Dallas Mavericks' Singleton willing to compete for spot
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By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
WASHINGTON – The Mavericks' top four players in points and minutes played are back from last season's team.
That would suggest continuity. But as James Singleton looks around, he sees changes everywhere – particularly when it comes to attitude.
"On paper and visually, I think we're a lot better team than we were last year," Singleton said. "Last year, we all thought we were a good team on paper. But we just couldn't put it together. This year, I see a totally different team."
Different in that Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden, Tim Thomas and Quinton Ross have been shuffled into the deck, while Jerry Stackhouse, Antoine Wright, Brandon Bass and Devean George have been discarded.
It's impossible not to recognize that's an upgrade in talent.
But Singleton sees more than just better weapons.
"We've had chemistry from the first day of camp because everybody here is basically our team," he said, referring to the fact that the Mavericks will only have to trim one guaranteed contract from the roster before the season starts. "And we have so much more versatility than we had last year. We have four or five players who can guard multiple positions. We didn't have that last year.
"And everybody knows coach [Rick] Carlisle's system. That right there is really important. Last year, we were up in the air about playing time, systems, what's expected of us. Now everybody knows."
Singleton is among those who have gained a comfort zone. He averaged 5.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in 62 games last season. He was ninth on the team in minutes.
He re-signed with the Mavericks even though the team's depth has vastly improved, which probably will make it tougher for him to find playing time.
He's OK with that. Singleton is not afraid to work for his minutes. In fact, he prefers it that way.
"I'm going to make stuff happen when I'm out there," he said. "It's crowded with this roster. But being one of the guys coming off the bench, you know the guys on the floor, no matter who it is, are quality players. We can back up two or three deep at every position."
Working in Singleton's favor is his ability to guard virtually any position. Last season, the 6-8 forward found himself guarding San Antonio point guard Tony Parker on pick-and-roll switches.
"He's been playing well and he's like a lot of guys we have who are competing for spots," Carlisle said. "It's a very competitive situation, and we'll see how it goes and who wins the jobs."
Kidd takes a seat: Point guard Jason Kidd sat out the last few minutes of Thursday's scrimmage after taking a misstep onto a teammate's foot.
The Mavericks said it was nothing serious, and Kidd made the trip to Washington, where the Mavericks play the Wizards tonight. Also on the trip are Josh Howard and Tim Thomas, though neither will play.
Wizards on the upswing? The Wizards that await the Mavericks tonight won't look much like the team that languished in the lottery last season. Gilbert Arenas is back, and newcomers Randy Foye and Mike Miller make the Wizards a vastly improved club.
"I expect them to probably be the most improved team in the league this year in terms of wins," Carlisle said. "They're three deep with All-Star players. They're going to be one of the teams in the hunt in the East this year."