Untitled Page

Dallas Mavericks News

Nowitzki scores 30 points, but Mavericks fall to Pacers
February 4
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Dirk Nowitzki finally rediscovered his shooting touch. Unfortunately for him, his Dallas Mavericks teammates are still looking for theirs. Paul George scored a career-high 30 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the Mavs to the finish line, 98-87, Friday night before a crowd of 20,146 at American Airlines Center. Coupled with Wednesday's loss to Oklahoma City, this is the second time this season the Mavs (14-10) have dropped consecutive games at home. The defending NBA champions opened the season with home losses to Miami and Denver. About the only positive the Mavs can take from Friday's loss was that Nowitzki was able to find his shooting touch. The 10-time All-Star scored a season-high 30"
Cuban, Carlisle fined for separate incidents
February 4
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"In an odd set of circumstances, an NBA owner and coach from the same team got fined on the same day. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and coach Rick Carlisle were each fined by the NBA on Friday for separate incidents involving the same game. The league slapped Cuban with a $75,000 fine for criticizing the referees after Wednesday's 95-86 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Meanwhile, Carlisle was fined $35,000 for kicking a basketball into the stands in the fourth period of that game. "I think it's fair," Carlisle said. "If you're responsible for a ball going into the stands you're subject to a fine. I accept it and regret that situation happened -- even though it was accidentally -- and"
Knee injury, conditioning issues slow Nowitzki
February 3
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"It's been a week since Dallas Mavericks star forward Dirk Nowitzki returned from a four-game sabbatical to get in better shape and rest an injured knee. His jump shot and his game are coming along slowly. Nowitzki has scored just 28 points on 11 of 39 shooting in three games since his return. He will head into tonight's game against the Indiana Pacers following a season-worst 2 for 15 shooting performance in Wednesday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nowitzki said the knee has improved and is no longer swelling after games. But he admits that his confidence has taken a hit, which is in turn affecting his game."
No question Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki has a problem with his legs
February 3
Dallas Morning News
 columnist Corbett Smith
"He's so awkward when you watch him play. There are so many moving parts, elbows and knees going everywhere, he's got a problem with his legs. There's no question he's got a problem with his legs. If Dirk want to test the knee or sit, you got to let him do that. Right now these games are irrelevant; the Mavericks are going to make the playoffs."
No word from NBA on whether Carlisle, Cuban will be fined or penalized
February 3
Dallas Morning News
 
"The fines and any other penalties against coach Rick Carlisle or owner Mark Cuban were put off for at least a day on Thursday by the NBA office. Carlisle is virtually assured of at least a fine for kicking the ball into the seats near the baseline early in the fourth quarter Wednesday."
Mavericks' Marion improved; Haywood, Odom hopeful, not definite
February 3
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Mavericks expect to have Brendan Haywood and Lamar Odom back Friday night. That's particularly good news because the Pacers have emerged as an Eastern Conference force with 7-2 Roy Hibbert as one of their anchors. The Mavericks will need Haywood's bulk against Hibbert. Haywood missed Wednesday's game against Oklahoma City with lower back tightness but was able to go through a brief workout Thursday."
Mark Cuban blasts officiating after loss
February 2
ESPN.com
 
"Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who has paid more than $1 million in NBA fines in large part due to criticizing officiating, couldn't keep biting his tongue. The Mavericks' 95-86 home loss to the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder -- which featured Dallas coach Rick Carlisle's ejection after being called for two separate technical fouls early in the fourth quarter, the second of which was whistled after he inadvertently kicked the ball into the American Airlines Center crowd -- caused Cuban to complain about what he considers an epidemic of poor officiating in this lockout-condensed season. "Look, I haven't said a whole lot about the officiating in a long, long time, but"
Ice-cold Mavs lack finishing kick in loss to Thunder
February 2
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Rick Carlisle started his postgame news conference by apologizing for kicking the basketball into the stands during the fourth quarter of Wednesday's game against Oklahoma City. But the Dallas Mavericks' coach stopped short of apologizing for the way the Mavs played in the second half against the Thunder. In a game that took on an aggressive, playoff-type overtone, the Mavs made just eight field goals in the second half and suffered a 95-86 loss to the Thunder at American Airlines Center. The action was so maddening that Carlisle received his first technical at the 11:33 mark of the fourth quarter for arguing a call, then received his second less than two minutes later."
Carlisle apologizes for kicking ball that hit boy in stands
February 2
Dallas Morning News
 
