PLAYOFF NOTESMavericks get to watch, waitBy JEFF CAPLANSTAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITERMEMPHIS -- With plenty of down time coming to the Mavericks after Monday's sweep of Memphis, there'll be lots of time to debate when exactly excessive rest turns to rust.The more intriguing discussion will revolve around who the Mavs want: a 44-win Sacramento team that surged after the addition of Ron Artest, or the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, who seemed to have a mental headlock on the Mavs throughout the decade."It doesn't matter. I really believe that," Adrian Griffin said. "It's a new year, a new coach, new players, new attitudes. I don't see why we would concern ourselves with the past."That series, tied 2-2, resumes tonight and is guaranteed to run through Friday and possibly Sunday, if a Game 7 is necessary.Playing Sacramento would seem to be more advantageous. Dallas would have home-court advantage, and it won two of three from the Kings this season, including a 127-101 blowout April 4.The Spurs continue to be the stick by which the Mavs are measured. Dallas earned a franchise-tying 60 wins yet still lived in the shadow of the Spurs, who won the Midwest Division with a franchise-record 63 victories.If the Spurs advance, they could be in an immediate hole. If they end it in six games, they face the long, late-night flight home and a likely quick turnaround for Game 1.Seven games would probably mean one day of rest for either team."I just want it to go seven games because it wears you down," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said. "One day of rest after a seven-game series is not easy to do. We've been through it. That, I think, gives us the biggest advantage."Harris back in actionAfter playing only seven minutes in Game 3, backup point guard Devin Harris played 18 minutes in Game 4 in a game coach Avery Johnson said he had pinpointed as one in which he wanted Harris to show positive signs.Harris continues to work his way back from a quadriceps injury that wiped out nearly the last quarter of the regular season. Monday, he had six points, three assists and no turnovers."Devin Harris made a step forward for us tonight no matter what the stats showed," Johnson said. "He did some really nice stuff on the court in terms of running our team and dictating the tempo we wanted to play."Daniels outMarquis Daniels sat out Monday's game because of a strained right hamstring but said before the game that he was still having stiffness in his left hamstring, too.Daniels strained his left hamstring during the last game of the regular season April 19. He said he injured the right side during the first quarter of Saturday's Game 3."Hamstrings are kind of hard," Daniels said. "You play and you're still trying to rehab it."Daniels tried to jog during Sunday's practice but instead just had a walk-through.Playoffs not Miller timeMemphis' Mike Miller, the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year, started Game 4 in place of injured forward Eddie Jones.While he got off to a hot start, hitting two 3-pointers in the first quarter, Miller again was not a major factor. Through the first three games, he had only 24 points."Sometimes it becomes a mental thing, but I don't know if that's the case," Jerry Stackhouse said. "To his credit, he has been somewhat of a focal point of our defense. Hopefully that has something to do with it."Throughout his career, which includes a stint in Orlando, Miller's playoff numbers fall well below his regular-season stats.In 19 playoff games entering Monday's Game 4, Miller had averaged 8.9 points, more than four below his career average, and 24.3 minutes, down by more than six minutes.Diop improvedStarting at center for a 60-win team apparently meant more than raw stats for DeSagana Diop, who finished tied for 14th in balloting for the NBA's Most Improved Player.Phoenix center Boris Diaw won the award. Diop was one of 12 to receive at least one first-place vote from the league-wide media panel.The 7-footer from Senegal averaged 2.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in his first season with the Mavs after four nondescript years with Cleveland.He did have career highs in points, rebounds, blocks and minutes, and the Mavs were 34-11 with Diop starting. Diop was surprised he garnered any support for the award and added it'll be a goal next season."I'm going to try to get it," he said. "Why not?"BrieflyThe NBA rescinded the Flagrant 1 foul levied against Dirk Nowitzki in Game 3, according to team officials.Monday marked the Mavericks' 26th anniversary of officially becoming a member of the NBA.Staff writers Art Garcia and Mercedes Mayer also contributed to this report.
