star-telegram.com: Jeff Caplan

Nowitzki beats buzzer as Mavs enter playoffs

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:04 CDT

By JEFF CAPLAN

DALLAS – Could it be that the mantle of hottest team in the West has passed from the Rockets to the Lakers to the Hornets to the Spurs to the Jazz to the … Dallas Mavericks?

The Mavs sure like the sound of that after Thursday night’s 97-94 victory over Utah that was just as tight, wild and fluid as the Western Conference standings.

Dirk Nowitzki, playing some of his most inspired basketball of the season – if not his career – on an ankle that might be 80 percent, hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds left. Jazz point guard Deron Williams had tied it with an improbable 3-point heave that banked in with 5.8 seconds left.

The Mavs hit the 50-win plateau and secured a playoff berth for the eighth consecutive season. They've ripped off three wins in a row and five of six, including three of four against West playoff contenders.

While they'll take pleasure, and probably some relief, in finally clinching a playoff spot, they might even enjoy a little sinister satisfaction at the Warriors' expense Thursday. Golden State lost to Denver and can no longer bump the Mavs out of the playoffs.

"Our playoff hopes didn't look good there for a while with me getting hurt and then we lost those three tough games in a row," Nowitzki said. "But we came together as a team and somehow we pulled it out."

After Williams, who finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, tied it at 94 – the eighth tie in a game that had 15 lead changes – the Mavs were out of timeouts and overtime seemed destined.

But Jason Kidd, who scored the Mavs' first seven points of the game to push them to an 18-4 lead, inbounded to Eddie Jones. He pushed it up and threw a perfect pass to Nowitzki, who was wide open at the left wing. His shot hit nothing but net, he raised his arm and the Mavs celebrated another big win against a team that came in having won seven of eight and four in a row.

"The MVP, you leave wide open like that? I don't know," Jones said. "I think we just kind of caught them off-guard because they thought we were going to call a timeout. We didn't have any, so it was a pretty good play for us."

While Nowitzki was all heart and determination again with 32 points, including 4-of-5 from behind the arc, hustling efforts team-wide, such as Brandon Bass' 14 points and Devean George's defense, made the win possible under tense circumstances. The Mavs were also without forward Josh Howard for nearly all of the third quarter and all of the fourth because of a bruised right knee.

Jason Terry stepped up with all 21 of his points in the second half. He and Nowitzki combined for 25 of the team's 30 points in the fourth quarter. Terry continually attacked the basket and made all six of his free-throw attempts, including the final two that put the Mavs up 94-91.

Leading 90-89, Erick Dampier ended a quiet night by getting a piece of Carlos Boozer's shot from the baseline. Boozer had just 10 points. The Mavs' ensuing possession might have been the most impressive of the night.

It lasted from the 1:28 mark until 29.8 seconds remained. Dampier had a tip-out on a missed shot, then the Mavs nearly threw it away several times, but somehow kept it in play. After a 20-second timeout, Nowitzki was nearly stripped by Williams, but he maintained control and sank a fallaway for a 92-89 lead.

"This is one game I really was keeping my eyes on and trying to take a look at our team and see how far we've come just in the physicality department," Mavs coach Avery Johnson said. "I thought we battled."

MAVS PLAYBOOK: Nowitzki casts doubts aside in healthy start

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 06:00 CDT

By JEFF CAPLAN

DALLAS -- Seemingly resigned to uncertainty after the Mavericks' morning shootaround, Dirk Nowitzki's dry voice did not offer a hint of assuredness of his imminent return Wednesday night.

If anything, he seemed disappointed. He called his Tuesday workout "not great," said his high left ankle sprain was still "sore" and he feared he couldn't move the way he must to be effective.

He seemed to say everything, but actually count himself out. Even coach Avery Johnson seemed grudgingly subdued.

