Mavs getting job done on defense

[HMFFL]

The Dallas Mavericks have played 26 games since the blockbuster trade, and big DeSagana Diop is only a memory.

The wing span of the jovial 7-foot center was thought to be perhaps the Mavs' most missed piece in the aftermath of the deal that brought Jason Kidd back to Dallas and sent Diop, Devin Harris and others to New Jersey.

Without a second true center to back up Erick Dampier, how would the Mavs defend the paint in a Western Conference in which the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns had just bolstered their frontcourts?

"There wasn't any concern, but there was a sense of urgency as far as from the guard's perspective; how are we closing out?" Jason Terry said. "There's some techniques we changed that we're doing now that's helped us in that area. And Dampier, if you look at what he's doing, it may not show up in the box scores, but defensively, he's really doing a good job of protecting our paint."

The Mavs have improved their interior defense statistically since the trade, using Dirk Nowitzki, Brandon Bass and Malik Allen to fill Diop's role by utilizing a rotation at the center position.

In the 53 games before the trade, the Mavs allowed an average 40.0 points a game in the paint. Eight times they surrendered 50 or more, including three games of 60 or more.

In the 26 games since the trade, the Mavs have allowed 37.5 points per game in the paint. Their overall average of just about 39 is their lowest mark since early December.

They've surrendered 50-plus points three times, including April 4, when the Lakers put up 60 against a gimpy Nowitzki in his second game back from a high left ankle sprain.

"That's a big emphasis for us, easy baskets," Terry said. "We don't want to give up easy baskets."

Interior defense begins on the perimeter with the guards protecting against dribble penetration. Harris was excellent at using his quickness to draw charges, so there was a concern that Kidd wouldn't be able to keep up with quick West point guards.

But Kidd uses his size, 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, to his advantage.

"I feel much more comfortable because we're doing a better job on the perimeter," Mavs coach Avery Johnson said. "Kidd is really shutting down on defense, Josh [Howard] is shutting down on defense. [Devean] George will give it to us one game, Eddie Jones will give it to us another game. I like what our perimeter defensive guys are doing."

Thursday's win over Utah provided another glimpse at the Mavs' progress. The Jazz had pounded the Mavs for an average of 50 paint points in the previous three games, but managed just 38 as the Mavs had eight blocks.

High or low scoring totals in the paint don't always translate directly to wins and losses, but a difference of 12 points in the paint means six fewer high-percentage shots.

In the playoffs, that can mean the difference between advancing or going home.

"It's a slower game at that point, every possession counts," Dampier said, referring to the postseason. "It's going to be important for us to go out there and do the job defensively. When we're playing great defense and doing the things that we know we can do out there on the floor, it's an exciting game for us."

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[your_dallas_mavericks]

It has seemed like Damp has been playing more and more minutes as the season has gone on since the Kidd trade. He's playing very well and if he can handle 32-36 min per game, who cares if Bass plays with Dirk a little bit or if Allen/JuHo get a few minutes here and there. As long as the minutes/fouls are managed correctly it should be all right.