The Mavericks Suck

[Mavs Man]

Huh, Dirk is playing tonight.

Yeah, good news.

No surprise that his shot is a bit off(ful) after a week from the game, but he's given them an emotional lift.

This next quarter is huge - can they continue with their high energy play or will they settle for jumpers and let Golden State erase the lead? Here's a chance to finally get that win against an above .500 opponent post Kidd-trade.

 

[Mavs Man]

3rd quarter scoring: Mavs 29, Warriors 19.

Finally.

 

[windward]

Yeah, good news.

No surprise that his shot is a bit off(ful) after a week from the game, but he's given them an emotional lift.

This next quarter is huge - can they continue with their high energy play or will they settle for jumpers and let Golden State erase the lead? Here's a chance to finally get that win against an above .500 opponent post Kidd-trade.

Mavs are rolling tonight. Perhaps this is not a lost season after all.

 

[Mavs Man]

In fact, they've outscored the Warriors in every quarter.

Dirk is back.

Josh Howard is making plays in the paint, dishing the ball, and scoring close to 30 points again.

We got good contributions from Jason Terry and Eddie Jones.

Hey, looking good tonight. Barring a 25 point collapse in the final six minutes, Dallas should take a two game lead over GS and a one game lead over Denver with seven games left.

 

[Mavs Man]

Dallas now holds the tiebreaker over GS (3-1 head-to-head record), Denver holds the tiebreaker over Dallas (2-1) as well as Golden State (2-1) and can clinch the season series with a win in the final meeting next Thursday.

Here's how I see it playing out for Denver and Golden State:

Denver:
4/5 - Sacramento - W
4/6 - @ Seattle - W
4/8 - @ LA Clippers - W
4/10 - @ Golden State - L
4/12 - @ Utah - L
4/13 - Houston - L
4/16 - Memphis - W
Final Record: 50-32


Golden State:
4/4 - @ Memphis - W
4/6 - @ New Orleans - L
4/8 - Sacramento - W
4/10 - Denver - W
4/12 - LA Clippers - W
4/14 - @ Phoenix - L
4/16 - Seattle - W
Final Record: 50-32

Dallas is currently 47-28, and holding the tiebreaker over GS they would have to at least win 3 out of 7 (in the above scenario; if they go 5-2 down the stretch they make the playoffs no matter what).

Here's their last seven:

Dallas:
4/4 - @ LA Lakers
4/6 - @ Phoenix
4/8 - Seattle
4/10 - Utah
4/12 - @ Portland
4/13 - @ Seattle
4/16 - New Orleans

3 out of 7 means beating Seattle twice and taking one more. I say it's Dallas and Denver for the final two spots, with Golden State the odd one out. Next Thursday's game will be what was once known in March Madness as the play-in game for GS and Denver.

 

[thekavorka]

that game was huge. maybe we can make the playoffs afte rall.

the thing that concerns me though is the amount of fast break points. thats the main reason we played so well.

but against teams like the lakers and jazz, the mavs still have to show they can be successful in the half court offense.

 

[Mavs Man]

that game was huge. maybe we can make the playoffs afte rall.

the thing that concerns me though is the amount of fast break points. thats the main reason we played so well.

but against teams like the lakers and jazz, the mavs still have to show they can be successful in the half court offense.

I'm hoping that Josh Howard can keep playing like he's been playing, i.e. cutting to the basket, staying aggressive on offense and smothering on defense (defense on Stephen Jackson - 1/11 shooting, two points Wednesday night). That would help a lot compared to him standing at the 3 pt line while Dirk gets the ball and does what we Mavs fans have seen far too much this season.

 

[thekavorka]

I'm hoping that Josh Howard can keep playing like he's been playing, i.e. cutting to the basket, staying aggressive on offense and smothering on defense (defense on Stephen Jackson - 1/11 shooting, two points Wednesday night). That would help a lot compared to him standing at the 3 pt line while Dirk gets the ball and does what we Mavs fans have seen far too much this season.

Definitely. maybe josh's back is feeling better?

 

[Mavs Man]

Definitely. maybe josh's back is feeling better?

