ducks
10-14-2005, 01:29 PM
MAVERICKS CAMP
MAVERICKS CAMP
By Mercedes Mayer, Star-Telegram Staff Writer
October 14, 2005
18 Days to the Mavericks' season opener at the Phoenix Suns, 9:30 p.m. Nov. 1, TNT
Film material
ADVERTISEMENT
The Mavericks left the West Coast with more than a split against Sacramento and the Los Angeles Clippers. The two preseason games should give the coaching staff plenty to break down and study.
"We've got great film material," coach Avery Johnson said. "Great stuff to watch and learn from. This is a learning experience."
Johnson gave Dirk Nowitzki, Erick Dampier, Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Van Horn the night off in Wednesday's 95-80 loss to the Clippers. And Doug Christie and Jason Terry did not play in Tuesday's 96-83 win over the Kings in Sacramento.
Resting the veterans allowed for extended looks at younger players, such as DeSagana Diop, Josh Powell, DJ Mbenga and Rawle Marshall. Johnson said the rotation will tighten up as the preseason continues.
"We accomplished on this road trip what we wanted to accomplish," he said. "We had a set rotation coming into the trip, and we got in just what we planned on."
With many of the younger reserve players on the floor along with free agents Erick Strickland and Kaniel Dickens, the Mavericks were outscored 55-28 in the second and third quarters against the Kings.
"The guys competed. We just struggled to score," Johnson said. "That happens sometimes when the ball is just not going in the basket."
While it's difficult to draw many parallels from the two games because of the changing lineups, the trio of Josh Howard, Marquis Daniels and Devin Harris was solid.
Christie played 12 minutes against Los Angeles and Johnson wants his minutes in the 20s by the end of preseason.
Athletic Mavs
Up and down the roster, it's obvious through two games that the team is more athletic than last season. The additions of Doug Christie and DeSagana Diop, and rookies Josh Powell and Rawle Marshall, have changed the overall tenor of the squad.
Athleticism doesn't necessarily mean better basketball.
"If you ask our strength and conditioning coach, he'd tell you we're more athletic, just in terms of testing," Keith Van Horn said. "But that doesn't always mean a lot. We'll see how it transfers to the court.
"You have to think the games as well as be an athlete and be talented. Hopefully, it will develop and that athleticism will show up out there on the court."
Briefs
Jerry Stackhouse did not practice Thursday because of a sore knee.
X-rays on Keith Van Horn's sprained thumb were negative. Van Horn injured the thumb against Sacramento and did not play in the Clippers game.
Up next
Sunday at New York, 5 p.m.
20 SECOND TIMEOUT: MARK CUBAN
Q: We know you're a big workout guru, when did that start?
A: After I sold my first company. I started working out when I was 35-36 years old. When I was in college, I worked out, then I turned into a fat pig after I started my first business. I didn't make time to work out, then got back into it.
Q: Was there a reason you got back into it?
A: I couldn't fit into any clothes. I was a pig. When I would take a brisk walk, my belly would jumble and the trees would rustle -- I knew it was time to work out.
Q: So buying the Mavs didn't have anything to do with using the workout facility?
A: No, no [laughs]. It would be a lot cheaper to just work out at the Premiere Club. But it's nice. It's created a nice little game day routine for me. That helps. Even then, I gain weight during the season and I try to take it off during the off-season. This season my goal is to keep the weight off.
MAVERICKS CAMP
By Mercedes Mayer, Star-Telegram Staff Writer
October 14, 2005
18 Days to the Mavericks' season opener at the Phoenix Suns, 9:30 p.m. Nov. 1, TNT
Film material
ADVERTISEMENT
The Mavericks left the West Coast with more than a split against Sacramento and the Los Angeles Clippers. The two preseason games should give the coaching staff plenty to break down and study.
"We've got great film material," coach Avery Johnson said. "Great stuff to watch and learn from. This is a learning experience."
Johnson gave Dirk Nowitzki, Erick Dampier, Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Van Horn the night off in Wednesday's 95-80 loss to the Clippers. And Doug Christie and Jason Terry did not play in Tuesday's 96-83 win over the Kings in Sacramento.
Resting the veterans allowed for extended looks at younger players, such as DeSagana Diop, Josh Powell, DJ Mbenga and Rawle Marshall. Johnson said the rotation will tighten up as the preseason continues.
"We accomplished on this road trip what we wanted to accomplish," he said. "We had a set rotation coming into the trip, and we got in just what we planned on."
With many of the younger reserve players on the floor along with free agents Erick Strickland and Kaniel Dickens, the Mavericks were outscored 55-28 in the second and third quarters against the Kings.
"The guys competed. We just struggled to score," Johnson said. "That happens sometimes when the ball is just not going in the basket."
While it's difficult to draw many parallels from the two games because of the changing lineups, the trio of Josh Howard, Marquis Daniels and Devin Harris was solid.
Christie played 12 minutes against Los Angeles and Johnson wants his minutes in the 20s by the end of preseason.
Athletic Mavs
Up and down the roster, it's obvious through two games that the team is more athletic than last season. The additions of Doug Christie and DeSagana Diop, and rookies Josh Powell and Rawle Marshall, have changed the overall tenor of the squad.
Athleticism doesn't necessarily mean better basketball.
"If you ask our strength and conditioning coach, he'd tell you we're more athletic, just in terms of testing," Keith Van Horn said. "But that doesn't always mean a lot. We'll see how it transfers to the court.
"You have to think the games as well as be an athlete and be talented. Hopefully, it will develop and that athleticism will show up out there on the court."
Briefs
Jerry Stackhouse did not practice Thursday because of a sore knee.
X-rays on Keith Van Horn's sprained thumb were negative. Van Horn injured the thumb against Sacramento and did not play in the Clippers game.
Up next
Sunday at New York, 5 p.m.
20 SECOND TIMEOUT: MARK CUBAN
Q: We know you're a big workout guru, when did that start?
A: After I sold my first company. I started working out when I was 35-36 years old. When I was in college, I worked out, then I turned into a fat pig after I started my first business. I didn't make time to work out, then got back into it.
Q: Was there a reason you got back into it?
A: I couldn't fit into any clothes. I was a pig. When I would take a brisk walk, my belly would jumble and the trees would rustle -- I knew it was time to work out.
Q: So buying the Mavs didn't have anything to do with using the workout facility?
A: No, no [laughs]. It would be a lot cheaper to just work out at the Premiere Club. But it's nice. It's created a nice little game day routine for me. That helps. Even then, I gain weight during the season and I try to take it off during the off-season. This season my goal is to keep the weight off.