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PRINT THIS PAGE | E-MAIL THIS PAGE Thursday, January 22, 1998 Mavericks say Seattle victory not a flop By CHRIS NEWTON / Associated Press Writer DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks might seem like fodder to most of the NBA, but they have finally found a team they can consistently beat. Amazingly, it's the Seattle SuperSonics. The NBA's worst team of the 1990s has picked up two of its seven wins this season against the Sonics, and a 107-98 drubbing Tuesday night was more impressive than the first victory, which Seattle excused as an early-season flop. In their only national television appearance of the season, the Mavericks might have shocked viewers by posting a double-figures lead during the game. But Dallas also led Minnesota by 24 points Saturday and Indiana by 19 the previous Saturday, only to blow both games. This time, the Mavericks didn't blow it. "As a team, we haven't been able to finish games," said Erick Strickland, who scored a career-high 30 points Tuesday night. "We put one together against a great team that's going to go far in the playoffs and we showed the country the Mavericks can play good basketball." Dallas has been playing better since firing coach Jim Cleamons in early December, even if the record doesn't show it. Only 4-10 at the time, the Mavericks are 3-22 under Don Nelson. But players are no longer rebelling against the coach or his offense. They have a better attitude, an improved work ethic and everyone seems to see the bright side of things. For example, following the collapse against Minnesota, players were instead focusing their building of such a big lead. "We're doing the things a young team needs to win -- running the floor, blocking shots ... in the end, this will be the way we will start beating teams," forward Samaki Walker said. "Nelson has us playing well, and the wins will come." Nelson, the fourth-winningest active coach in the NBA, said victories aren't the only way to tell if a team is improving. "We've been playing some really good quarters," Nelson said. "We played (Minnesota) for three quarters and then we broke down. All our strategies worked." Cynics might say Nelson sounds a lot like Cleamons just before he was fired and his triangle offense was scrapped. But Walker points out that Nelson is implementing strategies that capitalize on his players' skills. "We like to make the first adjustments and take advantage of any mismatches we can produce," Nelson said. "We want them to have to react to our switches. When that happens we can get off to a fast start and get out in front." Nelson also has been working to improve his team's ability to hold a lead, even simulating situations with the clock running down. Apparently, they learned something. Ahead of the Sonics 65-54 at halftime, the Mavericks upped the lead to 74-58. The Sonics got to 92-86, but Strickland helped hold them off with five straight points. "It's pretty disgusting," Seattle's Dale Ellis said. "It's sad to come out and play the way we did. In this league, if you allow a team to get going, they can beat you."   Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below: texnews.com Reporter OnLine Local Sports Texas Sports Copyright ©1998, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below:

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