Mavs Spotlight: Community of Mavs stepping up to fill Nowitzki's void
Mavs Spotlight: Community of Mavs stepping up to fill Nowitzki's void
DALLAS – Replacing the production of 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki isn’t a one-man job. Instead, the Dallas Mavericks hope to survive what’s expected to be a six-week absence for Nowitzki with a community of faces stepping in to fill his 7-foot void.
Clearly missing the offensive production of the 2007 NBA MVP and 2011 Finals MVP after his arthroscopic knee surgery last Friday, the Mavericks (3-3) haven’t had the luxury of being able to lean on their go-to scorer for stretches this preseason. As a result, the Mavs’ offense has grown stagnant at times as the team tries to integrate eight new faces without their leader on the court.
The job of relieving Nowitzki this season was originally believed to be the responsibility of newcomer Elton Brand. But, with center Chris Kaman missing the last two exhibition contests due to a strained right calf, Brand has been thrust into the first unit at the 5, forcing Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle to adjust his rotation as well.
Still, the coach understands that it will take a collective effort to survive for what’s expected to be at least 13 regular season games without No. 41 in the heart of the lineup.
“We’ve gotta move forward with the guys we’ve got,” Carlisle empathically said. “The game’s gonna be all about pace, continuous movement and efficiency. … Our whole team has gotta step up, it’s not just gonna be one guy. It’s not dumping it into Brand’s lap and saying, 'Hey, go put up numbers to make up for a loss of a top 10 player.' That can’t be what it’s about. But, collectively, we’ve gotta have a team of go-to guys. That’s it.”
“[My role] changed a lot. I was expecting to spell Dirk and come in for Kaman and have a 7-footer out there – one that can shoot and one that can post. And now I’m with a bunch of wings. But we’re gonna find a way to hold the fort down,” Brand added.
With Brand now seeing the majority of his time on the court at center, however, Carlisle has had to use variations of small-ball lineups while playing the trio of Shawn Marion, Vince Carter and rookie Jae Crowder out of position.
Although Marion has been used several times to spell Nowitzki at the 4 in the past, with rookie Jae Crowder recently inserted into the starting lineup, the two have become interchangeable at the forward positions.
“First of all, [Marion] helps me out a lot,” Crowder modestly said following his fourth straight double-figure scoring night with 12 points in Monday night’s 87-74 victory at home over New Orleans. “He takes everything into detail to help me, because he knows I’ve got a lot being thrown at me as a rookie. He helps me out a lot, so I think that helps me feel more comfortable and that helps me and him play off each other.”
Believing that the duo can make up for their lack of size with their uncanny ability to defend multiple positions, Carlisle has been pleased with how well the four-time All-Star and first-year budding star have played off of each other. Still, even despite Marion’s 12 rebounds in Monday night’s win, the Mavs’ lack of size was ever-present as the Hornets finished the game with 20 offensive rebounds and a whopping 62-40 rebound margin.
"It ain't a lot of nights you can win games when a team gets 20 offensive rebounds, but we've gotta find a way to help each other and get it done. We've gotta make it happen," Marion said of the rebounding. "It's always been like that. Rebounding has always been a big Achilles' heel for us I think since I have been here. When we rebound well, we play unbelievable and it helps fuel the defense and ignites everything else. But I think we've gotta collectively go in there and get it together as a team. We're undersized and undermanned a little bit right now, but that's gonna be for the most part all year. ... We've still gotta get in there and battle."
“The rebounding was an issue [Monday night],” Carlisle added. “A lot of it had to do with their length and some of it had to do with our positioning. So, we just have to continue to study that and it’s going to be a continuing area of focus.”
With rebounding a constant concern, perhaps no the player is making as big of an adjustment as the 6-for-6, 220-pound Carter, who is often outweighed and outsized by his opponent when he slides to the power forward spot.
Since arriving in Dallas last offseason, the eight-time All-Star has shown a willingness to accept whatever role Carlisle has assigned to him, coming off the bench and still thriving in a reserve role this preseason. Carter’s willingness hasn’t stopped there as the team’s elder statesman has also sacrificed his body to help stand in for the absence of Nowitzki in the painted area. And it’s that kind of sacrifice that Carter hopes inspires the rest of his teammates as the season opener in Los Angeles against the Lakers looms a week away.
“I told them I’m willing to do whatever,” Carter explained. “You know, we’re low on bodies down there. I’m not afraid to fight with the bigs down there and compete. I might not get the rebound all the time, but whoever the big is in the game, I might can help him. I just want to set the tone and the mentality of just fighting and competing.”
Note: The Mavericks return to action Wednesday night in Wichita, KS against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The game will air on Fox Sports Southwest at 7 p.m. CT.
