Full-Court Press

Random thoughts from the Mavericks' 102-92 win over Washington

It would make for a great storyline if – with a pack
of Pittsburgh Steeler players watching from a plush suite – the Mavericks
rolled out a steel curtain defense and completely shut down the Washington
Wizards. On this night, it was more like a shower curtain. It was enough to
keep the Wizards from splashing out of their season-long road losing streak.
But that was about it as the Mavericks completed their best homestand since
March of 2008, putting a cap on a 4-0 run at American Airlines Center with a
102-92 victory over Washington Monday night.
 
Tyson Chandler continued his remarkable run of late with 18
points and 18 rebounds, while Dirk Nowitzki threw in 24 points to lead yet
another balanced Mavericks’ attack.
 
And yet, it wasn’t easy. The Wizards fell to 0-24 on
the road this season but were within six points in the fourth quarter before
Nowitzki completed a four-point possession on which Wizards’ coach Flip
Saunders was nailed with a technical foul. That made it 91-81 and the Mavericks
had enough breathing room to survive.
 
It was their fifth win in a row overall and while the
defense was solid, the Wizards didn’t help themselves with some iffy shot
selection. Even with shooting guard Nick Young turning around to talk to the
Mavericks’ bench on a couple of occasions, it seemed the Mavericks were
getting the last laugh as Young shot 6-of-20.
 
It did get a little sticky at the end. The Wizards were back
within 95-91and had the ball with under three minutes to go, but Andray Blatche
threw it out of bounds. Nowitzki scored, then Jason Kidd who narrowly
missed a triple-double with 11 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, hit a
3-pointer from the corner to ice it.
 
The teams exchanged eight-point runs in the third quarter,
after which the Mavericks were up 66-62. When Jason Kidd knocked down a 3-ball
from the corner, it was 72-64 with under three minutes to go in the third. But
the Mavericks could not put away the Wizards, who were within 74-68 going into
the fourth.
 
The Wizards shot 41 percent, were outrebounded by six and
gave up 53 percent shooting to the Mavericks in the first half. Yet the
Mavericks led by just a single point, 50-49.
 
The key was turnovers. The Mavericks had eight of them and
Washington only turned it over once in the first half.
 
Tyson Chandler had a double-double by the break with 13
points and 10 rebounds. He had somewhat of an advantage at the starting center
spot. Washington’s Andray Blatche was 1-of-10 from the field at halftime
with six points and six rebounds.
 
Eddie Sefko
 
 

Tomlin, Steelers in the house

DALLAS _ Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and some of his players attended tonight's game at American Airlines Center between the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards.

There were some cheers -- and a lot of boos -- when the Steelers were shown on the overhead screen.

-- Dwain Price

Mark Cuban: flexibility the key to Pavlovic decision

Mark Cuban explained the thinking behind releasing Sasha
Pavlovic after a pair of 10-day contracts ran out on Saturday.
 
Cuban made it clear that the Mavericks are planning on
getting contributions from Roddy Beaubois and Peja Stojakovic
“soon’’ and that there availability would have rendered
Pavlovic extraneous.
 
“We just wanted the flexibility,’’ he
said. “There’s a risk he gets picked up by somebody else. But if he
doesn’t, we’ll still have that option (of re-signing him for the
rest of the season). We like him. But hopefully Roddy and Peja get back soon
and then he’d just be on the inactive list.
 
“If we end up needing him, hopefully, he doesn’t
get picked up and we can sign him then.
 
“With Roddy and Peja back, whenever that happens,
we’re going to already have to put somebody else on the inactive list. So
there’s no point having somebody who’s not going to play. The
flexibility is there if somebody gets hurt to sign somebody. And if there’s
a trade opportunity, or a buyout opportunity, then there’s
(flexibility).’’
 
Cuban said the Mavericks are not exploring options yet for
players who expect to be bought out by their teams. But the Mavericks are
staying on top of things to see which players might fall into that category.
They have not inquired to any agents about specific players like they did with
Stojakovic, Cuban said.
 
Eddie
Sefko
 

Mark Cuban ready to buy all the drinks for the Green Bay Packers

Mark Cuban held court as he usually does before games and
touched on a variety of subjects, none of which was as funny as his offer to
Green Bay Packer players.
 