"Rick Carlisle apologized for his errant kick of the basketball into the baseline seats early in the fourth quarter, a mishap that conked a young boy on the head. The boy's father, by the way, said it was no-harm, no foul, which kept it in line with the rest of the night for the Mavericks. Oh, they made plenty of other poor plays to help lose the game to Oklahoma City, but they also got no favors from the referee crew. "It was an interesting night,'' said Shawn Marion . "He could try out for FIFA. He was right, though. It was an interesting game. It was emotional at times and Rick felt like he needed to make his presence felt."
Mavs' injury list is growing: Haywood, ailing Odom sit; Marion plays through pain
February 2
Dallas Morning News
 
"The infirmary is filling up for the Mavericks. They knew their night against Oklahoma City would be tough when they found they would be without 40 percent of their preferred starting lineup and the reigning sixth man of the year. First, they were without center Brendan Haywood, who sat out because of lower-back tightness. In addition, Lamar Odom, an important cog at times in the Mavericks' abundant group of reserves, was out with a stomach ailment. He had been sent home before the morning shootaround and did not return."
Jason Terry pays homage to Thunder -- sort of
February 2
Dallas Morning News
 
"Jason Terry was the one Maverick who had some offensive spunk on Wednesday night. He also made it clear after the Mavericks' 95-86 loss to Oklahoma City just where things stand in the Western Conference - for the moment. "They're the team to beat,'' Terry said of the Thunder. "They're playing the best right now, and that's fine with us. For the time being, they are the team to beat. And they are playing very well together. Can they be beaten? Yes. They just were the better team tonight.''"
Dirk Nowitzki: 'I'll play for at least two more years'
February 2
Dallas Morning News
 
"Friday, Jan. 27 was a big day for Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavericks superstar didn't play in his team's 116-101 victory over the Utah Jazz that day but he left American Airlines Center with his first NBA championship ring and his sixth La Gazzetta dello Sport Europlayer of the year award. After receiving the award, Nowitzki stated that he wanted to win one more Europlayer crown, which would allow him to pass former Portland Trailblazers center Arvydas Sabonis. And speaking of goals, Nowitzki was also asked about his future in the NBA. "I'll play for at least two more years," he responded."
Delonte West giving Mavericks backcourt punch
February 1
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"From the moment Delonte West signed with the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 13, it didn't take Dirk Nowitzki long to figure out that the Mavs had found their coveted backup point guard. "I was really pleased from the beginning," Nowitzki said. "I thought right away at training camp that Delonte was a good pickup, and he's been great. "Defensively, he's as tough or tougher of a defender as I've seen in this league, or played with, in my 13 years. He can guard [point guards] and [shooting guards], and he's tough on the post.""
Dirk just wasn't ready for NBA season to start
February 1
Dallas Morning News
 columnist Kevin Sherrington
"On whether Dirk's problems so far have been more physical or mental: Sherrington: With Dirk it's always a combination of things. He's a guy who's very regimented and has made himself into the player that he is today. He's a great athlete for a seven-foot guy, but he's very much a made athlete. He's done everything a certain way every year and worked very hard, so I think the fact that they've crammed this season in, he was not expecting it to start when it did and I think that's really thrown him. You watch him in that game against the Spurs and there was a couple of times that he was completely lost on the floor. I think that's not so much a matter of not caring as much as "I'm not ready"
Mavs blow out the Nash-less Suns
January 31
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Rick Carlisle didn't get too carried away with Monday's 122-99 win over the Phoenix Suns. Sure, the Dallas Mavericks shot a spectacular 55.2 percent from the field and tallied a season high in points. But when the Mavs found out that a left thigh contusion would keep Suns point guard Steve Nash on the sidelines, the Mavs knew that was a huge advantage in their favor. The Mavs used that advantage to their advantage en route to pounding the Suns, 122-99, before 13,132 at US Airways Center. "We caught a break with Nash not playing,'' Carlisle, the Mavs' coach, said. "I don't think you can overlook that as a big factor in the game, but we played."
Dirk: This season's starting to feel like last year
January 31
Dallas Morning News
 
