Sigh...Dirk sprains ankle - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

MavsFanFinley · 10-15-2003, 11:02 PM

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.

LRB · 10-15-2003, 11:05 PM

Cubes needs to hire an armed guard to protect each of Dirks ankles and shoot any of the Spares who try and fall on it. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Seriously, we really need Dirk ready for our opener to have any chance against he huge losing streak in LA. I sure hope he heals quickly.

u2sarajevo · 10-15-2003, 11:12 PM

This is disheartening news. Any injury to Dirk, deemed serious or not, is not good.

Quote:

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.

Surely Dirk, Nash, Findog, and Jamison (our new core) cannot believe that, given the changes to our team we cannot expect to just be able to flip a switch and the team automatically gels.

I don't mean to make an issue of this, but I hope that is not the case.

ReDIRKulous · 10-15-2003, 11:14 PM

Trouble in paradise.

Did Redbeard hurt Dirk too? Is that why they didn't mention who it was? lol

MavsFanFinley · 10-15-2003, 11:22 PM

Quote:

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

Nash is right. I'm sure the other guys feel the same.

Now that Finley is back, Nelson needs to use these last 3 games as if it were the regular season. Meaning I don't want to see Dirk play the whole first quarter and only have 3-4 shots. If the offense is running through him and he's posted up and making things happen for others, then that's fine.

Do we really need to force feed the ball to Jamison? That's how it appears to me. Is that Nelson's plan to get him going early?

Nash seems fine, the assists are there, but I don't really want to see Finley play 23 minutes and only have 5 shots again.

It's a good thing to limit minutes for the starters, but do they need to sit whole quarters still?

ReDIRKulous · 10-15-2003, 11:28 PM

Quote:

It's a good thing to limit minutes for the starters, but do they need to sit whole quarters still?

Yeah... I think Nellie needs to play a normal rotation as much as possible to get guys in sink with each other. It is a bit disappointing to find that our guys intesity is so low.. especially defensively.

Fah Q · 10-15-2003, 11:28 PM

It's a good thing to limit minutes for the starters, but do they need to sit whole quarters still?

I honestly want them to sit for the 4th quarter, I don't want any freak accident to happen that could've been avoided.

EricaLubarsky · 10-15-2003, 11:28 PM

I told Dirk he shouldnt play under Fortson. Timber!

ReDIRKulous · 10-15-2003, 11:36 PM

Seriously though... Dirk needs to be a little more prepared for people falling on him. So far Popeye, Manu, and now whoever it was have fallen on Dirk... and I think it is becausee he isn't prepared for contact. Sometimes he looks like he is asleep out there.

Dirk41= konsesjonen · 10-15-2003, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: ReDIRKulous
Seriously though... Dirk needs to be a little more prepared for people falling on him. So far Popeye, Manu, and now whoever it was have fallen on Dirk... and I think it is becausee he isn't prepared for contact. Sometimes he looks like he is asleep out there.

You do realize what you said has little to no physical fact behind it.

Razor · 10-15-2003, 11:48 PM

somebody get dirk some wider shoes with steel supports!!!

Psychedelic Fuzz · 10-15-2003, 11:53 PM

I'm just glad Dirk doesn't respond well to the pain. It's comforting that those ankle injuries are never quite as bad as they first look.

ames7 · 10-15-2003, 11:55 PM

This is like a weekly occurance now, isn't it? We should have a sticky thread w/just Dirk's ankle news so we don't have to start a new thread every time. [img]i/expressions/rolleye.gif[/img] Extremely annoying. Hopefully it really is minor, but at least there's some time for him to completely heal before the real season.

ReDIRKulous · 10-16-2003, 12:04 AM

Quote:

You do realize what you said has little to no physical fact behind it.

