The Mav's just tipped off the 2009-10 season. Can anyone explain WHY Eric Dampier is still on the team and starting the game tonight?

Well they didn't exactly start the season off on the right foot...

I think the Mavs will make some noise this season, and make the playoffs, but I don't think they did enough over the offseason to be considered contenders.

Still a MFFL.

I guess Cuban thinks he is the only Post player he can afford???

dallas is going to be ok...gooden will play much more at center as the season goes on. who saw dirk completely take over the other night against the jazz? love it.

with marion and a healthy josh howard, we match up way better with teams like denver that killed us with the 3 ball and rebounds.

Would someone please tell Jason Kidd to stop shooting the ball!

The total collapse in the last 9 seconds against New Orleans the other night was enough to tell me that nothing has
changed with the Mavericks.

Although I haven't really got into BBall just yet I caught the last few minutes of last nights game.


The big German hits one at the buzzer as time expires in overtime to give the Mavs the W.

the team is beat up right now...missing marion and howard, but they beat a battered SA team. dallas has had the spurs number lately and dirk has been at his best this season. once howard and marion get completely healthy, dallas will be very tough because of their length

Dallas is looking good this season. Dampier still produces on the court. He is still a solid center in the league. Of course he is no All-star. Even with two of their key players sidelined they are still winning and will be a force when healthy.

I like the intensity the Mavs are bringing this year,I do argee with the whole Damp. thing tho....He hustles and all i juss dont think he is talented enough to be a starter in a very competitive Western Conference

13-5 is a pretty good start. I like what I have seen so far...

GO, SPURS, GO! Oh sorry...Wrong thread.

dallas isn't looking championship calliber right now...but there is still alot of season left. i still think josh howard being completely healthy and not hobbled by a weak ankle would be huge

Compared to the Lakers (and I'm a Mavs fan) no team looks like a championship team. The Mavs are #2 in the West right now but I agree they are not a championship team as currently constructed. Josh has given this team almost nothing this year. If they can move him+whatever for a quality starting 2 or 5 they should. In the meantime Jet should start at the 2. JJ Barea's minutes should be reduced in favor of the rookie, Roddy. JJ/Roddy and Josh should be rotating in when Kidd & Jet sit. JJ and Josh dominate the ball way to much. Kidd is having a great year btw, 34 assists in the last two games. Defensively the Mavs are as good as they have ever been. Marion and Damp are a big part of that. Offensively they have struggled because they at times don't move the ball at all.

i'll agree to that. i like Roddy, however, he will turn the ball over. But i see him being the PG of the future. he's very Rondo-esque without the bad attitude.

damp has been a pleasant surprise, especially offensively. but the addition of marion and gooden have been big. today dallas beat the knicks by 50! a team record. Though they are at times inconsitant, they could run off and end up being something special at the end of the season.

I don't know about everyone else, but I'm glad the Mavs got rid of Josh Howard. I also think Caron Butler is a serious upgrade over Howard as well. Howard had become the cancer of the team.

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=4927285

Howard said something about making the mavs pay for trading him.

I guess that will have to wait....Howard tears ACL; out for season

Heard about that this morning. I hate that he got hurt, but he's still a jerk and apparently a crybaby as well. He and Tracy McGrady (aka- Stacy McShady) both have been taking cheap shots at there former teams for trading them. I wish them nothing but mediocre luck with there new teams.

Great job last night Mavs!!! Lets keep this winning streek going!!

Ok Mavs lets take care of them Hawks tonight!!

Is Butler gonna be back tonight?

Sorry Lobo was gone all weekend!! Looks like that trade is paying off pretty good....8 in a row!!! LETS GO MAVS!!!!

Ok Dallas lets beet them wolves and make it 9 in a row!!!

They have a game coming up at Chicago but outside of that it isn't a stretch at all to say they could easily win 15 straight with Boston coming in on the 20th.

Way to go MAVS!!! Good job of staying in there and getting the win. 9 in a row!!!! Yes Eagles5 that would be a great thing 15 in a row with Boston coming in to play. They just need to stay healthy, that Jason Terry is one tough guy after the blow he took last night!!!

Terry to have surgery Friday... Hope he isnt out to long a time.....

Well....my wish list came true. Huge move and upgrade. If the Mavs can get Terry, Damp and Haywood healthy they have as good a chance as anybody of taking down the Lakers. Terry going down temporarily could be ok in the long run as Roddy is finally getting a chance to shine. JJ is doing much better passing the ball. I think they need to sign a center to a 10 day contract to get Haywood some rest until Damp comes back.

12 in a row!!!! Next up the Nets. LETS GO MAVS!!!

13 in a row!!! Next up New York. Keep it going MAVS!!!

I agree with a lot of your statement, with the exception of Dampier. I think he hurts more than he helps and is just not contibuting much of anything.

Damp is by far one of, if not the worst signing Cuban has made with the Mav's.