No real surprise in Dallas, right?

Kind of saw that one coming, didn’t you?

Back-to-back, good opponent, hangover from an unexpected win in New Orleans. Maybe not as bad as it was, but tell me who out there is surprised by the loss?

Anyway …

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THREE THINGS I LEARNED

Mental toughness? Not so much

I’m sure you read Jay’s quote about not falling prey to the excuse of playing back-to-backs, right?

“We have 19 of them. What are we going to do, just mail it in 19 times when we have a back-to-back? That can’t happen. We have to find a way to fight through it with mental toughness.”

Now, I’m not saying they entirely mailed it in on Saturday, there were stretches where they looked quite competent, but there were enough danger signs of mental fatigue that something needs to be done about it.

Jarrett Jack through threw a lazy cross-court pass late in the second quarter that turned into a breakaway dunk and was part of a horrid finish to the half by Toronto. Silly pass he should never make.

Chris Bosh lost Dirk Nowitzki a handful of times in transition and if there’s one guy never to lose in transition, it’s Dirk Nowitzki. A mental blip as much as a physical one.

I’m sure there were dozens of others and they have to be cleaned up.

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The Hump tale

Was asked in the in-game blog for a good Hump story and I actually remembered to do it.

We’re in Rome in the 2007 pre-season. The team’s staying at this opulent hotel in a square right by the train station and I’m about 15 blocks away, up and around a corner, in a ritzy Marriott that, I believe, is in the consulate district. Great hotel, nice area but kind of quiet.

Well, it’s the night after the Raptors-Celtics game, we’ve written, hung out by the team hotel in a great little outdoor bar, had a bite to eat while discussing the coming trip to Madrid.

Night’s over about 1 a.m., maybe 2 a.m. and as I walk home, I turn the corner of a dead street to wander the final steps to my hotel and who do I see standing there?

Hump. And Luke Jackson.

“Hey, dude, anything going on around here?”

Ah, no. I’m sure there’s a great piazza or two somewhere in Rome but this dead street in the wee hours of the morning isn’t it.-

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Learning on the fly

One thing the Mavericks did last night that confused the Raptors on offence was send a second defender at Bosh on the block from somewhere he wasn’t expecting it.

Usually, they double down with the guard on Bosh’s side, or from across the baseline with a big.

A few time Saturday night, they came diagonally from the other side of the top of the key and it caught Toronto off-guard.

Excellent move by Rick Carlisle – they did it just enough times that the Raptors weren’t sure when it was coming – and while Bosh did make a smart, easy pass once or twice, he also had at least one turnover on a bad pass.

You know they’ll be working on attacking that kind of double tomorrow at shootaround because teams are notorious for stealing stuff that works and other squads will be dissecting tape of the game today.

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In other news:

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Can you say overkill?

The Mavericks have a head coach, three assistant coaches, two player development coaches/game preparation and three player development coaches.

That enough for everyone?

And I need to find out what, exactly, the difference is between player development coach/game preparation and player development coach?

Do the latter not get to watch game film?

Are the former allowed only to work with players on game day?

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In Dallas, here’s how they celebrated the glorious triumph.

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If you’ve seen even a second of either of these road games, you must have seen Reggie Evans in action. He was out at midcourt seconds before the tip off in Dallas hugging everyone in sight, he spends entire timeouts huddled with coaches and teammates talking strategy. He’s omnipresent.

But he’s also hurt and they said all along that injured players weren’t going to travel, right? Well, word we got from Reggie is that he’s seeing another doctor while out on this journey to have him look at the sprained mid-foot that’s kept Evans out since about the middle of the pre-season.

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Someone’s going to ask so it’s time for a pre-emptive strike.

Allen Iverson has to be done, right? No way any team in the league should look at him after this latest issue, where he’s taken a “leave” from the Memphis Grizzlies and left the team in the middle of a road trip.

A good team isn’t going to touch him because this is now twice he’s balked at playing the role he’s best suited for at this point in his career, which is coming off the bench, and no good team needs him as a starter.

And why would a bad team want him? He’s not going to be part of any growth process of a team trying to build something – he doesn’t have that much time left in his game – and if you bring him in to start over some young kid, what kind of message does that send about wanting to develop players? No, I think – as I thought in the summer – this is the end of AI.

Now, if it's truly a family issue that's behind the departure, maybe Iverson can go back to the Grizzlies and resume his role coming off the bench. I wonder if that's the case, though.

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Let’s see, San Antonio today?

Loads of work to do – the mailbag’s got some unique questions as much about the process than anything game specific, there’s a newsletter to do for the PBWA and an off-day story to write – but there’s also the Riverwalk.

