Mavs Afternoon Drive: Another 'Flier' On Roddy?

     Eight Takes from the Mavs’ Friday afternoon practice as they prepare for a weekend visit from the Raptors … and nurse some wounds, of both the physical and mental variety.

    It’s the Mavs Afternoon Drive:

TAKE 1: Unless coach Rick Carlisle is playing it coy, rookie Roddy Beaubois’ start in the OT loss at New Orleans on Wednesday does not mark the beginning of an immediately increased role for French Cuffs.

“That was a little bit of a flier,’’ said the coach, saying that the team’s injuries created the opportunity. “But he was ready to play, he played well, and he’s been practicing really well.’’

Beaubois scored nine points in his NBA debut – and they happened to be the first nine points of the game in Dallas’ loss on Wednesday at New Orleans.

TAKE 2: As always, Carlisle is reluctant to participate in what he calls a daily “Josh Howard Watch.’’

“We’re getting closer,’’ the coach said of Howard, nursing the ankle, who hasn’t appeared yet this season. “But we don’t have an announcement yet.’’

Howard did participate in some of the Friday workout.

TAKE 3: More injury stuff: Drew Gooden (ribs) did not participate in full contact work for most of this week and should be considered questionable at best for Saturday’s game against Toronto. Tim Thomas (knee) worked out but is not ready to make his debut. Quinton Ross (lower back) also missed the workout.

Which makes me want to bounce back to TAKE 1: If the Mavs are without Ross, Gooden, Thomas and Josh on Saturday night … wouldn’t it be wise to take another “flier’’?

TAKE 4: Carlisle mentioned Kris Humphries and James Singleton as two players who might be called upon to help with Toronto’s front-line talents of  Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh.

“It's one of the toughest matchups in the league,’’ Carlisle said, adding that Shawn Marion could also take a defensive turn against Bosh.

However …

TAKE 5: How many big men in the league are playing better right now than Erick Dampier? While the Mavs might be flirting with the idea of relying on more mobile types, Damp’s been the center of record through all of 3-2 Dallas’ games. … and in addition to his double-double work as a rebounder and scorer, guess who leads the NBA in blocked shots?

TAKE 6: This will be Old Home Night for a few fellas on both squads, but our focus will be on the Raptor-turned-Mavs.

No, not The Matrix – though he is obviously a key to everything the Mavs might accomplish. … and he has no hard feelings toward his former team.

We’ll put the Saturday night binoculars on Handsome Humphries, who seems to have a chip on his shoulde regarding a Raptors organization that never quite gave him the minutes to accomplish what he’s already done in five games with the Mavs.

TAKE 7: Carlisle’s thoughts on losing in such an odd way in New Orleans? He politely spent some time discussing the details with the assembled media before summarizing his thoughts on getting beyond it all.

“You gotta flush it,’’ he said.

TAKE 8: After practice, Carlisle spent a considerable amount of time with a future Mavs prospect. Good-sized kid. Coach had him working on shooting in the paint.

The prospect? Jason Kidd’s sixth-grade son, T.J.