What the Dallas Mavericks and the Milwaukee Bucks said
after Game Eleven of the Perfect Season.
Quotes
Mavericks
Coach Carlisle
(On Bogutless Bucks) "Actually, I'm pleased tonight because we found out before the game that Bogut had been sent home because of concussion symptoms. What it meant for us was that there's going to be a lot more quickness in the game, and that's a big challenge, because we're a long and knowledgeable team, and our athleticism is good. But from top to bottom quickness is not our forte."
(On spreading the Wealth) "We got even contributions from top to bottom."
(On West) "I know that from talking to him, for many, many years he patterned his game to try and play like Jason Kidd. He has that kind of respect for him as a player. And just the way that Jason plays, the total game is something that Delonte really feels is important. It's something that he took personal to try and fill in and try to get the job done."
(On West's Replacement stint so far) "He's given us a lot out here. Above all he's given us a high level of competitiveness."
(On Beaubois) "Roddy’s getting better. His penetration was more north-south and his defensive intensity had been turned up several notches. He’s just got to keep trending the right way because he’s getting better."
(On Dirk hitting 23k) "He’s one of 12 or 13 players to be a 10-time All-Star, a league MVP and a Finals MVP. So, that puts him in the top 12 or 13. I don’t think that can be disputed. He’s had a staggeringly awesome career. There’s no debate now, he’s up there."
(On what the Mavs did best in this game) "The thing I thought we did best tonight was respect the opponent. The guys followed the game plan. We approached the game with tenacity, because playing back-to-back at home is an opportunity. You’ve got a chance to play two in two nights with two potential wins."
(On the Championship Hangover) "Reality hit us pretty quickly. The first two games helped us with our conditioning a little bit. It helped us get our minds pointed in the right direction. And we came out with a lot of fight after that. It’s competing, it’s fight, it’s all those things that are really key to this year. Yet, at the same time, it’s fragile. You can never feel that you have things figured out in this league, ever."
(On the Mavs) "We're nowhere near a finished product. We're light years from being a finished product, but we want to keep doing the right things. The more hard games we play in and find a way to win, those kind of things help you build. The tough thing is when you string some wins together, they prepare for you even more. That's what makes every game challenging."
(On the Season) "I've said this and I'll continue to say it, this season is going to be about depth, energy and spirit, and just keeping everybody into it. The teams that can do that are going to have a chance to be successful.''
Dirk Nowitzki
(On 23k) "All the milestones are gonna be great when I look back on my career in 10-15 years. But as of right now, I’m trying to keep going and trying to help this team and franchise win as many games as I can. We’ve been playing better, so that’s really what I’m worried about right now."
(On Ringtalk with S.Jackson - Let the King talk) "Yeah, we had a little conversation, but he was talking to everybody out there. But that's his game. He's a competitor and lets you know about it."
(TELL US MOAR) "We were talking about some rings, talking about all sorts of stuff, life in general. No, he's a competitor, but this was definitely a big win for us."
(Only 20 Assists) "Ultimately we want to go where we were last year, and that’s a move-the-ball team that plays unselfish, finds the open guy and knocks some shots down."
Jason Terry
(On 23k) "A lot of those 23,000 I shared with him. You know, just a great player. As he continues to wind down his career, he’s going to continue to pass more and more milestones, and it’s just the Hall of Famer that he is."
(What if) "We expect to win these games and tomorrow is another game that we expect to come out and play well. And if we don’t, it will be disappointing."
Delonte West
(On Kidd-Comparisons) "They used to call me Little Kidd with the green eyes. I used to wear his shoes all the time. Coming into the league being a big guard, Gary Payton, I guess they grew up together in Oakland battling against each other. He used to tell me all the time I reminded him of Kidd.
(On the lack of triple doubles) "Of course I’m still working on my first triple-double. I told you I plan on playing 20 more years, so I’ve got a lot of time.
(But can you get a Triple-double?) That’s one of my biggest questions, how do I do it?’’
(On likely being relegated to a lesser role when Kidd returns) "I’m just embracing this opportunity I have to learn from a guy like that. Like I said, we’re just praying for a speedy recovery so he can get back in the flow of things leading this team.’’
(On Carlisle) "He’s not going to allow us to use the lockout, age, nothing as an excuse. You’re starting to see the results of that."
(On being under the radar) "Don’t worry about us old guys. We like it just the way it is, keep the attention over there somewhere."
Rodrigue Beaubois
(Hey, it appears you can still play basketball) "I just need to keep pushing myself. I just need to play basketball and use everything I know, my mind and obviously I need to use my speed and my athletic abilities."
(On the bench) "Well, we know that when we go out on the court we have to play hard. We have to bring a lot of energy, because the first unit is doing a very good job, so we just need to keep pushing, keep being aggressive. And we have to keep playing like this all season, because our bench is going to be big for us."
Shawn Marion
(On streaking) "We just have to take it one game at a time. We’re still taking baby steps right now."
Brendan Haywood
(On the Mavs) "We knew the first couple of games weren’t who we really are. We knew we were going to get better. Those games count on our record and it wasn’t pretty at all, but we knew that’s not who the Dallas Mavericks were going to be for the course of the season."
Jianlian Yi
(On his first Bucket as a Maverick) "It felt great. I’m really excited to be on a championship team."
(On playing Center or PF) "For me, it doesn’t matter, I can play both positions. I’m just going to go do my thing."
