Full-Court Press

Former Maverick Mark Aguirre falls ill at gym

Mark Aguirre is in the
critical care unit at The Medical Center of Plano and in serious condition
after he fell ill late Wednesday morning at a Plano-area fitness facility and
was hospitalized.
 
Aguirre, one of the greatest
players in Mavericks’ history, apparently was working out on a treadmille
when he became ill. Another club patron said that he apparently lost consciousness
and hit his head when he fell off the treadmill.
 
Aguirre was taken to the hospital,
and a representative confirmed that he was at the facility.
 
Several Maverick employees
were getting information as practice ended early Wednesday afternoon. They had
been told that he “was OK’’ although no other details were
available.
 
Aguirre was at the Life Time
Fitness in Plano and rescue workers arrived quickly and had him breathing into
an oxygen mask, according to a member of the gym. Aguirre works out at the club
frequently, according to other patrons.
 
Aguirre played 7 ½ seasons
for the Mavericks in the ‘80s before being traded to Detroit, where he
was part of two championship teams. Aguirre still has the Mavericks’
single-season scoring record of 2,330 points (29.5 points per game) in the
1983-84 season.
 
Aguirre has been an assistant
coach with New York and Indiana since his retirement as a player in 1994.
 
Eddie Sefko
 

Aguirre "OK'' according to Mavericks

The Mavericks have received word that Mark Aguirre is “OK’’
after a medical incident this morning at a Plano-area fitness club.
 
Aguirre apparently was sent to a hospital, but it remains
unknown what caused him to be taken there.
 
Eddie Sefko
 

Former Maverick Mark Aguirre falls ill at gym

Mark Aguirre, one of the greatest players in Mavericks’
history, apparently fell ill late Wednesday morning at a Plano-area fitness
facility and was hospitalized.
 
It was unknown what caused him to become ill while working
out.
 
Several Maverick employees were getting sketchy information
as practice ended early Wednesday afternoon. One staffer received a text
message saying that Aguirre had been taken to a hospital.
 
Aguirre played 7 ½ seasons for the Mavericks in the ‘80s
before being traded to Detroit, where he was part of two championship teams.
Aguirre still has the Mavericks’ single-season scoring record of 2,330
points (29.5 points per game) in the 1983-84 season.
 
Aguirre has been an assistant coach with several teams since
his retirement as a player in 1994.
 
Eddie Sefko
 

Persistence will be the theme from here on for Mavericks

Rick
Carlisle had a strong message for his team at practice on Tuesday: Just because
they may not be a big, imposing team doesn’t mean they can’t have
fight.

Persistence
was the word of the day. And it will be the word for the rest of the season,
Carlisle said.

“We
just got to work on being as persistent as possible,’’ he said.
“Even if you aren’t the most physically bruising team,
there’s nothing that says you can’t be the most persistent team.
And that’s what we got to do.’’

To
that end, they are working on a commitment that extends to both ends of the
court that will feature a hard-nosed attitude going into the final 12 games of
the season.

Asked
about whether persistence was more critical defensively, Carlisle said:

“It’s
an overall game. We got to be persistent with our running, our screening, our timing
of things offensively. If you’re going to gauge which end it’s most
important on is, yeah, it’s probably more important defensively. But
it’s no less important offensively.

“Based
on the Golden State game and our practice today, we’re trending in the
right direction. But this is the kind of thing that you don’t talk about,
you do it. I can talk about the importance of it, but then we have to put it in
action in games. And that’s what we intend to do.’’

The
injury situation seemed to be improving. Shawn Marion (right wrist, left ribs)
was able to practice and though Peja Stojakovic still is getting treatment for
neck issues, he too went through practice.

As
for the theme of the practice? You guessed it.

“A
lot of defensive stuff, we need to work on our screening offensively, and
finishing off plays is one of the things that’s going to define how good
a team we are and how persistent a team we are,’’ Carlisle said.
“We’re the kind of team that we’re skilled, we’re
experienced. But skill and experience aren’t going to get us where we
want to go. We have to be the most persistent team going. And that’s a
mindset and we’re really focusing in on that.’’

Eddie
Sefko

 

Jason Kidd's Casino Night a huge hit for charity

When
Jason Kidd throws a party, people come – especially when it’s for a
good cause.

So
when he put together his Celebrity Casino Night on Monday to benefit worthy
charities in Oakland and Dallas, you just knew it was going to be a huge
success. And it was.

When
Herschel Walker, Tony Dorsett and Dirk Nowitzki all arrive in the same place,
you know it’s a party.

The
guest list was long and impressive. All of the Mavericks were along for the
party, including the coaching staff. It helped that the Mavericks were having a
full day off amid a three-day break between practices.

“This
is a great time,’’ Tyson Chandler said.

Kidd
said he knew what needcd to be done when it came to raising money for KIPP-DFW,
Vogel Alcove and the Northern Light school in Oakland. He went to his
teammates’ wheelhouse.

