For Matt Carroll, last season was a blur - figuratively and literally. First, his career temporarily turned fuzzy when he was traded by Charlotte to the Mavericks in the middle of the season. He had no real shot at getting into the rotation because the Mavericks scarcely had any real practice time for the first month he was with the team. Second, his eyesight began to bother him, not a good thing for a 3-point shooter.
"I never wore glasses or contacts," Carroll said. "And last year, my vision just wasn't as good. I just noticed little things, like when I was driving and seeing signs and numbers and letters. So I thought when the season's over, I got to get it checked out.
"The doctor told me 'yeah, you definitely need something, either wearing contacts or you're a candidate for Lasik if you want to do it.'
"So I said I'm going to do it and get it corrected."
Two and a half weeks ago, Carroll had the surgery. He wore protective goggles when he was on the Basketball court for the required two weeks. In the preseason opener Monday, he ditched the goggles, but kept the headband to keep sweat from getting in his eyes.
And the results of the procedure have been remarkable, he said.
Remember, Carroll was a 27 percent shooter last season after the trade. It was nothing like what the Mavericks were hoping for out of the career 40-percent 3-point shooter. He was 1-of-8 from behind the arc in very limited time last season.
So has the Lasik helped?
"Big time," he said. "The first week was a little rough. But it feels so much better now."
To rewrite the great song by Johnny Nash, Carroll can see clearly now and the rain will come - as in, raining 3-pointers down on opponents. The only reminder of the surgery for the dead-eye shooter is the red-eye ring around his pupil. That will subside soon, he's been told.
"You can throw out last year," coach Rick Carlisle said. "The guy got here and the first month we had, like, one full practice. It was a tough situation.
"We know he can make shots. Look at his career. He's got damn good numbers. The difference is he's had a summer of work to prepare for camp and he's been in a training camp for over a week now where he's familiar with our team and our system."
Carroll got the start in the preseason opener and made his only 3-point shot. And let's face it, that's the main way he's going to get on the floor. With the way the Mavericks are constituted, he should be able to get open shots. If he can hit from the perimeter and stretch the defense, he's a clear asset.
Just like his vision now.
Briefly: Shawn Marion, who missed the preseason opener as a precaution with a sore right calf, practiced Tuesday and said he expects to play Friday in Washington.
Carlisle said the 92 free throws Monday weren't because of overzealous replacement referees. "We did a bad job with unnecessary fouls," he said. "We know we have the best referees in pro sports in the NBA. Those guys will be back when they're back. In the meantime, I thought they [replacements] did an exceptionally good job. Go back and look at the film and all those fouls were fouls."
Though the exhibition opener was a loss, the Mavericks came away encouraged considering 40 percent of their starting lineup (Josh Howard and Marion) was missing. "Overall, defensively, we're going in the right direction," Jason Kidd said. "Last night was pretty impressive without Josh and Shawn, to compete with a team like Orlando."
