Fort Worth Star Telegram Logo

Mavericks notes: Cramming for exam paying off for Larkin | Fort Worth Star-Telegram

×
  • E-edition
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Newsletters

    • Local
    • Fort Worth
    • Arlington
    • Northeast Tarrant
    • Texas
    • Crime & Courts
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • Bud Kennedy
    • Databases
    • Nation and World
    • Cowboys
    • Rangers
    • TCU
    • Mac Engel
    • Colleges
    • Mavericks
    • Motorsports
    • Stars
    • High School Sports
    • Scores & Schedules
    • All Sports
    • Football
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Boys Basketball
    • Girls Basketball
    • Editorials
    • Letters
    • Submit a letter
    • Cheers and Jeers
    • Submit a Cheer or Jeer
    • Bud Kennedy
    • Michael Ryan
    • Cynthia M. Allen
    • Other Voices
    • Business
    • Growth
    • Restaurants
    • Arts & Culture
    • Movies
    • Things To Do
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Party Pics
    • Horoscopes
    • Comics
    • Contests
    • Puzzles and Games
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts
    • Health & Fitness
    • Indulge
    • The Keller Magazine
    • Neil Sperry
    • Social Eyes
    • Dear Abby
    • Weddings
    • Arlington Citizen-Journal
    • Keller Citizen
    • Star-Telegram Northeast
    • Mansfield News-Mirror
    • Weatherford Star-Telegram
    • La Estrella
    • Locales
    • Noticias
    • Deportes
    • Entretenimiento
    • Contáctenos
    • Media Kit
    • Today's Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Submit an Obituary

    • All Weddings
    • Announcements
    • Bridal Show
    • Contact Us
    • Inspiration
    • News & Advice
    • Vendors
    • Hispanic Heritage
    • Cancer Awareness
    • Healthy Lifestyle
    • Dining, Entertaining
    • Breast Cancer Awareness
    • Think Green
    • Money Matters
    • All About Pets
    • Careers and Business
    • Health and Wellness
    • How To...
    • Women Today
    • Family and Parenting
    • Easy Living Tips
    • Lawn and Garden
    • Giving Back
    • Men Today
    • On the Road 1
    • On the Road 2
  • Public Notices
  • Local Deals
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
  • Mobile & Apps

Tablet Sports

Mavericks notes: Cramming for exam paying off for Larkin

By Dwain Price - dprice@star-telegram.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

December 19, 2013 12:13 AM

Because of an injury over the summer, Dallas Mavericks point guard Shane Larkin has been playing catchup this entire season.

However, the rookie from Miami has finally caught up to the point where he’s been receiving significant playing time.

For Larkin, it all began during the Mavs’ 112-97 blowout loss in Sacramento on Dec. 9. In that game, Larkin played only 11 minutes but produced 10 points, three steals and two assists while catching the eye of coach Rick Carlisle.

In the previous three games entering Wednesday’s contest against Memphis, Larkin manufactured 17 points, nine assists and four steals in 47 minutes while converting 7 of 16 shots.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

“He got in the second half of the Sacramento game and got up defensively — in the game we were getting beat bad — and he made two or three steals and he made things happen,” Carlisle said. “And he brought his speed, quickness and some tenacity to the game and that’s gotten him back out there on the floor the last couple of games.”

It’s been a long, painful road back for Larkin, who fractured his right ankle in July and subsequently missed the entire summer league, training camp, preseason and first 10 games of the regular season before playing Nov. 18 against Philadelphia.

“He’s behind the curve because he had such a late start with everything,” Carlisle said. “He’s cramming for an exam.”

While “cramming for an exam,” Larkin has been tested while dueling with fellow rookie Gal Mekel for playing time behind starting point guard Jose Calderon. And it’s not etched in stone which rookie has enough passing grades to receive the upper hand.

“It’s just got to depend on how things go on in practices, matchups, a gut feel,” Carlisle said. “From that position we need a little of everything.

“We need speed and quickness, which is Shane’s forte. We need lane penetration and playmaking, which is Gal’s forte.”

What the Mavs need most from Larkin and Mekel is better protection of the ball and the savvy play that Calderon brings to the court.

“Gal is one of our better on-the-ball perimeter guys in terms of just keeping people in front and using his strength, and Shane’s got more of a quickness side to his game,” Carlisle said. “He and Gal are two little different kind of guys.”

Energized bench

While he was home sick Saturday and watching his team defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 106-93, Carlisle was looking for some subtle things the Mavs were doing.

“I’m watching the energy of the bench during the game,” Carlisle said. “That’s one of the key things I’m looking at to see if guys are into it.

“When we won the game in Portland, it was one of our better nights of the year when guys were really into the game — New Orleans as well. It speaks to the involvement of everyone in everything that’s going on.”

  Comments  

Videos

Rangers manager Chris Woodward preparing for Choo to be his leadoff hitter

1999: 3 firefighters killed in Precious Faith Temple fire

View More Video

Trending Stories

TCU’s Schlossnagle rips new NCAA rule: ‘It’s a dumb rule. It’s dumb. It’s horrible.’

February 22, 2019 10:00 AM

The Cowboys may have the most salary cap space ever. Here’s what they could do with it

February 22, 2019 01:03 PM

This is the reason why the Cowboys have not gone all in with DeMarcus Lawrence... yet

February 22, 2019 06:30 AM

The NFL MVP is in town for training, but his puppy is the real winner here

February 22, 2019 06:25 PM

Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic to miss Friday’s game vs. Nuggets with injury

February 22, 2019 06:25 PM

Read Next

Cowboys, Tony Romo continue their redemption drama

Gil LeBreton

Cowboys, Tony Romo continue their redemption drama

By Gil LeBreton

glebreton@star-telegram.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

December 15, 2014 12:12 AM

Always with the drama.

For the Dallas Cowboys, a quick and stunning 21-0 lead over the favored Philadelphia Eagles apparently wasn’t theatrical enough.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE TABLET SPORTS

Cowboys notes: Murray held down, but on 1,900-yard pace

Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys notes: Murray held down, but on 1,900-yard pace

December 15, 2014 12:16 AM
For Dez Bryant, it’s as easy as 1-2-3

Dallas Cowboys

For Dez Bryant, it’s as easy as 1-2-3

December 15, 2014 12:19 AM
Chandler: No joy in NY woes

Tablet Sports

Chandler: No joy in NY woes

December 15, 2014 11:31 PM
Cowboys exact revenge on Eagles for Thanksgiving beating, seize control of NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys exact revenge on Eagles for Thanksgiving beating, seize control of NFC East

December 14, 2014 08:59 PM
Defense recovers to save Cowboys from meltdown

Dallas Cowboys

Defense recovers to save Cowboys from meltdown

December 14, 2014 11:22 PM
Frogs answer defensive questions, earn first 10-0 start

TCU

Frogs answer defensive questions, earn first 10-0 start

December 13, 2014 10:27 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story