Mavs trying to get over Nash, with assist from young trio

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Mavs trying to get over Nash, with assist from young trio
Harris, Terry, Daniels will try to dampen fan favorite's homecoming

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

Like anybody else, Don Nelson occasionally longs for the good ol' days.

Those were the times when men were men, and basketball clearly was more important to players than money or rapping. Or at least more important than rapping.

You know, way back when his point guard had long, scraggly hair.

When Nelson got a chance to watch Steve Nash in a televised Phoenix game last week, he was like a kid watching a cartoon that he's seen a hundred times but still loves.

"Look at him," Nelson would say. "He's so darn good. I just love that guy."

Loved him so much that he could turn over the keys to his offense to Nash with confidence that Nash wouldn't make a wreck of it. Nash was Nelson's security blanket, his comfort zone.

Nash comes home to American Airlines Center tonight as a Phoenix Sun. While Mark Cuban likes to wear his "MFFL" T-shirts (Mavs Fan For Life), it would surprise nobody if there were some "NFFL" knockoffs tonight at the arena: "Nash Fans For Life."

"He was a big part of everything we did," says Dirk Nowitzki, who remains the best of friends with Nash. "He played his heart out for us every night. It's going to be an emotional night, for him as well as us."

But the Mavericks have a job to do, and that's to beat Nash. While Nelson, Nowitzki, Michael Finley and other veteran Mavericks still would like to have Nash on their side, they know his departure happened for a reason.

They also know that the point guard position has evolved quite nicely. Nobody could replace Nash. But the trio of Devin Harris, Jason Terry and Marquis Daniels, who is handling more and more of the point chores, is a committee that has performed admirably at the point through eight games.

"Everybody's been doing a great job of moving the ball," Daniels said. "All of the point guards are contributing, and we're clicking on all cylinders right now."

Nelson has an affinity for big point guards. At 6-6, Daniels qualifies. Though he's still gimping around on a tender ankle, the second-year guard is doing a lot of the things that made him the rookie surprise of last season.

Terry, meanwhile, had 11 assists off the bench Sunday at Washington. That's not a bad Nash impersonation.

Harris, the rookie drafted No. 5, is making good use of his minutes, which are being limited so as to give him time to grow into a comfort zone.

Tonight, they know the stakes go up against one of the most popular Mavericks in franchise history.

"It's going to get real emotional, I guarantee it," Terry said.

Though everybody with the Mavericks is happy to be 7-1, those who know Nash best still miss him. Nowitzki was asked if he was excited about playing with Nash tonight.

"Play with him?" he said incredulously. "I wish."

DMN Notebook:
Henderson has been a pleasant surprise

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

A vast array of key contributors are responsible for the Mavericks' 7-1 start, but the one who is flying lowest under the radar is one who coach Don Nelson believes deserves as much credit as anybody.

Alan Henderson – essentially a salary-cap throw-in with Jason Terry in the Antoine Walker trade – has become the new Eduardo Najera in the Mavericks' mix.

Sometimes he goes unnoticed. But not by his coaches or the opponent. Sunday's victory over Washington was a prime example. Henderson had seven rebounds in 33 minutes, five on the offensive end. He is averaging 5.6 boards, and most importantly, he is third in the NBA in offensive rebounds per 48 minutes.

And his role defensively has earned him praise, too.

"He was another reason we won [against Washington]," Nelson said. "He allowed us to play Antawn Jamison straight up. Nobody else could stop him before that."

Henderson already has played two more than the six games he played all of last season. He said his back, which cost him nearly all of last year, has been cooperative so far.

Home cooking:

The Mavericks will enjoy a relatively light week with two home games (New York visits Friday) before heading back on the road to Denver.

But the way things went on the 3-1 trip to the East Coast, the Mavericks wouldn't mind keeping the good karma going on the road.

"For me, it's important to win on the road," Josh Howard said. "It lets you know how you are when the playoffs come around if you go into somebody else's house. Winning now is a good sign."