"If I wait until I'm 100 percent, I think the regular season will be over," Nowitzki said after the shootaround, an ankle brace rising out of his high-top sneaker. "At some point, I know I have to play through some stuff, but I don't want to play where it really slows me down. It's got to be to the point where, OK, it's sore, but I can still move and make plays, I can push off and get to the basket the way I want to.

"I can't really tell you which game it is."

Then he said: "I'm never counting myself [out of] anything, we'll just have to see.... But, yeah, it's going to be tough tonight."

And then: "I can shoot, up and down, jump and shoot, maybe one dribble. But it's the movement, the stop on a dime, go back on 'D' on a turnover. It's the quick impact that's sore. The push-off, the jump-off of one leg, all those movements is what's giving me problems. That's where we're at right now."

And finally: "I try to come back usually around 85 to 90 [percent], and I know I can be confident in my movement. I don't think I'm quite at 85, but given the situation we're in, basically tied with three teams for the playoffs, I might have to come back a little earlier. I don't know."

He balked at the suggestion of a timetable.

At 7 p.m., Johnson announced, to some surprise, that Nowitzki was headed to the practice gym. They were going to "warm him up" and then let the team doctors examine him.

"Then we'll see after that," Johnson said.

At 7:30, active rosters were released, indicating which 12 players would be in uniform for each team.

Nowitzki's name was circled. He was active.

At 8:15, Nowitzki, in full game sweats, shot jumpers during pregame warmups. He moved gingerly.

At 8:20, the official starting lineups were released. Nowitzki was on it.

At 7:57 of the first quarter, the 7-footer scored his first basket, a hold-your-breath running layup assisted by Jason Kidd.

It might not be the stuff of Willis Reed, but what a day.

Stackhouse ailing

Jerry Stackhouse will miss at least a week and possibly 10 days, coach Avery Johnson said Wednesday. Stackhouse missed his third consecutive game with a groin strain.

"It's a tough break for us because we thought he was playing some of his best basketball," Johnson said.

MAVERICKS PLAYBOOK: Refs' quick T's aggravate Avery

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:46 CDT

By JEFF CAPLAN

DENVER -- A four-point play by Carmelo Anthony with 3:17 left in the third quarter, aided by technical fouls on Dallas coach Avery Johnson and Josh Howard, pushed the Denver Nuggets from a one-point lead to an 86-81 cushion in their 118-105 victory.

For Johnson, it was his second technical in three games and five in all this season.

"We're battling our butts off out there and we got two technicals," Johnson said. "I've definitely said worse. I'm the only coach in the league that says one word and gets a technical, and it doesn't even have to be a bad word; only coach in the league that gets technicals.

"Some guys just berate these guys over and over the whole game and I say one word after sitting down the first six or seven minutes of the quarter, technical. And it changes the whole momentum. You just got to have tougher skin than that."

Johnson said he was asking for a clarification on a foul called on Howard against Anthony.

"Bad call and we addressed it, that was it," Howard said. "He [official Bill Kennedy] felt it wasn't so he tech'd both of us."

The Nuggets shot 30 free throws to the Mavericks' 26. The Mavs were whistled for 23 personal fouls; the Nuggets 21. But Jerry Stackhouse, who picked up two technicals in Sunday's loss to San Antonio, felt the Nuggets had the advantage.

"We had a few drives to the basket, but they go to the line. They beat us to the bonus every quarter," Stackhouse said. "It's just hard. We felt we're attacking, getting bumped and not getting the benefit of the doubt. The bonus is huge because you're able to be aggressive and get bumped and go to the free-throw line as opposed to side-out. That's a chance to put points on the board. That helped them get back into the game."

Nene a no go

The Nuggets' Nene, a 6-foot-11, 250-pound forward, was in uniform for the first time since being diagnosed with testicular cancer, and he played the last 1:17 of the game. Denver coach George Karl had planned to play him in the second quarter.

Nene last played on Jan. 7. He underwent surgery Jan. 14 and last month underwent chemotherapy.

