Mavs vs the WORLD...BRING IT!!!

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Mav's snub: Addition by omission?

01:31 AM CST on Saturday, February 3, 2007

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]

Josh Howard had a feeling he was going to get the short end of the All-Star stick. And he has a few words of advice to all the Western Conference coaches who think he's not worthy.

Mainly, that they may be sorry they omitted him from their ballot.

Howard returned to Dallas on Friday wearing the big smile that only new fathers know. His son came into the world Wednesday night, less than 24 hours before Howard was left off of the All-Star reserves.

"I knew that was going to happen," Howard said. "I've been saying for a long time that the All-Star Game is overrated. I still have an opportunity because of those two guys who are hurt, but it's a long shot to me. So I'm looking forward to spending that time with my son."

Howard could still be in Las Vegas on Feb. 18, but it will require commissioner David Stern replacing one of the injured Western Conference stars, Carlos Boozer or Yao Ming, with Howard. Even if that happens, it's still a bit hollow because the coaches didn't vote him in.

Regardless, Howard will concentrate on the business at hand, which is keeping the Mavericks atop the NBA.

"Motivation, that's all I need," he said of the snub by coaches. "They don't want me to be an All-Star? I'm going to show them. I've been an underdog my whole life. This is just another step to prove everybody who didn't vote for me wrong."

Howard, in his fourth season, has plenty of good years ahead of him and he is likely to be an All-Star before his career is done. But nobody can take away the joy he had on Wednesday when, at 9:38 p.m., his first child was born.

"It's an amazing feeling being able to bring somebody else into this world," he said. "Last night [Thursday] was the first night I actually cried. I'm still stunned about it. All I could do was stare at him."

Howard didn't arrive back in Dallas until after Friday's practice, but teammates and coaches couldn't believe Howard didn't get the call for his first All-Star Game.

"We all know he's playing at an All-Star level," coach Avery Johnson said. "What kind of words? Disappointed? Disgrace?

"Last year when Detroit sent four guys, guys were playing at an All-Star level and their team was being rewarded for having a good record. We didn't get rewarded."

Why not?

"It's hard to figure out," he said. "But Josh is a team player and he'll try to make it next year. We got bigger fish to fry, but it's still disappointing."

As Dirk Nowitzki added, being an All-Star is not why he plays. But Howard is going through a proving process that Nowitzki also endured early in his career.

"I probably deserved to be on one before I made it the first time, so I guess it happens," he said. "You just have to keep working and keep showing the coaches you deserve it."

The Mavericks also felt that a double standard was at work in picking the teams. One argument made for Washington's Caron Butler making the Eastern Conference reserves was that he was averaging 20 points and eight rebounds and wasn't even his team's first option offensively.

Howard's numbers are virtually identical and neither is he the Mavericks' first option. And his team has the league's best record.

"It's like they're punishing us for being the Mavericks," Howard said.

Six teams with poorer records than the Mavericks placed at least two players in the All-Star Game.

"You couldn't help but notice that," said Jason Terry. "The Suns have three players, San Antone has two, but what can you do. You just go on about your business."

Howard said, "It just makes me stronger. I had a lot of family and friends call and say I was their all-star regardless. We [the Mavs] still got a lot to prove. They still don't think too much about us. We're going to be all right."

this was written by the same guy that avery made a fool out of during that finals post game interview, right? sounds like and lot of chips, but not a lot of dip to go around. I wonder if cheese was served along with all this wine.

[RonMexico]

Regardless, Josh Howard still is a little full of himself. Not to say Amare isn't, either, but everytime I see/read a Howard comment there's a little more than just swagger or confidence in there. His jawing at the Miami bench is a good example of his at ude.

[ponky]

Regardless, Josh Howard still is a little full of himself. Not to say Amare isn't, either, but everytime I see/read a Howard comment there's a little more than just swagger or confidence in there. His jawing at the Miami bench is a good example of his at ude.

i'll take it...as long as he doesn't change his jersey to *Number ONE* and tattoo black jesus on his neck i'm cool with the swagger

[Budkin]

Howard =

[RonMexico]

i'll take it...as long as he doesn't change his jersey to *Number ONE* and tattoo black jesus on his neck i'm cool with the swagger

I admitted that Amare fulfills that role on the team. I he's checked his ego at the door as the year has gone on and that's helped him and Marion co-exist on and off the court.

[ponky]

Howard =

Spurs in 07 =

[ponky]

I admitted that Amare fulfills that role on the team. I he's checked his ego at the door as the year has gone on and that's helped him and Marion co-exist on and off the court.

my response was a sarcastic retort about your silly comments regarding josh...watch the heat/mavs game again, your *jawing* comments are off base but then again, it's just like a suns fan to hype something that's not really there...you asked why i target you? well now you know why...it's not really just about mavs fans, right? you just can't help but take any dig you can at anything mavs

[LB7]

Yeah if anyone actually watched this so called "jawing" Howard did towards the bench, you wouldn't really make a comment on it. He was basically t'd up for looking that direction and POSSIBLY mouthing SOMETHING. It was absolutely nothing. He didn't wag his finger ala Mutombo or continue and go on in any sort of ridiculous fashion. I got yellow-carded for much worse than that in a soccer game. That was nothing. That kind of "jawing" goes on all game long from both sides. Tech was unwarranted and if you have ever played any kind of organized sport, you would see that.

So, as for Howard being y or whatever, I'm sure he is. Most good players do have a little iness and thats what gives them an edge over an average joe. But, quite honestly, he is one of the quietest guys during an interview. He always makes a comment about the other guys on the team and Dirk being the MVP for the team and all that. Ultimate team guy. I love watching his interviews because he directs extra attention he is being given to other guys on the team and then he always gives that big smile right before he walks away. The guy is a team player and you can see it in the way he handles interviews and the way he is around the team. Anything you have to say other than that is just hating or slinging dirt when you don't even really pay that much attention.

