland and try yet again to be the hometown boy who made good, the hero who brought Cavs’ fans their championship, even if it took a little longer than everyone – including James himself – anticipated. Even if I’m wrong, and James does decide to jump ship, as much as I would love to see it happen, that ship won’t be setting sail for Dallas, either. Having said that, if I were Donnie Nelson, my number one free agent target this offseason would be….(drum roll, please)…Carlos Boozer.
Even if Stoudemire hadn’t gone to the Knicks (I’ve always thought he was too injury prone and highly overrated), and Joe Johnson hadn’t received an unbelievably ridiculous offer to stay in Atlanta (sure, he’s tough, but do we really need another Jason Terry?), Boozer still would have been my first choice, aside from Wade. If you wanna talk tough, there’s not many tougher than Boozer the Bruiser. Boozer would give the Mavericks something they have been forever lacking: a physical presence in the post. Dallas has tried to substitute anyone and everyone in all sorts of strange combinations to fill this need over the years, but so far, nothing has worked well as a legitimate long-term option. Boozer is the physical post player Dallas needs to help them get over the hump.
*************************************
In just a few short hours, LeBron James will make his big announcement and officially end the suspense, as well as the hopes and dreams of 29 NBA franchises. Phones will light up and players, managers, and owners will hold conversations into the wee hours of the night, trying to make moves to put their teams over the top and not come away empty handed from the free agent free-for-all. When all is said and done, I’m just hoping my boys in blue will be on the winning side of the equation as we prepare for the upcoming season.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Shut Yer Yap, Phil (I Always Wanted to Say That!)
I have never been a fan of Phil Jackson. I think he is overrated as a coach (let's see him take a team without a pair of future Hall of Famers and win a championship) and a pompous, arrogant jackass of a human being. He is a constant whiner when things don't go his (or his team's) way, and sometimes even when they do. But he has been playing his little mind games for many years now, so I don't know why it surprised me when he decided to talk trash about Steve Nash just days before his Lakers are scheduled to take on Nash's Suns in the Western Conference Finals.
Jackson accused Nash of carrying, or palming, the basketball when he pushes the ball downcourt. Jackson even went so far as to insinuate that referees give Nash the preferential "superstar" treatment, allowing him to consistently violate the palming rule without ever calling him for a violation. In the first place, I've seen many a player, including Phil's own golden boy, Kobe Bryant, frequently palm the ball when in transition. It's just one of those rules that is rarely enforced in the NBA, such as travelling. I don't know how many times I have seen players take three to four complete steps toward the basket without ever dribbling the ball and get away with it. Secondly, if Jackson wants to point fingers and talk about players receiving the "superstar" treatment, he need look no further than the end of his bench, at Kobe Bryant, whom officials favor like no other player in the league, with the possible exception of Dwyane "I singlehandedly shot more free throws than the opposing team in a game" Wade.
That being said, I should have expected nothing less from "Zen Master" Jackson, who will stop at nothing to give his team an advantage. I can only hope the league executives will see right through his charade and the all-too-convenient timing of his remarks, and not only fine him, but suspend him accordingly. NBA Commissioner David Stern issued an edict earlier in the playoffs which threatened to fine, and possibly take further recourse against, anyone else who made public comments about the officiating during the remainder of the postseason. Jackson has already been fined once in the playoffs, and it obviously had no effect on him, so I hope Commissioner Stern will seriously consider at least a one-game suspension for Coach Jackson. Although I know deep down, it will never happen, because Jackson and the league's beloved L.A. Lakers are untouchable and invincible when it comes to things of this nature.
Perhaps Phil Jackson's next book should be called Zen Master: Mastering the Art of Zebra Manipulation.
Jackson accused Nash of carrying, or palming, the basketball when he pushes the ball downcourt. Jackson even went so far as to insinuate that referees give Nash the preferential "superstar" treatment, allowing him to consistently violate the palming rule without ever calling him for a violation. In the first place, I've seen many a player, including Phil's own golden boy, Kobe Bryant, frequently palm the ball when in transition. It's just one of those rules that is rarely enforced in the NBA, such as travelling. I don't know how many times I have seen players take three to four complete steps toward the basket without ever dribbling the ball and get away with it. Secondly, if Jackson wants to point fingers and talk about players receiving the "superstar" treatment, he need look no further than the end of his bench, at Kobe Bryant, whom officials favor like no other player in the league, with the possible exception of Dwyane "I singlehandedly shot more free throws than the opposing team in a game" Wade.
