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Nice going AJ.
Mavs' upgraded 'D' a step closer to Spurs model
01:09 AM CST on Thursday, December 1, 2005
By DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
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We've been told time and time again that these aren't your father's Mavericks. This team has been constructed with a commitment to defense and a fierce belief in a system that models the NBA elite.
Coach Avery Johnson will ascertain how much these principles have taken hold over the next several weeks.
A November in which they beat last season's final four playoff teams by an average of 18 points established the Mavericks as a contender. This month brings a different challenge as the Mavericks fight to win without one of their best players.
Josh Howard is expected to be out the first three weeks of December. His absence, along with Jerry Stackhouse's yet-to-be-started season, robs the Mavericks of two of their top four players.
Would the Mavericks prefer to have Howard in the starting lineup for tonight's game against San Antonio at the American Airlines Center? You might as well ask Spurs guard Tony Parker if he's a fan of Desperate Housewives.
But any team with championship aspirations must find ways to win with a key player or two out for an extended stretch. This sets the genuine contenders apart from the Larry O'Brien Trophy wannabes. Teams built the right way don't squander the foundation that's been laid.
The Spurs come to mind. San Antonio won 59 games and the Southwest Division last season, even though Tim Duncan missed 16 games.
"They play well no matter what," Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "Their system is so good, it doesn't matter who is out there. Last year when Duncan was out, they just kept on winning and played good defense every night.
"Ultimately, that's what we're trying to do. It doesn't matter who we face or who we've got on the court, we all have to do the same thing, be solid defensively and work together. That's the kind of system we want.
"It all starts defensively for us now."
There are lapses. In Tuesday's loss, the Mavericks allowed 113 points to a Milwaukee team that averaged 87.4 points in its previous seven games. The Bucks were without their best shooter, Michael Redd, yet had one of their best shooting nights as Bobby Simmons (26 points), T.J. Ford (24 points) and rookie Andrew Bogut (19 points) had season highs.
The Mavericks are charged with proving that was an aberration rather than a tendency exposed by Howard's absence.
"If you look at the teams that have won the championship the last three years, they have all been defensive-oriented," Mavericks guard Jason Terry said. "We're trying to emulate what those two teams do, Detroit and San Antonio. If we can be in the top five in defense this year, then I like our chances."
The Mavericks allow an average of 94.7 points, their best in seven seasons. Their scoring has also dipped a tick below 100 points for the first time in seven seasons. But the Mavericks had to give ground on offense to make the strides needed on the defensive end.
Again, San Antonio is the standard. The Spurs beat Phoenix at the Suns' own open-court game in the conference finals, then followed with a grind-it-out victory over Detroit to win the le.
Johnson wants to mold a team that can flourish in those disparate environments.
"They have the tenets of a good basketball team, which is they defend very hard and they are a very good rebounding team," Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy said of the Mavericks. "They can score. They may not do it the same way, they may not play as fast as they once did, but they can still score the ball efficiently.
"Why I think they can win a championship is because they are a balanced team. Balanced teams win championships. Not offensive teams, not defensive teams.
"Balanced teams."
The Big Three is down to the Big German, but the Mavericks have done a good job of surrounding Nowitzki with teammates who can play off his strengths and fortify his weaknesses.
Terry can make opponents pay for focusing on Nowitzki. The offense can run through Marquis Daniels and Devin Harris, freeing Terry to score. Howard is the ideal complement to Nowitzki, a forward who can slash to the basket and hit the boards when the All-Star is outside. Erick Dampier seals off his defender and opens the lane for teammates to penetrate.
Stackhouse, Harris, Keith Van Horn and the improving DeSagana Diop form a strong, well-rounded bench. Veteran guard Darrell Armstrong is valuable in spot duty. Defensively, the nucleus is more cohesive than it was last season. And the Mavericks have another element that serves them well.
Perimeter speed.
Van Gundy calls this the predominant feature in the league today. Johnson agrees, saying the ability to get from point A to point B instantaneously is crucial on both ends of the court.
"I like what we're doing," Nowitzki said. "Avery has us prepared the right way every game. Almost every day we're working on something we need to improve defensively.
"I think we're on the right track."
If true, the loss of Howard is less likely to derail this team.
The Mavericks, and Johnson, are about to find out.
E-mail [email protected]
San Antonio at Mavericks, 7 p.m. today, American Airlines Center (TNT)
Nice going AJ.
