That's what I've been saying: Avery stresses accountability, and Mark plays the blame game. :curse:
Nowitzki tells Cuban to chill out
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
GRAPEVINE – On the eve of the free-agent hunt, Dirk Nowitzki was still smarting from the Mavericks' close call in the NBA Finals.
Part of the residual pain stemmed from owner Mark Cuban. Nowitzki talked about Cuban on Friday and how the owner's passion for the Mavericks is a double-edged sword that cut the wrong direction at times in the playoffs and particularly against Miami in the Finals.
"We all know that Mark is 100 percent all the time," Nowitzki said while signing 350 autographs for campers at a Mavericks' basketball clinic at Grapevine High School. "He loves us and he gets fired up once in a while. Well, all the time, really.
"Do I think it's a bit much sometimes? Yeah. He's got to learn how to control himself as well as the players do. We can't lose our temper all the time on the court or off the court, and I think he's got to learn that, too. He's got to improve in that area and not yell at the officials the whole game. I don't think that helps us.
"We all know what Mark brings to the team, how he supports us. We live with who he is, and we love him that way. But do I think it's good for us always? No."
Cuban did not respond to an e-mail.
Nowitzki, who is in line for a three-year contract extension that he called "a no-brainer" for both sides, said that his comments on Cuban are nothing that hasn't been said before. Nowitzki said he, Michael Finley and Steve Nash went to Cuban when the trio was still together and asked Cuban to tone down things.
It was suggested at that time that Cuban watch games from a suite rather than from his courtside seat near the Mavericks' bench. That suggestion was overruled.
The biggest sticking point comes from the work that coach Avery Johnson has done to get the Mavericks to stress accountability throughout the roster. During the final few games of the Finals, Cuban made a point to question officiating calls.
"He sits right there by our bench," Nowitzki said. "I think it's a bit much. But we all told him this before. It's nothing new. The game starts, and he's already yelling at them. So he needs to know how to control himself a little.
"If you get a bad call, keep playing hard. That's what Avery put in our heads. So I don't believe the refs messed up [in the Finals]."
It was the first trip to the NBA Finals for Cuban and just about everybody else in the Mavericks' organization. They will all learn from the experience, Nowitzki said.
Nowitzki also said he's leaning toward playing for Germany in the World Championships in Japan in August, but he has yet to make a final decision. He plans to return home to Germany next week after a few more days of hanging with friends and a trip to Las Vegas, which has become something of an annual rite after the season.
And while the team begins the search for free agents, Nowitzki said the Mavericks' prime contributors have earned the right to try to get back to the NBA Finals. The key to that is to get himself, Jason Terry and Josh Howard under contract long term.
"I haven't thought of that much at all," Nowitzki said. "I heard that I could extend, and that's obviously a great thing. I love being here. I love being a Mav. And obviously, we all love Mark.
"Really, it's a no-brainer. But I want to think about some stuff and get away from basketball. If I sign an extension, I can sign it up until October. I don't have to sign it on the first of July. So I'll go home and go through some stuff."
Whenever it happens, it will keep Nowitzki in a Mavericks uniform through 2011. The extension would be worth about $59 million for three years.
GRAPEVINE – On the eve of the free-agent hunt, Dirk Nowitzki was still smarting from the Mavericks' close call in the NBA Finals.
Part of the residual pain stemmed from owner Mark Cuban. Nowitzki talked about Cuban on Friday and how the owner's passion for the Mavericks is a double-edged sword that cut the wrong direction at times in the playoffs and particularly against Miami in the Finals.
"We all know that Mark is 100 percent all the time," Nowitzki said while signing 350 autographs for campers at a Mavericks' basketball clinic at Grapevine High School. "He loves us and he gets fired up once in a while. Well, all the time, really.
"Do I think it's a bit much sometimes? Yeah. He's got to learn how to control himself as well as the players do. We can't lose our temper all the time on the court or off the court, and I think he's got to learn that, too. He's got to improve in that area and not yell at the officials the whole game. I don't think that helps us.
"We all know what Mark brings to the team, how he supports us. We live with who he is, and we love him that way. But do I think it's good for us always? No."
Cuban did not respond to an e-mail.
