Monday Morning Links

by Wes Cox on Nov 3, 2008 9:26 AM CST in News Comment 9 comments

Jeff Caplan has an article on Gerald Green and his understanding that he has a lot of work to do before he's set as a regular part of the rotation.

"What I have to do is just be ready. That’s the situation," Green said. "My number can be called at any time. Getting down on myself is not going to help me, it’s only going to hurt me.

"All I got to do is be ready to play and hopefully my number gets called, and if it doesn’t, I’ll just cheer my teammates on and just go day by day."

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Sefko writes about LeBron James before his only visit of the season to Dallas.

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Carlisle on Antoine Wright and the starting shooting guard position.

"I told him [Wright] he’s doing a lot of good things and to build on those and be ready. Things can change very quickly," Carlisle said. "The communication part of it is always the most important, to let guys know what’s expected."

Carlisle did not want to disclose who would start at shooting guard tonight against Cleveland.

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It sounds like Barea will be playing again tonight.

"He's back healthy now, which is important," coach Rick Carlisle said. "That knee injury that happened in Detroit was tough for him because he's the kind of player who needs to be at 95 or 100 percent to have all of his quickness and his juice out on the court. He's better now, and that's a real positive."

Barea said it was a "little bit of a surprise" that he didn't play in the opener.

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John Hollinger on the Mavs pace this season.

After just a single game, here's one prediction I can make with confidence: The Dallas Mavericks will not be 23rd in pace factor this season. The most notable development in the Mavs' 112-102 opening night loss to Houston was all the running they did -- with 23 fast-break points in the first half against one of the league's slowest, stodgiest defensive teams. In his Daily Dime report, Mr. Line quoted a scout saying the Mavs would play the fastest pace in the West, and while that's a serious stretch in a conference that includes Denver and Golden State, I could easily see Dallas being third.

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Around the NBA: The Thunder have won a game.

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ummmmm

The Pistons have reached a tentative agreement with the Nuggets to trade Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess in exchange for Allen Iverson.

by tyd3311 on Nov 3, 2008 10:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Weird

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/nov/03/nuggets-pistons-discuss-iverson—billups-deal/

Earlier “megadeal” ever?

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Nov 3, 2008 10:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

didnt see this

just posted this as a fan post… crazy deal so early

by zkmavz on Nov 3, 2008 11:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Wright will start

Somebody has to defend LeBron, right? Unless they want Kidd covering him, I think Wright starts tonight.

by ptrck on Nov 3, 2008 11:48 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think your're right

Unless Rick starts Howard on LeBron.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Nov 3, 2008 11:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe if Carlisle wants Lebron to have a career night..

Carlise inserted Wright into the starting lineup on opening night, not because he is a proven shut-down defender, but because he hoped he would get results similiar to what he got out of Green on Saturday.

If we want Lebron going off for 60 something points, then the best plan of action is to put Wright on him to start the game. The best thing you can do for an elite scorer is get his confidence up early by putting a garbage defender on him.

Lebron is averaging 19 ppg this season so far, so obviously he is due for a big one. Historically we have been pretty good to scorers who want to increase their scoring averages, so let’s not give Lebron any help, okay?

I predict Carlise goes with one of our more traditional lineups with Jet and Kidd guarding Mo Williams and D.West respectively, and Howard holding Lebron (at least to start the game).

I liked last game how Wright had a DNP – CD. I wish I saw that description next to Stack’s name for once though.

by JayKim41 on Nov 3, 2008 1:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hollinger agrees :-)

John (Dallas): Carlisle predictably has not settled on a starting lineup yet. Who do you think he’ll assign to check Lebron out of the gates tonight?

John Hollinger: (3:57 PM ET ) I think Josh Howard gets first crack, but of course a player like that you defend with the whole roster — and we may see a lot of zone.

by JayKim41 on Nov 3, 2008 2:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs