Dirk Nowitzki News

“Obviously, injuries, or in Devin’s situation, having to leave for family reasons, you can’t necessarily plan on that stuff. At some point we hope to have a string of games where we can have the same lineup out there consistently.”

PORTLAND, Ore. — Sometime soon, the Mavericks are bound to play a game with their full complement of players, or at least the same starting five. Saturday night the constant shuffling finally cooled off their hot start.

With Devin Harris back in Dallas tending to a family matter and missing his third game, the Mavs rolled out a different starting lineup for the fourth time in six games.

This time their impressive depth couldn’t bail them out. Led by Brandon Roy and Texas ex LaMarcus Aldridge, the Trail Blazers ran away with a 91-82 victory Saturday night at the Rose Garden, snapping the Mavs’ three-game winning streak. Read more

Filed under: Oregon Sports - theorego @ 9:19 pm Albany Times Union NBA: Nowitzki struggles as Mavericks lose to Trail Blazers Bangkok Post, Thailand - 11 hours ago By Paul Levine Los Angeles - A rare poor game … via The Oregon News Blog

“Running straight ahead I’m fine”

Erick Dampier’s return to the Mavericks lineup is imminent. The center continues to build the strength he lost after off-season shoulder surgery. via Dallas Morning News

The Dallas Mavericks shoot for their fourth straight win when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers tonight at the Rose Garden. via Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“Well, you know, that’s not really my kind of mentality”

According to Magic Johnson, honor demanded that Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki reclaim his manhood from the Warriors on Thursday night with his fists. via Inside Bay Area

“We can’t go back and live off of that series”

When the Dallas Mavericks arrive tonight at Oracle Arena, Warriors forward Al Harrington expects them to seek nothing less than retribution for last season’s shocking playoff loss. via San Jose Mercury News

“This is the end of all the drama I’ve been in the last few years”

When Golden State hosts the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night in a rematch of last season’s historic playoff upset, the player who led the Warriors’ defensive charge will have the best seat in his house. via Montereyherald.com

“Stack probably wouldn’t have thrown me that pass last year”

If you didn’t see it, then I won’t blame you for not believing it. Not one bit. I can’t lie, I had to watch the scoreboard replay for verification. via Quick

Jason Terry’s bid to become Sixth Man of the Year is off to quite a start. Asked to provide instant offense from the bench, Terry did so Monday night, scoring 31 points and guiding a late 14-4 run that carried … via WFAA-TV Dallas

“Mike Dunleavy Jr. scored 27 points to lead six players in double figures as the surprising Indiana Pacers improved to 3-0 with a 121-111 win at Memphis Grizzlies. Spanish star Paul Gasol had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the winless Grizzlies (0-3).”

“Mike Dunleavy Jr. scored 27 points to lead six players in double figures as the surprising Indiana Pacers improved to 3-0 with a 121-111 win at Memphis Grizzlies. via Nerve News

“I think the drinking part has been overstated.”

Texas Motor Speedway general manager Eddie Gossage had a good idea for a joke at a news conference to introduce Dirk Nowitzki. But the joke was close to the truth.

Gossage thought it would be funny to introduce the Mavericks forward, who gave the start-engine command at Sunday’s Dickies 500, as ‘one of America’s great comedians,’ and then say, ‘Oops, wrong card.’

He got a laugh, but Nowitzki made him look good. Dirk sounded a lot like a good comedian.

Looking at the reporters — some working, some not — assembled in the infield media center as he took a question from Gossage, Nowitzki said, ‘Half of them are not paying attention. What are they doing? Are they writing already?’ Read more

“It helped me as far as being a leader”

Hard feelings are inevitable when a player is cut. Nobody likes being told they are no longer needed. via WFAA-TV Dallas

“Hopefully, I was doing something right in the preseason”

Misery loves company. And while getting to the brink of a championship and failing isn’t exactly misery to the coaches who have done it the last two seasons, it’s still a fraternity of sorts. via WFAA-TV Dallas

“Speculation is the easiest thing in the world”

Maybe you hurt and will be slow to give your trust back to the Mavericks. Or maybe you fall into a more cynical camp, one that asks only to be awakened when the regular season is over. via Quick

Jason Terry scored 24 points, Dirk Nowitzki added 15 and Dallas opened 2007-08 with a 92-74 victory over Cleveland on Wednesday night. via Arizona Daily Sun