Hall of Famer Wilkins praises Mavs - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

kriD · 03-09-2007, 07:59 AM

Hall of Famer Wilkins praises Mavs

10:37 PM CST on Thursday, March 8, 2007
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
esefko@dallasnews.com

Dominique Wilkins spent an NBA career dazzling fans as the Human Highlight Reel.

Now he's trying to slam dunk a different opponent, one that he has a personal stake in defeating – high blood pressure.

Wilkins came through Dallas on Thursday to throw down some enlightening thoughts on the Mavericks, as well as to promote awareness of hypertension, a disease that his mother and brother, Gerald, both battle.

"My mother struggled with it for a long time and had a stroke from complications of it," said Wilkins, who retired in 1999 and was voted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. "If you see someone in your family have a stroke because of high blood pressure, it changes your whole way of thinking.

"I don't have it right now. But it is hereditary."

Wilkins, 47, still stays involved with the NBA. He's a vice president with the Atlanta Hawks, the team for whom he played most of his 15-year career. And he's particularly impressed with the Mavericks' approach to this season.

It's not the massive record (51-9) that he likes, though. It's their toughness and their frame of mind.

"They're for real," Wilkins said. "And they've been there, so now they know what they have to do to get over the top. They gave it away last year. They handed it to Miami. And they know it.

"They had them down. And the thing is, when you get a team down, that's when you have to put your foot on their neck, because you can't go into the game feeling your way through. You got to pound them from that first minute, put some fear into them that, hey, this is over.

"They let Miami smell a little victory and that's all it took."

Asked whether the temptations of a week in South Beach could have done in the Mavericks, Wilkins added: "The temptations down there are very real – the nightlife, the weather, the beach, everything. But that said, they were up 2-0."

Wilkins is on a 15-city tour to champion the cause against high blood pressure, which afflicts nearly one in three adults in the U.S.

He, Darryl Dawkins and Spencer Haywood are spokesmen for Shooting For Healthy BP (www.shootingforhealthybp.com).

"I think it's a huge success, especially having guys like us out here," Wilkins said. "It's all about increasing awareness, and people can see we have the same problems as everybody else. When this disease comes at you, it doesn't say, 'I'll skip him because he was an All-Star basketball player.'

"High blood pressure is the silent killer. You'd rather be on medication for the rest of your life and be able live a long life. It beats the alternative."

Stack factor: The Mavericks had a robust practice Thursday in advance of a day off today.

"The gym is closed," Avery Johnson said.

It was a beehive of activity on Thursday, however, and Johnson lauded Jerry Stackhouse for his work.

"We had a conditioning drill and he was first," Johnson said. "Stack's in his contract year, but he started this last season. We think he's a big factor in what we do because of his willingness to pass more this year."

Johnson said the Mavericks treated Thursday like a game day.

"Today was our day to really go after it hard because if you lay around for four days and listen to how good you are, you can get a little lethargic," Johnson said.

The Mavericks have their annual Tux & Tennies gala tonight, which is sold out, and will travel to Los Angeles on Saturday for Sunday's game against the Lakers.

Usually Lurkin · 03-09-2007, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Today was our day to really go after it hard because if you lay around for four days and listen to how good you are, you can get a little lethargic," Johnson said.

Avery is cool.

fluid.forty.one · 03-09-2007, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kriD

"They're for real," Wilkins said. "And they've been there, so now they know what they have to do to get over the top. They gave it away last year. They handed it to Miami. And they know it.

lol how long till Wade calls out an NBA legend?

V2M · 03-09-2007, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

lol how long till Wade calls out an NBA legend?

"Dominique was not a good leader. He was the reason why the Hawks never won a title." - Wade on Day 1

"I don't want to go back and forth with Dominique on this. But he started this. He said many times that Dallas gave away the Championship. That hurt me and I had to get back at him to support my team." - Wade on Day 2

Flacolaco · 03-09-2007, 09:49 AM

Quote:

"They're for real," Wilkins said. "And they've been there, so now they know what they have to do to get over the top. They gave it away last year. They handed it to Miami. And they know it.

ouchy

DevinHarriswillstart · 03-09-2007, 09:59 AM

Haha someone else who said we gave it away instead of lost it....figures. Remember we're all "delusional" for thinking that, so I guess Wilkins is delusional too.

mkat · 03-09-2007, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

ouchy

doesn't hurt. dirk himself said it. they know it..it's what makes them hungry.

DirkGoesNuclear · 03-09-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

lol how long till Wade calls out an NBA legend?

Did Dominique do this on purpose? If ESPN picks up this report.....

alexamenos · 03-09-2007, 01:00 PM

the Kings announcers last night (I listen on Sirius) referred to the Spurs as "Defending Champs" on many occasions.....talk about dissin' the Heat...

TripleDipping · 03-09-2007, 01:37 PM

Maybe they were referring to the defending champs of the southwest division.

left texas · 03-09-2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kriD

Hall of Famer Wilkins praises Mavs

It's not the massive record (51-9) that he likes, though. It's their toughness and their frame of mind.

"They're for real," Wilkins said. "And they've been there, so now they know what they have to do to get over the top.

This sums up why the Mavs have 51 Wins.

you · 03-09-2007, 04:57 PM

Almost every ex-player I have seen interviewed is taken aback by the Mavs in a "wow" type of way. In a way that says "I wish I could have been a part of something like that...something like Michael experienced".

Barkley specifically tries to change the subject to the Mavs on TNT. He doesnt let those guys bag on them. He always says that "they're on a mission", meaning that they are having a rare season and should win it all.