Notice Daniels injured again. To Mavsfan, you can blame Avery on not playing him, but its mostly his own fault, since he gets injured at the wrong times. I was hoping last year was a arbitration, guess not since he's been hurt throughout this year as well. I don't want to label him injury prone yet, but he's not making me believe he isn't.
It's the same hamstring Griffin and Howard had to deal with. The injury is linguring if you get it. I know I've been harsh on Stackhouse but it has been justifiable btw he is shooting. If Stackhouse starts shooting a higher percentage against the spurs than I will be praising him. Same thing if Van Horn comes back and does the dirty work off the bench that is needed than I would credit him to.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>It's the same hamstring Griffin and Howard had to deal with. </div> And? Griff has had his share of injuries and been lamented as injury prone considering how he's never been able to stick onto a team. But this is about Daniels inability to stay healthy. Who cares if it's a hamstring injury that other teammates had? Their not contagious. If this was Daniels' first injury, your sentence would make sense, but he's been hurt all year with different injuries. And you bring up Stackhouse . All I'm doing is pointing out Daniels has been unable to stay healthy and consistent since his rookie year. It's not a good sign. But NOOOO, you have to talk about Stack when Daniels name comes up. Hey Lazy, you notice mavsfan brung up Van Horn and Stack for no reason? Sounds like he's avoiding the Daniels injury bug and rather talk about Stack and Van Horn.
Yeah and what's your point? I just brought up them because once again you attack Daniels for getting injured. Injuries happen. Basketball players tend to get injured easily. It is unfortunate but it happens.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah and what's your point? I just brought up them because once again you attack Daniels for getting injured. Injuries happen. Basketball players tend to get injured easily. It is unfortunate but it happens.</div> Obviously to discuss Daniels' injury. And it's not an attack, did I bash him? I'm just bringing up a discussion on whether or not there should be a concern about this. Your the only one quick to bring up Stack and Van Horn whenever someone brings up Daniels. It's sad. And injuries happen, who doesn't know that? The problem is when it keeps you continiously off the court. And that's where the discussion comes in. Oh and hey I'd watch out mavsfan, your hamstring might stiffen up, because you know it's contagious.
Mavsfan also overrates Stacks shooting %...which, in regards to him, doesn't matter that much.As long as he gets his 12 points, or more on better nights, and takes pressure off of Dirk and Terry, which I don't think even Mavsfan can dispute, than he's fine by me.He's not the type of player I think of when talking about high percentage shooter...he's more of a volume shooter, and since it never seems to hurt the team, and no Mavsfan, it doesn't, he's fine by me.Marquis's injury problems are troublesome though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Marvinmartian @ May 3 2006, 08:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Mavsfan also overrates Stacks shooting %...which, in regards to him, doesn't matter that much.As long as he gets his 12 points, or more on better nights, and takes pressure off of Dirk and Terry, which I don't think even Mavsfan can dispute, than he's fine by me.He's not the type of player I think of when talking about high percentage shooter...he's more of a volume shooter, and since it never seems to hurt the team, and no Mavsfan, it doesn't, he's fine by me.Marquis's injury problems are troublesome though.</div>The reasons why Stackhouse hasn't hurt the team yet1. Dallas played the Charmin soft Grizzlies that are 0-12 in the playoffs2. Dallas is badly outrebounding teams which makes it so much easier to beat teams even if you don't shoot well.3. Terry, Howard, and Dirk are shooting very high percentages.Imagine how good this team would be if we could get a decent shooter off the bench that played defense. Dallas has everything else but shooting off the bench. And no Van Horn isn't the answer to that. Someone who shoots 45% or higher from field and 35% or higher from 3 point range. This team would be offensive juggernauts.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ May 3 2006, 03:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Obviously to discuss Daniels' injury. And it's not an attack, did I bash him? I'm just bringing up a discussion on whether or not there should be a concern about this. Your the only one quick to bring up Stack and Van Horn whenever someone brings up Daniels. It's sad. And injuries happen, who doesn't know that? The problem is when it keeps you continiously off the court. And that's where the discussion comes in. Oh and hey I'd watch out mavsfan, your hamstring might stiffen up, because you know it's contagious.</div>Yes and everyone is bound to hit the injury bug. Yes some get injured more than others but 2 of the 3 injuries were bad luck which would take anyone out. A Kurt Thomas screen and a sprained ankle are common injuries for everyone. The latest injury might be a sign about injury prone but that is the first one that deserves any mention.
