DALLAS _ Lack of conditioning has been a big issue for the Dallas Mavericks thus far. But guard Delonte West noticed that’s also been a recurring theme around the NBA.
“Right now what you’re seeing around the league is it’s almost like a professional open gym,’’ West said. “Whoever gets out to the jump and seems to be in a little more shape will win the basketball game.’’
Teams used to have four weeks of training camp before the season started. But that was reduced to two weeks because of the lockout.
An older team like the Mavs -- eight of their 14 players are 32 years old or older -- would have benefitted handsomely from a longer training camp. They looked old and totally out of shape in blowout losses to Miami and Denver.
“Just watching the tape, we didn’t even really have to say too much in the locker room,’’ West said. “The tape explains itself.
“We looked like we’re out there in quicksand, and today the coaching staff did a great job of getting them feet moving a little bit. So we expect bigger and better things out of ourselves, and we’re not going to dwell on those first two games.’’
-- Dwain Price
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