Sunday Morning Links

Caplan writes about the Mavs horrifying free throw differential after five games.

"We've got to get the ball inside," he said. "We've got to get to the free-throw line because we're letting our opponents get to the free-throw line and now we're relying on that 3 to kind of catch us up."

Opponents have shot 47 more free throws and made 44 more than the Mavs. That's nearly a nine-point differential per game.

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Josh Howard did not practice yesterday and is questionable for today's game.

"I’m going to wait until [today] to find out," Howard said Saturday. "Game-time decision."

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David Moore has a good article this morning on the adjustments the Mavs are still trying to make from Avery to Carlisle.

"Everything is different," Nowitzki said. "We don't call anything like we did last year offensively or defensively. In practice sometimes, it's not a problem. In a game situation, where calls come in a split second, and you have to react the right away...

"Old habits are in there, too. Pick-and-roll coverages are messed up here and there. We've got to keep working. That's the only way we're going to get it done."

"The thing you learn about Carlisle is he's going to roll with whoever is playing well," Nowitzki said. "You saw that in the Minnesota game. Our bench was playing well, and we were up 11 points in the fourth quarter. I didn't come in until like 4 ½ minutes were left.

"He doesn't have a certain rotation or subs after the clock like some other coaches do. He's going to roll with the flow."

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Caplan asked Carlisle about the backup PG/SG spot.

Antoine Wright and Jerry Stackhouse have started at shooting guard, but Terry could remain the starter because Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said he prefers Terry to be in the flow of the game before taking over at the point.

"That’s a scenario we like, but you’re not always going to be able to do it because of fouls and situational things," Carlisle said. "Look, Barea is still in the picture; we have a lot of ways we can go. We’re leaving our options open."

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Gerald Green says not only will he not participate in the dunk contest this year if asked, but he's never going to dunk again.

“I already won it and I want to detach myself from that label. I want to be more than just a dunker! As a matter of fact I ain’t dunking in games anymore either. You are going to see me come down for a breakaway and I am going to lay it in! I can hear the fans booing already!”

I'm calling his bluff.

“Don’t get me wrong if there is a crowd of people and I get it…I am going to go up and dunk the sh*t out of it! But I need to show people that I am more than just a dunker!”

That's more like it.

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Erick Dampier -- 5th most underrated player in the NBA?