"Back on Jan. 5, after the Mavericks were blown out by 22 points in San Antonio and fell to 2-2 for the month, Dirk Nowitzki sized up the team and January's 18-game schedule thusly: "If you look at our schedule, I mean, January's a beast," Nowitzki said that night. "Maybe that's a good thing, get everybody's legs (under them) in January, keep working hard and get through this tough phase with a halfway-decent record. "And then I think we're set up to make a decent push in February, March and April because the schedule lightens up a little." Halfway decent? Dallas finished 13-5 in January. The Mavericks are 14-8 one-third of the way into the 66-game season and they're in first place in the"
Hot start leads to big win, highest-scoring half of the season for streaking Mavericks
January 31
Dallas Morning News
 
"Last Thursday, after going through his first full practice since missing five games with a sprained foot, Mavericks forward Vince Carter made it a point to shake the hands of three Mavericks assistants who remained after practice to put him through extra drills. How many pro athletes do that, never mind a 35-year-old veteran? On Monday night, Carter further showed his gratitude by scoring 15 first-half points against Phoenix, including 3-of-4 shooting on 3-pointers."
Delonte West scores season-high 25 to shoot Mavericks past Suns
January 31
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"There's been a lot of discussions about Rodrigue Beaubois picking up the slack at point guard in the absence of the injured Jason Kidd. Delonte West showed why no one should forget about him, either. West poured in a season-high 25 points Monday night at US Airways Arena as the Dallas Mavericks rolled over the Phoenix Suns 122-99. In his second game back after sitting out Friday's game against Utah with a strained right calf, West made 9 of 12 shots, including 5 of 6 baskets from beyond the 3-point arc. West provided some excitement when he scored underneath the basket at the halftime buzzer, then drilled an 18-footer with 0.4 seconds left on the third-quarter clock to give the Mavs a"
Dirk Nowitzki: My knee 'had a little swelling but I think it's going to be OK'
January 30
Dallas Morning News
 
"Returning from a four-game rest period, Dirk Nowitzki's shot was obviously rusty. But even if he missed every jumper it wouldn't have mattered, Sunday was about seeing if the seven-foot German was closing in on full-strength. Most importantly, Nowitzki, who has been working out twice a day to strengthen his legs and injured right knee, played 38 minutes, helping the Mavericks top the rival San Antonio Spurs in overtime, 101-100, at American Airlines Center. When asked how he felt after playing about five minutes more than head coach Rick Carlisle had planned, Nowitzki said he thought it was obvious."
Mavs-Spurs: Dirk's return, blown leads and a Mavs OT win
January 30
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"In this condensed, 66-game season, the Dallas Mavericks aren't too concerned about style wins. They just want to get them any way they can. The Mavs blew an 18-point third-quarter lead to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, then had to rally from a nine-point deficit to eke out a 101-100 win in overtime at American Airlines Center. The victory enabled the Mavs (13-8) to move into sole possession of first place in the Southwest Division for the first time this season. But the Mavs, who were 0-3 to start this season, don't feel like they're holding down the pole position. "You've got to be careful of watching the standings," said Jason Terry, who scored a season-high 34 points. "If you lose"
Jason Kidd will miss at least a week with injury; Why that's good news for the Mavericks
January 30
Dallas Morning News
 