Nowitzki, who is in line for a three-year contract extension that he called "a no-brainer" for both sides, said that his comments on Cuban are nothing that hasn't been said before. Nowitzki said he, Michael Finley and Steve Nash went to Cuban when the trio was still together and asked Cuban to tone down things.
It was suggested at that time that Cuban watch games from a suite rather than from his courtside seat near the Mavericks' bench. That suggestion was overruled.
The biggest sticking point comes from the work that coach Avery Johnson has done to get the Mavericks to stress accountability throughout the roster. During the final few games of the Finals, Cuban made a point to question officiating calls.
"He sits right there by our bench," Nowitzki said. "I think it's a bit much. But we all told him this before. It's nothing new. The game starts, and he's already yelling at them. So he needs to know how to control himself a little.
"If you get a bad call, keep playing hard. That's what Avery put in our heads. So I don't believe the refs messed up [in the Finals]."
It was the first trip to the NBA Finals for Cuban and just about everybody else in the Mavericks' organization. They will all learn from the experience, Nowitzki said.
Nowitzki also said he's leaning toward playing for Germany in the World Championships in Japan in August, but he has yet to make a final decision. He plans to return home to Germany next week after a few more days of hanging with friends and a trip to Las Vegas, which has become something of an annual rite after the season.
And while the team begins the search for free agents, Nowitzki said the Mavericks' prime contributors have earned the right to try to get back to the NBA Finals. The key to that is to get himself, Jason Terry and Josh Howard under contract long term.
"I haven't thought of that much at all," Nowitzki said. "I heard that I could extend, and that's obviously a great thing. I love being here. I love being a Mav. And obviously, we all love Mark.
"Really, it's a no-brainer. But I want to think about some stuff and get away from basketball. If I sign an extension, I can sign it up until October. I don't have to sign it on the first of July. So I'll go home and go through some stuff."
Whenever it happens, it will keep Nowitzki in a Mavericks uniform through 2011. The extension would be worth about $59 million for three years.
1 - 7 of 38 Posts
LOL, It just occured to me that a lot of people will see the money the Mavs threw at Jet, and immediately will remember his punch and suspension.edwardcyh said:Are you referring to the punch-in-the-balls Jason? lol...
That wasn't a choke job as much as a change in momentum, and a failure to stop the bleeding. Adjustments were made, and Avery didn't respond to those adjustments. I see the players' role being no greater than that of the coaching staff - a chess game was lost.TX_MAVFAN said:The players choked. End of Story.
The circus atmosphere, meanwhile, was provided courtesy of Cuban. Don't know if that would've changed the outcome on the floor, but it's a lot easier to concentrate on your work when your 2 year old toddler's sleeping instead of crying.*
*Simple analogy, don't read anything into it ( :biggrin: )
Yeah, I guess it's time to judge Cuban on other matters...if he's all over the refs in next year's Finals, that would be ok. :clown:TX_MAVFAN said:Geez I'm ready for next season to get going.....
I remember seeing the Maloofs distracting the opposing players at the FT line by whistling and shouting.
I'd rather have Mark, thanks anyway.
I'd rather have Mark, thanks anyway.
Not to derail the thread, but I still think Nash will be an amnesty victim - or at least Phoenix will be burdened with a ball and chain contract - due to a worn out PG.StackAttack said:lol the other two were kicked off because they badmouthed Cuban? hahahaha, what bs, Cuban tried his best to keep Nash but the Suns made a better offer, simple as that, and Finley was let go because of age/financial reasons, wasn't playing at a high level anymore...
A Miami fan?Kiss_My_Darius said:I read Dirk's comments as answering questions to a reporter (probably digging for that stuff) but how many times did he qualify it with we love Cuban, we appreciate Cuban, he knows how we feel about him.
Cuban annoys the hell out of me and sometimes makes me route for the other team (like the final series) but with all the good and bad Cuban might bring to an organization . . . I challenge any fan to truthfully say they wouldn't want Cuban as an owner.
1 - 7 of 38 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Professional and College Basketball Forums
A forum community dedicated to Competitive Basketball players and enthusiasts. Talk about everything from the NBA to college basketball to even everything but basketball. It's all here!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Recommended Communities
