Full Story <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> .<font size="-1">By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News </font> A week from today, the Mavericks will convene for training camp amid league-wide skepticism about their potency. To that, the general, Avery Johnson, can't wait to assure the captain, Dirk Nowitzki, that he will have a capable lieutenant this season. Jason Terry will be Nowitzki's new second-in-command in a Mavericks attack that is certain to have a different look after a massive makeover in the last two summers. Terry will be leaned on to be the Mavericks' No. 2 scoring option after Nowitzki. Last season, Terry averaged 12.4 points. That is unacceptable this season. "Can't do it," Johnson said. "We need him [scoring] in the high teens. He is a scorer, first." Johnson wants Terry to stop thinking of himself as a "combo" guard. He's the Mavericks' point guard, with Doug Christie as the probable new starter at shooting guard. Christie's ability to handle the ball will help free up Terry to shoot. "He's a scoring point guard," Johnson said of Terry. "I want him to make the right pass at the right time and lead. But we need 18 points, too. No pressure. We just need him to be what he was in the playoffs." But having lost Finley and Steve Nash in the last two off-seasons, it will require Johnson to create new offensive options. Hence, Terry's new role. This also is Terry's contract year. He earns $6.666 million in this, the final season of a three-year deal Two years ago, Nash went into the final year of his contract with the Mavericks, and the two sides elected to wait until after the season to work something out. Nash signed with Phoenix as a free agent. Johnson said he expects no problems in getting Terry's deal extended. "It's a different player and a different staff," Johnson said. "I want to move forward with Jason Terry. I think everybody is aware that, as I move forward, I want him as my point guard. And I want to keep developing Devin Harris. I want Devin, Jason and Darrell Armstrong to be the best point guard combination in the league. And they have that potential."</div> What are your expectations for Jet this year?
<font size="-1"> By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News </font> The voice of experience comes in handy when a team is in need of perspective. Darrell Armstrong, who's been around NBA training camps for a dozen years, has watched the Mavericks' point guards for the first week of practices and has drawn a clear conclusion about starter Jason Terry. "He's got to learn he's not a point guard," Armstrong said. "He's a shooting guard. He's a scorer. When he tries to pass the ball, it can be scary sometimes. But when he shoots the ball, he can be dangerous. He's got to learn that. "He knows how to put that ball in the basket, and when he gets that mentality in his head – that he's a scorer – that's when J.T. is going to take his game to another level. "But when he starts trying to be a point guard, then we might be in trouble." Since when did Charles Barkley shrink himself way down so he could fit in Armstrong's body? Armstrong, the backup to Terry and Devin Harris, was giving his unfiltered analysis like Barkley used to poke fun at teammates. But during the Blue-White scrimmage on Sunday at American Airlines Center, it was a prime example of what Armstrong was talking about. Terry, who had six points, two assists and three turnovers, was at his best when he was receiving passes, not dishing them. Coach Avery Johnson said Terry "absolutely" is a better scorer than passer, although his distribution of the ball is improving. "He's not coming into every game looking to get 15 assists," Johnson said. "He's looking to get 15 points. I need him to do what he does best. "It [Sunday's game] is just what we wanted. It's not like we want J.T. to never initiate the offense. We just want him to mix it up more. We want him to initiate it some. We want him receiving it a lot." Terry spotted up for a jumper when Dirk Nowitzki hit him with a nice pass on the wing. He also split the defense for a couple of midrange shots. It's what Johnson wants to see more of as the preseason progresses. "He knows he has a lot of weapons on this team," Jerry Stackhouse said of Terry. "And he doesn't want to get into a thing where he's not getting everybody involved. So he has a fine line to straddle. It's his job, and he knows he has to come out and deliver for us." Stackhouse has taken to calling Terry "Johnny Stockton" because he sometimes tries to make too-perfect passes like the former Utah great did. But this season, the shots will be prettier for Terry than the passes.
That what we need Terry to do, score. Thats what Finley was here for but he was way too inconsistent. Terry is an efficient scorer too. I hope we use his scoring ability to its fullest.
