Guess what? It's our 2nd best Center.
KneeJerk Recap (TM) Jonthefon v1.13
The Mavs (beat/
lost to) [the Portland Trailblazers]¹ tonight (thanks to/despite) Dirk’s awesomeness. The (cloud in the silver lining/major culprit) once more was the lack of support from his team-mates, with the exception ofTyson Chandler/Jason Kidd². Especially useless wasJason Terry/Caron Butler/J.J. Barea/Shawn Marion/Brendan Haywood³ and it is (GUESS WHAT) THEY’RE ALMOSTNOTALL USELESS.
¹ Inserted Opponent
² Only one of them, mind you
³ Two at the minimum, up to all five of them.
Quotes
Coach Carlisle
(On the game) "I like the way we played from start to finish. It was a junked-up kind of game, so it was about making basketball plays. We made enough of those when it counted, and we got the stops that we needed."
(On the opponent actually playing some zone) "We had some difficult stretches. Their zone was a little frustrating. We were getting good shots and not hitting them early. The guys stuck with it. They just kept attacking hard and for the most part we did a pretty good job of attacking the zone."
(On the first quarter) "We gave up 25 shots in the first quarter, which is an inordinate number because of all the offensive rebounds and second chances. And that was the really disappointing part of the game - our start. But after that, you just have to keep working."
(On Alfred) "Butler has done a great job for us. He’s always aggressive. He plays an aggressive game. And he has no fear of big shots or big situations."
(On Clutch play) "Down the stretch, we were able to find ways to get Dirk the ball so he could sort of be the fulcrum of what was going on."
(On going 20-21 at the line) "We had a good night at the free-throw line. And in a game like this that’s a tight game, every points gonna count."
(On the Blazers) "Portland is a good team. They are experienced, you know, and they present major problems because of their size. Aldridge is a great player. Their wing guys are attackers and they kept putting pressure on us."
(On ups and downs) "This is NBA basketball. It is the best basketball in the world, and it is not going to be easy. You are going to have to fight for everything. Each possession is gonna be a challenge. Good teams are going to continue to attack. Hey, you know, when it got down to two or whatever it was, I like the way we gathered ourselves. We put the ball in the basket and were able to get stops. And that is what you’ve got to do."
(On the win) "We circled the wagons and got it together."
(About that awfully performing Backup C) "The backup center position, I'll just address that. I think it's important. Brendan is our guy. In situations where we feel we need a little more energy and quickness in the game, that's when we go to Ian. Brendan had a tough game. He was unable to get much going around the basket. But Brendan's going to be our guy on most nights.''
(Judging from his Body Language, Haywood just doesn't give a sh**) "If that's the case, there's probably some frustration. This guy's been a starting center for 10 years. We're asking him to do something that's a big adjustment. Shawn Marion has made the same adjustment. Brendan works hard. I guarantee you he'll be one of the first guys in here doing cardio. He's a big part of our team.''
Dirk Nowitzki
"I said NO! I'm not going to help you across the street..."
(Same **it, different game?) "We had a big lead there again, and just hit a bad stretch again. We just couldn’t get any stops."
(On 12 in the fourth) "We weren’t about to shoot them out of the zone, so I had to do something else. I was able to get to the high post, make a move there and then I got a layup and two free throws in the fourth quarter. It definitely helped me to get going. And then I was able to knock some big shots down. So, just finding a way. Sometimes all a shooter needs is a layup and two free throws."
(On the Centers) "We definitely need a one-two combo, like every team does. Brendan if he stays possible and keeps working, he's a guy we need. He's just got to keep working, like everybody else. Stop crying already, Brenda!'
Jason Kidd
Guys, stop acting your age....
(Why do you keep losing big leads?) "Through the season you try to be consistent. We’re being consistent in the sense of getting big leads and giving up them. It’s not a bad thing to struggle with."
(Really? I mean, really?) "We relax a little bit, so we’re relaxing and we give our opponent a chance to come back. "In the last four games we’ve had big leads and we give them up. We have to figure out how to maintain our focus and keep that lead where it’s at, 17 or 20, keep it above 10. Right now we’re just struggling with that."
(On crunchtime) "We found ourselves up only two and we had to figure out how to get a basket, because their zone was effective. So, we went to Dirk a couple of times to get them out of the zone, and he responded and made big plays for us. Again, when we win ball games, we always look at the defensive side first, and we got stops when we needed to."
