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By Sam Amico / The Amico Report

NO D IN DALLAS -- BUT PLENTY OF O

The Dallas Mavericks play NBA basketball the way it was played in the 1980s, and I don‘t give a higher compliment than that.

Lots of running, lots of passing, lots of shooting. As for defense, well, the Mavs act like it’s just something you have to do before getting the ball back -- which is OK by me.

Not only do I love watching the Mavericks, but I love watching every team they play. That’s because every team the Mavericks play is forced to engage in their fast-paced, shoot ’em up style. Heck, Dallas even made Miami look exciting for a half.

You know all about the Mavs’ main men -- from Dirk Nowitzki to Steve Nash to Antoine Walker to Antawn Jamison to Michael Finley. And you can add Tony Delk to that list, as he’s been a bigger contributor than Finley in the season’s first week.

The real question is, will the Mavericks be able to win a title with this lineup? I’m not so sure, but it’ll be a lot of fun watching them try. I mean, whoever thought you could enjoy Walker’s game so much? Certainly no one from Boston, who watched Walker degrade from an all-around skilled big man to a 6-foot-9 forward who started to rot behind the 3-point line.

Also, as Dallas coach Don Nelson continuously insists, Nowitzki MUST become a better passer (adding some intensity on defense wouldn’t hurt, either). Too often does Nowitzki receive a pass, stand there for a couple of seconds and stare at the basket, then ignore teammates who are wide open after cutting through the lane. If Nowitzki doesn‘t have a good shot, he usually just throws a lame duck pass back to the top of the key.

But Walker appears to be rejuvenated, and is slowly reverting to the team-first attitude that once had people calling him the ultimate point forward. And while Nowitzki may not be the next Bob Cousy, he is 7-foot-0 with great range, a quick first step, and underrated rebounding skills.

Then there’s Nash, who can run the offense and score 18 points per night -- doing each in an electrifying manner that brings fans to their feet.

Finally, let’s not forget my favorite Maverick, Antawn Jamison. I’m not real sure why I like Jamison so much, although his high-arching tear-drop shots in traffic probably have a lot to do with it. Plus, I love how Jamison came to Dallas in the off-season expecting to be a starter, moved to the bench following the trade for Walker, and hasn’t complained one bit.

Don’t forget, Jamison led Golden State in scoring last season. Now, he’s a sixth man. That can’t be easy on the ego, but Jamison has accepted his new role like a man.

These reasons and more are why the Mavericks are worth your time. Mostly, when they’re on the floor, NBA basketball is fun again.

MILWAUKEE’S BEST

I remember watching Michael Redd when he was a freshman at Ohio State and thinking, “This kid is gonna make a VERY good pro.”

During his first two pro seasons, though, it looked like you would have another chance to say, “Wrong again, Amico.” That’s because Redd seemed to be on his way to becoming nothing more than a once-in-a-while scorer off Milwaukee’s bench.

Suddenly, that has changed. Redd’s ultra-quick release has made him the young Bucks’ top option, and he even scored 36 points on 13-of-23 shooting Nov. 4 against the Lakers.

Redd’s release is more than quick -- it’s also pretty darn unconventional, as he puts the ball over his head and just sort of flips it toward the basket. But hey, it works.

Anyway, his emergence is a big reason why I enjoy watching Milwaukee more this season than I ever did when the roster consisted of names such as Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, Glenn Robinson, or even Gary Payton. Nothing against those guys, but you the current group of Bucks don’t have any issues with their coach, and simply love playing the game.

-- As suspected, rookie point guard T.J. Ford has struggled with his outside shot. Still, I love the way Ford has been able to keep the ball moving without committing senseless turnover after senseless turnover. Believe me, that’s rare for a rookie. I have a feeling Ford will be a good one in a few years.

