Mavericks Practice Report (01/14/10)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavericks Practice Report (01/14/10)

You could say the Dallas Mavericks are in the midst of a transition period.

Because of Dallas' transitional state, Dirk Nowitzki's eclipsing of the 20,000-point plateau was overshadowed by the Mavericks' late-game miscues in a 100-95 home loss to the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. Dallas dropped the game, their second straight at home, despite Nowitzki's 30-point, 16-rebound night.

"(Nowitzki) hits the 20,000-plateau, that is an amazing accomplishment for him. But you know it's kind of (frustrating) when you can't get the win, when he gets the mark," forward Shawn Marion said after the loss.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Sure the Mavericks own the second-best record in the Western Conference, at 25-13, but they certainly haven't scratched the surface of how good they can ultimately become. After suffering back-to-back home loss to the Utah Jazz and the Lakers, the Dallas squad is ready to reach its potential. One reason for the Mavericks' deficiency has been the lack of game experience with the core Dallas players on the court at the same time, as swingman Josh Howard battled nagging setbacks due to his surgically-repaired left ankle. With Howard's return to the starting lineup in the loss to the Lakers, the Mavs' nucleus should be intact and it should translate to improved play on the court.

"When Josh was making his second comeback attempt, he was mainly playing with the second unit," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said after the team's practice on Thursday. "He really hasn't played with Shawn (Marion), Jason (Kidd), Dirk and (Erick) Dampier...That group hasn't played together that much."

For Howard, the focus is less on being back on the court with the starters, but on helping his teammates perform well regardless of who is in the lineup.

"We just have to concentrate more, regardless of whether you have a new player (on the court) or if you've been with the same guys, like me and Dirk," Howard said.

Both Carlisle and Howard agree that the concentration level will have to pick up on the defensive end.

"We're going to have to work our way out of (a defensive funk)," the coach said. "We're going to have to get gritty and dirty....We have to recommit defensively. It's as simple as that. If your defense is better, it's going to make your offense better."

While most around the league look at opponent's points per game average, the coach measures Dallas' defensive success rate by points per possession. And it's that formula that Carlisle is using to prepare his troops for better execution.

"If you hold a team to one point per possession it translates to 90 points per game. That means you're doing pretty good."

(Photo by Larry W. Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Dallas defense will certainly have to be at its' best when Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder (21-17) enter the American Airlines Center. Durant ranks third in the league in scoring (28.9 ppg) and the upstart Thunder are battling for a potential playoff position.

Dallas claimed a 100-86 road win in Oklahoma City on Dec. 16 in the first meeting between the two squads. In that game the duo of Howard and Marion held Durant to 4-of-18 shooting for just 12 points. The two superb perimeter defenders will be asked to do the same on Friday night.

"We did a pretty good job on (Durant) in the first game...We're going to have to throw multiple people at him, because he's a guy that is capable of going for 30 a night," Carlisle said.

The Mavericks will try to finish off a three-game home stand with a win against the Thunder on Friday night. The Mavericks-Thunder matchup will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. Every fan that comes to the game will received a free "Dirk Nowitzki 20,000" poster.

Dallas 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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