That being said, I should have expected nothing less from "Zen Master" Jackson, who will stop at nothing to give his team an advantage. I can only hope the league executives will see right through his charade and the all-too-convenient timing of his remarks, and not only fine him, but suspend him accordingly. NBA Commissioner David Stern issued an edict earlier in the playoffs which threatened to fine, and possibly take further recourse against, anyone else who made public comments about the officiating during the remainder of the postseason. Jackson has already been fined once in the playoffs, and it obviously had no effect on him, so I hope Commissioner Stern will seriously consider at least a one-game suspension for Coach Jackson. Although I know deep down, it will never happen, because Jackson and the league's beloved L.A. Lakers are untouchable and invincible when it comes to things of this nature.
Perhaps Phil Jackson's next book should be called Zen Master: Mastering the Art of Zebra Manipulation.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Misjudging the Matrix
When I’m wrong, I’m not afraid to admit it, and it seems like I’ve been doing a lot of backtracking lately.Here we go again…
Sometimes, I let my feelings cloud my judgment, especially when it comes to my beloved Mavericks. Personal and professional become a big blur when it comes to the basketball courts, and I have difficulty separating the two sides of every player. For instance, since the 2006 Finals when he was the primary force that stole our championship away from us, I have had an intense dislike and disdain for one Dwyane Wade. Off the court, he seems to be a pretty decent person, but I can’t past the fact that he was “that guy” who almost singlehandedly sent my Mavericks spiraling into the greatest collapse in NBA playoff history. Or that he later talked crap about how Dirk wasn’t a good enough leader. In my mind, even if he somehow managed to end up in a Dallas uniform after this summer, D-Wade would always be a villain to me.
I used to feel the same way about The Matrix, Shawn Marion. I couldn't stand him when he was with the Suns, mostly because he gave Dirk fits playing hellacious defense. So my dislike of him as a player caused me to just dislike him as a person as well. And then he came to Dallas, and everything (ok, maybe it was just my perception of things) began to change. I signed up to follow Matrix on Twitter, and quickly learned he is a very funny guy who likes to laugh, even at his own expense. In January, when I got to spend my week with the team as the HP Insider, that first day I was privileged enough to watch the team practice, he bounded out of the locker room and down to the court, but not without first stopping to shake my hand and introduce himself to me. At the time, he had no idea who I was or why I was there, he was just being friendly.
He ran a Mother's Day contest on his personal web site to honor and recognize single mothers and the important role they play in their children's lives. And this past Thursday, he came back to Dallas and held his own personal Fan Appreciation Day for his Twitter followers. Wednesday night, he posted a message telling everyone to meet him at a movie theater off Webb Chapel and he would send out a password the next day that would get everyone in free (at his expense). Sure enough, Marion showed up as promised and not only paid for all his fans who had arrived, but he also stayed at the theatre as they all enjoyed watching "Iron Man 2" together. Later, he posed for pictures with a few of his fans. Unfortunately, I had to work and could not attend, but I've never heard of any other athlete here in Dallas doing something that awesome for his fans. I've actually never heard of any athlete, period, who did something of that nature.
So, Shawn Marion, let me formally apologize for misjudging you completely. In your time here in Dallas, I have found you to be nothing, if not genuine. You have done much for the community, emphasized the importance of family in your own life, and even shown gratitude and appreciation for your loyal fans. I have really come to admire the person you are off the court, and I hope to see you on the court here in Dallas for a long time to come!
Wrong Again?
Ok, so maybe I was wrong. (It was bound to happen sooner or later, right?)
Maybe Mark Cuban does owe Mavs’ fans an apology after all.
Not for failing to bring a championship to Dallas, despite all his efforts and all the money he has laid out over the past decade, but for letting little Stevie Nash walk away and receiving nothing in return. At the time, his decision seemed to make sense, because Nash was looking for an extended contract, meaning he would be five years older at its conclusion, and he was already starting to show signs of aging and wear and tear. Cuban just couldn’t see spending that kind of money on a point guard whom he believed would be unable to have a real impact on the team a few years down the road.
But Cuban was wrong, too.