“I’ve
been to a lot of charity events, so we tried to do something
different,’’ he said. “It’s usually either golf or a
sit-down dinner. We thought we’d do something that I know my teammates
like to do – play cards – and at the same time raise money for the
two schools.’’

So
Kidd rented out The Apartment in the Design District and about 200 people
ponied up to play blackjack, roulette, craps and have a Texas Hold-‘Em
tournament.

And,
just to prove that the poker game wasn’t rigged, assistant coach Monte
Mathis was the last man standing, beating team psychologist Don Kalkstein.
According to legend, Mathis had never played Texas Hold-‘Em before, which
now means that he’s either used up all his luck or is moving to Vegas.

The
coolest part of the night was seeing the Mavericks in a social setting, with
their wives or girlfriends and everybody talking about everything except
basketball.

Actually,
the coolest part was that $125,000 was raised for the prep schools, which will
get to spend the money as needed on mentoring, tutoring and technology
programs.

By
the way, Kidd turns 38 on Wednesday and while the Casino Night was an early
birthday present to himself, he said he doesn’t feel a day over …
uh, 38. Except sometimes.

“Some
nights I feel a little older than 38,’’ he said. “But I feel
good.’’

That’s
the way you’re supposed to feel after good deeds like Monday’s
event.

Eddie
Sefko

 

Smart remembers his game-winning shot in 1987

DALLAS _ Some 24 years ago, Keith Smart was on top of the college basketball world.

While playing for Indiana, Smart buried the game-winning shot to lead the Hoosiers to a dramatic 74-73 triumph over Syracuse in the 1987 NCAA national championship game. It's a shot Smart, now coach of the Golden State Warriors, will never forget.

It also was a shot that can settle all conversations regarding the NCAA tournament whenever Smart talks college basketball with his players.

"That’s my conversation stopper,'' Smart said Sunday before his team played the Dallas Mavericks. "When I was in it we won it. That shut them up pretty quick.’’

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@DwainPrice

 

Nowitzki may play in Germany during the lockout

DALLAS _ Dirk Nowitzki said he’ll probably go home and play for Germany this summer if the NBA has an extended lockout.

A lockout is not at what Nowitzki wants. However, if it happens the Dallas Mavericks’ all-star forward said he will likely play for his native Germany and try and help them qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.

“We have that this summer if we’re locked out,’’ Nowitzki said of Germany trying to qualify for the Olympics. “I know if it’s going to be a little longer (lockout) and I don’t have anything going anyway, so I might as well stay in shape and play.

“But that all depends on how this season plays out. If we have a long run until June, I might not. I might talk to (Mavs owner Mark) Cuban and see what’s up, see what his thoughts are on it, so we’ll just have to wait and see.’’

The current NBA collective bargaining agreement expires July 1, with the two sides miles apart on a new deal. For Nowitzki, it’s a pure case of been there, done that.

Nowitzki is one of the few players who went through an NBA-mandated lockout before he played his very first NBA game. Shortly after Nowitzki was drafted in June of 1998, the NBA locked out its players when it failed to reach an agreement with the players’ association on a new collective bargaining agreement.

The players remained locked out until the season finally started on Feb. 5, 1999. But during the lockout, Nowitzki stayed in Germany and played for his hometown team while keeping in shape.

“That was a tough situation for me,’’ Nowitzki said after Sunday’s game against the Golden State Warriors. “I didn’t know what was going to happen.

“The only good thing was I didn’t have a contract yet and I was able to play in Germany and keep in shape and get better and work out, so that was good.’’

But it also was frustrating, because Nowitzki had waited a long time to become an NBA player. And now he had to wait even longer.

“It was weird,’’ Nowitzki said. “I would check basically on the Internet every day what’s going on.

“When they said the All-Star game was cancelled everybody thought they might cancel the whole season. From one day to the next they said the season’s saved, come on over, and the Mavericks called me the next day so I had to come over, so it was a weird time.’’

What also was weird for Nowitzki and the players was the league hammered out a 50-game schedule for the 1998-’99 season that included occasionally playing three games in three days. It’s a concept that had never happened before.

“We had back-to-back-to-back, which you obviously don’t have in a long (82-game) season, so it was a weird time,’’ Nowitzki said. “But hopefully we can find a way to kind of resolve this a little earlier and not have a shorten season and still hopefully find a good way for the owners and for the players.

“That way we can still have an 82-game season, but it doesn’t look good right now. But things can change in a meeting or two meetings. Within a day or two, things can change, so we just have to wait and see what happens this summer.’’

Nowitzki has stood idly and watched the NFL lock out its players recently when they failed to reach an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. The 13-year veteran is holding out hope that the same thing won’t happen to the NBA players.

“I don’t really know much about that whole business side, so I’ll let the pros handle all that,’’ Nowitzki said. “But I’m sure there is a way for both sides out there. You just have to find the middle way.

