Dampier talking a bigger game

[HMFFL]

The Dallas Mavericks' Erick Dampier is going to be a different player this season.

No, he's not going to average 12 points and 12 rebounds, which would match career bests, although it won't be for lack of effort.

What Dampier will do, he promises, is change his demeanor and play with passion that everybody can see.

It's not that he's worried about public perception. He's never been caught up in what others think of him. But he wants to get emotional for himself and his teammates.

"A lot of people say Damp is shy and reserved, which is true to some extent," he said. "But I'm going to take a more vocal role. It may be a step out of my character, but I'm going to try it. I'm not a yeller – just be more emotional out there on the court."

Dampier is different this season in other ways, too. He got married over the summer, and he's finding Rick Carlisle's lively offense is a bit more center-friendly than Avery Johnson's plodding style was.

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Avery can't be the escape goat this year. I mentioned this because I continue to see Avery being pointed at for the blame or how players didn't play while he was the coach here. It's time for our entire team to group together and just give it everything they have every night.

[JES12]

Nah, Avery can be blamed for everything because it was his boot camp that tuned his players out. Even if we take a step backwards this year, I am glad he is gone!

[TheLSUMaverick]

I have been waiting for Damp to take this kind of action. This is the only reason why i like Diop more than Damp. Damp simply never plays with a passion like Diop does but from the sounds of it it seems as Rick has brought some new found confidence into this team! everyone is wanting to take initiative to make the TEAM better and i love it. I agree with you JES Avery tuned everyone out so how avery went the team went.

[studcrackers]

damp gets to much crap, he played great once the kidd trade went down and i thought he was good the whole season. maybe i just think he's gotten to much criticism from people who think he should be more then he is, but i like watching him play. i will say though he did struggle mightily against chandler in the PO's

[catalyst]

He is exactly as advertised. He is the second best center in mavs history, but always frustrates fans and they demand him to be traded

[JES12]

I like Damp this year. I like Damp next year. But I don't like Damp summer 2010, which conveniently falls on his unguaranteed year.

It's like the best of both worlds. Use him when/if we need him next year with the flexibility for him to be a big "filler" in a trade or to shave his salary off next year. Whatever, it's all good!

I see no reason to trade him for longer and only marginally better players this year (or in the case of a post I saw this morning, downgrading to Blount).

[cmavswin]

Talk is cheap rebounds and block shots are not. Damp is going to have to contribute in order for this team to excede expectations. Well set screens,offensive rebounds, shotblocks and defensive rebounds with above average defense is what this teams needs and pays for from him. Do I expect that every night no... but I do expect 2 out of every 3 games considering the kind of dollars the man makes.

[realfung]

lol