from dallas morning news...
By JODIE VALADE / The Dallas Morning News
The good news is that the Mavericks took their first big step of the season Monday: all but one, lonely injured player participated in practice.
The bad news is that the one player still too sore to do anything but watch happens to be the team's heart and soul, Michael Finley.
With the swingman's right shoulder still too sore to allow him to do anything but ride a stationary bike, Finley watched teammates Greg Buckner, Adrian Griffin and Darrick Martin practice together Monday. For anyone keeping track, that marks the first time all those players have been on a court together since the first day of training camp. Finley hopes to join them Tuesday for practice.
Buckner (sprained right ankle) and Griffin (back spasms) hope to be fully healed for Wednesday's game at Cleveland. Finley said he will play ? despite the shoulder injury that has forced him to miss the team's last two practices.
"This is a big step for us to get our guys back on the team because I've been wearing some players out," Mavericks coach Don Nelson said. "I've had to. I've had no backups, really."
Said Finley: "We'll have a chance to see what kind of team we really have."
Finley is proving that he is still the NBA's reigning Iron Man, and refuses to miss a game because of the injury. He said the shoulder hurts most on overhead maneuvers, such as two-handed passing and rebounding.
"It's just going to take a little time to heal," he said. "I'm going to have to play through some pain, but that won't be a problem for me. I just hope I can help the team and not hurt it."
Finley's 5-for-21 shooting performance Saturday against Philadelphia hurt the Mavericks when they were forced to rely on him because his backup help ? Buckner and Griffin ? was injured, too.
By JODIE VALADE / The Dallas Morning News
The good news is that the Mavericks took their first big step of the season Monday: all but one, lonely injured player participated in practice.
The bad news is that the one player still too sore to do anything but watch happens to be the team's heart and soul, Michael Finley.
With the swingman's right shoulder still too sore to allow him to do anything but ride a stationary bike, Finley watched teammates Greg Buckner, Adrian Griffin and Darrick Martin practice together Monday. For anyone keeping track, that marks the first time all those players have been on a court together since the first day of training camp. Finley hopes to join them Tuesday for practice.
Buckner (sprained right ankle) and Griffin (back spasms) hope to be fully healed for Wednesday's game at Cleveland. Finley said he will play ? despite the shoulder injury that has forced him to miss the team's last two practices.
"This is a big step for us to get our guys back on the team because I've been wearing some players out," Mavericks coach Don Nelson said. "I've had to. I've had no backups, really."
Said Finley: "We'll have a chance to see what kind of team we really have."
Finley is proving that he is still the NBA's reigning Iron Man, and refuses to miss a game because of the injury. He said the shoulder hurts most on overhead maneuvers, such as two-handed passing and rebounding.
"It's just going to take a little time to heal," he said. "I'm going to have to play through some pain, but that won't be a problem for me. I just hope I can help the team and not hurt it."
Finley's 5-for-21 shooting performance Saturday against Philadelphia hurt the Mavericks when they were forced to rely on him because his backup help ? Buckner and Griffin ? was injured, too.
