Full-Court Press

Points may be difficult to come by for the Mavs

DALLAS – With Dirk Nowitzki out for six weeks recovering from right knee surgery, the Dallas Mavericks will have to ban together until their superstar returns.

Points will be difficult for the Mavs to come by without Nowitzki, who scores a lot and often draws double-teams to free up a teammate for an open shot. But the remaining players know they’re talented enough to be a respectable outfit while Nowitzki is sidelined.

“We’ve got a good team and a good unit,’’ Mayo said. “Obviously with Dirk being out we’re going to have to stand up and we’re going to have to step up to the table and do what we need to do to maintain a winning atmosphere.’’

That winning atmosphere will be severely tested with Nowitzki in street clothes.

“We know we’ve got to play hard, and we know we’ve got to affect the game 94 feet on defense whenever we can,’’ coach Rick Carlisle said. “But we’ve got to also play smart and we’ve got to play within our system.

“A lot of it is geared towards playing in a freelance dimension with some parameters. But when it gets time to execute we’re going to have to run stuff and execute it.’’

-- Dwain Price

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Hawks beat the Mavs, 110-94

ATLANTA -- Mike Scott scored 17 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 110-94 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday at Philips Arena.

The Mavs are now 2-3 on the season while the Hawks are 3-3.

Rookie Jae Crowder led the Mavs with 15 points and Vince Carter added 13 points.

-- Dwain Price

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Stevenson wonders why folks have issues with the ATM in his kitchen

ATLANTA – Earlier this year, DeShawn Stevenson took a picture in his kitchen with the idea of trying to show off some off some new clothes he was wearing.

The only problem is hardly no one noticed Stevenson’s clothes. However, everyone did notice that ATM machine in the background – in Stevenson’s kitchen.

“I’ve been had that,’’ said Stevenson, who plays for the Atlanta Hawks. “(Dallas Mavericks forward) Shawn Marion was trying to get me to get him one.

“I’ve still got to hook him up with that, but I had that a long time ago.’’

A lot of folks criticized Stevenson for having the gall to have an ATM machine in his kitchen.

“I’ve had it for about two years,’’ he said. “It’s just that one picture people saw it in the background.

“No one said nothing about my outfit.’’

Stevenson said anyone who comes to his house can pull out their debit or credit card and
use the ATM machine.

-- Dwain Price

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Stevenson said Mavs could have been in the 2012 NBA Finals

ATLANTA -- As part of the Dallas Mavericks’ team that captured the 2011 NBA title, DeShawn Stevenson said the only thing that hurt him was that all of the players weren’t brought back so
they could defend the title.

“I think we could have been in the Finals again with Miami,’’ said Stevenson, who now plays for
the Atlanta Hawks. “But you know it’s a business.

“And with that lockout hurting a lot of people, they had to break it up.’’

It’s a breakup that Stevenson wishes wouldn’t have taken place.

“There’s no hard feelings,’’ he said. “I still love everything about the Mavericks and Dallas.’’

Stevenson said it’s “kind of weird’’ looking over at the Mavs’ bench and seeing almost a total makeover from the team that won it all in 2011.

“I’m thinking you’re going to bring back a couple of key pieces,’’ Stevenson said. “Last year I think a lot of people, I wouldn’t say were mad, but they kind of wanted the team back.

“But it’s the NBA, you see different faces. That organaization over there does things great, so I think they‘ll get some key faces.’’

One of the key pieces missing for the Mavs is forward Dirk Nowitzki, who is out six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery Friday on his right knee.

“He’s one of those players, he’s just awesome,’’ Stevenson said. “So to see him out with a surgery, I just hope everything goes well.’’

-- Dwain Price

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Mavs were already bracing for Nowitzki's surgery

ATLANTA – When Dirk Nowitzki’s right knee started given him problems almost three weeks ago, the Dallas Mavericks started shifting gears.

And when Nowitzki had to get his knee drained twiceover the past three weeks -- and the swelling still didn’t disappear -- the Mavs knew that surgery was going to have to occur to cure the situation. Thus, the arthroscopic surgery Nowitzki underwent Friday morning didn’t catch the Mavs totally off-guard.

“There was a strong chance of this two-and-a-half weeks ago,’’ coach Rick Carlisle said after this morning’s shootaround at Philips Arena. “There’s no surprises here.’’

Nowitzki will be sidelined for about six weeks, leaving the Mavs without their marquee player. But the Mavs do get a break since eight of their first regular season 12 games are against teams who were in the NBA Draft Lottery last year.

However, Carlisle noted that other that the first two regular season games against the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz, he hasn’t allowed himself to glance and see exactly who the Mavs play until Nowitzki returns, which may not be until around the first week of December.

“I know who our first two games are and after that I’m not focused on anything else,’’ Carlisle said. “We’ve got to move forward with the guys we’ve got.

“The games are going to be all about pace, continuous movement and efficiency.’’

-- Dwain Price

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Mavs knew surgery was inevitable for Nowitzki

ATLANTA – Even before they knew Dirk Nowitzki was going to have surgery, the Dallas Mavericks were already preparing themselves for the inevitable.

Nowitzki had his swollen right knee drained twice since training camp started less than a month ago. And the swelling just wouldn't go away. Thus, the Mavs' franchise player underwent successful surgery on Friday, then started on the long journey to recovery.

“Our medical people had a good pulse on it,’’ coach Rick Carlisle said. “They say it’s a six weeks estimate, so we’ve got to really buckle down.

“Six weeks is a long time, and a week and a half of it is still non-season time, so that’s a bit of a plus. But NBA games are hard and we’re going to have to have everybody ready to play. It’s as simple as that.’’