“Nobody can be stubborn. It’s always a give and take, and hopefully they can find a middle way for everybody.’’

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@DwainPrice

Nowitzki keeping his summer options open

Dirk
Nowitzki would like to play for the German national team this summer if the NBA
has a lockout. But there is one scenario in which he would gladly forego
helping Germany make the 2012 Olympics in London.

 

“That
all depends on how this season plays out,’’ Nowitzki said after the
Mavericks’ 101-73 win over Golden State Sunday night. “If we have a
long run to June, I might not. Everything’s kind of up in the air with
the lockout.’’

 

That
would be just fine with Mavericks’ ownership, management and fans. But
anything short of a long playoff stay and Nowitzki reiterated his desire to
help his national team.

 

“If
we’re locked out, I might play this summer,’’ he said.
“We have a qualification coming up for the Olympics again. The Olympics
for me in Beijing were so much fun. They were a blast. I’d love to go to
London, but we have to qualify for it first. We have that this summer, (and) if
we’re locked out and I know it’s going to be a little longer and I
don’t have anything going anyway, I might as well stay in shape and
play.’’

 

Nowitzki
is a veteran of lockouts. The last one that shortened an NBA season was in
1998-99, his rookie season. He was drafted and joined the Mavericks, but
didn’t have a contract until after the lockout ended in January.

 

For
that reason, he was able to continue playing with his German pro team to stay
in shape.

 

Eddie
Sefko

 

Quick thoughts on the Mavericks' 101-73 whipping of the Warriors

The Mavericks clinched a playoff berth with the win and Utah’s
loss to Houston.
 
The Mavericks needed a routine win and they were able to salt
away the Warriors by early in the fourth quarter. Peja Stojakovic returned from
a six-game absence with 17 points and looked like he was taking target practice
from 3-point range when he started the second quarter with three consecutive
trifectas.
 
The Mavericks escaped from a 69-61 lead to make 90-68 midway
through the fourth quarter as Roddy Beaubois hit a 3-pointer.
 
Tyson Chandler had been fighting doldrums that had been
brought on partly by foul troubles in recent games. He kissed those problems
goodbye Sunday night with a dominating performance in the paint. Basically, he
did to the small, non-physical Warriors what a big, strong center should do. He
manhandled them. Chandler had 17 rebounds and seven points – all through
three quarters – to quiet any questions about whether he was entering a
slump at the wrong time with the playoffs only a dozen games away.
 
The centers were huge. In addition to Chandler, Ian Mahinmi
had a career-best 13 rebounds.
 
Dirk Nowitzki had 20 points, also accumulated through three
quarters, and it was a mystery why he was still on the court until 5:04 was
left in the game. Rick Carlisle had a chance to keep him below 28 minutes, but
Nowitzki instead played 31. That’s not bad, but it was about three or
four more than needed.
 
On the plus side, Jason Kidd was needed for only 25 minutes.
 
The Mavericks now are 49-21 and can earn their 11th
consecutive 50-win season Thursday against Minnesota.
 
The Warriors’ 73 points was just one better than their
season-low, which came at Milwaukee.
 
Eddie Sefko
 

Chandler, Smith embody what U.S. national basketball team is all about

It was a quick ceremony, so we feel compelled to give Tyson
Chandler and Casey Smith their proper due after they received their world
championship rings at halftime of Sunday night’s game against the
Warriors.
 
Chandler was a center for the U.S. team that won it all in
Turkey last summer. A USA Basketball representative was on hand to give the
pair their championship rings.
 
Smith, the Mavericks’ athletic trainer who is one of
the most highly regarded in the business, worked in the same capacity for the
U.S. team and will be a member of the team that goes to the Olympics in London
in 2012.
 
Smith’s role in helping the Mavericks figure out that
Chandler was the right center for them to pursue in trading Erick Dampier
before the season cannot be overstated. Smith was with the U.S. team from start
to finish and got to know Chandler on a personal level and saw the sort of
enthusiasm with which he plays. That information got passed along to the
Mavericks.
 
Just as importantly, Smith knew that Chandler was as healthy
as he had been in years, having recovered from foot and wrist and assorted
other aches and pains.
 
This is one strong argument to people like Mark Cuban who
believe that loaning NBA players to compete for their country is a mistake.
First of all, it’s not a mistake, even if it does put NBA teams at risk
when it comes to injuries to their best assets. It’s not like these
players sit around all summer even when they aren’t playing
internationally.
 
It hurts when somebody like Roddy Beaubois goes down with an
injury while working out with the French team. But the gain for people like
Chandler and Smith is worth way more than the pain that comes with other
situations.
 
By the way, a third member of that U.S. championship team
was in AAC Sunday. Golden State’s Stephen Curry will get his ring at a
Warriors’ home game on April 10.
 
Eddie Sefko