<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">DALLAS -- There's a certain spot where Erick Dampier likes the ball, and if he's getting it there, he knows what to do with it. Lately, Dampier has found that comfort zone. So have the Mavericks, a team with a 10-game winning streak on the line tonight against Toronto at American Airlines Center. "The one thing about most big men is you've got to give them the opportunity to see the ball," point guard Anthony Johnson said Tuesday. "You can't really hit them with no-looks and passes that come at 100 mph. When Damp is in the game, I try to bounce the ball where he can find it and zoom in, and give him space to make things happen." Dampier's primary responsibilities, reiterated by coach Avery Johnson, are rebounding, blocking shots, setting strong picks and being a force inside. That hasn't changed. The offensive production isn't being ignored. Dampier is averaging 9.3 points -- 11.3 in the last eight games -- after averaging just 5.8 in his first two seasons with the Mavs. One of the reasons is an emphasis in practice on building a rapport between Dampier and point guards Devin Harris, Jason Terry and Anthony Johnson. Developmental assistant Popeye Jones, a former power forward, has worked extensively with Dampier on footwork and hand-eye coordination. "Damp is finishing better this year inside than he ever has here as a Maverick," Avery Johnson said. "He's becoming a little bit more of a presence down there. He's catching the ball, he's finishing better, he's a threat and guys are looking for him. That's something we didn't have last year."</div> Source
It wouldn't happen to be his walk year, would it? I don't mean to sound cynical, but he was an out and out slug for Golden State until his contract year, when he averaged a double double and started rumbling toe to toe with guys like Shaq and Garnett. The rep on him around here was that he'd lose interest in the game unless he got his touches early, which begs the question; what use is a career mediocrity who's shown his mediocrity is the result of apathy? That was pretty cynical, actually...
Montaman, you are quickly becoming one of my favorite posters on JBB Yeah, it's too bad Erick Dampier was such an underachiever. His bad hands were almost tolerable if he could play like how he was playing in 2003-04 season. If we had an Erick Dampier at full potential, I think we could have made the playoffs sooner and we wouldn't have to do this small ball stuff. We just can't match up with any team that has a good center and a decent backcourt. But Dampier has sure looked nice for Dallas when he was on a roll with 15+ rebound games and putbacks and 1.5 blocks a game.
Thanks, I'm flattered. Not as flattered as I would be if Erick Dampier showed up at my house and said, "Hey man, you were right, I need to quit dogging it," and went on to average 25/15 till he was 45, then thanked me in his hall of fame speech. But with every day that passes, I start to think it might not happen.