Center Brandan Wright, who could benefit from Nowitzki’s surgery, said his teammates must rally together and come together as one while Nowitzki is sidelined.

“We all knew it’s something that’s been kind of expected,’’ Wright said. “We knew it was a possibility at any time.’’

Carlisle knew it, too.

“He was headed this direction,’’ Carlisle said of Nowitzki and surgery. “Our medial people did everything right.

“Friday is a day you get scoped on so you can kick your legs up for the weekend.’’

-- Dwain Price

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Opportunities are plentiful with Nowitzki out

ATLANTA – With Dirk Nowitzki out for six weeks, some opportunities have cropped up for other members of the Dallas Mavericks.

With increased playing time, players such us Brandan Wright, and rookies Jae Crowder and Bernard James now have a chance to impress coach Rick Carlisle. And this could help them stay in the rotation once Nowitzki returns.

Forward Vince Carter said: “When your star goes down it’s important and it’s an opportunity for people like Jae Crowder, people like Bernard and Brandan Wright to really gain some more experience, some learning experience and make the best of it so when he comes back they are more of an asset because you have another weapon on the court comfortable within the flow of the offense.

"Because I still think we’re still in the learning process of everybody understanding and getting the feel of what coach wants from us anyway. So this is going to actually help us.’’

Well, Carlisle probably won't agree that losing his star player will "help'' the Mavs. But he knows opportunities are plentiful for Crowder, James and Wright.

"It’s a great challenge for us,'' Carlisle said. "We’ve just got to dig in and meet it.

"There are opportunities in it as well, so we’ve got to have a lot of guys step up.''

-- Dwain Price

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Mavs must change the way they do things on offense

ATLANTA -– With no Dirk Nowitzki around for about six weeks, the Dallas Mavericks have to revise the way they’ll do things offensively.

“We have to share the ball – that’s just the way it is,’’ forward Vince Carter. “We can’t have any guys out there just trying to go for numbers.

“Now it’s about take the best available shot and get each other open. We have to out execute teams, out hustle teams and out rebound teams.’’

Nowitzki underwent right knee surgery Friday, leaving coach Rick Carlisle with the task of trying to piece together a squad without his star player. But Carlisle has what he hopes is a full-proof plan.

“We’re going to have to be a team of go-to guys,’’ Nowitzki said. “There’s no getting around that.

“We’re going to have to have a lot of balance, we’re going to have to play our style, and we’re going to have to be meticulous with how we approach it in terms of playing with speed and playing with aggression, and playing with grit and guts.’’

In other words, the Mavs will try their best to hold on and have a respectable record by the time Nowitzki returns.

“We just have to get from now to then and build up what we have, and when the time comes for him to be back we’ll have to integrate him back in,’’ Carlisle said. “But that shouldn’t be a big problem because he’s a smart guy and he’s been in the system.’’

-- Dwain Price

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With Nowitzki out, Mavs got to execute, hustle and rebound better

ATLANTA – Vince Carter knows exactly what the Dallas Mavericks have to do in the absence of Dirk Nowitzki.

“We’re just going to have to pick our game up and find a way,’’ the Mavs’ forward said. “Now it’s important for the veterans to get everybody on board and we’re going to have to out-execute teams, we’re going to have to out-hustle teams, and rebound.’’

Nowitzki had surgery on his right knee Friday morning, and the Mavs said he may be sidelined as much as six weeks. His absence will hamper the bond on the floor the Mavs need Nowitzki to have with the eight new players on their roster.

But Nowitzki's departure will give younger players like Brandan Wright, and rookies Jae Crowder and Bernard James more opportunities to strut their stuff.

 "If you’re going to be hurt and have to have this you especially want to get it done early in the season and get all of the stuff out of the way,'' Carter said. "Then again like I say it gives all of the younger guys an opportunity.''

-- Dwain Price

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Nowitzki has successful right knee surgery

DALLAS -- Dallas Mavericks 11-time All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki underwent arthroscopic surgery to his right knee this morning.

The Mavs said the surgery was successful and that the 15-year veteran will be sidelined for about six weeks.

Mavs team physician Dr. T.O. Souryal performered the surgery at Texas Sports Medicine. 

Nowitzki has missed the past three preseason games with swelling and soreness in his right knee. His place in the startitng lineup will be taken by Elton Brand, whom the Mavs acquired in the offseason after he was released by the Philadelphia 76ers via the NBA's amnesty clause.

Earlier this week when Nowitzki was tinkering with the idea of surgery, center Brandan Wright said:

“We’ve just got to play basketball. I know he’s got a lot of uncertainty with his knee and stuff like that.

“We don’t really know what’s going to happen with it. If it goes well or if it doesn’t, we’ve just got to be prepared to play without him.’’

Now, that preparation has arrived, since Nowitzki may not return until the middle of November.

Nowitzki has been a very durable player throughout his career and has only missed 45 of the 1,100 regular season games he's been with the Mavs. He is unquestionably a future Hall of Famer who the Mavericks would sorely miss as they try to weave eight new players into their system.

After this past Monday's game against Houston, Nowitzki was still hesitant about having the surgery.

"I'm doing everything I can conceivably not to have surgery," Nowitzki said at the time. "But I really don't want it done now.

"If I want to do it, I'd love to do it after the season and get through the season somehow. But the swelling came back three or four times now, so that's obviously not good news."

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/10/15/4337983/nowitzki-chooses-to-delay-surgery.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/10/15/4337983/nowitzki-chooses-to-delay-surgery.html#storylink=cpy

-- Dwain Price

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@dwainprice