Dampier Reports Early, in Shape

Dallas Morning News

In summer 2004, the Mavericks didn't see a whole lot of Erick Dampier. It turned out to be an omen, because he also disappeared too often in the regular season.

At the very least, the 6-11 center was too inconsistent for anybody's taste.

This summer, Dampier was a regular at pick-up games involving many other Mavericks. He was on the treadmill a week after the playoff run ? the first postseason of his career ? ended in the second round. These were major differences from last year.

It has taken only two practice sessions to see the results.

""He's in much better shape," coach Avery Johnson said Tuesday. "He was one of our best players in camp today. But that's what I expect from him. He really wants to take his game to another level."

Which is a good thing because before camp opened, Johnson was adamant that he will "sink or swim" with Dampier as his center. Dampier is relishing the pressure.

"He has to do it with somebody, and I like that," Dampier said. "I think it's up to me now to show him I can do it on a consistent basis."

That lack of consistency was what baffled the Mavericks last season. That, and Dampier's periodic inability to catch passes in the post.

Over a 12-game stretch bridging January and February, Dampier averaged 11.8 points and 12.8 rebounds.

Take away that stretch, and his numbers drop to 8.5 points and 7.4 rebounds for the year. In the playoffs, he averaged 7 points and 7.5 rebounds. And the much-publicized call-out by Dirk Nowitzki in the Phoenix series didn't help matters.

"It was very disappointing, the way it ended," Dampier said. "It ended wrong.

"But it was a learning experience for all of us. We have a good team. It's a matter of us playing consistently."

So Dampier went to work. He wanted to make sure he came into camp this season with no issues about getting up and down the floor. He suspended his weightlifting, which he'll resume this week. Instead, it was all about stamina.

"I'm looking for a lot more out of myself this year," he said. "I can contribute a lot more. It's up to me to go out there and get it done on a consistent basis."

Johnson made it clear that everybody, not just Dampier, must make positive steps this season for the Mavericks to improve. "The coach included," Johnson said.

Dampier, who signed his seven-year contract before last season, will feel the heat as much as anyone.

"He wants to help us and he feels there's a little bit of pressure on him from last year," said Jerry Stackhouse. "And that's good. It's a good pressure."

And as for catching the basketball, Dampier doesn't think of himself as Edward Scissorhands.

"It's just a matter of me having my hands up and being ready," he said. "It's not that I can't. I just have to be expecting passes at all times."

And, like his coaches and teammates, expecting more consistency out of himself.

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