Nash went on to become one of a very elite group of back-to-back league MVPs, and keep his Suns in the playoff picture on a regular basis. And just a few short seasons later, when it became evident the Mavericks’ needed some veteran leadership and a higher basketball IQ from the point guard position, Cuban shook things up again and brought in future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd – who is even older than Steve Nash. I love and adore Kidd, don’t get me wrong, and many of the magical moves he makes on the court are unparalleled, even by the likes of Nash, but where was the logic in that move?
Maybe Mark Cuban does owe Mavs’ fans an apology after all.
Not for failing to bring a championship to Dallas, despite all his efforts and all the money he has laid out over the past decade, but for letting little Stevie Nash walk away and receiving nothing in return. At the time, his decision seemed to make sense, because Nash was looking for an extended contract, meaning he would be five years older at its conclusion, and he was already starting to show signs of aging and wear and tear. Cuban just couldn’t see spending that kind of money on a point guard whom he believed would be unable to have a real impact on the team a few years down the road.
But Cuban was wrong, too.
Nash went on to become one of a very elite group of back-to-back league MVPs, and keep his Suns in the playoff picture on a regular basis. And just a few short seasons later, when it became evident the Mavericks’ needed some veteran leadership and a higher basketball IQ from the point guard position, Cuban shook things up again and brought in future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd – who is even older than Steve Nash. I love and adore Kidd, don’t get me wrong, and many of the magical moves he makes on the court are unparalleled, even by the likes of Nash, but where was the logic in that move?
Steve Nash -- Where Amazing Happens
After watching my Mavericks suffer another first round exit, I had already made up my mind that 1) there was no way on God’s green Earth I would be rooting for the Spurs and 2) if I couldn’t watch Dirk get his long overdue championship ring, then the next best thing would be seeing Steve Nash in Phoenix get his. And as I watched the final twelve minutes of the Suns’ masterful elimination of the San Antonio Spurs, I wondered to myself, if the Mavericks would’ve won the series and faced Phoenix in the second round, would we have had a fighting chance? With the way Steve Nash has played so far, I really don’t think so.
Never have I seen anyone – not even my beloved Dirk – play with the passion and fire I saw in Steve Nash’s one good eye during that final fourth quarter against the Spurs. Even being half blind, Nash was the driving force that led the Suns to victory in the game, slashing to the basket, setting up his teammates, and even nailing a three pointer. The Suns won because Steve Nash refused to let them lose.
What Steve Nash did in Game 4 against the Spurs was unbelievable, even for a two-time MVP and future Hall of Famer. During that fourth quarter flurry by the Suns, the AT&T Center was truly “where amazing happens.”
Let’s hope the “aged” Nash can continue to carry the Suns past the lackluster looking LA Lakers and into the NBA Finals, where we’ll see the undersized Canadian one-eyed monster finally lead his crew to glory on the NBA’s biggest stage.
It’s just too bad he’ll be wearing the wrong team colors when he gets there.
Never have I seen anyone – not even my beloved Dirk – play with the passion and fire I saw in Steve Nash’s one good eye during that final fourth quarter against the Spurs. Even being half blind, Nash was the driving force that led the Suns to victory in the game, slashing to the basket, setting up his teammates, and even nailing a three pointer. The Suns won because Steve Nash refused to let them lose.
What Steve Nash did in Game 4 against the Spurs was unbelievable, even for a two-time MVP and future Hall of Famer. During that fourth quarter flurry by the Suns, the AT&T Center was truly “where amazing happens.”
Let’s hope the “aged” Nash can continue to carry the Suns past the lackluster looking LA Lakers and into the NBA Finals, where we’ll see the undersized Canadian one-eyed monster finally lead his crew to glory on the NBA’s biggest stage.
It’s just too bad he’ll be wearing the wrong team colors when he gets there.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
No Big D in Big D?
No sooner had the Mavericks’ season come to an end than my phone rang, and without even looking at the caller ID, I started ranting and raving, knowing full well it could only be one person on the other end of the line: my Dad. In between sentences as I grabbed a breath, Dad took over where I had left off, discussing Dirk and how no one could lay the blame for losing this series at his gigantic feet. And then Dad’s tone of voice shifted, and I knew what was coming. Tears formed in my eyes before I could stop them as I told Dad, "Don't even say it."