The reason Stack doesn't hurt this team, Mavsfan, IS because he doesn't hurt this team.Stack hasn't hurt this team at all this season, contrary to what you think. Not just this series, and not the next series iether.You just want to play Harris and Daniels more, even thought Stack hasn't done anything to warrent less playing time, and he actually does help out more than Daniels would in regard to taking pressure off of Dirk and Terry.C'mon man, get with the program.
There is no pressure put on Dirk and Terry. The answer to getting points without them is ball movement and Stackhouse occasionally likes to play that way. Other times it is isolations and I hate that.
Rest is best, but Mavs still have to pass testSpurs may be beaten up, but that alone won't beat 'em[By David Moore / The Dallas Morning News]All sorts of wild theories are hatched when people have too much time on their hands. Here's one beginning to emerge as the Mavericks wait for the second round, which should start before Memorial Day or July Fourth at the latest.The longer Sacramento keeps San Antonio in the vicinity of Bonzi Wells and Ron Artest, the better it will be for Dallas. The physical and emotional toll of that series will leave the Spurs lifeless, a shell of their former selves, primed to be exploited by the hard-charging Mavericks.Somehow, people think the defending world champions are less of a threat because the Kings have challenged them in the first round while the Mavericks swept a Memphis team that has never won a playoff game.Those same people are convinced we never landed on the moon.First of all, let me say I believe we did land on the moon. Dennis Rodman is proof.Secondly, I believe rest is good. That concept makes more sense to me with each passing year.Third, I do think the Spurs are at a disadvantage if they win Friday night in Sacramento and are forced to turn around and play the Mavericks less than 48 hours later.The disadvantage would be for Game 1, not the rest of the series. What if the Kings force a seventh game Sunday afternoon? I'd argue a series that starts on two or three days' rest for San Antonio giving the Mavericks eight to nine days off actually favors the Spurs in Game 1.See what happens when you have too much time on your hands? You can argue anything and have it make sense.San Antonio will beat Sacramento. It doesn't matter how many more points Wells scores let's put the over-under at 50 or what Artest does. The Spurs' talent and character is too strong to succumb to a Kings team that hasn't been together long and reverts to its poor defensive form in the clutch.The Spurs did score on their final nine possessions to win Game 5 and take a 3-2 lead in the series.Still, the Mavericks can thank the Kings for re-enforcing what they must do to beat San Antonio in the second round.Sacramento has attacked the rim and exposed the Spurs' lack of interior defense beyond Tim Duncan. Nazr Mohammed started the series in the middle. He gave way to Rasho Nesterovic in Game 4. Robert Horry started Game 5.The Kings outscored the Spurs in the paint, 142-126, in the middle three games of the series. Wells has overpowered Bruce Bowen and anyone else thrown in his way with 32 of his 47 field goals coming from point-blank range.Scoring points in transition is the goal. But the Spurs aren't going to allow that to happen often. The key is to swing the ball in a half-court offense, find the opening, then penetrate. The Mavericks can't take too many quick shots or settle for jump shots. That feeds the Spurs' defense.What Sacramento has done is move the ball on the perimeter then attack Manu Ginobili, Michael Finley, Brent Barry and Nick Van Exel. Tell me, which one of those four will consistently keep his man out of the lane? Tony Parker is blessed with remarkable quickness, yet he will have trouble keeping Jason Terry and Devin Harris in front of him.Avery Johnson has improved the Mavericks' defense. But the key to beating the Spurs is what the Mavericks do on offense. Until then, all anyone can do is wait."I hope they keep beating each other up," Johnson said.The Kings will soften the Spurs up. But they won't knock them out. The Mavericks will have to do that.It won't be easy, no matter how many games San Antonio is forced to play.