| Role Reversal Authored by Jeff Stotts - January 15, 2006 - 5:45 pm
January 14, 2006. Remember that day. It could very well end up being the turning point in the Dallas Mavericks’ season. For the first time since being brought to Dallas in a 2004 sign-and-trade a healthy Erick Dampier, a man once often viewed as the missing link, came off the bench. In his place newcomer DeSagana Diop got the starting nod and the results were electrifying. Diop sparked a Maverick’s team who had struggled to get their engines going offensively as the Mavs trounced the New Jersey Nets 110-77.
Dampier’s demotion has been a long time coming. The 6’11” center has lacked energy all season long and has struggled to find an offensive rhythm. Yet, joining the second team may actually prove to be beneficial. When Damp is on the court with the starters he’s the fourth or fifth option offensively and as a result is limited in what he can accomplish. Coming off the bench Damp will be matched up against a weaker defender and should be able to get more opportunities in the low-post. Furthermore, Dampier is a player who rarely shows his emotions regardless of the situation of the game. While he may be playing hard and fighting, his undemonstrative body language often is misinterpreted as lethargic and listless, a stark contrast to Diop’s lively style.
Diop’s promotion to starter is a testament to what energy and hustle can do for a player in the NBA. He provides a spark not by scoring but by fighting for loose balls and making crucial blocks. His energy and enthusiasm spreads to the other players unlike the emotionless play of Dampier. Against New Jersey Diop was active early, fighting for boards and contesting shots. The Mavs responded with a lively offensive performance, something they have recently struggled to find. While Diop’s game is lacking offensively it is actually better suited for his new role due largely to the fact that he is fine being the last option on the offensive end.
Despite the rout over the Nets, the manner in which Dampier is handling the change may be even more impressive. He has not pouted and asked to be traded as some players in recent memory have. Instead he seems to have accepted it as a necessary move that may prove to be beneficial saying, “You just have to be professional about it. If I got to come off the bench for us to win, I'll do it." Damp’s attitude toward the move is quite possibly a result of Jerry Stackhouse’s influence. Stackhouse, a player skilled enough to start, knows that coming off the bench doesn’t mean you aren’t a key component to winning. It instead represents shifting roles to better the team as a whole, something Stackhouse has done effectively despite his belief that he could start. "I've bought into [coming off the bench], hoping there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,” said Stack. “But do I feel I could be starting on this team? Hell, yeah."
Despite having the third best record in the NBA the Dallas Mavericks know midseason adjustments must be made if they are serious about their championship aspirations. The Mavs only have to look at the Detroit Pistons to know that titles are won as a team with everyone accepting their role. The Mavericks are 1-0 with Dampier coming off the bench and hope that the move will only better an already potent team. |
