Suns-Mavericks Recap

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Phoenix Suns 97 Dallas Mavericks 107

Tuesday night's 99-86 loss in Oklahoma City was not the ideal beginning in a Dallas Mavericks' uniform for new additions Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson.

Just 24 hours later, the trio took the court for a more impressive showing in their American Airlines Center debuts against the Phoenix Suns. Though the newcomers continue to learn on the fly, playing the second of four games in five nights, Wednesday night the squad got back on the winning track. With a tormenting defense and six players scoring in double figures, including Butler and Haywood, the Mavericks claimed a 107-97 win over the Suns on the home floor.

(Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

"They really wanted it," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of his new-look squad. "Our new guys, being here, the guys who have been here want them to feel what it's like to win, especially in this building. We fought hard for it."

"It's always easier at home," Butler added. "The crowd just kind of carried us and lifted us and gave us that momentum we needed down the stretch to win this game."

Butler and Haywood hit the hardwood from the opening tip, starting next to Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion and Dirk Nowitzki. Haywood got the start in the middle, with center Erick Dampier out of the lineup after suffering an open dislocation to his right middle finger in the loss to Oklahoma City. The 7-footer then had the injury surgically repaired before returning to Dallas, though a timetable for his return to game action has not been set.

"I just kind of grabbed my hand at first," the big man said explaining the injury. "I didn't think it was that serious until I tried to open my hand and I saw a bone sticking out of the skin.

"Everything is fine. We'll take this week to week to see how it feels."

After following behind by as much as eight in the opening period, the two new starters began to settle into their roles. Meanwhile, the Dallas defense held Phoenix without a made basket for the final 3:25 of the quarter. With Nowitzki and Butler handling the scoring responsibilities, while Kidd sped up the tempo for an 11-0 run, the Mavs sprinted to a 28-23 edge after one. The Suns misfired on their last six field goal attempts in the period.

Transition offense continued to be the key for the Mavericks in the second quarter.

"We're a running team," the coach said. "We have Jason Kidd. We are always better when we don't call plays or don't have to call plays. Sometimes you have to in certain situations. When you do, you better be able to execute it and put the ball in the hole... We got the ball moving up and down the court well."

"We're just playing basketball -- it's like pickup game style. We're just getting the ball to the floor general (Kidd) and just getting to spots and he's finding us," Butler said.

Simultaneously, the Suns went almost seven minutes without a made basket, stretching back to the end of the first quarter. Despite Amar'e Stoudemire racking up a double-double midway through the second quarter, the Mavericks' lead reached double digits. The scrambling Dallas defense continuously disrupted the rugged Phoenix offense in the quarter, including Haywood's block out on the perimeter on Steve Nash's 3-point attempt. But after the Mavericks led by as much as 12, the Suns cut their deficit to 56-49 at the half.

Dallas out-shot the Phoenix squad 48 percent to 39 percent in the first half, despite losing the rebounding battle 28-26. The Maverick defense stifled the deadly Phoenix 3-point attack, as the Suns hit on just 1-of-14 attempts from behind the arch in the first 24 minutes of play.

"I think against Phoenix, you've got to guard the 3-point line. That's where they really get you," Nowitzki said.

Nowitzki led the way for Dallas with his 16 first half points, but Stoudemire's 17 points and 12 rebounds kept the Suns in contention.

The Mavs blew the game open in the third quarter behind Kidd's 3-point shooting. The veteran lead guard then got help from Butler and Marion, as the two former All-Stars attacked the rim with an aggressive state of mind. With Haywood paroling the paint and sending back shot after shot at the defensive end, the Mavericks outscored the Suns 26-19 in third to take an 82-68 advantage into the final period.

But after the Mavericks' lead climbed to as much as 19 in the third, the Suns responded with a 7-0 run early in the fourth to get their deficit to single digits. Jason Richardson's three at the 7:45-mark cut the Dallas lead to 90-85.

"Next thing you know it's a five-point game. But overall, I felt we did a good job staying with their shooters and made them finish in the lane over big Haywood," Nowitzki said.