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Time is right for Mavs' spring breakRANDY GALLOWAYIn My OpinionStar-TelegramAdmittedly, the NBA is an acquired taste, kind of like raw oysters.For years, some of my college basketball-junkie friends have delighted in pointing out the league's biggest moment is also its worst.That would be the playoffs, of course, when the games normally evolve into slow-mo, low-scoring sumo wrestling matches. Real boring stuff.Rebuttal to that taunting has been difficult, particularly since coaches who want to put an entertaining product on the floor -- say, Big Nellie, or the guy with three first names, Mike Dan Tony, or, yes, Avery Johnson -- are routinely ridiculed at playoff time.But are you currently paying attention?Even as an NBA advocate, I've got to admit to being pleasantly shocked.The first round of the playoffs has suddenly been transformed into the first round of March Madness.This is fun, this is totally unpredictable, this is high-grade entertainment, and all this is working -- I think -- in favor of the Mavericks.That's the irony, that the Mavs are not involved at the moment in providing the entertainment. It's a team that still does that with the best of 'em.But the first-round kill of Memphis was so quick and clean, the Mavericks are now on the NBA version of spring break.For all the deserved butt-patting of Avery for his commitment to an upgraded defensive product, this man still wants an offense that motors.Ask anyone, or any local dog, within earshot of Avery's most constant high-pitched Cajun yelp on the sidelines during games."Push it. Push it."But the NBA fun goes on this week without the Mavs.They wait and watch, particularly the one ongoing matchup of local intrigue.Down San Antonio way, the Spurs struggle and philosophize.That's more than a first-round push the Sacramento Kings are giving the Spurs.This is fear. Fear of being ousted in the first round. That was unthinkable a week ago.Reading the San Antonio Express-News on Wednesday, there was Coach Pop, about as good as it gets in postseason competition, joking that his team would have been better off dumping games to get the No. 4 seed.After what the No. 4-seeded Mavs did to Memphis, and how difficult the No. 8-seeded Kings have been for the Spurs, maybe Pop wasn't joking.The Spurs had to stone-cold sweat out a Game 5 home-court win Tuesday night, taking a 3-2 series lead. But Game 6 is Friday night in Sacramento. No one, not even the Spurs, would be surprised to see a Game 7 on Sunday.So the Mavericks might be waiting until Tuesday to make the short hop south to open the second round. Unless, of course, the unthinkable happened.But this leads to the obvious question.Is it best to be resting for a week between series, or as the Spurs are now trying to spin it, is it better to be pushed hard in the first round?"This is making us dig deep, and these dig-down games can help you," said the Spurs' Bruce Bowen, following a standard theme in the locker room.Of course, the players are being grilled on their situation as compared with the Mavs' R&R. Everyone in San Antonio is awaiting the second-round showdown with the Mavericks, so the worry factor is climbing rapidly.But on Wednesday I went to Don Nelson with that "what's best" question, because through nearly five decades as a player and coach in the NBA, he was involved in every known playoff scenario.When asked, Nelson hooted."It's not even close," he said. "Having some added time off this time of year is all good. It's nothing but good. That's what rest is all about in the playoffs."Almost every team that wins a championship has either had a sweep or the series only went five games in the first round. [Until recently, the first round was best-of-five.] You don't want it to go beyond five if you can help it, particularly with a lot of travel thrown in, and the Spurs are in a series with a lot of travel."Nelson is careful when describing what he's seeing from the Spurs in this first round. It's a team coached by his close friend, Gregg Popovich."It's about the same as it was in the regular season," Nellie said. "Some options that Pop had in the past he doesn't have now because of injuries or other factors."Sacramento and Bonzi Wells are showing us some things about the Spurs' interior defense that we haven't seen in the past. And when the Spurs once needed 35 or 36 points from [Tim] Duncan, they could get it. I don't know about now, due to his health."Meanwhile, the Mavs wait and watch.Despite what's been heard from the Spurs, it sure seems like the best situation.