Mavs look 'to pick it up'

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Mavs look 'to pick it up'

After mini-slump, focus will stay on peaking in time for playoffs

12:05 AM CDT on Sunday, April 8, 2007
By TIM MacMAHON / The Dallas Morning News
tmacmahon@dallasnews.com

The Mavericks never focused on hitting the 70-win milestone. Their goal has always been to peak during the playoffs.

So consider the last couple of weeks a bump in the road.

Nobody in the Mavericks' locker room is pleased with the way the team played recently. The Mavericks, who have the NBA's best record, were rolling after finishing a six-game road trip undefeated for the first time in franchise history. But they've struggled since.

The Mavericks pulled out close wins over three lottery-bound teams. They also suffered a blowout loss to Phoenix and turned in a terrible offensive performance in Friday's loss at Denver.

"We really haven't played well since that road trip," coach Avery Johnson said before Saturday night's game against Portland. "We all know that. Maybe there were a lot of things that contributed to that, but we'll keep working on it."

The Mavericks have dealt with some adversity, particularly the health problems of their two All-Stars. Dirk Nowitzki has injured his left ankle twice since the six-game trip and sat out a Mavericks win at Sacramento with food poisoning. Josh Howard has sprained his right ankle twice and missed most of Friday's game. He did not play Saturday.

But the Mavericks aren't making excuses for the mini-funk they're fighting through.

"We need to pick it up," guard Jason Terry said. "On one hand, it's good that it's happening now and not later. Then on the other hand, it's a situation where there's a sense of urgency we have now to build up some momentum heading into the playoffs."

Added sixth man Jerry Stackhouse: "We know there's not a switch we can just flip on. We've got to be conscious of every night playing all out and playing up to our level. The mistakes we're making now, you can't just say you're not going to make those same mistakes once the playoffs roll around."

Howard sits: Howard did not dress against the Trail Blazers but said he hopes to play Monday night against the Clippers.

Howard estimated that he's sprained his ankles seven or eight times this season. He sat out eight games in November with a sprained left ankle. He sprained his right ankle for the second time in the last two weeks Friday when a Nugget fell on him while scrambling for a loose ball.

"I'm just really thankful Josh didn't get seriously injured," Johnson said. "When you look at it on film, it could have been a lot worse. We caught a really big break."

Briefly: Center Kevin Willis, 44, dressed out for the first time since signing a 10-day contract Monday. Johnson said he would try to play Willis for one or two four-minute intervals during the next few games. "If we've got to depend on Kevin Willis, shame on us," Johnson said. "He's just an insurance guy." ... Portland rookie LaMarcus Aldridge, a former Seagoville and Texas star, did not make the trip. He is out indefinitely after experiencing a rapid heartbeat during a March 31 loss to the Clippers.