Vince Carter looking forward to taking on 6th man role for Dallas Mavericks next season – NBA News
The Dallas Mavericks look to be in some trouble this coming season, and after years of being almost definite for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, this may be the first season in a long time when they are not sure if they will be able to qualify for the post season come April.
One reason for that has been the improvement many of the Western Conference teams have undergone during the offseason. However, the Mavericks are also to blame for their terrible offseason, which saw the likes of Jason Terry and Jason Kidd depart and the Mavericks failing to land valuable talent to replace them.
Terry was the sixth man for the Mavericks, who came off the bench to provide the team with the scoring, play making and overall energy that is so crucial in periods when the team seems to be falling down. Terry kept the team high throughout the game with his spurts of energy and playing time. And now that he is gone, another Mavericks player is looking to pick up from where he left off and become the new 6th man of the team.
There is no denying that Vince Carter is one of the most talented players ever to have played in the NBA. However, it is also a fact that Carter is way beyond his prime years and is now in the twilight of his career. Still, Carter believes that he can play the pivotal role of 6th man for his team in the absence of Terry.
“I’m down for it. I’ll come in and help the team, remain verbal — I do that well. I just try to keep us going forward and not regress. When the second unit comes on the floor, they have to keep it going. I just try to do a little bit of everything to help the team,” said Carter while talking to the Dallas Morning News.
Although Carter is a talented player in his own regard with a list of accomplishments under his belt, he is not where near the calibre of Terry at this point in his career. Last season, Carter averaged 41.1 percent from the field and assisted on 15 percent of his teammates' shot.
Jet's figures in both categories are well above Carter’s, and he is a well known 6th man who has grown over the years in that position. Having said that, Carter still has the talent and skill to provide solid support to the team from the bench and take on the role of providing energy and quick points when the first unit is resting. For the Mavericks to succeed in landing a playoff spot next season, Carter will have to do just that.
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