Mavs' Howard may fill in again - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

kriD · 04-04-2006, 05:58 AM

Mavs' Howard may fill in again

With Van Horn gone, forward may have to spell Dirk in playoffs

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

If he had his druthers, Josh Howard would prefer not to repeat last year's playoffs, when he saw considerable action at power forward.

But he's resigned to it happening again.

With Keith Van Horn scheduled for hand surgery today and probably out for the season, including the playoffs, the Mavericks have no proven backup behind Dirk Nowitzki. Not that that's a huge hole. In the playoffs, virtually all the minutes at that position go to the MVP candidate.

But he will need some rest, which is why the Mavericks are exploring their options, including using Howard at the power spot.

"I've never had a problem with changing positions," Howard said. "Guarding the big guys is no problem as long as I don't get posted up too deep [in the paint]."

Avery Johnson said the 20-point, five-rebound showing Howard had against Denver on Sunday offered proof of his value.

"You can see his impact," Johnson said. "We tried to hold out as long as we could without him. But he's the equivalent of a Ron Artest for us, or a [Manu] Ginobili in San Antonio or a Tayshaun Prince in Detroit. That's the sort of things he does for us."

There are other alternatives at the power-forward slot, however. Josh Powell has gotten the Mavericks' attention with his play in spot duty, and the team hopes he can be a rotation player – next season.

"Josh Powell has had a terrific year, but it's asking a lot of a first-year guy to do that in a playoff atmosphere," president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said.

Which brings us to option No. 3, which isn't likely to be an option at all. The Mavs have asked the NBA for a roster exception that would allow them to add a 16th player. But with only one player who is assured of being out for the playoffs (Van Horn), it would seem unlikely the league would agree to an extra player.

If the Mavs get an extra spot, the list of candidates is suspect. Players who haven't played in months, or even years, have surfaced. But while Christian Laettner, George Lynch and Shawn Kemp were capable in their day, how much would they offer now?

Of course, there's a fourth option, too: playing Erick Dampier and DeSagana Diop together, something that hasn't happened all season.

"We'll make it through it," Nowitzki said. "Obviously, we'd love to have Keith as another shooter out there. We don't really have a lot of long-range shooters on our team besides [Jason Terry] and me. Stack [Jerry Stackhouse] is very streaky. So we got to find other ways to be effective on the offensive end."

The final word: Marquis Daniels summed up the events of the last week as well as anybody when asked about Johnson's outburst after the Orlando game and the impact it's had.

"Sometimes you have to dig into some players and the team," Daniels said. "I know he's having some sleepless nights. We're still in a pretty good spot. It's how you go in the playoffs, and we want to go in on a high note."

Playoff tickets on sale soon: Single-game tickets for the Mavs' first two home playoff games will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Tickets will be available online at Mavs.com, via phone at 214-747-6287 and at all Ticketmaster outlets. They also can be purchased at the American Airlines Center north box office.

Dates, times and opponent for the first two games will be posted by April 20. About 3,000 tickets are available, are $12 and up and are limited to four per person per game.

Briefly: Daniels, out the last two games with a neck strain, may play tonight against Sacramento. ... Johnson said Adrian Griffin is likely to resume playing later this week, either Friday in San Antonio or Saturday against New Orleans. Devin Harris still is expected back next week, possibly for the final five games of the season.

kriD · 04-04-2006, 05:59 AM

MAVERICKS NOTES

Mavs will undergo an eight-game refresher course

By ART GARCIA
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DALLAS - Eight games are played before the start of the regular season. Eight games are left before the start of the playoffs.

Can the Mavericks use this stretch, including tonight's matchup with Sacramento at American Airlines Center, as a condensed version of training camp? Is it a chance to get back to the basics and focus on the season that really counts?

"We're using it to kind of revisit a lot of things we had success with, especially on the defensive end," coach Avery Johnson said Monday. "We're always tinkering with different things offensively, but we need to revisit and get back to some of the things that made us competitive on the defensive end."

Trailing Southwest Division-leader San Antonio (57-16) by three games in the loss column, the chances are slim for the Mavs (55-19) to leapfrog the Spurs for the top spot in the Western Conference.

The Mavs know that.

With the fourth seed locked up, using the next 16 days to tie up some loose ends defensively and get a few more healthy bodies into the lineup makes the most sense.

The return of Josh Howard from a hamstring strain two games ago significantly improves the team's perimeter defensive, rebounding and overall athleticism.

