Mavs Practice Report (11/19/09)
After back-to-back 53-minute games, the Dallas Mavericks got off their feet Thursday, using the day as a film and treatment day before their upcoming matchup against one of the NBA's rising stars.
The Mavericks are on a four-game winning streak, but Dallas has needed two straight wins in overtime to run that streak to four, giving the veteran team plenty of reason to need a day of rest.
"We're looking to play 48 minutes of solid basketball," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "That's what Mavericks' basketball is -- it's 48 minutes long, and some nights it's 53 minutes long. Whatever gets you from start to finish and gives you the chance to win is what we're looking for."
Despite their 9-3 record and first place in the Southwest Division standings, the Mavericks are not convinced that they have played a full 48 minutes in any game thus far. So for now, the Mavericks are less focused on their spot in the standings and more focused on improving as a team.
"You definitely want to get out ahead of the curve rather than trying to play catch-up," sixth man Jason Terry said. "Our emphasis this year has been on getting off to a good start and primarily we've done that. But we're still not out off the first month yet so we'll hold off on any assumptions right now."
"In terms of keeping our eye on the ball, it's got to be about getting better. This is no time for complacency or feeling like we have anything solved because we really don't. We have a long ways to go," Carlisle said.
One reason for Carlisle's focused demeanor is the team's poor shooting early this season. Coupled with their ever-changing health situation, Dallas has plenty to be alarmed about, despite the winning record.
Yet Carlisle isn't stressed, just focused on improving.
"Stress is a relative term," Carlisle said. "I think you always have to be very honest in evaluating your team and how you're playing, whether you're winning or losing."
"Something we have to start working at is putting teams away and not having all of these close games with teams," forward Drew Gooden said. "Yeah, our record is nice but a lot of our games have been nail-bitters. It's building a lot of nervous energy out there on the bench and probably some more grey hairs for Coach."
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Mavs are preparing to defend rookie star Tyreke Evans
Carlisle is hoping Gooden's prediction rings true, especially with the Sacramento Kings and rookie sensation Tyreke Evans coming into the American Airlines Center on Friday night. Evans has caused many opposing coaches to grow new grey hairs with his scoring and play-making in his first year. The rookie ranks second in scoring (17.1 ppg) and third in assists (4.3 apg) for first-year pros.
"He's (Evans) a very solid player," Carlisle said. "He's very athletic. He's got unusual strength for a young player, so I think using size (a larger player guarding Evans) when we can do that is going to be something we'll want to do, but again he's one of those guys that you're going to end up throwing a lot of different guys at before the night's over."
"He can just do so many different things. He can shoot it, he can drive it, he can make plays, he can post up. He's just a very good all-around young player."
The Mavericks will try to slow Evans down, first and foremost, in hopes that that brings the Sacramento attack to a halt.
Meanwhile, Carlisle is hoping that Dallas can break out of their shooting slump. The Mavs shot just 40 percent in their 99-94 overtime win over the Spurs on Wednesday night. It is trend that can't continue if Dallas is going to eventually contend for an NBA title.
"I just don't want to get caught up in how things have gone the last couple of games and not look ahead and put our efforts into getting better, because we can. We have to get healthier and better, and we have a long way to get where we really want to be," Carlisle said.
The Mavs host the Kings on Friday night, with the game airing locally on FSN Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.
The Mavericks and the NBA have introduced the official NBA All-Star game ballot, featuring Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry. For more on how to vote for your favorite Mavs for the All-Star game, to be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, visit Mavs.com.
Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.
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