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EricaLubarsky · 10-22-2004, 01:54 AM

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Dan Dickau sat out after spraining his left ankle in Thursday's shootaround

Crap. Things are rough, aren't they?

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"That's my game – run, run, run," the 7-foot Congan said. "My favorite players are Hakeem Olajuwon for offense and Dikembe Mutombo for defense. I try to play like both of them."

How can you not like this guy? I mean, seriously.

sike · 10-22-2004, 01:58 AM

well, I like his idols anyway.....I still can't wait to see DJ(along with JT, Damp, Harris) play...sounds like a true diamond in the rough.

EricaLubarsky · 10-22-2004, 02:25 AM

post game quotes
Postgame pressconference (warning, bad sound)

Mavericks Guard Avery Johnson
It was a great win for us tonight. It all started with our defense. Our transition defense was really good tonight. Nellie talked about getting back into transition defense before the game. Our centers were really good tonight. Dampier and Mbenga were really good tonight. Jason Terry had a hot start for us. Josh (Howard had a big third quarter. I’m really proud of our defense.

On the diffference between this year and 2002-2003
I think that year, that defense was middle of the pack. Last year they fell off. We have to get back to the middle of the pack, at least. Then we can build from there. The preseason numbers aren’t good. We had a terrific practice yesterday and a great shootaround today. The main thing coach talked about today was carry over. We’ve had too many good practices, but when we get into the game we let people go where they want to go. I think Coach Nelson did a great job of challenging the guys in that area.

On being surprised by DJ:
We are somewhat surprised in certain situations. We knew he had a high talent level. He has some raw skills that you can’t teach. He’s strong, athletic and can run like a gazelle. He’s moving up the charts. We’ve talked about him possibly being our 4th center and that didn’t sit well with him and I like that attitude.

Mavericks Center Calvin Booth
What improvements did you see in the win tonight?
Defensively, we had some real good stretches and it's showing that our hard work is paying off.

What areas on offense seemed to click tonight?
You're not seeing as many turnovers as you did three games ago when we started the preseason and that's definitely a good thing.

Are you guys still trying to get the feel for each other?
Jason (Terry) is really starting to settle in and get his groove going shooting the ball. He's not making as many mistakes and really playing the way he is capable of. He's going to make this engine go along with Mike (Finley) and Dirk (Nowitzki).

Does this feel like Nellie basketball?
It's getting more similar, but we're throwing the ball away a little too much early on to look like Nellie basketball. His style is really getting up and down and taking care of it and trying to have fun. This style is great for me, a perfect fit for me.

Knicks Head Coach Lenny Wilkens
On the defensive breakdowns of his team:
The breakdowns come because we don’t talk on the defense. We talk in practice, then you have to take it from the practice court to the game. I don’t see us doing that yet. We need to talk, we need to block out, and we need to be really unselfish just like we are in practice. Don’t feel like whenever the ball comes to you, you have to be the guy to make it happen. If you are missing shots, you have to slow the game down because you are not getting back on defense.

On if the team is not sharing the ball since only Stephon Marbury had any assists:
Some of it. Some of it is holding the ball too long ad the clock goes down. Some of it is because we don’t set people up to make good cuts.

Knicks Forward Tim Thomas
On if getting blown out in the preseason is cause for concern:
It’s preseason and we have to correct that. This is basically what these games are for. You have to see where mistakes are made and try to go in and correct them. We know we can score the basketball. It is just a matter of going out and playing defense.

grndmstr_c · 10-22-2004, 03:39 AM

Quote:

On being surprised by DJ:
We are somewhat surprised in certain situations. We knew he had a high talent level. He has some raw skills that you can’t teach. He’s strong, athletic and can run like a gazelle. He’s moving up the charts. We’ve talked about him possibly being our 4th center and that didn’t sit well with him and I like that attitude.

I'm loving that bit.

endtroducing · 10-22-2004, 12:20 PM

hopefully marquis's ankle isn't troy hudson style...

DevinHarriswillstart · 10-22-2004, 12:33 PM

I have to say only one thing about last night's game.......

GO MAVERICKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bookit · 10-22-2004, 01:48 PM

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Originally posted by: endtroducing
hopefully marquis's ankle isn't troy hudson style...

No kidding. I am stressed about Marquis. We haven't heard enough positive comments regarding Marquis' progress.

dude1394 · 10-22-2004, 04:50 PM

Mbenga is very,very quickly turning into a fan favorite. He just flies up and down the court and works his tail off trying to get to everything. Really a joy to watch...

Jason Terry was much better last night but he was probably best when having someone else handle it. He doesn't finish at the hoop nearly as well as nash does. He could really use a floater.

Watching booth play power forward instead of dirk is quite interesting. I really can't wait to see dirk/dampier working the high-low... Dirk may average 30 if he gets the shots that booth was getting.

