NEW ORLEANS --On many occassions this season, Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle has touted forward Vince Carter as a candidate for the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame.
After what the 36-year old Carter did Friday night against the New Orleans Hornets, Carlisle was back on the campaign trail again.
Carter tallied 22 points as the Mavs scored the game's final eight points and nipped the Hornets, 104-100. More importantly, it was Carter's cold-bloodied three-point basket with just 6.5 seconds which gave the Mavs a 102-100 lead and helped propel them to this victory.
"The way Vince has re-invented himself with us as an off-the-bench instant offense, playmaker, defender, all-aorund guy I think validates him as a Hall Of Fame candidate,'' Carlisle said. "Guys that have the kind of longevity that he’s had and can adjust their game to keep helping teams win are guys that get in.’’
On his game-winning shot, Carter, who was guarded by Jason Smith, said: "I was just reading the play and I looked at Dirk (Nowitzki) and he kind of gave me the look like, 'Go ahead.'
"I just kind of just read the situation, see if the drive is there to try to find somebody. But (Smith) was backing up. He was in a retreat position.''
Carter took advantage, and then won the game for the Mavs.
-- Dwain Price
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