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MAVERICKS NOTESNowitzki itching to playBy MERCEDES MAYER and ART GARCIAStar-Telegram Staff WriterSDALLAS - Dirk Nowitzki is ready to bring on the Spurs. Perhaps more accurately, bring on the next round."It would be great if San Antonio can win it in six, and then we can start this weekend or sometime soon," Nowitzki said after practice on Wednesday at American Airlines Center."But if not, it's out of our control. We have to be ready...whoever it is, if it's Sac or San Antonio."The Spurs have a 3-2 series lead and Game 6 is Friday in Sacramento. If the Spurs close it out, the Western Conference semifinals could begin as early as Sunday in San Antonio. If the Kings stretch the series to Game 7, the semis can't begin before Tuesday. The Mavs would have home-court advantage against Sacramento.Nowitzki has already said he doesn't like all the time off. Coach Avery Johnson said he'll try to make sure Nowitzki doesn't lose any confidence after averaging 31.3 points and shooting 50.6 percent against the Grizzlies."We'll let him know that he's in a good enough rhythm now that if he took six days off, he'll be able to come out and perform," Johnson said.Nowitzki offered an extra motivating factor in facing the defending champs."If you want to be the best, if you want to be the champion, you ultimately have to go through the best," he said.Nowitzki finedDirk Nowitzki was fined $15,000 and assessed a flagrant 2 foul for making "unnecessary and excessive" contact against Memphis forward Pau Gasol in the second quarter of Game 4 on Monday.With 6:11 left in the quarter, Nowitzki hit Gasol in the upper chest as he was jockeying for rebounding position.The league has a point system for the level of the flagrant foul. Nowitzki has two points and would receive an automatic one-game suspension for exceeding three points.Injury updatesForward Keith Van Horn had his surgically repaired broken right hand re-evaluated and was cleared for shooting and non-contact activities.Marquis Daniels (strained right hamstring) participated in the Mavs' light workout. And Avery Johnson said guard Devin Harris (quadriceps) is close to 100 percent.
Mavs get back to business ... as best they canAvery says scrimmage lets well-rested team 'get lungs blown out'By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning NewsAfter a few days of light practices or no workouts, the Mavericks had a game Thursday afternoon.Well, more like a scrimmage.The Mavs had a hard practice followed by a 12-minute scrimmage that resembled game-like conditions. Coach Avery Johnson wants to keep the team sharp until the second round of the playoffs start."We've had two really good days here," he said. "I just wanted to let the guys blow it out because we haven't played a game since Monday. We needed to get our lungs blown out. We won't do much" today.Forward Jerry Stackhouse said the scrimmage was good but a little ragged. Johnson said the players are a little restless and ready to get on with the next series.And, it seems, so is Johnson."[Thursday] was a game day and we had the refs out, but you know they called some bad calls," Johnson joked. "I'm going to call the league on them."Daniels practices, is ready for second round: Marquis Daniels, who missed Monday's game because of a hip injury, practiced for the second consecutive day. He said he felt fine during the scrimmage and said he's ready to participate in Game 1 of the next series."I'm ready to get back at this," he said. "The rest is good for my hip and my leg. I felt pretty good throughout the scrimmage."The wait continues: The Mavs can't play another game until the Spurs-Kings series ends. The Spurs lead, 3-2, heading into tonight's Game 6. Should the series end tonight, Dallas could open the second round Sunday in San Antonio."We don't have a preference," Stackhouse said. "San Antonio is almost a carbon copy of what we do and what we try to do defensively in trying to attack the ball. It will be a lot like playing ourselves. If we play Sacramento, they play more of the Princeton offense with lots of movement. They both present their own problems."Stackhouse needs to mix it up: Stackhouse is one of those rare scoring blends in the NBA who can score with the 3-pointer, with the mid-range game, by driving to the bucket or posting up. When he