Dallas Dedicated's Ultimate Guide To The Cowboy's Training Camp

The 'Boys open training camp Friday in Oxnard, California after a year hiatus of camp in San Antonio. If the hype of the position battles (Cornerback, Safety, and Running Back notably), Terrell Owens, Jerry Jones and Pacman "Adam" Jones aren't enough to entice you, don't forget about the fleet of cameras documenting every moment for the new HBO reality show Hard Knocks. Yes, this training camp has much to offer. We will break it all down for you, and give you the inside scoop on what the organization is thinking.

Key Losses:

RB Julius Jones (Seahawks)
S Kieth Davis (Dolphins)
CB Jacques Reeves (Texans)
RB Tyson Thompson (FA)
LB Akin Ayodele (Dolphins)
TE Anthony Fasano (Dolphins)

Key Acquisitions:

CB Pacman "Adam" Jones (Titans/Suspension)
LB Zach Thomas (Dolphins)

Big Position Battles:

-Running Back
Marion Barber obviously has the starting job, so no controversy here. However, the backup/3rd down back is up for grabs. First round pick Felix Jones has the upper hand, but don't count out fellow draftee Tashard "Hopefully the Right" Choice.
Choice is an interesting story. He was the heir-apparent to Adrian Peterson at Oklahoma, but decided to transfer to Georgia Tech to be close to his mother who was injured and could no longer work. He shined his junior season, to the point he was mentioned in some preseason Heisman trophy lists. His senior year, though, ended in a knee injury, which, as Mel Kiper put it, was the reason he "didn't go higher" in the draft. He runs with a bruising style, and is an effective pass blocker.

-Cornerback
Much of the cornerback debate hinges on two points: 1) the reinstatement of Adam "Strip Club" Jones and 2) the positioning of Anthony Henry. Henry has been practicing at safety, but this training camp will determine where he will play. Terrence Newman and Adam "I didn't shoot anyone" Jones will nab the starting spots, with the third corner spot getting some serious competition. Assuming Henry stays at CB, he, Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick will all be viable options. Jenkins and Scandrick are both rookies, but have tremendous talent...who could be closer in skill level than many think. Mel Kiper, the NFL's personal genius, had Scandrick going in the 2nd round, but dropped to the 5th. Lucky for us. Hopeful Tyler Everett is probably next in line. He will most likely be rooting for a Henry move to safety to keep him off the practice squad.

-Safety
Again, this all hinges on Anthony Henry. Should he replace the struggling Roy Williams? Ken Hamlin is now the feature safety. Henry or Williams? Wade Phillips will spend much time pondering this. With all the talent in the secondary, Henry could conceivably be without a starting job on opening day--a big deal for the team leader in interceptions last season. On the other hand, if he replaces Williams, the Cowboys now have a pro-bowler on the bench. Too much talent is a good problem to have, but a very tricky one.

-Linebacker
Probably the most stacked position, and if you don't agree, listen to the following names: DaMarcus Ware, Zach Thomas, Greg Ellis, Bradie James and Anthony Spencer. All five of these players are easily starters on most NFL teams. It would prove useless to lure Zach Thomas over to have him on the bench and DaMarcus "every" Ware is one of the best in the League, meaning that, along with fellow starters Greg Ellis and Bradie James, Dallas will have one of the most unstoppable LB corps in the League. Thomas is a great addition to the 3-4 defense and now will make opposing teams fear throwing over the middle.

