StackAttack

Mavs look lean, mean on Day 1

Johnson said he is impressed with their physical new players

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

DENTON – The new kids in camp for the Mavericks delivered the perfect message coach Avery Johnson was looking for on the first day of practices.

It's expected that players will arrive in superior playing condition when camp opens. And the Mavericks did.

But what wasn't necessarily a given is that the newest Mavericks would supply the hard-nosed edge that Johnson wants to make sure the Mavericks embrace this season.

Toughness sells at Camp Maverick.

"I'll tell you what, this is a physical basketball team," Johnson said. "A lot of the veteran guys who we brought in here ... they are physical players. And they know that's what I love.

"We came a long way defensively last year. But physicality wasn't good enough. We got to become more of a hit-first team. And we're not there yet."

Last season, Johnson talked about a championship even before the season started. This year, he's talking about being a physical team. If he could hand-pick a calling card for his team, that would be it.

And the newcomers fit right in. Devean George, Anthony Johnson and Greg Buckner, in particular, have proven they learned the value of a rugged style by making trips deep into the playoffs. George has the rings to show for it. Johnson was in the Finals with New Jersey once, and Buckner always has been a tough player, notably on defense.

"Just about everybody who came here in free agency or trades has Finals experience," Anthony Johnson said. "So that's good. It's not about two or three years from now. It's about winning now."

At the very least, the Mavericks are conditioned to win now, as are virtually all teams in the league. There wasn't a single Maverick who showed up for training camp and couldn't pass the mandatory stress test that strength and conditioning coach Robert Hackett administers.

It's a far cry from 10 or 15 years ago, when players often used training camp as a means to get into shape.

"The off-season programs are critical," Avery Johnson said. "We monitor their weight training, their running, how many shots they're taking, everything.

"I don't like guys when they're showing up and I have to get them in shape. Then I have to do all these cute running drills. I want to be able to play basketball."

That Anthony Johnson, Buckner and George came in acting like they did Tuesday was a bonus, Johnson said.

"He's mean," the coach said of Anthony Johnson. "He and Buckner, they're mean guys. And Devean George. He's a physical defender. That's why they're here."

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"You can't do nothing to D-Wade," Rasheed Wallace said. "If you say 'boogety-boogety booh' to him, that's a foul."

StackAttack

Mavs hope to play it safe, stay healthy

By ART GARCIA
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DENTON -- With ice packs on both knees, Jerry Stackhouse had an early seat under the basket after the first practice of training camp Tuesday. There wasn't anything wrong with the Mavericks' sixth man.

There's also nothing wrong with being extra careful.

"I have to be more disciplined and make sure I ice down my knees," Stackhouse said from the Pohl Recreation Center at the University of North Texas.

"I didn't have to do that when I was 21. I'm 31 now, and you have to think about that stuff."

Stackhouse missed 26 games last season because of a slow-healing sore knee. Two other returnees -- Josh Howard (ankle, hamstring) and Devin Harris (shoulder, quad) -- each missed more than 20 games.

Though injuries can't be predicted or avoided, coach Avery Johnson plans to do a better job monitoring the health of his team. He admits not prioritizing that a year ago.

"That was my first training camp, and I wanted to make sure I get all this stuff in and set a tone," Johnson said. "Our guys are really good and not wanting to sit out. I've got to do a better job of understanding their bodies a little bit more, especially the key guys.

"There will be some pockets of time where I can let them get their legs back under them. If they're fatigued, it causes them to break down. We try to make the best human judgments we can make, and we're not always right. We feel we've got it pushed in the right direction."

If Johnson feels it's in the best interest for a player to take a practice session off here or a preseason game off there, then that's what will happen. Johnson also won't let a player talk his way back into the lineup after a more serious injury -- as Howard and Harris did last season -- until he's fully convinced they're 100 percent healthy.

Even for those who have avoided serious injury, it's important to play it safe. After another summer of international play, it's likely that Dirk Nowitzki will take it relatively easy for the rest of the month. At least as easy as a notorious gym rat such as Nowitzki can take it.

"I've taken the last two or three weeks off," he said. "That's really all I need."

Team trainer Casey Smith stressed the importance of communication with the coaching staff and being proactive when those otherwise minor aches and pains pop up.

"You want to discuss the little things a little more with Avery, whereas in the past a player might have practiced through it," Smith said.

Being in shape at the start of camp is also key in injury prevention. Thanks to off-season conditioning programs that include weight training and cardio work, players now arrive ready to go.

"I like to hit the ground running," Johnson said. "All of the good teams that I played on or been a part of, guys came into camp in pretty good shape."

__________________
"You can't do nothing to D-Wade," Rasheed Wallace said. "If you say 'boogety-boogety booh' to him, that's a foul."

StackAttack

Mavericks day in camp

11:37 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2006

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

Full-court press: Jerry Stackhouse

A daily look at life off the court for the Mavericks

Jerry Stackhouse funded the building of a new church, House of Hope Free Will Baptist Church, in Kinston, N.C., for his mother, Minnie, who is a pastor. The dedication happened during the off-season.

How did the dedication go?

It was a great dedication service. She had been in it since last October, but our season went so long that they delayed having the dedication until I could be there.

