MAVERICKS CAMP <font size="-1">By Dwain Price</font> <font size="-1">Star-Telegram Staff Writer </font> 21 Days to the Mavericks' season opener at the Phoenix Suns, 9:30 p.m. Nov. 1, TNT Christie's return Doug Christie will return to Arco Arena at 9 tonight when the Mavericks open preseason play against the Sacramento Kings. However, don't expect Christie to get any playing time against the Kings. Why? "Because it's a coach's decision," coach Avery Johnson said. "You ever heard of a coach's decision? At the end of my career I experienced a lot of those." This is Christie's first trip to Arco Arena since the Kings traded him Jan. 10 to the Orlando Magic. He spent four-plus seasons with the Kings and was their starting shooting guard and defensive mainstay during their glory days. Christie, who is recuperating from off-season left ankle surgery, isn't bothered that he won't get to show the Kings what they've missed. "It's a little different going back to Sacramento," Christie said. "But right now with the schedule of what we're trying to do to make sure that I'm ready for the regular season, [tonight's] just not in the schedule of those things." For Christie, part of that schedule includes making sure the Mavs remember to play defense. In fact, Christie said that with the exception of the 1994-95 season, when he played for the Pat Riley-coached New York Knicks -- this training camp has more defensive intensity than any he's attended. "But [the '94 camp] was overboard a little bit," Christie said. "This is something that hopefully gets ingrained in us." Between the cracks Josh Howard doesn't mind telling anyone that he misses Michael Finley. Finley helped Howard during his transition from college to the NBA. Their lockers also were beside each other's. "He was my locker mate," Howard said. "I was telling somebody the other day that he was worth a lot to me because he would talk to me between those cracks between our lockers, and I'm going to miss him when it comes to stuff like that." 20-SECOND TIMEOUT: ERICK DAMPIER Q: What was your favorite subject growing up? A: I was pretty good with numbers, so I love math. Q: You're 6-foot-11. When did you start growing? A: I hit my growth spurt in the sixth and seventh grades. I probably grew a total of five inches then, going from 6-2 to 6-7. Q: What would be your line of work if you weren't in the NBA? A: I've always had a business mind, so I would be running my own business. Q: What's your all-time favorite movie? A: Harlem Nights. I just like the characters who were in that movie. I like comedies, and you have a lot of history in that movie with Eddie Murphy and Redd Foxx.
MAVERICKS CAMP Star-Telegram 19 Days to the Mavericks' season opener at the Phoenix Suns, 9:30 p.m. Nov. 1, TNT Taking charge LOS ANGELES -- The Mavericks' coaching staff, like all the rest, chart many facets of the game not found on the stat sheet. Things like deflections, help-side defense and charges. Coach Avery Johnson was pleased with the number of charges his team took in Tuesday's preseason win at Sacramento. "Some of our players try to make fun of our charging drill, but when you see guys actually taking more charges in the game, it's worth it," Johnson said before Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. So what's a charging drill? Johnson was mum on the details, but said: "It involves running over somebody." Doug Christie has made a living out of taking charges, but he hasn't actually taken part in Johnson's drill. He did say it's not as physical as the one Pat Riley used to run with the New York Knicks. Johnson's version, Christie continued, is more effective ... and more fun. "You see DA getting in front of Pavel and think, 'Oh, shoot,'" Christie said. Darrell Armstrong, 6-foot-1, is listed at 180 pounds; Pavel Podkolzin, 7-5 and 260. So what does it take to get through the drill? "You've got to take two in a row," Devin Harris said. Giving back Each of the Mavs players will hand out autographed photos to fans before every game -- home and away -- this season. The new pregame routine began Tuesday night at Arco Arena. "It's our response to the dress code," Mark Cuban said. "The best way to improve our image is to show what kind of people we are. "Last year, we put our hands over our hearts [during the national anthem]. This is ... different. Why not take five minutes and hand out signed pictures." Sitting out Dirk Nowitzki, Erick Dampier, Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Van Horn were given the night off by Avery Johnson. Van Horn sprained his thumb Tuesday night at Sacramento but could have played if it was a regular-season game. Statistical anomaly Dirk Nowitzki's 3-pointer Tuesday at Sacramento was the Mavs' only attempt from beyond the arc. "Really?" Avery Johnson deadpanned. "That's good coaching." They averaged 15.5 a game last season. Johnson said that won't necessarily be the case this year. "I'm just looking at good and bad," he said. "If you have 20 good ones, take them. Like everybody, we want more points in the paint." Cassell interest The Mavs had discussions with Minnesota about trading for point guard Sam Cassell this summer involving Michael Finley and Tariq Abdul-Wahad. Cassell was dealt to the Clippers instead. -- Art Garcia