Probably a combination of that, and the fact that the pressure was placed on his shoulders to lead this team in Dirk's absense. Hopefully that snapped him out of his funk.

I have to give props for Dirk coming back so early. 10 days from a high ankle sprain?! Unbelieveable. Dirk has his weaknesses, but you can't say he isn't tough. He hasn't missed more than six games in a single season since his rookie year. Assuming he plays all seven remaining games, that's nine consecutive years of at least 77 games played.

That doesn't sniff Cal Ripken territory by a longshot, but not bad for a lanky 7 footer who is prone to ankle injuries.

 

[Mavs Man]

This team is turning me into a trichotillomaniac.

 

[thekavorka]

josh howard acting like a mental midget once again. that technical was huge.

and avery johnson's defense down the stretch was abysmal.

he has dampier double kobe 10 feet off the 3pt line. kobe is kobe. he just simply passes it to odom. this forces dirk to guard both gasol and odom. what is he supposed to do?

no one else wanted to rotate off the 3pt shooters. and it's not like dampier has the speed to recover.

terrible terrible coaching.

Avery Johnson is a great motivator, but he still doesn't have the proper X's and O's. It might take a while for him to develop those X's and O's, and when he does, he'll be a fantastic coach. But with the mavs current roster, I don't know if we can wait for that.

 

[Mavs Man]

josh howard acting like a mental midget once again. that technical was huge.

and avery johnson's defense down the stretch was abysmal.

he has dampier double kobe 10 feet off the 3pt line. kobe is kobe. he just simply passes it to odom. this forces dirk to guard both gasol and odom. what is he supposed to do?

no one else wanted to rotate off the 3pt shooters. and it's not like dampier has the speed to recover.

terrible terrible coaching.

Well, as hot as Dirk was tonight offensively, he was (at least at one point) the Mavs were -19 when he was in the game (Lamar Odom and Gasol were eating him for lunch). His lack of lateral movement thanks to the ankle showed tonight.

 

[thekavorka]

Well, as hot as Dirk was tonight offensively, he was (at least at one point) the Mavs were -19 when he was in the game (Lamar Odom and Gasol were eating him for lunch). His lack of lateral movement thanks to the ankle showed tonight.

yeah. dirk couldn't play D for most of the game. but those plays at the end weren't his fault. you can't expect a guy to cover both odom and gasol.

i'm talking about at the end of the game. Who brings their slow CENTER to double team a guy like Kobe 30 feet from the basket? I don't think it worked once all game yet avery kept going to it.

and seriously. when was the last time a dirk iso worked at the end of the game?

i really miss del harris.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I'm glad my Lakers pulled that game out tonight!

 

[Mavs Man]

Good win today in Phoenix. Didn't expect a 27-9 advantage in the 4th quarter, but hopefully they have more of those.

I expected Stoudemire to do more damage than he did with Dirk gimpy (31 points on 12/26 shooting).

 

[Biggems]

thanks for the win Mavs.....sure glad PHX lost....

we will finish their hopes for a 2nd seed on Wed.

GO SPURS GO

 

[Route 66]

sure glad PHX lost....we will finish their hopes for a 2nd seed on Wed.

GO SPURS GO

Oh really? I love quotes that people like you blurt out. It makes games like these oh so satisfying. Even if Phoenix doesn't get the 2nd seed, you sure did nothing to stop it.

 

[Mavs Man]

What's wrong with San Antonio's offense lately? 64, 72, and 79 points the last three games.

Duncan is showing up, but Parker and Ginobili (especially) appear to be in a funk, judging by the box scores. Ginobili has 26 points total in those three games.

I haven't watched - anyone have some insight on this?

 

[DasTex]

What's wrong with San Antonio's offense lately? 64, 72, and 79 points the last three games.

Duncan is showing up, but Parker and Ginobili (especially) appear to be in a funk, judging by the box scores. Ginobili has 26 points total in those three games.

I haven't watched - anyone have some insight on this?

Maybe he quit flopping??

 

[WoodysGirl]

Big time shot tonight by Nowitzki...