Exit Interviews Quotes

Some select quotes from Mavs exit interviews earlier today.

Devin Harris
"However RC wants to use me, that’s how he’ll use me. If it’s starting, if it’s coming off the bench, he’ll figure that out but I think that he likes me coming off the bench, but starting is something I’ve done my whole career so I definitely can go back to it."

J.J. Barea
"I think we’re a great organization. We’re committed to winning and we try everything to win. You saw it this year, they made trades, they brought free agents here, they tried. They’re going to swing to try to win. I think it’s a good city, a good place to live."

Al-Farouq Aminu
"I had a lot of growth this year. Just being around these vets I learned a lot about how to conduct myself throughout the year. And I really appreciate everything from the coaching staff and the vets. I learned a lot."

Amar'e Stoudemire
"I'm already paid in full. Money is great to have, but it's now what I'm searching for at this point."

Charlie Villanueva
"It was great. Even though we fell short, I look at this season as a success for me. It was the first time winning 50 games, first time going to the playoffs. It was definitely a successful one for me, personally. I've still got this taste in my mouth. A bad taste. I want to bounce back from that and experience more."

Chandler Parsons
 "I have a lot of good relationships with a lot of guys. Obviously now with the season just ended yesterday I haven’t talked with them about who or what or whatever but we’ll take a look here soon. I’ll be in Dallas pretty much all summer so I’m sure we’ll have those conversations when the time comes."

Tyson Chandler
"This has been amazing here. Not only for myself but for my family, welcoming me back with open arms. Everybody in the city is so respectful and kind if you’re walking down the street, restaurants and different things. Makes it an easy city to live in. I’ve said on the website here that it truly meant a lot to me and I appreciate the fans here. I think they’re the best. It truly makes a difference. It makes coming and doing your job easy."

Dirk Nowitzki
"Yeah, I mean, whatever it takes. My last two years I want to enjoy. I want to be a good team. I want to be on a winning team. Playoffs. Hopefully deep runs. So, yeah, anything I've got to do to help is obviously no question."

Rick Carlisle
"Our desire is not to have a locker room of free agents every year. That said, the guys that we've had have been terrific."

Donnie Nelson (on the Rondo deal)
"If we had to do it all over again, we definitely would."

Rockets 103 Mavericks 94: WCQF Game 5 Recap

The Lead
The Mavericks season ends despite a valiant effort undone by poor shooting.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Ellis, 25
Rebounds: Nowitzki, 14
Assists: Barea, 9
+-: Harris, +5
Rockets
Points: Harden, 28
Rebounds: Howard, 19
Assists: Harden, 8
+-: Harden, +16

Game Ball
Al-Farouq Aminu
14 points, 9 rebounds, 5 steals, 7-8 FT

X-Factor
Devin Harris
8 points, 4 rebounds, 4-4 FT

Play of the Game
After a Mavericks turnover with 1:09 left, James Harden dishes to Terrence Jones for a dunk on the break to put the Rockets up 8. No foul was called despite Harden running over Monta Ellis right after passing the ball.

Stat of the Game
The Mavs shot only 38% from the field including an abysmal 5-26 on threes.

Of Note

• The Mavericks have now lost three straight times in the first round since winning the 2011 championship.
• Dirk's 14 rebounds enabled to finish the series with averages above 20 points and 10 rebounds (21.2 and 10.2). His career playoff averages now sit at 25.4 points and 10.2 rebounds.
• Dirk was 7-13 shooting in the second half after a 1-10 first half.
• Al-Farouq Aminu was 7-11 (64%) on threes for the series after shooting only 27% from deep in the regular season.
• The Mavs are 1-8 on the road in the playoffs since Game 6 of the 2011 Finals.