Still the game laid in the Mavericks' grasp, as seemingly every loose ball found its way into a Dallas player's hands down the stretch. With Nowitzki carrying the offensive load for most of the fourth, Jason Terry battling through a tough shooting night with back-to-back jumpers to put the Mavs ahead 103-91 with 2:29 remaining. The game then got testy, with Nowitzki and Grant Hill drawing a double technical call during a brief scrum. But on a night where Kidd was virtually all over the court, the future Hall-of-Famer iced the game with timely rebounds while racking up the steals on the defensive side of the ball. The Mavs finished the game off by nailing clutch free throws.

"This is a tough team to play. They have tons of weapons. They are quick, they shoot it, they have skill. They keep coming at you...I like the way we hung in when they got close. We made big plays and were able to close it," Carlisle said of his team's resolve.

"I don't think I've ever known a team to hold Phoenix to under a 100. So, our defense tonight was great. Everybody stuck to the game plan, everybody was in position and it just felt good to give a good defensive effort," Haywood said after his five-block night.

The story of the night was the play of Kidd at both ends. The 10-time All-Star engineered the fast-breaking offense to perfection, racking up 18 points and 10 assists.

"(Using transition offense) is to make the game simple," Kidd said. "Make or miss, get it down the court as fast as you can and hope something presents itself, whether it's a layup or a wide-open jump shot."

(Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

Defensively, the 15-year veteran literally stole the show, claiming a career-best seven steals while also snatching seven rebounds.

"(Kidd) is just amazing," his coach said. "Just an amazing game, the way he led the team. The steals, to get to seven steals is a phenomenal number in one game. It seems like they were all timely...He was great."

"They put my Rookie of the Year trophy in my locker, so maybe that's what made me feel young," Kidd joked.

Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 28 points on 11-of-24 from the field, while Kidd, Terry (17), Butler (15), Marion (14) and Haywood (10) all scored in double digits.

Stoudemire led the Suns with 30 points and 14 rebounds, but the Dallas defense held Nash to just nine points on 4-of-13 shooting. The All-Star point guard and former Mav did shell out 12 assists.

The Mavericks finished the night slightly out-shooting the Suns, 47 percent to 46 percent, while also holding a 45-44 edge in rebounding. Dallas was also extremely efficient, committing just 11 turnovers, compared to 17 for Phoenix. Led by Stoudemire's big night, the Suns did outscore the Mavs 50-42 in the paint, albeit in a losing effort.

After taking a day off, the Mavericks continue their tough five-day stretch with another back-to-back. The squad heads to Orlando to battle the Eastern Conference champion Magic on Friday night. The game will air nationally on ESPN and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 7 p.m. CT. The two teams have not met this regular season.

"Going in there and trying to get a win is going to be a big momentum-booster," Butler said of the trip to Orlando. "It's against a quality team that's playing great basketball as well."

Saturday night, the Mavs return home to host the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Center. That game will air nationally on NBA TV and locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The Mavs took the first meeting between the two teams, escaping Miami with a 106-93 road win on Dec. 11.

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Suns-Mavericks Preview

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

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.

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
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.

Mavericks-Thunder Recap

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks 86 at Oklahoma City Thunder 99

While the new-look Dallas Mavericks figure to have a lustrous future, Tuesday night the team from the Lone Star State was not shining so brightly.

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

Coming out of the All-Star break, the Mavericks returned to the hardwood in Oklahoma City for the start of four games in five nights. It was also the first game for the newly acquired Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson, as the trio got a crash course in Maverick basketball. The Mavericks led the season series 2-0 coming into Tuesday night, but the Thunder came into the game riding a six-game winning streak and at the Mavericks' expense that number moved to seven. The week-long layoff between games and lack of practice time with the new players was apparent, as the Mavericks shot just 32 percent on the night to begin the new era with a 99-86 loss.

"The fact that myself and Caron didn't get a chance to practice with the team probably impacted us tonight in a negative way," Haywood said. "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."

"You can easily use (the trade) as an excuse," point guard Jason Kidd added. "We have a lot of veteran players that have come over in the trade. We let this one get away from us."

Adding insult to injury, the Mavericks may have lost their starting center for an extended period of time, after Erick Dampier exited the game due to an injury late in the fourth quarter.

"Right now, I'm just concerned about Damp's situation," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "I'm not sure what's happening with him."

But the game began on a good note for the Mavs. Immediately Butler looked to make an impact on his new squad, joining the starting lineup at the shooting guard slot in his Maverick debut. The two-time All-Star took the court next to Kidd, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki and Dampier. But the first-stringers weren't together long before Nowitzki picked up two quick fouls after four minutes of play, forcing sixth man Jason Terry into the game sooner than Carlisle would have wanted. Still, with Butler and Haywood fitting right in early, the Mavericks sprinted to a 14-2 run before eventually holding a 26-16 advantage after one.

The Dallas defense was the story after the opening quarter, holding the Thunder to just 6-for-25 shooting in the period.

"I think we can see the potential, especially there in the first quarter. Everybody was touching it and getting open shots. I can definitely see the potential," Nowitzki said.

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
After sitting the majority of the first quarter, Nowitzki came out aggressively in the second stanza. But the Thunder got right back into the game with their young core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green. Finishing the half on a 10-2 run, the Thunder surged ahead with a last-second three from James Harden to grab a 56-54 lead heading into the intermission. Oklahoma City outscored Dallas 40-28 in the second quarter.

"Look, we had 54 points at halftime, so we had enough points," Carlisle said. "The bottom line is they shot over 70 percent in the second quarter and had a 40-point quarter. That got them going."

The shooting touch wasn't there for the Mavericks in the first half, connecting on just under 42 percent of their shots. Meanwhile, after the slow start, the Thunder finished the half shooting 48 percent. The two teams went to their respective All-Star forwards early on, as Durant's 16 first half points just bettered Nowitzki's 15.

Both teams picked up the defense in the third quarter and the scoreboard reflected it. But with both teams struggling to score, Dallas' turnovers in the period became costly, assisting the Thunder on its 14-0 run. After a seven-minute scoreless stretch, the Mavericks mustered up merely a season-low 11 points in the period. Meanwhile, the Thunder capitalized at the other end, leading by as much as 14 before taking a 78-65 advantage into the fourth.

"In the third quarter, we couldn't hit shots. It was defense in the second quarter and in the third quarter our offense struggled. We had looks and they were a lot of shots that we normally make, but we just couldn't...It was frustrating," Carlisle said.

"After halftime, we only scored 11," Kidd said. "You have to give those guys credit...We didn't make shots, we had some good looks. I think we started pressing and we tried to do it individually to try and stop the bleeding. It just didn't work out."


The margin widened to 17 early in the final period, before Carlisle shifted to a lineup of Kidd, Terry, Marion, Nowitzki and Dampier in hopes of sparking an offensive explosion. The unit responded with a 13-4 run, cutting the deficit to single digits. But the team's comeback attempt hit a wall with the Thunder defense keying in on Nowitzki.

The Mavs then lost Dampier with an open dislocation to his right middle finger at the 2:54-mark, attempting to block a shot. Unable to get any closer than eight, Carlisle pulled his key contributors inside of the final two minutes.

While the Mavericks struggled with their shooting all night long, the defense was not the problem, as the Thunder connected on just 43 percent of their shots en route to the win. With both teams having trouble finding the bottom of the net, the rebounding numbers were unusually high, as the Mavericks captured a 53-51 edge on the boards.

"In the second half, I think our defense was actually alright," Nowitzki said. "We held them to around 40 points, that's not bad. Offensively, we couldn't get anything going."

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Thunder's 18-7 advantage in fast-break points and 15 points off of Dallas turnovers were deciding factors in the game.

Coming off of his career-best 22-point performance in Sunday's All-Star Game, Nowitzki finished with a team-high 24 points on 9-of-22 shooting. But the Mavericks likely No. 2 and No. 3 scoring options, Terry and Butler, were a combined 8-for-31 as the two collectively scored 27 points. The cold-shooting night was a total team effort, Carlisle said.

