[dallas news]Nowitzki, Barkley agree: Dirk needs to dominate

Nowitzki, Barkley agree: Dirk needs to dominate

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03:52 AM CDT on Monday, April 25, 2005


From Staff Reports



Everybody has advice for Dirk Nowitzki. Even his old pal Charles Barkley.

The TNT announcer loves to ride Nowitzki, and he was quick to say on Saturday's telecast that Nowitzki needs to play his best, particularly against Houston's Ryan Bowen.

"Dirk Nowitzki has got to punish that boy," Barkley said. "The regular season is for stars. The playoffs are for superstars. Dirk has to punish that kid on the box."

The words from Barkley are not news to Nowitzki.

He said after a lengthy film session Sunday that he knows his game has to improve in Game 2.

"It's on me," he said. "I've got to do a better job of making my teammates better. I didn't do a good job of making them [the Rockets] pay for using a small guy on me. I have to be stronger in the post. My [lack of] passing has let them get away with a small lineup."

Coach Avery Johnson cautioned that the Mavericks cannot rely strictly on Nowitzki.

"We can't expect him to score 50, 60 points," Johnson said.

Eddie Sefko


Game 2 preparation different for teams

The Mavericks went through a long film session Sunday afternoon, then spent about 45 minutes on the practice floor to work on what went wrong in Game 1.

The Rockets took a different approach. They had a brief meeting, then had an optional practice at American Airlines Center.

Eddie Sefko


Yao goes out, then they bring in someone better

It's the old story when the Rockets' Yao Ming gets in foul trouble. They just send in somebody better, or so it seems.

Dikembe Mutombo did a dandy job filling in for the foul-straddled Yao in Game 1.

"They're a good defensive team," Dirk Nowitzki said. "Obviously, it helps that they have a 7-6 guy in the middle all the time. The paint always seems clogged.

"We got him in foul trouble, then another [7-footer] comes in, and he might be even better on defense. And the drive doesn't look like it's there.

"That's why I have to get everybody else involved."

Eddie Sefko


Bowen not nervous? At least he didn't show it

Rockets forward Ryan Bowen said he was anxious while trying to guard Dirk Nowitzki, but teammate Tracy McGrady said he didn't notice.

"He didn't seem nervous. I couldn't tell he was nervous," McGrady said. "He used all of his fouls, but that's what it's going to take."

Then again, McGrady said he sometimes doesn't notice things.

"I was zoned in or zoned out [in Game 1]," he said. "Either way, it was a good thing."

Mike Heika


After Milwaukee stint, he's happy in Houston

Mike James won with the Detroit Pistons last year and lost with the Milwaukee Bucks this season. So how has his role changed in Houston?

"My role is basically the same as it was in Milwaukee," James said. "The difference is when you're losing, it's not that much fun."

Mike Heika


Mutombo has to be up to speed on defense

Dikembe Mutombo was left to guard quick players on the Mavericks in Game 1, a mismatch the Rockets seem ready to live with.

"We knew they would go small, but coach tells us, 'If Josh Howard is going to beat us, let him beat us.' " Mutombo said. "You have to take your chances, and sometimes you have to gamble."

Mike Heika