Leaders Lead

Last Dallas Mavericks huddle held by Jason Kidd with R. Carlisle listening in. Leaders Lead

Red River Rivalry

By Mo Diaby

Way back when the Mavs were 26-9, earlier this season, Jan 7th to be exact, the Thunder marched into Dallas to play the Mavs and the question was brought up as to, whether the Mavs had found a new rival 3 hours north of Dallas.

Jason Terry specifically addressed it during pregame warm ups and this is what he had to say:


“I was in Spain with Serge Ibaka, and he made it a point to tell me that they’re our rivals,” sixth man Jason Terry said after the Mavericks’ morning shootaround when recalling his trip alongside the Thunder big man while participating in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Program.

“And I was like, ‘You guys haven’t really beat us that many times.’ And he was like, ‘No, we look at y’all as a rival, and we’re gonna try to beat you every time we play,’” Terry added. “If your name is not the San Antonio Spurs, I don’t think there’s a rivalry there. But we know that they’re a dangerous team.”


“It doesn’t become a rivalry until you have playoff victories and playoff losses and it’s multiple years,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “With the location, it does make sense. But right now, they’ve been places we want to go. And until it becomes a rivalry, we have to be able to get to those places.”


That, all but sets the tone for what is to take place on Tuesday night in Dallas 8CT when Game 1 of OKC vs. Dallas tips off.

Hilarious Vids of the day

Outcome I have never seen these videos is a complete surprise to me but I absolutely loved them and you will too:

 

 

Favorite Pics from Game 1: Dallas Mavericks vs LA Lakers

Gasol starring down J. Kidd

High Five! Dirk and Ty share a moment of their own in 7 ft territory

Jet putting on his: "Damn I messed up" face

Kobes' : "I will eat your babies" face

Tyson with the reverse and Ron Ron a bit concerned

Um.. This seems like a bit too much abuse for a 38 yr old. Love the emotion big guy

Tyson Chandler: Love or The game

Came across this tidbit of Tyson Chandler on the ESPN show, "For Love or The Game". A show, which pits Teammates vs. Wives in a modern day (Newlywed) format game show. Enjoy! Click Here

The Usual Suspects: Test of Depth

 By Mo Diaby
     Coming into the season, the word out of the Mavericks locker room was how deep this team really was. Both owner Mark Cuban and Coach Rick Carlisle touted how interchangeable guys were. It was the very foundation of what was to be accomplished this season.

     But  as much as they loved that depth, neither of them really wanted it to be tested. Who would? A team that boasted two legit centers (Chandler and Haywood), 2 former all star forwards (Marion and Butler) was loaded and no doubt capable of challenging the Lakers.

      With the hot streak that the Mavs got off to, few would protest that they weren't contenders. They had the occasional let down game in which they played down to their opponents' level, but overall they had very impressive wins over opponents like: (Spurs, Celtics, Thunder, Heat, Jazz, Magic). Their point differential in wins was 3rd best in the west, and the camaraderie they were developing was perhaps the best it had been since the team that went to the '06 Finals.

     But as the saying goes: "Life is supposed to be a series of peaks and valleys". And the Mavs who were in a tight race to catching up to the ever elusive first place in the west received a hiccup, followed by a valley.



     On December 27th, during a road game against the Thunder, Dirk Nowitzki, the teams' leading scorer, went down with a sprained right knee. The team put up a tremendous effort and won that game in a very tough building. However, they lost the next two games at home. One to an injury depleted Raptors team, and the other to their rivals, the San Antonio Spurs.

      During the stretch with dirk out, it was obvious that a new leading scorer needed to emerge, and perhaps as a good sign, Caron Butler did just that with a 30pts performance versus the Spurs. It was all the more interesting to see what Butler would follow that performance with, when presented the opportunity to play in front of his hometown crowd. See Butler, is a native of Racine,Wisconsin and had several family members at the game the day after New years.

    However, as faith would have it, Butler suffered a torn patella tendon, while going for a rebound from a made shot by Jason Kidd. He clutched to the floor as he dealt with the pain.

