Training Camp Report: Day 4 - Mavs make cuts, Collison takes the wheel
Earl K. Sneed reports from Day 4 of the Dallas Mavericks' training camp, where point guard Darren Collison has taken charge of the team's offense.
Training Camp Report: Day 4 - Mavs make cuts, Collison takes the wheel
DALLAS – Despite again taking the court without two big men that figure to play prominent roles in Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle’s rotation this upcoming season, the team parted ways Tuesday with two players that had hoped to make the roster with impressive showings in training camp.
Before leaving for Europe on Wednesday, the Mavericks announced that they had waived guard Tu Holloway and veteran center D.J. Mbenga, both of whom joined the team just before the start of camp on make-good contracts. The 6-foot Holloway was lost in the shuffle of a guard-heavy rotation. Meanwhile, the 7-foot Mbenga didn’t do enough to impress the Mavs’ brass despite injuries to big men Chris Kaman (sprained lower back) and Brandan Wright (strained quad), who both missed Day 4 of camp.
The roster now stands at 16.
“It’s that time. You know, Mbenga and Holloway did a good job here, but we’ve gotta cut down for the trip and we’ve just gotta keep moving forward,” Carlisle explained.
Moving forward is exactly what the team focused on, looking to continue rounding into shape despite the absences of Kaman and Wright.
With the two voids on the frontline, more significance has been placed on the depth at the guard positions that Carlisle and his players have raved about since assembling on Friday. That depth has been evident from Day 1, according to point guard Darren Collison, as the Mavs try to replace the departing Jason Kidd and Jason Terry in the backcourt.
Perhaps more importantly, the Mavs have continued to add to their overall chemistry while integrating five new veterans and three untested rookies, learning each other on the fly while pushing each other with a friendly competition.
“The best thing about this whole camp experience is that we get a chance to get used to each other. I think that’s the biggest thing, our chemistry,” Collison said following Tuesday’s practice. “You know, the talent is there, the experience is there, but we’ve gotta get used to playing with each other.”
As the lead guard and the floor general, Collison has taken it upon himself to assist in building that chemistry, requesting film on each player from Carlisle to learn the sweet spots on the floor where each of his teammates prefer the ball.
He’s also picked up where Kidd left off at while earning the trust of Carlisle enough to call his own plays within the Mavs’ free-flowing offense. That trust figures to manifest itself over the course of the year as the Mavs try to journey back to the postseason for a 13th straight season.
“It’s freelance,” Collison said of Carlisle’s offensive philosophy. “You know, the point guard gets to pretty much call his own plays. Just go out there and try to make sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to do. You know, [Carlisle] isn’t necessarily controlling the team. He’s saying, ‘Hey, you guys go out there and play.’ And I think that’s when guys are at their best, when they’re playing their games. And that’s the most important thing I like.”
He added: “I don’t think it was just for me, but I think as [Carlisle] has experienced along the way, he’s starting to understand that if you let guys play and go out there and play their games then it’s gonna be a lot easier. Coming towards the playoffs, you can’t call plays every play down. And I understand that from last year (in Indiana) playing against Miami. You know, you’ve gotta go out there and you’ve gotta play. That’s the best thing about this team, we have guys that can just play their game. We don’t need to call plays every time down. Guys can make plays.”
