Mavs Practice Report
Last season, the Dallas Mavericks were behind the 8-ball early.
The Mavs had to battle uphill the entire season after a 2-7 start. Although the Mavericks went on to have a ninth straight season of 50 wins and a trip to the Western Conference semifinals, the rough start may have limited how far the team could have advanced.
A year later, a new-look Mavs squad is back at square one, focusing on starting the season on a better note. The new makeup of the team, and the team chemistry, has the Mavericks optimistic that things will be different in 2009-10.
“Our chemistry is a lot better going into this year,” Mavs sixth man Jason Terry said. “We feel good about what we’ve done in Training Camp, and we’re definitely tired of beating up on each other. So we want to play against some teams that are going to poise a threat for us, and we want to open up at home and get off to a good start.”
After a 5-2 preseason record, the Mavs feel like they are a more cohesive unit than last season’s squad. Dallas hopes that chemistry will reverse its early season misfortune right away, with the season and home opener on Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards.
With the exhibition season now in the past and Opening Night just a day away, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle says getting off to a quick start Tuesday at home is especially important this season with many tough road test ahead early on the schedule. Dallas plays 10 of its first 18 games on the road.
“This is where you find out where everything is at,” Carlisle said. “The chemistry, execution, intensity and disposition. All those things. We’re all very eager to find out, but we feel good about it.”
“We feel like the guys that we added compliment our core players. (The 2009-10 Mavericks squad) is a team that we feel is a better team than last year, but now we have to go out and prove it.”
In addition to better team chemistry this year, the Mavs believe they are a more physical squad with the addition of Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden and Kris Humphries. Though Marion grabs all of the headlines, Gooden and Humphries are called on to do the dirty work.
“We hope we’re more physical than last year. With Marion at the three, with Gooden and Humphries, they’re both physical players. They’re taller than the guys that we had previously in those positions. Now’s the time to start finding out,” Carlisle said.
Being the physical enforcer is a role that Gooden is relishing.
“That’s been a role that I have played on a lot of teams,” Gooden said. “A lot the fans see that and my teammates know it, and that’s why they brought me in -- to be a monster out there.”
“I’m a competitor first and a basketball player second. I always like to compete out there, whatever it takes to win or get the ball, I’m going to do it. I know this is an important year for us and we have a goal, and in order for us to reach that goal I’m going to have to play that role in this situation.”
Gooden hopes to exhibit that physical nature on the court, when the Mavs tip off the season against Washington at the American Airlines Center Tuesday night.
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.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment