Well, it has been a while.  I've been busy and haven't been motivated to
take the time to write about the Mavs (despite the fact that I actually
had some small notes from most of the games).  With the new news, I
figured I should get out of my slump and write something.  Maybe the Mavs
will follow suit.

The big news is, of course, that Roy Tarpley finally did the Mavs a favor.
Roy tested positive three times for alcohol consumption, which was in
violation of his aftercare program.  Thus, the league kicked him out of
the league again.  His contract is null and void.  I could go on about 
Roy's problems and how management mishandled a lot of things regarding 
Roy, but I won't.  I feel sorry for Roy and hope that he one day gets and 
accepts the help he needs (his excuse this time is that Nyquil caused the
positive result - no mention of his other two excuses).  Two quotes:
Owner Donald Carter: "This is the final chapter.  The book is finished."
Tarpley, still not getting it: "This is the stupidest thing I've heard of.
You tell me, what's going on here?  Marijuana isn't a big deal to anyone,
but alcohol is?"  [The NBA has no policy concerning marijuana and Donald
Hodge had been arrested for possession of marijuana last week (see
below).]

What this means to the Mavs is that they are no longer tied down by
Tarpley's big, long term contract and it no longer counts against the
salary cap.  Tarpley had 5 years and $22.2 million left on his contract.
The break down for that is $3.9 million (of which he already received
$665,852) this season, $4.8 million the next 3 season, and $4.5 million in
99-00.  Due to the rules of the salary cap, the Mavs don't have all of
that money to play with.  Losing Tarpley's salary puts the Mavs $1.4
million under the cap this season.  Unless the Mavs decided to trade one
of the 3 Js or maybe even Popeye (please no trades including those four), 
the team will probably stay pat for this season.  The salary cap will
increase to at least $24.5 million July 1.  [The salary cap increase is
based on the revenue generated this season and could be more.]  David
Moore had a nice article in the Dallas Morning News today detailing the 
Mavs' options.  For those who have been asking, Lorenzo Williams ($1.55 
million), guaranteed gone Donald Hodge ($1.2 million), Scott Brooks 
($750,000), and Lucious Harris ($725,000) will be free agents July 1.  
Moore figures if the Mavs renounce the rights (which you have to do to 
free up the money) to those four players, the team will be $3.5 million 
under the cap [little reverse calculation says the Mavs have a $21 
million salary next season minus the free agents - but I could see them 
try to keep Lucious].  With the salary cap limited 20% per year increase,
the Mavs could offer a 7 year, $39.2 million contract (base year of $3.5
mill) to a free agent.  This puts the team way under of price most of the
big name big guy free agents (O'Neal, Mourning, and probably even Dikembe
Mutombo).  But the Mavs should be able to go after other solid players:
Brian Williams, Felton Spencer, Kevin Willis, Antonio Davis, and Adam 
Keefe.  Moore also listed Ervin Johnson (Sea), Kevin Duckworth, Benoit
Benjamin, Sam Perkins, Oliver Miller, Michael Cage, and Elden Campbell but
I'd doubt the Mavs would go after them at the price range we are talking
about due to age, talent, and/or other problems.  Terry Davis has one
more season on his contract, but the Mavs probably would be willing to eat
his salary for the right player.  Terry earned $1,560,000 last season (which
means probably more this season).  I believe that the Mavs would be able
to use half of Terry's salary towards another player if they cut him
[anyone more knowledgeable on the cap rules, feel free to correct me].

As mentioned above, Donald Hodge was busted for possession of marijuana.
Drugs make you stupid.  And here is proof.  Hodge was pulled over for not
wearing his seatbelt.  The officer asked to see the registration for the
car.  Hodge opened the glove compartment to get the registration.  It was
also where he had stashed his dope.  The officer saw the dope and the
arrest was made.  The Mavs were very upset with Hodge and look for the
team to dump him as soon as possible.