We still need a lot of work to do on the defensive end. We've been playing awesome D at times but I don't know... Detroit and San Antonio plays tough, physical D that could frustrate teams and that's just something I can't see Dallas emulating given the current personnel.
Yeah, a lot of teams establish themselves as contenders in November.A November in which they beat last season's final four playoff teams by an average of 18 points established the Mavericks as a contender.
Exactly what I thought when I read that.Yeah, a lot of teams establish themselves as contenders in November.
The defensive focus AJ has brought is a good start, but the sheer fact that that team gets SOOO high for games in November is kind of a testament to how they have not arrived. , look at Detroit's November last season - anybody want to argue they weren't contenders?
Right now, the Mavericks are only slightly more contenders than Memphis or the Clippers.
If the Mavs play defense tonight like the Spurs have been, then the Spurs have a real chance that the Spurs win!
I'm not confident that the Spurs give a about this game, or even 2005.
Another Spurs embarrassment on national TV.
By the way, did anyone out there ever in their wildest dreams imagine that Diop would ever belong in a sentence like this?
My wildest dreams don't include Diop...
but the spurs have not being playing its best defense therefore the mavs have a long way to go
Diop is a beast. In a few years he will be the next Ben Wallace. The guy still can get in better shape and moves very well for a big man. He is only 23 so he has alot of upside.
Dallas is not the one getting sooo high over these games, its the media and the fans. AJ has repeatedly stressed out that this team hasn't proven anything yet and he's right.
Howard brings abilities similar to some of the elements Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili bring to the Spurs. He is going to be missed tonight by the Mavs. If Manu plays, I expect the Spurs to play better tonight since it is not the 2nd game of a b2b. They have also experienced the packing-in of the lane by the Bulls and Lakers (after the 1st qtr.) the last 2 games, so they should be a little more used to the Mavs tactics.
Mavs are very good this year and they know the Spurs' passing tendencies, so take care of the ball Spurs!!!
The mavs definitely have talent, the have had talent for a long time, what they lack is experience and leadership on the floor. Dirk is not a leader, I don't know why even though he had so many chances with Germany and at least a year with Dallas, but he just doesn't.
Oh yeah, they also don't have much of a low post game, and the last team that doesn't have a low-post game and won a championship was probably the original bad boys, but then their low post defense was so good, it balances it out. And yes, the Bulls had a low post game in Jordan.
Little General strikes back...
He looks really good out there now. You guys got a steal, and if he keeps getting better, he'll make up for the Dampier signing.
But his first year in the league, I think the ball boy dunked on him.
I must say, I was wrong.
AJ has worked wonders with the Mavericks defensively.
Me and TIMVP even marveled at Jason Terry rotating on defense to double at one point.
Totally shocked me.
If they could trade Dampier for a solid back up shooting guard, or power forward, and let Dirk just play the 3, they could rival the Spurs.
Im scared to think of how last night goes if Ginobili AND Howard both play.
I don't see a downside to Diop. He COULD be big contributor to this team for a long time.
What I meant was, he got off to such a horrible start when he first came into the league that I'm kind of stunned that he's a real NBA center now.
But there's no denying that he looks really good out there.
Howard is such a natural the the 3, I'm not sure you want to move Dirk over.
One possibility would be if they swapped Dampier and brought a guy like Fortson back. Under Avery, he could get on the court for his defense, and he could be the enforcer inside that Dirk isn't.
They could also probably get some spare parts back in the deal, and it would free up more minutes inside for Diop.
Diop does look good.
He could IMO turn into a Dikembe Mutombo.
Both of their games are quite similar.
Ferry ed up not matching that contract.
BTW, how the did Marquis Daniels NOT get drafted?
Please tell me the geniuses that passed up on him, what their excuse was for that.
Forston "he could get on the court for his defense"
He can't stay on the court because of fouls.
Looks like he's not on good term withe new Sonics coach, getting only 11 mpg
(and 3.3 PF/g ( is 15 fouls/48 min))
That is cause the new Sonics coach is a career moron.
No reason why Johan Petro should be getting minutes ahead of Fortson.
Even though he's incredibly foul-prone, a lineup with Diop starting and Fortson backing him up is probably a step up from Dampier starting.
And BTW, is anyone on good terms with the new Sonics coach? The guy will be lucky to still have a job by new year's day.
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