"Tonight, 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," the coach added. "We don't want that to happen."

"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."

Durant finished with a game-high 25 points, hitting that number for an NBA-best 26th straight game, though he did so on 9-of-28 from the field.

But after the game, the concern in the locker room was with Dampier. The 7-footer remained in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night, heading to the hospital to have the finger surgically closed. He is expected to join the team back in Dallas on Wednesday, however a timetable for his return to the court has not been set.

"Damp's going to be out for awhile, but we've got big Haywood stepping in," Nowitzki said. "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."

Now, on the second night of a back-to-back, the Mavs will host the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday. That 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. The two teams have split the first two games of the season series.

"It's a tough loss and it's a quick turnaround, so we've got to get ready for Phoenix tomorrow," Carlisle said.

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks-Thunder Preview

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

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (32-20) at Oklahoma City Thunder (30-21)

Break time is over and it's time for the Dallas Mavericks to get back to work.

It has been a week since the Mavericks last hit the hardwood. My, how things have changed. In addition to playing host to the largest attended basketball game (108, 713) over the All-Star Weekend, the Mavs front office pulled off a seven-player trade with the Washington Wizards.

Exiting Dallas is swingman Josh Howard, big man Drew Gooden, forward James Singleton and guard Quinton Ross. Joining the Mavericks are two-time All-Star forward Caron Butler, center Brendan Haywood and guard DeShawn Stevenson. The trio will make their Maverick debuts Tuesday night as the team travels to Oklahoma City and tangles with the Thunder.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

"These guys are proven veteran players," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said when the newcomers were introduced to the media on Monday. "Caron's a two-time All-Star. DeShawn's a guy that's developed into a very good 3-point shooter, and is known as a good defender in this league and has been a key guy for Washington's team the last few years. And Brendan is a guy that's been with (Washington) a long time and is having his best season this year. So, we feel like these guys are really going to help us. I was thrilled that this transaction could happen and we're looking forward to working with them."

The newest Mavericks are expected to make an immediate impact. Butler, and his 16.9 points and 6.7 rebounds a game, is likely to assume the starting shooting guard role, sending Jason Terry back to the bench as a sixth man.

"Over the course of the last couple of months, I've been playing three positions," Butler said, though his natural position is small forward. "I'm looking forward to that challenge, and I'm looking forward to this new system and this situation to do some good things...I'm not focusing in on just being a catch-and-shoot guy.

"I'm going to sit down with (Carlisle) and see some of the things that he would like me to do and what I can improve on. But whatever intangibles I can bring to this squad, that's what I'm going to bring. I'll do whatever I can to help this team win a championship."

Terry, who has started 12 consecutive games, has no problems moving back to a reserve role because he believes it benefits the team.

"I'm the guy that will take the sacrifice. We want (Butler) out there starting, to where he's comfortable," Terry said.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
As for Haywood and Stevenson, Carlisle has already envisioned their roles as well. Haywood, a 7-footer, will be interchangeable with starting center Erick Dampier. Dampier has battled through a left knee injury throughout the season, making the addition of Haywood even more of a necessity. And Haywood isn't just any big man, ranking 10th in the league with his 10.3 rebounds per contest this season.

"(Haywood) will be playing," the coach said. "Whether or not he's starting isn't that significant at this point. I think what is significant is that we have another big body who's a proven player. It affords us, I think, the opportunity to not have to put Damp out there for extended minutes, when he is healthy."

Stevenson is expected to add depth and scoring to the bench, averaging 8.2 points for his career. But the talented guard, who came straight out of high school to be drafted in 2000 by the Utah Jazz, is concentrating on helping the team on the defensive end.

"I'm just going to go out and work hard. Go out there and play defense, and knock down open shots...My thing is to go out there and lock down the tough offensive players and play my role," Stevenson said.

All of the new additions will be counted on to adjust to their roles rather quickly, as the Mavericks embark on a stretch of four games in five days beginning in Oklahoma City.

"It's going to be tough to get everybody involved that quick," leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki said. "We've got a tough stretch here with four games in five nights, but nothing is easy in this league."