Howard estimates he's at about 90-95 percent, but perhaps more importantly, he feels rested after missing most of March. That familiar spring in his step was there Sunday against Denver when he played 33 minutes, scored 20 and grabbed five rebounds.

Does he expect those type of numbers from here on out?

"I don't know about 20," he said, "I just want to get those rebounds up."

Adrian Griffin (hamstring) and Devin Harris (quadriceps) went through light drills and are nearing their returns. Griffin could be back for Friday's game at San Antonio, while next week looks more likely for Harris. Marquis Daniels (strained neck) is a game-time decision against the Kings.

The Mavs have petitioned the league for an exception to sign another player after Keith Van Horn broke his right hand. Van Horn is scheduled for surgery this afternoon with a recovery timetable to follow.

What's certain is the Mavs don't have much time to regain their rhythm and defensive swagger going into the playoffs, though they called Sunday's 103-79 rout of Denver a positive step.

Injury exception

The Mavs admit the odds of the NBA granting a hardship exception to sign an extra player may be long.

"It may not even happen," Avery Johnson said.

The team has done some homework. In addition to preliminary contact with Shawn Kemp, the Mavs brought in Dallas-area resident George Lynch for an informal workout.

If the waiver is granted, and the Mavs hope to know this week, a playoff-tested forward able to spell Dirk Nowitzki is the ideal candidate.

Briefly

Single-game playoff tickets for the first two home games of the first round go on sale at 8 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are available at the American Airlines Center north box office, by calling (214) 747-6287, on mavs.com or through Ticketmaster outlets.

Erick Dampier, asked if the team lost confidence during the losing streak: "No, I don't think so. It was just a bump in the road for us. Every team goes through this at some point in the season.."

TripleDipping · 04-04-2006, 09:03 AM

Wow... can't believe we got only 8 games before the playoffs start.

diop it like its hot · 04-04-2006, 10:26 AM

next year will be our year. the mavs will be so dominate next year that there will never be a question

NewMexiMav · 04-04-2006, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kriD

"We'll make it through it," Nowitzki said. "Obviously, we'd love to have Keith as another shooter out there. We don't really have a lot of long-range shooters on our team besides [Jason Terry] and me. Stack [Jerry Stackhouse] is very streaky. So we got to find other ways to be effective on the offensive end."

Dirk hit the nail on the head here. I think we can muddle through with 5 to 10 backup minutes at the PF spot in the playoffs--whether its Howard, Diop, or even Powell.

Where we are sorely hurt with the loss of KVH is losing another outside shooting threat. In addition to the perimeter defensive lapses, we have seen a sputtering offense lately when Dirk and/or JET are not hitting baskets. You can't count on Stack every night--his flaws are particularly exposed when he is forced to play heavy minutes.

I say forget trying to sign a tired old power forward like Kemp or Laettner, and instead try to get a spot up shooter that can keep defenses honest and discourage the double or triple teams Dirk will see in the playoffs.

I guess I have faith that, if we regain a healthy roster (minus KVH), Avery can whip the team into shape defensively. But there's not a thing Avery can do on the offensive end if we don't have enough reliable scoring threats.

Simon2 · 04-04-2006, 12:09 PM

Why are the Mavs putting Howard out of position? Just cut Rawle or Powell to make room for a real backup PF? Bring it Malone or L8tner but don't put players out of position.

TheBlueVan · 04-04-2006, 12:19 PM

putting players out of position could work for some short stretches. thats what we did for years w/ nelson. its better to have a person who knows the team and the system than pickup a big question mark. i also think that the only real problem created by KVH going down is long range shooting

next year will be our year for sure. dirks trainer wants to add some pounds on him and work on his rebounding and low-post moves. he'll be a monster

dude1394 · 04-04-2006, 01:02 PM

Mavs aren't going to get another player forget about it. They don't even deserve an exemption since they decided to keep rawle/josh/pavel.

bobatundi · 04-05-2006, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon2

Why are the Mavs putting Howard out of position? Just cut Rawle or Powell to make room for a real backup PF? Bring it Malone or L8tner but don't put players out of position.

Why would we cut two promising young guys to bring in an over-the-hill backup for 5 minutes per game? Dirk's gonna play 43 a night in the playoffs, J-Ho and J-Po can spell him at the PF spot for the other five. Powell and Marshall are both young & cheap and could be contributors in future seasons.

