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KokoTheMonkey · 08-23-2005, 11:09 AM

http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/...ent=dfw_sports

Quote:

Mavs pleased with direction of team

By DWAIN PRICE

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DALLAS - Besides delivering a retirement package to Shawn Bradley and promoting Rolando Blackman to assistant coach, the Mavericks are done dealing this off-season.

Doug Christie and DeSagana Diop replace Michael Finley and Bradley, and Josh Powell will play the role Alan Henderson occupied last season. Other than that, when training camp begins in seven weeks, the Mavs will field almost the same team that won 58 games last season.

Mavs management believes with minor tweaks to the roster this summer, they have a championship team.

"I'm really excited," coach Avery Johnson said. "I think the thing that I have to fight is not trying to come in and overhaul a whole bunch of stuff with this team.

"We have a certain system in place now that we had in place -- especially at the end of the year -- in terms of the way we like to play. We're just hoping that these guys having another year to work together in this system will make it that much more effective."

Johnson will be holding his first training camp as the Mavs' coach. He took over for Don Nelson with 18 games remaining last season, leading the Mavs to a 16-2 record and a first-round playoff win over Houston before their season ended with a loss to Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns.

Johnson, who was the starting point guard for San Antonio's 1999 NBA title team, will try to impose his will on this team. And that includes instituting a policy in which playing stifling defense is a must.

"We're all about winning a championship," Johnson said. "I know a lot of times coaches really don't want to talk about that because they're always scared about job security."

Owner Mark Cuban knows Johnson has a philosophy of building a team from the inside-out with defense as the calling card, and that increases the Mavs' chances of winning an NBA championship.

"Different era, different coach, different approach," said Cuban, referring to the difference between Johnson and Nelson. "I love what we've got going on."

The Mavs have a team that can go two-deep at virtually every position and not suffer a letdown. The slope, though, is slippery at center, where Erick Dampier referred to himself as the second-best center in the league behind Shaquille O'Neal but played nowhere near that level during his first playoff experience last season.

"I don't think a lot of our players that were in the playoffs for the first time understood the pressures of it," Johnson said. "They talked about being able to handle it, but until you get it in, the criticism is so intense."

Dirk Nowitzki is the lone holdover from the Mavs team that lost to the Spurs in six games in the 2003 Western Conference Finals. He'll start at forward, while Josh Howard holds down the other forward position.

Dampier gets the nod at center, and Jason Terry and Christie will likely start in the backcourt. That means Jerry Stackhouse will likely again be asked to come off the bench and supply immediate offense, along with Keith Van Horn, Marquis Daniels and Devin Harris.

The Mavs believe they have laid the groundwork for the future with a young crop of players, which includes centers DJ Mbenga, Pavel Podkolzin and Diop, forwards Josh Powell and Howard, and guards Rawle Marshall, Daniels and Harris. All eight of those players are 25 years old or younger.

"Our job is to put together a championship-caliber team," Cuban said. "And I think that's what we're doing."

The article does mention that Christie is likely to start. Stackhouse, Daniels, and Van Horn off the bench....that's a damn good bench,

damaverick19 · 08-23-2005, 11:23 AM

im excited about the defense our starting five bring. Dirk is actualy the weakest of the five starters at defense, and he isnt half bad. Christie and howard is a lethat combo on defense for the 2-3. I'm lloking foward to seeing those 2 work together

The Future7 · 08-23-2005, 12:20 PM

yea Christie and Howard will really cause problems for the opposing teams perimeter shooters. I like that we have a lot of offense coming off the bench. We have a great coach and a nice future.

Mavericks_Fan · 08-23-2005, 01:46 PM

Quote:

and promoting Rolando Blackman to assistant coach

Rolando was my favorite Mav back in the late 80s.

stevemc · 08-24-2005, 02:30 PM

I love the fact we have a bench full of players who could be starting on other teams. We have players to fill any place where a starter might be struggeling. We're built for a championship. Now lets go get one!

The Future7 · 08-24-2005, 04:22 PM

Yea we are built for a championship and we have the talent. I just hope we have someone that could lead us.

stevemc · 08-24-2005, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Future7

Yea we are built for a championship and we have the talent. I just hope we have someone that could lead us.

Doug Christie's Wife

The Future7 · 08-24-2005, 04:35 PM

Maybe she can teach the rest of the Mavs a few hand signals

Zuca · 08-24-2005, 09:03 PM

I think that you guys have a really good roster, and can compete for the title...

Amareca · 08-25-2005, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevemc

I love the fact we have a bench full of players who could be starting on other teams. We have players to fill any place where a starter might be struggeling. We're built for a championship. Now lets go get one!