DALLAS — In no way do the Dallas Mavericks want what happened to them on opening day to happen to them again in Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
A few minutes prior to the regular season opener against the Miami Heat, the Mavs raised their 2011 NBA championship banner into the American Airlines Centers rafters. It was a joyful and somewhat tearful moment for the Mavs.Then came the game, which the Mavs promptly lost, 105-94.Fast-forward to Wednesday, and the Mavs will receive their NBA championship rings in a ceremony prior to playing the Timberwolves.While Carlisle is looking forward to the 10-15 minute ring ceremony, he doesn't want that joyous occasion lingering into the actual game.“This has been a wonderful trilogy of experiences - the banner, the White House [visit on Jan. 9], and then the ring ceremony will be great,'' coach Rick Carlisle said. “But we've got to be able to go from that feel-good moment to getting ready to be a bunch of [butt] kickers against this team coming in here, because these guys beat us pretty convincingly the last game.''The T-Wolves tallied the last 15 points of the game to drill the Mavs, 99-82, on New Year's Day, in Minnesota. They also beat the Clippers in Los Angeles last Friday - a feat the Mavs failed to accomplish last Wednesday.“They're dangerous,'' Carlisle said. “They beat the Clippers a couple of nights after we lost to the Clippers out in LA.“They've won in LA. They're legit and we're going to have to be ready.''Guard Jason Kidd is very thankful for the rings. Yet he hopes the players can quickly put the emotional ceremony behind them.Kidd said: “Hopefully we learned the first time around on how to do that.''Dwain Price, 817-390-7760Do you like the Mavs title rings?
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