Shawn Marion
"Coach talked about boxing out, that's what's ......oh." Don Knobler approves.
(On the game, the Blazers, the Mavs and the upcoming Suns next) "We got back in the W column. That’s all that matters. Now we’ve got to prepare ourselves for this next one."
Tyson Chandler
"Relax Caron, it's just a Rebound."
(Why did y'all suck on D for the most part, again?) "You know what, I think a lot of it has to do with schemes and rotations. We're getting mixed up a little bit, not understanding where our help is supposed to come from, and different plays we're over-helping and out of position and out of position for rebounds. It's just, I wouldn't say a lack of effort on the defensive end, but miscommunication. And that can be fixed."
(On getting big leads and subsequently losing them) "Defense can come and go in that sometimes, opponents shake you up. The effort can always be there and I feel like we make some great efforts, but they'll get a loose ball and still score. You're going to go through some times like that."
(On Haywood needing 10 Minutes to produce as much little as Mahinmi does in 3) "It's a tough situation. He's been used to starting his whole career and playing X amount of minutes. And he's being asked to do something that's so out of your norm. It takes a little while to adjust. And I fully expect him to be able to adjust.''
Blazers
Coach McMillan
(On the Game) "I thought we fought back. The second half I thought the first unit got a rhythm and had a good third quarter. We switched and went with a smaller lineup the last 5-6 minutes which got us back into the game."
(On LMA becoming Chucks' Granny, too) "We need that from Aldridge. I thought early he passed up some opportunities to go, and he got aggressive. That type of fight, physical play, establishing that post position is what we need from him nightly, and I thought he did a hell of job tonight down in the post for us."
(On the fourth) "The fourth quarter is all about making plays and Dirk Nowitzki made big plays tonight He made big shots down the stretch and one of those shots with LaMarcus Aldridge really all over him. Big play for him."
LMA(O)
LMA enjoys the all-you-can-eat Night at the Mavericks Rim.
Nevermind, i just looked at the picture again.
(On the near comeback) "It’s tough to deal with. But we’ve just got to take what we did to come back 17 down and start games off like that, more confident with a better rhythm. We came out kind of slow. We’ve got to start the game off better like that."
(On getting [stuff] in the fourth) "I went through a tough stretch in the third where I couldn’t make two free throws. But my teammates kept telling me to keep shooting. In the fourth, Brandon Roy checked in and said, ‘I’m coming to you.’ Once he said that I got a little more confident and started playing better."
(How special is it for you to get 35 Points in your hometown, becoming Charles Barkley's Grandmother and all?) "When we win it's special. Losing is never special. We had a chance there at the end. Dirk made two really tough shots, that’s what he does. We did our best to make the shots tough, but he still made them."
Andre 'MOTHER' Miller
Slow guys at work.
Per Quick
Miller was adamant that he was fouled while making a pass with 1:34 and the Blazers trailing 95-93. His pass never made it to Aldridge, instead falling into the hands of Dirk Nowitzki.
"They grabbed my whole wrist."
On the Blazers' next possession, Miller drove into the key, where he was met by Tyson Chandler and Jason Terry. He lost the ball, and for all intents and purposes, the Blazers lost the game. "They are not going to call that," Miller said. "Maybe at home but not here. I was trying to force them to make a call."
Vids
Transition Defense
Game Recap
Caron 'I figured it out. I'm only gonna talk to the Media after Home Wins in which i didn't suck.' Butler @ FSSW
Links
Blazersedge Recap
Hoopdata Boxscore (Check this: POR 17-21 at the Rim, Dal 16-18[Butler and Terry with the Bricks, ofc]. That is some shiddy Rim Protection.)
Timbo's Collection Frenzy
Obligatory Chuck's Granny Link is obligatory.
FT-Watch
Brendan Haywood made 2 Fts. Out of 2 FTA's. Celebration, Beaches! [nsfw]
20-20-4 Watch
Chandler 11-8-1 in 35 Minutes. Haywood 2-1-0 In 10 Minutes. Mahinmi 2-1-0 in 3 Minutes. Now you tell me which of these guys doesn't give a damn.
Bonus
"The Vanilla Gorilla Pimpslap."
Disclaimer: If you couldn't tell by now, all italic sentences are made up thoughts, not actual quotes. Also, timelines, hah?