"Cancer is just a very powerful, psychological word that until you go through it, until you feel it, until the presence of it is in your heart and in your head you will never explain it," said Karl, a prostate cancer survivor who watched his son twice battle thyroid cancer.

"He [Nene] is a super athlete, a super-human talent who now has to play at the peak performance level and to get there, and quickly, is pretty remarkable."

Wiring issues

In two games without Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd has put up 29 points, 23 assists and 10 rebounds and has appeared much more confident and comfortable.

"I'm wired wrong." Kidd said. "When I have great scorers or guys who can put the ball in the basket, it tends to make me less aggressive. So with [Nowitzki] out, this is something that can help me be more aggressive... just to be who I am."

Breakdown

Why the Nuggets won: Once Denver shook its lethargic first-half play, it was off to the races. Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson combined for 63 points and the Mavs managed only 35 points in the first half after 70 in the first.

Three keys

Team rebounding: The Mavs won the battle decisively in the first half, but lost in the same way in the second and allowed 16 offensive boards.

MAVS PLAYBOOK: Loss of Dirk is a numbers game

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:45 CDT

By JEFF CAPLAN

DALLAS -- The scope of Dirk Nowitzki's impact on the Dallas Mavericks can seem staggering. Consider these numbers posted by the franchise scoring leader entering Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers:

Nowitzki had 365 more points than the next-highest scorer;

146 more rebounds;

205 more free-hrow attempts and free throws made;

127 more field-goal attempts;

78 more field-goals made;

33 more assists -- of course Devin Harris is gone and Jason Kidd will soon pass Nowitzki.

"When you're trying to replace somebody like Dirk, it's not the easiest thing to do," coach Avery Johnson said. "We'll have to try a lot of different things over these next couple of games."

Malik Allen drew the first start of the Dirk-less era -- Johnson opted to keep Brandon Bass coming off the bench -- but played only 2:21 before giving way to basically a four-guard lineup with Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, Josh Howard and Erick Dampier.

"Sometimes we'll be big," Johnson said, "and sometimes, probably, we'll be small."

Nowitzki, wearing a boot on his left foot as he watched Tuesday's game from the bench, has moved beyond the 48-hour period of battling swelling. Now he moves to the rehabilitation phase for his high left ankle sprain and left knee sprain he sustained Sunday.

"We really don't have a lot of margin for error now," Allen said. "It's an opportunity for our team. It's no secret we've been struggling. What better time for us to build some confidence than without our best player?

The club officially kept his status as out indefinitely, although internally, Johnson said, they have a better idea.

"From what I'm hearing he's doing really well, but what does that mean?" Johnson said. "It doesn't mean that he's going to be back any time soon. It's not a normal ankle sprain. I wish it was that."

Nets in play

The three former Nets not named Jason Kidd all saw time against the Clippers as Avery Johnson mixed and matched lineups.

Jamaal Magloire got his first action in five games and made a late first-quarter entrance. Antoine Wright entered in the second quarter and immediately showed he's unafraid to drive strong to the basket. He scored four quick points and finished with six.

"He figures to get some minutes because with Dirk [Nowitzki] not here everybody's in play," Avery Johnson said of Wright, the former Texas A&M star. "But, we've had a rotation that we've gone with, and those guys have played pretty decent basketball."

More freebies

The Mavs lost to the Celtics and Spurs by a combined 11 points and were outscored at the free-hrow line by 26, shooting 24 fewer free throws.

Kidd confident despite slump

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:04 CDT

By JEFF CAPLAN

DALLAS -- Jason Kidd turned 35 on Sunday, but after losing Dirk -- and then to the San Antonio Spurs -- he might feel even older.

The Dallas Mavericks are struggling, the offense isn't clicking and now Kidd's leadership with new teammates will be put to the test.

"This is the time you find leadership and you try to be the glue where everybody sticks together," Kidd said. "Everybody has that one goal and that's to win. That's what it comes down to. We're so close. So with that, this is where you have to stand up and be accountable. We have a lot of guys that can do that."