-- It also appears Milwaukee made the right choice in hiring Terry Porter as coach. Not only is Porter one of my all-time favorite players from his days in Portland, he has impressed me with his extreme patience and wise decision-making on the sidelines. His style reminds me very much of Sacramento coach Rick Adelman, whose teams always seem to be in the thick of things.

-- Does Milwaukee have a shot at the playoffs? Hey, this is the Eastern Conference. EVERYBODY has a shot at the playoffs.

RANDOM STUFF

-- As much as I enjoy watching teams like Dallas, Sacramento and New Jersey, there’s something about the predictable, pound-the-ball-into-the-hardwood offenses used by New York and Utah that appeal to my sick basketball mind. Yes, both teams are deliberate, but they display teamwork in its truest form. That can take you a long way in today’s NBA.

-- Orlando guard Tracy McGrady had this to say about Knicks forward Keith Van Horn in the New York Daily News: “The label on Keith Van Horn is that he’s been soft in this league. He will have to break out of that playing up there in New York. He has the ability. He just has to be consistent. The talent is definitely there.”

-- I love the fact McGrady often takes time to address stuff that doesn’t apply to his team, especially since he almost always uses a positive tone. Is it just me, or has he become the league’s most sensible spokesman? Of course, as I’ve indicated many times, he’s also a modern-day version of George Gervin and one of the few players I’ll go out of my way to see.

-- Houston has been very intriguing under new coach Jeff Van Gundy, who’s installed a nose-to-nose defensive scheme and more disciplined offense. The Rockets already beat Chicago and New Jersey on the road on back-to-back nights, which is a major improvement from the way they played last season. All Van Gundy needs to do now is convince Steve Francis to start passing the ball. It won’t be easy.

-- Speaking of passing, have you noticed all the low scoring games already? Minnesota, Toronto, and Miami are just three teams that had trouble reaching 60 points, and at least 10 have barely surpassed 70. If you can’t hit 85, I’m not interested. I can only imagine how casual NBA fans feel.

-- I’m convinced 5-foot-5 Denver point guard Earl Boykins could be a starter somewhere -- and I’m not just saying that because we’re both from Northeast Ohio. Not only is Boykins unbelievably quick, but he’s also one of the league’s most fundamentally-sound players. He always plays under control (not easy for a man with his speed) and does a masterful job of running the offense. He is also terribly underrated when the idea is perimeter shooting.

-- Former player and current analyst Greg Anthony said the following on ESPN’s NBA Fastbreak prior to the Denver-Cleveland matchup Nov. 5: “It’s gonna be an exciting game.” Anthony was right, but can you imagine anyone saying that about the Nuggets vs. the Cavaliers last March?

-- If you’re among those who e-mailed to ask, yes, it appears that Fastbreak has replaced NBA2Night on ESPN. That’s fine by me, as Fastbreak is slicker and more professional with its regular lineup of Anthony, host Kevin Frazier, and analyst Tim Legler. Although I do miss Fred Carter.

-- The other thing that bothers me about Fastbreak is no matter what Legler says, Anthony refutes it. If Legler says Chicago has been disappointing, Anthony says, “I’m not sure ‘disappointing’ is the right word.’” If Legler says Antoine Walker is coming around, Anthony says, “It’s too early to tell.” If Legler tells viewers he’s a moron, Anthony says … well, he might actually agree with that one. At least, that’s the way Anthony comes across. I understand that ESPN needs arguments for the sake of keeping things lively, and Anthony is a fine analyst. But somebody needs to tell him he’s going a little over the top when it comes to contesting Legler’s every remark.

-- About 4,500 fans were in attendance for Atlanta’s home win over New Orleans Nov. 3. Ouch. That fact aside, you have to like how the Hawks went to overtime in two of their first three games, and as I sit to write this, have yet to get blown out. Also, a lot of pro basketball types don’t care for Stephen Jackson’s game, but I’ve been impressed with his determination and willingness to take the big shots so far.

