Category: Dallas Mavericks Blog

Chandler Parsons is back in action for the Dallas Mavericks. He played just 12 minutes in Sunday’s 103-98 Mavs win over the Lakers, shot just 1-of-6, but did have three rebounds, three assists and a steal. A good first step in his return. Parsons is an essential Mavs component, and his progress is worth monitoring. Here’s the Fort Worth Star Telegram reporting:

He launched a shoe line in Southern California on Friday night. But Chandler Parsons was more than happy when Sunday came around and he was able to do what he’s been anxiously waiting to do for a long, long time.

Re-launch his NBA career.

Playing for the first time since suffering the first major injury of his NBA career during last April’s first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, Parsons played 12 rusty minutes during Sunday’s 103-93 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers. But just the fact that he was able to play – six months to the day – since he had hybrid micro-fracture surgery to repair cartilage damage to his right knee, was good enough for Parsons.

“I’m so excited,’’ Parsons said. “I felt like it was my first game of my career, so that’s awesome just to be out there and compete and play.

Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram blog reporting on new Mavericks center JaVale McGee, who isn’t ready to contribute just yet:

The Dallas Mavericks knew they were taking a roll of the dice when they signed JaVale McGee over the summer.

The erstwhile center had been recuperating from a stress fracture in his left tibia when the Mavs acquired him. And three weeks into training camp, McGee is still dealing with those same issues.

Thus, with the regular season set to start in nine days, the Mavs are unsure whether McGee will be ready for the opening tipoff against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 28.

“If you’re asking for a timetable (on McGee’s return), I don’t know,’’ coach Rick Carlisle said after Monday’s shootaround at Quicken Loans Arena. “If you’re asking whether he’s making progress, the answer is yes.

“Significant progress.’’

Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram blog reporting on Mavs veteran Dirk Nowitzki, who finally participated in this year’s preseason action:

Dirk Nowitzki dusted off the cobwebs and played in his first preseason game Friday night for the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. The 18-year veteran punched the time clock for 19 minutes – all in the first half – and collected six points and seven rebounds during the Mavs’ 91-84 defeat at the hands of the Hawks.

The stats notwithstanding, Nowitzki was just elated to get up and down the floor and run the court with his Dallas teammates for the first time since Game 5 of the Mavs’ first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets last April.

Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram blog reporting on Dallas Mavericks rookie Justin Anderson and his preseason play, which hadn’t been good yet, until:

But during Tuesday’s 100-88 defeat at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder at Bank Of Oklahoma Center, Anderson made some significant strides. The 6-6 swingman finished with 11 points, three rebounds, two steals and one assist in 24 minutes, and drew high praise form coach Rick Carlisle.

“For me he’s getting better each game,’’ Carlisle said, after his team dropped to 0-3 in preseason. “He’s learned a lot playing against an improved Denver team (in the preseason opener), and then going to Houston, and then playing these guys.

“These guys had all their guys.’’

Anderson has been going through what most rookies encounter. In essence, he’s discovering that the transition from the college to the pro game is no easy task.

Here’s the Dallas Morning News reporting on super-athletic forward Jeremy Evans, who so far in his NBA career is known for great dunking but not on the national radar as a complete basketball player just yet:

Through two exhibitions in which the coaching staff was focused on evaluation of role players and those hoping to make the final roster, Evans was a standout.

He was an under-the-radar signee in free agency this summer. The Mavericks love the idea of him being able to play either forward position and also help out at center in certain small-ball lineups against opposing athletic centers.

“He’s a hard worker and all that, but he has the skill set, the athletic ability, he’s shooting the ball now to 3-point range and I’m confident he can guard all those positions,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s a guy we’re going to need to play multiple spots. We want activity, rebounding, shot-blocking, open shot-making and as you can see, you can throw the ball up and he’ll go get it and dunk it.”

That much was obvious on the rim-shaking dunks in the back-to-back exhibitions.

JaVale McGee a wildcard for Mavericks

Here’s the Dallas Morning News reporting on new Mavs center JaVale McGee, whose ability to contribute to the team in the near future is unknown:

The 7-footer who has been plagued by leg problems the last two seasons has always been a little bit of an “out there” kind of person. He’s made lots of highlight reels, but often times for the wrong reasons, such as passing the ball to nobody on the other end of the court.

He’s been a blooper-reel editor’s best friend.

But at 27, he’s still a very young center who has more athleticism than the rest of the Mavericks’ center hopefuls put together. If he ever gets healthy – and that’s admittedly a big if – and if he can stay focused on the court, he’s got oodles of talent and could be a starting center for years to come.

But he’s a long way from that right now. He hasn’t been cleared to do any real basketball work, other than take some jump shots and his ballhandling.

He’s played just 28 games the last two seasons and if he makes the Mavericks’ roster – something that everybody expects – he’s probably not going to be ready to contribute until the regular season has already begun.

Mavs get rare day of rest

Here’s the Dallas Morning News reporting on Mavs training camp, which is serious business, though some of the older and banged up players on the squad are likely happy to get a brief break:

On Friday, the fourth day of training camp, Mavericks players will rest. No practice. Has Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle gone soft?

Not whatsoever. Time off is prudent for a team that’s been going through two-a-day practices with several injured and/or older players who haven’t as yet taken part in 5-on-5 scrimmaging.

The list includes Dirk Nowitzki, Chandler Parsons, Wesley Matthews, JaVale McGee and Deron Williams. That’s four of this season’s five projected starters and one-fourth of the 20-man camp roster.

“The hope is that we can get some of these guys to do a little bit more [Saturday],” Carlisle said.