Is Kidd one?

"Am I a leader?" Kidd said, repeating the question. "I'm just one of the pieces to the puzzle that can help in that category."

The Mavs are 0-8 against winning teams since Kidd's arrival, and Sunday's point total was the lowest of Kidd's second tenure with the Mavs. He had seven points and five assists and continues to look out of sync in the half-court set.

"When you get in a situation like this, you don't want to make mistakes, and the game is about mistakes and how you capitalize on mistakes," he said. "For me, I've just got to stop thinking and react and be more aggressive."

Before the game, coach Avery Johnson said he has studied film from the Nets' NBA Finals seasons of 2000 and 2001. Johnson said the Mavs have changed "a lot of our offense" to suit Kidd.

"There are opportunities where we think he can push it even more, and we see windows of opportunity that he sometimes passes up," Johnson said. "He has the freedom to take those opportunities, but I just think he's been a little hesitant because he's always trying to make the pass."

Kidd hasn't scored in double figures in nine consecutive games and hasn't posted double-figure assists in four games. Johnson has encouraged Kidd to keep shooting no matter what and that "they'll live with the results."

"I've got to be myself and just play, just be aggressive, force the tempo," Kidd said. "In the second half we fell into their tempo of just walking the ball up and tried to play their offense instead of trying to be aggressive."

Stack sticking

Jerry Stackhouse started his eighth consecutive game at shooting guard, and it appears he'll remain in that role for the final 12 regular-season games. Avery Johnson said he's pleased with the rotation.

After averaging 23.6 minutes before becoming a regular starter, Stackhouse has played 29, 36 (a season-high) and 33 minutes against the Lakers, Celtics and Spurs, respectively.

Stackhouse was ejected Sunday with 13.9 seconds left after picking up his second technical foul.

Cuban patient

Mavs owner Mark Cuban said he'll let everyone else freak out about the Mavs' recent downturn -- of course that was before Dirk Nowitzki went down.

"Just call us the New York Giants," Cuban said, referring to the Super Bowl champs who were more or less written off before the playoffs. "We still have [12] games left to go. Between March and April a lot can change."

Briefly

The Mavs, seventh in the league in blocks, have had 12, 11 and 10, respectively, in the last three games.

MAVERICKS PLAYBOOK: Cuban venting is nothing new

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 05:36 CDT

By JEFF CAPLAN

DALLAS -- Brandon Bass was at the heart of an argument between Mavericks coach Avery Johnson and team owner Mark Cuban, concerning Bass' playing time and his performances against top teams, a source said.

Cuban, the source said, believes Bass hasn't produced consistently against top teams and that Johnson is playing the third-year power forward too much.

Cuban denied the encounter after Tuesday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers centered on Bass. The owner and the coach both downplayed it as a fiery, but not untypical, conversation between two passionate and stubborn personalities.

"No, it wasn't about Bass. It was just venting," Cuban answered by e-mail. He did not attend Thursday's game against the Celtics. "Happens all the time. Just like it has with former coaches. I've even blogged about it before.

"And anyone who says Bass doesn't show up for big games is an idiot and missed the Warriors and Spurs games."

Bass had 16 points and six rebounds in 30 minutes in the Feb. 28 loss at San Antonio. He posted 12 points and 11 rebounds in the Jan. 2 home win against the Warriors. Against the Celtics on Thursday, Bass had 10 points and five rebounds in 11 minutes.

In 13 games since Jan. 1 -- prior to Thursday night -- against the seven other West teams occupying playoff spots and East division leaders Boston, Detroit and Orlando, Bass has averaged 8.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in 20.9 minutes, practically mirroring his season averages of 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 20.4 minutes.

Bass, though, has had three tough outings this month against Utah, Houston and the Lakers on Tuesday. In those three games, he totaled 11 points and 11 rebounds.

