Training Camp Report: Day 17 - Mavs remain focused through West's suspension
Training Camp Report: Day 17 - Mavs remain focused through West's suspension
DALLAS – After routing Southwest Division rival Houston en route to a 123-104 blowout in their preseason home opener, you would expect the Dallas Mavericks to be all smiles Tuesday as they reconvened for practice.
But, after an exchange between Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle and eight-year veteran Delonte West ended with the guard suspended indefinitely for conduct issues, there was an unsettling feeling at Tuesday’s practice.
“He’s been suspended and we’re gonna talk to him today a little bit later, me and [Mavericks president of basketball operations and GM Donnie Nelson] are, and hopefully we can get it resolved quickly,” Carlisle said of West’s absence. “It’s a conduct issue and we’re addressing it. … The hope is it’s gonna be resolved quickly, and we’re gonna talk to him today and see where we’re at. That’s where it is. We’ll work through it.”
With West currently away from the team, however, the Mavericks continued to press forward, looking to capitalize off their recent victory with another one Wednesday night against the Phoenix Suns.
Dealing with distractions is something the new-look team has already grown accustom to early this season, as 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki battles a right knee effusion injury that has kept him out of the squad’s last two exhibition games. And with plenty of veteran leadership remaining in the locker room, the players didn’t allow the situation between their coach and West to take away from the work that needed be done with the Suns set to enter the American Airlines Center.
“We have a great locker room,” new addition O.J. Mayo empathically said. “I’m pretty sure guys will give D-West a call and make sure all is well. I’m pretty sure Coach [Carlisle] did what he felt was best for the team at the time. That’s the way it goes. But at the end of the day, we’ve gotta keep on getting better. And when he comes back, we’ve gotta have open arms for him and welcome him back and let’s continue working.”
He added: “That’s what this pretty much is about. It’s the start of the season, let’s nip it in the tail end right now before it carries a long way. D-West is a great person. I honestly didn’t see what happened, but obviously Coach did what was best for the team.”
With the incident behind them, Mayo and his teammates turned their attention to a Suns team that will take the court this season after two-time MVP Steve Nash’s off-season exodus to the Los Angeles Lakers. And after improving to 2-1 this preseason thanks to 20 points apiece from Mayo and rookie Jae Crowder, the Mavs will again try to treat their home fans to a victory.
“I thought we came out and played well for our first time, all of us, playing here in front of our home crowd,” Mayo added. “We got the W, so that’s the main thing. … We’ve gotta stay focused, and it starts on the practice court, really paying attention to details that much more.”
Note: The Mavericks return to action Wednesday night in an exhibition showdown against the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. The game will air on TXA 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for the game are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS or by visiting Mavs.com.