The new-look Dallas squad heads to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Tuesday night, with the game airing locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7 p.m. CT. The Mavericks lead the season series 2-0, including a 100-86 road win on Dec. 16.

"We know (the Thunder) are a strong-willed team and very, very much that way for a younger team," Carlisle said of the team's upstart opponent. "They're mature beyond their years competitively.

"You have to play them the right way and you have to play well. You have to hit some tough shots, because they're long and they get into you defensively."

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

New Mavs meet the Media

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com

The Dallas Mavericks are all about "the now."

With an opportunity to compete for an NBA title this season, the Mavericks didn't sit on their hands during All-Star Weekend. Instead the Dallas front office put their hands on the controls and foot on the gas, making the first splash before the Feb. 18 trade deadline by working out a seven-player deal with the Washington Wizards on Saturday.

Visualizing a championship, Mavs owner Mark Cuban and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson worked their magic, bringing in two-time All-Star forward Caron Butler, center Brendan Haywood, guard DeShawn Stevenson and cash considerations from the Wizards, in exchanged for swingman Josh Howard, big man Drew Gooden, forward James Singleton and guard Quinton Ross. According to Nelson, it is a move that has the Mavericks positioned as a definite title contender.

"We had been working on this trade for quite awhile," Nelson said during an introductory press conference as the three newest Mavs met the Dallas media.

But while Nelson feels the three additions will help the squad, the major subtraction, Josh Howard, made it hard for the franchise to cut ties. The 2003 draftee had spent his entire career in Dallas, making him the second-longest tenured Maverick to Dirk Nowitzki. Now the versatile Howard will get a fresh start in the nation's capital, while Butler attempts to step in immediately to fill the void.

"It's really tough to see Josh Howard go. He started his career here, took us to the NBA Finals and made an All-Star team. We wish him and the other players nothing but success. But Josh was especially close and near and dear to our hearts. That being said, we feel like this gives us a real chance to do some damage in the West."

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

In a competitive Western Conference, the Mavericks knew that standing pat was not an option. Despite ending their relationship with Howard, both Nelson and Mavs coach Rick Carlisle agree that the trade brings an upgrade in talent.

"It's like a nuclear arms race out here. From top to bottom, there's 11 (teams in the West) that look like they're viable and eight that are going to make it. But we feel that this gives us a real chance to take that next step," Nelson said.

"These guys are proven veteran players," Carlisle said of his new pieces to what he hopes is a championship puzzle. "Caron's a two-time All-Star. DeShawn's a guy that's developed into a very good 3-point shooter, and is known as a good defender in this league and has been a key guy for Washington's team the last few years. And Brendan is a guy that's been with (Washington) a long time and is having his best season this year. So, we feel like these guys are really going to help us. I was thrilled that this transaction could happen and we're looking forward to working with them."

But the casual NBA fan may ask what exactly are each of these three going to bring to the court?

The answer, in Butler's case, is perimeter scoring and toughness. The seven-year pro started all 47 games he played in for Washington this season, averaging 16.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals a contest. The 6-foot-7 swingman can play three positions on the court, though he figures to have to make the transition from his natural position of small forward to a shooting guard in the Dallas offense.

"Early on in the season, I played a little bit of the two (shooting guard position)," Butler said. "Over the course of the last couple of months, I've been playing three positions. I'm looking forward to that challenge, and I'm looking forward to this new system and this situation to do some good things.

"I'm not focusing in on just being a catch-and-shoot guy. You know, just doing everything -- a guy that pretty much does everything on the court. Trying to get better every year...I'm going to sit down with Coach and see some of the things that he would like me to do and what I can improve on. But whatever intangibles I can bring to this squad, that's what I'm going to bring. I'll do whatever I can to help this team win a championship."

As for Haywood, the Mavericks get another 7-footer that can bang in the interior, as center Erick Dampier continues to battle through a left knee effusion injury that has sidelined the big man at times this season. Haywood, a 7-footer in his on right, ranks third all-time in Wizards' history in field goal percentage (.561), fourth in blocks and sixth in rebounds, playing in 579 games for the squad.

