Sigh...Dirk sprains ankle

[MavsFanFinley]

Serious or not, I don't like hearing about this.

Nelson disappointed by play against Clippers
Nash: New cast not ready for opening night yet

Wednesday, October 15, 2003
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

Great teams like the Los Angeles Lakers treat the regular season like it's tedious and the preseason like it's a nuisance.

At the very least, the Mavericks have acquired that attitude toward the preseason.

Halfway through the eight-game exhibition season, the Mavericks have won twice, lost twice, limited their regulars to minimal duty and begun counting the days until the season opener.

It's 12 days, by the way.

But this is a chemistry class the Mavericks cannot yawn their way through like so many bored ninth-graders. If this collection of talent is to grow into a true team, it will start doing so during the rest of training camp.

Coach Don Nelson believes the Mavericks have reached the point in the preseason when the focus must rise. A one-game, one-night trip to Los Angeles to play the Clippers is nobody's idea of a good time. But when the Mavericks went there Tuesday night and fell behind 41-25 after one quarter and 69-44 at halftime, clearly their interest was waning. They lost, 128-107.

"We've played pretty well at times in the preseason," Nelson said Wednesday. "But I was very disappointed in the Clipper game when we fell behind so far with our starters on the court. There's going to come a time when we want to play well."

For some, that time already is here. As Danny Fortson said when asked if the preseason was becoming a drag: "No doubt. We're ready to get it going."

Well, maybe not quite, given the egg they laid in LA.

Some teams believe they can instantly flip the switch when the regular season begins. But the Mavericks, with eight new faces, including as many as five who could be in the playing rotation, clearly have some important issues to iron out before playing the Lakers on Oct. 28 in the opener.

"We had a bad night, but how you rebound from those games is important," Steve Nash said. "That's the challenge for everyone, to stay motivated, inspired and optimistic, and get as much as you can out of training camp. All the teams go through that, even in the regular season. The best teams are the ones that are able to stay focused and motivate themselves."

"Obviously, we're not ready for opening night yet. It's going to take time with the new guys."

Briefly ...

Dirk Nowitzki sprained his right ankle when a teammate fell on him in practice Wednesday evening. Nowitzki left practice but the injury is not believed to be serious.