TRAINING DAY: Wednesday's Mavs Camp Includes Roddy Beaubois And Some Blue-White Glimpses

Mike Fisher -- DB.com

    Is rookie Roddy Beaubois for real?

    Rick Carlisle was asked the question … and after a long, knowing pause, said … “As we used to say on TV, ‘stay tuned.’’’

   And then he said much more, all part of DB.com’s All-Access Pass to the Mavs’ Wednesday workout … It’s Mavs “Training Day’’:

     On paper, Beaubois is the third-string point guard. But in reality, the Mavs are pushing, pushing, pushing, to see what he can do on both ends of the court and at two positions.
    “The plan is for him to learn both (guard) positions and to get a feel for both positions,” Carlisle said. “He’s a point-guard size, but he’s played very effectively off the ball in Europe. And when you have a guy like Jason Kidd, a bigger point guard, you can plug a smaller guy next to him. We did it a lot last year with (JJ Barea), and I see a lot of possibilities with Beaubois as well.”

   Those possibilities stem from focusing on defense and from working with staffer Monte Mathis in studying film of himself, film of other Mavs, and film of other NBA players with waterbug skills.

    I asked Carlisle who Beaubois specifically studied.

    “Our guys, like Kidd, JT and Barea,’’ he said. “But also, Deron Williams, (Chris) Paul, guys like that.’’

     Eddie Sefko then asked the coach the “for real’’ question and got the “stay tuned’’ answer.

     “Especially defensively, he’s never been asked to play at this level of intensity,’’ Carlisle said. “But yes, we’re going to find out what he can do. He’s going to get an opportunity in the preseason. We’ll see … But I’m going to err on the side of optimism.’’

   A CHANGE OF (PUBLIC) ADDRESS (ANNOUNCER): What you probably do know: The Mavs want to audition a new PA person for games at the AAC. (You can set yourself up for a tryout here.) http://www.nba.com/mavericks/pa_announcer_auditions.html

    What you probably don’t know: The incumbent, Humble Billy Hayes, is leaving the position due to what I’m told is a health with his family. I’ve known Billy for quite a while, dating back to our days together at 570 KLIF Radio, and so I’m sure you join me in wanting to send out prayers and well-wishes to the Hayes family.

   TWO DIFFERENT GAMEPLANS: Carlisle is working on the details of the offensive-skill differences between his starters and his second wave.

   “I can’t tell yet how we’ll look in a game with our first group,’’ he said. “But I know they have different talents that we need to utilize. With the second group, with Terry and Barea, you’ve got guys who can put the ball on the floor. It’s really two different looks.’’

   IN DEFENSE OF HUMPHRIES: Carlisle had positive things to say about reserve power forward Kris Humphries – and I got a quick glimpse of a reason why.

    “He’s been extremely consistent,” Carlisle said. “He’s a physical kid and an underrated player. He had a strong summer and he picks things up very quickly. He’s a guy that knows his game, and he knows how to be effective down there.”

   Jason Terry expressed some surprise at Humphries’ defensive ability, and I got a first-hand look at some of what he saw: In some five-on-five work, Humphries drew the unenviable task of guarding Dirk Nowitzki. The drill was all about footwork, but Humphries went above and beyond by overplaying Dirk on an inbounds play and recording a steal.

    Humphries is big, thick, smart and aggressive – and isn’t shying away from guarding an All-World player.

   BLUE VS. WHITE: How did the guys line up when they went five-on-five?

   The Whites: Dirk, JJB, Kidd, Marion and Terry, with Damp and Jawai on the sidelines.

   The Blues: Humphries, Carroll, Singleton, Roddy and Ross, with Gooden and …. In reserve.

   DEFENSE FIRST – AND SECOND: Day 2 of training camp was in many ways more of the same.

“Defense,’’ is the one word answer Carlisle gave when asked to summarize the day. Later, he expounded.

    “The mission this year is to improve defensively,” he said. “We have to get from 17th in defensive points per position into the top 10 to really take a quantum leap as a team.”

     Jason Terry said the Mavs are buying what the coach is selling.
    “Our emphasis is solely on defense, and I think for the most part that everybody has made an effort to come out here and put forth their best effort defensively,” Jet said. “If we want to get to where we’re going, and obtain our ultimate goal, then that’s how it’s going to have to be.”

   FISHELLANEOUS: Center prospect Nathan Jawai, diagnosed with a heart abnormality last year in Toronto, missed the Tuesday workouts but was cleared and did participate today. … The Mavs will have more two-a-day practices this week leading up to their first preseason game Oct. 5 at the AAC against the Orlando Magic. But there is no second workout scheduled for tonight …. Josh Howard and Tim Thomas were once again held out of the more rigorous portions of the practice. … James Singleton’s energy is rather boundless. Well after the end of a demanding practice, as the players were walking off the floor, he begged Shawn Marion to throw him a bounce-alley-oop pass. Marion complied, and Singleton flew high for the meaningless-but-impressive slam. … Matt Carroll was sporting a pair of protective “style-guard’’ eyeglasses. (UPDATE from Sefko: Matt's wearing them due to just having Lasik surgery.) He said he looked like something out of the Will Ferrell basketball movie “Semi-Pro,’’ but truly, it was much closer to the Robert Carradine movie “Revenge of the Nerds.’’