I was in the AAC last night for the Mavs season opener against the Washington Wizards and wanted to share a few quick thoughts on the game and the Mavs.
- If you’re able, I highly recommend taking the DART train to the game. Drops you off right in front of the arena.
- I also recommend the $2 tickets. Yes, you’re way at the top of the arena, but it’s not like being way at the top of Jerry World.
- The AAC opened in 2001 and still looks immaculate.
- The new score/videoboards, though glitchy at times, are a massive upgrade to what they had before. Crystal clear picture and what can border on information overload if you’re really paying attention to that stuff.
- Jerry Jones needs to send his sound tech out to the AAC. The sound system had the whole building shaking.
- I had never heard the Star-Spangled Banner performed on the piano, but Bruce Hornsby did an excellent job of it.
- The new pre-game player intros are really cool, making full use of the new videoboards.
- Game presentation is very full throttle. You really don’t get a chance to stop and catch your breath, even during timeouts.
- Halftime show, the Bucket Boys, was really cool.
- Between the 3rd and 4th quarters, the Mavs ManiACCs peformed the Thriller dance in full makeup/costume. May have been the loudest the building got all night.
Now on to the game:
Dirk Nowitzki did his thing. No one else on the Mavs did. Or did they? Didn’t we hear all through training camp and pre-season about the emphasis on defense? If last night was the result of that, imagine if it wasn’t an emphasis!
Sound familiar?: Take lead in the 1st quarter, fall behind in the 2nd, stay in the game long enough to make you think they have a chance even though in the back of your mind you know they don’t, jack up threes/pull up for long jumpers in a desperate attempt to get the offense going instead of driving to the rim, layup drills for the opponent to go long with way too many uncontested shots for the opponent. All was on display last night.
Shawn Marion, after pumping up the crowd pre-game, got off to a good start, then seemingly disappeared, then made some big garbage time baskets. It’s that middle portion that’s worrisome, as the Mavs were -21 with Marion on the floor.
Erick Dampier did just enough to frustrate you into wondering just what player he is at this point. Running the floor for open dunks and blocking shots one minute then fumbling away rebounds and dropping passes that hit him square in the hands the next.
Drew Gooden may well become the new black hole on this team. There weren’t many occasions when he passed up a shot when the ball ended up in his hands.
Kris Humphries: let’s tap the brakes on him for now
Jason Terry: yes, he made a couple of 3′s, but I would much rather seem him drive to basket every once in a while when he has a wide open path instead of jacking up a 3 or a long jumper
JJ Barea: drove to the hoop, played aggressively but made some very poor decisions with the ball that led to easy baskets for the Wizards. Can’t have that from the backup point guard.
Mavs really could’ve used Josh Howard in this one. Just sayin’.
Jason Kidd had the task of defending Gilbert Arenas to start the game and we all know how that went. Would like to have seen Kidd push the tempo as there were too many times in which he was waiting for guys to join him upcourt before running a play. The Wizards forced the tempo all game and I don’t think Kidd did enough to change that.
Speaking of Arenas, after nearly two full seasons of inactivity, I forgot just how good he is. Let me remind everyone after seeing him with my own four eyes: He’s really good and looks like he’s on a mission. Just killed the Mavs whenever it looked a rally was happening.
Caron Butler is not bad either.
Andray Blatche filled in rather nicely for an injured Antawn Jamison.
Who the hell is Randy Foye and how did he get 20 points against the Mavs? Wait, don’t answer that.
Do we need to remind everyone not to leave Mike Miller open at the 3-point line? That’s pretty much all he knows how to do at this point.
Really didn’t know Fabricio Oberto was on the Wizards. Not only that, he started!
DeShawn Stevenson still has his neckbeard.
Bottom line:
I don’t know if they’re still working out chemistry issues or what, but the Mavs better figure something out before Friday night, as they go to the Staples Center to take on the defending champion Lakers (in their pretty new alternate road unis).
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Love this post. I STILL haven't been to a Mavs game at the AAC. I know, I'm an embarrassment. Loved the running commentary on each player's performance.
But best of all, tonight's REAL takeaway: DeShawn Stevenson still has his neckbeard.
You gotta do this again.
Love this post. I STILL haven't been to a Mavs game at the AAC. I know, I'm an embarrassment. Loved the running commentary on each player's performance.
But best of all, tonight's REAL takeaway: DeShawn Stevenson still has his neckbeard.
You gotta do this again.