"Just hear me out," he said. "I love Dirk as much as anyone, but.."
"No, no, no NO NO!" I cut in.
"...Dirk deserves a ring. Even if it means going somewhere other than Dallas," Dad finished.
He's right, you know, I thought to myself. But the thought of Dirk wearing some other uniform was nothing short of soul crushing.
"He DOES deserve it," I agreed, when I finally found my voice again. "But Dallas without Dirk? And Dirk without Dallas? I can't even imagine it -- I don't want to."
What would the Mavericks be without the player who sometimes seemingly singlehandedly revived the franchise that was on life support through much of the 1990s? I would surely hate to find out, no doubt. And who, as a player and a person, would Dirk Nowitzki be without not only the Mavericks but the fans and the people of Dallas? If Dirk left or was traded or somehow moved to another team, would I still be a Mavs fan, or as fanatical as I am, or would that be the final straw that caused me to switch my NBA allegiance to some other team? I really didn’t have the answers, and I didn’t want to find out the hard way.
Bummed again with the early playoff exit and the prospect of my hero, Dirk, not remaining with the team, I vented my frustrations on my Facebook page, with a status that said something like, “Dirk without Dallas or Dallas without Dirk? It breaks my heart to even consider it,” which prompted several of my friends to chime in and start a discussion of whether or not Dirk would stay and why.
First, there was the money issue. Should Dirk choose to stay, his money (roughly $21 million) would be guaranteed. Secondly, aside from Germany, Dallas is the only home Dirk has known and he has said on numerous occasions that he loves it here and may even consider remaining in the area after his basketball career is over. Also, Dirk has stated in many interviews that he would really love to end his career as a Maverick, having never played with any other NBA franchise, all things that bode well for him staying.
However, Dirk has also mentioned that regardless of whatever individual accolades he receives, his basketball career would not be complete without a championship title, and if he didn’t think he could win one here in Dallas, he would have to consider other options. But where could he go that could guarantee him a legitimate shot at the ring he so desperately desires and definitely deserves?
As I was listening to sports talk radio the next day, the host was also pondering Dirk’s future in Dallas. He even went so far as to suggest that Dirk should take a pay cut and restructure his contract in order to help the Mavericks land a big name (think LeBron or D-Wade) during this summer’s free agency free-for-all. I was immediately incensed at the notion that it was somehow Dirk’s responsibility to sacrifice to bring in someone else. What more do the media, the city of Dallas, or the fans, for that matter, want from Dirk? Hasn’t he done enough already? Even though the Mavericks still remain title-less, Dirk is definitely not the cause, but more the symptom of a larger problem. It’s not that I think Dirk would necessarily object to a restructured contract if he thought it would bring him, and his team, the title. I just don’t think it’s fair to ask him to do it. Even Dirk himself has said before many times, it’s not about the money to him. Dirk doesn’t play for the fame, nor the fortune (he’s already a multimillionaire) nor the celebrity status that goes along with being a professional athlete. He doesn’t even worry about personal achievements and accomplishments. The only things that matter to him are playing for the love of the game, and the ultimate goal of winning a championship.
That ultimate goal is the only reason I could even fathom Dirk not being a Maverick when basketball season rolls back around in this part of the country. But it’s a big reason, one large enough that someone later in his career (see also Karl Malone) might be willing to leave town for, even if it’s the only NBA home he’s ever known.
In a perfect world, 2010-2011 really would be the Dallas Mavericks’ year. They would not only advance past the first round of the playoffs, but they would eventually win the NBA championship and be crowned the best in the basketball world. People here would celebrate Dirk Nowitzki in ways they had never done before, and he would be forever adored and mentioned alongside other legendary Dallas sports superstars such as Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, and Mike Modano (which should already be the case, in my opinion). Dirk and Jason Kidd would both finish their careers here, championship in hand, and eventually both of their jerseys would hang from the rafters of the AAC.
Here’s hoping for perfection, at least in the basketball sense…
"Just hear me out," he said. "I love Dirk as much as anyone, but.."
"No, no, no NO NO!" I cut in.
"...Dirk deserves a ring. Even if it means going somewhere other than Dallas," Dad finished.
He's right, you know, I thought to myself. But the thought of Dirk wearing some other uniform was nothing short of soul crushing.