Cuban is hosting a party at Victory Plaza on Saturday night
with Usher performing and HDNet and Direct TV helping to promote the
invitation-only event.
 
But the Packers will get special invitations, said Cuban,
who is a lifelong Steelers fan.
 
“The drinks are on me,’’ Cuban said.
“We’ll do shots all night. And it’s a 10-drink minimum. Any
Packer players get in free and all their drinks are free. But there’s a
10-drink minimum.’’
 
Cuban did entertain several Steelers players at the
Mavericks-Wizards game Monday night at American Airlines Center.
 
Eddie Sefko
 

Brian Cardinal gets start at small forward

Brian Cardinal is the starter at small forward tonight.
 
That keeps Shawn Marion and Jason Terry coming off the
bench.
 
Eddie Sefko
 

A week from today could be Roddy Beaubois' time

Neither Peja Stojakovic nor Roddy Beaubois will join the
Mavericks for their trip to New York, Boston and Charlotte.
 
But when the team returns Super Bowl Sunday and gets ready
for the string of games leading up to the All-Star break, Beaubois could be
ready for what coach Rick Carlisle called “heightened activity.’’
 
Not sure what that means, but it sounds better than what we’ve
heard for the last four months about Beaubois.
 
Meanwhile, here’s what Carlisle said about Stojakovic,
who won’t play at least until after the trip that starts Wednesday in New
York:
 
“He hasn’t played since Nov. 26. He’s
going through training camp right now. That’s the way we’re looking
at it. We could throw him into the games, but in our estimation, it wouldn’t
be the right move for him or us. The knee is doing well. It’s
conditioning, it’s strength, it’s integration to some degree and
true, you’re not going to be really integrated until you get in the
games, but he can get a lot of his rhythm by doing individual workouts. Right
noow, we just feel this is the right thing.’’
 
And as for Beaubois?
 
“He’s progressing,’’ Carlisle said. “The
hope is we get back from the trip and he’ll be in position maybe to get
into some heightened activity. We’ll have to see what’s what at
that point.’’
 
Eddie
Sefko
 
 

Who starts at small forward tonight for the Mavs?

DALLAS _ Because they waived Sasha Pavlovic after Saturday's game against Atlanta, the Dallas Mavericks need a new starting small forward.

Coach Rick Carlisle said he hasn't decided whether he'll insert Shawn Marion, Brian Cardinal, Ian Mahinmi or JJ Berea into his starting lineup tonight against Washington, while also juggling a few other spots around.

"I'm going to wait and announce it tonight,'' Carlisle said. "We've got a lot of options.

"With (the Wizards) with their size and athleticism, a lot of possibilities on paper look like they could be effective.''

If the Mavs start Marion, they're going to lose some of the punch they've gotten off the bench lately. Over the past three games, the Mavs' bench has scored 63, 48 and 44 points.

-- Dwain Price

DeShawn Stevenson is the last man standing from Wiz trade

DeShawn Stevenson will be in his usual starting spot at
shooting guard tonight against the Washington Wizards.
 
With Caron Butler out for the season and Brendan Haywood
going through a forgettable year so far, Stevenson is the lone starter left for
the Mavericks from last February’s trade with the Wizards, in which Josh
Howard and others were jettisoned to the Wizards.
 
So how does Stevenson view the Wizards, who are 0-23 on the
road coming into tonight’s tiff?
 
“I was there last year and it pretty much sucks,’’
Stevenson said after the Mavericks’ shootaround this morning. “Oh-and-23,
it’s got to be bad feeling. We got to keep that streak going. We
don’t want to talk it up and they get a win.’’
 
Nobody wants to be the team that surrenders the Wizards’
first road win, right?
 
“No way,’’ Stevenson said. “That or
Cleveland.’’
 
The Cavaliers are on a 20-game losing streak.
 
Stevenson, by the way, still has a lot of friends with the
Wizards, but he admits that he has no desire to relive his moments with
Washington.
 
“Night and day,’’ he said of the trade,
also saying that he went out and celebrated the trade.
 
Eddie Sefko
 

Rodeo trip likely won't bother the Spurs

DALLAS _ Under normal circumstances, the Dallas Mavericks probably would be able to make up some ground on the San Antonio Spurs as the latter embarks on a long road trip.

