It will be an interesting season for DJ MBenga and DeSagana Diop. This can be a thread where we can look at their games and speak about them, post articles/pictures whatever. Like a notebook, feel free to post whatever you want (predictions and ****) <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font size="+2"> Mavs' Diop is wiser and thinner now </font> <font size="+1"> After cashing in during off-season, center gets eight rebounds in debut </font> <font size="-1"> 12:57 AM CDT on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 </font> <font size="-1"> By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News </font> SACRAMENTO, Calif. ? When training camp opened in Cleveland, one topic discussed in the locker room was how DeSagana Diop got a $6.5 million, three-year contract from the Mavericks. If that's what was on the Cavaliers' minds, no wonder LeBron James and Co. have trouble making the playoffs. But that's another story. Diop's more worried about how his tale ends. First, Diop (whose name is pronounced sa-GAH-na JOP) will have to write Chapter 1, which he's doing in training camp. "I feel like I'm a rookie," Diop said Tuesday, when the Mavericks started the preseason against the Sacramento Kings. "It's a brand new team and I'm in shape." And he's not in Cleveland. Is he glad? "Glad? I'm so happy," he said. "I didn't know where I was going back there. I'm glad to be out of there." The 7-footer from Senegal was the No. 8 overall pick in 2001. He never earned consistent time in Cleveland. His weight peaked at 325 pounds and was the biggest obstacle. So his first project as a Maverick was to rework his body. Diop now carries 270 pounds, and coach Avery Johnson said the 23-year-old is ahead of schedule. It didn't take long Tuesday for him to show he's improved. In seven first-quarter minutes of the Mavericks' 96-83 win over the Kings, Diop had three rebounds and a block and was active all over the court. He finished with eight rebounds and two blocks. "It's been a pretty fierce competition at center," Johnson said. "If today was the first regular-season game, he would be my first center off the bench." So what did Diop give up to get his weight under control? "Wings, fried food and beef," he said. Despite playing only 39 games last season, shooting 29 percent, averaging 1.8 rebounds and missing 33 games because of coach's decision, Diop had options this summer. New York and Seattle put feelers out for him. Early returns suggest that the Mavericks might end up with a nice return on their investment.</div>
<font size="-1"> </font><div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font size="-1">By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News </font> The education of Mavericks center D.J. Mbenga has been a slow process in more ways than one. Last season, the 7-footer was a stranger in a strange land. You half expected Mavericks coach Avery Johnson to go into that southern twang and say: "What we have here is a failure to communicate." Mbenga spent his whole life, either in his native Congo, or playing basketball in Belgium. He was comfortable speaking French, Portuguese or two Congan dialects. English? Not so much. When things were coming at him fast and furious in practices or games, processing the information wasn't easy. "This year, my English is better, and I can communicate ? that's very important," Mbenga said. So it's taken some time, whether it's learning English or the NBA. Mbenga knows that perhaps playing as much as 20 minutes per game behind starting center Erick Dampier is up for grabs. DeSagana Diop was brought in as a free agent and would be the backup center if the season began today. But Mbenga has been showing flashes of grasping the game. He tries not to go for every pump fake, a habit that induced rapid foul trouble last season in his brief stays on the court. He played 58 minutes and had 13 fouls, two fewer fouls than points (15) last season. When you are as athletic as the 7-0 Mbenga, however, it's hard not to try to make every play. He runs the floor as well as any Mavericks big man, including Dirk Nowitzki. Mbenga jumps well enough to be a defensive force. "He just still doesn't know all the ins and outs of the game," Johnson said. "He started playing basketball so late in life that he's still catching up." Mbenga, 24, has only been playing seriously for the last five years. He's still got far more potential than he can actually deliver in his second training camp. But at least the gap is narrowing. "I think it's possible to contribute," he said. "It depends on me. I'm still learning. </div> I am really excited for DJ MBenga, from the boxscores of our two preseason games it looks as if his fouls have gone down. I am hoping he can get 5-10 minutes per game this season, it's the best place to learn. He provides defense and 6 more fouls
I'm not familiar with DJ MBenga at all, but I really don't think that Dasagna Diop can be a contributer in the NBA. He has all the tools to be a great player, but it's not about the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog. If he had a killer instinct and a great work ethic, Diop could be one of the league's best players, but so could a lot of players like Olowokandi, Tsakalidis, Swift, etc. Now that he has a guaranteed contract, I just can't see Diop becoming any more motivated than he was in Cleveland.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not familiar with DJ MBenga at all, but I really don't think that Dasagna Diop can be a contributer in the NBA. He has all the tools to be a great player, but it's not about the size of the dog in the fight. If he had a killer instinct and a great work ethic, Diop could be one of the league's best players, but so could a lot of players like Olowokandi, Tsakalidis, Swift, etc. Now that he has a guaranteed contract, I just can't see Diop becoming any more motivated than he was in Cleveland.