DALLAS -- It's not as if DeSagana Diop had become a human highlight film.Fact is, he never averaged more than 3.4 points in any month this season, yet he is entrenched as perhaps the Mavericks' most unlikely starting center ever -- and there have been several who've passed through -- unseating the seemingly detached Erick Dampier 37 games into the season.When the 7-foot Diop's young legs bounded onto the court, he rebounded, he blocked and altered shots and, as he bounced around on defense, his bothersome wingspan caused disruptions and forced turnovers. He infused energy into a team Dampier, for whatever reason, seemed to sap.When coach Avery Johnson boldly decided to sit the veteran Dampier (and his $71 million contract) in favor of Diop, a high school-to-NBA washout after four barely noticeable seasons in Cleveland, it proved a pivotal juncture."I know he had to be angry because he's a winner, too, just like I am," Diop said of Dampier. "I mean, I would be mad if somebody takes my spot. But, I would take it out on the other team, and I think that's what he did."After the switch, the Mavs won 13 consecutive games. Dampier wasn't thrilled, but the 6-foot-11 center, lambasted during last season's playoffs, picked up his pride and soon began to play as if re-enthused, perhaps re-invented."I just go out there and work," said Dampier, who still logs more minutes than Diop and is often playing during crunch time. "I'm willing to sacrifice my game for the good of the team. I think I've always been that way."Together, Diop and Dampier have melded into the physical, low-post presence the Mavs never had during Don Nelson's years as coach; a necessity Johnson believes gives Dallas a legitimate matchup against any frontcourt in the league, including nemesis Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs."Gana has made our center position better, and Damp's made our center position better because of the enthusiasm and emotions and the physicality and the way he sets picks," Johnson said. "Damp has taken our center position to another level because he's played much more efficient this year."The beauty of the Mavs' tandem is neither Diop nor Dampier is asked to score on this deep and talented team, so, as Memphis' 7-footer Pau Gasol discovered during the Mavs' first-round sweep, Johnson can focus the duo's attention on specific orders."They have two centers whose only job is to pound the glass," said Gasol, who was held under 50 percent shooting and under his season rebounding average in all four games. "They don't have to do much else."Dampier had three key offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter of the Game 3 overtime squeaker, including the tip that found Dirk Nowitzki for the game-tying 3-pointer.The Mavs handled Memphis on the boards in all four games and bullied the Grizzlies on the offensive boards. Dampier leads the team in the playoffs with 35 total rebounds and 19 on the offensive glass, where he gets most of his shot attempts.Diop, largely relegated to the bench with foul trouble in Games 1 and 2 in his first playoff experience, has 20 rebounds.Together, they've accounted for 43.7 percent of the Mavs' offensive boards, 31.9 percent of overall rebounds and 14 of Dallas' 18 blocks."That's what we do after every game; we put the rebounds, the blocks, everything we do together," Diop said. "We don't need to score, we have to do the little things like we did against Gasol -- body him up and make him tired by the end of the game."Ben Wallace does that for the Pistons."The Mavs will take that two-for-one production any time.ONLINE: mavs.comCENTER FOLDSHere are some former Mavericks centers and their accomplishments in the playoffs while in Dallas:Calvin BoothAveraged 13.7 minutes and 3.8 points in 10 playoff games in 2001.Shawn BradleyIn 43 playoff games as a Mav, averaged 3.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.Evan EschmeyerPlayed in only eight playoff games for the Mavericks.Raef LaFrentzAveraged 8.9 points and 2.3 blocks, but shot only 24 percent from 3-point range in two postseasons.Scott WilliamsDidn't score a point and had only four rebounds in three playoff games in 2004.Wang ZhizhiAveraged 2.3 points and 0.8 rebounds in postseason career with Mavericks (2001, 2002).Link
It should be interesting how well Diop and Dampier do against Duncan if the Spurs get past the Kings. I think the mavs matchup well to the spurs. Their best player is a post player so that plays to Diop and Dampier's strengths.
Since Diop turned into a starter, the Mavs have just gone to the next level, winning 13 games straight. Diop and Damp have to really work hard in the series vs the Spurs if they want to finaly advance to the finals. With these two down low the Mavs should contain Duncan and who ever else the Spurs have. Now Tony Parker will be scared to drive in.
As for Diop being his first year as a Mavs, im looking forward to see how he matches up with Duncan, or if he even get thats match up. I hope Dampier has a few double double games in next series
Yeah Dirk can guard Duncan occassionally but Duncan was tired by then. Also Duncan could get Dirk in foul trouble pretty easily. Diop and Dampier do a pretty good job on defense considering they don't get any help. Duncan is just one of those unstoppable players.
Reason Dirk played Duncan part of the time in OT was because both Diop and Dampier had fouled out and it would just be suicide to put Mbenga in there to play Duncan. One thing it does when Dirk plays Duncan is that Duncan has to gaurd either Dirk or a wing player like Howard or Daniels. We get the advantage on the offensive end. Now i sure wouldnt play a whole game like that, but in little spirts, it works pretty good. I think Diop and Dampier have been doing a pretty good job on Duncan. Duncan isnt a pushover and is on another level from Gasol who they held in check the first round.
