<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">DALLAS -- Two quick fouls nearly always send Erick Dampier to the bench. That's understandable. About the only member of the Mavericks given a little leeway in that situation is Dirk Nowitzki. However, why is it that Dampier remains on the bench for long stretches after taking a seat? Mavs coach Avery Johnson, ever careful when it comes to public criticism of his starting center, pulled a Drew Rosenhaus when asked that Wednesday. "Del, what happened with that one agent on TV?" Johnson asked facetiously of assistant Del Harris. "What did he say? What were his famous words? Next question." It's clear Dampier is struggling. He didn't score or grab a rebound and had four fouls and four turnovers in 11 minutes as the Mavs (5-2) rallied to beat Denver 83-80 on Tuesday night at American Airlines Center. And it's equally obvious the lift is being provided by backup DeSagana Diop, coming off a career night with 16 rebounds and six blocks against the Nuggets. His rejection of Carmelo Anthony with 2.9 seconds remaining preserved the Mavs' one-point lead. Going into the second of a four-game homestand tonight against winless Atlanta (0-7), Diop actually has more rebounds (39) than Dampier (37) in 16 fewer minutes. Johnson lobbied to acquire Dampier from Golden State in summer 2004, and he's not close to giving up on his former teammate after seven games. Should the trend of Dampier's ineffectiveness continue, perhaps Diop will earn a starting spot. Still, it's early in the season, and Johnson wants to give the current starting lineup a chance to jell. Asked if Dampier's confidence is down, Johnson said, "I would hope not. I'm the guy that really tries to lean on him and love on him -- tough love and hard love -- and try to pump confidence in him, and all of the guys. But sometimes things just got to come from within." Whether the coaching staff's confidence in Dampier has waned, it's best to refer to Rosenhaus.</div> Source
