Full-Court Press

Lakers quotables: Phil Jackson

On halftime adjustments: "We shot better. They had so many plays that they feasted on our mistakes. There was a mistake we made and they took advantage of it in the first quarter particularly. In the first half they played awfully well and we were able to sit down and play some defense in the second half."

On Pau Gasol's play: "You know Pau's a great player, both at center and power forward, and we knew this matchup would be a good matchup for us tonight. Dirk's a great shooter and we were able to contain him at least somewhat, and Pau had a big hand in doing that."

On when the game flipped: "I went with the second unit guys a little bit earlier than normal. I let Lamar in there, Jordan in there, Sasha came in there early for Kobe with three-something left in the third quarter. They cut that lead to three points at the end of the third quarter, they really finished strong. That gave us the whole different in the game."

On down the stretch: "I wasn't happy with out execution down the stretch. We were able to survive, with a seven-point lead they cut it down to two. Our execution got a little sloppy, Kobe had to force some shots, we didn't take care of the ball the right way in some of those situations. But our defense stood pretty good."

Mavs quotables: Jason Kidd

On the game: "Coach said after the game if we come with that effort, we definitely can win a lot more games than we have so that's a positive. We played the best team in the league to the last minute and we got stops when we had to, but on the other end, we just couldn't get the ball in the basket."

On getting things turned around: "It is early but at the same time, we have to start putting some wins under our belts. We can learn from this game and understand that we're not that far. We have to stay together and keep fighting."

On getting triple-double: "The stat-thing is secondary. You always want to win. For me, I'm just happy trying to get my teammates the ball in the right position and execute what coach wants. The triple-double doesn't mean anything, especially when you lose."

On pace resulting in turnovers: "We liked the pace of the game. It was a fast pace and we felt that we could run with them. For that, we had some great looks and we had some turnovers, but you're not going to play a perfect game. Sometimes you're going to make some aggressive turnovers and we have to live with them."

Mavs quotables: Jason Terry

On what's keeping Dallas from finishing games: "You have to credit the Lakers. They're an experienced ballclub. They are really playing well this season and they didn't quit. We had a substantial lead there, they kept fighting back and we couldn't hold them off."

On disappointment despite the effort: "Not actually disappointment. When we lose, we're not going to get too down and when we win, we're not getting too high. It's so early in the season right now for us. We just have to take each game and make it a learning experience. Tonight was another one of those - in the fourth quarter, you have to close a good team out like that. We got the stops, but offensively, we just didn't finish them off."

On responding to losing lead: "We just stayed positive. We knew if got stops and got good looks at the basket, we'd have a chance to win the game down the stretch, which we did."

On upcoming stretch and winnable games: "We're seven games in now. You don't win championships in November but we definitely want to start getting the bus rolling."

On 22 turnovers: "I had a couple there where the ball slipped out my hand for one reason or another, but when we play a high, up-tempo pace like that, you're going to have some turnovers. Some worse than others. But for us, we liked the way we played tonight. Just didn't come up with the victory."

On effort and leaving it all on the court: "No doubt. I thought us, the fans, everybody. Everybody was in it until the end and that's the effort we're going to have to play with."

Mavs-Lakers live chat

Green on team's reaction to Dirk

Gerald Green said the team understood Dirk Nowitzki's criticism after Sunday's loss to the LA Clippers. Dirk challenged everyone's effort. 

"I think everybody responded the same way, everybody was like, you know what, that was a true statement," Green said. "I think everybody on this team can take criticism. Sometimes you get guys that get mad about what people say about you and it might be the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts.

"We've got to play with a lot more intensity, with a lot more sense of urgency. It's really an effort thing."

So then how can there be any coasting -- Dirk's words -- this early into the season with a new coach?

"We're still in the first month of the season. I think it's going to happen, man," Green said. 'Right now the Lakers are still undefeated, it's still early. One thing we have to do is we still have a lot of time to turn it around. We really can't wait no sooner than longer, so we just have to play our game the way we've been practicing. We've been having great practices. Tonight's game will be a big test for us."

I think Gerald meant they need to turn things around sooner than later, but point is well-taken.

George cleared to practice

Devean George has finally been cleared to begin practicing, starting slowly with 5-on-0 drills, meaning no contact. George's left hand has been giving him fits since the middle of the preseason. It's something of a freak injury, inflamed ligaments and joints on top of his left hand and also at the top of the palm between the middle and index fingers.

George still couldn't nail down a timetable for his eventual appearance in uniform. Tonight would have been a good time with his former teammate Kobe Bryant in town and Josh Howard likely sitting it out with a banged-up left wrist.

Asked if he thought about urging George to play, coach Rick Carlisle mulled it over and said, "I thought about." As much as he'd like to have George in the rotation, looks like it will still be a few games, at least.

-- Jeff Caplan

Howard unlikely to play tonight

Josh Howard was on the floor with his teammates Tuesday morning during the Mavs' shootaround, but it seems unlikely that he will play. Howard saw a doctor Monday to check out his ailing left wrist, which might be a sprain, might not, but is painful. When asked Howard's status this morning, Carlisle said he might play tonight or it might take a week, meaning he really isn't sure. Howard's pain threshold and his ability to catch the basketball will be the determining factor.

The Mavs will miss him dearly tonight against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Hey, Gerald Green, ready to defend Kobe for 30 minutes?

-- Jeff Caplan

Green to start

Gerald Green will make his first start of the season in place of Josh Howard, who's out with a left wrist injury.

Green started 26 games for the Celtics in 2006-07. This is his 30th career start.

-- Jeff Caplan

Howard won't play

Josh Howard will give his injured left wrist a chance to settle down Sunday. He'll sit out his first game of the season this afternoon against the winless Clippers. Just before the active list was made available, coach Rick Carlisle was non-commital as to who he would start. The choices are veteran Jerry Stackhouse, who's stuck in an awful shooting slump, or exciting youngster Gerald Green.

--Jeff Caplan

Howard could miss Clippers game

Josh Howard has a left wrist injury that forced him out of most of the fourth quarter Friday night. He is not taking part in today's practice at the L.A. Clippers very fancy practice facility and the club hopes he can play tomorrow against the Clippers. He injured the wrist when he took a fall against Cleveland and reported no problems Tuesday in San Antonio. But, the wrist flared up at Denver and several times Howard was in obvious pain.

-- Jeff Caplan