"The last couple of years, I've really received consistent minutes. And I think I really thrive in those types of situations," Haywood said.

"(Haywood) will be playing," the coach added. "Whether or not he's starting isn't that significant at this point. I think what is significant is that we have another big body who's a proven player. It affords us, I think, the opportunity to not have to put Damp out there for extended minutes, when he is healthy."

And as far as Stevenson, the Mavericks get a another valuable scoring option off the bench. The guard, who was drafted straight out of high school in 2000 by the Utah Jazz, has averaged 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his career.

"I'm just going to go out and work hard. Go out there and play defense, and knock down open shots...My thing is to go out there and lock down the tough offensive players and play my role," Stevenson said.

But the Mavericks will be counting on the three veterans to learn on the fly. With paperwork still needing to be completed, the newcomers were unable to practice with the team on Monday. But Carlisle fully expects the trio to be ready to play by Tuesday night, when the Mavs play their first game after the All-Star break against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"The understanding is that (the paperwork) is going to get done by tomorrow morning," Carlisle said. "So, the plan is to have these guys for shootaround and we're going to need them ready to play tomorrow night against Oklahoma City."

The Dallas core is hopeful that the meshing process is a quick one, as the Mavericks prepare for four games in five days.

"I don't think the (meshing process) is hard at all, not at this point in the season," guard Jason Terry said. "Pretty much all we got to do is go out there and play hard every night and be consistent."

Coming out of the break, the new-look Dallas squad heads to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Tuesday night, with the game airing locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7 p.m. CT. The Mavericks lead the season series 2-0.

On the next night, the Mavs will host the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. That 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. The two teams have split the first two games of the season series.

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

NBA All-Star Game 2010 Recap

(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
69th NBA All-Star Game
East 141 West 139

Sunday was exactly what Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones envisioned when the two superpowers decided to join forces, bringing the 2010 All-Star gala to North Texas.

(Photo by Juan O'Campo/NBAE via Getty Images)

The two fantasized about making Cowboys Stadium in Arlington the center of the basketball world. Sunday night their fantasy became a reality, as the massive stadium housed the most attended basketball game ever when 108,713 fans filled the monumental construction to capacity.

"(Cuban) made this happen," Jones said praising the Mavericks owner. "He was tremendeously influential with me. And when he said we can do this, then I immediately bought into it.

"I'm pleased by looking at (the crowd). It's a thrill to be here, with this stadium."

(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Before the game tipped off, Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki greeted the hometown fans by simply saying: "Everything is bigger in Texas."

Bigger may have been a little bit of an understatement.

"It's amazing how many people came out," Nowitzki would say later after the game. "I'm glad I was a part of this whole weekend, especially in my new hometown...I'm really proud of what Dallas was able to showcase this week."

Nowitzki, a nine-time All-Star, was in the Western Conference's starting lineup to the crowd's delight. West coach George Karl inserted the 7-footer into the first unit when Lakers guard Kobe Bryant pulled out of the game with an ankle injury.

Fittingly, Nowitzki connected on the first two shots of the night for his squad.

Also appearing in the game was Mavs point guard Jason Kidd, making his 10th All-Star affair after being named Bryant's replacement. But the two Mavericks came up on the losing side of a closely contested game, as the Eastern Conference edged their counterparts from the West with a 141-139 win.

(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

The experience of playing in the historic game was enough to make the night memorable for Nowitzki, who rained in 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting in a losing cause. A win would have merely been icing on the cake, according to No. 41.

"It was great. We just needed that win at the end to cap the whole thing off," Nowitzki added. "It was an amazing weekend, and I'll always remember this."

But Dwyane Wade's MVP 28-point, 11-assist night helped to make Nowitzki's weekend incomplete. Still, with the game down to its last possession, it was Nowitzki that Karl wanted taking the final shot. Instead the final play worked out differently, as Carmelo Anthony pulled up for a game-winning 3-point attempt that scrapped the front end of the rim.

"Down the stretch, both teams wanted to win," Nowitzki said of the back and forth final minutes. "They just made one more play than we did. But we had a shot at the end, Carmelo had a decent look...Just to compete, be in it at the end of the game and have a chance to win is great."