"Jason Kidd joked that "we're holding the guys back'' when the subject came up of his calf injury and Dirk Nowitzki's time away from the lineup, which ended Sunday. The Mavericks improved to 8-0 in games when either Kidd or Nowitzki or both have missed as they edged San Antonio in overtime Sunday evening. And that wasn't even the best news. Kidd's strained right calf muscle will cost him at least a week. But when it happened, the Mavericks were concerned it might be much worse."
Dirk Nowitzki returns; Jason Kidd out
January 29
ESPN.com
 
"Dirk Nowitzki is back, but Jason Kidd's strained right calf will keep the Dallas Mavericks from finally being whole again for at least another week. Nowitzki was in the starting lineup for Sunday night's showdown against the San Antonio Spurs after his eight-day personal training camp of sorts designed to strengthen his bothersome right knee. Kidd, who was hurt barely two minutes into Friday's 15-point win over the Utah Jazz, received relatively good news about his injury. "It's not real serious, but it's going to take a while," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We're going to say that it's going to be at least a week and it's probably going to be longer.""
Dirk as fat Shaq: Following his owner
January 29
San Antonio Express-News
 columnist Buck Harvey
"Most in the league thought Mark Cuban had it right. Why not play with an eye on the summer of 2012? Enjoy the championship glow. Don't re-sign Tyson Chandler or J.J. Barea, freeing up salary cap space. Try to win with what you have this season. And then get in line for Deron Williams or Dwight Howard or both. It is smart basketball, as well as smart business. Dallas fans, also caught up in the championship glow, aren't about to go away now. But the message drifted down, turning Cuban's best player into Shaquille O'Neal with a German accent. And this isn't what Dirk Nowitzki needed. He already had too many reasons to relax."
Cuban can complain, but Olympic countdown continues
January 29
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Exactly six months from last Friday, an estimated 10,500 athletes from 204 nations will march into the new stadium in east London. Flags will be raised. Anthems will be sung. And Queen Elizabeth II, who last performed this chore 36 years ago in Montreal, will utter the 15 words, officially opening the Games of the XXX Olympiad. I'm going to guess that Mark Cuban won't be watching. Quite the contrary. The owner of the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks made headlines last week when an ESPN website quoted him as calling the NBA's endorsement of the Games' basketball competition "the epitome of stupidity." The crux of Cuban's problem, it seems, is that he and his fellow NBA owners are forced to"
Mavericks' Odom ends slump, says tank isn't empty
January 29
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Lamar Odom is off the hook. For now, anyway. The most valuable off-season acquisition for the Dallas Mavericks, Odom had basically been a shell of his former self since coming over in a Dec. 10 trade with the Los Angeles Lakers. But he broke out of that shell Friday by scoring a season-high 19 points and collecting five rebounds during a 116-101 win over the Utah Jazz. Afterward, Odom deadpanned: "I've got a little left in the tank. I didn't expect to play bad 66 games in a row." The Mavs certainly didn't think it would take 20 games -- almost a third of the season -- before Odom had a breakthrough game. But they've been extremely patient with a player whom they believe can help them"
Quick ... who's NBA's best shot-blocking guard this season?
January 29
Dallas Morning News
 
"If you tried to name the Mavericks' leading shot-blocker and guessed Brendan Haywood, you'd be right. Unless the question is which player is the best at swatting shots in January on a per-minute-played basis. In that case, it's not even close. It's Roddy Beaubois. Yes, the 6-2 guard is averaging 3.03 blocks per 48 minutes played in January. That ranks him 18th in the NBA and No. 1 among guards in the league by a wide margin."
Lamar Odom hopes to build on strong game vs. Jazz
January 29
Dallas Morning News
 
"When a player misses shots, it doesn't necessarily mean he has had a bad game. The same thing goes when the ball is going in the basket. That doesn't automatically signify that somebody is playing great, although that connection is easier to make. Everything looks better when the shots go down. In Lamar Odom's case, he hit seven of 12 shots Friday night, and it made the rest of his game look better."
Vince Carter's return timely with Jason Kidd going down
January 29
Dallas Morning News
 
