Mavs ponder lessons learned in finals
JEFF CARLTON
Associated Press
DALLAS - Avery Johnson has grown tired of hearing how close the Dallas Mavericks came to winning an NBA le.
The Mavericks' coach is ready for the next mission: learning from, and then forgetting about the team's collapse in the NBA finals. Miami won four straight games after falling into a 2-0 hole and trailing by 13 points midway through the fourth quarter of Game 3.
"That's all I heard all summer: 'Almost, coach,'" Johnson said Monday on the eve of the team's first training camp as the defending Western Conference champion. "How do we go from almost to all? If they are telling you almost, you probably didn't get what you are looking for."
The Mavericks said they aren't suffering a hangover from a devastating Game 6, when they blew a 14-point first-half lead and opened the second half by missing 14 of 16 shots. But some of those thoughts clearly linger.
The strong play of finals MVP Dwyane Wade haunted guard Jason Terry during the summer. Terry said he was on vacation in the Bahamas and a man at his hotel kept calling him "D-Wade" as a way of reminding him who won.
"We've got to refocus and try to get those memories out," Jason Terry said. "But it's always going to live in our minds."
The loss might have been tougher on Dirk Nowitzki, who had boosted his reputation with a strong postseason that included a series-saving play in the second round against San Antonio. But he spent the summer coming to terms with his erratic finals, while Wade landed on the covers of magazines and cereal boxes.
Although Nowitzki averaged 22.8 points and 10.8 rebounds against the Heat, those totals were was about three points and a rebound off his playoff numbers. He was 4-for-14 in the opener and 2-for-14 in Game 4. He shot 39 percent from the field, down from a high of 53 percent against the Spurs, who lost Game 7 at home after Nowitzki's three-point play in the final seconds forced overtime.
"We all know last season's over now, and we have to start all over again," Nowitzki said. "You never know in this league if you'll make it again. A good year is not enough. You want a great year, and hopefully, get a ring."
The way things ended doesn't obscure what was the finest season in team history. Dallas' 60 regular-season wins tied the franchise mark. The team swept Memphis in the first round of the playoffs, then followed the San Antonio series by beating Phoenix in the conference finals and preventing former teammate Steve Nash from reaching his first finals.
The organization has taken steps to reload, re-signing Terry and locking up Nowitzki, who agreed to a three-year extension that will keep him with the Mavericks through 2010-11. Although details of the deal were not disclosed, it's likely worth around $60 million.
Dallas also signed free agents Austin Croshere, Greg Buckner and Devean George to bolster the defense. Another new face is rookie guard Maurice Ager from Michigan State.
Johnson said his job is to blend the new faces with the team's core. He believes the Mavericks can get another shot at the le if they don't get caught looking ahead.
"You don't skip from October 2nd or 3rd and think about finals," Johnson said. "We'll still go through Basketball 101. Then we'll go to Basketball 201. Maybe because we have been together a little bit, we'll get to Basketball 201 a little sooner."
The biggest logjam on the roster appears to be at guard, where the Mavericks will audition a trio of wannabe Wade-stoppers in Ager, Buckner and George, who won championships with the Lakers. Figuring out how to stop the Heat star was perhaps the most important lesson the Mavs took from the Miami series.
"Well, that would be Basketball 501," Johnson said. "And sometimes you need five people to do that since it's a team sport."
mavs will ponder some more next summer
"Terry said he was on vacation in the Bahamas and a man at his hotel kept calling him "D-Wade" as a way of reminding him who won."
"Terry said he was on vacation in the Bahamas and a man at his hotel kept calling him "D-Wade" as a way of reminding him who won."
Mavs > Spares
that quote about terry is still hilarious.
Spurs 3 les- Mavs 0
Spurs organization > mavs organization
"Terry said he was on vacation in the Bahamas and a man at his hotel kept calling him "D-Wade" as a way of reminding him who won."
Yeah I know it's real easy to get back to the finals..
"D-Wade"
Our superstar has been considered top 3 for seven or eight seasons, for stretches number 1. and who said were joyous? I'm personally happy the Mavs think they can beat us. The first step towards your inevitable fall.
Yeah yeah you have your top 3 and Finley so you will stay contending but your role players wont be good enough to get you past us.
Dirk's had his "Barkley chance". No more Finals for YOU.
How bout we wait till after the season opener to talk ....
Why are you referring to yourself in the 3rd person?
See, this is exactly the type of " fans" I was talking about seeing all the time at the American Airlines. Seriously, the season hasn't even started, and big ing deal, you beat us in a scripted series. I'd tell you to "act like you've been there before," BUT, you haven't. The Dallas Mavericks haven't. They've been at the bottom of the league until this guy (
For real, just keep hugging and kissing that nerdy, big-headed child you have as an owner.
Oh, and have some respect:::::::: 3 rings > 0 rings... son.
OHHHHH, and before I forget, it goes like this:
http://www.fanbay.net/nba/nbachampions.htm
Spurs appear on there 3 times, all 3 they've won.
Mavericks appear on there 1 time, and let's just say, no one remembers 2nd place (losers)... loser.
Last edited by SAtown; 10-04-2006 at 12:43 AM.
I just found my official 2005 NBA CHAMPIONS necklace. I had misplaced it. Beautiful.
*sigh* something the mavs fans will never have the pleasure of wearing. A championship necklace, bracelet, watch, tshirt
Spurs = 3 championships
mavs = biggest choke job EVER in the finals broadcast across the globe. Congrats on beating the Spurs, the mavs finest accomplishment
"Terry said he was on vacation in the Bahamas and a man at his hotel kept calling him "D-Wade" as a way of reminding him who won."
The plaque for the alternates is down in the ladies' room.
Hmmm - Duncan gets in deciding finals games and posts nearly a quadruple double, while Dirk shoots 39% for the series (after getting every call in the western conference run, which makes it really easy to shoot over 50% when no one can stand within 5 feet of you). Then Dirk goes 2-14 in elimination game to top it off. Championship!!!
This would have been perfect if IcemanCometh had posted it. Still funny as , though.
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