Full-Court Press

Fisher went through first practice with the Mavs

DALLAS -- Derek Fisher watched a lot of basketball during his hiatus away from the game. And from what he saw, the 16-year veteran felt the Dallas Mavericks were the perfect fit for him.

Fisher signed a contract with the Mavs on Thursday and went through his first practice on Friday morning. It was a practice that left Fisher with a bloody nose -- compliments of an errant elbow -- and with renewed confidence about how he can help the Mavs.

"I’ve been really training hard and keeping myself ready for this moment, not knowing where it would be,'' Fisher said. "I think I got here with a group of  guys that everybody’s working hard, trying to win.

"It felt good to be back on the court.''

The Mavs were having serious issues at the point guard spot, which is why they reached out to Fisher. The combination of Darren Collison, Dominique Jones, Rodrigue Beaubois and rookie Jared Cunningham just hasn't been able to to run the offense with any fluidity on a consistent basis.

"I think every team that I’ve been on, in particular when I’ve  been a free agent, when I choose to go to a team it’s a variety of factors,'' Fisher said. "It’s never just about the money, it’s never just about the playing time, it’s never just about being on a contender.

"It’s a combination of factors that are really important to me.''

-- Dwain Price

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In Fisher, the Mavs can learn from an all-time great

DALLAS -- For the Dallas Mavericks, the ability to get Derek Fisher at this stage of the season has been a godsend.

"I think we were fortunate that he was available, and the timing was right,'' said Donnie Nelson. the Mavs' president of basketall operations. "He adds leadership, he adds big playmaking ability in crunch time, and certainly three-point clutch shooting.

"And he’s perfect with the Mavericks that are in that locker room. He’s going to fit in really well with our guys.''

The Mavs have had a world of difficulties at point guard this season. Thus, they knew they could no longer keep their heads in the sand about it.

Darren Collison started the first 14 games at point guard for the Mavs and Dominique Jones started the last two games. Rodrigue Beaubois and rookie Jared Cunningham have also seen time at point guard.

None were consistently efficient.

Fisher, who signed a contract with the Mavs on Thursday, has been brought on board to help stabilize the point guard position.

"All of our young players are going to learn and get better as a result of him being on the squad,'' Nelson said. "I think he’s kind of a coach on the floor, and has got a real calming influence.

"I think he’s going to be a welcome addition.''

Fisher, 38, will practice Friday and may start in Saturday night's home game against the Detroit Pistons. The five-time NBA champion also will bring his own brand of coaching -- with the Mavs' young playmakers serving as his prodigies.

"We like what we see from our young guys,'' Nelson said. "This is going to be an opportunity for those guys to learn from one of the all-time greats.''

-- Dwain Price

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Mavs sign Derek Fisher, release Troy Murphy

DALLAS -- Derek Fisher is in and Troy Murphy is out for the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavs signed Fisher to a one-year contract Thursday with hopes that the 38-year old, 16-year veteran can help stablize the team's point guard position. Fisher has won five NBA titles during his storied career, and also has been known to have the capacity to hit big shots.

With Darren Collison struggling way too much, and with youngsters Dominique Jones, Rodrigue Beaubois and Jared Cunningham simply not really ready to handle the starting point guard duties full-time, the Mavs had no choice but to look elsewhere for help. Especially since Collison was forced to miss Wednesday's 101-78 loss at Chicago with a sprained right middle finger.

As far as Murphy is concerned, he really was brought in to be a stop-gap until Dirk Nowitzki returns, since he is a long-ranger jump shooter similar to the Mavs' 11-time All-Star. In 14 games with the Mavs, Murphy averaged just 4.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Fisher, who played the second half of last season for the Oklahoma City Thunder, is expected at practice Friday at American Airlines Center. He also will be in uniform for Saturday night's home game against the Detroit Pistons.

-- Dwain Price

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Fisher may eventually start at point guard

CHICAGO -- Derek Fisher is a player who has been there, done that. He has five NBA championship rings, with the last of his five coming with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2010.

