Mavericks Practice Report
The Dallas Mavericks aren't after perfection, but they do know that they haven't played a full 48 minutes this season.
Despite a four-game winning streak that has Dallas leading the Southwest Division by a full four games, the number circling the Mavs right now is 48. The Mavericks have shown glimpses of greatness this season, while also going through droughts when they didn't look like themselves. Playing a complete game at a high level is now what Mavs coach Rick Carlisle is looking for from his team.
(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)
Mavs say turnover woes are just an aberration
Monday night the Mavs jumped out to a 21-point advantage in the first half against the New Orleans Hornets before struggling to score and committing unforced arrors, watching the lead evaporate completely in the fourth quarter. Though the Mavericks responded to capture a 94-90 win in the final minutes, Dallas has had a tendency to lose its sense of aggression once they've jumped out to big leads this season, Carlisle said to explain the reoccurring dry spells in games.
"I think the key is the right level of aggression and discretion, so that we're aggressive enough but we're playing smart and within ourselves" Carlisle said.
Carlisle has 23 reasons to focus in on more discretionary play, after the Mavs uncharacteristically committed 23 turnovers against the Hornets. Though protecting the ball has been a staple of the Mavericks this season, the coach doesn't want to experience many more nights like Monday.
"It was a combination of uncharacteristic mistakes along with playing a team with Chris Paul, who has led the league in steals multiple times. (The Hornets) had something to do with it, but also our execution needed to be better in a lot of cases," Carlisle said.
"We were third best in the league headed into that game in not turning the ball over. So, the question you ask yourself is was it a complete aberration or are we getting into some habits that we've got to avoid? We looked at it today, and we've got to be better because Oklahoma City is another active defensive team like New Orleans."
And so the Mavs head into Oklahoma City on Wednesday night hopping to play a full four quarters with aggressive play while protecting the ball.
One player that has never needed to be told to be more aggressive is J.J. Barea, who has been on a tare since being inserted into the starting lineup the last three games. Barea, who scored a season-high 23 points against the Hornets, was especially counted upon with superstar Dirk Nowitzki having a surprising off night against New Orleans, posting just 10 points.
"(Barea)has played aggressively and he's played well," Carlisle said of the emerging guard. "We need him to continue a high level of play. We want to be aggressive no matter who's starting."
"I think Dirk's earned the right to maybe have an off night shooting the ball. The rest of us just have to be better on those nights."
The small in stature guard has been big with his play of late, and he doesn't mind stepping up in the big moments. With defenses configuring around swarming Nowitzki, Barea knows he has to make teams respect what he can do on the court as a scorer and play-maker.
(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
While the Puerto Rico native was the star on Monday night, he also knows they will need a total team effort if they are going to take down Kevin Durant and the Thunder on the road in a hostile environment.
"We're going to need (Nowitzki). Tomorrow night, we're going to need everybody," Barea said. "We're going to need everybody to step up because they're a tough team. They play good defense. They have scorers, they're athletic, so we need everybody to come out and having a good game."
Dallas now heads north up I-35 to battle the Thunder on Wednesday night, as the Mavs go in search of their fifth straight win. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest, and nationally on ESPN at 7 p.m. CT.
The Mavs return home to the American Airlines Center for the start of a four-game home stand on Friday night, when they host the Southwest Division rival Houston Rockets. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. That game will air locally on TXA 21 and TXA HD at 7:30 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.
Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.
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