It's funny hearing Bill Walton talk about how bad Dampier is yet he still gets 12 rebounds and 2 blocks and hustling tonight.
Maybe but Dampier's main struggle is consistency. He seems very lethargic in some games. He does seem to play his best against Shaq though. Maybe motivation is partially the answer.
Indeed, contrary to popular belief Erick Dampier is pretty important to Dallas When Damp has 8 or more rebounds, Dallas' record is 8-2 and we average 47% FG and defend at 43% FG (ie the other team shoots at 43%). Compare this to when he has less than 8 rebounds, Dallas is 7-4 and we score at 46% and defend at 46%. Dallas is just a better team when Dampier is playing better, unfortunately thats been under half the season. Dallas also grabs 3 extra rebounds in the games when Damp has +8 rebounds
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> It will take more than one night like Wednesday's workmanlike showing by Erick Dampier to change the ever-growing criticism he's getting, which has reached nationwide proportions. ESPN analyst Bill Walton is the latest to jump on the bandwagon. Walton was at American Airlines Center for Wednesday night's game, and he said the ineffectiveness of Dampier has become too obvious to ignore. "The Mavericks are the second-best team in the Western Conference right now, clearly a step behind San Antonio because of the limitations of Erick Dampier," Walton said before tip-off. "The toughest thing for all these guys who play their hearts out every game is to dragged down by Erick Dampier." The 6-11 center was averaging 6.0 points and 7.2 rebounds in 24 minutes per game going into Wednesday's contest against Phoenix. He had a solid night's work with 12 rebounds and two blocks against the Suns. But Walton said the Mavericks are no better off with Dampier as their center than they were in years past. "It looked like they were moving forward when they bought out Shawn Bradley's contract," Walton said. "Now, they still have him. His name just changed to Erick Dampier." </div> Source
Erick Dampier is far better than Shawn Bradley. At least Dampier can clog up the middle on defense and Bradley never rebounded well. Dampier with more minutes would be borderline double double.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mavsfan1000:</div><div class="quote_post">Erick Dampier is far better than Shawn Bradley. At least Dampier can clog up the middle on defense and Bradley never rebounded well. Dampier with more minutes would be borderline double double.</div>The only way Damp becomes a borderline double double is if he begins to care. He hasn't yet this year, and didn't last year. The only reason he performed well a couple seasons ago was the fact that it was his contract year and he wanted to cash in on the big bucks. Now that he got what he wanted last season, what's his incentive to play?
It'd be great if Cuban had some sort of option where it's a team option every year. But I believe theres a clause somwhere in that contract right? Isn't if he's not an all-star at least once or averaging a double double then the 7th year isnt guaranteed..I thought I read something about it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Maverick:</div><div class="quote_post">It'd be great if Cuban had some sort of option where it's a team option every year. But I believe theres a clause somwhere in that contract right? Isn't if he's not an all-star at least once or averaging a double double then the 7th year isnt guaranteed..I thought I read something about it.</div> So expect Dampier to show up just in time for the 7th season clause. I agree, he is better than Bradley, but Dampier owes this team a lot more than the effort he's put forth so far. Even though he's lazy there's no better motivation than humiliating a player and having a short leash with them. Avery Johnson just needs to break him down mentally and hopefully Dampier responds. He showed improvement after Dirk got in his ear during the playoffs, and I know Dampier doesn't like being called out in public. Avery should try starting him, the minute Dampier makes a mistake, he gets sent straight to the bench and Diop comes in. Then bust his butt again in practices making work twice as hard for messing up. Dampier will eventually get the message.
I knew paying him all that money would come back and bite us in the behind. The Mavs should bench him and play Diop more IMO
Diop though has trouble guarding his man. He is great on off the ball but needs to position himself better on defense. Dampier knows to fall for all the pump fakes also. Only the athletic centers give Dampier trouble.
Allow us to retort: The Mavericks let comments by ESPN/ABC analyst Bill Walton slide off their backs. Walton said Wednesday that the Mavericks were being "dragged down" by Erick Dampier. On Thursday, Dampier did not wish to address the comments. But coach Avery Johnson did. "The particular guy that's in question got 12 rebounds," Johnson said of Dampier's effort against Phoenix. "And did you see him guarding Steve Nash about seven times." That was taken from a DMN article, gotta love AJ.
Atleast AJ is defending him. It looks like he still believes in Dampier. Hopefully, Damp can be what we want him to be more consistently.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mavsfan1000:</div><div class="quote_post">It's funny hearing Bill Walton talk about how bad Dampier is yet he still gets 12 rebounds and 2 blocks and hustling tonight. </div> The point is he got a 70 million dollar contract that he should not get anywhere near as much as that. If we wanted 12 rebounds and 2 blocks a night we could get alot of others for alot less. Damp does not have heart and if he accually tried as hard as he could then he could be a 15 10 guy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mavsfan1000:</div><div class="quote_post">Diop though has trouble guarding his man. He is great on off the ball but needs to position himself better on defense. Dampier knows to fall for all the pump fakes also. Only the athletic centers give Dampier trouble.</div> that is a great point and post...you are right on the money.
Yeah Dampier did get overpaid but that was because Dallas desperately needed a center. Now Dallas has 2 good centers and Mbenga is starting to become a decent center. At the time Dallas was willing to overpay for a center. Dampier could be better but what he does helps more than noticed.
I wouldn't say MBenga is starting to become a decent center yet But the matter of the fact is, Dallas needed a center and Erick Dampier was the only option available. We signed him and we haven't looked better these past two years, for all the slack we give him he seems to only occasionly have really bad games..he forces other centers to guard him (so they can't double Dirk) and he can still be a "force" in the paint
Good point. It seems he is getting better every game. I think he starting out after that injury and was a step slow. It took him awhile to get going and now he seems to be pretty active for a big guy. I think Mbenga is a decent center or Avery Johnson wouldn't play him. It is unfortunate for Mbenga that he has to 2 quality centers ahead of him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Maverick:</div><div class="quote_post">I wouldn't say MBenga is starting to become a decent center yet But the matter of the fact is, Dallas needed a center and Erick Dampier was the only option available. We signed him and we haven't looked better these past two years, for all the slack we give him he seems to only occasionly have really bad games..he forces other centers to guard him (so they can't double Dirk) and he can still be a "force" in the paint</div> you are right...it cant bee seen on the box score, or even really pointed out, but just him there alters the whole way the oponnent plays the game.