MAVERICKS CAMP Star-Telegram 19 Days to the Mavericks' season opener at the Phoenix Suns, 9:30 p.m. Nov. 1, TNT Taking charge LOS ANGELES -- The Mavericks' coaching staff, like all the rest, chart many facets of the game not found on the stat sheet. Things like deflections, help-side defense and charges. Coach Avery Johnson was pleased with the number of charges his team took in Tuesday's preseason win at Sacramento. "Some of our players try to make fun of our charging drill, but when you see guys actually taking more charges in the game, it's worth it," Johnson said before Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. So what's a charging drill? Johnson was mum on the details, but said: "It involves running over somebody." Doug Christie has made a living out of taking charges, but he hasn't actually taken part in Johnson's drill. He did say it's not as physical as the one Pat Riley used to run with the New York Knicks. Johnson's version, Christie continued, is more effective ... and more fun. "You see DA getting in front of Pavel and think, 'Oh, shoot,'" Christie said. Darrell Armstrong, 6-foot-1, is listed at 180 pounds; Pavel Podkolzin, 7-5 and 260. So what does it take to get through the drill? "You've got to take two in a row," Devin Harris said. Giving back Each of the Mavs players will hand out autographed photos to fans before every game -- home and away -- this season. The new pregame routine began Tuesday night at Arco Arena. "It's our response to the dress code," Mark Cuban said. "The best way to improve our image is to show what kind of people we are. "Last year, we put our hands over our hearts [during the national anthem]. This is ... different. Why not take five minutes and hand out signed pictures." Sitting out Dirk Nowitzki, Erick Dampier, Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Van Horn were given the night off by Avery Johnson. Van Horn sprained his thumb Tuesday night at Sacramento but could have played if it was a regular-season game. Statistical anomaly Dirk Nowitzki's 3-pointer Tuesday at Sacramento was the Mavs' only attempt from beyond the arc. "Really?" Avery Johnson deadpanned. "That's good coaching." They averaged 15.5 a game last season. Johnson said that won't necessarily be the case this year. "I'm just looking at good and bad," he said. "If you have 20 good ones, take them. Like everybody, we want more points in the paint." Cassell interest The Mavs had discussions with Minnesota about trading for point guard Sam Cassell this summer involving Michael Finley and Tariq Abdul-Wahad. Cassell was dealt to the Clippers instead. -- Art Garcia
MAVERICKS CAMP By Mercedes Mayer Star-Telegram Staff Writer 18 Days to the Mavericks' season opener at the Phoenix Suns, 9:30 p.m. Nov. 1, TNT Film material The Mavericks left the West Coast with more than a split against Sacramento and the Los Angeles Clippers. The two preseason games should give the coaching staff plenty to break down and study. "We've got great film material," coach Avery Johnson said. "Great stuff to watch and learn from. This is a learning experience." Johnson gave Dirk Nowitzki, Erick Dampier, Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Van Horn the night off in Wednesday's 95-80 loss to the Clippers. And Doug Christie and Jason Terry did not play in Tuesday's 96-83 win over the Kings in Sacramento. Resting the veterans allowed for extended looks at younger players, such as DeSagana Diop, Josh Powell, DJ Mbenga and Rawle Marshall. Johnson said the rotation will tighten up as the preseason continues. "We accomplished on this road trip what we wanted to accomplish," he said. "We had a set rotation coming into the trip, and we got in just what we planned on." With many of the younger reserve players on the floor along with free agents Erick Strickland and Kaniel Dickens, the Mavericks were outscored 55-28 in the second and third quarters against the Kings. "The guys competed. We just struggled to score," Johnson said. "That happens sometimes when the ball is just not going in the basket." While it's difficult to draw many parallels from the two games because of the changing lineups, the trio of Josh Howard, Marquis Daniels and Devin Harris was solid. Christie played 12 minutes against Los Angeles and Johnson wants his minutes in the 20s by the end of preseason. Athletic Mavs Up and down the roster, it's obvious through two games that the team is more athletic than last season. The additions of Doug Christie and DeSagana Diop, and rookies Josh Powell and Rawle Marshall, have changed the overall tenor of the squad. Athleticism doesn't necessarily mean better basketball. "If you ask our strength and conditioning coach, he'd tell you we're more athletic, just in terms of testing," Keith Van Horn said. "But that doesn't always mean a lot. We'll see how it transfers to the court. "You have to think the games as well as be an athlete and be talented. Hopefully, it will develop and that athleticism will show up out there on the court." Briefs Jerry Stackhouse did not practice Thursday because of a sore knee. X-rays on Keith Van Horn's sprained thumb were negative. Van Horn injured the thumb against Sacramento and did not play in the Clippers game. Up next Sunday at New York, 5 p.m. 20 SECOND TIMEOUT: MARK CUBAN Q: We know you're a big workout guru, when did that start? A: After I sold my first company. I started working out when I was 35-36 years old. When I was in college, I worked out, then I turned into a fat pig after I started my first business. I didn't make time to work out, then got back into it. Q: Was there a reason you got back into it? A: I couldn't fit into any clothes. I was a pig. When I would take a brisk walk, my belly would jumble and the trees would rustle -- I knew it was time to work out. Q: So buying the Mavs didn't have anything to do with using the workout facility? A: No, no [laughs]. It would be a lot cheaper to just work out at the Premiere Club. But it's nice. It's created a nice little game day routine for me. That helps. Even then, I gain weight during the season and I try to take it off during the off-season. This season my goal is to keep the weight off.
