Mavericks raring to clear air in LA
12/06/2002
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
LOS ANGELES ? There is no tactful way to put this. The Mavericks stink against the Los Angeles Lakers. Always have.
Even when the Lakers were lame, the Mavericks were lamer. In those rare seasons when the Mavs have been good, the Lakers have been better.
The result: 23 consecutive losses on the road to the Lakers. Not since Dec. 12, 1990, have the Mavs gone into LA's home and come out winners. It's been domination by the Lakers, who, by the way, are 18-5 in Dallas in that span.
Those numbers are why the Mavericks go into Friday night's challenge at Staples Center with a sense of purpose. While the Lakers have more pressure on them because of a 7-13 record and a need to protect their court, the Mavericks have grown tired of being pond scum to LA's Lake Show.
"There comes a time as a team gets better that you have to go out and prove you can do it here," coach Don Nelson said Thursday as the Mavs went through a workout at the Lakers' practice facility.
Mavericks past and present know the history. But they also are going into this game with a sense the only thing they have to worry about is the future.
"This is a different era," Avery Johnson said. "And we need to act like it's a different era. Those of us who have won games here need to make sure everybody else understands that."
But is it really a different era? The Lakers are three-time defending NBA champions. And while they are struggling, they still have Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the best and perhaps second-best players in the league.
"We know LA is LA," said Nick Van Exel, a former Laker. "They are looking for a spark to get their team going. We don't want to be that spark for them."
Derek Harper and Rolando Blackman were on the last Dallas team that won in LA. Harper believes two traditions could be changing before our eyes ? the Mavs' flair for losing in LA and the Lakers' championship mystique.
"To me, they're not the same team they were the past three years," said Harper, a Mavs television announcer. "Shaq and Kobe are still Shaq and Kobe. But all the guys around them aren't playing as well, and that's a big difference. I think the Lakers are vulnerable this year."
Blackman, however, cautioned against thinking the Mavericks have the upper hand because they are on an early roll.
"This isn't just a game against a team," said Blackman, a player-development coach. "It's one against a championship team."
Albeit, one with issues in the locker room and a 4-4 record since O'Neal returned from toe surgery.
"They are the standard-bearers," Steve Nash said. "They're going to be extremely motivated to play us with the record we have. And I think they see a chance to erase a lot of that negativity they have had."
And the Lakers have had their share. After their loss Wednesday at Utah, O'Neal questioned whether his teammates are on the same page.
"There's really no excuse," O'Neal said. "We're all professionals, and we have to be ready. It seems like sometimes we have five out there and a couple of guys don't know what's going on."
12/06/2002
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
LOS ANGELES ? There is no tactful way to put this. The Mavericks stink against the Los Angeles Lakers. Always have.
Even when the Lakers were lame, the Mavericks were lamer. In those rare seasons when the Mavs have been good, the Lakers have been better.
The result: 23 consecutive losses on the road to the Lakers. Not since Dec. 12, 1990, have the Mavs gone into LA's home and come out winners. It's been domination by the Lakers, who, by the way, are 18-5 in Dallas in that span.
Those numbers are why the Mavericks go into Friday night's challenge at Staples Center with a sense of purpose. While the Lakers have more pressure on them because of a 7-13 record and a need to protect their court, the Mavericks have grown tired of being pond scum to LA's Lake Show.
"There comes a time as a team gets better that you have to go out and prove you can do it here," coach Don Nelson said Thursday as the Mavs went through a workout at the Lakers' practice facility.
Mavericks past and present know the history. But they also are going into this game with a sense the only thing they have to worry about is the future.
"This is a different era," Avery Johnson said. "And we need to act like it's a different era. Those of us who have won games here need to make sure everybody else understands that."
But is it really a different era? The Lakers are three-time defending NBA champions. And while they are struggling, they still have Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the best and perhaps second-best players in the league.
"We know LA is LA," said Nick Van Exel, a former Laker. "They are looking for a spark to get their team going. We don't want to be that spark for them."
Derek Harper and Rolando Blackman were on the last Dallas team that won in LA. Harper believes two traditions could be changing before our eyes ? the Mavs' flair for losing in LA and the Lakers' championship mystique.
"To me, they're not the same team they were the past three years," said Harper, a Mavs television announcer. "Shaq and Kobe are still Shaq and Kobe. But all the guys around them aren't playing as well, and that's a big difference. I think the Lakers are vulnerable this year."
Blackman, however, cautioned against thinking the Mavericks have the upper hand because they are on an early roll.
"This isn't just a game against a team," said Blackman, a player-development coach. "It's one against a championship team."
Albeit, one with issues in the locker room and a 4-4 record since O'Neal returned from toe surgery.
"They are the standard-bearers," Steve Nash said. "They're going to be extremely motivated to play us with the record we have. And I think they see a chance to erase a lot of that negativity they have had."
And the Lakers have had their share. After their loss Wednesday at Utah, O'Neal questioned whether his teammates are on the same page.
"There's really no excuse," O'Neal said. "We're all professionals, and we have to be ready. It seems like sometimes we have five out there and a couple of guys don't know what's going on."