"He DOES deserve it," I agreed, when I finally found my voice again. "But Dallas without Dirk? And Dirk without Dallas? I can't even imagine it -- I don't want to."
What would the Mavericks be without the player who sometimes seemingly singlehandedly revived the franchise that was on life support through much of the 1990s? I would surely hate to find out, no doubt. And who, as a player and a person, would Dirk Nowitzki be without not only the Mavericks but the fans and the people of Dallas? If Dirk left or was traded or somehow moved to another team, would I still be a Mavs fan, or as fanatical as I am, or would that be the final straw that caused me to switch my NBA allegiance to some other team? I really didn’t have the answers, and I didn’t want to find out the hard way.
Bummed again with the early playoff exit and the prospect of my hero, Dirk, not remaining with the team, I vented my frustrations on my Facebook page, with a status that said something like, “Dirk without Dallas or Dallas without Dirk? It breaks my heart to even consider it,” which prompted several of my friends to chime in and start a discussion of whether or not Dirk would stay and why.
First, there was the money issue. Should Dirk choose to stay, his money (roughly $21 million) would be guaranteed. Secondly, aside from Germany, Dallas is the only home Dirk has known and he has said on numerous occasions that he loves it here and may even consider remaining in the area after his basketball career is over. Also, Dirk has stated in many interviews that he would really love to end his career as a Maverick, having never played with any other NBA franchise, all things that bode well for him staying.
However, Dirk has also mentioned that regardless of whatever individual accolades he receives, his basketball career would not be complete without a championship title, and if he didn’t think he could win one here in Dallas, he would have to consider other options. But where could he go that could guarantee him a legitimate shot at the ring he so desperately desires and definitely deserves?
As I was listening to sports talk radio the next day, the host was also pondering Dirk’s future in Dallas. He even went so far as to suggest that Dirk should take a pay cut and restructure his contract in order to help the Mavericks land a big name (think LeBron or D-Wade) during this summer’s free agency free-for-all. I was immediately incensed at the notion that it was somehow Dirk’s responsibility to sacrifice to bring in someone else. What more do the media, the city of Dallas, or the fans, for that matter, want from Dirk? Hasn’t he done enough already? Even though the Mavericks still remain title-less, Dirk is definitely not the cause, but more the symptom of a larger problem. It’s not that I think Dirk would necessarily object to a restructured contract if he thought it would bring him, and his team, the title. I just don’t think it’s fair to ask him to do it. Even Dirk himself has said before many times, it’s not about the money to him. Dirk doesn’t play for the fame, nor the fortune (he’s already a multimillionaire) nor the celebrity status that goes along with being a professional athlete. He doesn’t even worry about personal achievements and accomplishments. The only things that matter to him are playing for the love of the game, and the ultimate goal of winning a championship.
That ultimate goal is the only reason I could even fathom Dirk not being a Maverick when basketball season rolls back around in this part of the country. But it’s a big reason, one large enough that someone later in his career (see also Karl Malone) might be willing to leave town for, even if it’s the only NBA home he’s ever known.
In a perfect world, 2010-2011 really would be the Dallas Mavericks’ year. They would not only advance past the first round of the playoffs, but they would eventually win the NBA championship and be crowned the best in the basketball world. People here would celebrate Dirk Nowitzki in ways they had never done before, and he would be forever adored and mentioned alongside other legendary Dallas sports superstars such as Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, and Mike Modano (which should already be the case, in my opinion). Dirk and Jason Kidd would both finish their careers here, championship in hand, and eventually both of their jerseys would hang from the rafters of the AAC.
Here’s hoping for perfection, at least in the basketball sense…
Saturday, May 1, 2010
That Old Familiar Feeling
Here comes the hurt again....
"It's just a game, babe," Rickey said, trying to calm me, but having the exact opposite effect. How could I ever make him -- or anyone else for that matter -- understand that it would never be just a game to me? Mavs basketball was -- and is-- my heart and soul, my passion and poison, and above all, my obsession. It's what wakes me up in the morning and what I so often dream about at night.
So watching my team get ousted in the first round for the third time in four years sucked. It hurt, angered, and disappointed me yet again, but the funny thing is, it hurt a little less than it did last year. Or in 2007 against the Golden State Wienies, and way less than it did in 2006, when we were so close to the championship I was already planning on playing hooky from work to attend the parade. It seems the more times the Mavericks have fallen short of their ultimate goal of an NBA title, the easier it has become for me to accept the disappointment. And if it has become that much easier for me as a fan, I have to wonder, is it that easy for the players to accept defeat and start over again in October?