Predicting The Roster:

QB (3): Tony Romo, Brad Johnson, Richard Bartel
RB (3): Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice
FB (1): Deon Anderson
WR (6): Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, Isiah Stanback
TE (3): Jason Witten, Martellus Bennet, Tony Curtis
C (2): Andre Gurode, Cory Proctor
OT (4): Flozell Adams, Marc Colombo, James Marten, Doug Free
G (3): Leonard Davis, Kyle Kosier, Joe Berger

DT (3): Tank Johnson, Remi Ayodele, Junior Siavii
DE (4): Jay Ratliff, Marcus Spears, Chris Canty, Stephen Bowen
LB (9): DaMarcus Ware, Zach Thomas, Greg Ellis, Bradie James, Anthony Spencer, Bobby Carpenter, Kevin Burnett, Eric Walden, Justin Rogers
CB (5): Terrence Newman, Adam Jones, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, Tyler Everett
S (4): Ken Hamlin, Anthony Henry, Roy Williams, Pat Watkins

K (1): Nick Folk
P (1): Mat McBriar
LS (1): LP Ladouceur

Other Big Stories to Follow:

-Will Pacman be reinstated? Hopefully the answer is yes.

-Will Terry Glenn and Jerry Jones move on amicably? Hopefully the answer is yes. (UPDATE: Terry Glenn has been waived. Wide Receiver position now very thin...pray Hurd, Miles and Stanback have substantially improved or Jones can bring in a solid #2.)

-Will Hard Knocks distract the team? Hopefully the answer is no.

-Is it possible that we have entered the age of T.O no longer being a distraction? He has been nothing but a good teammate (see: Defending his teammate....with tears) that truly wants nothing more than to win. LZ Granderson writes a great article about him and his undeserved rep.


-Can Romo stay out of the gossip column? It's not all his fault--being the QB of America's team somewhat thrusts one into the limelight--but he has an inkling towards the high profile woman.

-What is the over/under on the amount of anti-aging operations Jerry Jones will undergo? I say 3 is a safe number. And botox counts!

In other news...
-Josh Childress is the latest--and most high profile--to take his NBA game to Europe...by choice. If this becomes a trend, there are scary implications.

-No one likes hurricanes, but if Dolly had to hit somewhere, San Antonio wasn't a bad choice.

-Vicente Padilla on the trade block? Sources say yes. GM Jon Daniels will listen to anything that "makes sense"...be it Padilla, Millwood, Blalock or Byrd.

-Mark Cuban is one of the three finalists in the bidding for the Chicago Cubbies. The estimated value of the club is projected at more than $660 million, which was the previous record for purchasing of the Boston Red Sox and 2002. The bidding is expected to be anywhere between $700 and $900 million.

-A nice feature on Felix "the cat" Jones. He's a really humble guy, and a great addition to the team.

--PD

Hump Day Tidbits

-The Rangers, as always, are not having a good post-all star break run. Rangers had a great oppurtunity to keep in the AL West pennant race by stealing a win on the road against Chicago today, but going into the 8th with a 3 run lead, Guardado gave up 2 and then CJ gave up a 3-run homer to recieve his third blown save as the Rangers lost the game, 10-8. Not only that, but they lose their second series in a row. To make matters worse, Millwood left the game early in the second inning with a possible sore groin. Millwood didn't look in pain as he walked off the field with two team trainers, but it's the third time this season he's left a game with the same injury. Hopefully the Rangers can turn this around quickly, because the first place Angels are playing with serious momentum and Texas can't afford to trail them by this many games. Rangers get a much needed day off tomorrow and then face off in a 3 game series against the second place Oakland A's.

In Dallas Mavericks news:
-We here at DallasDedicated couldn't be happier for Dirk, as his life-long dream of representing his country in the olympics is finally coming true. He was in tears as Germany finally reached an olympic berth with Nowitzki at the helm. Another honor that could come true for Dirk would be if he was given the oppurtunity to be the flag-bearer for Germany. An official petition has been released, and everybody can do their part by signing it here.

-Speaking of the olympics, Jason Kidd is leading our country in a run for a gold medal, and he spoke with mavs.com in an exclusive interview. Kidd didn't just talk about Bejing, but also about what his role is coming into a fresh new season with the Mavs.


-ESPN's Marc Stein reports that Josh Smith wants out of Atlanta, and that Dallas could be a possible destination. A possible sign-and-trade could occur since the Mavs are not willing to part with J-Ho (thank God). Josh Smith would be a great fit on this team, I just hope the Mavs organization don't attempt something dumb to get him, like throw "The Animal" Brandon Bass. We will see how this all shapes up soon.

As for those Cowboys...
-The Dallas Cowboys are returning to California for training camp starting Friday. The team expects to contend for nothing less than a Super Bowl championship. My co-blogger Patrick will have everything Cowboys for you later this week, so stay tuned!

--ND

Thanks For The Memories Reunion

As all national stadium talk is either about Yankee Stadium closing or the new Cowboys stadium opening in 2009 (which is yet to have a name still...Jerry Jones Field? Corporate Chapel? The House that Jerry Built?), nobody seems to care about the official closing of Reunion Arena. While the arena was no spectacle of sight, there were many Dallas memories that occurred at Reunion, and we here at DallasDedicated will miss them all...

My first memory at Reunion Arena was going to a Dallas Mavericks game. I can remember vividly sitting at the very top as the Mavs were demolished (something that happened a lot those days) by the Miami Heat. By the middle of the 4th quarter, as the rest of the crowd had shuffled out of the building, I was nearly courtside as I cheered on Jim Jackson, Jamal Mashburn, and Jason Kidd. I think the Mavs lost by about 40 that night, but ever since then I was hooked. There are many different memories people have of Reunion Arena.


At the only NBA all star game to ever be played in Dallas, the unlikliest of dunkers was crowned king. In the 1986 all star game at Reunion Arena, Spud Webb not only unseated defending champion and favored teammate Dominique Wilkins, Webb did it in style. For someone of Webb’s stature (5-6) to even be able to complete a slam dunk is amazing enough, but Webb reversed, spun and double-clutched his way to the title.

That same year, Reunion played host to the men's Final Four, where Louisville beat Duke in a nail-biting 72-69 victory. Freshman Pervis "Never Nervous" Ellison was named the Most Outstanding Player over All-American Danny Ferry.

When Reunion Arena opened on April 28, 1980, for the first night of the weeklong WCT Finals tennis event, the city instantly became a major market for U.S. professional sports. The arena was enough to convince the NBA to open a franchise here, the Dallas Mavs. Ironically though, interest and fanhood didn't start to fully develop at Reunion Arena until after the game that came across town, at Moody Coliseum. The WCT Finals forced the Mavericks to move the deciding game of their first playoff series – against Seattle, on April 26, 1984 – to SMU. Dallas advanced with a dramatic 105-104 victory as a sellout crowd of 9,007 cheered in approval. The game is now known as "Moody Madness", and a legend of fan support that would follow the Mavericks to Reunion Arena was born.

Starting the next season, the Mavs would play to at least 98 percent of the 17,007 seat capacity for the next seven years. What makes this even more impressive is the fact that they only achieved a postseason berth in a couple of those years. The crowd got loud. Headache loud. Can't hear your coach loud. Technicians measured the noise at 112 decibels in the mid-1980s.

One of the noisiest, most captivating games in NBA playoff history was played on the Reunion floor on June 2, 1988. As 17,007 towel-waving fans chanted, "Beat LA! Beat LA!" and a national-television audience looked on, the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 105-103, to force a Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. "That was the most effective crowd I've seen in my 25 years in the NBA," legendary Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn said after Game 6. Dallas lost two nights later in LA, but Reunion Arena was forever carved into the nation's mind.

As the Mavs attendance dramatically declined in the mid-90s, the arrival of the NHL's Stars from Minnesota in 1993 became the big story. The Stars drew an average of 16,119 fans in their first season and averaged no fewer than 15,572 fans at Reunion Arena since. Crowds were intense and the arena's hockey atmosphere made a strong home-ice advantage, just like the Mavs had during their playoff runs. "Reunion Arena is the way hockey arenas used to be – tight crowds, everybody right on top of you, strong atmosphere," Stars wing Brett Hull said. "It's a great hockey building. I'll miss the tightness and camaraderie."