Simon2 · 04-05-2006, 01:26 PM

but can they guard the elite PFs of the NBA? Can they guard Duncan or Wallace? I know they are promising but the Mavs can cut the and they can pick them up again in the off season. I just thinking of bodies to help on the boards when Dirk goes out. Either way, if they don't bring in another PF, I think Powell will just do fine. I would like to see Kemp play again though. He might be something to see. That depends on AJ's evaluation tonight.

endtroducing MASKED · 04-05-2006, 01:26 PM

why does everyone want to sign a new guy so badly? I'll take the young, athletic guy with fresh legs (Powell) with a lot of potential (with the oppourtunity of making himself an impact player motivating him to do his best he possibly can) that has been practicing with our team almost all year and knows our system over some guy who hasn't played this year 10 times out of 10.

dude1394 · 04-05-2006, 01:28 PM

They want to sign someone because Josh Powell will be a non-factor in the playoffs. Last night was a good night but the kings are NOT the sk*rts.

Also a solid 3pt shooter who has some size would be a great addition.

sixeightmkw · 04-05-2006, 01:46 PM

I don't want to sign anybody. In the off season they can get rid of Van Spare and do what ever. JPo would be on the bench anyway in the playoffs. The actual people that will play will be Dirk, Terry, Jho, Diop, Stack, Griff, Damp, Quisy. If needed, Jpo might get a call off the bench, might, and mabey Mbenga for possible fould trouble. Other than that, Mbenga, JPo and Rawle will not even sniff play time. So why get rid of someone that will be a positive in the firture to add some spare that will be dropped as soon as the season is over? They don't need anything else. They don't need a 3 pt shooter, they got 2. They don't need a big body in the middle, they got 2. They don't need a slasher mid range guy, they got 2. The Mavs aren't going to get anybody.

dude1394 · 04-05-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixeightmkw

I don't want to sign anybody. In the off season they can get rid of Van Spare and do what ever. JPo would be on the bench anyway in the playoffs. The actual people that will play will be Dirk, Terry, Jho, Diop, Stack, Griff, Damp, Quisy. If needed, Jpo might get a call off the bench, might, and mabey Mbenga for possible fould trouble. Other than that, Mbenga, JPo and Rawle will not even sniff play time. So why get rid of someone that will be a positive in the firture to add some spare that will be dropped as soon as the season is over? They don't need anything else. They don't need a 3 pt shooter, they got 2. They don't need a big body in the middle, they got 2. They don't need a slasher mid range guy, they got 2. The Mavs aren't going to get anybody.

There is no future, the future is NOW. If you need a 3ptr to beat the sk*rts don't you have to take it? Except for getting people hurt, you just cannot calculate when you will be here again, maybe never.

sixeightmkw · 04-05-2006, 02:15 PM

Like I said before, the Mavs are fine. A 3 point shooter will not help them beat the Suns, Spurs, or whoever. A spare that hasn't playedin over a year, wether it be Hoiberg, Kemp, Spreewell, or whoever is not going to improve your team. If that was the case, then why isn't the entire league doing it. I am sure SA could use soem help, I am sure that Phoeinix could use help now that Stod is out. These spares can't play, that is why they are on the free agent list. The Mavs have the 2nd best record in the league. THey will have their entire starting lineup back soon, and will have all of their back ups except for KVH. Is that that bad?

dude1394 · 04-05-2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixeightmkw

Like I said before, the Mavs are fine. A 3 point shooter will not help them beat the Suns, Spurs, or whoever. A spare that hasn't playedin over a year, wether it be Hoiberg, Kemp, Spreewell, or whoever is not going to improve your team. If that was the case, then why isn't the entire league doing it. I am sure SA could use soem help, I am sure that Phoeinix could use help now that Stod is out. These spares can't play, that is why they are on the free agent list. The Mavs have the 2nd best record in the league. THey will have their entire starting lineup back soon, and will have all of their back ups except for KVH. Is that that bad?

SA tried to get some help by trading Barry. The spurs also don't have a problem with 3pt shooters, they have about 6 of them. You wouldn't want them for long term, but Josh Powell imo will give you nothing offensively. As soon as dirk sits down, the other team will go on a run.

sixeightmkw · 04-05-2006, 02:28 PM

In the playoffs, the rotation for everyteam dwindles down to 7, mabey 8 players.. Those 8 players play the entire game. The Mavs have their 8. They don't need JPo to give anything offensivley.

dude1394 · 04-05-2006, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixeightmkw

Like I said before, the Mavs are fine. A 3 point shooter will not help them beat the Suns, Spurs, or whoever. A spare that hasn't playedin over a year, wether it be Hoiberg, Kemp, Spreewell, or whoever is not going to improve your team. If that was the case, then why isn't the entire league doing it. I am sure SA could use soem help, I am sure that Phoeinix could use help now that Stod is out. These spares can't play, that is why they are on the free agent list. The Mavs have the 2nd best record in the league. THey will have their entire starting lineup back soon, and will have all of their back ups except for KVH. Is that that bad?

