If you want to know the definition of team chemistry, all you have to do is take a quick walk through the Orlando Magic locker room. Dwight Howard keeps everyone in stitches with potty humor, Courtney Lee gives as good as he gets as teammates heckle him with rookie jokes, and there is a constant love fest going on between various members of the team in different parts of the room.
The consensus is: everyone loves Mikael Pietrus, who hit two huge threes late in the fourth quarter, and there is absolutely no doubt that Jameer Nelson is the key to the team. There's also quite a lot of excitement over Dwight Howard's potential, though everyone has a suggestion for areas he can improve - though most of those suggestions are made halfway in jest . . .and intentionally loud enough so he can hear.
Stan Van Gundy said he told his team to hang tough, even as the Mavericks built another sizeable first half lead. He's seen them give up lead after lead this season, and told his team if they stayed after it they would get an opportunity. That's exactly what played out. Whether it was Jason Terry stepping out of bounds on what would have been a game-sealing rebound or Josh Howard throwing the ball inbounds . . .to Jameer Nelson . . .the Magic won this one on mental toughness alone.
A funny story - the story behind the photo I chose for tonight's blog. It was the third quarter and Erick Dampier was complaining that Dwight Howard was getting all the calls. He wasn't complaining to the refs, though, he was complaining to Dwight. Dwight looked at him like he was crazy and then made a prediction. They were waiting for a Magic player to take a second free throw, and Dwight said if he missed he would get the rebound and dunk on Dampier. The second free throw was missed, Dwight got the rebound, pump-faked Damp three times, and then dunked it.
After the game I was talking to Jameer for a feature you'll see on HOOPSWORLD soon, and up walks Dwight. He gets out his cell phone, sets it to record, and starts asking questions alongside me. So here's Dwight, in a towel, asking questions like a real reporter - good questions, too! And then he walked away and let me and Jameer finish our conversation.
The Mavericks side wasn't nearly as much fun, of course. While the Magic are busily piling up wins, the Mavs are still winless at home, where they have been among the best teams in the NBA for the last five seasons. As they did against the Lakers and Bulls, they took a solid lead into the fourth quarter and then proceeded to cough it up. Rick Carlisle talked for maybe two minutes after the game, emphasizing that there is a moral victory to be had from executing well right up to the last minute, and he even took the blame for Josh throwing away the inbounds pass that ultimately cost them the game.
Which was funny, because when we asked Josh about it he absolutely said it was Coach's fault. "Coach drew up the play; I just ran it."
This is just a guess, but I don't think he drew up a play for Josh to throw the ball to Jameer. I'm pretty sure that was Josh's improv version of the final play. Just a guess, but I feel secure in that being the case.
It was in keeping with the theme, though. Dirk said after the game that it's important to stay positive and not play the blame game. They win as a team and lose as a team and they won't start pointing fingers.
Ultimately, the Mavericks are getting better. They were one possession away from a win tonight, and that's better than they've been for most of this young season. There's plenty of time to right the ship, and with New York and Charlotte up next they could already have it turned around by the time we see them again next Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Mavericks didn't have their usual afternoon practice today, but rather had a shootaround about two hours before the opening tip of tonight's game. So instead of having a locker room full of players to talk to before the game we had a locker room with Texas-style tumbleweeds blowing through. Fortunately, Mark Cuban was on the stair master doing his normal pre-game routine.
"I'm not one to make predictions," Cuban said in response to several reporters asking him about the Mavericks' chance this season. "But if you're going to struggle, struggle early. The last couple of years we've struggled at the end of the season, and it's better to struggle now."
That pretty much sums up Rick Carlisle's pre-game sentiments, as well. He's not concerned about too much, even said it's too early to worry about stats - like the 29% the Mavs are shooting from three-point land this season.
Carlisle said he's been very happy with Erick Dampier's play of late, and truly he has been playing good basketball. He had 16 points and 18 rebounds in Chicago last night and has been doing a great job on the glass this season. Of course, if he gets in foul trouble early against Howard tonight he won't have much of a chance to rebound.
On the flip side, I had a chance to catch up with Rashard Lewis. He's from Houston, and grew up, as I did, watching Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets win championships. I asked him if he saw shadows of Hakeem in Dwight Howard's game, and he said he was starting to see it. In fact, Rashard does some real estate business with Hakeem back in Houston and he said Olajuwon called him to get Dwight's number so he could call him and congratulate him on a great game after Dwight dropped his triple-double earlier this week.
Stan Van Gundy said he was particularly pleased with Dwight's limited turnovers of late, havin committed only one TO twice in the last three games. TO's were always Dwight's big problem, and now that he's not turning the ball over the Magic are much more effective on the offensive end.
Finally, Van Gundy said he expects to play Courtney Lee more and more as the season progresses. Lee's defense has been stellar, he just needs to work on his offense a little bit. I asked C-Lee about that and he got a big smile on his face, saying that won't be a problem.
In case you missed it, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard posted his first career triple-double earlier this week, dropping 30 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 blocks on the Oklahoma City Thunder. It marked the first time a player recorded 10 blocks in a game since the great Hakeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeem Olajuwon did it back on April 13, 1996 (31 points, 13 boards, 10 blocks).
I caught up with Dwight today at shootaround and he was glowing, saying it was a goal he has had for some time. Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy had a similar glow, talking about how Dwight's maturity level has improved so much this season.
And then the Orlando Sentinel's Brian Schmitz brought up the outfit Dwight wore to get on the team plane . . .which apparently was so outlandish that he might see a fine from GM Otis Smith.
Stan was quick to say that while Dwight is still the fun-loving prankster, he also knows when it's time to get serious - and that he's been serious at all the right times this season.
Of course, the story in the other locker room has been the disappointing play of the Dallas Mavericks. Stan said he had a hard time believing they would struggle for much longer, as he has long felt Jason Kidd is the best point guard in the game. And while the Mavs have looked pretty good with Kidd in the lineup over the last couple of games - building a 25-4 lead in the first quarter in Chicago, for example - as soon as he steps off the court the Mavs go in the tank.
The biggest weakness in Dallas, though, remains in the front court. Erick Dampier had a phenomenal game against the Bulls - 16 points, 18 rebounds, five blocks - but he's not likely to put up those numbers against the dominant Howard. It's more likely he gets in immediate foul trouble and yields the floor to Gana Diop . . .who has yet to show the energy and impact he did in his first go round with the Mavs.
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