With Brett Hull, center Mike Modano and goaltender Ed Belfour leading Dallas' first major hockey team, the Stars reached the Stanley Cup Finals against the Buffalo Sabres in 1999. Game 6 was won in a triple-overtime thriller in Buffalo. The real celebration happened two days later as the city held a parade that ended inside Reunion Arena. It was the first (and still only) non-Cowboys championship by a Dallas major sports team.

American Airlines Center opened, and both the Mavs and Stars moved on to the bigger and better arena. Now Reunion Arena is just an empty bulding that city leaders still aren't quite sure what to do with. For having sports teams play there just two decades, Reunion Arena had it's fair share of fond memories.

--ND

Still On (All Star) Break?

The Rangers pulled out a 1-0 victory against the surging Minnesota Twins tonight, avoiding the series sweep. The Rangers-typical post all-star break collapse appeared imminent, but a great performance from ace Vincent Padilla put those claims on hold for the time being. Still, though, questions remain about the offensive production. In the three game series, the squad scored only 3 runs, compared to the 20 put up by the Twins. Essentially, if Padilla hadn't been on the mound, I suspect we would have another "L" in the loss column. Run support is what has given this team a fighting chance for a playoff birth. Without it...well, just think back to the previous 7 seasons.

Now, we've all been told that this is still a team in the 'building' phase, so making the playoffs would just be an added bonus (that is quickly slipping away). However, a close fight for a birth in post-season play would help the Rangers in more ways than just being a good team. Despite the relative "success" this season, attendance is down almost 5,000 a game from last year, and is the lowest since 1988. Nothing would be better, then, for this team than a race to the playoffs. Dallas has become a die hard Mavericks city after its playoff performances, and the Rangers may need such success, as well.

MINOR LEAGUE REPORT

As an often neglected area of baseball, we here at Dallas Dedicated feel like the farm system needs some coverage--after all, they are the budding stars of this franchise...as well as frequently mentioned as "prospects to be named" in trades. Yet no one ever knows who they are. So, according to some elementary logic, we feel that it would be to everyone's benefit to give a rundown of the Next in Line:

Elvis Andrus: AA Frisco Roughriders
Only 19, and is batting .293. Not a power hitter (only 1 HR), but does a good job of getting on base, which is great as he leads the team in stolen bases. Plus, his name is Elvis.

Tommy Hunter: AAA Oklahoma RedHawks
At 21, has just moved up from AA, after performing well there. He is now 1-1 with a 2.01 ERA at the next level.

Blake Beavan: A Clinton LumberKings
The 19 year old future of Rangers baseball is performing nicely in the first season. At 6-6 with a 2.57 ERA, Beavan looks poised for great things. He has struck out 42 batters and walked only 12. You'll be hearing much more from this Irving product in the near future.

Up Next: The Chicago White Sox. Hopefully the Rangers can steal the series and Hamilton and Co. can get back on track.

OTHER DALLAS NEWS:

--Dirk and Germany made the Olympics for the first time in their country's history. Big ups to Dirk for essentially being the team.

--Charles Rhodes continues to impress us at Dallas Dedicated, and would even go so far as to say he might be desired over James Singleton. Too bad Singleton's contract was rushed....and guaranteed.

--How can ESPN do Power Rankings during the offseason? Rankings such as these don't take into account ANY player improvement over the break and training camp. Basically, the rankings should be termed "Based on last year, with transactions". They completely miss the entire concept of improving players...the job of a coaching staff.

--FC Dallas remains winless under new coach Schellas Hyndman. They drew 2-2 with the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. However, there is a bright spot: for the first time since May 28th they scored multiple goals.

--Midfielder Juan Toja may be on his way out. Europeans clubs are calling, and the rumor is he may be going to play for an unpronounceable team in Romania. Lucky for him, mullets are in style there.