For that sole purpose, the Dallas Mavericks had little choice but to go out and seek Fisher's services. Particularly since the Mavs point guard situation has been so unstable this season.

Fisher can possibly provide some stability at point guard. He is a savvy veteran who knows how to win and knows how to breed championships.

But the fact that the Mavs had to reach out to a 38-year old who isn't even in the league at this time is very telling. Plus, it should send a strong message to Darren Collison, Dominique Jones, Rodrigue Beaubois and Jared Cunningham.

And that message is that the heirarchy in the Mavs' organizatioh are not pleased with the way this team''s offense has been quarterbacked.

Thus, Fisher will eventually move into the starting point guard slot, while Collison will be his backup and learn from one of the game's most fierce competitors. Even Collison saw that handwriting on the wall when he found out the Mavs were about to acquire Fisher.

“I think his leadership will help,'' Collison said of Fisher. "He's a veteran guy that's been around the NBA for a very, very long time.

“I think he's going to help me grow into the player I want to be, and he's going to help this team grow.''

"We need help at point guard,'' coach Rick Carlisle said. "We feel (Fisher) can help us.

“I don’t see him as a cure-all to all the challenges that we have as a team. But a guy with that kind of experience can help.’’

The addition of Fisher will signal the end of one the Mavs players' stay in Dallas, because that will give them 16 players, which is one over the NBA maximum. It's anybody's guess as to who will be shown the door, considering everyone on this team from guards, forwards and centers have been inconsistent this season.

Meanwhile, Fishe'rs acqusition can't come soon enough for the Mavs, who looked totally out of sorts on offense.

"We need help at the point guard position and, to that end, I might as well announce we're going to sign Derek Fisher tomorrow, pending a physical,'' Carlisle said after the team's 101-78 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. "I think he can really help our situation with experience, defensively and really all areas of the game.''

Fisher, too, can help in that area, while helping Collison in improving some aspects of his game.

“We’ve got to stick together, we’ve got to show a collective caring for one another and a collective toughness,'' Carlisle said. "We’re entering a really difficult stretch in terms of the schedule.

"Nothing is going to be easy, and we’ve got to embrace that challenge. I believe in this group of guys, I like them, they’re all good guys, they all bring some good things to the table for our team.''

One of those players, however, will be gone Thursday when Fisher signs his contract with the Mavs.

Read more here: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/mavs/2012/11/mavs-will-sign-derek-fisher-on-thursday.html#storylink=cpy

-- Dwain Price

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Mavs don't think they're losing confidence

CHICAGO -- Saddled with their eighth loss in their past 11 games, the issue of losing confidence has come into question for the Dallas Mavericks.

Center Chris Kaman tried to squash those rumors after Wednesday's 101-78 loss to the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.

"I think some guys are battling a couple of injuries -- some key guys -- and aren't able to perform the same way they're suppsoed to,'' Kaman said. "But we sitll got to go out there and compete, and we don't.

"We don't do it for a full 48 minutes, or even 30 minutes. We have spurts where we do when we look pretty good.''

The Mavs (7-9) looked good early against the Bulls when they led 19-11 less than eight minutes into the game. But the Mavs' offensive and defensive dispositions took the rest of the night off as they ended this brief two-game road trip with an 0-2 record.

"At the start of the game I thought we were playing pretty well,'' Kaman said. "And then just everything got kind of jammed up and we shut down and we misseds ome shots and we shut down.''

-- Dwain Price

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Mavs will sign Derek Fisher on Thursday

CHICAGO -- Lacking solid veteran leadership at point guard, the Dallas Mavericks will sign Derek Fisher to a contract on Thursday.

"We need help at the point guard position and, to that end, I might as well announce we're going to sign Derek Fisher tomorrow, pending a physical,'' coach Rick Carlisle said after the team's 101-78 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. "I think he can really help our situation with experience, defensively and really all areas of the game.''

Fisher, 38, won five NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers. In 1,173 career games, the 16-year vetran averaged 8.6 points and 3.1 assists per game.

The Mavs had started Darren Collison at point guard in their first 14 games, but with not the success they envisioned when they acquired him this past summer from the Indiana Pacers.

