Offseason Wishlist - A dominant Dampier

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Offseason Wishlist - A dominant Dampier

Nagging injuries plagued Dallas Mavericks center Erick Dampier this season, limiting his impact in the interior. With those injuries now in the 7-footer's rearview mirror, No. 25 vows to come into next season ready to make up for lost time.

When the 2009-10 season began, Dampier seemed on pace to set new career marks. Dampier recorded three double-doubles within the Mavericks' first seven games, including a 14-point, 20-rebound night against the Houston Rockets, in a 121-103 win on Nov. 10.

"(Dampier) was great. He was not only a presence around the basket, he was a force. The numbers are monster numbers," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said after the big man's domination inside.

The performance came after Dampier was left off of the ballot for Western Conference All-Star voting. It prompted Dampier's teammate Jason Terry to say this:

"It was disappointing not to see him on that ballot, but I promise if he continues to work hard and do the things that he's doing for this team, then he will be an All-Star."

But an illness slowed Dampier later in the month of November. And in the second half of the season, it was an open dislocated right middle finger and a left knee effusion that sidelined the former Mississippi State standout.

Now, after undergoing a successful minor arthroscopic procedure to clean out debris in his left knee on May 11, Dampier is expected to make a full recovery. That gives the man in the middle much encouragement that the he can return to the form that he displayed in the early going this season.

"I think the biggest goal in mind is the championship," Dampier said. "So, I'm just going to go out there and play the way that I've been playing and try to help us win games."

Appearing in 55 games and starting 47 times, the 14-year veteran averaged 6.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. But his spot as the team's first-string five man is now a shared responsibility, after the Mavericks picked up fellow 7-footer Brendan Haywood in a seven-player trade with Washington on Feb. 13.

The two big bodies split the load, with Carlisle utilizing each player depending on the matchup with the opposition's post players.

"I've talked to both (Dampier) and Haywood about starting," Carlisle said. "Hey, they're a team...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."

The healthy competition doesn't bother Dampier either, after completing his sixth season with the Mavs. Instead, he is looking at how he can help the team contend for a championship. For Dampier, that starts with concentrating on rebounding and anchoring the Dallas defense.

"We just have to make up our minds to go out there and get the job done," Dampier said. "We know what we have to do. It's going to be a team effort, and we just have to go out there and stop guys and get rebounds.

"We feel like if we go out there and play the way we've been playing -- play hard, get stops, get rebounds -- we're capable of beating anybody."

Meanwhile, the coach is hopeful that Dampier can return to the dominance that he flashed glimpses of early in 2009.

"We need him," Carlisle said. "He's obviously a big part of our team."

For all of your news on the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.