--PD

Mavs GM: GiganticMorons

Excuse me as I let a little steam off. I've sat around and watched the Mavs make panicked premature dumb moves for half a year now, and frankly, I'm tired of this. Let's go back and look at the last couple of moves made by the Mavericks organization:

February 19: Mavs recieve Jason Kidd, Malik Allen, and Antoine Wright for Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, Keith Van Horn and first-round draft picks in 2008 and 2010
We could all argue back and forth about this trade for a year and everybody would still disagree. We here at DallasDedicated STILL do not agree whether this trade was the right move or not. What we are sure of is this...the trade seemed very premature and panicked. First of all, is it the smartest thing to trade your starting point guard for another starting point guard at the midway point of the season? The point guard position is the most important position in basketball, and making a trade that involves the starting point position will dramatically change one's chemistry.

Secondly, the real underlying issue with the Devin/Kidd trade was this...head coach Avery Johnson and Devin Harris just simply did not work together. The General used the pre-season, as well as the first week of the regular season, to let Devin call all the offensive plays and set up the offense. After a couple of regular season games, the control freak known as Avery Johnson went back to making every and all offensive play decisions. Devin Harris is/was a great point guard, the only point guard this franchise has ever had to take us to the NBA Finals. However, Devin Harris could not ever fully develop into what is needed from a playoff point guard because AJ would not let him. So what do the Mavs do to fix this problem? They trade away Devin for a hall of fame point guard. Only one problem: that same control freak of a coach is still running things. Jason Kidd is known for his quick thinking on the fast break. Unfortunately, Avery Johnson decides he would rather "re-tool" the future hall of famer. Instead of running plays that emphasize Kidd's strenghts, most of the offensive plays are isolation plays, making Jason Kidd just another average guard.

We all know what happened after that: The Mavericks regular season ends on a decline, the team doesn't seem to have the chemistry that is needed, Kidd's numbers significantly drop (especially in the scoring department), and the Mavs lose in the first round AGAIN. Mavs GM Donnie Nelson and owner Mark Cuban know that someone needs to be held accountable, so the next move is made...

April 30: Avery Johnson is fired
Honestly, I thought this move had to happen. The players no longer listened to Johnson, plays continually were broken immediately as they were called, and Johnson refused to admit when he made any mistakes. While the firing was very much called for, doesn't it seem too little too late at that point? Devin Harris couldn't develop with Avery Johnson at the helm, so why didn't Cuban/Donnie just wait until the end of the season before making a blockbuster trade? Firing Avery most likely solves the "Devin isn't developing quick enough" problem. Instead, they pulled the trigger on the blockbuster Kidd trade, making this Maverick team older, less deep, no first round pick in last month's and 2010's draft, and less money to spend. This window of "elite team" status is closing for our basketball team, and all we have to show for it is playoff after playoff heartbreak. Now on to the next move...

May 10: Rick Carlisle named head coach
While we here at DallasDedicated predict that Rick is a perfect fit with this team, nobody can be quite sure yet. However, we will say this: Carlisle has bonded with Dirk in Germany, had multiple private dinners and conversations with Josh Howard, and has spent a lot of extra time working out with new Mavs Diop and Green. Most importantly, all current and former players have nothing negative to say about this guy. After watching the first few games of summer league basketball, we are beginning to see how different the offense will look like under Carlisle. A lot of motion without the ball, a lot of fast breaking, and a lot of spot up shooting. These are all sure signs that "Rick was a great pick!" (t-shirt sold seperately)

July 4-12: Mavs re-sign JJ Barea and Antoine Wright; sign DeSagana Diop, James Singleton, and Keith McLeod
As this off-season began, a lot of questions arose about who would make up this team's bench. Over half of the bench was a free agent and it was hard to tell who would get re-signed over the other. Also, the free agency market contained a lot of big names and role players that would fit quite nicely into the Mavericks rotation. The first free agent signed was Gerald Green, the young 6-8 swingman who has been granted a second, er a fourth, chance in the NBA here in North Texas. Gerald Green is explosive, athletic, and isn't afraid to get to the basket (and blow out a candle on a cupcake once he gets there). All these things the Mavs need, and we got it for the league minimum of a contract.