How do you expect me to provide "physical fact" on a messageboard? lol

EricaLubarsky · 10-16-2003, 12:28 AM

seriously though, I would love to be a fly on the wall of the training camp. It really seems like they are keeping big secrets from the rest of us. Are they playing that hard? They are busting lips, and eyebrows? Struggling on the boards? Maybe its my idiotic, unfounded optimism, but they are playing some tough ball- tougher than they ever have it seems.

dirno2000 · 10-16-2003, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by: EricaLubarsky
seriously though, I would love to be a fly on the wall of the training camp. It really seems like they are keeping big secrets from the rest of us. Are they playing that hard? They are busting lips, and eyebrows? Struggling on the boards? Maybe its my idiotic, unfounded optimism, but they are playing some tough ball- tougher than they ever have it seems.

I heard Charlie Parker on the pre game show Tuesday. He commented that with Fortson around, the practices are more physical. Guys don't want to play against him, they all want to play with him. Especially the bigs.

As far as Dirk, he's the franchise so if he stubs his toe it's major as far as I'm concerned. The way he flies in for defensive boards, it's suprising it doesn't happen more often.

jayC · 10-16-2003, 03:31 AM

He will be fine. He sprains his ankles all the time. Hes a young guy he will get over it.

Simon2 · 10-16-2003, 08:30 AM

Does Dirk wear low cut shoes? Maybe someone should introduce him to high tops?

MavsFanatik33 · 10-16-2003, 09:12 AM

I was very scared when opening this, but thank God it's not a serious injury.
PHEW!

MavsFanFinley · 10-16-2003, 09:50 AM

FWST says it's a mild sprain and has him listed day-to-day. He'll probably want to play Saturday, but it wouldn't hurt for him to sit out.

FilthyFinMavs · 10-16-2003, 04:51 PM

Does Dirk really wear low tops? That is like the worst shoe to play basketball in. Anytime you wear a low cut shoe it is going to cause you injuries. Is it really that serious though? THey didn't even include it in the article they just listed it as like a side note at the bottem. I don't like how his ankle keeps getting hurt. I was worried last ttime this occured. I like to hear that no one wants to play against Fortson but play with him. It could say two things though. Either the Mavs are that soft or Fortson is that physical. If Najera doesn't want to play with Fortson than it's safe to say Fortson is that physical.

BASKETBALL 101 · 10-16-2003, 09:27 PM

Nowitzki rests injured ankle, passes on MRI
08:36 PM CDT on Thursday, October 16, 2003

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

Dirk Nowitzki sat out Thursday's practice session to rest his sprained right ankle, but he waved off the coaching and medical staff when they suggested he get an MRI test to check for structural damage.

"I told them it wasn't that bad," Nowitzki said. "They wanted me to do it. But I've done this so many times, I know when it's hurt."

Nowitzki rode the stationary bike during practice, then shot some free throws. He has suffered ankle injuries numerous times during his career. The latest one came when he stepped on the foot of Jiri Welsch during a one-on-one drill in Wednesday's workout.

Nowitzki said he wasn't sure whether he would play Saturday against Philadelphia or Sunday at San Antonio.

"We'll see how it feels Saturday," Nowitzki said. "It doesn't make any sense to play if it's not well."

Eduardo Najera took part in the full practice, the first time he has been able to do that since spraining his shoulder Saturday.

MavsFanFinley · 10-16-2003, 10:25 PM

I'm sure Dirk has a pretty good feel about the pain and whether it's serious or not, but I don't like him waiving the MRI. What would it hurt?

BASKETBALL 101 · 10-17-2003, 10:19 PM

It's not all rest for Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki was not allowed to practice Friday because of his sprained right ankle, but it was still an important day for him.

After the Mavericks practiced, five junior players from Germany took the court to rub elbows with Nowitzki. Three boys and two girls were chosen out of more than 14,000 kids who took part in a street-ball competition in Germany.

"Sprite and I have been working together for two years," Nowitzki said of his camp in Germany. "We have street-ball tournaments in six or seven cities. We have coaches in all the cities scouting, and the top 50 or 60 from each tournament come to the camp in that same city a week later and some NBA assistant coaches work them out.

"Then, we take the top five or six from each camp, so we have 40 or so kids come to our camp in my hometown with other NBA coaches, and I'm there helping them work out. The top five out of that camp get to come here."