How much different is the new church from the one your mom used to be pastor at?

It's a lot different. It's right in the heart of the city. From where we came from, it's a lot different. I grew up in a rural church that didn't have indoor bathrooms or air conditioning. Now she has an office and all the comforts of home with the touch of a button.

Were you the only dignitary at the dedication?

No, it was a standing-room only service, and the mayor was there. My mom called him out, too. She said he shouldn't be there just for the photo opportunity. There's not a lot of good things happening in that part of our town, and she wanted him to be aware of everything going on in our neighborhood. So she called him out to let him know that he needs to address some things.
Star of the day

Avery Johnson declined to pick one, so we'll go with Josh Howard, who has shown up with a wonderful attitude in spite of a potentially distracting contract situation. "What can I do?" Howard said Tuesday. "This is my job. I can't twist their arm and make them do it. So I'll just go about my job." Howard emphasizes that he wants to remain a Maverick. But he's more than willing to test restricted free agency next summer. The bottom line is that the Mavericks have the right to match any offer Howard might receive next summer, and they have every intention of keeping him.
Briefly ...

The official unveiling of the Western Conference championship banner at American Airlines Center will be at the Nov. 6 game against Golden State. Fitting that new Warriors coach Don Nelson, who helped build the Mavericks' powerhouse, will be in the building. ... Day 1 of training camp was typical in at least one respect, Johnson said. "Our rookies are running around, and they don't know what's going on right now," he said. "That's typical. We were kind of refreshing everybody's memories and getting our new guys acclimated. We threw the ball all over the gym, but that's part of it."

__________________
"You can't do nothing to D-Wade," Rasheed Wallace said. "If you say 'boogety-boogety booh' to him, that's a foul."

StackAttack

MAVERICKS TRAINING CAMP
Star-Telegram
29 Days to the Mavericks' season opener vs. the San Antonio Spurs, 7 p.m., Nov. 2, TNT

Physical presence

In the past, opposing players used to refer to the Mavericks as a "soft" team.

But that might not be the case anymore.

With the off-season acquisitions of rugged veterans Greg Buckner, Anthony Johnson, Devean George and Austin Croshere, the Mavs could be considered one of the NBA's more physical teams. Especially with the return of DeSagana Diop, Josh Howard and Jerry Stackhouse.

"This is a physical basketball team," coach Avery Johnson said after the Mavs opened training camp at the University of North Texas. "It's just what we thought in a lot of our veteran guys that we brought in here, especially Anthony, Devean and Buckner. Boy, they are physical players. And you know that's what I love."

UNT offered more room

Avery Johnson said the Mavs moved training camp to UNT because they wanted more space and an increased level of focus.

And because the Mavs are staying in a hotel, it gives the team more time to bond.

"I like seeing my team," Johnson said. "I like being able to go to Josh Howard's room and listen to some music."

Van Horn's status

Mavs general manager Donnie Nelson hasn't ruled out bringing back forward Keith Van Horn.

Van Horn is living in Colorado with his family and is considering retirement. However, Nelson said Van Horn could decide to join a team, maybe even the Mavs, for the regular season's stretch run.

"With Keith, his priority, as it should be, is his family," Nelson said. "Lord knows he doesn't need any money, so it's a good position to be in, and he can pick and choose. I'm sure he'll be sought after as the year kind of unfolds."

Party time

For the first time in team history, the Mavericks will hold a watch party -- for a preseason game. That party is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at American Airlines Center for the preseason opener against the Hornets in Oklahoma City. Admission is free, and concession stands will be open.

-- Dwain Price

20-SECOND TIMEOUT

DJ MBENGA

Does NBA Live '07 do you justice?

I haven't seen myself on it. I don't like video games.

If you were a baseball player, what would be your song as you walk up to bat?

I would like to know baseball first before I play...but any song I like? Probably a rap song. My favorite song right now is a Toni Braxton song.

Do you have any pregame rituals?

I pray.

Do you have any favorite TV shows that are playing now, or an all-time favorite?

Right now, I like to watch The Steve Harvey Show.

If you starred in a movie, what actor would play you and who would star opposite of you?

Denzel Washington and Eva Mendes.

__________________
"You can't do nothing to D-Wade," Rasheed Wallace said. "If you say 'boogety-boogety booh' to him, that's a foul."

xray

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Ninjatune

We are at our whiteboy capacity with Dirk and Croshere. Sorry Keith.

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S H O R T B U S

xray

Can you have too many?

Yes.

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StackAttack

As our 3rd string PF, I wouldn't mind having him back.






I'm going to get shot for saying that.

Also, I'm leaving for out of town later today, won't be back till Friday night, so either I'll update it then or someone can take the duty of adding articles and Franz's write-ups to the thread.

__________________
"You can't do nothing to D-Wade," Rasheed Wallace said. "If you say 'boogety-boogety booh' to him, that's a foul."

Ninjatune

No doubt about it.

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S H O R T B U S

xray

It invariably would push someone off the active roster - sorry, vetoed.

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Gambino

Rule it out Donnie. Rule it out

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t1no

I agree.

__________________
DALLAS MAVERICKS

xray