Art Garcia | Mavs.com

Posted: May 15, 2008

Josh Howard and Rick Carlisle went to dinner Wednesday night, and the new coach of the Mavericks picked up the bill. Looks like their relationship is off on the right foot.

“From what I’ve heard, he’s a great coach,” Howard said Thursday afternoon. “The guys I talked to had nothing but good things to say. I’m looking forward to working with Coach next year.

“He’s an X&O’s guy and he wants to win. He’s really excited about this situation and the pieces he has.”

Howard checked in with a pair of former teammates – Marquis Daniels and Darrell Armstrong – who played for Carlisle in Indiana. Howard wasn’t just interested in a scouting report on the coaching style of Avery Johnson’s replacement. He also wanted to get a sense of the person.

The dinner served as introduction for both as they each enter a critical offseason. Carlisle has begun putting his stamp on the franchise, which includes his input in reshaping the roster. Howard is moving forward from a disappointing series of events, on and off the court, to finish up the season.

They discussed those issues and Howard’s willingness to work harder than he ever has to prepare for his sixth NBA season.

“We talked about what happened and he understood my point of view,” Howard said. “I’m planning to take [my workouts] to the next level for myself first and because of what happened at the end of the year. You learn from stuff like that and I was finally able to put everything behind me.”

Carlisle expects Howard to do just that.

“Josh is one of the younger veterans that has an opportunity here to step up and take a little bit more responsibility,” Carlisle said. “I think it’s important to be positive with him, I think it’s important to listen to the kinds of things he has to say and his views on the game, but at the end of the day, the coach is in a position of leadership and has to direct the team in a way that’s going to be most successful for the franchise.”

Mark Cuban said he’s traded more phone calls and texts with Howard in the last several weeks than the last several years.

“He realized he made a mistake,” Cuban said. “We’ve talked about it. He realizes he’s got some catching up to do in terms of reclaiming some people’s confidence, but he’s also man enough to realize that he’s going to do it and make a commitment to do it.”

Carlisle told Howard that he’s the team’s best and most versatile defender. The new coach also stressed Howard’s importance to the Mavs’ success next season.

“We need him to play big,” Carlisle said. “He needs to get back to Western Conference All-Star-caliber level of play for 82 games, which he did a couple of years ago.”

Howard’s commitment to basketball and his community work – he’s hosting his first basketball camp in Dallas next month – is his focus. His message to Carlisle was simple.

“It’s the same thing I would have told Avery: I always come to play,” Howard said. “He already knew that I love to compete and take pride in my game.”