Spurzilla
12-14-2005, 01:51 PM
Magic Gives Mavs a Nod
Posted on Tue, Dec. 13, 2005
LINK (http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/13396005.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp)
MAVERICKS NOTES
By DWAIN PRICE
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
DALLAS -- Magic Johnson rolled into town Monday and brought nothing but high praise for the Mavericks with him.
Before Dallas' game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Johnson said he likes everything about the Mavs -- except their inability to beat the San Antonio Spurs in a seven-game playoff series.
"To me, the Mavericks are the second-best team out there now," said Johnson, a TNT analyst who also is vice president of the Lakers. "Now, how do we get to be the first, because they're playing better than anybody and they're playing just as good as San Antonio.
"But how do we beat them in a seven-game series?"
Johnson figures this might be the season the Mavs are finally able to exorcise their Spurs demons.
"The only level now they have to go to is being mentally tough," he said. "If you're mentally tough, that brings the defense, that brings the things that you're talking about that they didn't have in the past.
"But this year you can see them being a little bit tougher mentally."
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban appreciates the bouquet of roses Johnson tossed his way.
"I hope he's right," Cuban said. "We think we can play with anybody in the league.
"We also haven't played our best basketball yet, because we haven't gotten healthy yet. So, hopefully, the best is yet to come."
Johnson sure thinks so.
"The best move Mark made was bringing Avery [Johnson] in here [to coach], and that's why you see the change," he said. "You know they're going to be around for the Western Conference Finals.
"I think now it's about how do you separate yourself from San Antonio? How do you beat them?"
Magic Johnson said he fully understands why the national media isn't embracing the Mavs as a championship-caliber team, even though they've beaten all of the top clubs.
"It's because people have seen it in the past," he said. "What are they going to do when they get to a seven-game series and they haven't been there? Can they really do it in a seven-game series?
"For me, I respect them a lot because Avery's got them playing the right way. Now, it's just buckling down and doing it in the playoffs."
Briefly
Avery Johnson said swingman Jerry Stackhouse will probably go through his first full workout of the regular season today. Stackhouse has missed the entire season with a sore right knee.
Indiana Pacers guard Ron Artest said he wants to be traded, but the Mavs apparently have no interest in acquiring him. Avery Johnson said: "We like our team."
Posted on Tue, Dec. 13, 2005
LINK (http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/13396005.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp)
MAVERICKS NOTES
By DWAIN PRICE
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
DALLAS -- Magic Johnson rolled into town Monday and brought nothing but high praise for the Mavericks with him.
Before Dallas' game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Johnson said he likes everything about the Mavs -- except their inability to beat the San Antonio Spurs in a seven-game playoff series.
"To me, the Mavericks are the second-best team out there now," said Johnson, a TNT analyst who also is vice president of the Lakers. "Now, how do we get to be the first, because they're playing better than anybody and they're playing just as good as San Antonio.
"But how do we beat them in a seven-game series?"
Johnson figures this might be the season the Mavs are finally able to exorcise their Spurs demons.
"The only level now they have to go to is being mentally tough," he said. "If you're mentally tough, that brings the defense, that brings the things that you're talking about that they didn't have in the past.
"But this year you can see them being a little bit tougher mentally."
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban appreciates the bouquet of roses Johnson tossed his way.
"I hope he's right," Cuban said. "We think we can play with anybody in the league.
"We also haven't played our best basketball yet, because we haven't gotten healthy yet. So, hopefully, the best is yet to come."
Johnson sure thinks so.
"The best move Mark made was bringing Avery [Johnson] in here [to coach], and that's why you see the change," he said. "You know they're going to be around for the Western Conference Finals.
"I think now it's about how do you separate yourself from San Antonio? How do you beat them?"
Magic Johnson said he fully understands why the national media isn't embracing the Mavs as a championship-caliber team, even though they've beaten all of the top clubs.
"It's because people have seen it in the past," he said. "What are they going to do when they get to a seven-game series and they haven't been there? Can they really do it in a seven-game series?
"For me, I respect them a lot because Avery's got them playing the right way. Now, it's just buckling down and doing it in the playoffs."
Briefly
Avery Johnson said swingman Jerry Stackhouse will probably go through his first full workout of the regular season today. Stackhouse has missed the entire season with a sore right knee.
Indiana Pacers guard Ron Artest said he wants to be traded, but the Mavs apparently have no interest in acquiring him. Avery Johnson said: "We like our team."