gets in an offensive rut, it's usually because he's relying too much on one of those assets, Johnson said."When he drives too much, it's not good, and when he shoots too much from the outside, it's not good," Johnson said. "What you saw in Game 4 ? mixing it up, driving, in-between game, 3-ball ? was a perfect mixture of what we want from Stack. And posting up, too ? that's the big one."Stackhouse scored 19 points in the series finale against the Grizzlies, and he also had five assists.Briefly: The players seemed to be in a good mood. Reserve guard Darrell Armstrong held court after practice with reporters and told jokes for 10 minutes. ... Stackhouse joked that he fell asleep trying to watch some of the late playoff games. ... Keith Van Horn, out since March 31 with a broken hand, worked out with a basketball Thursday and could be ready for full practices next week.Staff Writer Eddie Sefko contributed to this report --------------------------------------------------------------MAVERICKS NOTESJohnson says Mavs are 'tired of resting'By MERCEDES MAYERStar-Telegram Staff WriterDALLAS - He didn't even realize the play on words, but Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said that he can tell his team is ready to play."At some point, you just get tired of resting," Johnson said.In an effort to stay fresh but sharp, the Mavs had a hard practice Thursday at American Airlines Center, followed by a 12-minute scrimmage."We haven't played in a game since Monday, so we needed to get some of our lungs blown out," Johnson said. "Today was a game day."Jerry Stackhouse said the scrimmaging was as mental as it was physical, and the Mavs were working on schemes they want to use in the next series against either Sacramento or San Antonio."We got up and down," Stackhouse said. "It was a little raggedy after not playing since Monday. It wasn't as sharp as we'd like to be, but hopefully when the series begins we'll be sharper."Marquis Daniels (right hamstring) participated in all drills and the scrimmage, and he said he felt good afterward."I'm ready to get back at it, but the rest is also good for my hamstring," Daniels said. "Either way it goes, I'll be ready."The Mavs will watch film today, and the weekend schedule will depend on when the Spurs-Kings series ends, which could be as early as tonight. San Antonio takes a 3-2 series lead into Sacramento at 9:30 p.m.Van Horn progressingKeith Van Horn's presence in Thursday's practice might have been limited, but it was welcome.Van Horn (right hand) was cleared for shooting and noncontact activities Wednesday, and "he was at least able to grab a basketball [Thursday], which was a good sign," Avery Johnson said.The Mavs hope Van Horn will be able to fully practice sometime next week."It's coming along and, boy, it's coming at the right time," Johnson said.Game watchingThe Mavs aren't getting together to watch tonight's San Antonio-Sacramento game, but they will definitely be tuning in.Jason Terry said he thinks it's an advantage for the Mavs since they have more opportunities to analyze both teams. Terry is specifically watching both point guards, Sacramento's Mike Bibby and San Antonio's Tony Parker."I try to look at their weaknesses and their strengths," Terry said. "Then I watch how their defenses adjust to certain situations, like pick and roll."DifferencesThe Mavs have focused on being a different, more defensive-oriented team this season, and Avery Johnson said he expects the same from the Sacramento Kings if the Mavs are to play them in the Western Conference semifinals.Gone are the run-and-gun offensive teams. With Ron Artest leading the way, the Kings play at a slower pace and more in the half court than in the past."It is different because the old Sacramento would be trying to rip and run, but they don't run as much as they used to," Johnson said. "They're a different team now."ABC schedule optionsThere are four scenarios for Sunday's NBA playoff schedule on ABC:Sacramento at San Antonio at noon and Washington at Cleveland at 3:30; if both series go to Game 7.Dallas at San Antonio at noon and Washington at Cleveland at 3:30; if Cleveland series goes seven but San Antonio's series doesn't.Cleveland at Detroit at noon and Sacramento at San Antonio at 3:30; if San Antonio series goes seven but Cleveland series doesn't.Dallas at San Antonio at noon and Cleveland at Detroit at 3:30; if no Game 7 needed