And if ex-San Antonian Rasho Nesterovic comes through, hopefully a good restaurant recommendation.

After all, I don’t have Shawn Sean Marks to help out any more. It was Marks, during his time with the Spurs during an NBA Final, who not only gave us the tip to head out of downtown to the Quarry Market to eat at one of the outdoor restaurants but he ended up in the same place as a table of grunts one off-night and sent us over a round of beverages.

Helluva guy, that Marks.

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One last story, if you don’t mind.

Was also asked last night about the last time Toronto won in Dallas, which was Dec. 30, 1999.

And when that date was mentioned, brought back memories for sure.

You recall that time, right? The Day Before Y2K and the world was possibly coming to an end, at least the world governed by computers, which weren’t going to be able to handle the change to the millennium.

Well, we noticed it to and, fearful of travel torture on an original itinerary that had us going home from Dallas through Chicago on Y2K Eve, there was some serious trepidation.

To the rescue comes Butch Carter, who offered me and Bill Harris – the lone two traveling grunts – a ride home with the team. First time we’d been on the charter and it spoiled commercial travel forever.

Not as opulent as this charter service – the plane was smaller, the service not quite as good, we had to sit with our backs to the front of the plane in the aft galley -- but, still. We were home before the carnage of Y2K.

Oh, right. No carnage. Well, we were home in time to really celebrate the millennium.

Comments

[LX]

You celebrated the millennium for a full year? That must have gotten a little wearisome sometime around March 2000, nine months before the new millennium began.

[Mike Kovacs]

A stat for the worry-warts: all of the Raps wins have been against teams on the 2 nd part of a back-to-back'

Also Jack 'threw' a pass.

Have a great off-day!

Blogger's note: Got it, thanks

[doug]

last night game creates no angst or worry for me....for one thing the Mavs are a good team, raptors on the road, back-to-back, 1-1 on this trip an Teaxas has always been a tough place for us to play......so it is what it is....Dirk although it sounds absurd is one of the most under-rated players in the league he doesn't get his due, some of those shots he made last night looked easy but they were not...the guy is a shooting machine...Jack just needs to start bringing it on a more consistent basis, thus far were not sure what were getting ...the old line for Joey can be inserted" good Jack or bad Jack"...we need good Jack more then the latter or not only will the second unit struggle but this team will...and although it seems to be the flavour of the week I am not a fan of this Jack-Calderon-Hedo triumverate on the floor at once for any lengthy minutes ....I think Jacks minutes right now would be better utilized havin him get some chemistry with the second unit guys.....

[Sean]

Doug, got to thinking. After watching the last few games and watching DeRozen, he looks extremely tentative and scared. How does this help with a players development? I don't think it has anything to do with his skill set, I think it's an intimidation being out there with 4 scorers and the fear of messing up and being yanked. I mean he has no room for error, and honestly I don't want him developing into a one dimensional "defensive" specialist cause he has way too much potential. So I think it's time to put him out there with the second unit where he can be more free and mess up once and a while also where he'll have a chance to showcase his offense. I mean him being on the wing with Jack and Belinelli isn't that bad. Your thoughts?

Blogger's note: My thoughts haven't changed, and won't. They're using him correctly

[Andrew23]

Someone else has to contribute especially in back 2 backs. Not much production from the bench last night. I must admit though I didn't see the game, when I got in Dallas was well ahead. I read the in game blog while waiting for the Fedor fight to come on.

[Andrew23]

Forgot 2 mention, giving up 129 points is totally unacceptable, unless u score at least 130.

[Blake Kennedy]

Doug:

Don't you mean you were home in time to celebrate "The Willenium"? Major props if you get that reference.

[LeeZ]

You know what? Dallas just beat 'em, plain and simple. When Dirk and Terry shoot like that (and quite a few of those shots were contested), you just gotta say, power to ya. On a positive note, there was one time when Bargs was on the wing and Bosh was driving the baseline on the opposite side, when Barg's man came over to double from the weak side. Without hesitating, Andrea ran right to the hoop and made himself available, Bosh passes it to him, and it's an easy dunk. Simple play, right? But the last player who would do that on anthing like a consistent basis was Charlie V. Needs to happen more often. Make 'em pay for doubling.

[Alan Squires]

Mike Kovacs:

The win over the hornets was not against a team on the 2nd part of a back-to-back

[TriggerHappy]

its Sean Marks.

