NEW YORK – Delonte West was just rounding into shape and becoming a positive influence in the Dallas Mavericks’ attack.
Then he tried to make a steal this past Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets and wound up fracturing his right ring finger. The injury and subsequent surgery has shelved West indefinitely and put a strain on the Mavs' backcourt.
"He's a terrific all-around player,'' coach Rick Carlisle said. "He's gotten more and more comfortable within our offensive philosophy, so the good thing is that the five or six day period to the All-Star break (from Feb. 23-27) there won’t be any games then.
"So there’s a healing period where he won’t miss games. In the meantime, we’re going to have to kind of get everybody else ready to go and then just go from there.''
West will eventually have a second surgery to remove the pins in his finger, and there is no timetable for his return.
-- Dwain Price
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