Steve Kerr won a championship for the sk*rts in 02-03. I don't think you are appreciating how hard it is to get to this level, you gotta take your shot. Someone could get injured and the mavs have to start the whole thing over again, you just never know.

Rawle Marshall will not see a minutes worth of playing time in the playoffs imo. He doesn't do anything that other players cannot do better. However either a defensive specialist or a shooter CAN do something to help you win a game. And ONE game may be all that it takes to win a championship.

I'll never forget listening to little Nickey telling the 02-03 mavs that they just may never be there again and they have to play as if their lives, their families lives depended on it. However keeping a guy who is barely on a roster to not pick up someone that might help you win a game is not the smart move imo.

dude1394 · 04-05-2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixeightmkw

In the playoffs, the rotation for everyteam dwindles down to 7, mabey 8 players.. Those 8 players play the entire game. The Mavs have their 8. They don't need JPo to give anything offensivley.

I just don't see how you can say that. The rotation goes to 8 players normally but there is always a few minutes where you have to play some other guys.

I don't know who is out there, but I am not really interested in someone that cannot score taking dirks 5 minutes of rest. You do not WANT him playing 48. He'll do it and compete, but he'll lose that battle with his body.

Hanging on to Rawle Marshall for just next year when a guy can help in the playoffs just doesn't make sense to me.

dude1394 · 04-05-2006, 02:48 PM

I also want to disagree with the "8 player" statement. The sk*rts for example played 8 guys all 23 playoff games and other players:

21, 15, 13, 12, 9.. with mpg of 11.5, 8.7, 7.6, 5.0 respectively.

That's a lot of minutes and spot games by 13 players in almost half of the games. Maybe blowouts, but looking at some they easily had 10 players they went to.

sixeightmkw · 04-05-2006, 02:50 PM

so getting a guy with a pacemaker improves the team. he is not even sure if he wants to play, Hoiberg I mean. we'll just have to see what they do. My guess is they don't get anybody unless Jho goes down or Harris goes down for the season.

sixeightmkw · 04-05-2006, 02:59 PM

Ok, they played 3 extra players for a total of 11 players played in the playoffs. now you state they need an extra guy to provide 3 point shooting and scoring. what did those 3 players average in points for the playoffs.

Devin Brown who played the most minutes 1.8 ppg
Rasho Nesterovic .7 ppg
Masenburg .3 ppg.

All i'm saying is the excess on the bench is not there for scoring purposes. They are there to play a role, which means give rest to the stars. I think we can suffice with Mbenga Marshall and Powell.

dude1394 · 04-05-2006, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixeightmkw

Ok, they played 3 extra players for a total of 11 players played in the playoffs. now you state they need an extra guy to provide 3 point shooting and scoring. what did those 3 players average in points for the playoffs.

Devin Brown who played the most minutes 1.8 ppg
Rasho Nesterovic .7 ppg
Masenburg .3 ppg.

All i'm saying is the excess on the bench is not there for scoring purposes. They are there to play a role, which means give rest to the stars. I think we can suffice with Mbenga Marshall and Powell.

That's what "I" think we need is a 3pt shooter because we don't have any. Sk*rts may have needed something else. It's for sure that those players weren't right off the NBDL.

We saw how the playoffs effect players, devin for instance almost single handedly lost a game when he let james school him three times in a row. I don't want to put my playoff hopes on NBDL players if I can help it.

It's why I'm quite dissappointed that KVH isn't here, I know that some hate him, but the first time we see Josh/Rawle out there I think we'll wish he was back.

sixeightmkw · 04-05-2006, 03:10 PM

OK, so what happens with this. If we drop Marshall or Powell and pick up Hoiberg.
Hoiberg just off of open heart surgery, hasn't played in over a year. If we pick him up and drop our rookies he better damn well play at least 10 mins. Now if he plays 10 mins, who do we take time away from? Harris, Terry, Jho, Quisy? That means they will be on the court less.
ah hell, I am sick of this conversation, not at you or anything. just tired of typing. They aren't going to pick up anyone else. I wish KVH was here, but he is not. they have to deal with it.

dude1394 · 04-05-2006, 03:15 PM

He doesn't "take" anyones minutes, he gives them a rest. In particular Dirk I guess.