But in this case, the Mavs are not counting on that luxury.

The Spurs leave today for a nine-game, 18-day road trip while the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo occupies the AT&T Center. The trip covers 8,230 miles and three different time zones.

With the Mavs (31-16) 8 1/2 games behind the Spurs (40-7) in the Southwest Division, Dallas could look at this as an opportunity to make up some much-needed ground on the Spurs. But since the Spurs -- this is their ninth year doing the rodeo trip -- have never had a losing record on the rodeo trip and have never lost back-to-back games on the rodeo trip, the Mavs are looking at the rodeo trip as business as usual for San Antonio.

"I think they’re playing extremely well, so it doesn’t matter if they’re going on a rodeo trip or if they had nine at home,'' point guard Jason Kidd said. "They’re playing well at home and on the road, so for us we can't worry about San Antonio or anybody else.''

After shoot around this morning, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle shrugeed his shoulders when asked about the Spurs' rodeo trip. Then he said: "Just looking at us.''

The Spurs have the league's best home record (25-2) and best road record (15-5). They also are 27-4 against the Western Conference and 15-3 against the East.

San Antonio's road trip includes games against Portland, the LA Lakers, Sacramento, Detroit, Toronto, Philadelphia, Washington, New Jersey and Chicago. Portland, the Lakers and Chicago are the only teams among that group with a winning record, and the Lakers are only 1-5 against the league's power teams.

So, in effect, the rodeo trip could be a blessing in disguise for the Spurs. They are 44-20 since starting the rodeo trips during the 2002-03 season.

By the way, while the Spurs are on the road through Feb. 17, the Mavs play seven on their nine games on the road during that same time frame.

Kidd said: "We've just got to take care of our business and get better and put as much marks in the 'W' column and see what happens at the end.''

-- Dwain Price

Mavs release Sasha Pavlovic

DALLAS _ Shortly after Saturday's 102-91 win over the Atlanta Hawks, the Dallas Mavericks released small forward Sasha Pavlovic.

After the game against the Hawks, Pavlovic's second 10-day contract with the Mavs expired. Thus, under NBA rules, the Mavs either had to sign him to a contract for the rest of the season, or waive him.

The Mavs chose the latter.

"The decision comes down from the top, and it basically involves (player/money) flexibility going forward,'' coach Rick Carlisle said. "I'm sure he's disappointed.

"But I''m also sure he'll hook on with someone else.''

Pavlovic averaged 4.1 points and 16.3 minutes in 10 games for the Mavs. He started six games, and the Mavs were 5-1 in those games.

"He did so much for us, he played hard,'' center Tyson Chandler said. "It was a tough situation coming in just learning the plays and getting thrust into the starting lineup.

"It's always tough when you have a guy come in like that. You welcome him in, you start to get to know him and then all of a sudden you find out he's no longer going to be with you.''

That's the business side of basketball that the players don't particularly care for. And Pavlovic is the latest victim.

"It's the nature of the business, so the only thing you can do is wish him well,'' Chandler said. "I hope he has success in the future. He did his job for us.''

Chandler said the players applaud what Pavlovic did for them under extreme circumstances.

"We all appreciate what he's done for us,'' he said. "He came in and gave us great effort, not only on the floor but in practice putting the extra time in trying to learn the plays.

"And because of him we were able to get back on our winning streak.''

Guard Jason Terry believes Pavlovic's departure may signal the first appearance in a Mavs uniform of Peja Stojakovic, who the Mavs acquired this past Monday.

"I was just stunned (Pavlovic was waived) after the game,'' Terry said. "He's been tremendous for us.

"Not only has he provided a spark defensively in the starting lineup, offensively he's been able to produce and knock down shots. So where do we go from here? We don't know. Hopefully, Stojakovic, this means that he's going to be healthy and he'll be out there soon.''

But coach Carlisle quickly shot that theory down, saying Stojakovic will not only miss Monday's home game against Washington, but probably won't play on the upcoming three-game road trip to New York, Boston and Charlotte.

"It's likely that he will not go on this trip, and that he will stay here and concentrate on conditioning and the physical aspect of getting ready to play,'' Carlisle said after the game. "At that point we believe he will be more ready to step on the court for a game.''

-- Dwain Price