The hardest thing to let go out of the Jason Kidd trade last season was losing the backup force known as DeSagana Diop. When the Mavs got him to boomerang back to Dallas on July 10 (as well as re-signing Barea), it definitely lessened the blow of the downfall of the Kidd trade. Now this Maverick team has a legitimate backup center, something that we didn't have in the short lived playoff run last season (see Jamaal Magloire). Having Diop back definitely improves the bench of this Dallas team.

On July 12, after re-signing Texas A&M alum Antoine Wright, the Mavs organization decided to once again make a premature move. 6-8 forward James Singleton and point guard Keith McLeod, both on the Mavs summer league roster, were signed to contracts. Let me add: this was all without playing in a single summer league game. The NBA summer league is all about watching and scouting players that could possibly make it onto one's permanent roster, so why would GM Donnie Nelson decide to sign two players before summer league even gets underway? Now there is only one roster spot left, not to mention that Singleton and McLeod are not even playing the best on the summer squad. Charles Rhodes, the 6-8 rookie from Mississippi State, has outplayed Singleton in very outing. While Singleton is coming off major knee surgery, Rhodes has been impressive and has outhustled opponents on both ends of the floor. Also, the 51st pick in the draft, Vanderbilt alum Shan Foster, has made a name for himself as of late with his lights out shooting. Yet, both, maybe even neither, can make it onto the permanent roster because the Mavs staff once again made a premature decision.
But nothing made me more angry than the happening of this week....

July 16: Multiple sources (Sacramento Bee, Hoopsworld) report and confirm that Mavs offer Brandon Bass and Jerry Stackhouse to the Kings for Ron Artest
I refused to believe this to be true and had to do some snooping around to make sure that these sources are correct. Sadly, they are. What on earth are the Maverick heads thinking offering this deal? Jerry Stackhouse for Ron Artest straight up is a head-scratcher but arguable, but throwing in the young Brandon Bass with nothing but upside ahead of him is just idiotic! Brandon Bass has improved dramatically in just the one season he has worn a Mavs uniform. He out-hustles anyone and everyone, he is by far the strongest player on the roster, and he is ever-improving. GM Donnie Nelson has sent scouts all over the world to find young, raw talent and we finally get one in Bass and he attempts to trade him for a nutcase. Who would you rather have, a young player that is nicknamed "The Animal", or a player that would rather rap than play basketball and started the biggest brawl any sport has ever seen? We can all thank God that Sacramento did not accept this deal (how dumb are they?). Sacramento countered this trade with a proposition of their own: Josh Howard for Ron Artest straight up. The Dallas Morning News reported this morning that the Mavs refuse to part ways with Josh Howard. At least they made the right decision there! I only pray that the Mavs don't continue this habit of over-thinking and premature decision making.

Donnie Nelson and Mark Cuban have always had my confidence. Yet lately, I am starting to question exactly what these two guys are thinking. Josh Howard was questioned by the organization for admiting to marijuana use, yet the only question I have for the Mavs is what are Mark and Donnie smoking on?


--ND

A Midsummer Night's Dream

"I got a chance, when I was in the middle of that [home run] streak, to look up and see my mom and dad and family and everybody, just absolutely laughing and cheering. And I mean, that's priceless."
-- Josh Hamilton

Josh Hamilton dreamed of Monday night a few years back. As I wrote in a previous DD column Wild, Wild AL West, Hamilton spoke to reporters saying, "I had a dream just before I got back into baseball, probably three months before I was reinstated, that I was in a home run derby, and it happened to be in Yankee Stadium. I didn't see myself hit or anything, but a lady stuck a microphone in my face and I got to tell everyone why I was there." Not only did Josh's dream come true, he made the night memorable, setting the all-time record for home runs in a first round with 28! Bobby Abreu had the previous record with 24, and Hamilton crushed that. If you have not seen this amazing performance, check this out...

