Dirk Nowitzki 'making real progress'
By Jeff Caplan
SAN ANTONIO -- Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, for the 17th consecutive day, was asked how injured star Dirk Nowitzki was doing and if he'd be ready to return to action.
And, for the 17th consecutive day, Carlisle provided his unwavering response: "We'll let you know. He's working at it and making progress. He's day to day."
That means nothing has changed heading into the Mavs' showdown against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. Nowitzki, who has missed a career-high eight games, did not participate in team drills Thursday and was limited to working up a hearty sweat by shooting, running laps around the basketball court at Trinity University, where the team practiced and one-on-one stretching and agility work with head athletic trainer Casey Smith.
Nowitzki has been listed as day to day since he sprained his right knee Dec. 27 in Oklahoma City. After X-rays and an MRI exam, the injury was presumably diagnosed as a minor setback and the team listed his status accordingly. Speculation therefore, and understandably so, focused on a quick return to the court for the Mavs' leading scorer and MVP candidate.
Carlisle, however, did shed a bit more light on the matter as the days and losses (six in eight games) continue to mount without Nowitzki.
"Dirk increases his workouts every day and signs are positive," Carlisle said. "But it's very important that we focus on the guys we have available at this time and make sure that he gets back absolutely 100 percent healthy. We've listed him day to day because we don't believe this is a serious injury and he is making progress.
"On the other hand, we are going to maintain an extremely cautious posture on this going forward, and like everyone else we want him to get back 100 percent healthy as soon as possible."
Carlisle added: "There are different phases of the rehab process. He's making progress. I mean he's making real progress, I think you guys see that. We'll let you know when he's going to play. Hey, it could be very soon or it could be a while."
The Mavs could very well head into a second game against San Antonio in nine days without their main man. During Nowitzki's absence, the Spurs have opened up a six-game lead on Dallas and the Mavs enter the game having lost three in a row for the second time during this stretch. They'll try to avoid a first four-game skid of the season.
Nowitzki, who last week acknowledged that he had underestimated the recovery time needed, desperately wants to get back during this four-game road trip.
"In the meantime, as a team," Carlisle said, "we must focus on the guys we have available and find ways to win games with them."
Teammate Tyson Chandler, who has been plagued with injuries the past two seasons, said no matter how bad things may seem at the moment, Nowitzki can't rush his return.
"I want him to be 100 percent before he comes back," Chandler said. "The thing is you don't want to rush anything. I've been there. I've rushed. I've been on the sideline and been in the same situation, watched my team lose, watched my team suffer, and then try to jump back out there and before you know it something else is bothering you. We need him for the long haul.
"I would much rather have him down the stretch when it counts."
Jeff Caplan covers the Mavericks for ESPNDallas.com.
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