Harris is the real deal and will play a lot this year, very good court presence and poise. I'd actually like to see him a little MORE selfish on the break as he dished it off a couple of times when I think he could have taken it on in.

EricaLubarsky · 10-22-2004, 05:14 PM

did you get to see them play?

sike · 10-22-2004, 05:14 PM

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Jason Terry was much better last night but he was probably best when having someone else handle it. He doesn't finish at the hoop nearly as well as nash does. He could really use a floater.

come now, dude, he has shown drastic improvement the last two games....having six dimes in each(no Dirk)...lets wait and see if he starts finishing better around the hoop.

dude1394 · 10-22-2004, 05:26 PM

No disagreement there. But he looked more like a shooting guard. Just comparing Devon and Jason together, jason looked more bobby jacksonish to me while Devon seemed to have more pure PG instincts. They actually play pretty well together.

I like his defense and he's quick (not as quick as harris however). Knicks stunk it up last night, it was hard to gauge anything against them.

dude1394 · 10-22-2004, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: EricaLubarsky
did you get to see them play?

Yes...I've been at the arena the first two games. I will have to miss the next three (HOME OPENER!!! dammit) however..

sike · 10-22-2004, 05:31 PM

I've heard twice on the radio that TJ is faster from end to end, but that Harris is quicker from side to side...did you see enough to confirm or deny this, dude?

dude1394 · 10-22-2004, 05:42 PM

I would be hard pressed to say that TJ is faster in any aspect than harris. Harris looks quicker all around. I also think he has better handles. TJ is good, but harris seems to be more natural and fluid.

He's gonna be a keeper for sure, TJ better play well, the only think keeping devon our of the lineup will be mistakes and 3pt shooting. TJ looks like he has a better shot when open. That's sort of why they look pretty good together.

I'm not saying TJ ISN'T quick and fast. Just that devon really is exceptionally quick it seems.

sike · 10-22-2004, 05:45 PM

thanks for the insight dude. You suck less now.

dude1394 · 10-22-2004, 05:46 PM

Dang.... You are abrasive sike. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

sike · 10-22-2004, 05:51 PM

I'm as hardcore as they come bro! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

The Miles · 10-22-2004, 05:58 PM

Is TJ Jason Terry or are we talking about Jason Terry? I think Devin, at least in college, was faster than I have seen Jason be in college or Atlanta.

I can't wait till Sunday to see them on TV.

dude1394 · 10-22-2004, 06:16 PM

Yea it's JT(or JET as they are now calling him at the arena) ....Sike is dyslexic as well as abrasive. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

sike · 10-22-2004, 06:22 PM

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Originally posted by: dude1394
Yea it's JT(or JET as they are now calling him at the arena) ....Sike is dyslexic as well as abrasive. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

I just like to keep 'em wondering....

I do really like this team 1-5. They are two deep at least every position...But I love the point guard spot..there is great potential there.

dude1394 · 10-22-2004, 06:31 PM

I don't know as I haven't seen it yet. Not having daniel's and dirk in the lineup makes it a much scrappier, but mediocre bunch. Mike is shooting it well but he's starting to look more like a spot-up shooter only. JET is an energizer bunny out there, he had the microphone last night talking about bringing the "D" back to big D. Then they did go out and do it against the knicks, but they looked very poor.

The center position is unbelievably better. Shawn really DOES look like the 4th center on the team. Booth is looking like a below average power forward and henderson looks adequate. So our second power forward position will be adequate. But our second PG off the bench and stackhouse, howard are going to be a handful.

sike · 10-22-2004, 07:39 PM

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Mike is shooting it well but he's starting to look more like a spot-up shooter only.

not hating on the guy(and not that this is a new opinion), but I would contend that he has basically been a jump shooter for the past two seasons, so this does not come as a big letdown. There is nothing wrong with having a premier shooter like a Miller or Kerr...you just don't want to pay Max money for that guy..go ask the Knicks.

The Miles · 10-23-2004, 03:19 AM

Great point Sike. As time goes on Finley will start becoming our version of Reggie Miller as the newer stars like Daniels and Howard take over the starting swing spots.

EricaLubarsky · 10-23-2004, 10:30 AM

he went from .339 to .370 to .405 last year. If he can notch another year of improvement, he will be very significant three point shooter. As it is 40.5 is very fine.

V2M · 10-23-2004, 12:32 PM

I agree. Fin's contract is what it is... big & ugly!! But if he can keep improving his shot and keep providing veteran leadership, I'd be quite happy. He's still so much better than so many other knuckleheads with max contracts around the league.

Scoobay · 10-23-2004, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: EricaLubarsky
he went from .339 to .370 to .405 last year. If he can notch another year of improvement, he will be very significant three point shooter. As it is 40.5 is very fine.

yeah, 40% on 3's = 12 points for every 10 shots. You'd have to shoot 60% on your two point shots to equal that so 40% is great.

Scoobay · 10-23-2004, 02:01 PM

double post