Mavericks Practice Report (02/04/10)
Wednesday night's 110-101 win over the Golden State Warriors was crucial for the Dallas Mavericks, but the team from Big D wants more.
While the Mavericks did end a three-game losing streak with the win, they know ultimately that they need to put together a string of victories heading into the All-Star break. Sweeping the remaining three games before the midseason festivities could build vital momentum for the second part of the season. Dallas finishes with contests against the two worst teams in the Western Conference, with Friday's home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Monday night's away matchup against the same Warriors squad, before matching up on the road with the Denver Nuggets just before heading into the All-Star weekend. The Nuggets sit in the No. 2 spot in the West right in front of the Mavericks.
But before venturing out on the road, the team is focusing on taking things one game at a time, beginning with the matchup against the Timberwolves. Though Minnesota owns the worst record in the West, leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki says his team must display a high level of intensity come Friday night.
"We're closing out before the break on the road, so you never want to go on the road having just lost one at home," Nowitzki said. "Hopefully we can bring the same kind of intensity we had in the first half (against Golden State) and kind of carry it through."
The intensity Nowitzki alluded to pushed the Mavericks to an 18-point advantage, before watching the Warriors slice away at the Dallas lead with a 27-19 third quarter in Golden State's favor.
"There in the third quarter, we had a bad defensive effort and let them right back in the game. The next thing you know, the fourth quarter was a battle back and forth. We've got to, once we're up, keep the lead, keep the pedal to the medal and stay solid defensively. Hopefully we'll have a good outing tomorrow," Nowitzki said.
The Mavericks are also hopeful that starting center Erick Dampier returns to the court, after the 7-footer missed Wednesday's win due to more complications with a left knee effusion. In Dampier's stead, Eduardo Najera got the start. Now in his second stint with the Mavericks after a Jan. 11 trade, Najera was in the Dallas starting lineup for the first time since March 22, 2004.
"Starting, playing, it doesn't really matter to me," Najera said. "I'm like a kid...If I get any kind of time on the basketball court, I love it. Especially here in this building, you feel the energy of the people. I'm just very excited for the next game."
(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
But while the fan favorite wouldn't normally be ahead of big man Drew Gooden on the depth chart, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle used Dampier's absence to grade Najera's conditioning while also keeping Gooden's energy in the second unit.
The move worked, as Gooden turned in a 16-point night in 27 minutes off the bench.
"I talked to Drew about it ahead of time," Carlisle said of the decision. "It had more to do with the positive things that he brings off the bench. And it was a chance for us to get Eddie out there with the first group -- play five or six minutes, be physical, go rebound the ball, do what he does. And it gave us a chance to kind of get a feel for where he's at, too. I thought his minutes were effective and Drew played very well too, so it worked out."
Now with Gooden and Najera both gaining valuable playing time, the team is prepared to play on if Dampier needs more time away from the court.
Meanwhile, Carlisle has gradually been impressed by the development and maturity of rookie Rodrigue Beaubois. Though the young pro has spent time at both positions in the backcourt, his agility, ball-handling and shooting ability has the coach seeing Beaubois as a future starting point guard.
"(Beaubois) has played a fair amount of point. He's studying the position very diligently," Carlisle said of the Guadeloupe native. "And we feel like it's another situation where he can help give us an advantage, with his quickness, his length and speed. And he brings an element to the game, with his body type, that we really don't have anywhere else on our roster.
"His natural NBA position will be point guard, but he'll play off the ball at times. And he'll be very effective at both, I believe...He's made great progress and we're going to keep pushing him to make more."
Looking for back-to-back wins, Beaubois and the Mavericks return to the hardwood to host the Timberwolves on Friday night. The game 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.
For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.
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