[Mavschick]

Howard...the ultimate team guy...

If Howard was the "ultimate team guy", why is he whining about being left off the West All-Star roster? I love Howard, but "team" guys say, "I'm not in this game for individual recognition. I'm in it to help my team win the championship."

[stretch]

oh, and wanna know another incredibly y player? Michael Jordan. he would never run the triangle offense, tell people to get the out of his way, make fun of teammates and tell them how much they suck, tell other teammates to not pass to guys he didnt like or he would not pass to them, punched teammates in practice, and would even publicly talk about how much he hated certain teammates and how useless they were. then again, he basically singlehandedly won 6 les and is the greatest player of all-time.

while his case of iness is a bit extreme in comparison to Howard's iness, the fact is, all the best players have at least some sort of iness, which motivates them to do better. to be the best, you have to want to be the best, and know that you can be the best. as LB7 said, thats what gives great players an edge over average players. that motivation and determination is what can actually make someone that is very average in terms of talent, to be a great player.

[RonMexico]

But Jordan's greatness as a basketball player wasn't a matter of debate. Amare's greatness as a teammate and player are still up for grabs. Likewise, the only people in that article who said Howard deserved an all-star berth were Avery Johnson and Josh Howard. Why didn't the "ultimate team guy" have anyone else come to his defense? Also, I've never seen him direct attention away from J-Ho himself. Just pointing that out...

I've thought he was y since last summer when he tried to compare his college performance against D-Wade to how they would matchup in the Finals. I thought that was a little presumptuous of him, and I was a little right.

[mabber]

All I know is that he's taking more shots than Dirk in a lot of games and that shouldn't happen most of the time.

[lurker]

Likewise, the only people in that article who said Howard deserved an all-star berth were Avery Johnson and Josh Howard. Why didn't the "ultimate team guy" have anyone else come to his defense?

Some of the other Mavericks have stated that Josh deserved to be in there. Dirk being one of them.

[RonMexico]

So, Dirk, Josh and Avery... it's ok - Stack probably thinks he should be an All-Star over Howard anyways.

[mabber]

So, Dirk, Josh and Avery... it's ok - Stack probably thinks he should be an All-Star over Howard anyways.

The perception of Stackhouse outside the organization and the Mav fans is funny. I guess he earned some of it back in the day but the guy is the ultimate teammate now. He's easily the most mature player on the team (as he should be cuz he's about the oldest). He's the leader of the team in the locker room and is willing to do anything to help the team win (including being the "tough guy" on the court that Avery has wanted him to be). He's also totally on board with not playing many minutes during the regular season to save himself for the playoffs. As I've said before on here, he's EASILY the most important Maverick player outside of Dirk & Josh for what he does on & off the court.

[lurker]

Or not.

Jan 20, 2007, 11:32

"He's been playing great all year," says Mavericks forward Jerry Stackhouse. "Obviously being able to get all of the distractions of this being a contract year out of the way was big for him. He's been able to just relax and play and he's definitely worthy. There will be other guys, popularity-wise, who garner more votes than a Josh Howard, but the coaches who watch the games see what he brings to the table and I believe he belongs there and I look forward to him being there."

[FromWayDowntown]

The endorsements of teammates should really count more than the votes of coaches in the conference.

[cheguevara]

these things happen all the time. Howard needs to change his panties and take it like a man.

and Mavs are far from being the "good guys".
- They have ass players that punch ppl in the nuts,
- players that take down opposing players for defending them too well,
- have a guy named Stackhouse,
- have a coach that would sell his soul to the devil for a championship,
- an owner who is the son of satan
- and a decendant from the nazis as their star.

mavs are epitome of "evil" team.

[mavsfan1000]

The perception of Stackhouse outside the organization and the Mav fans is funny. I guess he earned some of it back in the day but the guy is the ultimate teammate now. He's easily the most mature player on the team (as he should be cuz he's about the oldest). He's the leader of the team in the locker room and is willing to do anything to help the team win (including being the "tough guy" on the court that Avery has wanted him to be). He's also totally on board with not playing many minutes during the regular season to save himself for the playoffs. As I've said before on here, he's EASILY the most important Maverick player outside of Dirk & Josh for what he does on & off the court.

You're kidding right.

[mabber]

You're kidding right.

Not in the least bit. And I GUARANTEE you every player & coach on the Mav's would agree with me.

[cheguevara]

you forgot to add that Stackhouse is classy and helps old ladies cross the street

[LB7]

Likewise, the only people in that article who said Howard deserved an all-star berth were Avery Johnson and Josh Howard. Why didn't the "ultimate team guy" have anyone else come to his defense?

Dirk, Stackhouse, Devin Harris, and Terry have each said he deserves to be there. Harris was quoted in a different article and Terry has said it after games repeatedly. They don't really quote guys like George, Buck, Damp, Diop, Croshere, or Johnson, but why would we guess that they don't feel the same way. Everybody in the Mavs organization seems to love Josh so I wouldn't hesitate to say that they all feel he should have been there. To say he doesn't have teammates backing him up is a stretch and completely untrue. Hate him or dislike him all you want, but don't be ignorant.

[SOFT SPURS]

The Mavs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mavsfan1000]

Not in the least bit. And I GUARANTEE you every player & coach on the Mav's would agree with me.

I'm sure they like his toughness and will defend any player that gets mentioned but no way is Stackhouse more important than Terry, Harris, Dampier, and even Devean George.

[Amarelooms]

The Mavs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!