Mavericks come home to questions

[MavsFanFinley]

The game preview mentions that Finley will play tomorrow night.

Mavericks come home to questions

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

Coming home has never been so tough for the Mavericks.

After nine days on the road, they got back to work at American Airlines Center on Monday and were peppered with questions about the drama that unfolded on the 2-3 road trip.

“The team’s not divided,’’ said coach Don Nelson. “The team just hasn’t played very well. I think they’re trying to do what we want. It’s just not working.’’

Nelson, Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley and others discussed the fallout of Nowitzki’s comments on Friday that the team was not playing as a unit from top to bottom.

“Self-evaluation is tough,’’ Nelson said. “You guys would have a tough time admitting your mistakes, as would I.

“And for athletes, it’s the hardest thing in the world because they’re always taught they’re the best at everything they do. When a coach comes along and actually tells them they have some flaws, sometimes it’s hard for them. But that’s our job.’’

Nowitzki did not back off his comments that some players were pouting when they were taken out of games.

“I just felt like it needed to be said,’’ he said. “I was disappointed and frustrated at the moment. Probably shouldn’t have said all of it. But that’s the way I felt at the moment. It was the lowest point of the season. I spoke out and now we move on. I don’t think we won as a team or defended as a team, so we have to address that.’’

Nowitzki added that there may have been reprisals from Nelson. The two met about the comments. Neither coach nor player would discuss what was said in the meeting. Said Nelson: “I’d rather keep those things behind closed doors. But if the players choose to talk, then you deal with it.’’

Other players were hoping to put the drama behind them.

“When you’re losing road games we should have won, the competitiveness is going to make you make comments,’’ said Finley. “As far as the pouting, everybody wants to play 48 minutes. When you’re in there, you have to give it your best. And when you’re not, you root for those guys who are. That’s what makes good teams great teams.’’

Antoine Walker said he did not believe that he was the subject of Nowitzki’s ire about some players not buying into Nelson’s systems.

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about,’’ Walker said. “I don’t worry about anybody’s comments. We’re on the same page. This is a matter of putting the effort on the defensive end. Everybody’s doing too much talking. Let’s just play basketball.

“If we don’t get it together defensively, we’re going to go home early in the playoffs. I got to look at myself in the mirror and everybody has to look in the mirror. We got nine games to improve on that.’’

A better test: After getting their small-ball sea legs against small, outmanned Orlando on Sunday, the Mavericks will see a better and bigger team tonight in Cleveland.

Cleveland has 7-2 Zydrunas Ilgauskas at center and 6-8, 255-pound Carlos Boozer, who is averaging 11.5 rebounds.

“We’ll have to be a little creative with our double-teams and our rotations,’’ Nelson said.

Nelson added that the Mavericks will not be married to small ball -- in which they do not start a center -- for entire games. They will start the small lineup and adjust accordingly if the game is not going well.

Aiming for 50:

Don Nelson said he has 50 wins in his sights, which he feels would give the team some semblance of momentum going into the playoffs, regardless of where they finish in the seeding.

“I’d like to win 50-something games,’’ he said. “That’s why I’m hoping the small lineup works. It’ll give us more of a traditional (small forward), which we need. We had trouble guarding (centers) anyway and we had trouble guarding the (power forwards) because Dirk’s not a great defender. We couldn’t guard the (small forwards) because I always had a bigger guy guarding them.’’

The Mavericks simply had too many defensive holes. Now, they should only have one -- defending big, dominant centers. Of course, that was a problem before small ball made a comeback.

[Murphy3]

I'm definitely glad that Dirk came out and said what he said. Perhaps it hits just a bit too close to home for spin doctor don nelson. Dirk is the one player on the team that truly does have to power to get things done. If he's not happy, the organization absolutely must listen. Let's just be happy that he doesn't use that power the same way that players like Jason Kidd and Allen Iverson does.

Antoine Walker said he did not believe that he was the subject of Nowitzki’s ire about some players not buying into Nelson’s systems.

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about,’’ Walker said. “I don’t worry about anybody’s comments. We’re on the same page. This is a matter of putting the effort on the defensive end. Everybody’s doing too much talking. Let’s just play basketball.

If everyone is on the same page, then there's absolutely not a doubt in the world that significent changes must be made. Wasn't that the excuse for Nellie for several months? The players have to gel..get on the same page. If this is what it looks like when everyone is on the same page, then it's definitely time to turn the page.

[mavsfanforever]

If everyone is on the same page, then there's absolutely not a doubt in the world that significent changes must be made. Wasn't that the excuse for Nellie for several months? The players have to gel..get on the same page. If this is what it looks like when everyone is on the same page, then it's definitely time to turn the page.

I have no problems with Dirk's comments either. Infact it reassures to me that Dirk is taking the next step of being a leader and also he cares a lot about winning. It came as a pleasant surprise to me. Btw, I think Dirk has openly called out Nellie. Walker and Cuban and the very fact that he is not taking his comments back shows me that he is slowly getting to where we all wanted him to be , A LEADER.

[dude1394]

Hopefully dirk gave him an earful in any private meeting they had. I'd like to know which power forwards have been lighting us up. It's looked like perimeter guys to me.

[MightyToine]

Antoine Walker said he did not believe that he was the subject of Nowitzki’s ire about some players not buying into Nelson’s systems.

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about,’’ Walker said. “I don’t worry about anybody’s comments. We’re on the same page. This is a matter of putting the effort on the defensive end. Everybody’s doing too much talking. Let’s just play basketball.

“If we don’t get it together defensively, we’re going to go home early in the playoffs. I got to look at myself in the mirror and everybody has to look in the mirror. We got nine games to improve on that.’’

Should Walker follow his own advice or not? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[ddh33]

I really love the way that Dirk didn't back off his comments...

I would love to know what all was said between he and Nellie behind closed doors though...

[EricaLubarsky]

Don Nelson said he has 50 wins in his sights, which he feels would give the team some semblance of momentum going into the playoffs, regardless of where they finish in the seeding.

“I’d like to win 50-something games,’’ he said. “That’s why I’m hoping the small lineup works.

I sure hope we can get to 50 wins, but that may be shooting a little high (5-4). [img]i/expressions/rolleye.gif[/img]

I'm glad Nellie is shooting for the stars.

According to Nellie we will probably lose against
Memphis (home), Sacramento (home), Houston (away), and either Phoenix (home), Seattle (away), or Utah (home).

[Chiwas]

Check this quotes:

Nelson: “Self-evaluation is tough.’’

Walker: “I don’t even know what you’re talking about.’’

Self-evaluation is really tough for some people.

But it also applies for Nelson: "When a coach comes along and actually tells them they have some flaws, sometimes it’s hard for them. But that’s our job."

Do you frankly think that all of the messing is due to Walker? Probably, but the origin of the problem is not Walker; the persons who brought him here, who couldn't demand him how to play, and who are currently playing him, are the ones to blame.

[Male30Dan]

Just about everyone is to blame for this season Chiwas...

[Chiwas]

I know what you mean, Dan, it seems nobody made well his work this season. The rookies being an exception, cause they are rookies.

But the main responsible of a ship is the captain. Hope this captain isn't the last to leave the sinking ship.