Mavs Practice Report
In preparation of the team's rematch with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, a business-like Dallas Mavericks squad took the practice court Monday.
Expecting to see a much different Cleveland team than the one Dallas beat 93-82 Saturday night, the Mavs are looking at the second matchup with the Cavs as a regular season tune-up. Cleveland is expected to have their full lineup in action, including reigning MVP LeBron James and new addition Shaquille O'Neal, after many of the Cavs' key contributors sat out of Saturday's loss.
"I'm pretty certain Cleveland will have all their guys, based on my conversation with (Cavs coach) Mike Brown," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "They're a top team either way, so it's a great test for us."
Even if the Cavs play their full rotation, the Mavericks are very confident that they can claim a victory and run their streak of consecutive preseason wins to five. One reason for Dallas' high spirits is their overall team depth and the play of the Mavericks' bench this preseason.
One of the top scoring reserve units in the NBA a season ago, the Mavericks may have even more depth than last season with the acquitions of Drew Gooden, Kris Humphries, Rodrigue Beaubois and Quinton Ross to play alongside reigning Sixth Man of the Year Jason Terry and key reserve J.J. Barea.
Now the Dallas second unit is solidified, providing multiple skilled players at every position.
(Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
J.J. Barea and the Mavs' bench are proving to be a strength for Dallas this season
"When we get in the game, we just try to make plays and play with a lot of energy," Barea said of the bench play. "I think we have one of the best benches in the league."
The contributions off of the bench and the team's versatility has eased the tension of a mild strain to Shawn Marion's right calf, and it has allowed both Josh Howard and Tim Thomas to take their time rehabbing from surgeries this past offseason.
"We've got a lot of guys that can play a lot of positions, so we're constantly tweaking lineups during practice. There are some guys that play both perimeter and post positions, and those guys are having to get a lot more reps than the rest of them," Carlisle said.
While Carlisle and his coaching staff are encouraged by the four straight wins in the exhibition season, when the coach looks at the big picture he still sees a lot the team has to work on before the regular season opener on Oct. 27.
"Look, we're winning the games but these are exhibition games. So you have to look at how you're playing whether you're winning or losing. You can't fall into the trap of if you win a game all is well, because that's not the case. You have to be honest and self-critical and study the things you can do better even when you win. That's what we've been doing."
The Mavs will try to continue to get better when they meet the Cavs at the Petersen Events Center on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. The game will air on HD NET at 6:30 p.m. CT. The Mavs finish the preseason on the road on Oct. 23 against the Southwest Division rival Houston Rockets, with the game airing on KTXA 21 and KTXA 21 HD at 7:30 p.m.
Dallas tips-off the regular season at home against the Washington Wizards on Oct. 27, and tickets remain available. For ticket information call (214) 747-MAVS.
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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