Mavs Monday Donuts: Dwight's Plight, Cuban's Eval and Long Live Dirk
DONUT 1: DWIGHT'S PLIGHT
About a week ago, we wrote that just because Dwight Powell was being shut down for the entirety of this NBA preseason doesn't mean he won't be ready for the start of the NBA regular season.
The Dallas Mavericks cling to that hope today - which figures as a big day in DP's rehab from his hamstring problem.
“His return is not imminent,” coach Rick Carlisle said. "Monday’s going to tell a lot. He had an aggressive day in rehab on Saturday) ... Let’s see where he is Monday and go from there. I’m not going to say that he’s not playing Wednesday for sure because I don’t know that."
Dallas hosts the Washington Wizards at the AAC at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday amid much excitement ... but also some Powell concern.
DONUT 2: INJURY UPDATE
The Mavs did not practice on Sunday, so not only is DP continuing his rest and rehab, but Dorian Finney-Smith and Seth Curry probably appreciated the day off, too. Both practiced on Saturday, though, DFS dealing with his hip and Curry dealing with his knee. Both should be fine for the week going forward.
DONUT 3: LONG LIVE DIRK
Dirk Nowitzki is not on this roster. But after a 21-year presence, The UberMan lives here in spirit ... and in shooting contests.
Ah, yes. The One-Legged Euro Lean-Back 2.0. And 3.0.
DONUT 4: BY THE NUMBERS
Writer Tommy Beer asks on Twitter, "How dominant was James Harden in the preseason?''
And then Beer points out that the Rockets star led the league in total points with 187 (Steph Curry was second with 107), that he led the league in assists with 54 (Trae Young was second with 33) and that he led the league in made 3's with 26. (Eric Gordon was second with 19.)
I guess if we get to be excited about Luka's preseason numbers, Houston gets to be excited about Harden's right?
DONUT 5: IF RICK COACHED POKEMON?
My kids played Pokemon. So this is funny to me. And probably to you, too.
DONUT 6: ROSTER SHUFFLE
The signing of undrafted rookie forward Chad Brown of UCF - and then his almost-immediate release - was of course all about him hooking up with the Texas Legends.
Also expected to be on the G-League roster in Frisco are recent former Mavs campers Dakota Mathias, Aric Holman, and Yudai Baba. And they will be joined by two guys who figure to be featured in Frisco, Mavs' with Two-Way contract guys Antonius Cleveland and Josh Reaves.
What does Brown bring? As Bobby Karalla notes, the 6-9 big man impressed at the G-League Invitational due to a 7-foot-4 wingspan and due to him averaging 9.7 points in the games on 66.7 percent shooting in three games. He also blocked five shots in those games.
DONUT 7: QUOTABLE
“I’m not going to get into a big dissertation about the big picture. We know we want to take a big step forward. ... “Focusing on the Washington game. That’s all I can tell you.'' - Coach Rick Carlisle, with his game-face on ... on Saturday. For Wednesday's game.
“I’m not going to get into a big dissertation about the big picture. We know we want to take a big step forward. It becomes more challenging every year because top to bottom the league is even.
DONUT 8: GOOFBALLS
How many photos and videos do we need to see to grasp the concept of Mavs chemistry, keyed by Luka Doncic but now with Boban M. as his sidekick?
We don't need to see any more.
But we want to see lots more.
DONUT 9: CARLISLE'S CHOICE
The J.J. Barea comeback story is a grand one. But, we suggest here, it's not as grand as what Jalen Brunson is about to accomplish - or is about to accomplish if he's allowed to. "JJB vs. Jalen'' is here.
DONUT 10: TRAGIC TRUTH
The headline tells us that former Mavericks good guy Harrison Barnes plans to to pay for Atatiana Jefferson's funeral ... and no, we are not surprised.
DONUT 11: STEP BACK POD
It's the finest Mavs podcast in the land - in the opinion of none other than team owner Mark Cuban, who recently hung out with my guys Dalton Trigg and Matt Galatzan for this wide-ranging visit on the subject of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis and the NCAA.
USA Today
Click it and listen in!
DONUT 12: THE FINAL WORD
"Just try to treat people with respect, treat people the way you want to be treated. And that's how I approach life." - Dirk Nowitzki, some his final words as a Mav, and indeed ... Long Live Dirk.
