Dirk Nowitzki News

The Dallas Mavericks try to make it four straight wins when they host the Phoenix Suns tonight at American Airlines Center. via Sports Network

“San Antonio is the champion, they’re the champion”

DALLAS — For the Mavericks and Suns, like Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, being good hasn’t been good enough.

‘We’re still trying to reach the same goals,’ said Nowitzki about him and Nash, but he could have been referring to their two title-starved franchises. ‘We both won MVPs, but if we could trade the MVP trophy in for a championship we would do it. That’s what this league is all about.’

As the Suns arrive for the season’s first meeting against the Mavericks tonight at American Airlines Center, both clubs appear to be at near-identical stages. Read more

“We get paid good money to play the game of basketball. We ought to be enjoying ourselves.”

By JAN HUBBARD If the creative minds who develop video bits for the scoreboard screen at Mavericks games have been paying attention, a new feature to the tune of Bobby McFerrin’s Don’t Worry, Be Happy will … via Star-telegram.com

Dirk Nowitzki scored 11 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and the Dallas Mavericks shut down Dwight Howard the final three quarters, giving them just enough to hold off the Orlando Magic 111-108 Monday … via The Modesto Bee

“I don’t like playing with it — tape or braces”

The Pistons will have a chance Wednesday to spoil the Celtics’ bid to break their best-ever home start. via Detroit News

“I think over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been pressing too much. I just try to see it as basketball and not worry about stuff too much.”

HOUSTON — Curing some of those road blues was easy for the Mavericks. All they needed was a quick trip to their home away from home.

The Mavericks won for the second time this season and the third consecutive time overall in Houston with a 96-83 victory at the Toyota Center on Saturday night.

Dallas was only 5-7 on the road this season after going 31-10 last year, so a road victory was welcomed. In Houston, it’s turning out to be a sure thing.

‘That’s our rival and we always play each other tough,’ Jason Terry said, ‘and it’s been like that since I put a Maverick uniform on. It’s always a tough game.’ Read more

“Is that the guy that hasn’t even called me?”

SUMMER SCHOOL: Like many draft picks, Kevin Durant prepared for the start of his NBA career by playing in the Las Vegas summer league. via Home News Tribune - Sports

“It’s December now and it’s not really that early anymore. At some point, you’ve got to have a little sense of urgency. We’ve made a couple of steps in the right direction.”

HOUSTON — After a recent nine-game stretch that included only three victories, the Mavericks took a look at themselves and saw a dour team.

So they decided to get happy.

They also decided to approach the season in five-game increments. Setting a short term goal with a smile on their collective faces apparently is working, because they finished their first five-game stretch 4-1.

That included consecutive victories on consecutive night in different cities. And nothing makes Avery Johnson happier than winning on the second night. The Mavericks are 3-3 in such games this year. Read more

The Dallas Mavericks didn’t need a big comeback to win at Houston this time. Josh Howard scored 23 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 20 as the Mavericks beat the Rockets 96-83 on Saturday night, continuing to … via The Modesto Bee

“Sometimes, I want to put Dirk on a non-scorer”

The best offensive players in the NBA don’t always guard each other. In fact, sometimes they purposely are given other defensive assignments. via Dallas Morning News

Say cheese! Uh, nevermind. 1. For once, Steve Nash didn’t bleed Remember a few years back when Karl Malone delivered one of his patented elbows to the mug of a pre-MVP, Maverick’s jersey clad Steve Nash? Well, … via Sportscolumn Blog

“But even with him starting, Eddie Jones is not going to lead us to a championship”

Eddie Jones, sidelined for a month with an ankle sprain before he returned Wednesday at Toronto, gave a frank assessment of his new team.

‘We have to get better defensively,’ he said.

Recruited in the off-season by Mavericks coach Avery Johnson to add size in the backcourt as a defensive counter against the league’s higher scoring shooting guards and small forwards, the 6-foot-6 Jones said he’s finally in shape, pain-free and capable of boosting what has been an uncharacteristically lethargic and inconsistent defense. Read more

“Now, it’s calling specific plays for him, where we want the ball in his hands to give him an opportunity to do something”

Earlier in the season, already off to a terrific start, Josh Howard smiled and shook his head when asked if his explosive talent had reached a peak. via Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“It was clear as day I went for the ball”

At Wednesday morning’s shootaround, Mavericks coach Avery Johnson was asked how his team had twice in the past three seasons rallied from 24-point deficits to beat Toronto.

Johnson had his own inquiry.

‘My question is,’ Johnson said, ‘why have we been down so much?’

This time the Mavs, shooting 38.5 percent, were down by 19 in the second quarter and never got up.

The Raptors, getting 43 points from their bench and double-digit scoring from five players, won 92-76 in front of 19,800 fans at Air Canada Centre. The 76 points were a Mavs season low. Read more

“Don’t let that man hold a rifle, let alone drive a car”

Is Josh Howard ready to take over for a slumping Dirk Nowitzki? Mike Kahn says that might be the best thing for the Mavericks. via Fox Sports