Deadspin_July15

Needless to say, the first round wore out Hamilton. Justin Morneau took home the trophy, but all everyone will remember from this magical night was Hamilton's show-stopping performance.


Those weren't the only actions by a Texas Ranger during the all star festivities that makes us here in North Texas proud. Michael Young, named the All-Star MVP in Pittsburgh two years ago after hitting a two-run triple in the ninth inning, supplied the game-winning RBI for the American League again Tuesday with a 15th-inning sacrifice fly that ended an epic 4-3 battle in the midsummer classic. "He's just so good in those situations," fellow all star Ian Kinsler said. "In every situation, really. That's why he's a five-time All-Star." Even more impressive was the fact that the Rangers became the first team to have three All-Stars steal a base in the same game. Bradley, Kinsler and Hamilton all went 1-3 and had a stolen base. Michael Young though, stole the show.

In other Dallas sports news:
We haven't heard from the Cowboys in awhile, what could they be up to? Well, apparently Adam "Don't Call Me Pacman" Jones is making commercials with Deion Sanders?

There's nothing like a strip club obsessed football player's promotion that makes me want to buy a vehicle!

Also, the Dallas Stars rewarded coach Dave Tippett for a trip to the Western Conference finals by adding two years to his deal, keeping him under contract through the 2010-11 season. He has taken his share of criticism for the Stars' recent playoff woes, and it's good to see that he is finally getting the credit he deserves.

As for that other team that plays at the AAC, Mavs expert Art Garcia had a nice interview with newest Mav James Singleton. You can check out Singleton in the summer league, as the Mavs take on Sacramento at 5 tonight. The game will be on a 2-hour tape delay on KTXA-21...


--ND

What Happens in Vegas

After the Mavs opening Summer League games--an 86-69 drubbing by Eric Gordon (and the Clippers), and then the 95-86 loss to the Warriors--we here at DD are going to break down what we saw, as 13 guys battle for the last remaining roster spot.

-New Signees:

--James Singleton
Patrick:Known for his defensive/rebounding prowess, Singleton impressed with his ability on the offensive end, as well as good ability in running the floor on the break. He defended nicely, especially on the pick and roll. The good defense will be a constant, and hopefully he can continue his offensive production. (Update: summer league game 2, Singleton put up 17 and 8, shooting 5-9).
Nate: Something I didn't know until midway through game 2 was that this kid is coming off major knee repair. That could explain his apparent lack of athleticism on some plays. I do agree with Patrick though on the fast break side of his game. He always seems to be at the right spot on both ends of the floor, and his touch inside the paint is pretty good. What has impressed me the best on Singleton is how active he has been. I'm not sure how much playing time he will be able to get behind Dirk, Damp, Bass, and Diop, but he can now develop his game in practice and continue to get better.

--Gerald Green
Patrick:Raw and athletic, both of which showed during this game. Had great moments: a nice steal and emphatic dunk, and drove to the basket well. On the other hand, however, he had some not-so-hot moments: forcing up a lot of shots and showcasing his famous attitude after a hard foul. As long as he continues to drive and not settle for jumpers, and continue to work hard on defense, he will be a solid player.
Nate:The best player on the summer league roster by a mile. The kid is VERY athletic and can shoot the long-range jumper. What is going to make or break Green is what he can do in between the drive and three-point shot. It's the 15-18 foot jumper he passes up that scares me. Green plays with a chip on his shoulder, and his attitude reflects that. He needs to cut down on the "everyone hates me" mode and just play the game.