"Vince Carter was ready to play. He just didn't expect to have to be that ready to play. He got called into the Utah game with barely two minutes gone. Jason Kidd's calf injury forced Carter, who had missed the previous five games with a sprained left foot, into early action. "They called me in a little earlier than I expected, but I felt good," Carter said. "I put a lot of work in trying to make sure my conditioning was somewhat decent. I felt like a kid in a candy store.""
Jazz let game slip away vs. Mavericks
January 28
Salt Lake Tribune
 
"Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor has often said he doesn't buy into the idea Utah is rebuilding, going so far as to state his distaste for the "R" word. Jazz guard Raja Bell joined his GM's side Friday night. Not in body, but in spirit. After Utah watched a two-point deficit late in the third quarter swell to a 116-101 beatdown by the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center, the 12-year veteran said the Jazz clearly have enough talent to win games. Utah proved that by starting a lockout-shortened campaign 9-4, winning eight of nine to become the early-season surprise in the NBA. But while the Jazz have continued to show fight during recent contests, Utah has also failed to"
Mark Cuban: There have been discussions about giving Lamar Odom some time off
January 28
Dallas Morning News
 
"Mark Cuban was so unhappy with what he was hearing on the radio Thursday afternoon that he took to his Twitter account to air a complaint. The outspoken owner of the Mavericks took offense to what was being said about forward Lamar Odom's poor showing through the first 19 games of the season. "Listening to The Ticket radio....total idiots. Absolutely no clue," Cuban wrote. While joining the The Ben and Skin Show [KESN-FM] on Friday, Cuban clarified why he was upset. "The other guys were killing Lamar," he said. "They were just blasting him, and to me, it wasn't true, it wasn't right. It was uneducated." Odom has struggled mightily in his first season with the Mavericks. The 32-year-old,"
Kidd leaves game with strained right calf, adding to Mavs' injury woes
January 28
Dallas Morning News
 
"Add Jason Kidd to the growing list of Mavericks who are injured, ailing, out of shape, under the weather or otherwise incapacitated. Kidd left Friday's game against Utah early in the first quarter with a strained right calf muscle. Kidd was in the paint while Utah's Devin Harris drove to the basket. Kidd didn't appear to get hit and did not hit the deck but came out of the play limping. He left at the next dead ball, with 9:47 to play in the opening period, and went directly to the locker room. He would not return. The injury situation continues to test the Mavericks. Kidd's injury meant both members of the normal starting backcourt were absent for the rest of the game."
Mahinmi ready to practice what's been preached
January 27
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"By all accounts, it's good to be Ian Mahinmi. Now in his fourth season, the 6-foot-11 center had a minimal role in helping the Dallas Mavericks win last year's NBA title. On Wednesday, Mahinmi picked up his sparkling new ring for winning that title. Now, Mahinmi has a baby who's due to arrive in late March. And a wedding that will occur in San Antonio in the summer of 2013. "I had a pretty good year last year and this year is looking good, so I'm going to keep those blessings coming," Mahinmi said. "It's great stuff for me.""
Carlisle still believes in Odom
January 27
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was engaged in an interview with the media today when forward Lamar Odom walked by. "Get 'em off me, coach,'' Odom said. "Get 'em off me, coach." When Carlisle was asked why should the media get off Odom, Carlisle asked: "Why should you be off of Lamar? I don't know, are you on him?'' Actually, Odom has been criticized for not playing up to the fans' expectations. That reached a crescendo during Wednesday's 105-90 home loss to Minnesota when Odom was just 2-of-14 from the field and tallied only five points. "Hey, listen, we believe in Lamar,'' Carlisle said. "This has been a struggle so far, but this guy can play."
Vince Carter practices, nearing return
January 27
Dallas Morning News
 