Grades
Nowitzki: B
Aminu: A
Chandler: B
Ellis: B-
Barea: C
Villanueva: B+
Stoudemire: D
Harris: B

Quote of Note
 "It's disappointing. When you start training camp, your goal is to win a championship. You always want to fight and give yourself. Anytime that you're less than that, it's always disappointing and you've got to do what it takes in the offseason to continue to pursue."
Tyson Chandler

Next Up
The 2015-16 Season 

Mavericks at Rockets: WCQF Game 5 Preview

(7.) Dallas Mavericks vs. (2.) Houston Rockets
Western Conference Quarterfinals: Game 5
Rockets lead series 3-1
Tues. April 28, 7:00 at the Toyota Center
TV: Ch. 21, TNT
Line: Rockets by 7

Series Results
Game 1: April 18 at Houston
Rockets 118 Mavs 108
Game 2: April 21 at Houston
Rockets 111 Mavs 99
Game 3: April 24 at Dallas
Rockets 130 Mavs 128
Game 4: April 26 at Dallas
Mavs 121 Rockets 109

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: J.J. Barea
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Al-Farouq Aminu
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Rockets
PG: Jason Terry
SG: James Harden
SF: Trevor Ariza
PF: Terrence Jones
C: Dwight Howard


Series Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 113.5 (4th)
Def. Rating: 116.4 (16th)
Pace: 100.5 (1st)
Point Differential: -3.0
Rockets
Offense: 116.4 (1st)
Defense: 113.5 (13th)
Pace: 100.5 (1st)
Point Differential: +3.0

Series Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 26.3
RPG: Chandler, 12.0
APG: Barea, 7.0
SPG: Ellis, 1.5
BPG: Aminu, 2.0
PER: Villanueva, 25.4
Rockets
PPG: Harden, 28.5
RPG: Howard, 12.5
APG: Harden, 7.8
SPG: Harden, Ariza, 1.3
BPG: Howard, 2.8
PER: Harden, 28.1

Of Note

• The Mavericks are 0-9 all-time in best of seven series in which they were down 3-1.
• Monta Ellis had the two highest scoring playoff games of his career in games 3 and 4 with 34 and 31 points.
• The Mavs are 0-4 in games at Houston this season.
• Al Farouq's 16 points in game 4 was his second highest total of the season behind the 17 points he scored against the Rockets on Feb. 20.
• According to a report from ESPN Dallas' Tim MacMahon, Chandler Parsons might require microfracture surgery on his injured right knee.

Mavericks 121 Rockets 109: WCQF Game 4 Recap

The Lead
Mavs avoid elimination behind another big offensive performance led by new starters Barea and Aminu.

Box Score 

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Ellis, 31
Rebounds: Chandler, 14
Assists: Barea, 13
+-: Chandler, Ellis, +26
Rockets
Points: Harden, 24
Rebounds: Howard, 7
Assists: Harden, Prigioni, 5
+-: Smith, +13

Game Balls
J.J. Barea
17 points, 13 assists, 7-15 FG
Al-Farouq Aminu
16 points, 12 rebounds, 3-5 3PT

X-Factor
Monta Ellis
31 points, 6 rebounds, 13-21 FG

Play of the Game
Off an Amar'e Stoudemire blocked shot, Dirk rebounds and throws a long outlet pass to Monta, who spins pass Trevor Ariza and lays it up and in to give the Mavs their biggest lead of the game of 24 in the third quarter.

Stat of the Game
The Mavs outrebound Houston 52-38 led by 14 from Chandler and 12 from Aminu. Dwight Howard who had 26 boards in game 3 was held to only 7.

Of Note

• In four career games with the Mavericks facing a series sweep, Dirk has averaged 30.5 points and 8.8 rebounds. The Mavs are 3-1 in those games.
• Barea's 13 assists are tied for his most in a Mavericks uniform. He also had 13 assists on Dec. 12, 2010 against the Nets. 
• The Rockets only allowed a team to shoot over 50% from the field 9 times all year. The Mavs have now done it in back-to-games.
• The game really could have been a blowout if the Mavericks had made their free throws at their normal rate. They started out 1-10 from the line and finished 9-21 for the game.
• All five Mavericks starters which included new starters Barea and Aminu were at least a +20.

Grades
Nowitzki: A-
Aminu: A+
Chandler: A
Ellis: A
Barea: A+
Stoudemire: B+
Villanueva: A-
Harris: B
Jefferson: B-

Quote of Note
"The Devin foul was making a hard stand. We weren't going to give up another dunk. That was a big play for us."
Dirk on Devin Harris' open court tackle flagrant foul on Dwight Howard

Next Up
The Mavericks once again look to keep their season alive in Game 5 at Houston, Tuesday at 7:00. 