</div> I understand your point, but to say he's not motivated doesn't seem right to me. Would someone not motivated lose 60 pounds just so he could get more game time? I don't think so. Avery has said he has a high basketball IQ for a center and he is looking impressive in preseason so far (5 points/4.5 rebounds/1.5 blocks in only 20 minutes), yes I know, not the worlds most impressive stats but he gives 15-20 minute break to Erick Dampier and provides another defensive prescence. His offense is horrible, but his shotblocking and rebounding is making Avery proud. DJ MBenga is from Congo, undrafted dude who is one of the most athletic players in the league. Seriously, he's one built mofo with a blackbelt in Judo. He's like a more athletic raw DeSagana Diop, sounds good eh? But he needs to work on his fouls, as he really bites every pump fake. He's a good shotblocker as shown by the Summer League, but he needs to be able to understand the game better if he wants more playing time. Could benefit in the D-League with the Fort Worth Fylers
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Maverick:</div><div class="quote_post"> Could benefit in the D-League with the Fort Worth Fylers</div> I do not agree wit this one. MBenga already played in Belgians best team and won two championships over here. He was very raw, but what he needs is practising with the best guys out there. He is a slow learner, not very intelligent. Putting him away in D-league will only slow his development down.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Diop hits game-winner NEW YORK -- DeSagana Diop showed Sunday night why the Mavericks signed him to a three-year, $7 million free-agent contract. And then some. Diop blocked five shots and scored the game-winning basket as the Mavs eased to a dramatic 104-102 win over the New York Knicks. Diop's winning basket came on a tip-in as time expired, improving the Mavs' preseason record to 2-1. "He had a couple of shots that didn't go, but he was big with a lot of those blocks," coach Avery Johnson said. "That's why he's here. "If you ask him what's his primary job, he better say block shots first." Asked after the game what his primary job will be, and Diop said: "To block shots." Four of Diop's blocks came in the fourth quarter. "That's what I do, man, just go out there and try to block every shot," Diop said. "But on the last shot ... I was lucky the ball came to my hands. Thank God, it went in. "[The Knicks] know I can block shots. They just kept trying me." A 7-foot backup center to Erick Dampier, Diop said this was the first time he hit a game-winning shot since his senior year in high school.</div> Link
I like this post, Mav. Not just because it's about Mavericks, either. Mbenga and Diop are the wild cards. It seems to me that Diop is taking the edge here, too, since he's had less opportunity and has done more per capita seeing as Mbenga has already been a mediocre player getting minutes and plays the reserve banger role like a Congoan-banjo. Very likely these two players could work together and create a nice little defensive push from the bench. The signs are there. Preseason or not, I don't think most people thought Diop had 5 blocks in him (as he put up against NYK) and Mbenga was pretty important in some of the last 18 (when Avery took the reigns) games for the Mavs last season. That being said, I can't say either of these guys are going to be big time players, but I do see them having the opportunity to not only boost the Mavs in their biggest area of need, center, and I feel like there is a good chance that these guys are the future Jahidi-Whites-Steven-Hunters-Marc-Jacksons of the league since they are in a soft market. They aren't great players but when compared to other centers they look pretty sharp. In all honesty, I don't see any reason Diop can't succeed. I mean in excess of being a quality journeyman for 10 different benches. I'm sure everyone will have a time with this but: I see a fair deal of similarity between Diop and Ben Wallace. Their playing style is very close, they are both rebounding/blocking specialists who don't desire to do much else. They also are both players who have had to hang around the league a bit before there was any talk about them at all. When Wallace came out of Virginia Union (although he's from White Hall, Alabama), he wasn't even drafted. He floated from the then-garbage Wizards (where he played very little) to the also crappy Orlando Magic (where the team's acquisition of him was seen much like Dallas' acquisition of Diop). See, a player who is hired to be the last resort backup for a lower-tier team will be just that. The player must first be given opportunity. Diop, similar to Wallace is a player who has been hired a few times as a blocks-only guy who can get in for a few minutes to rough things up. That's exactly what he's been. He's done what he was asked. Now, what if they start asking him to be a 20-minute rumbler who drives opponents crazy? Maybe he again can respond with a big ol' "I'm on it." Remember, though, Diop's still 23 (Ben Wallace was 24 before he even got a legit chance), he was drafted into a losing situation in Cleveland at the age of 18 and they quickly gave up on him, and his numbers per 48 have always been decent. I remember a quote from someone in the Cavs organization a few years back who basically said: We like his upside, but we don't have the time to develop it. Same thing happened with DeJuan Wagner, but I digress. Whether he's the new Ben Wallace or the next Chris Dudley, he's a player who wants to get in and mix it up a bit. Mbenga has the same attitude with a slightly different skill set, so the Mavs should have some fun surprising teams with their bench this year.
