Thursday Mavs Donuts: Kidd On Nash, Roddy And J-Ho In The Rotation, All-Star Prostitutes And Terrell Owens

Mike Fisher -- DB.com

    DONUT 1: As a way of loosening up your hamstrings for the late-night Mavs-at-Phoenix tip allow me to reintroduce you to our DB.com Exclusive: former Sun Jason Kidd’s opinions on BBIQ … opinions that include mention of former Mav Steve Nash.

    DONUT 2:.From one of the NY rags:

    The Nets are trying to work a deal for Stoudemire because they're resigned to the fact that they're not going to be able to get LeBron James or Dwyane Wade this summer. That's the word from inside the Meadowlands, anyway.

   Wait. … what? A few months ago, I thought the Nets – with a rapper owner and a new arena and the move into the big city – were almost a lock to get LeBron!

    I post this as a reminder: Situations change. Money matters. Success matters. Nobody knows what will happen this summer … or to whom it will happen.
   And yes, that includes your Dallas Mavericks.

    DONUT 3: Jason Terry wants to be in the NBA 3-Point Shootout. I can make a case for him. (He'd be fun!!) But the league, I bet, can make other cases. Nevertheless, at some point, DFW’s gotta get some All-Star Weekend home-cookin’, right? When Jet is saying, “I’ll be involved’’ in All-Star Weekend, by the way, don’t necessarily take that as news that he’s been invited to the Shootout. I think what he means is that by virtue of the fact that the NBA has asked him to be a “host’’ of the Weekend (at one time, he was leaning toward declining the invite), he’ll be “involved.’’ … if only as a guy helping Jay-Z to put on parties and stuff.

   Seemingly more likely, as Sefko suggests: Nancy Lieberman and Ro or Spud joining Dirk in the 3-on-3 Shooting Stars tournament.

    DONUT 4: Maybe the Spurs don’t really want to own Amare’s baggage. Maybe they just want to be baggage handlers? 

    DONUT 5: I tweeted this yesterday afternoon but here’s a moment in which we flesh it out:

    As anticipated by our David Lord, Jason Terry has remained in the starting lineup at the 2-guard for four straight games. Dallas is 3-1 in those games. Beneath him (and the other four starters), the pecking order is becoming clear.

   Josh Howard will probably be given the title of “Sixth Man’’ and on most nights might end up with the sixth-most minutes. But he won’t get many of those minutes at the 2. He’ll be interchangeable to some degree with starter Shawn Marion and (if the Milwaukee game is any indication) he’ll sub in for Dirk.

   JJ Barea will be the backup point guard. He’ll be available to play some 2, but mostly he’ll give a blow to Jason Kidd. Drew Gooden is the backup center.He’ll make sure to keep Damp’s minutes below DUST Chip level. Let’s see … that’s eight. Is there room for a ninth guy? Hey, who is going to get a little time as the official backup 2-guard? How about Roddy Beaubois? “The policy around here,’’ says coach Rick Carlisle, (is) we don’t talk about lineups.’’

    True. But Jet-as-a-starter for the last four games speaks volumes.

   DONUT 6: More from my man David in Kerrville, embedded with the Spurs:

   Fish, as you’ve noted, Richard Jefferson has become the whipping boy down here...but that's just the effect of the silver-and-black kool-aid.  These folks are in the early stages of grief...and denial is Step One.
   Sure, against the Bulls the other night RJ went 1-8, but Manu went 4-14 and “super rookie’’ DeJuan Blair was 4-13. It’s easier to bash RJ but nobody will say anything about that!
   The biggest problem with the Spurs is something the Mavs are now figuring out how to do.  The Spurs just can't get a stop when they have to, and when the Spurs do get a stop, they can't get the ball in the basket (contrast that with the Mavs 10 in a row in one-point games).
   Manu is 80% of the player he was two years ago, and Parker with plantar fasciitis is "mortal"...and as a group, these Spurs just don't play enough good tough, quick-handed defense.
    My how times have changed for these I-35 teams!

   For the record: I’ll be convinced that the Spurs are finally done after they’re finally done. But David in Kerrville is right; San Antonio’s age spots are showing.

    And this just in: Tony Parker just hurt his ankle. 

   DONUT 7: Your city hosts an All-Star Weekend, you have to expect some riff-raff.

   One restaurant magnate tells me that he hears 100,000 prostitutes are planning to roll into town in mid-February … and that many of them might just set up camp here for the ensuing 12 months in anticipation of the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, coming back to host an NBA All-Star party and to play in the Celebrity Game in which he annually dominates is none other than Terrell Owens.

    So that’s 100,001 riff-raffy types.

   DONUT 8: Gina Miller has a blog. And it’s as saucy as it is sporty. 

    DONUT 9: Sports Illustrated takes a fly swatter to the New Orleans Hornets. And I only have three things to say:

   10.

   X.

   50.

   DONUT 10: You can follow me on Twitter. It’s free. It’s painless. As you’ll discover, I’m enriched with Vitamin C.

   DONUT 11: A juicy rip job in Denver, from Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post: "The only shock is how long it took the Nuggets to wise up. Guard J.R. Smith is a loser. Trust him? No way. Any NBA team truly serious about winning a championship cannot have Smith on the court, the bench or the team bus. So what is Denver going to do about Smith, with the trade deadline looming in February? Absolutely nothing.’’

    DONUT 12: LeBron James is half as likely to get called for a foul as the next schmoe.