Mavs Practice Report
A 5-2 preseason record is impressive, but it won't get a team to the playoffs and it certainly won't win an NBA title.
The Dallas Mavericks understand that, so the team went back to work Sunday on the practice court in preparation for Opening Night on Tuesday against the Washington Wizards.
After ending the exhibition season with a 98-94 win against the Houston Rockets on Friday night, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said it's time for the real work to start with the season opener on the horizon.
"The only way to do it (be successful) is through hard work," Carlisle said. "The last week or so we've had some inconsistencies. It's troubling but we've address them today and we'll address them again tomorrow."
One reason for the inconsistencies that Carlisle referenced was the Mavs' injury situation. As Josh Howard (ankle) and Tim Thomas (knee) inch towards 100 percent, Dallas has also had Shawn Marion in and out of the lineup with a mild strain to his right ankle.
When Marion has played, the Mavericks have exhibited a high-tempo, defensive-oriented squad. When Marion has been out, Dallas has sorely missed his athleticism and intangibles.
(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Shawn Marion hopes to be 100 percent by Tuesday night
"(Marion) has made progress with his calf. He seems to be doing okay. We had a hard practice today so hopefully he got some more conditioning. Hopefully by Tuesday he'll be where we need him to be and where he wants to be," Carlisle said.
"I'm just trying to get my wind up and get clicking on all cylinders," Marion said. "I'm still not clicking on everything I want to be clicking on, but at the same time I'm still just trying to get my wind back. I was out 10 days -- 10 days of not running, jumping or just playing basketball is tough. But other than that, everything will take care of itself."
For precautionary reasons Marion missed the second half of the Houston win, mainly because Marion's conditioning prohibited him from playing extended minutes. That is not expected to be the case Tuesday against the Wizards, a team Marion scored a game-high 26 points against on Oct. 9.
Despite a 123-115 win in Washington this preseason, the Mavericks know that the Wizards will be a much-improved team this season. With a healthy Gilbert Arenas teaming with Caron Butler, Washington can score with the best teams in the league. The Wizards will be without former Mav Antawn Jamison, who will be out with a shoulder injury. Jamison sored 19 points in the preseason meeting against the Mavs.
"It (Dallas' gameplan) doesn't change," Carlisle said of Jamison's absence. "We're still going to have the same approach from an intensity and disposition standpoint. It means that the ball is going to be in Arenas' hands more frequently and Butler's, and those two guys are both great players. It's no picnic."
Dallas squares off against Washington at the American Airlines Center Tuesday night and tickets remain available. For ticket information call (214) 747-MAVS. The game will air on FSN Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Courtesy of ESPN 103.3 FM and ESPN Deportes, 1,033 limited edition Shawn Marion t-shirts (100 of which will be signed by Marion) will be thrown to the crowd during the game.
Dallas has also introduced the “MavsU” program, designed to offer college and university students an opportunity to attend Mavs games at a discounted rate. The Mavericks and Genghis Grill have teamed to offer discounted tickets to students for many upcoming games.
To purchase any MavsU ticket and receive a coupon for a free bowl at Genghis simply call 214-747-MAVS or visit Mavs.com.
Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.
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