I listened to Patrick Ewing talk about the Mavs on NBA TV. He gushed about them in a way that put them on Mike's Bulls' level.

Add Dominique to the group.

Windmill360 · 03-09-2007, 05:25 PM

We are all witnesses.

alexamenos · 03-09-2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by you

Almost every ex-player I have seen interviewed is taken aback by the Mavs in a "wow" type of way. In a way that says "I wish I could have been a part of something like that...something like Michael experienced".

Barkley specifically tries to change the subject to the Mavs on TNT. He doesnt let those guys bag on them. He always says that "they're on a mission", meaning that they are having a rare season and should win it all.

I listened to Patrick Ewing talk about the Mavs on NBA TV. He gushed about them in a way that put them on Mike's Bulls' level.

Add Dominique to the group.

interesting...

we forget sometimes that this is only Avery's second full season as head coach, that Dirk and JET are playing only their third season together, and that J-HO is only in his second season as a starter. iow, we can very reasonably expect avery and josh to be better, and for Dirk and JET's teamwork to be better.

...and think about this...play off experience prior to last year's run --

Avery, 2 series (1-1)
JET, 2 series (1-1)
Damp, 2 series (1-1)
Gana, 0 series
Howard, 3 series (1-2)

that's some really significant components from last year's run that had very little real post season experience going in....every one of these guys now literally has at least twice as much playoff experience. how valuable is that going to be?

i guess my point is that there is a strong tendency to judge this team largely by what they did last year, but this ain't last year's team....this is last year's team plus a year of battle hardening and cohesiveness....

DevinHarriswillstart · 03-09-2007, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windmill360°

We are all witnesses.

Hell yeah we are, and I'll never forget it. I love you all. (cue cheesy 80s love song from Officer and A Gentleman)

I do kinda miss 50 dollars to sit anywhere in Reunion though. And thats it

.

EricaLubarsky · 03-09-2007, 05:35 PM

This team aint at the Bulls level. We have a nice regular season record but we are also enjoying the 4th easiest schedule in the league according to Sagarin. We also havent had any injuries of mention.

But yeah this team hasnt been together for terribly long like alex said. We think because Dirk had been to the playoffs millions of times the team was tempered. Most of the team hasnt played very many playoff series especially together.

Flacolaco · 03-09-2007, 05:40 PM

Has this team had enough "tough" tests this season?

Stranger · 03-09-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V2M

"Dominique was not a good leader. He was the reason why the Hawks never won a title." - Wade on Day 1

"I don't want to go back and forth with Dominique on this. But he started this. He said many times that Dallas gave away the Championship. That hurt me and I had to get back at him to support my team." - Wade on Day 2

Ha ha, classic!

alexamenos · 03-09-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Has this team had enough "tough" tests this season?

shaking off the 0-4 start....

coming back from 11 down at half in SA on the 2nd night of the back-back....

maintaining focus through regular season games against Nets, Magic, etc....

....also, maybe they've had a lot of tough tests, but after the fact the tests didn't look tough at all because the mavs kicked the shit out of the test.

Flacolaco · 03-09-2007, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexamenos

shaking off the 0-4 start....

coming back from 11 down at half in SA on the 2nd night of the back-back....

maintaining focus through regular season games against Nets, Magic, etc....

Yeah I guess.....

I think the real testing comes with these next 3 in 4 nights against tough Western foes, and then a 6 game road trip through the east. I'll be interested to see how focused they can stay through that.

alexamenos · 03-09-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Yeah I guess.....

I think the real testing comes with these next 3 in 4 nights against tough Western foes, and then a 6 game road trip through the east. I'll be interested to see how focused they can stay through that.

i feel like i've been waiting all for this team to go on a 5-5 or 6-4 stretch, and it just hasn't happened. so maybe the go 6-4 over the next ten...hmmm....i guess that we must be awfully spoiled if we're worried about a *bad* stretch where the mavs go 6-4.

...if i'm avery, i'm talking about that six game rd swing as our own little rodeo road-trip...a chance to really hit that playoff gear or something like that....maybe we shouldn't be completely surprised if the mavs do pretty well out east.

Dirkadirkastan · 03-09-2007, 07:18 PM

Pistons, Knicks, Cavs, Celts, Hawks, Hornets.

It's not as bad as some make it out to be. The Pistons and Cavs games are the ones to watch out for, but there are games in there that should be easy to pick up as well.

And as for this "easy schedule" crap, that's only because they faced the tough teams early in the season. Plus, they're the only team that doesn't have to face the Mavericks, so the lack of 51-9 opponents is going to skew the equation too.

mqywaaah · 03-10-2007, 12:53 AM

I applaude this article. Props to kriD.

G-Man · 03-10-2007, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

lol how long till Wade calls out an NBA legend?

I recall many here complaining Wade was raggin over something Dirk said months ago. I think what sticks in Wade's craw is the fact that EVERYBODY says the Mavs gave it away, or the refs stole it from them because ITS THE FRIGGIN' TRUTH! He knows in his heart he doesn't deserve the ring. He knows he wasn't fouled most of those times. So he lashes out at Dirk. The dumb ass-ed national media rarely mentioned Dirk said that back in the summer, along with some really nice things about Wade. Its just the rest of the NBA isn't so kind. Its full of guys like TMaq saying out loud that they don't get the breaks the refs give Wade. Somebody on here has that great sig with 3 or 4 quotes to that effect.

DWhine needs to shut up. Or better yet, get healthy and give the Mavs a chance to shut him up. Punk.