Vince Carter
(On his first-quarter performance) "I was just trying to give our team a little life at the start. You have to hit first, because we’ve seen teams hit us first and it’s effective."
(On the Mavs) "We know every time we step out on the court everybody wants to play the world champs and beat the world champs."
Lamar Odom
(On Honesty-Gate) "That's what happens sometimes when you open up. I admitted to not being prepared. Things happen. Life is life."
(Was the article unjust in your eyes?) "Yeah. Some people might take it as you just chose not to do anything. That's not right and not right for him to kind of put that in the air. Not when I'm being honest with him and letting him know what's going on in my life. That was a cheap shot. That was bad writing."
Bucks
Coach Skiles
(On Bogut's Concussion check pregame) "He couldn't pass the test today so he was out."
(On Home-Bucks vs Road-Bucks) "It's very concerning, because we've been two totally different teams. We've been a very energetic group at home, much more active. Then we board a plane and it's like we're half asleep out there. It's just something we've got to continue to work at, talk about and try to get better at."
(On the Game) "Particularly on the defensive end, we needed a great competitive effort. Against a team like that with all the shooters they have, they're going to spread the ball around the floor and hurt you. When you're down 15 at half and Dirk (Nowitzki) only has four points, it's probably not a good sign."
(On Defense) "Any team that is going to be a top-shelf defensive team is because they're going to work at it, and work at it in practice. We don't have the habits yet. We haven't had the practice time so everyone's on the same page. We're trying to balance everything, rest and everything else. The main thing is having our focus and intensity on that end, and we didn't have it."
Brandon Jennings
(On no Bogut) "Not having that inside presence going in and out kind of puts us in a bind.".
(On sitting the 4th) "I wasn't concerned about the minutes or trying to come out. I mean, we've been down 20 before. I've been in situations where I had to play being down 20, so I didn't see a reason to just lay it down. I wasn't tired or anything like that. Just keep playing to the end. See what happens, you never know. Just keep playing basketball; it's just basketball."
(On the Mavs) "They made a lot of shots, they got a big lead and they never looked back."
(On unbeaten at Home and winless on the Road) "We've got to get a least one road win. Geez."
Jon Leuer
(On defending Dirk) "He's one of the best players in the game right now, and he's obviously proven that. I was just trying to do whatever I could to be physical and take away his space. But he's got so many moves and his shots are unblockable. He's so tall and he pulls it back so far that it doesn't even bother him when you put a hand up."
Vids
Game Recap
Vince
Dirk on 23k
Brandan Wright
Skiles
Jennings
Links
MMB | Bowecap Fun Again
It's games like tonight why many inside the Maverick's organization considered Rodrigue Beaubois (15 points, 7-of-12 shooting) untouchable. Beaubois has largely played poorly even against some of the weaker teams this season, so just seeing Beaubois break out against ANY team was a welcome sight. His pure speed is practically unmatched in the open court, even with the speedy Jennings picking him up at times. Sometimes, it seems Beaubois thinks a little too much instead of just letting his natural talents lead him. Perhaps the pressure of transitioning into more of a "point guard" has done that, but Beaubois' best assest is his scoring. Maybe that means he won't be Dallas' point guard of the future but it still could mean he's a very viable player.
Brewhoop Futile
No Maverick played more than Terry's 25 minutes or scored more than his 17 points, but with a bench pouring in 55 points and a defense that locked the Bucks down for the final three quarters it didn't matter. The Mavs showed hard on the Bucks' P&R action and rotated with precision all night, all while showing little concern for the Bucks' interior (in)abilities. Jennings and Shaun Livingston (15 pts, 6/8 fg, 1 ast, 0 to) were the only Bucks to find any consistent seams in the Maverick defense, though it spoke volumes of the Bucks' toothless attack that their point guards scored 34 points (on just 20 shots) but managed just two assists combined.
Bucksketball UGH
The Bucks are winless on the road. They are also winless without Bogut. All Bogutless games have been on the road. I’ll leave it up to you as to which is the bigger issue.
2MG's Difference lies in not renewing the Domain
Per Janosch Ferda of Mavs Moneyball: the Mavs had already created a +33.7 efficiency differential by halftime. They certainly wasted no time in extinguishing any hope the Bucks had of registering their first road win of the season.
Yet it’s worth noting that aside from a nice floater in the second quarter, Beaubois struggled with his intermediate game. He obviously did well around the basket (including a nifty finish on a baseline hand-off from Dirk Nowitzki), and finished with a decent 1-of-3 from beyond the arc. But Beaubois missed each of his six pull-up jumpers off the dribble from mid-range, an area of his game that seems to come and go.
Hoopdata Boxscore
Bucks: 6-14 at the Rim, Beaubois: 5-5. GG BYE
Stats
FT-Watch
Brandan bricked two of five from the line. So far he is sporting a weak brickrate below 48%. Celebration for our
thirdbestCenterPF, Beaches! [nsfw]On the other Hand, Haywood didn't take a FT.
Rest
Outrebounded? Nope, 43-36
39 FG, 20 Assists for the Mavs. Please. That's not gonna cut it.
Blowout Bonus
There was a study a few year back, citing which part of the foot lands on the floor first, impacts health and speed etc.
Disclaimer: If you couldn't tell by now, all italic sentences are made up thoughts, not actual quotes.