Shootaround report: Mavs' PG job up for grabs
Earl K. Sneed reports from the Dallas Mavericks' Sunday morning shootaround in San Antonio, as coach Rick Carlisle opens up the point guard competition after the organization waived veteran Derek Fisher.
Shootaround report: Mavericks (12-15) at Spurs (20-8)
Mavs' PG job up for grabs
Sunday, the Mavs officially added swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts after calling him up from the NBA Development League’s Texas Legends. The move came after the team also announced on Saturday that Fisher had been waived following a mutual parting of ways so that the five-time NBA champion could return to his family, leaving a hole in the center of the Mavs’ lineup at the point. A void that Darren Collison, Dominique Jones and Rodrigue Beaubois all hope to fill beginning Sunday evening when the Mavericks enter the AT&T Center for a date with Southwest Division rival San Antonio.
“Well, you know, we’ve got three guys that we feel are capable and we’re going to have to do it by committee,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said after his team’s Sunday morning shootaround. “It’s up for grabs. You know, really I don’t know how else to put it.”
He added: “We’ll see what happens with C.D.R. I’d like to get out of the point guard business. Really, I’d like a couple of our guys to jump up and grab the starting spot and the backup spot and have one guy in reserve. That’s what I’d like to happen, and I think those guys have the abilities to do it but it just hasn’t happened. We’re doing everything we can to facilitate all three of them being opportunistic about the position in general, and going forward we’ll keep working on it.”
With the door open, Jones hopes to continue his play of late while pushing Collison for the first unit job.
Dishing seven assists out in each of the last two games, Jones has demonstrated an uncanny ability to penetrate the lane and facilitate to teammates of late. Now, after taking notes from Fisher’s game, the third-year guard will try to take command of the floor general responsibilities on a regular basis.
“You know, the opportunity presents itself, so you’ve just got to take advantage of it,” Jones matter-of-factly said. “The main thing is going out there being aggressive, keeping everybody involved and just playing the role of a point guard. So, I mean it’s out there, it’s right there on the table, and it’s just what you’re gonna do with it.
“It’s a new day, a new game and I’ve just got to come out here and do better than I did (in the last two games), ’cause I had some crucial turnovers and different things that I did that I saw on film. So, just each game trying to get better.”
Note: The Mavericks will now continue their road trip by stopping in San Antonio Sunday evening for the first of four meetings this season against the Southwest Division rival Spurs. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 6 p.m. CT.