The junior players will take in Saturday's preseason game against Philadelphia, then go to New York for a Knicks game and a few days of sightseeing.

sage · 10-18-2003, 10:58 AM

OHHH dear ankle god, why have you cursed the ankle of a giant man child that leads my team into victory[img]i/expressions/brokenheart.gif[/img]

LRB · 10-18-2003, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by: MavsFanFinley
I'm sure Dirk has a pretty good feel about the pain and whether it's serious or not, but I don't like him waiving the MRI. What would it hurt?

I'm with you MFF. I would rather have the MRI to to be doubly sure. If nothing else it would give everyone more confidence.

Chiwas · 10-18-2003, 11:55 AM

This has been the Dirk's injure that least has worried me in three years. And we had Juwan in one of them.

That has to mean that the team has more playing resources now. I don't doubt about the contribution of Jamison, but my biggest whishes are headed to Fortson and LaFrentz, more than to the promising back court.

Watching Dirk to play is splendid, but when he got injured, the team looks almost hopeless against the toughest. This has to end, the latter.

Dirk41= konsesjonen · 10-18-2003, 11:57 AM

Its weird. Obviously I don't want dirk injured. But often times it seems he'll tweak his ankle, miss a few games or none, and then he'll come back absolutely on fire. He did it to the Hornets two years ago, SAC last year and there are some other incidents. It seems whenever he's "questionable" b/c of his ankle, he comes out on fire, mabye just coincidence, but anyway, I am not worried. By the way, I saw a nice Dirk article in a magazine called "Kicks" the other day, it's really a SLAM wannabee, but decent article.

ReDIRKulous · 10-18-2003, 12:27 PM

Quote:

I saw a nice Dirk article in a magazine called "Kicks" the other day, it's really a SLAM wannabee, but decent article.

Could you fill us in on this article? give us all the gist of it. Anything interesting? I am curious what he had to say about his training in the summer and how he felt about getting disqualified in the World championships thhis summer.

EricaLubarsky · 10-19-2003, 05:58 PM

about Dirk- I hear it will be a game-time decision. Here's Saturday's article

Associated Press
Dallas Mavericks: Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki sat out Saturday night's exhibition game against the Philadelphia 76ers with a sprained right ankle.

The two-time All-Star injured his ankle in practice on Wednesday.

Dallas coach Don Nelson said before the game {Saturday} he would let Nowitzki decide if he wanted to play. Saturday night's game was the first of four games in five days to close out the Mavericks' preseason schedule.

V · 11-27-2003, 12:06 AM

Unfortunately I'm rehashing an old topic.

Any news on Dirk's latest sprain is appreciated. Maybe Nelly's postgame?

kg_veteran · 11-27-2003, 12:13 AM

They said during the second half that x-rays on the right ankle were negative but that Dirk was doubtful for Friday night's game against Denver.

MightyToine · 11-27-2003, 12:17 AM

Walker/Jamison/finley/Nash have better get their shit together and PLAY SOME SERIOUS FUKING BALL 'cause tonight was an absolute EMBARASSMENT!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

PITIFUL........PATHETIC........RIDICULOUS.......PE RFORMANCE TONIGHT!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

Epitome22 · 11-27-2003, 12:17 AM

Dirk's ankles are made of glass [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

V · 11-27-2003, 12:23 AM

Thanks KG...

What concerns me most is the adage "it is better to break an ankle than sprain one" ... as I'm sure you're all aware: Repeated ankle sprains may cause chronic instability!

For anyone who hears a report... ankle sprains are classified by "types" and range from mild to moderate to severe. Classifying ankle sprains helps the podiatric surgeon diagnose the specific structures involved in the injury. This also helps determine appropriate treatment plans for each type of ankle sprain. Type I ankle sprain, the least severe, occurs when ligament fibers have been stretched or slightly torn. Type II sprain occurs when some of these fibers or ligaments are completely torn. Type III, the most severe, occurs when the entire ligament is torn and there is significant instability of the ankle joint.