Mavericks vs. Rockets: WCQF Game 4 Preview

(7.) Dallas Mavericks vs. (2.) Houston Rockets
Western Conference Quarterfinals: Game 4
Rockets lead series 3-0
Sun. April 26, 8:00 at the AAC
TV: Ch. 21, TNT
Line: Rockets by 2.5

Series Results
Game 1: April 18 at Houston
Rockets 118 Mavs 108
Game 2: April 21 at Houston
Rockets 111 Mavs 99
Game 3: April 24 at Dallas
Rockets 130 Mavs 128

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: J.J. Barea
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Al-Farouq Aminu
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Rockets
PG: Jason Terry
SG: James Harden
SF: Trevor Ariza
PF: Terrence Jones
C: Dwight Howard

Series Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 111.5 (4th)
Def. Rating: 119.5 (16th)
Pace: 100.1 (1st)
Point Differential: -8.0
Rockets
Offense: 119.5 (1st)
Defense: 111.5 (13th)
Pace: 100.1 (1st)
Point Differential: +8.0

Series Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 24.7
RPG: Chandler, 11.3
APG: Ellis, 5.3
SPG: Aminu, Ellis, 1.7
BPG: Aminu, 2.3
PER: Villanueva, 23.7
Rockets
PPG: Harden, 30.0
RPG: Howard, 14.3
APG: Harden, 8.7
SPG: Five with 1.0
BPG: Howard, 3.0
PER: Howard, 29.2

Of Note

• Raymond Felton (hamstring) is expected to play. Richard Jefferson (calf) is questionable.
• The Mavs are 2-1 all-time in game fours when they trail a series 3-0. They beat San Antonio in 2001 and Denver in 2009 and lost to OKC in 2012. They ended up losing the first two series in five games.
• The Mavericks 128 points in game 3 were the most by a team in a playoff loss since the Warriors fell to the Suns 140-133 in game 3 of the 1993 first round.
• Dirk's 34 points in game 3 were the most he has scored in a playoff game since he also scored 34 in Game 4 vs. the Thunder in 2012.
• Rick Carlisle was fined $25,000 for comments about the officiating in his postgame press conference.

Mavericks vs. Rockets: WCQF Game 3 Preview

Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets
Western Conference Quarterfinals: Game 3
Rockets lead series 2-0
Fri.. April 24, 6:00 at the AAC
TV: Ch. 21, ESPN
Line: Mavs by 1

Series Results
Game 1: April 18 at Houston
Rockets 118 Mavs 108
Game 2: April 21 at Houston
Rockets 111 Mavs 99

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: J.J. Barea
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Richard Jefferson
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Rockets
PG: Jason Terry
SG: James Harden
SF: Trevor Ariza
PF: Terrence Jones
C: Dwight Howard

Series Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 102.2 (9th)
Def. Rating: 113.0 (15th)
Pace: 101.3 (1st)
Point Differential: -11.0
Rockets
Offense: 113.0 (2nd)
Defense: 102.2 (8th)
Pace: 101.3 (1st)
Point Differential: +11.0

Series Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 20.0
RPG: Chandler, 13.0
APG: Ellis, 3.5
SPG: Aminu, Chandler, 1.5
BPG: Aminu, 2.5
PER: Aminu, 23.1
Rockets
PPG: Harden, 24.0
RPG: Howard, 8.5
APG: Harden, 8.5
SPG: Ariza, Terry, 1.5
BPG: Howard, 53.5
PER: Howard, 32.0

Of Note

• The Mavericks will be without Chandler Parsons for the remainder of the playoffs with his knee injury that will likely require surgery. Rajon Rondo is done as well with a "back injury".
• Devin Harris is listed as probable after missing game 2 with a toe injury.
• The Mavs have come back from a 2-0 series deficit twice in franchise history. They won three straight to take a best-of-5 series with Utah in 2001, and they beat the Rockets in 7 in 2005 after losing the first two games at home.
• James Harden has been held to 24 points in both games, shooting 9-28 combined in the two games. He is 28-30 from the line though.
• J.J. Barea has averaged 14.3 points in his last 4 playoff games dating back to the 2011 Finals. He has scored at least 12 points in all 4 games.

Injury News

The Mavericks have declared Chandler Parsons out for the remainder of the playoffs with his right knee injury. He is currently exploring options for surgery on the knee.
Rajon Rondo is being ruled out indefinitely with a "back injury". I'd say chances are pretty good we've seen the last of him in a Mavericks uniform.
In some rare good news, Devin Harris is being listed as probable for Game 3 Friday after missing Game 2 with a left toe injury.