"Vince Carter turned 35 on Thursday. He also returned to practice after missing five games with a sprained left foot. Carter did not rule out playing Friday night against Utah. Officially, he is listed as questionable. After several days of what he felt was "slow healing," Carter said he was pleasantly surprised Thursday by his ability to plant, cut and jump during some contact scrimmaging."
Nowitzki glad celebrating 'behind us now,' is eager to start 'the new season'
January 27
Dallas Morning News
 
"Nowitzki, by the way, said he got fitted for his championship ring, but the giant piece of jewelry still didn't fit. "I had it fitted for my ring finger, but it was way too big,'' he said. "So I just put it on my middle finger.'' Nowitzki is glad that the ceremonies commemorating the championship are over."
Dirk Nowitzki unsure about return
January 26
ESPN.com
 
"Originally scheduled to miss only four games with a sore right knee, Dallas Mavericks star forward Dirk Nowitzki could possibly be out longer, he said Thursday. Nowitzki, who will miss his fourth game against the Utah Jazz on Friday, spoke to the media for the first time since being sidelined and said he's making progress. Nowitzki said a decision on his return will be made closer to game time before Sunday's matchup against the San Antonio Spurs."
Mavericks receive their rings, and, yes, the party never ends
January 26
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"It's fitting that the night the Dallas Mavericks finally got their much-coveted and long-awaited championship rings, 2011 NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki sat out with a knee injury. It's also appropriate that Minnesota Timberwolves guard J.J. Barea didn't play either in the Mavs' 105-90 loss Wednesday night. Barea, a key member of the championship run, is the reason the Mavs waited until Wednesday to unveil the rings adorned with so much bling (14-karat white gold and 250 total diamonds) that you wonder why owner Mark Cuban even started that silly notion of doing something different than giving out rings."
Shawn Marion: 'This is a game we should have came out and won regardless of the ceremony'
January 26
Dallas Morning News
 
"At times, the American Airlines Center was as loud Wednesday night as it was at any point during the Mavericks' run to a league title last season. And that was before the game even started. Prior to tip-off, the Mavs received their pricey diamond-encrusted rings as a symbol of their 2011 NBA championship. And while the sold out crowd of 20,150 did their best to give the players chills as their names were called off, many were gone by the time the final horn sounded during a surprising 105-90 loss to the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves."
Mavs' title run was costly; team lost $3.9 million, but grew in value
January 26
Dallas Morning News
 
"The price of winning a championship is steep for players. And the owner, too. Along with all the blood, sweat and tears, money is a big factor in winning big. Mark Cuban has always been a big spender and the championship season was no different. He lost money during the title run, although far less than some years. According to Forbes magazine's annual release of franchise valuations, the Mavericks operated at a $3.9 million deficit in the 2010-11 season."
Mavericks coach Carlisle part of a rare feat
January 25
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Rick Carlisle may be part of a very rare feat. But the Dallas Mavericks' coach isn't so sure. Carlisle has won an NBA championship ring as a player in 1986 with the Boston Celtics, and as a coach with the Mavs last year. He also won a CBA championship ring in 1987 with the Albany Patroons as a player. Carlisle knows Phil Jackson won NBA champion rings as a player and a coach, and a CBA ring as a coach. But he doesn't know if anyone has his trifecta. Carlisle said: "I don't think it's a prominently asked Google question.''"
Mavs will have to get over feel-good moment quickly vs. Wolves
January 25
Dallas Morning News
 
