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Mavericks' Diop looking good
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Avery Johnson was getting quizzed about the good, the bad and the ugly of training camp as it creeps toward the midpoint.
He made one thing perfectly clear.
"I wouldn't tell you the unpleasant," he said.
Those things will become clearer as the regular season draws closer. But for now, it's the pleasant surprises that have Johnson feeling relatively good about the Dallas Mavericks. One of those bright spots is DeSagana Diop, who is going to have to carry the heaviest load at center early in the season because of Erick Dampier's recovery from shoulder surgery.
"Diop's been pretty good," Johnson said. "He's been finishing a little better around the basket, and he's making really good passes."
Nobody is certain of the precise dates, but it's believed that the eternal search for more production from Mavericks' centers dates to prehistoric times.
So any improvement is significant for the Mavericks, because the center position has always been the place where the opposing defense can cheat and clog up the paint, making it tougher for Devin Harris, Josh Howard and Jason Terry to penetrate.
Diop is never going to be the world's prettiest center at the offensive end. He knows his presence is more important on defense, where he's a good shot-blocker and fair rebounder.
"I know what I'm here to do," the 7-footer said. "But when I do get a chance if the defense leaves me, I have to be able to take advantage."
Having Harris cutting into the lane helps. During the preseason, Diop has been on the receiving end of a few nice feeds from Harris that led to point-blank buckets. If Diop and Dampier can't convert those opportunities, it gives the defense another reason to ignore them.
At least for the early portion of the season, it appears Diop is headed for a few more minutes than the 18-plus he's averaged the last two seasons. That would be welcomed news for him, since he is on the final year of his contract.
"I've always wanted to be a starter in this league since Day One," Diop said. "I'm happy to have that opportunity with this team. I'll play as many minutes as needed. But I also know Damp will be healthy soon. So we'll go from there."
Johnson said it's not a guarantee that Diop will play more minutes. Johnson may rotate power forwards such as Brandon Bass or Dirk Nowitzki or Nick Fazekas into that spot. Or he may keep a third center on the active roster (D.J. Mbenga or Jamal Sampson).
Meanwhile, Dampier has to get healthy, Johnson said. Johnson called the 6-11 veteran the best pick-setter in the NBA. Dampier understands the chances of him being an offensive force are slim. But that doesn't mean he's not being effective.
"It looks like we're not doing anything out there, but if we're not out there, who's going to do the dirty work?" Dampier said.
Dampier said he still isn't sure when he's going to be ready to play, but it likely won't be until at least mid-November. He'll see the doctor at the end of this month for an update.
And as for his status as the best screen-setter in the league, Dampier shrugged and said "ask Dirk."
So what does Nowitzki say when given the pop quiz of who sets the best pick for the Mavs?
"I'd say Damp," Nowitzki said. "He always gets the scorers open. He's a big boy and can hold his screens. When he's dominant, we're a different animal."
Mavericks' Diop looking good
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