--Coach Rick Carlisle isn't committing to one set starter at shooting guard while Josh Howard is out. The list of candidates includes Quinton Ross, J.J. Barea and Roddy Beaubois, who started Friday night at Minnesota. "It'll be based on matchups," Rick Carlisle said. "That will vary from game to game." Carlisle does prefer to keep Jason Terry, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year Jason Terry, in his customary role off the bench. Ross is a more defensive-minded player, Barea is a scorer and Beaubois is a promising rookie.
--Carlisle didn't have much positive to say after the Mavs dropped a 92-83 decision at San Antonio on Wednesday. The Spurs, without Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, outhustled and outworked the Mavericks.
"Simple as that," Carlisle said. "If you don't play hard enough, you're going to get your (butt) kicked."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Until we get that killer instinct and get that swagger like nobody can touch us, which they can't when we play the right way, we're going to struggle." -- G Jason Terry on his team's sense of urgency.
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