Biernutz
10-31-2008, 11:12 PM
Dallas Mavericks open on the run, but lose with no defense
By JEFF CAPLAN
Star-Telegram
Oct 31,2008
DALLAS — The first two minutes of the Rick "Transition" Carlisle era left mouths awkwardly agape: shot-clock violation, three turnovers, one basket, three fouls and an 8-2 deficit.
Then the engines, namely two — Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard — heated up and got the much-anticipated, post-Avery, blow-and-go show rolling.
The recalibrated Dallas Mavericks, scoring fastbreak points as if it were 2003, accomplished at least one goal in Thursday’s opener against the tough Houston Rockets by putting on a high-scoring and entertaining display for the sellout crowd.
But with Yao Ming filling it up inside and Ron Artest dominant inside and out, the Rockets reminded everyone of one constant in their 112-102 victory: Run all you want, but winning in the NBA still comes down to crunch-time halfcourt execution and defense.
The Mavs’ defense never really turned up the volume. And late-game offensive execution sank to the tune of 25 percent shooting in the fourth quarter and a 16-2 Rockets run during a killer five-minute span of the quarter after the game was tied 92-92.
"We put up enough points, but we didn’t stop anybody," Jason Kidd said. "We took a lot of jump shots in the fourth quarter. We have to be more aggressive. It’s a lesson learned."
Nowitzki (36 points) and Howard (28 points, 15 in the first quarter) accounted for 62.7 percent of the scoring. The other three starters — Antoine Wright, Erick Dampier and Kidd — accounted for 12 points.
Jason Terry was the only other player in double figures with 15 points. Yao led the Rockets with 30 points. Artest’s 29, plus solid play from the bench, particularly to start the fourth-quarter blitz, offset an off night by Tracy McGrady, who had 16 points in just 30 minutes.
"We played well in stretches, we just didn’t sustain it to beat a good team," Terry said. "We’ll get there. We’re not there yet."
When in transition, the Mavs looked terrific. They had 37 fastbreak points to Houston’s 11. The difficult part is figuring out how to run without playing loose at the other end.
Howard started phenomenally and finished with 11 rebounds and four assists. Nowitzki put up 30 midway through the third quarter.
But Carlisle’s main concern entering the season showed up in a big way. The Rockets shot 48.1 percent and were 7-of-14 on 3-pointers.
"The consistency on the defensive end wasn’t there," Carlisle said. "We needed to better and they were better. We had shots at times that didn’t go in, but the consistency on the 'D’ is probably the biggest factor."
When the Mavs desperately needed a stop as they tried to rally late in the fourth quarter, the diminutive Aaron Brooks, not even expected to play because of an ankle injury, drove through the lane unabated and scored to basically seal the deal.
"There’s going to be a formula that’s going to be the right formula for us," Carlisle said. "We’re not Loyola Marymount from the late ’80s. We’re not Phoenix from the last four years. But we have to use Jason Kidd’s abilities to generate easy baskets to the best of our ability.
"At the same time we’ve got to do it so it doesn’t erode our defense, and that’s one thing we’ve got to look closely at."
http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/1009915.html
By JEFF CAPLAN
Star-Telegram
Oct 31,2008
DALLAS — The first two minutes of the Rick "Transition" Carlisle era left mouths awkwardly agape: shot-clock violation, three turnovers, one basket, three fouls and an 8-2 deficit.
Then the engines, namely two — Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard — heated up and got the much-anticipated, post-Avery, blow-and-go show rolling.
The recalibrated Dallas Mavericks, scoring fastbreak points as if it were 2003, accomplished at least one goal in Thursday’s opener against the tough Houston Rockets by putting on a high-scoring and entertaining display for the sellout crowd.
But with Yao Ming filling it up inside and Ron Artest dominant inside and out, the Rockets reminded everyone of one constant in their 112-102 victory: Run all you want, but winning in the NBA still comes down to crunch-time halfcourt execution and defense.
The Mavs’ defense never really turned up the volume. And late-game offensive execution sank to the tune of 25 percent shooting in the fourth quarter and a 16-2 Rockets run during a killer five-minute span of the quarter after the game was tied 92-92.
"We put up enough points, but we didn’t stop anybody," Jason Kidd said. "We took a lot of jump shots in the fourth quarter. We have to be more aggressive. It’s a lesson learned."
Nowitzki (36 points) and Howard (28 points, 15 in the first quarter) accounted for 62.7 percent of the scoring. The other three starters — Antoine Wright, Erick Dampier and Kidd — accounted for 12 points.
Jason Terry was the only other player in double figures with 15 points. Yao led the Rockets with 30 points. Artest’s 29, plus solid play from the bench, particularly to start the fourth-quarter blitz, offset an off night by Tracy McGrady, who had 16 points in just 30 minutes.
"We played well in stretches, we just didn’t sustain it to beat a good team," Terry said. "We’ll get there. We’re not there yet."
When in transition, the Mavs looked terrific. They had 37 fastbreak points to Houston’s 11. The difficult part is figuring out how to run without playing loose at the other end.
Howard started phenomenally and finished with 11 rebounds and four assists. Nowitzki put up 30 midway through the third quarter.
But Carlisle’s main concern entering the season showed up in a big way. The Rockets shot 48.1 percent and were 7-of-14 on 3-pointers.
"The consistency on the defensive end wasn’t there," Carlisle said. "We needed to better and they were better. We had shots at times that didn’t go in, but the consistency on the 'D’ is probably the biggest factor."
When the Mavs desperately needed a stop as they tried to rally late in the fourth quarter, the diminutive Aaron Brooks, not even expected to play because of an ankle injury, drove through the lane unabated and scored to basically seal the deal.
"There’s going to be a formula that’s going to be the right formula for us," Carlisle said. "We’re not Loyola Marymount from the late ’80s. We’re not Phoenix from the last four years. But we have to use Jason Kidd’s abilities to generate easy baskets to the best of our ability.
"At the same time we’ve got to do it so it doesn’t erode our defense, and that’s one thing we’ve got to look closely at."
http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/1009915.html