Dallas Mavs: For Roddy and Dojo, One Mav's Injury Is Another Mav's Opportunity

Janet KesslerSep 1, 2010

All in Mavsland collectively were shocked when this early August news hit home, second year Dallas Mavericks point-guard Rodrique Beaubois broke his foot while practicing for team France. I too shed a tear or two upon learning of this disappointing news, but hey...to bluntly quote owner Mark Cuban: "He broke his foot he didn't have his leg amputated!"

That's the high-stakes gamble NBA owners take when they give permission so their players can play overseas, and one Cuban wishes he never needed to make, and one that will cost his young point-guard of the future valuable growing time.

I can't help but feel sad for Roddy B. I was looking very much forward to hearing reports from Europe of him showing the brilliant basketball skills that he was unable to do from the bench last season. His schooling for now will be limited to a classroom with a video player.

This injury will result in Beaubois missing a chance to display for all the worlds eyes to see, the unique talent that we as Mavs Fans are proud to claim as our own. It looks like he will be missing all of training camp, and most if not all of preseason games, even possibly the first two-weeks of regular play. But hey he's young! Let's hope he knits fast!

Roddy B. had a chance to prove he was worthy of being chosen to be San Antonio's point-guard Tony Parker's successor for the French National team in this summer's FIBA tournament. But that was just the other bump in the road of a not so impressive summer for Mr. Beaubois.

The first one came with this summers Summer League season, that was better to be forgotten for Roddy's less than impressive showing. He appeared to be trying too hard to make things work or earn points with coaches. In his frustrations he only ended up making costly turn-over's and dumb mistakes. All his numbers were so un-Roddy like, we know he is better than what his stats showed.

While sophomore Roddy was wishing for a do-over for this summer, our $3 million draft pick Dominique Jones (Dojo) could do no wrong. Mr. Jones gave an impressive showing during the Summer League tournaments, and I'm not just talking about his offense. He blew everyone away when he put the stops on the number one draft pick John Wall of the Washington Wizards.

If you haven't seen him by now, Jones has an outstanding physical form, standing at 6'4" and weighing in at 205 lb. Housed between his broad shoulders is a muscular body that advertises strength and speed.

Don't expect Jones to be just another jump shooter, his three-point range is still to be developed. Three-point shooting is one area the Mavericks are not short supplied anyway.

What Dojo has now is a good mid-range of at least 17 foot and in to the basket, and most impressive is his ability to dribble-drive the paint and finish strong at the rim. Something the Mavericks have been in need of for a very long time. His extra size help compensates the pounding from other defenders as Jones fearlessly powers his way to the hoop.

I'm told by my sources that Jones is a true two-guard, not a three pretending to be a two ( hint, hint, that little experiment went so very wrong). Something the Mavericks haven't seen since Michael Finley left to chase a ring with the San Antonio Spurs.

Mavs Fans, could we finally have our long awaited, way over due starting two-guard in DoJo? You know, the one that can put up 20+ points a game and play lock-down defense on the opponents scoring guard. No doubt everyone will have Jones under the microscope during training camp and the up coming preseason games.

I for one was looking forward to competition between Jones and Roddy for the starting two-guard. They both have unique skills of their own, and can give the Mavericks different defensive looks, which gives head coach Rick Carlisle a variety of weapons.

As I've already mentioned Jones matches up better with the bigger, stronger guards, while Beaubois is the opposite, at 6'2" and 180 pounds he matches better to the smaller quicker guards. Unless Roddy put on twenty pounds or has an epiphany on NBA defense, he will continue to be limited on defense with his playing minutes limited as well.

With Roddy nursing his foot and out until sometime in November, Dojo will have few challengers to compete against him, so he should easily lock up the two-guard position.  So Beaubois' injury should open wide the door of opportunity for Jones, Dojo only need to make a strong showing to claim his prize as starter.