-- One team I haven’t seen much of but am very curious about? Boston. The Celtics’ have clearly become Paul Pierce’s team, but they also have a bunch of players who I always felt were underrated. Namely, Raef LaFrentz, Mike James and Walter McCarty. Another thing that’s caught my eye is the numbers next to Vin Baker’s name in the box score. Baker looks like he’s been spending a lot of time in the weight room, and is averaging nearly 16 points and six rebounds through the first week. It’s great to see, especially after the setback last season, when Baker admitted his problems with alcohol.

READER FEEDBACK

From Jay Morris (Wheeling, W.Va.)

Q: I've been a Lakers fan for a long time and here’s what impressed me about their opening game win against Dallas: 1.) The Lakers were able to get easy baskets on the fast break with regularity. This is something that they could not do during the entire three-peat. In fact, they haven't been able to do it since the Magic Johnson Showtime Era. 2.) They played solid defense shutting down the league's best offensive team. 3.) Karl Malone looks like he has been playing in the mid-post of the triangle offense his entire career instead of running the two-man game with John Stockton. 4.) Finally, the Lakers did all of this without the services of Kobe Bryant, who I think will recover very quickly from his “knee injury.”

A: Dear Jay, amen to all of the above. Especially the part about Kobe, who scored 31 against Milwaukee in his third game back.

From Bob Woods (Akron, Ohio)

Q: LeBron looks to be the real deal as you indicated in your newsletter. However, don't get carried away. He will not be as good as Kobe Bryant, who is the best player to come along since Michael Jordan. By the time he's finished, I expect Bryant to be better than Michael!

A: Dear Bob, interesting comments for someone from LeBron’s hometown (mine, too, by the way). I respectfully disagree. While I Kobe will be the better one-on-one player, I think James will turn out to be the most complete player since the Larry Bird/Magic Johnson era.

From Tim Madison (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)

Q: I'm trying to keep an open mind on LeBron, but the endless hype tends to turn me off.

Does ESPN have a vested interest in Nike? It sure seems like it with the way ESPN has been leading the LeBron bandwagon. As for the Nike commercial where everything stops for 30 seconds, thank God for remote controls. Is Nike's target audience morons?

A: Dear Tim, to answer your final question … yes. In fact, I would answer both of your questions with a yes. On the night James scored eight points against Portland (Nov. 1), you wouldn’t have known he had even played if you logged on to ESPN.com. It was almost as if ESPN was trying to hide the fact he had a poor game. Obviously, the channel has to promote its product as a great one, but sometimes, its coverage comes across as little more than shoe company and video game propaganda.

CBA NOTES

-- Former Bucks forward Larry Krystkowiak is one of three new CBA coaches. Krystkowiak, who grew up in Montana, is the coach of the Idaho Stampede.

-- Leon Smith, a forward whose problems with depression were well-documented when he tried to leap from high school to the NBA, is in camp with the Gary Steelheads.

-- Other names you may know in CBA camps: Willie Burton, Jimmy King (Great Lakes); Kaniel Dickens (Dakota); Tom Coverdale (Rockford), and one of my all-time favorites, Randy Livingston (Idaho).

NBDL NOTE

The 10-round NBDL draft will be held Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. You can follow along on the league’s Web site at www.nbdl.com.

SAM’S SLAMS

I like what I’ve seen of the Memphis Grizzlies, but Coach Hubie Brown has to figure out a way to get Mike Miller more shots. … Miami forward Udonis Haslem has been a wonderful surprise, providing the Heaters with much needed rebounding and hustle. He might just be a decent fantasy league pickup. … By the way, I despise fantasy leagues, so don’t even bothering e-mailing me for advice (unless you’re a really, really close friend). … What the heck is going on with the Chicago Bulls? They’re looked downright awful twice already this season. And I mean awful, as in the league’s worst team. Could it be because I promised they would make the playoffs? … Finally, don’t forget to pick up a copy of Ryan Jones’ wonderful book on LeBron James, “Believe the Hype.”

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HAVE A GREAT DAY!