| Comeback Kids Authored by Jeff Stotts - February 27, 2006 - 4:19 pm
A never say die attitude and the ability to overcome adversity are attributes any championship quality team needs. After the past week I think it’s safe to say the Dallas Mavericks have these two traits covered. A 19 point rally against the Memphis Grizzlies and 24 point rally against the Toronto Raptors allowed the Mavs to lock up a franchise record 14 game home winning streak. The Mavs are now 9 for 18 when trailing by double digits at some point in the game. However as fun and exciting as comebacks are, these Mavericks know that allowing teams to jump on them early and build a substantial lead is like playing with fire, eventually you are going to get burned.
"We need to play better," said swingman Jerry Stackhouse. "We don't want to get into a habit of relying on having to come back from double-digit deficits.”
While Memphis is a quality team and bullied the Mavericks in November there is no reason a team like Toronto should build a 24 point lead over the Mavericks especially when the game is in Dallas. The energy supplied by the fans played a huge part in both victories and Coach Avery Johnson was quick to point that out, giving credit to the fans for the Memphis win. However, the Mavs know that the fans don’t travel and understand you can’t spot elite teams like the Spurs or the Pistons 24 points and expect to win.
Even though Coach Johnson has taken the blame for the team’s lackadaisical early play, he shouldn’t have to shoulder the majority of the responsibility. Early turnovers and mental mistakes are the fault of the players not the coaching staff. In addition, the absence of Josh Howard can help explain the lackluster start against the Raptors especially when you look at his first quarter play over the last several games. Against the Clippers, J-Ho was everywhere supplying 12 first quarter points to pace the Mavs. In the following game versus the Grizzlies the Wake Forest product chipped in seven points on a dunk, a three pointer, and a long range jumper all before reinjurying his tender right ankle. While Stackhouse filled in for Howard against the Raptors, he failed to match what Howard brings and eventually opted to come off the bench in the second half. Howard’s game has evolved quickly in his first threes in the NBA and as a result he has become a dangerous weapon for Dallas and an energy catalyst for his play on both ends of the floor.
The upcoming week sees the Mavericks playing against several legitimate teams including the Philadelphia 76ers and Thursday’s showdown with the Spurs in San Antonio. Energy will be the key to avoiding any early game breakdowns and the potential return of Howard should help out. Coach Johnson also plans to try more first quarter traps to ignite his team and maintain high energy levels throughout the course of the game. While Devin Harris’ absence, thanks to a quadriceps strain, removes a huge spark from the bench the Mavericks can expect wily veteran Darrell Armstrong to lend a helping hand. However if the energy isn’t there and the Mavs begin to trail don’t count the Mavericks out just yet. “This team never, never quits," said Armstrong.
Just ask the Raptors. |
