Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories
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Response time: Dallas Mavericks answering call to action
10:00 PM CST on Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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The Mavericks have run out of time.
They have run out of excuses.
If this team has found an identity, if they are to live up to their own lofty
expectations rather than succumb to the doubts of their critics, the players
and coaches will look back on the last 10 days as the turning point.
Introspection was thrust upon the Mavericks after a road trip that produced
losses of 24 and 34 points. The players didn't like what they saw any more
than the coaching staff or fans. Tension was high.
This was no time for all sides to hug it out. It called for action.
Rick Carlisle began by adding Darrell Armstrong to his coaching staff.
Armstrong, as a player, helped light an emotional fire under this team during
its rise to the Finals.
Carlisle met with Jason Kidd and told him to call the plays on offense. He
then met with the entire team and challenged them in a way he hadn't done all
season.
"Coach put it on us," guard Jason Terry said. "He said this is your team. I'm
letting you have it. If you guys want to piss it off and not play hard and
lose the rest of these games, go ahead."
Carlisle understands leadership doesn't mean you do everything yourself. Why
use a closed fist when an open hand is needed?
The players understand the onus to improve is on them. They acknowledge their
obligation is to play hard every night, an obligation they have too often
ignored as they complain about the rotation or grouse about a lack of focus
in how practice is structured.
"You can do something and respond and go out there and play your butt off, or
you can sit back on the bench and complain," Terry said. "If you're going to
sit on the bench and complain, we're going to leave you right on the bench.
"We're halfway through the season. There ain't no turning back and thinking
about what could have been. We have to play well and we have to play well
now."
The players can no longer talk about a sense of urgency and treat the season
with disdain. They can't carp about what is wrong and fail to hold each other
accountable.
A three-game winning streak heading into tonight's game against Portland is
their passionate response.
Carlisle wasn't the only one to speak or act in the aftermath of an
embarrassing 124-100 loss to Boston on national TV. No one will give
specifics, but forward Josh Howard concedes, "there were things said,"
between the players.
"It was intense," Terry said. "It was let's make a stand.
"We have the talent. That's not a question. It's about us mentally coming
ready to play every night."
All of this happened on Monday and Tuesday of last week. Carlisle alluded to
it after the victory over Orlando, saying his players made a recommitment to
each other.
"We are fighting for our identity," Kidd said.
The Mavericks may be too old, too flawed or too soft mentally to sustain this
effort. Time will tell.
But at least now they are fighting.
"I'm not saying this is going to be the cure-all, but it was a step in the
direction we needed to go," Terry said. "We obviously could have gone the
other way.
"We're in this thing, man. We believe we have a team that can compete in the
Western Conference."
TURNAROUND
The Mavs are 3-0 since losing to Boston on Jan. 25. A look at what a few
other Western Conference playoff contenders have done since then:
LA LAKERS: Lost Andrew Bynum to a knee injury.
NEW ORLEANS: 0-3 and Chris Paul is day-to-day with a groin strain.
HOUSTON: Lost to New York and Philadelphia.
PHOENIX: Lost to San Antonio and Chicago.
UTAH: 0-3 and lost Deron Williams to a thigh injury.
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