Mavs look for their swagger, D-Moore his smack-talk defense

[kriD]

Mavs look for their swagger, D-Moore his smack-talk defense

12:11 AM CDT on Thursday, October 5, 2006

Welcome to a new season of Mavericks newsletters, which we guarantee will be full of insightful opinions about the Western Conference champions, strong analysis of the rest of the NBA and ridiculous cheap shots at D-Moore, unless of course it's his week to write, in which case I suggest you skip a week.

The training camp at the University of North Texas started routinely, and the team appears to be taking a businesslike approach to the preseason.

This is good news. The Mavericks already are acting like they are really good, which they are. The next step is making sure Dirk Nowitzki and Jerry Stackhouse, their two elder statesmen in terms of mileage (Dirk) and age (Stackhouse), get plenty of rest through the preseason.

If I were Avery Johnson, I'd bring in an NFL coach and have him divvy up the playing time. That way, we know the starters wouldn't play more than a quarter.

We'll save all our predictions and guarantees for later in the preseason. For now, let's clear up a lot of questions that obviously are keeping all of you from productivity at work.

Eddie Sefko

Q&A

Q: I see where Devin Harris has been shooting 600 shots a day to improve his game in the off-season. What have D-Moore and Big Ed done to improve their game the past few months?

Paul, Dallas

SEFKO: First of all, it's a bad sign when the e-mailers are funnier than D-Moore. But I can assure you we did not spend the summer sitting around getting fat.

Or, at least, we weren't sitting around.

I personally saw a thesaurus in D-Moore's car before he took his golf clubs out and we headed to the first tee.

What I can say is that Devin Harris' regimen of 600 jumpers per day will pay off for him down the line, assuming he made some of them.

•••

Q: Will the Mavs do it this year?

Mark Z.

SEFKO: By "it," I assume you mean win the championship. And while I am a big fan of putting my neck on the line, I'm going to have to reserve judgment for a few weeks before I put the Sefko seal of approval on the Mavericks as guaranteed titlists this season. At least let me see one exhibition game.

But there is no doubt they are on the short list of contenders. Actually, it's a long list. Phoenix, San Antonio, Miami, Detroit, the Mavericks and, if you like long shots, Chicago, New Orleans and Houston all can make a case that they are championship material. Let's at least wait until we get into the meat of the preseason before we see how everybody is fitting together at various places. Ask me again in late October.

•••

Q: Which Maverick not on last year's roster do you think will make the biggest impact this season?

Pete O.

SEFKO: If it's not Anthony Johnson, then something has gone very wrong ... or very right with Devin Harris.

Though the Mavericks would never say it, the guess here is that Johnson was acquired to give the Mavericks security at point guard. They want Jason Terry off the ball as much as possible. But Harris has to prove that he can be the full-time point guard.

If he does, great. Johnson fills in behind both of them, and the Mavericks will have perhaps the best small-guard trio in the league.

If not, then Johnson has proven he can be a capable starter for a good team. He tried to will Indiana to playoff wins last season by himself.

This is not to minimize the potential impact of Devean George, Greg Buckner, Austin Croshere and Maurice Ager. If things fall just right, any of them could be significant impact players.

•••

Q: Yeah! Good to hear that the newsletter is back. This is Mavs country now. Two questions: Do you think Devin Harris will take a significant step in his play and will Erick Dampier retake the starting center spot?

Michael M., DeSoto

SEFKO: Harris will get the chance to be the starter and make the position his own. Let's see what happens through camp. If he's not the starter, then the questions will immediately start about whether he was the right pick to make No. 5 in 2004.

As for Dampier, the Mavericks like the fact that they were an NBA Finals-worthy team with DeSagana Diop as their starting center. That doesn't mean Dampier can't retake that position. But it's going to take a convincing effort for him to do so.

He's going to have to win it so thoroughly that it's obvious to everybody that he should be starting.

After all, that's how he lost the job, proving to everybody beyond a shadow of a doubt that he didn't deserve it.

•••

Q: I think it's great that Dirk is signed for the long haul. Now if they could just trade Jerry "butterhands" Stackhouse for something useful, like a bag of chips.

Andrew R.

SEFKO: Two thoughts come to mind after your suggestions. First, I've gotten feedback both ways on Nowitzki's three-year contract extension. There remain people out there who believe Nowitzki still can't handle the brightest lights on the biggest stage.

These are the same people who forget that Michael Jordan didn't win a title until his seventh season, Shaquille O'Neal his eighth season and Hakeem Olajuwon his 10th. No matter how great you are, this remains a team game.

Second, it's a good thing we don't print last names and addresses in this newsletter. Jerry Stackhouse has won his share of games for the Mavericks. And, don't forget, he's playing for a contract this season. He's in the final year of his deal. I'm guessing the Mavericks are going to get a big year out of him.

•••

Q: When are the Mavericks going to raise the Western Conference championship banner?

Lawrence B, Grand Prairie

SEFKO: Expect to see it unveiled at the second home game of the season. That would be Nov. 6 against the Golden State Warriors. It seems fitting that it will happen when Don Nelson, largely responsible for building the team that won the West, will be in the building.

•••

Q: I am a disgruntled Mavericks fan after witnessing their meltdown in the NBA Finals. I think Dirk is one of the NBA's best. After seeing him single-handedly defeat the Suns, I don't think anyone can disagree. I guess Miami was just destined to win. I'm still hopeful this is the year.

John S.

SEFKO: Ask a question next time. But I will comment on your thoughts. Dirk is a player any GM in the league would pick to start his team with if Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James were already picked. He's still got five or six years of his prime left, unlike Shaq, Nash and some others.

•••

Q: Welcome back. It's refreshing to hear about the Mavs again instead of a certain part-time receiver. Here's the question: During the Finals, Avery decided to go to slow-down basketball with four minutes left in Game 4 and it blew up in their face. Why change? It was a turning point of the season. This year, will you guys take Avery to task on his many mistakes, or is the honeymoon still on?

John M., parade route coordinator for Mayor Miller

SEFKO: Avery's grace period is over. But let's face it. Knocking him isn't easy when all he's done is escort the team to the best season in franchise history.

Yes, you can say he got outcoached by Pat Riley and get no argument here. Even D-Moore agrees with that. But Johnson isn't the first rookie coach to get outsmarted by Riley. Nor will he be the last.

And don't forget, Avery pulled all the right strings against San Antonio.

Just be glad Johnson is calling the shots for the Mavericks. There are a lot of teams around the league that wish they had him.

•••

Q: I read your article recently about the Mavericks' salaries. I know pro athletes are overpaid, but it's disturbing to know public school teachers can never make in a lifetime what these gentlemen make in a year. Do you ever wonder where our priorities are?

Judy L.

SEFKO: I couldn't agree with you more that our priorities are out of whack. My wife is a teacher of special-ed students, and our mentors in the classroom deserve an extra zero or two at the end of their paycheck.

But until television starts showing a kick-butt math whiz in a pre-calculus class (not impossible given the popularity of poker, darts and even dominoes), this differential is certain to continue.

[chumdawg]

But there is no doubt they are on the short list of contenders. Actually, it's a long list. Phoenix, San Antonio, Miami, Detroit, the Mavericks and, if you like long shots, Chicago, New Orleans and Houston all can make a case that they are championship material.

Sefko evidently has no love for the Clips.

[FINtastic]

Avery is bringing SwaggerBack. The whole league better watch out.

[chumdawg]

Yeah, but did you notice how quick it went from "system" to "physicality"? I guess there is a buzzword every year.