Trying to Mesh/Dirk practices

[MavsFanFinley]

Mavericks still trying to mesh
Playing time remains an issue as team tries to reach its potential

Monday, December 8, 2003
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

The Mavericks are on pace to win 53 games, which would be great if they hadn't won 60 and 57 in the last two seasons.

They are one-quarter of the way through a season of change, and they are still working on winning converts to the side that the off-season moves have created a better team.

For them, the good news is that it's December. The meat of the season is only beginning. Injuries – the latest, Dirk Nowitzki's right ankle sprain, from which he will return Wednesday – have hurt. So has the abundance of new players.

Because of those mitigating factors, the Mavericks can accept a 13-7 record, even though no team member feels they have scratched the surface in terms of fulfilling their potential.

"We definitely could have done a lot better," Eduardo Najera said Monday, after a lively practice. "I don't think we've played even one game where everybody has shown up and is on the same page. Either the bench doesn't show up, or the starters. Sometimes, it's a combination.

"But we were expecting a slow start, and it's OK if we finish up strong. We're going to be OK once Dirk gets back."

Nowitzki's return after a five-game absence, however, will bring with it more complications for coach Don Nelson. Playing time is and always will be an issue on every NBA team, but particularly on a team with five marquee scorers. For the last two weeks, Nowitzki has been out of that mix, and the remaining parts have received plenty of playing time.

So what happens now?

"Everybody moves back one spot," Nelson said.

It sounds easy, and Nelson is masterful at mixing and matching his players. The Mavericks never seem to have situations where a player's pout becomes a public issue.

Antawn Jamison and Danny Fortson are two of the players who have seen their playing time swing wildly. Jamison said he has put aside the uncomfortable feeling that came with being a sixth man after starting his entire career. It was a change even his mother was surprised about, he said.

"My mom asked, 'Coming off the bench?' " Jamison said. "It was different when it first started. It was so uncomfortable. I didn't know how to come off the bench."

But Jamison is not one for rocking boats, not even about playing time.

"I've come from a situation where I played a lot, got fed the ball whenever I pretty much wanted, but we didn't win," he said. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to win as many games and go as deep in the playoffs as possible. And the only way I have a chance to experience that right now is to come off the bench and give the team energy.

"I'm not going to be able to do that by complaining or making it difficult on myself or this organization. That's not what I need right now, and it's not what the organization needs. A lot of players would love to be in my situation. And the only thing I have to do is sacrifice a couple of minutes and not start. So it's all about winning."

Nowitzki is back in practice

Dirk Nowitzki worked out with the Mavericks Monday and expects to play Wednesday in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

"He tired quickly, but at least we got him out there," coach Don Nelson said. "I'm not going to say he was sharp or anything. He wasn't. But it was good to have him back. We'll do one more practice and see how he feels."

Said Nowitzki: "I'm pretty confident I'll play Wednesday. I missed a lot of time, and it's going to take awhile to get my conditioning back. I was tired in practice just running up and down [the court] two times."

Nowitzki has missed five games with a sprained right ankle.

Josh Howard and Antawn Jamison sat out practice with mild ankle problems, but Nelson said he was told both could have played if there had been a game Monday.

[MightyToine]

Mild ankle problems?

Well...good thing that this 3-day gap between games came when it did...

[ames7]

Man, hope those ankle problems aren't contagious. Dirk needs to make sure he's absolutely okay before attempting to come back. It's the Clips, we'll be fine. Don't risk re-injury & miss the Lakers.

[Simon2]

Said Nowitzki: "I'm pretty confident I'll play Wednesday. I missed a lot of time, and it's going to take awhile to get my conditioning back. I was tired in practice just running up and down [the court] two times."

Is this guy serious? Didn't he miss just about a week? Can you lose that much conditioning in that short a time frame?

[MavsFanFinley]

Is this guy serious? Didn't he miss just about a week? Can you lose that much conditioning in that short a time frame?

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since he went down.

Yesterday was his first practice and a couple days before that was his first time on a treadmill and stationary bike.

I'm more curious if he'll be given time for errors and off-shooting once he returns?

[jacktruth]

Originally posted by: Simon2
Said Nowitzki: "I'm pretty confident I'll play Wednesday. I missed a lot of time, and it's going to take awhile to get my conditioning back. I was tired in practice just running up and down [the court] two times."

Is this guy serious? Didn't he miss just about a week? Can you lose that much conditioning in that short a time frame?

Yes, you can. B-ball is a very physically intense sport. However, the recovery time is pretty short after two weeks, but the first practice back you definately have an adjustment.

[Hitman]

[quote]
Originally posted by: MavsFanFinley

I'm more curious if he'll be given time for errors and off-shooting once he returns?

Would Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett or Jermaine O'Neal be afforded that luxury?


Of course Dirk will.

[Simon2]

Originally posted by: MavsFanFinley

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since he went down.

Yesterday was his first practice and a couple days before that was his first time on a treadmill and stationary bike.

I'm more curious if he'll be given time for errors and off-shooting once he returns?

Has it been two weeks already? I didn't realize it was that long.