"I think his leadership will help,'' Collison said of Fisher. "He's a veteran guy that's been around the NBA for a very, very long time.

"I think he's going to help me grow into the player I want to be, and he's going to help this team grow.''

-- Dwain Price

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Bulls roll over the Mavs, 101-78

CHICAGO -- Another game in another city turned in yet another loss for the Dallas Mavericks.

One night after losing by two points in Philadelphia, the Mavs got hammered by the Bulls in Chicago, 101-78, Wednesday night at the United Center.

The Mavs (7-9) ended this two-game road trip 0-2 and will host Detroit on Saturday before hitting the road again for a game next Wednesday in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

Unlike Tuesday in Philly, when the game was there for the taking, the Mavs had no honest shot at beating the Bulls after the first quarter. The Mavs only trailed, 24-23, after the first period, but the Bulls outscored them 34-19 in the second period and led 58-42 at halftime.

From there, the Bulls just kept pouring it on.

Shawn Marion led the Mavs with 18 points, and Vince Carter, Chris Kaman and Dominique Jones each tallied 10 points. Luol Deng paced the Bulls (7-7) with 22 points and Joakim Noad added 13 points, 10 rebounds ansd five assists.

The Mavs played without point guard Darren Collison, who sprained his right middle finger -- apparently in Tuesday's game against the Sixers.

Following a 4-1 start, the Mavs have now dropped eight of their last 11 games.

-- Dwain Price

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Collison won't play tonight because of a sprained finger

CHICAGO -- Dallas Mavericks point guard Darren Collison has a sprained right middle finger and will not play in tonight's game against the Chicago Bulls.

The injury apparently occurred at some point during Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. It was a game in which Collison did not start for the first time this season.

-- Dwain Price

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Collison is inactive for tonight's game

CHICAGO -- Dallas Mavericks point guard Darren Collion is on the inactive list and will not play in tonight's game against the Chicago Bulls.

Collison has an injury to his right middle finger. It is not known at this time when it occurred, although he was very effective in Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

-- Dwain Price

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Brand was impressive in Philly homecoming

PHILADELPHIA -- Other than failing to help his Dallas Maverick teammates get a win Tuesday over the Philadelphia 76ers, forward Elton Brand had a very nice homecoming.

Brand got a chance to visit with his family, who lives in the Philadelphia area. That includes his daughter, Mahala, who was born less than three weeks ago.

In the game itself, which the Sixers won 100-98, Brand poured in a season-high 17 points and collected eight rebounds in only 19 minutes of work. He also was 5-of-10 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.

But what the Sixers did to the Mavs -- erasing a nine-point deficit -- is what Brand grew accustomed to when he played the last four seasons for Philly.

"Yeah, they turned up their intensity,'' Brand said. "I was a part of it last year when we used to do it time and time again.

"It seemed like the game was in our favor for a while, after that slow first quarter start. It was just hustle plays (by the Sixers), being in the right spot at the right time.''

The game was tied at 81-81 with 8:32 remaining, and then the Sixers forced turnovers on six straight Mavericks' possessions. It was as if the Mavs forgot how to protect the basketball.

"We had control of the game, felt life, then we had three turnovers in a row, took a timeout, then had three more turnovers in a row,'' Brand said. "You can't beat a team like that with Jrue Holiday playing the way he's playing and Thad Young playing the way he's playing, and the way those guys step up and hit shots.''

Despite the loss, coach Rick Carlisle was pleased with Brand's performance off the bench.

"He's a man's man, and that's the ultimate compliment I can give to him,'' Carlisle said. "It's extremely hard coming back to a place you have played and play well, because it's so emotional and all that.

"The way he played big and hit timely shots and gave us a physical presence was very impressive.''

Sixers coach Doug Collins also tipped his hat to Brand.

"Dallas is a very tough team to guard and it was great to see E.B. tonight,'' Collins said. "I love him, I love what he stands for, and he's everything an NBA player should be.

"He's class, dignity, hard work, a day's work for a day's pay. He had a season-high (in points) -- I knew he was going to play well.''

-- Dwain Price

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