To man up, you’ve got to show up. And, of course, to show up you have to first wake up.
On time.
The Mavs’ Monday was a disaster from the time center Samuel Dalembert overslept and missed shoot-around until the Denver Nuggets bullied them off the American Airlines Center court via a 110-96 loss. It was Dallas’ first loss at home this season, and it was by far this season’s biggest clunker.
Dalembert, a 13-year veteran who knows better, was absent at shootaround and subsequently benched by head coach Rick Carlisle. DeJuan Blair and Bernard James took Dalembert’s early minutes and it didn’t seem to faze Dallas, which jumped to a 12-4 lead.
But, in the end, the Nuggets out-rebounded the Mavs by six. They out-physicaled Dallas in the paint and out-quicked the Mavs on the perimeter.
“I’m very disappointed in myself,” Dalembert told reporters in the post-game locker room. “I don’t have an excuse. It shouldn’t happen. I’m still trying to get over it. I deserve the benching. I’m percent behind coach. I apologize to my teammates.”
Dalembert was late. Vince Carter – ahem – was his usual self, going 3 of 13 and missing all four 3-pointers. And for once, the Mavs thoroughly sleepwalked through a loss.
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Hopefully it will serve as a wake-up call.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently writes a sports/guy stuff blog at DFWSportatorium.com and lives in McKinney with his fiancee, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
