Mavericks Practice Report (12/01/09)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavericks Practice Report (12/01/09)

December is a welcomed sight for the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavs enter the last month of the calender year with a 13-5 record, which is good for first place in the Southwest Division. December also means Dallas is moving closer to becoming healthy, after getting center Erick Dampier back Monday night in a 104-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers at home. Dampier missed eight games with an undisclosed illness, but stepped right back in the starting lineup against the Sixers.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

"Damp is doing well," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said Tuesday after the team's practice. "He had a good workout today. He's on the road back, and we need him. He's obviously I big part of our team."

Now the Mavericks are hoping to spring a winning streak, while also hoping to get swingmen Josh Howard (surgically-repaired left ankle) and Quinton Ross (sore lower back) on the court in the coming weeks. With Howard and Ross out, and even in Dampier's stead, the Mavericks got a major contribution from their second unit. The play of the reserves due to the injury situation figures to only help Dallas later in the season, as the Mavericks will have a bevy of players with valuable game experience in the ladder part of the season. As the Mavs get healthier, trying to find playing time for everyone is a good problem to have, Carlisle said.

"I just continue to stress to these guys that everybody be ready. The decision on playing time will be based on the matchups, sometimes it will be based on who I believe is going to be the most energetic guy in that particular situation. And sometimes it's going to be based on if you're playing well, you're going to keep playing," Carlisle said.

"We have a lot of options. It's one of the things that you can view as a downside, because there are tough decisions sometimes, but I don't mind it. I like having a lot of good players and a lot of guys that are capable."

With so many capable players, Carlisle is looking for players to turn their attention to the glass. Rebounding has recently been a problem for the Mavs, including getting out-boarded 60-37 by the Sixers. While Jason Terry's game-winning jumper, with just 1.4 seconds remaining, to down Philly overshadowed Dallas' rebounding deficiency, the Mavs know they won't win too many games with rebounding numbers like the ones that have been on display at times this season.

"If we take care of the glass, which obviously we didn't do (Monday night), then we can play free ball and get out and run," Dirk Nowitzki said.

(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Now the Mavericks try to attack the glass with purpose and avoid making headlines for the wrong reason as they head to play the 0-17 New Jersey Nets and former Mav Devin Harris. The Nets are trying to avoid setting an NBA record for the worst start in league history.

"You know Devin is going to be fired up to do what he did last year, when he had 40 against us," Nowitzki said. "I think we would have rather seen them if they would have won one already, but it is what it is. We have to be solid defensively and go from there."

The Mavericks-Nets game will air Wednesday night, locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 6:30 p.m. CT.

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.

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