SB Nation User Blog: Wes Cox

Cavs at Mavs Open thread

Wes Cox — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:20:49 -0000

by Joshua Gunter - AP

4 days ago: Cleveland Cavaliers' Jamario Moon (15) is fouled by New Jersey Nets' Devin Harris in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009, in Cleveland. Harris was called for a flagrant foul on the play and ejected from the game. The Cavaliers won 99-89. (AP Photo/The Plain Dealer, Joshua Gunter)

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Cleveland favored by 3.5 | Over/Under 188 | Fear The S Word

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Star forward Dirk Nowitzki will not play for the Dallas Mavericks in Sunday's home game against...

Wes Cox — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:12:57 -0000

Star forward Dirk Nowitzki will not play for the Dallas Mavericks in Sunday's home game against Cleveland as he continues to recover from a deep laceration in his right elbow after a collision Friday night with Houston's Carl Landry.

The Mavericks are listing Nowitzki as questionable for Tuesday's game Portland.

Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki to sit out against Cleveland Cavaliers - ESPN Dallas

The Sunday Roundup

Wes Cox — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:31:17 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

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Dallas Mavericks' Nowitzki expected to miss Cavs game | DMN
Nowitzki is questionable for tonight's game against Cleveland. The Mavericks were preparing as if he won't be playing. "Everybody's going to have to be ready to step up and take up the slack," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We obviously hope for the best. But we don't know what the timetable's going to be. We've got to have other guys ready. We've had a lot of guys play well this year and I expect them to continue to do that in his absence."

Dallas Mavericks' Dampier still baffled by ejection | DMN
"You could tell watching their review and how long it took them to go over it three or four times that nothing good was going to come out of it. I mean, I'm thinking he's going to review the foul and all of the sudden he says there's a T on No. 25 and he's ejected. I didn't really understand it. But we're not going to blame the game on that one call."

Mavericks to protest at least three calls | ESPNDallas
"We believe there were multiple misapplications of the rules," Cuban said.

Dallas Basketball - Sunday Morning Mavs Donuts: Dirk At The Elbow
I mentioned in my review of Rockets 116, Mavs 108 that the idea that poor refereeing might result in some sort of "do-over’’ is too unlikely to bother even mentioning. I’m reminded by Ziller, though, of what happened once in modern NBA history, and just a short time ago: So I guess I’m wrong to say it CAN’T happen. But I’m still right to say it WON’T.

All-Star trinket: Mark Cuban's vivid memory | DMN
Cuban said the All-Star Game has evolved from a spectacle to just a part of the season, though he believes it has expanded in many ways, including popularity, in recent seasons. "That's the biggest difference, the exposure," he said. "You used to see games so rarely that the All-Star Game was a big event. Now you can see games every night of the week. But the All-Star Game will always be special."

Spurs' Bonner sidelined by broken hand
Bonner will be re-examined on Monday before a final timetable for his return is announced, but he is certain to miss a significant number of games. He is optimistic his hiatus will last no more than a month. "It's not broken all the way through, so it should heal itself in about four weeks," he said. "That's about it."

Rockets at Mavs Open Thread

Wes Cox — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:30:50 -0000

Dallas favored by 6 | Over/Under 199 | The Dream Shake

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Friday Links

Wes Cox — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:40:45 -0000

More photos » by Larry W. Smith - NBAE/Getty Images

3 days ago: OKLAHOMA CITY - DECEMBER 16: Nick Collison #4 of the Oklahoma City Thunder goes for a rebound against Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game at the Ford Center on December 16, 2009 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Larry W. Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

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Dallas Mavericks guard Terry finds ways to contribute | Eddie Sefko - DMN
"They're double-teaming, both on pick-and-rolls and on pin-downs," coach Rick Carlisle said. "When that happens, he's got to be a facilitator for us and he has to have a level of patience. He's got to stay aggressive to score when the opportunities are there. But when people commit two to him, he's got to drag those guys, and then make the pass leading to a bucket." Terry has found that contributing in other ways, including staying in front of his man on defense, can be equally rewarding as filling up the basket. It also helps that the Mavericks are 19-7 and riding a five-game winning streak as Houston comes to town tonight.

