Dallas Mavericks Blog – Page 110 – NBA Blog

NBA to borrow $175 million

The Sports Business Journal (Daniel Kaplan and John Lombardo) reports: The NBA is set to borrow $175 million Feb. 26, marking one of the first league financings since the implosion of the credit markets last fall. The money, which will be available to 15 teams, supplements an existing $1.7 billion leaguewide credit facility that uses the NBA’s media contracts as collateral to secure loans for the clubs. The NBA surveyed its teams, and 15 responded they would like to tap into the new borrowing. While the league said it is pleased to borrow in an extremely illiquid credit market, the deal came at a cost, with interest rates up to 8.27 percent, hammering home the notion that the era of cheap money in sports is over. The 15 teams can use the money for any purpose, but covering operating losses may be high on the list.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Loan me three fiddy. I want some ribs.

Dirk Nowitzki speaks on Mavs season

Here’s what Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki said Friday at NBA All-Star weekend about the team’s season so far:

Question: When you look at the first part of the season, why has it been such a roller coaster, with five wins in a row, then five losses in a row?

Nowitzki: Well, I think we just had to work and keep improving. We had a new coach. We tried to put a new system in that wasn’t really working the way we wanted. We had stuff from both ends of the floor, offensively and defensively. I think once we got comfortable with that, we started to be a little more consistent. We didn’t lose that many games anymore. It is all about a work in progress, getting all the players on the same page with the coach. It has been better here the last two, three weeks. We have beaten two, three teams. In the Western Conference, it is so tight. I think we are fifth or sixth now. We are setting ourselves up for these last 30 games we got and hopefully make a great run at the playoffs. We were struggling and it was a little up and down, but the good thing is other teams were too. If you look at New Orleans, lost some tough games. Utah, Boozer has been out for a couple months. They lost some games. Phoenix is struggling. There are a lot of teams that are up and down a little bit. And I think that’s what helps us. I still think we are in a great position to have a great playoff run.

Gerald Green wants dunk contest spot in 2010

The Dallas Morning News (Eddie Sefko) reports (via blog): We were all reminded Saturday night of Gerald Green’s lasting legacy (so far). His cupcake blowout in the dunk contest two years ago was destined to be replayed on an annual basis whenever the dunk show is on display. Green has said he hopes to re-appear in the contest next year when it’s in Dallas. It remains to be seen if he gets an invite or not, but if he’s with the Mavericks, you can bet he’ll get strong consideration. Unfortunately for Green, that remains his claim to fame. Actually, one of his two claims to fame. Nothing he’s done on the court has gotten him as much claim as his dunk and the fact that he was part of the trade that brought Boston Kevin Garnett and laid the foundation for the Celtics’ championship last season.

Rondo triple-double, Celtics beat Mavericks 99-92

The AP reports: Kevin Garnett was frustrated and sitting on the Boston bench after getting three fouls in a matter of seconds while battling with Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas’ lone All-Star. Celtics coach Doc Rivers was already in the locker room because of the same sequence late in the third quarter, ejected after two quick technical fouls… And they would go on to a physical 99-92 victory Thursday night over the Mavericks. Pierce scored 18 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, but gave plenty of credit to his argumentative coach… Nowitzki led Dallas with 37 and Howard had 17 before fouling out. Ray Allen, playing a night after injuring his thumb in the Celtics’ victory at New Orleans, had 20 points and will play in the All-Star game still. Rajon Rondo had 19 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists for his second career triple-double, both this season.

Mavs beat Kings 118-100; Sacramento has losing season

The AP reports: Antoine Wright scored 23 points, his best scoring game in nearly three months, Josh Howard also had 23 points, and the Mavericks won 118-100 over Sacramento on Tuesday night to make the Kings the first NBA team guaranteed to have a losing season… Dirk Nowitzki added 21 points, Jason Kidd had 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Erick Dampier had 16 rebounds. J.J. Barea, the primary fill-in for Terry, had 10 points and four assists without a turnover in 25 1/2 minutes… Kevin Martin had 18 points, though he missed nine consecutive shots at one point for Sacramento. John Salmons had 16 and Shelden Williams 15.

Jason Terry has hand surgery

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that Mavericks guard Jason Terry had successful surgery to stabilize the fourth metacarpal fracture in his left hand. The surgery was performed by Dr. Scott Oishi and Dr. T.O. Souryal at Texas Sports Medicine. No timetable has been set for his return.

Terry (6-2, 180) has played in all 50 Mavericks games this season and has averages of 19.9 points, 3.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.38 steals.

Jason Kidd must score more

With Dallas Mavericks scoring guard Jason Terry out, point guard Jason Kidd needs to step up in the points department. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (David Moore) reports: Kidd doesn’t look to score. Now, he doesn’t have any choice. Kidd doesn’t have to transform himself into a 15-point a night player. But he must do more than the 8.8 points he’s giving the Mavs. “It’s not really his nature to score big,” Dirk Nowitzki said. “His nature is to get other guys open and fill up the stat sheets in the other columns. But he needs to shoot a little more.” Kidd has taken 10 or more shots only three times in the last 19 games. He must make himself more of a threat.

Nowitzki’s 44 lead Mavericks to OT win over Bulls

The AP reports: With one teammate out with an injury and another in foul trouble, the Dallas Mavericks needed a special effort from star Dirk Nowitzki. And Nowitzki delivered with 44 points—14 in overtime—to send the Mavericks to a 115-114 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. Jason Terry, Dallas’ No. 2 scorer at 20.2 points per game, will be out for an extended stretch after sustaining a broken bone in his left hand in the first half. Josh Howard, who spent long stretches on the bench because of fouls, finished with 13 points, almost five below his average… Ben Gordon scored 28 points, Thomas added 23 points and 12 rebounds, and rookie Derrick Rose had 22 points and nine assists for the Bulls. Jose Juan Barea came off the bench to score 20 points for Dallas.

Jason Terry breaks left hand

Dallas guard Jason Terry fractured the fourth metacarpal on his left hand in Saturday night’s game against Chicago. Terry did not return to the game. His status will be updated on InsideHoops.com when more is known.

This is a big blow to the Mavs. Terry has been a huge offensive burst all season. If Jerry Stackhouse still has game, now is the time to show it.

Deron Williams scores 34, Jazz beat Mavs 115-87

The AP reports: “I love playing against them, but more than that, we really just needed a win right now, so I came out and gave it all I could,” said Deron Williams, who shook off a deep thigh bruise and scored 34 points and handed out 12 assists to lead the Jazz to a 115-87 rout Thursday night… Kyle Korver scored a season-high 20 points in his first start of the season, Ronnie Brewer scored 17 and Mehmet Okur added 16 points and 13 rebounds to power the Jazz to their third win in four games… Josh Howard led Dallas with 18 points and Dirk Nowitzki scored 14—needing 20 attempts to get there—but the Mavericks saw their four-game winning streak end. It was Dallas’ first loss since coach Rick Carlisle put Jason Kidd in charge of calling plays.