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Murphy3 · 02-25-2002, 09:41 PM

Nowitzki reigns on backboard

mavericks notes
By KEVIN LYONS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DALLAS - It was not that long ago that the Mavericks lamented their lack of rebounding. But in the past two games, Dirk Nowitzki has gone where no Maverick has gone before,not Roy Tarpley, James Donaldson, or even Dennis Rodman.

Nowitzki's 23 rebounds against Boston on Thursday and 21 rebounds against Sacramento on Saturday is the first time a Mavericks player has recorded 20 or more rebounds in back-to-back games.

"I'm not doing anything different," Nowitzki said. "I just feel like I can get every missed shot, and fortunately, I've grabbed a lot lately."

From the beginning of the season to Feb. 13, Nowitzki averaged 9.6 rebounds per game. In the five games since, Nowitzki is averaging 15.6 rebounds in his past five games. That is the biggest improvement in the league by any player.

Over the same five-game span, the Mavericks have averaged 46.2 rebounds per game, second most in the league to Portland's 48. Among the bottom-dwellers in rebounding for much of the season, the Mavericks are now 18th.

Nowitzki's latest efforts have made him one of only eight players in the NBA who average at least 10 rebounds a game. Hanging around the mid 9's for much of the season, Nowitzki now averages 10.1 rebounds per game. If he keeps this pace, Nowitzki would become the first Mavericks player to average double figures in rebounds since Popeye Jones (10.6) in 1994-95.

"There are some balls that, during his first or second year, he wouldn't go after," Mavericks coach Don Nelson said. "Now, he thinks he can get every one."

Nowitzki has not surrendered his scoring for rebounding. Against Boston, he started at center and had 33 points on 12-of-23 shooting. Against Sacramento, in his natural power forward position, he scored 26 points on 8-of-16 shooting.

Add it all up, and it is another club record for Nowitzki. He is the first Mavericks player to put together back-to-back games of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. Tarpley was the last Mavericks player to come close to such a roll, putting up two 20-point, 20-rebound performances over three games in the 1987-88 season.

Inside basketball

The lineup of the Mavericks' Big Three (Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley) played with Nick Van Exel and Raef LaFrentz a total of 5 minutes, 21 seconds - 3:17 of the second quarter, and 2:04 of the fourth quarter. In that span, the lineup outscored the Kings 16-12.

"It's nice to know that we have really improved ourselves," Don Nelson said. "You can see we have the pieces in place that we didn't have before. We'll get better and better as the season goes along."

Howard on the trade

Juwan Howard, who was with the Mavericks for one year, expressed no bitterness over being dealt to the Denver Nuggets last week.

"When we were flying over here to Portland [for a Nuggets-Trail Blazers game on Saturday], I was like, 'Wow.' I woke up from my nap and said, 'It really happened,' " Howard told the Denver media. His fiancee and baby son are still in Dallas. "I know that this is the nature of the business. Can't do nothing about it. Now I roll up my sleeves and go to war for the Denver Nuggets, a team that is looking to rebuild."

Tim Hardaway, who had said he was stung by the deal, watched the new Mavericks play against the Kings.

"I just watched those guys fit into our shoes," Hardaway said. "We could've done the same thing. But, you know, stuff happens for a reason. Juwan, myself and 'D-Harv' [ Donnell Harvey] are good guys, hard workers and everything. We will be rewarded for not being [jerks] by coming out here, doing our job and playing hard.

"It is kind of hard being on the other side of the fence," Hardaway said. "But you just have to deal with it. Turn it into a positive."

In their debuts with the Nuggets, both started in a 101-90 loss to Portland. Hardaway had 11 points and five assists in 26 minutes. Howard had 16 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Harvey came off the bench for three points, four assists, and five rebounds.

02-25-2002, 09:41 PM	#8
Murphy3 Guru Join Date: May 2001 Location: sport Posts: 39,422	Nowitzki reigns on backboard mavericks notes By KEVIN LYONS Star-Telegram Staff Writer DALLAS - It was not that long ago that the Mavericks lamented their lack of rebounding. But in the past two games, Dirk Nowitzki has gone where no Maverick has gone before,not Roy Tarpley, James Donaldson, or even Dennis Rodman. Nowitzki's 23 rebounds against Boston on Thursday and 21 rebounds against Sacramento on Saturday is the first time a Mavericks player has recorded 20 or more rebounds in back-to-back games. "I'm not doing anything different," Nowitzki said. "I just feel like I can get every missed shot, and fortunately, I've grabbed a lot lately." From the beginning of the season to Feb. 13, Nowitzki averaged 9.6 rebounds per game. In the five games since, Nowitzki is averaging 15.6 rebounds in his past five games. That is the biggest improvement in the league by any player. Over the same five-game span, the Mavericks have averaged 46.2 rebounds per game, second most in the league to Portland's 48. Among the bottom-dwellers in rebounding for much of the season, the Mavericks are now 18th. Nowitzki's latest efforts have made him one of only eight players in the NBA who average at least 10 rebounds a game. Hanging around the mid 9's for much of the season, Nowitzki now averages 10.1 rebounds per game. If he keeps this pace, Nowitzki would become the first Mavericks player to average double figures in rebounds since Popeye Jones (10.6) in 1994-95. "There are some balls that, during his first or second year, he wouldn't go after," Mavericks coach Don Nelson said. "Now, he thinks he can get every one." Nowitzki has not surrendered his scoring for rebounding. Against Boston, he started at center and had 33 points on 12-of-23 shooting. Against Sacramento, in his natural power forward position, he scored 26 points on 8-of-16 shooting. Add it all up, and it is another club record for Nowitzki. He is the first Mavericks player to put together back-to-back games of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. Tarpley was the last Mavericks player to come close to such a roll, putting up two 20-point, 20-rebound performances over three games in the 1987-88 season. Inside basketball The lineup of the Mavericks' Big Three (Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley) played with Nick Van Exel and Raef LaFrentz a total of 5 minutes, 21 seconds - 3:17 of the second quarter, and 2:04 of the fourth quarter. In that span, the lineup outscored the Kings 16-12. "It's nice to know that we have really improved ourselves," Don Nelson said. "You can see we have the pieces in place that we didn't have before. We'll get better and better as the season goes along." Howard on the trade Juwan Howard, who was with the Mavericks for one year, expressed no bitterness over being dealt to the Denver Nuggets last week. "When we were flying over here to Portland [for a Nuggets-Trail Blazers game on Saturday], I was like, 'Wow.' I woke up from my nap and said, 'It really happened,' " Howard told the Denver media. His fiancee and baby son are still in Dallas. "I know that this is the nature of the business. Can't do nothing about it. Now I roll up my sleeves and go to war for the Denver Nuggets, a team that is looking to rebuild." Tim Hardaway, who had said he was stung by the deal, watched the new Mavericks play against the Kings. "I just watched those guys fit into our shoes," Hardaway said. "We could've done the same thing. But, you know, stuff happens for a reason. Juwan, myself and 'D-Harv' [ Donnell Harvey] are good guys, hard workers and everything. We will be rewarded for not being [jerks] by coming out here, doing our job and playing hard. "It is kind of hard being on the other side of the fence," Hardaway said. "But you just have to deal with it. Turn it into a positive." In their debuts with the Nuggets, both started in a 101-90 loss to Portland. Hardaway had 11 points and five assists in 26 minutes. Howard had 16 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Harvey came off the bench for three points, four assists, and five rebounds.