Mavs' road to halfway point: Murderer's Row | Jeff Caplan - ESPNDallas
"The important thing now is even though we’ve won five in a row, is to stay hungry, not let any complacency creep in and try to work to maintain this momentum and carry it forward," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "That’s a challenge in this league. The teams that can do that end up being special teams, and the ones that can’t end up being average or also-rans."

Dallas Basketball - Friday Morning Mavs Donuts: The Indisputable Josh
But here's The Indisputable Josh: This year, the Mavs are a darn-goof 13-6 without him. With him, though, they are 6-1.

8. Dallas Mavericks Sometimes, this team is just, well, exquisite (pardon the snobbyness). ...

Wes Cox — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:31:13 -0000

8. Dallas Mavericks
Sometimes, this team is just, well, exquisite (pardon the snobbyness). Watching Jason Kidd run a fast break is still one of the most beautiful things in sports. Dirk Nowitzki is like an expert craftsman, and while Jason Terry is annoying in the same way Mo Williams is, his all-court game is criminally underrated.
But Dallas is also, well, predictable. Everything is pick-and-roll, pick-and-pop, pick-and-isolation to Dirk (okay, the last one isn't official NBA lingo, but I had to include it). They execute their plays so well, but they're still the same plays, and that can get old sometimes.
(Also, Rick Carlisle, can you please stop playing J.J. Barea? We want more Rodrigue Beaubois, aka Roddy Buckets. I mean, how many point guards can do this?

NBA 'Watchability' Scale: Ranking Every Team Based On Entertainment, Not Talent - SB Nation

Thursday Morning Roundup

Wes Cox — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:22:22 -0000

More photos » by Larry W. Smith - NBAE/Getty Images

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DB.com's Morning Donuts
"We're solving things out on the court as we go. We're talking, positive, and if something happens negative, somebody's there to jump on them. We're not criticizing, it's just that we need everybody. ... We got so many guys. Guys are used to getting 10 or 15 shots in rhythm. Tonight, you might get five. But that doesn't mean you're not important. We're going to need you. And we might need you to take 15 tomorrow. And make 10." In other words, as Rick Carlisle likes to say: "Be ready.''

Mavs 100, OKC 86: No Pink Slips For Dallas | Mike Fisher - DB.com
Nowitzki finished 13-of-18 for 35 points (the ninth time this year he�s gone 30-plus.) He did it inside (where he got 11 rebounds, meaning this is also his ninth double-double of the season), he did it outside (that rafter-rubbing 3-pointer with 1:43 left sent Dallas up by 10 and send the Oklahomans trudging out of the Ford Center) and he did it at the line (7-of-8, including a continuation of his crazy-clutch fourth-quarter/OT work, as he's now 55-of-55 at the line this season during those moments.)

Where It's At? Picking up the pace | Jeff Wade ESPNDallas
The Mavs really picked up the pace in the fourth quarter and held the Thunder to eight points in the final five minutes while Jason Kidd was directing the Mavericks offense with prime efficiency, turning a close game into a solid 14-point victory. But the Mavs have had lots of great defensive play in the second half recently. Holding opponents below 40-percent shooting in the period has been the norm since the New Jersey game. Only Phoenix has been able to fight through the Mavs' stingy final 24 efforts during that span to do damage.

Dallas Mavericks weather Thunder's storm for 100-86 win | Eddie Sefko - DMN
They ran their winning streak to a season-best-tying five and own a shiny 10-4 road record. And they did it with perseverance, defense and aggression against a good, young, energetic team. "This team sticks together," J.J. Barea said. "Last year in a game like this, we probably would have gotten down on ourselves. This could have gone the other way, too. But we stuck with it."

Mavs at Thunder Open Thread

Wes Cox — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:06:50 -0000

by John Raoux - AP

about 1 month ago: Oklahoma City Thunder players from left, Nenad Krstic, of Serbia, Nick Collison, Thabo Sefolosha, of Switzerland and Kevin Durant watch the final minutes of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic from the bench in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009. Orlando won 108-94. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

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Dallas Favored by 2.5 | Over/Under 194 | Welcome to Loud City

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Hornets at Mavs Open Thread

Wes Cox — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:21:01 -0000

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Bobcats at Mavs Open Thread

Wes Cox — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:14:38 -0000

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