Jason Terry (right)  consoling an injured Caron Butler (on the floor)

    Though the severity of the injury has not been disclosed by the Mavericks, it is assumed to be bad, as the Mavericks announced this week after Butlers' surgery that he would be out for the remainder of the season. Tough blow for a team that was clicking on so many levels and coming together.

     The injury is unfortunate, as Caron Butler, who is on the last year of his contract, was putting together a solid season to receive a decent contract as a free agent, with the new CBA rules approaching. One is left to think how unfortunate he is, as he will now be rehabbing and maybe just getting back into shape by the time teams are shopping for a new forward this summer.

     Butler however, was not one to be down on himself as he was immediately back upbeat. The day after his injury, Caron was seen at the Milwaukee airport taking photos with fans:

     As if that effort wasn't enough, Caron followed it with very inspirational tweets for the fans and his teammates, that hint at him wanting to stay in Dallas if and when he recovers from his injury:

Caron tweets this picture of him going in for surgery

He tweets: 

"Championship! Remember that fans that's what its about and we have what it take in that locker room to get it done, ill be 100 percent"

"In no time, and I will be the biggest supporter on the sideline until healthy thanks for the support again I'm going in...."

     Caron Butler, brought something to the Mavs that they needed: another scoring option, Defense, and toughness. And the Mavs have to retool on the fly to feel in his output. However, other than Rodrigue Beaubois and perhaps JJ Barea, no other Mavs player can step into the lineup and create their own shot as Caron did so effectively when in an ISO. 

     That is where the usual suspects step in. Shawn Marion and Deshawn Stevenson as a committee can bring in the toughness on defense and help shoulder the scoring load by increasing their aggressiveness on offense. 

     Though, it remains uncertain if the Mavs will trade Caron, or try to weather the storm in hopes that things will turn around with the return of Dirk Nowitzki and Roddy B; Marion and Stevenson will have very big shoes to fill and for now appear to be able to do so.

     

Follow me @diabym

Strength in Numbers

By Mo Diaby
With the holiday hangover done, the Mavs looked to regain the intensity they had going into the break. A break which allowed the team, mostly comprised of veterans, a 5-day break from action as well as time off with their families.

The Mavs head coach, Rick Carlisle, didn't make the trip to Oklahoma after having Arthroscopic sugery on his knee. Another Mavs player missing was Brian Cardinal, who was out with an illness.

With that said, the Mavs started this out slow, but went on a big run immediately after that. Dirk, jumped out with a 11 points  performance with a little over 9 minutes left in the 2nd Quarter. However, in a very scary moments for the Mavs, Dirk came down awkwardly after being fouled by Serge Ibaka. After shooting his free throws, the Mavs superstar was led to the locker room to examine his injury, which was thought to be a knee injury.

As they have shown all season, the Mavs saddled up their defense and looked at Caron Butler, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry to lead their offense. As the Coaches and players have preached all season long, their bench proved to be more than enough to supplement the scoring output, they lost with Nowitzki out.

Six players scored in double figures, led by 21 point from Caron Butler and 20 from Shawn Marion. As has been the case recently, with the game tight during the 4th Quarter, Mr. 4th quarter himself, Jason Terry, closed the game out by pouring in 11 points in the 4th to close the game out.

Notable Contributions:
Alexis Ajinca - stepped in briefly at the PF position and made a contested 3pt shot to keep the Mavs in the game(79-80) during the 3rd Quarter.

Tyson Chandler - had a quiet 7pts and 10rebs but altered many shots including a late attack at the basket attempt by Russell westbrook which sent the young PG out of the game. (He was alright after the game)

Tweets after game:

Caron Butler:  "That was a huge win for us coming off the break let's keep it going 2marr... Another challenge"

Shawn Marion: "great team win get that knee right @swish41 (Dirk)that's whats up"


Dirk: "Thx for askin everybody. I will be ok. Got an mri 2mor mornin. Great win. guys came through bigtime and defense down the stretch was sick"

Great note from Eddie sefko from DMN about Dirk's evening after he took off for the locker room found here