Newy Scruggs, sports anchor at NBC5 in Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS-TV) and radio host weekly from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on NBC Sports Radio Sirius XM 213/202 and NBCSportsRadio.com, answered your questions in a live chat recently. Thanks to all who joined!

Is Rick Carlisle a better basketball coach than Brad Stevens of the Celtics?

Newy Scruggs: Rick Carlisle is a better coach than Brad Stevens hands down.

He's won a NBA title with only one superstar. He has been a NBA Coach of the Year (2002) and won over 700 games in the league. Only 18 coaches have won 700 games.

Stevens is good but Carlisle is one of the best to ever coach in the NBA

Dirk has been vintage for the Mavs lately... One month left in the season, what's your feel on if he'll be back?

Newy Scruggs: I think Dirk Nowitzki will be back playing for the Mavs this fall.

He seems to still enjoy the game.

The club needs him considering the rough season they have had on the court and the issues they have had off of it.

Dirk is the one thing players and sponsors can feel good about.

Any chance Nerlens Noel stays in Dallas past this season if he balls out the rest of the year?

Newy Scruggs: Noel and Carlisle are not a long term fit. I don't see it working out.

Exactly how bad is this 2011 Mark Cuban incident and is there truth to it?

Newy Scruggs: Mark Cuban has told me there is no truth to the accusation. "It didn't happen," is what he sent me in an email.

The police report says they got seven cell phone photos that Cuban and his accuser. The woman is smiling in all the photos.

The police determined there was not enough evidence to support the woman's accusation. And there a contradiction of her claim as well.

Based on that report from the police, I think Cuban should be believed when he says it did not happen.

Which Mavs player has surprised you the most this season, in a good way or bad way?

Newy Scruggs: I think J.J. Barea has played very well this season.

I was surprised Nerlens Noel came into a contract season and spent many games as a DNP-coaches decision.

I just can't believe Noel didn't come into Mavs camp in amazing shape and ball out like a guy who wanted a max deal.

Instead he was sitting on the bench, he was caught getting a hot dog at halftime of a game and seemingly forever locked in the doghouse of Rick Carlisle.

Thank goodness they did not give him $72 million. Better yet, thank goodness he decided to turn their offer down.

Noel had a great opportunity to make Dallas his home for the next four years and that will not happen now.

This means the Mavs are back to looking for the Tyson Chandler replacement.

Twitter: @newyscruggs