But let's see his last game he was 48% from 3pt land. We don't have a guy that can sniff that right now. But he looks like a small forward to be hoest and not a PF, which we sorta need to back up the dirkster.

sixeightmkw · 04-05-2006, 03:19 PM

we just have 2 in the top 15 in 3 point accuracy. JT .423 and Dirk ,412. thats pretty good.

Dtownsfinest · 04-05-2006, 04:43 PM

Well the thing about those two guys is that they are the creators. Dirk is going to demand a lot of double teams in the playoffs and if all he has to pass out to is Stackhouse and Marquis than we're screwed. I'd like to get a spot up 3 point shooter in here who isn't a liablity defensively. As far as Josh spelling Dirk's minutes I have no problem with that. Dirks going to be playing anywhere from 42 minutes and up in the playoffs. If all Josh is going to get is 6-8 minutes than I have no problem with that.

sixeightmkw · 04-05-2006, 04:46 PM

So terry hasn't been good enought when Dirk gets the double team to kick out to him? just wondering. KVH usually didn't play while Dirk was in there except occasionally and whoever we picked up would have to take KVH's spot. So in essence, that player, whoever it would be we pick up, wouldn't even be out there while Dirk was playing.

Dtownsfinest · 04-05-2006, 04:59 PM

No Terry has been great. I guess all I want is just another option. There is too many times where this team has Dirk in the paint and he has nothing to kick out to but Jerry Brickhouse and Marquis "I hit the front of the rim of every 3 point shot" Daniels.

endtroducing MASKED · 04-05-2006, 07:10 PM

this Sk*rts thing is lame as all hell.

Mavfan + Ravenfan · 04-06-2006, 06:38 PM

Really josh wasn't playing too out of postion becasue the guys he went up agaisnt last year at the 4 were kinda out of postion also: ryan bowen(rockets) shawn marion(suns) Joe Johnson(suns) and scott padgett (rockets). Those were the only guys he really faced at the 4 postion last year in the playoffs.

Mavfan + Ravenfan · 04-06-2006, 06:42 PM

"Which brings us to option No. 3"

I guess the Avery isn't even thinkin of giving d.j. minutes at the 4 in the playoffs. He's certainly quick enough, maybe next year a combo of powell and d.j. can back up dirk.

kriD · 04-09-2006, 05:31 AM

Howard back just in time

By DWAIN PRICE
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DALLAS -- The recent loss of Josh Howard to a strained left hamstring hasn't been lost on the Mavericks' coaching staff.

Howard is the type of player who fills up the stat sheet. The third-year veteran always gives the Mavs a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Such was the case again Saturday night during the Mavs' 101-77 victory over the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets as Howard collected 19 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one block in only 27 minutes of work.

"We'll take it," coach Avery Johnson said. "It's a back-to-back game for him coming off a tough injury and a tough fall [Friday] night [in San Antonio]."

The Mavs posted a subpar 8-5 record in the 13 games Howard missed from Feb. 25-March 29.

Meanwhile, Howard said he's had no ill effects from the hamstring injury. And the numbers bear that out.

Since scoring 10 points in his first game back against Orlando on March 31, Howard has averaged 21 points and 7.8 rebounds and shot 52.4 percent (33-of-63) from the field in four games -- all Mavs victories.

"I'm getting better," Howard said Howard.

"Plus, I continue to get treatment as we speak."

Howard's defense is also crucial to the Mavs' cause, as he usually takes on the opponents' top scoring shooting guard or forward.

"He's one of our key scorers and defenders," said guard Marquis Daniels, who scored 13 points against the Hornets. "He does a lot of things when he's not scoring.

"He rebounds, he finds open guys, and he draws a lot of attention, and it opens up for other guys. Anytime you can have him out there, it's a plus."

Since the Mavs defeated Denver by 24 points, Sacramento by 24, won in San Antonio for the first time in over two years, and wiped out the Hornets by 24 points, Howard was asked if the Mavs have their swagger back.

"I just think we're playing great ball," he said. "Swagger or not, we're just playing great Mavericks basketball."

Thanks in large part to Howard.