Not even losing the historic affair was enough to ruin Nowitzki's experience.

"This game was an unreal experience," Nowitzki said summing up the night. "I will always remember it for the rest of my life."

Now, Nowitzki and his new-look squad turn their attention to the second half of the season. The star will be welcoming in three new teammates, while bidding adieu to four former Mavs, after the organization acquired Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson from the Washington Wizards on Saturday night. Dallas sent the Wizards Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, James Singleton and Quinton Ross in exchange.

It is a move that will immediately need to pay dividends, according to Nowitzki, as the Mavericks prepare for four games in five days after the All-Star break.

"We're excited and hopefully we can come together quick," Nowitzki said.

Coming out of the break, Dallas will first head to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Tuesday night. The Mavericks lead the season series 2-0. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7 p.m. CT.

On the next night, the Mavs will host the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. That 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. The two teams have split the first two games of the season series.

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks-Wizards complete seven-player trade, steal spotlight from All-Star Saturday Night

(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavericks-Wizards complete seven-player trade, steal spotlight from All-Star Saturday Night

To say that All-Star Weekend began well for the Dallas Mavericks would be an understatement.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Before Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd represent the Mavericks in Sunday' All-Star Game, the Dallas squad stole the thunder from the midseason gala’s prized events, All-Star Saturday Night and the Slam Dunk contest, by making headlines with a seven-player swap with the Washington Wizards.

The Mavericks finalized on the acquisition of forward Caron Butler, center Brendan Haywood, guard DeShawn Stevenson and cash considerations from the Wizards, sending back swingman Josh Howard, big man Drew Gooden, forward James Singleton and guard Quinton Ross to the East Coast in exchange.

"This was an important move for us, at this particular time, simply because it makes us a better team," Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said of the trade. "You've got to give quality to get quality. We just thought the pieces were better fits."

The deal is headlined by the flip flopping of two former All-Stars, Butler and Howard. Though the Mavericks have watched the growth of Howard since he entered the league in 2003, the organization felt that Butler was a better fit to assist in reaching the goal of an NBA title. Howard was the second-longest tenured Maverick on the roster behind Dirk Nowitzki.

"Sometimes you have to make some tough decisions," Nowitzki said after watching his long-time teammate depart from Dallas. "It's always tough and sad to see a teammate leave, especially when you've played with him for a long time…Sometimes the franchise moves on and makes tough decisions, and that was one of them."

"Josh was a very, very difficult decision," Nelson said. "Here's a guy that started his career with the Mavericks, was a huge part of our success and took us to the Finals. We're going to miss him both on and off the floor."

But Butler is certainly no slouch.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

The 6-foot-7, seven-year pro is a two-time All-Star. He started all 47 games in which he suited up for Washington, averaging 16.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals a contest. All of Butler's stats this season rank higher or near his average career numbers.

"You're looking at a guy like Caron Butler that can give us an offensive push. He's been around the block, two-time All-Star, knows what it takes to win at the highest level, has the experience – that was a factor," Nelson added.

"Caron is probably more of a conventional fit for us."

The Mavericks also bring in a conventional center, in Haywood, that can spell starting five man Erick Dampier. The 7-footer ranks third all-time in Wizards' history in field goal percentage (.561), fourth in blocks and sixth in rebounds, playing in 579 games for the squad.

"We think (Haywood) can really help us get to a level where we can put Damp and him in there, in some cases, matching up against two bigs," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said of the big man. "He can run and he can finish…He's not a go-to scorer, but he's certainly someone that can anchor our defense."

Meanwhile, Stevenson should add depth to a veteran bench. The guard has averaged 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his career since being drafted out of high school by the Utah Jazz in 2000.

The trio of new Mavericks are expected to join the team on Monday after the All-Star break. The team will look to add the new additions into the fold immediately, playing four games in five nights when the Mavericks return from the festivities.

"It's going to be tough to get everybody involved that quick, we've got a tough stretch here with four games in five nights. But nothing is easy in this league," Nowitzki said.

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.