<font size="-1">By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News </font> CHARLOTTE, N.C. ? There's no controversy brewing. Not yet, at least. But DeSagana Diop is playing his way into an upgraded role with performances like Friday's, when he was clearly the best center on the court. The Mavericks will continue to rely on starter Erick Dampier. But Diop's work against the Charlotte Bobcats was a blueprint for what coach Avery Johnson wants out of the center position. Diop had six points, eight rebounds and three blocks in nearly 26 minutes, controlling the interior at the defensive end in particular. "That's a healthy line," assistant coach Del Harris said of the statistical output Diop had. Johnson, however, tempered his enthusiasm about Diop. "It's too early," he said. "It's hard to trust anybody after five games. But I like him in the game for us." Diop even made both his free throws, the first ones he's made since the 2003-04 season. He was 0-for-5 last season and missed his first three tries this season. "I feel comfortable, like I can be an asset without even scoring a point," Diop said. "If I can do that every night, it would be good." Dirk Nowitzki said Dampier has had solid moments so far this season, but having Diop in reserve is big for the Mavericks. "Every time [Diop] comes in the game, I tell him to block every shot he can," Nowitzki said. "I really like him. He's a shot blocker, and that's what we need, especially when Damp is in foul trouble or if he is a little injury prone."
From what I saw in the Sixers game the other night, he nabbed most of his blocks the minute he hit the floor. It will be intresting to see how he`ll progress throughout the season.
Mav's Diop Patrols Middle <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">CHARLOTTE, N.C. ? There's no controversy brewing. Not yet, at least. But DeSagana Diop is playing his way into an upgraded role with performances like Friday's, when he was clearly the best center on the court. The Mavericks will continue to rely on starter Erick Dampier. But Diop's work against the Charlotte Bobcats was a blueprint for what coach Avery Johnson wants out of the center position. Diop had six points, eight rebounds and three blocks in nearly 26 minutes, controlling the interior at the defensive end in particular. "That's a healthy line," assistant coach Del Harris said of the statistical output Diop had. Johnson, however, tempered his enthusiasm about Diop. "It's too early," he said. "It's hard to trust anybody after five games. But I like him in the game for us." Diop even made both his free throws, the first ones he's made since the 2003-04 season. He was 0-for-5 last season and missed his first three tries this season. "I feel comfortable, like I can be an asset without even scoring a point," Diop said. "If I can do that every night, it would be good." Dirk Nowitzki said Dampier has had solid moments so far this season, but having Diop in reserve is big for the Mavericks. "Every time [Diop] comes in the game, I tell him to block every shot he can," Nowitzki said. "I really like him. He's a shot blocker, and that's what we need, especially when Damp is in foul trouble or if he is a little injury prone." </div> Source
Damn does Dirk like Damp at all! Had a good season "so far". Diop is a real big pick-up for us that hasn't been noticed yet because of IMO the stupidity of Avery. Soon he will be set free to the Lions and show that he's committed to playing hard nosed ball. I wouldn't lose 30-40 pounds over the summer just to sit on the bench.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OKLAHOMA CITY - Noting the positive contributions of DeSagana Diop has been a somewhat repetitive activity since the start of training camp. There's a reason. Short on game experience but long on potential, the backup center has impressed since the Mavericks' first practice. Now he is doing it in games. Diop went into Saturday night's 109-103 victory over the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets eighth in the NBA in blocked shots at 2.4 per game and averaging 14.2 minutes per game. "He's been steady," coach Avery Johnson said, careful not to heap too much praise on the 23-year-old, but noting Diop's defensive contributions. Diop tallied three blocks and a season-high eight rebounds in Friday's 98-88 victory at Charlotte, and his 25 minutes were five more than starter Erick Dampier. "It feels good when you're making plays, even when you're not scoring," said Diop, who didn't have a block Saturday in 13 minutes. "Everyone on the team recognizes."</div> http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketba...ks/13157687.htm
I'm just curious: what did Avery do to hinder him? ("stupidity") I thought Mbenga would probably be in his way, but Coach saw through that and let Diop get some PT. I think he's starting to get some recognition. And, I stand by my statement above that he has inherent Ben Wallace skills. Hey, if you called it, you'd point it out too.
