The absence of Devin Harris may be having a larger impact than the Mavericks envisioned. With Harris out with a bone bruise in his left ankle, the trickle-down effect has been easy to spot. First, Jason Terry has had to return to the starting lineup. He's more of a scorer than a distributor, although he does have nine assists in his two starts since Harris went out. But his 2-of-9 shooting from 3-point range, plus some choppy stretches for the Mavericks' offense, show the Mavericks are having to learn on the fly without Harris. "Now that he's starting, there's a certain way we have to play," coach Avery Johnson said. "We have other guys who can handle the ball. We need some other guys to get some assists for us, do it by committee.
"It's just a different unit without our point guard."
"... And in the biggest head-scratcher, the Trail Blazers are planning on shipping Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye and Jack, plus a first-round draft pick and cash, in a three-way deal for Dallas' Devin Harris."
"We've just got to put their (butt) in a hole on the other end, put their (butt) right down there on them chop blocks (the post)," Wallace said. "They don't have no real big men, actually. The only real big man I'd say is Damp (Eric Dampier) because he fits that classic big man mold. ... But they've got a lot of slashers on their team. It's a team full of slashers. I'm not saying they're not good, but, hey, in order to hold their slashing down, put their (butt) on the chop blocks."
"They're better with (Harris)," captain Chauncey Billups said. "He's so good at pick and rolls. He's so fast and quick, he can turn the corner giving other guys shots.
Caron Butler would love nothing more than to suit up today against the Los Angeles Lakers, for whom he played during the 2004-05 season, but the Washington Wizards' two-time all-star forward did not practice yesterday and was not sure if his strained left hip flexor will loosen up enough to allow him to play.
"He didn't do anything that was high impact and physical," Jordan said of Butler's workout yesterday. "He didn't get into a four- or five- or six-minute scrimmage and that's why I'm very hesitant. I have not seen him get contact and I haven't seen him change direction in competition. As a coach, you always like to see a guy get through practice."
Gasol was in Los Angeles yesterday undergoing a routine physical and is expected to be in Washington this morning prior to the noon tip-off. However, Lakes Coach Phil Jackson yesterday said he was unsure whether Gasol would be available to play.
Pau Gasol said he would not make his Lakers' debut today against the Washington Wizards. A whirlwind day in which he traveled from Memphis to LosAngeles to Washington meant he couldn't practice Saturday.
Gasol, who was sidelined for several games last week, hopes to play Tuesday night against the New Jersey Nets.
"I was shocked when I got the news after practice, I think it was (Friday), right?" he said during a late-night meeting with beat reporters. "I'm surprised, but at the same time I'm thankful, grateful and I'm ready to put my best into this opportunity and this team. I'm happy to be a Laker."
Post je objavljen 03.02.2008. u 17:25 sati.