"He's had an awfully good year for us," Johnson said. "Just unfortunately, he didn't have one of his good nights [Tuesday]."

Magloire wants shot

Jamaal Magloire said he's ready, but Avery Johnson said not quite.

"I feel fine," Magloire said. "I've been ready to play."

Johnson said the 6-foot-11 center, signed on Feb. 26 after the New Jersey Nets released him, is "getting closer.

"Right now we can't use everybody that we feel is not 100 percent," Johnson said.

Magloire was inactive Thursday for the sixth time in 12 games and third in a row. He's played a total of 19 minutes.

Meet halfway

Adjusting to certain differences between the Nets' and Mavs' offense and his new teammates have caused some issues for Jason Kidd.

So Avery Johnson said he and Kidd are trying to meet in the middle.

"We've changed some things around to try and accommodate his game," Johnson said. "We actually put in a whole new set that he loved to run in New Jersey. So we're trying to get him to meet us halfway."

C's could've been M's?

MAVERICKS PLAYBOOK: Mavs have taken the hard road

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:04 CDT

By JEFF CAPLAN

MIAMI -- The last time the Mavericks finished a season with a sub-.500 road record was 2003-04. At 16-25, it relegated them to the fifth seed and no home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Sacramento beat them 4-1, sweeping three at home.

Only Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard remain from that schizophrenic team, which set a franchise-record with 36 regular-season home wins (tied by last season's club).

Sunday's rout of the Heat moved the Mavs to 15-19 on the road, the fewest wins among the West's top eight teams. With seven of their final 15 games away -- and five against teams with at least 23 home wins -- how the Mavs fare on the road could determine whether they open the playoffs there.

"It's hard to focus on right now, we just want to get in at this point," Jason Terry said. "If you keep winning then you will have home court, and you've seen our record at home this year, it's no secret."

The Mavs are 29-4 on their home floor. After a three-game home stand starting Tuesday against the Lakers, then Celtics and Spurs, the Mavs face Denver, Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers on the last three-game trek of the season.

"It's definitely good to have home-court advantage," Erick Dampier said. "Every game down the stretch here is going to count."

Especially with the standings so compact. The Mavs still hold the seventh seed, but are only a half-game behind Phoenix and San Antonio for fifth and one behind New Orleans for third.

The top four seeds secure home-court advantage (unless a bottom-four seed finishes with a better record than a division winner automatically slotted into a top-four seed).

"We've had some positive signs with our [recent] road losses," coach Avery Johnson said, referencing close defeats at the Spurs, Lakers and Jazz. "We've been striving all year to get better around the middle of March, and we're still on target. Hopefully, our road woes will change some time for us at the end of the season."

Bench carousel

Devean George returned to the lineup Sunday after missing the past three games because of a bad back. His return kept Antoine Wright on the bench.

Avery Johnson used a second team of George, Tyronn Lue, Jason Terry, Brandon Bass and Malik Allen. At some point former starter Eddie Jones (knee) is expected to return.

In the final 15 games, Johnson has the interesting job of solidifying a playoff rotation.

"I don't think it's that tough," George said. "Everybody knows what's expected of them."

Tougher, smarter

Through a three-game losing streak followed by a five-game win streak, Avery Johnson has discovered new characteristics about his revamped roster.

"This particular team is much tougher mentally, they play a lot looser and it [has] a higher basketball IQ," Johnson said. "So I don't know where that's going to take us, but [they are] good qualities to have."

Shifting West

One bad week can sabotage playoff seeding. The Hornets, Suns and now the Spurs have experienced dropping from No. 1 to the bottom four. The Hornets have since clawed back to No. 3.

MAVS PLAYBOOK

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:39 CDT

By JEFF CAPLAN

DALLAS -- Malik Allen is a natural talker. In journalism parlance, he's a verbal gold mine. Ask him a question, he'll fill a notebook.

