Mavs-Nets notes: Meeting with Johnson sparks Diop

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – A change in attitude is sometimes only eight minutes away.

That’s the length of time Avery Johnson and Gana Diop spent together Friday morning hashing a few issues out. Chief among them: Diop’s noticeable unhappiness with his lack of playing time.

“I just told him how I felt,” Diop said Sunday before facing New Jersey. “It was just a man-to-man talk, coach and player, and he told me to keep working and do what I do. I was trying to do that the last game.

“I’m the kind of guy that doesn’t like to go up to people and talk, especially coaches. I hold a lot of stuff inside me and just keep working, but it came to that point where we needed a talk and I felt great afterward.”

Filling in for the injured Erick Dampier, Diop delivered his strongest effort since possibly November with 12 rebounds, eight points and two blocks in Friday night’s 92-81 win over Memphis. The showing came two days after Johnson didn’t play Diop at Orlando.

Not getting off the bench was especially hard on Diop’s psyche. Johnson wasn’t happy with the center’s body language, so he called for the private session before the morning shootaround.

Johnson wasn’t the only one to pull Diop aside. Dirk Nowitzki, a regular one-on-one partner with Diop before games, sensed his teammate needed a pick-me-up.

“You try to talk to him as much as you can, you try to help him out, but ultimately it comes down to him and whatever he wants to do,” Nowitzki said. “He’s going to be fine as long as he keeps working and stays fit.

“There are always going to be opportunities, especially with the West getting bigger, we definitely need him. I like his game. I like his energy. He’s a great guy in the locker room, a chemistry guy, so you definitely don’t want to lose him.”

Diop seemed especially moved by Nowitzki’s support. This is their third season as teammates.

“We’ve always been close, but I think this year with what I’m going through, after what he went through early in the season when he was struggling, too, got us closer,” Diop said. “People care about you when you’re down, people who love you, are going to be around. He did that a lot this year.

“We’ve talked a lot over the last week. He told me to keep working, that I’m on a good team and something is going to happen. Almost everybody on the team has talked to me about that.”

Dampier returned, Stackhouse sidelined

Erick Dampier started against the Nets after missing one game with a sprained right ankle. Jerry Stackhouse took his place on the inactive list, having tweaked his tender right hamstring Friday. Stackhouse had missed the previous seven games with the injury.

“He’s not where we want him to be right now,” Avery Johnson said. “We’re going to continue to rehab him and hopefully get him strong, and get that leg strong, and hopefully get him back sometime soon. He’s day-to-day.”

Stackhouse said he felt a twinge early in his 11-minute stint, but remained in the game against Memphis. He dunked once after the setback.

“If the recovery is not good, and we feel there is some danger, then we’ll sit him down,” Johnson said.

Ager heads back to Tulsa

Shooting guard Maurice Ager has been re-assigned to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBDL. Ager has seen action in 12 games this season, starting three. He averaged 1.3 points and 0.3 rebounds in 6.5 minutes per game.

“Let’s really just define his game,” Avery Johnson said. “Is he going to be athletic and play above the rim? Let’s do that. If he’s just going to be just a 3-point shooter, let’s do it. Is he going to be a defender?

“Let’s get one thing that we can hang our hat on and know that we can get night in and night on, and that’s what we’re still searching for.”

Ager was assigned to the D-League on Dec. 17. He averaged 17.4 points and 2.3 assists in 33.4 minutes in eight games before being recalled on Jan. 6.

Carter floored by Bass

Vince Carter was knocked out, literally, by Brandon Bass’ elbow early in the second quarter. Carter remained on the court for several minutes – he nearly fell after initially getting up – and was helped to the locker room.

Bass had just secured a rebound before being surrounded by Carter and Malik Allen. Bass swung his arms to protect the ball and avoided getting tied up, and clocked Carter in the process. Carter returned later in the quarter.