Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Phoenix Suns (32-22) at Dallas Mavericks (32-21)
Tuesday night probably wasn't a true indication of how improved the Dallas Mavericks figure to be, after pulling off a seven-player trade with the Washington Wizards over the All-Star Weekend.
(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
Newcomers Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson were unable to practice with the team on Monday due to contractual guidelines. And although they arrived at the team's Tuesday morning shootaround 30 minutes early, their unfamiliarity with the playbook and their new teammates was apparent as the Mavericks fell 99-86 in Oklahoma City.
"The fact that myself and Caron didn't get a chance to practice with the team probably impacted us (Tuesday night) in a negative way," Haywood said after the loss. "But at the end of the day, we're professionals. We have to go out there and do our jobs, and tonight we didn't get it done."
The Mavericks aren't using the trade as an excuse for why they lost. Instead, the team is looking forward to playing in front of the home crowd for the first time since the trade. When the team plays host to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, it will also be the first home game since the All-Star break.
Playing the second of four games in five nights, leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki expects the new pieces to fell more comfortable with their new surroundings.
"We knew it was going to take some time," Nowitzki said. "We have four games in five nights coming out of the break and that is never easy. First game after the break is usually never easy....I think we can see the potential."
The potential of what the Mavericks can become was certainly on display, as both Butler and Haywood showcased above-the-rim finishes against the Thunder. Regardless, the end result was a loss.
Shooting 32 percent is normally the recipe for failure, as was the case for the Mavericks against the Thunder. Butler, a two-time All-Star who will be counted on as one of the top scoring options for the squad, did struggle shooting the ball against the Oklahoma City defense. In his Maverick debut, the versatile swingman finished with 13 points on 4-of-16 shooting. The player that Butler replaced at the starting shooting guard slot, Jason Terry, also struggled, connecting on just 4-of-15 shots for his 14-point effort. The two will be needed nightly to take the scoring load off of Nowitzki's broad shoulders.
"(Tuesday night), a couple of the guys that would be main scorers for us were struggling shooting the ball, so a lot of it was falling on (Nowitzki's) shoulders," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said after the game. "We don't want that to happen."
Still, Nowitzki finished with 24 points on 9-of-22 shooting. Not a shabby performance after his career-best 22-point night in his ninth All-Star appearance.
More importantly, the Mavericks will need Haywood to step up immediately, after starting center Erick Dampier went down with an open dislocation to his right middle finger in the final minutes of the loss to the Thunder. Haywood, a 7-footer having a career year, will have to learn on the fly, likely starting after Dampier stayed in Oklahoma City to have the finger surgically closed.
"Damp's going to be out for awhile, but we've got big Haywood stepping in. Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game. Other teams have them too. Hopefully big Brendan can step in there and really get used to us playing with each other, and protect the paint like Damp does. We'll be okay. Big Damp is usually very tough, and I'm sure he'll be on the court sooner than later," Nowitzki said.
Dampier is expected to rejoin the team in Dallas on Wednesday, though a timetable for his return to the court has not been set.
Meanwhile, facing the Mavericks is a daunting task. The Dallas squad must contend with a Phoenix team, in the midst of its own trade rumors, while also making things easier for Butler, Haywood and Stevenson.
The two teams have split the first two games of the season, with each squad narrowly escaping with a win on its home floor.
(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
"(The defeat to the Thunder) is a tough loss and it's a quick turnaround, so we've got to get ready for Phoenix," Carlisle said.
Stopping Phoenix means containing All-Stars Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire, Mavs point guard Jason Kidd said before matching up with the Suns earlier in the season.
"(The Suns) can put up a lot of points in a hurry. They love the three-ball. Nash and Stoudemire are one of the top tandems in the league, so you've got your work cut out," Kidd added.
Both teams enter the rubber match after playing the night before, with the Suns coming away victorious after a 109-95 road win in Memphis.
On the second night of a back-to-back, the Mavs will host the Suns at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday. The game will air nationally on ESPN and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 8 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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