"Scouting the Wolves They had won three in a row before losing at home to Houston on Monday, 107-92. The game was noteworthy because Kevin Love was not the leading rebounder in the game. Houston's Samuel Dalembert had 15 boards to 12 for the Wolves' rebounding machine. ... Love punctured the Mavericks for 25 points and 17 rebounds on Jan. 1 in the Wolves' 99-82 win in Minnesota. That was just their second win in the last 20 meetings with the Mavs . ... Love is second in the league behind Dwight Howard at 13.9 rebounds per game. ... Since their first meeting, young star-in-waiting Ricky Rubio has moved into the starting spot at point guard. He's averaged 9.5 assists over the last six games"
Cuban says Nowitzki hurt by lockout
January 24
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Mark Cuban has heard the whispers of people talking about the decline of his franchise player, Dirk Nowitzki. But the Dallas Mavericks owner brushes it aside like he does so many frivolous business deals that come his way. From Cuban's standpoint, the NBA lockout prevented Nowitzki from doing his normal off-season routine to prepare for the ensuing season."
Mark Cuban 'diminished, insulted' Mavs title team by suggesting this year's squad could be better
January 24
Dallas Morning News
 columnist David Moore
"Moore: If he had said this back in 2006 or 2007, I might buy his argument a bit. But to diminish a championship team by saying, "We're going to bring three guys into the nucleus and we're going to be better than what we were last year," to me, is an insult to what that team accomplished and what those individuals accomplished."
Mark Cuban: discount everything 'til playoffs, including Dirk's knee
January 24
Dallas Morning News
 
"Mark Cuban said Monday evening he is "not even a little bit'' concerned about Dirk Nowitzki's physical condition and that anybody who puts stock in events like this one is headed down a bad path in this shortened season. "There's nothing you can take from anything that happens in this season,'' he said. "Absolutely nothing. Nothing.''"
Dirk Nowitzki's rehab could go longer than four games
January 24
Dallas Morning News
 
"Rick Carlisle stressed again tonight before the Mavericks played Phoenix that Dirk Nowitzki is working harder in his weeklong rehab assignment than he would be if he were playing games. And he also said the boot camp could last longer. "To be clear, again, he had two workouts today and there are going to be multiple workouts on most days,'' said Carlisle, who also mentioned that strategic physical recovery periods will be utilized. "We'll see what's what after four games and if he's not ready after four games, then we may extend this thing.''"
Mavs ride Marion's season high 29 points past Suns
January 24
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Shawn Marion made Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle sound like a prophet. Two days after Carlisle described him as his best player, Marion poured in a season-high 29 points to pace the Mavs to a 93-87 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Marion converted 11 of 21 shots, including back-to-back 3-point baskets that gave the Mavs a 70-55 lead with 4:41 remaining in the third quarter. "Shawn was great tonight," Carlisle said. "A lot of the plays he made were ones that were very kindly -- late clock. "The 3s that he hit in the third quarter were huge. Every night we're going to need somebody to step up big, and tonight he was the big star.""
Consistency is key for Mavericks' Beaubois
January 23
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"None of Rodrigue Beaubois' teammates questions his raw abilities. They've seen him accomplish some amazing feats during his two-plus seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. To a man, the Mavs just want to see Beaubois accomplish those feats on a more consistent basis. And they believe if he does, he could eventually become one of the top point guards in the NBA. "That's the word on the street, is if he can do it every game," guard Jason Terry said. "That's definitely what we're trying to get him to do. "But he's been watching more film with [developmental coach] Darrell [Armstrong], and he's taking the game a lot more seriously, realizing that his opportunity may be right now, and that's good."
Mavericks on Dirk's upcoming conditioning week: 'He needs to work hard and he will'
January 23
Dallas Morning News
 
"OK, Dirk Nowitzki has never set any speed records, but his game has evolved to include face-up moves to the basket. That's one of the things that was lacking in his game early this season and why he is going through a weeklong conditioning program. "I couldn't go by anybody off the dribble and that's part of my game right now," Nowitzki said. "I was just a pop-up shooter because I couldn't make a move and get by anybody. So that's something I got to work on this week, putting the ball on the floor and getting comfortable and getting confidence in my leg strength and getting that back and get back to being myself.""
Jason Kidd won't let team limp through Nowitzki-less stretch
January 23
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Mavericks will not be in the business of holding the fort down during Dirk Nowitzki's absence. Jason Kidd doesn't embrace that idea and he doesn't want his teammates thinking like that, either. "We got to go out and win games," Kidd said. "We're not trying to hold anything. We're trying to get better as a team and when he gets back, it'll just make us that much stronger.""