[Prez]

Interesting nothing is ever mentioned in the sports columns about the decent job Amir is doing on boards. especially the offensive ones which are the most important. Like 3 and 4 a game. more then any one else in less minutes. altered shots, ties up ,steals. very good +- n yes leading the team at FT 90% n 56% shooting, At least JT sees it as he has increased his PT to 20+. sure he gets too many fouls but that is why they give u 6 in the NBA so use them all. give this kid some love n u all will be having some fun this season

[KX]

Sean Marks? Sorry maybe I'm talking about a different player?

[rob]

Doug,, a question about Iverson... if he refuses to play for the team ,,, can memphis void his contract,,,, do you see another Marbury case in this situtation? where iverson is asked to stay away from the team while getting paid or do you think he will seek a buyout and play the rest of his career in europe?
i was a big iverson fan and it is sad to see such a big talent wasted with such a small brain...

Blogger's note: Am sure there will be some negotiations if in fact he's left for good

[brothersteve]

What surprised me was the starters in that game ended up tied at 71.

Our bench got outscored 58-30 and shot just 36%. Antoine Wright throwing up 8 bricks going 1-9. And it wasn't just Jason Terry - all 7 bench players were effective scorers.

The starters who could make the excuse of being tired from playing 30 minutes + the night before shot the ball relatively well (48%) and played some semblance of defense. Not good enough obviously.

[Grits]

I agree with Jay's comments about 19 btb's (they were not in this game mentally), but I would like stats on btb's played by a team against teams that had the previous night or two off. Or let's break it down even further. What is the record for teams playing a btb against a team that has had 2 days off? Compare that with records in btb's when both teams are playing btb's. How about when travel is involved like the raptors had and the Mavs are waiting at home. My instinct like everyone else's is that it makes a huge difference. I would just be interested in the actual stats to see how pronounced the effect actually is.

[say what]

Mike, NO wasn't on a back-to-back.

[Tabber]

But since the world "celebrated" the new millenium at the end of 1999 (you apparently missed it, LX), Doug's facts are correct. The Y2K "crisis" was because of the change from the 19xx to 20xx and the necessity of going to 4-digit years from the early computer programmers' short-sighted 2-digit years, so any glitches would have occured Dec.31/1999 to Jan.01/2000. Sorry to queer your criticism, but you're welcome for the history lesson. I hope you paid attention, there'll be a quiz later!

[HopeCaper]

Hey Doug,
You are right no surprise. The whole team looked in the tank but if you are Jay do you rest the core players more in the 1st game or go for the win? Looks like Jay went for the win 1st nite, as they say, " a bird in hand....". While losing is no fun at least they get to see what adjustments they need to make. Lets hope the Spurs are not at their best!

[J]

I might be wrong, but I thought it was Sean Marks (not Shawn Marks). =)

[david]

Doug, in San Antonio, go eat at a genuine place called "Mexican Manhattan" just adjacent to the riverwallk. It sure beats all the generic suburban american restos along the riverwalk.
http://www.mexicanmanhattan.com/

[Joe]

Doug,

Don't get the Raptors use of fatigue as an excuse. If this is the case, two things come to mind:
1. Is conditioning being stressed during practice?
2. Why doesn't the NBA limit games to 3/week for each team. That we they could have 3 practice days and maybe a day off per week. You could have a 26 week season, 3 games/week, for a grand total of 78 games. Players would be fresher, fewer injuries would occur, and the poor stiff dishing out a ton of cash to see these millionaires would at least get full effort from them.

Other things:
1. Hedo doesn't seem to be finding a niche with this team. I know that Stan Van Gundy got on him a lot when his play went south. Triano should be doing the same.

2. DeRozan. Kid looks a bit lost but that's normal. Why aren't more plays being run for him to give him some confidence. This team still relies on Bosh on the inside too much and outside shooting. Once in a while, give it to DeRozan, Bellinelli etc. and let them go in off the wing. Gives the defence a different look and keeps them more honest.

[Andrew]

Doug,

I love your blog. Even when I don't agree with your analysis, it's always appreciated.

But Dude, that Hump story was boring.

[Ton de carlo]

I only saw the end of the first half and it seemed like the raptors were up to Dallas step for step. That is until the raptors decided to use Calderone and Jack together at the end of the half. The only good reason to use two point guards is to slow the game down say at the end of a game. Well the desired effect happened the raptors slowed right down as both players overdribbled passing the ball back and forth. The raptors momentum was killed and never recovered after that. On top of this obvious poor tactical decision both players were having poor shooting games and had no business being out there together at that point of the game.

[Jordan]

hey doug

what ever happened to Gord Herbert?

[Aditya]

agree with andrew, the hump story was boring....