--Coaches often say they can live with physical mistakes over mental ones. In which category go three straight missed free throws in the last 10 seconds fall? "I guess it's a little bit of both," J.J. Barea said. "It's bad luck. To miss three shots like that is incredible." The Mavs did just that against New Orleans on Wednesday, needing just one to lock down the win. Barea missed the last two after Jason Terry misfired on a technical. If the situation ever comes up again, Barea has a new strategy.
"If we had to do it over again, I would have told Jet that I'll shoot all three," said Barea, one of the team's better foul shooters. "I would have shot the tech and then two more. No way I'm missing three."
--The D-League team co-owned by Mavericks president Donnie Nelson made history with the appointment of Nancy Lieberman as head coach. The club, based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, begins play next season.
Lieberman, 51, is the first woman's coach in the D-League, but the Hall of Famer is used to being a pioneer.
"I can't ever look at anything as daunting because then it becomes overwhelming," she said. "I look at it as an unbelievable opportunity to do something positive for the sport I love. I've been on every level of this. I'm certainly used to being the first female or the only female to do something. It's second nature to me."
Former Mavs assistant and longtime coach Del Harris is the franchise's general manager. Dallas native and former slam dunk champ Spud Webb is the director of basketball operations.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's really great having another weapon out there." -- Forward Shawn Marion, on the return of Josh Howard.
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