Training Camp Report: Day 26 - Mavs' veterans keep team focused through injuries, West's suspension
Training Camp Report: Day 26 - Mavs' veterans keep team focused through injuries, West's suspension
DALLAS — Following their 88-76 exhibition loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night in Wichita, Kan., the Dallas Mavericks’ focus should have been solely on finishing the preseason on a high note with a win Friday night against the Charlotte Bobcats.
Instead the Mavericks (3-4) were forced to again answer questions about guard Delonte West, after the organization announced Thursday that the eight-year veteran was indefinitely suspended from the team for a second time in 10 days for conduct detrimental to the team.
"The suspension is effective immediately and no other statements will be issued," Mavericks president of basketball operations and GM Donnie Nelson matter-of-factly said with a statement in the team’s press release.
“Well, we’ve put out a release that I think addresses it, and per the release, we’re really not gonna comment any further on it,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle later added.
West played in all seven of the team’s preseason contests before being suspended, averaging 5.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game. But with the reserve guard sent away for a second time this preseason in the midst of several injuries that have depleted the roster, the Mavericks’ veteran leaders spoke Thursday about keeping the team focused as the regular season approaches.
“We know he’s a [heck] of a player and I just wish him the best,” forward Shawn Marion said of West. “He’s got stuff he needs to work out with [the front office] and it’s OK. … We’ve still gotta go on and focus on what we’ve got at hand.”
"It's a sensitive subject right now,” 35-year-old Vince Carter added as he and Marion returned to practice after a one-game rest. “It's not much I can say. I wasn't even around to know what's going on. I look at it from the aspect that that’s a competitor. Every time we go out on the court, the first thing he says is, 'Let's go get these boys tonight.' Without a doubt, whether we're favored to win or not, he always believes we're gonna win. So, that’s the way I look it at. It’s just great having him around. He’s a funny guy as well.”
But even Carter, a friend of West on and off the court, admits that with injuries already mounting, dealing with a fractured locker room is something the Mavs don’t need with just one preseason test remaining before a back-to-back in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City to start the regular season.
"It’s a challenge. It’s another thing to help us focus, I think. For our team, the mass majority is not expecting us to do much anyway. So, for us, it’s another tool for us to get out here and focus on what we need to do,” the eight-time All-Star added. “I don’t really have the remedy, I don’t have all the answers, but it’s important for us veterans to remain in the forefront, speaking of keeping us all on the same page, because we could surprise people. We have a lot of talent, a lot of ability, and we just have to bring it together and mold it as one, and that’s what will be important. All of the different things that we’re going through, I think we can overcome it. We’ve all, the majority of us, have been through it before, so we can kind of block it out. But, we’ve just gotta make sure that everybody is definitely on the same page at the same time.
“Regardless of all the outside stuff, we still have to prepare for another preseason game. We still have to prepare for our first two games, 'cause we're on a back-to-back. … For us, we have to have a great start to the season to really compete. So, each practice is important and each game we still play is important. Everybody needs to understand on this team they have to lock in. So, yeah, we’re gonna go through ups and downs, but if you’re not focused, you’re not committed, then just sit on the side somewhere. I think everybody is getting that message."
With Carter and Marion back and preaching that message to their teammates, the Mavericks went back to work following their double-digit loss Wednesday night. The team now hopes to improve on the health front, although both Chris Kaman (strained right calf) and Brandan Wright (sprained left ankle) were held out of practice as they continue nursing their injuries.
Still, even with an injury-riddled roster and 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki out approximately six weeks after his arthroscopic knee surgery last Friday, Carlisle believes all of the adversity his new-look team is facing could prove to be a positive down the road.
“All these things happen. These things are part of everyday life in the NBA,” Carlisle confessed. “And look, we’ve got a lot of veterans that have been through situations where there’s been injuries and all kinds of different things, and the bus keeps going. You’ve gotta keep soldering on and getting the stuff in that you need to get in and studying the stuff that you need to study, and just keep working to improve every single day.”
Note: The Mavericks will now wrap up preseason play at home Friday night against the Charlotte Bobcats. The game will air locally 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.