Mavericks coach Avery Johnson is also finding Allen's verbosity valuable on the court.

"I didn't know he talked that much on defense, which is good for us because we, historically, have been a quiet team," Johnson said. "So, anybody that says anything is good for us."

At 6-foot-10 and playing mostly center for the Mavs, Allen is showing himself to be more than a trade throw-in. And not just because he communicates with teammates on defense.

He's offered a dependable jump shot and, with increased minutes, his rebounds, just 2.7 a game with New Jersey, have also gone up. He has 15 rebounds in the last three games, although just one Wednesday.

Allen, in his seventh season, said so much talk about how the Mavs' interior defense would suffer without 7-foot DeSagana Diop around to fill the paint and block shots grew tiresome.

"Obviously, that's true, so you have to make up for it in other ways," Allen said. "I do take it as a challenge to play and compete at that position. Some guys may be bigger, so the big thing is trying to compete."

Johnson said Allen's talkative nature has rubbed off on others, such as third-year forward Brandon Bass.

"The funny thing is, this is the most I've ever heard Bass talk," Johnson said. "I don't know if he's scared of losing some playing time or he just figures he better say something. We've been trying to get him to talk for 60 games."

Kidd for 3

Jason Kidd was hovering around 36 percent shooting with the Nets, and his 3-point shooting was about 35 percent.

Since the trade, he's turned things around. Entering Wednesday's game, he was shooting 45.4 percent from the field and a whopping 60 percent from 3-point range, including 9-of-12 in the past four games.

Lue plays, Barea out

Guard J.J. Barea was relegated to the inactive list for Wednesday's game, the first time he's hasn't dressed since Jan. 11. The recent signing of veteran Tyronn Lue has pushed Barea back.

When Lue made his entrance at the 9:37 mark of the second quarter, he matched up against Bobcats guard Earl Boykins, who, at 5-5, is one of the few players shorter than Lue (6-0).

Strength in adversity

Jerry Stackhouse made his third straight start at shooting guard and said the adversity caused by rotation instability and the big trade should harden the team when it counts.

"We might be better suited to go into the playoffs this year than we were last year," he said.

Breakdown

Why the Mavericks won: One (half) and done: The Mavs shot 59.1 percent, had 21 assists on 26 field goals and outrebounded the Bobcats 25-13 in building a 67-45 halftime advantage.

MAVS PLAYBOOK: Stackhouse a defender

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:06 CDT

By JEFF CAPLAN

DALLAS -- Jerry Stackhouse started his second consecutive game at shooting guard Monday against New York. Out of necessity, he might stay there.

"We ran into some major issues with Jet [Jason Terry] and [Jason] Kidd starting together that we had to take a long look at," Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said.

The same problem exasperated Johnson when Devin Harris and Terry started together -- too small to start games. Johnson believed he could switch up and defensively position Kidd against shooting guards and Terry on point guards.

"It's just hard when Kidd has to guard the Kobe Bryants and [Tracy] McGradys when Jet is in the lineup. We may have gained some stuff on offense, but we thought that we suffered severely on defense."

Bryant and McGrady combined for 83 points in recent wins over the Mavs.

Kidd acknowledged that he's had trouble picking up Johnson's defensive scheme, which compounded his problems going up against bigger shooting guards that he's not accustomed to defending.

"Coach's principles are a lot different than in New Jersey, so that's probably the side I'm a little bit behind on and trying to catch up," Kidd said. "But, [11] games in now I have no excuses for making mistakes on the defensive end."

Wright fan

Antoine Wright is garnering more playing time in the past two games, and he thinks he knows why.

"I ran into Coach [Sunday] while I was eating and he told me that his wife said that he should play me more after the Houston game," Wright said. "So I think she got me in the game against the Nets. Hopefully, now that she's in my corner, I can get some more time."

With Devean George out with a stiff lower back, Wright received more quality playing time Monday, something he hopes will continue.

"I have to see him a little bit more. I haven't seen him long enough," Avery Johnson said.