Some mad professor must be marketing his new product that depolarizes the
ball with regard to the basket whenever a Maverick touches the ball.  The 
team has blown so many baskets within 5 feet (and that means a _lot_ of 
layups) it is pathetic.  For the season, the Mavs are shooting just 41.5% 
FG.  For the 11 losses, they are a measly 40.7% FG while letting the 
opponent shot 48.4% FG.  At least the road trip from hell is over.  The 
Mavs started their longest road trip (6 road games in 9 days) in several 
years (I think it was since 1991 that someone mentioned) with the lovely 
case of food poisoning.  The chicken and spaghetti on the Mavs' charter 
plane was bad and most of the players ate it as well as the coaching 
staff.  Kidd (he played well despite lossing something like 5 pounds in 
one day) and Popeye were hit pretty hard but played against Miami the 
next night.  Kidd interrupted his interview with Ted Davis to up chuck 
into a plant a couple of hours before the game.  Brooks (also a 5 pound 
weight loss) was too sick and stayed at the hotel.  The Mavs continued 
their sickly start and played pathetically and went 1-5 on the road trip.  
Hopefully some home cooking (and not airplane) will help the Mavs get 
out of their brick laying slump.

The one real bright spot of the road trip was Tony Dumas' performance.  He
had several nice games and unselfish plays.  He took a flying leap at the
basket during the New York game despite Patrick Ewing's presence.  Ewing
got the block and the foul.  He looked at Tony in disbelief that the
little guy had tried to dunk on him and had a big grin on his face.  Loren
Meyer did a good job in the minutes he had defending Ewing (despite the
highlights ESPN showed).  Jamal Mashburn had a career-tying 13 rebounds 
in the loss to New York.

OB ref bash: The replacement refs stink.  The Milwaukee and Chicago games
stick in my mind as two horrendously officiated games (and I heard the
Denver game was awful).  Basketball is a finesse game.  You couldn't tell
that with all the clawing, grabbing, and mauling that the refs were
allowing during the Milwaukee game and several other games.  I'm still
trying to figure out how there was a body foul on a Bull (Caffey?) and
goaltending by the same player 8 feet to the side of the basket.  And how
Jordan did not get a technical or delay of game for standing in the paint
complaining regarding that call for a non-exaggerated 2 minutes when Kidd
was supposed to be shooting a free throw.  And why they didn't call a
flagrant near the end of regulation when Mashburn was driving on the break
and the defender came from behind, wrapped his arm around Mashburn's waist
and pulled Mashburn to the floor.  I could go on forever on those scabs.
Thankfully they are gone after one more game.

Injuries: besides the food poisoning, McCloud missed a couple of games
with a sprained ankle; Lorenzo left a game early with a sprained ankle but
returned for the next game; Jackson's ankle bothered him but he played;
Kidd had his wisdom teeth bothering him a few weeks ago; some other minor
injuries; and Terry Davis has missed the past two games with a sore
Achilles tendon (he had been playing more minutes and his absence has
meant that Meyer has been getting his minutes).

There has been a lot of news/rumors about a Jackson/Mashburn rift.  The
media, of course, has blown it out of proportion.  The original rift
occurred around the Lakers game on November 15.  Apparently another rift
occurred around the Orlando game on November 30.  The players claim it was
nothing serious, just a miss communication, and they have patched things
up.  Way behind the times, ESPN just reported the rift the other day.

For those who have been upset/concerned/... about the lack of playing time
Meyer and Parks have been receiving, it should come as no surprise.  Dick
Motta has a long history of not playing the rookies.  If Derek Harper had
still been with the team last season, Kidd wouldn't have had any where
near the minutes he had and would not have been starting.  It was just the
fact that the Mavs had no other point guard that Jason was the starter.
[If you don't believe me, Derek started only 2 games his first two seasons -
Brad Davis was the starter.]

Former Mav update: Utah waived James Donaldson.
Tim Legler returns to Reunion tomorrow night with Washington.

The Mavs called concerning Shawn Bradley.  Philadelphia asked for Jackson
or Mashburn in return.  That ended that discussion real quick.

Jim Jackson, Jamal Mashburn, and Jason Kidd are on the All-Star ballot.
Popeye Jones was snubbed.  And don't forget to vote for Derek Harper in
the Eastern Conference.  Vote and vote often.

FYI, you won't hear any talk of splitting up the 3 Js from me.  This small
slide is not worth destroying what will be a great team.  Plus I like all
of the players.  [I'd never make it as a GM - I get too attached to the
players.]

And the last word comes from Ted Davis during the Vancouver game:
"Big Country put his big belly on George McCloud."


patricia