Failure should never be acceptable. Not to the fans, nor to the members of the Dallas Mavericks, nor to the coaching staff. I think that defeatist attitude could be a big part of the Mavericks’ problems. I’ve believed since 2006 that the Mavericks had the primary pieces in place, give or take role players here and there, to make a legitimate championship run. I don’t necessarily believe this team’s problems can be attributed to poor coaching decisions, inadequate talent on the roster, or a lack of the desire, drive, and dedication it takes to win. I do, however, believe for these Mavericks, the trouble is all in their heads – literally. As a whole, this team lacks mental toughness. And it starts at the top, with the foundation of the franchise, none other than our fearless leader, Dirk Nowitzki.
While I would never suggest that this team was anything but tough physically (we’ve seen Dirk, Jet, and Co. play through their pain and injuries many times), what goes on inside their heads is an entirely different story. The three players who remain from the 2006 team that went to the Finals – Dirk, Dampier, and Jet – have still been unable to get past the colossal collapse that cost them the championship. Nor have they overcome the psychological aspects of their first round upset to Golden State (at the hands of former friend and ally, Coach Don Nelson) the following season. And as much as they want to win it all, until they can leave their failures where they belong – in the past – and stop being haunted by opportunities lost, things for this team will never change.
Winners don’t dwell on their mistakes, they focus on their futures. They don’t accept failure, and they realize that finishing in second place simply means you’re the first loser. Until the front office, the ownership, the fans, and especially the Mavericks themselves refuse to settle for anything less than a championship, Dallas will remain (and be remembered as) a really good, not great, team that never could quite get over the hump.
"It's just a game, babe," Rickey said, trying to calm me, but having the exact opposite effect. How could I ever make him -- or anyone else for that matter -- understand that it would never be just a game to me? Mavs basketball was -- and is-- my heart and soul, my passion and poison, and above all, my obsession. It's what wakes me up in the morning and what I so often dream about at night.
So watching my team get ousted in the first round for the third time in four years sucked. It hurt, angered, and disappointed me yet again, but the funny thing is, it hurt a little less than it did last year. Or in 2007 against the Golden State Wienies, and way less than it did in 2006, when we were so close to the championship I was already planning on playing hooky from work to attend the parade. It seems the more times the Mavericks have fallen short of their ultimate goal of an NBA title, the easier it has become for me to accept the disappointment. And if it has become that much easier for me as a fan, I have to wonder, is it that easy for the players to accept defeat and start over again in October?
Failure should never be acceptable. Not to the fans, nor to the members of the Dallas Mavericks, nor to the coaching staff. I think that defeatist attitude could be a big part of the Mavericks’ problems. I’ve believed since 2006 that the Mavericks had the primary pieces in place, give or take role players here and there, to make a legitimate championship run. I don’t necessarily believe this team’s problems can be attributed to poor coaching decisions, inadequate talent on the roster, or a lack of the desire, drive, and dedication it takes to win. I do, however, believe for these Mavericks, the trouble is all in their heads – literally. As a whole, this team lacks mental toughness. And it starts at the top, with the foundation of the franchise, none other than our fearless leader, Dirk Nowitzki.
While I would never suggest that this team was anything but tough physically (we’ve seen Dirk, Jet, and Co. play through their pain and injuries many times), what goes on inside their heads is an entirely different story. The three players who remain from the 2006 team that went to the Finals – Dirk, Dampier, and Jet – have still been unable to get past the colossal collapse that cost them the championship. Nor have they overcome the psychological aspects of their first round upset to Golden State (at the hands of former friend and ally, Coach Don Nelson) the following season. And as much as they want to win it all, until they can leave their failures where they belong – in the past – and stop being haunted by opportunities lost, things for this team will never change.
Winners don’t dwell on their mistakes, they focus on their futures. They don’t accept failure, and they realize that finishing in second place simply means you’re the first loser. Until the front office, the ownership, the fans, and especially the Mavericks themselves refuse to settle for anything less than a championship, Dallas will remain (and be remembered as) a really good, not great, team that never could quite get over the hump.
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