Coming around?

The Mavs moved to 6-5 Monday with Jason Kidd in the lineup. Before Saturday's game, Johnson told the team no more excuses. Monday he said the meshing process has taken longer than he expected.

"Hopefully now that we're pushing them that we can't use that [the trade] as a crutch anymore, even though we know it's a fact, we've got to all get on the same page sooner rather than later."

Briefly

Dirk Nowitzki took an inadvertent shot to the right eye from Quentin Richardson in the first quarter. Nowitzki briefly left the game.

Newly signed point guard Tyronn Lue is expected to make his Mavs debut Wednesday against Charlotte, Avery Johnson said.

Breakdown

Why the Mavericks won: The Knicks, missing Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry, are, well, horrendous. No defense, poor shooting, little effort. The runnin' Mavs won't get an easier victory than this down the stretch.

MAVERICKS PLAYBOOK: Kidd pays little mind to Parker's comments

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:35 CST

By JEFF CAPLAN

SAN ANTONIO -- Jason Kidd took something of a passive-aggressive approach when asked about Tony Parker's comments that he liked the swap of Devin Harris and DeSagana Diop for Kidd.

"The big thing is I just go out there and do my job," Kidd said. "When I look at the best point guards like [John] Stockton and Gary [Payton], those guys, even later in their careers I always respected them because I felt they were the best until they left the game.

"Everybody has the right to their opinion about how they feel, so that's how he feels."

Parker had said Harris and Diop matched up well against the Spurs, so he was glad to see them go. The Spurs received a long, early look at the Mavs' new point guard, who played the entire first quarter.

With the West so tight and nearly every team making personnel moves, matchups from game to game should be intriguing. Teams are not only trying to mesh on the fly, but re-scheming against the new looks of their opponents.

The Suns are shifting with Shaquille O'Neal. The Lakers landed Pau Gasol and are anticipating the return of Andrew Bynum. The Rockets are in transition after the loss of Yao Ming.

And to a lesser extent, the Hornets are testing chemistry with the addition of Bonzi Wells, and the Spurs are breaking in newcomers Damon Stoudamire and Kurt Thomas.

"Usually by now everybody starts thinking about the playoffs, and each team is what each team is, so to speak, and everybody knows everybody," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "And you start thinking about, 'If we play them, we're going to do this, do that.'

"Now you're thinking, 'Whoa, whoa, I don't even know who they are.' So everybody is in that situation going down the stretch. There's much more emphasis on the end of the regular season because nobody wants to be seventh or eighth in the playoffs, and it could happen to any one of us."

Magloire inactive

Coach Avery Johnson chose to give newly signed Jamaal Magloire more time to become acclimated to his new team, deciding not to make a heated rivalry the center's debut. Magloire might not play until the next road trip at the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah starting Sunday."We're going to give him a little bit more time," Johnson said. "But, he's in a little bit better shape than what I thought."

Didn't look up

The last time Avery Johnson was in San Antonio, the Spurs retired his number, hanging a banner from the rafters of the AT&T Center. Johnson said he forgot to look up."My wife told me to look at it when I came in here, but I forgot," Johnson said. "I was thinking about [Tim] Duncan and [Manu] Ginobili."

Poppin' off

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is always good for a one-liner. When asked about his team's five-point first quarter against the Hawks on Monday night, Popovich said: "I fired the scorekeeper. I figured we scored more and he just didn't put it up. Probably a Republican that hated me."

Harris debuts

Devin Harris had a flying start in his first game with New Jersey on Thursday. Coming off a month-long ankle injury, he had 21 points and five assists in 21 minutes, including 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting in nine minutes of the first half.

WHY THE SPURS WON:

Tim Duncan was too strong with 31 points and 15 rebounds. Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki were the only Mavs starters to score in double figures. The team shot 43.2 percent overall and 28.6 percent from 3-point range.

Three keys