LakeShow
02-03-2008, 12:16 AM
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/020108dnspomavericksbriefs.781486d7.html
Dallas Mavericks coach squelches Jason Kidd trade rumors
12:58 AM CST on Friday, February 1, 2008
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
BOSTON – Jerry Stackhouse has a motto when it comes to life in the NBA.
"The checks cash in all 50 states," he said Thursday. "That's all you need to worry about. If you get somewhere where the checks don't cash, then you got an issue. But up until then, they're going to cash."
His point is that trade rumors come with the territory, even when your coach is shooting them down in no uncertain terms.
Mavericks/NBA
Johnson discounts Kidd rumors
The Jason Kidd talk of the last few days has swamped the Mavericks, but Avery Johnson has no intentions of letting it dominate their thoughts. He shot down the rumored deal with the strongest commentary on it yet.
"We're not involved," he said flatly. "Anybody has a right to throw out names. That's a part of speculating. But we're not involved. That's all I can tell them. We like our team, and we're moving forward with our team."
The Mavericks have been rumored as a possible destination for Kidd, but all of those bits of speculation have been downplayed since they made the rounds. Kidd was drafted originally by the Mavericks and has asked to be traded by the New Jersey Nets.
The Mavericks and Nets have talked, but no deal was even remotely close to happening.
Johnson reiterated that the Mavericks believe this team as constructed is capable of winning the championship.
"We feel when we have our 10-man rotation, we feel we can be pretty good," he said. "We know there are a lot more teams favored to win it than we are this year. But we like our team."
Asked again if there was interest in Kidd, Johnson said: "We like our team."
The players have heard about the rumors, but they know it is part of the business.
"It doesn't bother me, but you think about it," said DeSagana Diop. "I wouldn't lie about that. But I don't let it bother me. Just be a pro and do your job."
Stackhouse improving: Jerry Stackhouse, who is with the team on this trip, said his strained right hamstring is making progress.
But he and Johnson said they are in no mood to rush Stackhouse back.
"It's still not completely right," Stackhouse said. "We'll just see how it goes."
Said Johnson: "Hopefully, we can get him back for some parts or all of practice on Saturday, and then see how he recovers from that. We don't want him to be playing with this hamstring all year. I'm not saying if we do this, it'll make it 100 percent. But hopefully, we'll be able to manage it better."
Stackhouse participated in parts of Thursday's shootaround.
Stepping up: The Mavericks applied some solid defense on Boston, particularly in the second quarter Thursday, when the Celtics shot 6-of-17 and had four turnovers.
It was a continuation of what Johnson has been seeing of late from his team. Before the game, he had lamented that his defenders would have a huge challenge against the Celtics, who are among the league leaders in points in the paint.
"This is a terrific team," he said of the Celtics. "It's night and day from what we've seen coming up here the last couple years."
Dallas Mavericks coach squelches Jason Kidd trade rumors
12:58 AM CST on Friday, February 1, 2008
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
BOSTON – Jerry Stackhouse has a motto when it comes to life in the NBA.
"The checks cash in all 50 states," he said Thursday. "That's all you need to worry about. If you get somewhere where the checks don't cash, then you got an issue. But up until then, they're going to cash."
His point is that trade rumors come with the territory, even when your coach is shooting them down in no uncertain terms.
Mavericks/NBA
Johnson discounts Kidd rumors
The Jason Kidd talk of the last few days has swamped the Mavericks, but Avery Johnson has no intentions of letting it dominate their thoughts. He shot down the rumored deal with the strongest commentary on it yet.
"We're not involved," he said flatly. "Anybody has a right to throw out names. That's a part of speculating. But we're not involved. That's all I can tell them. We like our team, and we're moving forward with our team."
The Mavericks have been rumored as a possible destination for Kidd, but all of those bits of speculation have been downplayed since they made the rounds. Kidd was drafted originally by the Mavericks and has asked to be traded by the New Jersey Nets.
The Mavericks and Nets have talked, but no deal was even remotely close to happening.
Johnson reiterated that the Mavericks believe this team as constructed is capable of winning the championship.
"We feel when we have our 10-man rotation, we feel we can be pretty good," he said. "We know there are a lot more teams favored to win it than we are this year. But we like our team."
Asked again if there was interest in Kidd, Johnson said: "We like our team."
The players have heard about the rumors, but they know it is part of the business.
"It doesn't bother me, but you think about it," said DeSagana Diop. "I wouldn't lie about that. But I don't let it bother me. Just be a pro and do your job."
Stackhouse improving: Jerry Stackhouse, who is with the team on this trip, said his strained right hamstring is making progress.
But he and Johnson said they are in no mood to rush Stackhouse back.
"It's still not completely right," Stackhouse said. "We'll just see how it goes."
Said Johnson: "Hopefully, we can get him back for some parts or all of practice on Saturday, and then see how he recovers from that. We don't want him to be playing with this hamstring all year. I'm not saying if we do this, it'll make it 100 percent. But hopefully, we'll be able to manage it better."
Stackhouse participated in parts of Thursday's shootaround.
Stepping up: The Mavericks applied some solid defense on Boston, particularly in the second quarter Thursday, when the Celtics shot 6-of-17 and had four turnovers.
It was a continuation of what Johnson has been seeing of late from his team. Before the game, he had lamented that his defenders would have a huge challenge against the Celtics, who are among the league leaders in points in the paint.
"This is a terrific team," he said of the Celtics. "It's night and day from what we've seen coming up here the last couple years."