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Defense rests? Mavs' Nelson says not anymore
Mavs' strategy starts with guards pressing opponents at midcourt
01:38 AM CDT on Monday, October 4, 2004
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
The Mavericks will gather Monday for the first time this season, and the defensive theme will be stressed from the very start.
And with 10 new players among the 15 who own guaranteed contracts and are expected to be at media day, coach Don Nelson has a fighting chance to get this group to buy into what he and his staff will be selling.
"We've emphasized defense in the past, too," Nelson said. "We just weren't very good at it. This team is going to be good at it from now on."
If not, it won't be for lack of preparation. Nelson and assistants Del Harris, Charlie Parker, Rolando Blackman and Donnie Nelson, along with player-coach Avery Johnson, have been charged by owner Mark Cuban to upgrade the Mavericks' defense at every position.
It starts with point guards picking up opponents as soon as they cross midcourt. If that pressure breaks down, new center Erick Dampier will be waiting in the paint. The Mavericks hope Dampier will be among the league's best shot-blockers this season.
"We'll see what Nellie can do with a traditional team," power forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "His strength has been making things up on the fly. But it's going to be nice to sometimes dump the ball into Damp and see what happens that way. I'm excited about the season."
Said Nelson: "We're moving in a direction we've been trying to go to for a long time. We've been looking for center help. Now we have a whole bunch of them."
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