The AP reports: Ron Artest scored seven points during a 16-2 run late in the fourth quarter that sent the Rockets to a 112-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night. But that’s not the only way he ingratiated himself to the big guy. During the spurt, Yao caught an elbow from Dallas’ Josh Howard. When the two started to go face-to-face, Artest came running in between them… Yao finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds, and Artest scored 29 as the Rockets won their second game in as many nights… Dirk Nowitzki scored 36 points and Josh Howard added 28 points and 11 rebounds, but they scored a combined three points on 1-of-6 shooting in the fourth quarter. As a team, Dallas was 6-of-24 in the period… Kidd had seven points, seven rebounds and 12 assists. Jason Terry scored 15 points. Houston’s Tracy McGrady scored 16 points, making only three of 10 shots, and sat out the fourth quarter.
Category: Dallas Mavericks Blog
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2010 All-Star weekend in new Dallas Cowboys stadium
Dallas has been selected as the site of NBA All-Star 2010, Commissioner David Stern, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones jointly announced today during a press conference outside the American Airlines Center.
Following the mantra that “everything is bigger in Texas,” the 59th NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010, at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, which will have a seating capacity in excess of 80,000. This collaboration between the NBA, and the ownership groups of the Mavericks and Cowboys, will afford all Mavericks season ticket holders a chance to partake in the pageantry of the NBA All-Star Game.
The T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and NBA All-Star Saturday Night festivities will take place at American Airlines Center, home of the Mavericks. 2010 will mark the first time the All-Star competitions are split between two venues since Houston in 1989 when The Summit hosted All-Star Saturday Night and the Astrodome hosted Sunday’s All-Star Game.
“Dallas is a vibrant city with a passionate sports fan base that will embrace the NBA All-Star experience,” said Stern. “We appreciate the collaborative efforts of Mark Cuban and Jerry Jones on what will surely be one of the most memorable basketball events of all time.”
2010 All-Star game to be at new Dallas Cowboys stadium
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Jeff Caplan) reports: Dirk Nowitzki is a big fan of bringing NBA All-Star Weekend to North Texas. “I always thought that [Dallas Mavericks owner Mark] Cuban, at the beginning when he took over, he wasn’t going to do an All-Star Game, so I was always in that mind-set that we’re not going to have it,” Nowitzki said. “If it’s really going to happen, it’s going to be something special.” A joint effort by the Mavericks and Dallas Cowboys will produce the 2010 All-Star Game at the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington, with the related festivities such as the slam dunk competition at American Airlines Center and the NBA Fan Jam at another Dallas venue. The NBA isn’t commenting, but multiple sources have confirmed that the official announcement is set for 4 p.m. today at Victory Plaza outside AAC.
JTerry says do not overlook Mavs
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Jeff Caplan) reports: Jason Terry has a message for opponents and pundits overlooking the Dallas Mavericks. “I can see that they’re doubting us and it’s been a long time since we’ve had that doubt about this team and this organization,” said Terry, who appears set to take on the sixth-man role when the regular season opens at home Thursday against the Houston Rockets. “So I think guys are going to be ready and teams are going to come in kind of like, ‘Oh yeah, we ran through the Mavericks last year, they’re the same old team,’ but it’s going to be a big shock to them.”
InsideHoops.com editor says: The Mavs should be considered a very good team, but a clear notch below a squad deserving of being called a true championship contender. They could surprise, though, but chances are they’ll be in the low/mid West playoff mix.
Mavs exercise Shawne Williams option
The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have exercised the option on forward Shawne Williams for the 2009-10 season.
“We are excited to exercise the option on Shawne’s contract,” said General Manager/President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson. “He is a young player that has improved every season and has a bright future as a Maverick.”
Williams (6-9, 225) was acquired in a trade with the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Eddie Jones on October 10, 2008. He was selected by Indiana with the 17th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. The third-year forward averaged 6.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 65 games (3 starts) last season with the Pacers improving on his rookie numbers of 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game in 2006-07.
He played five games for the Mavericks this preseason and averaged 2.0 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.6 minutes.
NBA opening night rosters
The NBA’s opening day rosters are official, and now posted on InsideHoops.com.
This evening was the deadline for NBA teams to trim their rosters down to 15 players or less.
The 2008-09 regular season starts Tuesday, October 28. InsideHoops is your online basketball home. We’re pumping out more content this season than ever.
Enjoy the season!
Antoine Wright a starting SG
The Dallas Morning News (Tim MacMahon) reports: Antoine Wright seems to have shored up the starting spot at shooting guard, allowing Jerry Stackhouse and Jason Terry to provide firepower off the pine. Erick Dampier and DeSagana Diop provide a solid defensive 1-2 punch in the middle. So I reckon that leaves backup point guard as the biggest concern in the rotation. Sorry, but it’s tough to get too worked up about who will run the point for the 12-15 minutes per game that Jason Kidd is resting.
Antoine Walker benched in Memphis
Once known as a versatile forward who could play multiple positions, nail three-pointers and shimmy around a lot to celebrate a good play, Antoine Walker, now with the Memphis Grizzlies, will sit around on the bench doing a lot of nothing. The Memphis Commercial Appeal (Ronald Tillery) reports:
Walker has been told that he won’t play, a decision designed by circumstance more than anything. The Griz are on a full-blown youth movement and the only position where Walker can still be mildly effective is power forward. However, it’s the same spot on the floor the Griz want to give ample time to Darko Milicic, Hakim Warrick and rookie Darrell Arthur for their development. “He understands,” Griz coach Marc Iavaroni said, revealing that he has communicated with Walker about this issue throughout training camp. Walker, entering his 13th season, still is disappointed. “I would have liked the opportunity to play but I understand the state that they’re in. They want to play the young guys,” Walker said. “I still feel like I’ve got a lot of basketball left in me and I can contribute to a team in the NBA. It’s unfortunate that it’s not working out here. But you have to respect the decision. This team has some good young talent.”
It seems like just yesterday Insidehoops readers were celebrating the famous Antoine Walker shimmy but it’s now a distant memory.
Oct 23: Pacers 114, Mavs 91
The AP reports: Danny Granger scored 24 points, T.J. Ford had 19 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Dallas Mavericks 114-91 on Thursday night in the final preseason game for both teams. Marquis Daniels added 22 points and nine rebounds, and Rasho Nesterovic had 14 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers (4-4). Josh Howard scored 19 points and Dirk Nowitzki had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Mavericks (4-4).
Mavericks waive Keith McLeod
The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have requested waivers on guard Keith McLeod.
McLeod (6-2, 190) signed as a free agent on July 11, 2008 after playing internationally with Montepaschi Siena in 2007-08. He averaged 4.5 points, 0.3 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 14.4 minutes in four Euroleague games. He was sidelined the entire preseason due to a right hamstring strain.
The four-year NBA veteran has played with five different teams (Minnesota, Utah, Indiana, Golden State and Dallas) and has career averages of 5.5 points, 2.7 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 200 games.
The Mavericks roster now stands at 14 players.