<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Mavericks haven't had many guys in the Nellie Ball era like Danny Fortson, and here's another weird idea: He might be the hidden key to Dallas' offseason remodeling. OK, that might be overstating it. At the very least, though, Fortson should be the Mavericks' starting center, starting next Tuesday in Los Angeles. In their dreams, Mark Cuban and Don Nelson would have been sending Alonzo Mourning into the center circle against Shaquille O'Neal. In the Mavs-at-Lakers season opener, they'll instead give Fortson the opportunity to see if he can be more imposing than Shawn Bradley or the departed LaFrentz ... and to see if he can back up his bravado after more than a year of hibernation in Golden State. "I'm a physical player, and I'm pretty sure (O'Neal) knows that I can probably give him a little trouble," Fortson said. "As a matter of fact, I'm not going to say probably. I know I can. If I can go out there with the right mind frame and watch my fouls, I know I can give him fits. I'm going to work as hard as I can so, October 28th, I can prove it." Although Shaq, like most large men, has never enjoyed the sensation of smaller, pluggy defenders getting underneath him -- he calls them "tree stumps," referring to guys like Anthony Mason, Charles Oakley and Charles Barkley -- the Mavericks are realistic. They have lost 25 straight road games to the Lakers, largely because Shaq is usually at his angriest against them, enraged mainly by Nelson's Hack-A-Shaq defenses or the mere sight of Bradley. No one sane would count on Fortson, generously listed at 6-foot-8 and 260, to be a Shaq-stopper. Yet Dallas does have some expectations for Fortson, who's shorter and heavier than what the program says. If you allow Nelson to be greedy, he's hoping the new environment sparks a similar reaction in Fortson to what the Mavericks saw the last time they brought in a reportedly moody sort who played his college ball at Cincinnati. Fortson, like Nick Van Exel, joined his new team on an all-time low, as a secondary element in a big trade. Van Exel wound up outshining LaFrentz to emerge as last spring's playoff hero and the big prize in Dallas' February 2002 swap with Denver.</div> Full Story
I'm curious to see how he does. He was a big cry baby and a big nothing for the Warriors last year after Troy Murphy beat him out. I hope he does well for them.
I agree with this I think Forstons strength and rebounding are key to Dallas season if he can return to his 15rpg a few short seasons ago then they could be alot tougher.
They need at least one player who thinks of himself as physical. Forston could make a name for himself by doing things the All-Star starting 5 don't do.
I agree fortson is a great player he is a rebounding machine. He will help out the mavs a lot on def and rebounding.
Fortson is good at rebounding his own misses. It will be interesting to see how Nellie uses his rotation this season. I'm not sure if Fortson fits his style of play, but he will give them some decent size inside. However, Fortson is a terrible shotblocker, and the Mavs will miss the weakside help LaFrentz was giving them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Fortson is good at rebounding his own misses. It will be interesting to see how Nellie uses his rotation this season. I'm not sure if Fortson fits his style of play, but he will give them some decent size inside. However, Fortson is a terrible shotblocker, and the Mavs will miss the weakside help LaFrentz was giving them.</div> Fortson is undersized for a bigman... thats why hes so "highly praised" persay, for his rebounding ability.
