Full-Court Press

Rev up the plane

The game is a goner. The Mavericks are down 87-64 with 8:14
left.
 
But the good news is that if you want to watch the end on
television, Ch. 21 is having Shawn Marion on the show for the rest of the game.
 
Might be good for some chuckles.
 

Chandler gets two stitches

Tyson Chandler needed a couple of stitches on his right
thumb to close up the gash he suffered late in the first half. He’s going
to sit out the rest of the game.
 
According to a team official, Chandler was in a good mood
and it didn’t appear that the injury would keep him sidelined beyond the
time when he can play without the stitches getting torn.
 

Chandler leaves with gash

Tyson Chandler was trying to block a Dwight Howard layup and
sliced open his right hand on the rim in the final 30 seconds of the first
half.
 
Chandler started bleeding on the court and the game was
stopped. He went with athletic trainer Casey Smith to the locker room and it
was not certain whether he’ll have stitches put in or not.
 
Meanwhile, the Mavericks have crept back to within 47-45 at
halftime.
 
Chandler was having a solid all around game with eight
points and four rebounds in 13 first-half minutes.
 

And the Mavericks' defense rests

The Magic shot 55 percent in the first quarter and rolled up
31 points and a 10-point lead.
 
The Mavericks are fighting back iearly in the second, having
trimmed the deficit in half. But this is not the kind of start coach Rick
Carlisle was interested in.
 
The defense was particularly bad in the paint, where Dwight
Howard had 10 points, five rebounds and made all four of his shots.
 

Fast times in Orlando

Rick Carlisle was talking about Orlando center Marcin Gortat
before tonight’s game and has fond memories of the recruiting trip he
made to visit the then-free agent last summer.
 
The Mavericks thought they had him signed, but the Magic
unexpectedly matched the offer the Mavericks made.
 
“I came down here and had a great recruiting trip,’’
Carlisle said. “He let me drive his car. It could go 220 mph. At one
point, he said: put the pedal all the way down to the bottom.’’
 
Carlisle wouldn’t divulge his top-end speed, although
he acknowledged it may have been a shade over the local speed limits in
Orlando.
 
The Mavericks would have a markedly different look these
days if the Gortat signing had happened. Most likely, Brendan Haywood and Tyson
Chandler wouldn’t be with the team.
 
“It didn’t work out,’’ Carlisle
said. “We wish him the best. He still stays in touch with me. He’s
a terrific guy.’’
 

Mavs sit a couple heavy lifters

Shawn Marion and Jason Kidd are on the sideline tonight.
 
Coach Rick Carlisle said everybody on the roster, with the
exception of Roddy Beaubois, will be available Friday in the preseason finale
against Houston.
 
Replacing Kidd in the lineup is Jason Terry, who will be
joined in the backcourt by local hero Dominique Jones.
 

Mavericks to get a preseason test

ORLANDO _ Meaningful preseason game is an oxymoron.
 
But as these exhibitions go, the Mavericks will have one
tonight at the new Amway Center arena that should get their pulse running
closer to a regular-season rate.
 
The Orlando Magic are 6-0 in the preseason and possess the
best center in the league in Dwight Howard.
 
“These guys are playing way better than anybody in the
entire league right now,’’ coach Rick Carlisle said. “They
have a 25-point differential (average winning margin) and they haven’t lost
a game in three years in the preseason. They’re a 60-win team so
they’re one of the top four teams in the league, for sure. It’s a
good time to play a team of that caliber.’’
 
A couple of regulars may sit tonight to keep them fresh for
the regular season, which starts a week from today.
 
“We’re going to continue to look at some
different stuff and different lineups,’’ Carlisle said. “Tonight’s
another step in the process.’’
 

Mavericks to give McCants a look-see

The Mavericks will bring in Rashad McCants for the final
days of training camp and the last preseason game to see if the former
first-round draft pick can earn a spot on the final roster.
 
“He’s a talented young player who can do a lot
of things,’’ president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said.
 
McCants, who turned 26 last month, has averaged 10 points in
four NBA seasons. He averaged 14 points in 2007-08 with Minnesota. He did not
play in the NBA last season and has had an unfortunate run of problems that
have helped keep his career from getting back on track.
 
The 6-4 guard, who won a national championship while at
North Carolina, arrives on a non-guaranteed contract after sitting out last
season, when the Mavericks, among others, considered bringing him into camp. He
was offered a spot on Cleveland’s summer league team, but an illness to
his mother reportedly kept him out of action.
 

Beaubois to miss start of season

Roddy Beaubois, the Mavericks’ injured guard, remained
in a protective walking boot at the Mavericks’ corporate golf outing
Monday afternoon and it’s safe to say now that he’s going to miss
the start of the regular season.
The Mavericks have been careful not
to have any timetable for Beaubois’ return, but he’s clearly not
going to play in the last two preseason games. It could be a couple more weeks
before he gets on the floor. He’s been recovering from left foot surgery
in early August and the Mavericks have been adamant that they will be cautious
with the second-year player’s recuperation.
Beaubois had what president Donnie
Nelson termed “a very productive meeting’’ with team
physician Dr. T.O. Souryal on Monday.
“We will continue to take a
conservative approach and keep the long-term interests for Roddy in
mind,’’ Nelson said.

Dirk's twin? You be the judge

OK, maybe it’s just the hair.
 
Actually, it’s most likely only the hair.
 
But at first glance, doesn’t it seem like Ed Roland,
the lead singer for Collective Soul, is a close cousin or maybe even a twin of
Dirk Nowitzki?
 
You can see for yourself at this link: http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Collective_Soul/gallery/Collective-Soul-a03/
 
By the way, the band put on one outrageous show Sunday on
the final day of the State Fair. For 90 minutes, they rocked the place. Almost
made me forget about having to shell out 22 coupons for a corny dog and a beer.