--Keith McLeod
Patrick:Understands the game and runs the point well. Played a solid game, is tough on the defensive end, as well. Only issue is his shooting. Overall, though, a very solid performer and could easily win the backup PG spot.
Nate:First off, reports are coming in through multiple sources that Keith McLeod's contract is non-guaranteed. This means that once this whole summer league/tryout is over, the Mavs have the option to release McLeod. So while it looks as if there is only one roster spot left (cough FOSTER FOSTER cough), McLeod's spot could be replaced. McLeod though, I believe, has nothing to worry about. I love his swarming defense and the way he gets to the basket. What he does need to work on is his shooting. It will be a tough battle for the #2 spot on the point guard list on this Mavs team.

-Guys on the Bubble:

--Shan Foster
Patrick: The new draft pick did not get the playing time he needs to prove himself. Came in and nailed his first three point shot, and has a great quick release. Other than that, did not get the ball much, and played little. He did play solid defense. Hopefully he can get more PT in the coming games.
Nate:My co-blogger was forced to miss the 3rd game that is in progress as I write this against Minnesota. Foster was finally put into the starting lineup, and he has been tremendous! In 12 minutes so far, "Suga Shan" is 7-10 for 15 points. He is demanding respect from the scrubs on the T'Wolves team, and everyone is taking notice. I can only hope Rick and Donnie are taking notice.

--Charles Rhodes
Patrick: A bit of a surprise, but played a very solid game. Scored 10 on 5-8 shooting and had six boards off the bench. Defended the pick and roll nicely and demonstrated nice shooting range. Could turn heads if this play continues. (Update: Game 2: 4-5 with 12 points and 6 boards.)
Nate: I agree that he is making an impact, but I just can't picture him fitting on the Mavs squad. His excellent play will turn the heads of another team looking to pick up the 6-8 forward.


--Richie Frahm
Patrick:Disappointing performance. Had little to no impact on the game. Will need to do more if he wants to make this team. Only had three points and contributed very little.
Nate: He's white, and he plays like it. He was put on this summer team for one purpose: shooting. He isn't even doing that all that well. NOT IMPRESSED!


--Aaron Miles
Patrick: Appeared a little timid at first with a couple of turnovers, but came around in the second half and ended with a decent performance. Ran the offense well, and showed he was capable of scoring, too. Still needs to stand out/do more if he wants to make this team.
Nate: Almost seems as if he is just going through the motions on offense. I was not impressed with his PG play and his defense on the opposing team's guard was timid.

--Pape Sow
Patrick: A raw, yet athletic center. Has great quickness and agility for his size. Also plays with great intensity, which can lead to unnecessary fouls. Lacks quality post moves, but can run up and down the court well.
Nate: Patrick likes this guy way more than me. He is listed as a center but plays defense like a shooting guard. His help defense seemed very slow and his post moves looked like a middle schooler. Am I being too harsh?

--Reyshawn Terry
Patrick:Another disappointing player. Normally a great shooter, but only took one shot. Struggled to get involved in the game. Did nothing memorable, good or bad. Can't disappear in a summer league game and hope to make the team.
Nate: Has the fundamentals that any Tar Heel would possess. However, besides a few small glimpses of play, he has not done much of anything.

--Others
Patrick/Nate: JaJuan Smith and Derrick Low, both great players in college, barely got off the bench. I guess they aren't in the Mavs plans for the future. And where is Reggie Williams? He has played in only 8 minutes so far and hasn't provided any contributions. (UPDATE: In game 3, JaJuan Smith recieved 18 minutes of action and led all scorers with 19 after hitting 4-6 from the arc.)

Nate: In closing, the zone defense has impressed me and the set plays on offense have more motion without the ball than Avery seemed to call. It will be nice to watch these offensive and defensive sets in a REAL NBA game.
Speaking of real NBA, where did they find these scrub commentators? I continually had to mute my television because of these idiots and their rants. I'm sending an application in to NBA TV, they must be desperate for hire.

Tomorrow DD will give you the recap of our boy Josh Hamilton, who hit TWENTY EIGHT homers in the first round of the homerun derby! No, that is not a typo! We will also preview the Midsummer Classic and look around at all the local pro teams.

--ND/PD