When a young man who once had very little is bestowed $32 million, he has plenty to be thankful for, even if his culture doesn't have a Thanksgiving Day.
DeSagana Diop nevertheless will celebrate today, if for no other reason than the good food. And while his native Senegal has no similar holiday, he has plenty of reasons to rejoice. For one, his play is creeping back to the level that helped get him that robust contract last summer.
"Diop is playing better Basketball in the last 10 days," coach Rick Carlisle said. "He's more active, he's more aggressive, he's playing with a nastier disposition, and it's keeping him on the floor more."
That's something he didn't do in two games last week. Diop understood why he didn't play Nov. 16 at New York: There was nobody in the Knicks' small, speedy lineup that a center could defend.
But when Diop sat the following game against Charlotte, which has a true big man in Emeka Okafor, it was a message from Carlisle that Diop received loud and clear.
"Sometimes you just go through a little funk, and you've got to fight through it," he said. "But I've got pride. When he benched me in Charlotte, it kind of hit me - man, I've got to step it up.
"We've got so many guys here who can do the job. So I just watched more tape and focused on what I do - work hard, block shots and play defense."
Tuesday's win over Indiana, the Mavericks' fifth in a row, was Exhibit A on the importance of centers for this team.
Diop had four points, five rebounds and two blocks in 16 minutes. Erick Dampier had nine points, seven rebounds and a block. He also took a charge from the Pacers' Danny Granger with just over a minute to go and the Mavericks up by three points.
Clearly, the Mavericks need their tag team at center.
"We can't both have a bad game," Diop said. "At least one of us has to step up. When both of us step up, it makes it that much better."
Making do without Howard: Josh Howard has missed three consecutive games with a sore left ankle, and it's unclear whether he'll play Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
But you won't hear Carlisle whine.
"At Indiana, we had 700 man-games missed due to injury and suspension over two years," he said. "I never assume anything. You hope for the best and prepare for the worst."
Still searching: Antoine Wright, Gerald Green and Jason Terry all are vying for minutes at shooting guard. When Howard returns, none of the three will be able to slide over for meaningful minutes at small forward.
"It's up for grabs, whoever wants it," Jason Kidd said of the shooting guard spot. "Coach is the one who will make the decision. It's there for whoever wants to be consistent on a nightly basis."
9:30 p.m. Friday (Ch. 21, ESPN)
Mavericks SCHEDULE
NOVEMBER
Day Date Opponent TV Time
Fri. 28 at LA Lakers Ch. 21, ESPN 9:30
Sat. 29 at Sacramento Ch. 21 9:00
DECEMBER
Day Date Opponent TV Time
Tue. 2 LA Clippers FSSW 7:30
Thu. 4 Phoenix TNT 7:00
Sat. 6 Atlanta FSSW 7:30
