Mugged, Shrugged & Bugged: The Mavs In Sick Bay

    Before the game, Erick Dampier mugged.

   After the game, Erick Dampier shrugged.

   And before, after and throughout the game, I was bugged.

   After the Warriors’ 111-103 win Tuesday at the AAC, Monta Ellis said something insultingly revealing about Dallas’ defense:

    “They don't have any shot-blockers,’’ said Ellis, who paraded his way to the hole for 37 un-harassed points. "So our gameplan was to really attack the basket. And that's what we did.''

   And right about here is where I tuck the rationale that comes with my press pass into my jacket pocket and replace it by wearing my ticket-buying frustration on my sleeve:

   Before the game, Damp – missing from the lineup since feeling lightheaded before tipoff in Detroit on Nov. 15 – was engaged in a light on-court warmup, joined by assistant coach Popeye Jones. It was good-natured clowning, Popeye challenging Damp to make a 3-pointer – and Dampier proceeded to launch a series of nothing-but-net jumpers from beyond the arc.

   Popeye laughed uproariously. Damp cracked a smile.

   Good times.

   And then came the game. … and there sat Dampier in street clothes, alongside Josh Howard (who won't play tonight in Houston and will have therefore participated in three of the team's 15 games) and alongside Shawn Marion (who has been in civvies for nine days now).

   “We were missing starters, too,’’ said Dirk after the loss to a depleted Warriors squad ... by way of,  I guess, explanation.

    Had the 6-11 Damp (averaging 2.2 blocks per game) played, would Ellis’ rose-petal-covered path down the lane been more treacherous? How about if two other guys with defensive credentials, wings Marion and Howard, would’ve been available to help out?

   As a Mavs follower, I find this frustrating. Tonight in Houston comes the second game of a B-2-B, and here comes five roadies in the next six, all of which makes for a good time for all hands to be on deck. I said this on the 103.3 ESPN Radio Mavs postgame show last night with Ben & Skin, with what I hope is the proper framing … because I’m no doctor and I’m not accusing anybody of jaking it but I’m just frustrated:

   *C’mon, Josh. Push yourself here. There might even be a selfish reason for you to do so because while the Mavs are now accustomed to winning without you, you are in a contract year and you certainly don’t want to gain a negative reputation as somebody who required a world-record amount of time to recover from relatively minor ankle surgery.

   *C’mon, Shawn. Tape that ankle twice. You considered going against the Warriors and then declined to do so. … Was one of the reasons you (and maybe the organization) opted to hold back here because we all figured the Warriors would lose by 20?

    *C’mon, Damp. Do we want you to play while you are still encumbered by or at risk from this “undisclosed illness’’ that initially had you hospitalized and had Dirk saying he was “praying for’’ you? God, no. A few basketball games isn't worth a real risk, obviously. But … how can you still be encumbered by a mystery illness? What is the risk? What the heck is wrong here?

    Again, don’t take this venting on my part as criticism of the manliness of the players involved or of the skills of the medical personnel involved. I'm not necessarily questioning anybody's pain limits or anybody's want-to. I'm not calling anybody out and I am confident The Triangle of Trust has a handle on this (if a very gentle handle.). But …

   Well, it’s just frustrating, is all. A six-month recovery from an ankle surgery, another ankle that is perpetually “almost ready,’’ another guy in sick bay who is sick but doesn’t feel or look sick. …

    After the game, as the Mavs were trudging off the floor, a fan hooted at Dampier.

    “Damp,’’ he said, “when you coming back?’’

    All Erick Dampier could do was shrug those massive shoulders.

    "He's been around the team now for several days and, as I've said, he's in good spirits and feeling real good," coach Rick Carlisle said. "I expect there will be some kind of announcement coming up at some point soon."

    As a card-carrying member of the media, I will chronicle that “announcement’’ with the appropriate objectivity.

    As a ticket-buying follower of the team, I will cross my fingers that any “announcement’’ has something to do with three very important Mavs players actually playing.