Practice Report (01/24/12)

Earl K. Sneed reports from the Dallas Mavericks' Tuesday practice, where the team prepared for their matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves while trying not to have their championship ring ceremony ruined.

DALLAS — It’s the only thing the defending champion Mavericks have yet to receive after bringing the franchise’s first title to Dallas last June. But it’s also the thing that might mean the most to each returning individual player and coach.

Wednesday night, the Mavericks will finally be honored with a champion ring ceremony with retired forward Peja Stojakovic in attendance and former guard J.J. Barea leading the Minnesota Timberwolves in town. According to reserve guard Jason Terry, the ring ceremony is the final link connecting last season to this season.

“Once you get [the ring] and see it and touch it and hold it, it’s probably like a baby. You know, I’ve got four of those and that’s probably what it’s like,” joked Terry, who plans on purchasing a second ring through his foundation and giving it away to one lucky fan after a month-long raffle. “I haven’t heard anything about it and that’s what’s gonna be special about it, not knowing and then seeing what’s actually on it. … We miss those guys [Stojakovic and Barea] and to see J.J. again, we’ve seen him once this year, but to have him back here in this building should be a special night.”

“Everybody worked extremely hard, but that’s in the past and now we’ve got to concentrate on tomorrow against Minnesota. [The Timberwolves] beat us at their place,” explained point guard Jason Kidd, who played a big role in designing the rings for his teammates. “I think also just the distraction of going through it. Lamar [Odom] is the only guy that’s been through it, so we can ask him. But the biggest thing is to get through it and get ready to keep playing and continue to keep playing good basketball.”

Like Kidd, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle agrees that after the excitement settles the team will immediately have to turn its attention to a Wolves squad that handed the Mavs a 99-82 loss in Minnesota back on Jan. 3. And although the Mavs are now clearly a different team after winning three straight games and seven in a row at home, the reigning titleholders admit they’ll have a hard time keeping both streaks going while playing without leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki (sore right knee) and Vince Carter (sprained left foot).

Already having their banner ceremony ruined on Christmas Day by a 105-94 home defeat to the Miami Heat, the Mavericks will take the court once again looking to avoid being upstaged. The reigning titleholders will also try to avenge the previous loss to the Wolves, when Kevin Love’s 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting (5-for-6 from 3-point range) and 17 rebounds lifted Minnesota (7-10) to the win after a 15-0 run closed out the game.

Focused on not being upset on their home floor for the first time since dropping back-to-back games to start the season, the Mavericks (11-7) will take the court understanding that their emotions will immediately have to change from excited to intense.

“Well, I’m looking forward to it, but this is like a 10-to-12-minute thing and then we’ve got to play a game,” Carlisle said of receiving his second championship ring after winning one with the Celtics during his playing career. “And so, this has been a wonderful trilogy of experiences — the banner, the White House and then the ring ceremony will be great. But we’ve got to be able to go from that feel-good moment to getting ready to be a bunch of [competitors] against this team coming in here. These guys beat us pretty convincingly last game and they’re dangerous. I mean, they beat the Clippers a couple of nights after we lost to the Clippers out in L.A. and they’ve won in L.A. So, they’re legit and we’re gonna have to be ready.”

“You’re very thankful and then also you have to turn on the switch of going out to beat your opponent,” Kidd added. “Hopefully we learn the first time around how to do that. … That moment is already gone. We accomplished that in June and we had our banner raised against Miami, so all this is past and the icing on the cake in the sense of being able to get the hardware finally. But this is a new season and we’re fighting for another ring.”

Note: The Mavericks return to action in the second matchup of a four-game homestand Wednesday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves with a championship ring ceremony before the game. The Timberwolves-Mavericks game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-6287.

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.