<div align="center"><font color="blue">Dallas Mavericks (18-7)</font> at <font color="green">Seattle Supersonics (11-13)</font> Friday, December 23th, 2005 Key Arena, Seattle 9:30 CT @ </div> [div=50%] <font size="3"> Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="yellow"> <font size="1"><font color="Purple">(L. Ridnour, R. Allen, R. Lewis, R. Evans, V. Potapenko)</font></font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Ray Allen - 24.6 PPG Leading Rebounder: Reggie Evans - 7.7 RPG Assist Man: Luke Ridnour - 6.8 APG The 'X' Factor: Rashard Lewis (21.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.5 APG)</font> <font size="3">Keys to the Game</font><ul> [*]<font color="Green">Dirk Nowitzki </font>- Last season, the Diggler averaged 28 points against Seattle..nothing special? Well in the 4 games, he shot at 60%. Great for almost 30 ppg. No-one has the tools to guard Dirk on Seattle, and with his great form lately look for him to have another 30+ outing [*]<font color="Indigo"><font color="Green"><font color="black"><font color="Green">Rebounds</font> -</font></font><font color="Green"><font color="black"> Last season, the Sonics averaged 5 more rebounds a game but still lost. This season, with Dallas' improved rebounding I wouldn't be surprised if Dallas won the rebounding battle</font></font><font color="black"> </font></font>[/list][/div] <font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="blue"> <font size="1">(J. Terry, M. Daniels, J. Howard, D. Nowitzki, E. Dampier)</font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Dirk Nowitzki - 26.2 PPG Leading Rebounder: Dirk Nowitzki - 9.3 RPG Assist Man: Jason Terry - 3.7 APG The 'X' Factor: Josh Howard (14.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2 APG)</font> <font size="3">Keys to the Game</font><ul> [*]<font color="Blue">Rebounding</font> - Despite having Reggie Evans (who is coming off a 21/18 game), Seattle aren't averaging above 40 rebounds per game. If Dallas can keep them below 38, I don't see why we shouldn't be able to win. [*]<font color="Blue">Two J's</font> - It seems since he got back from his ankle injury, Josh isn't having the greatest of defense. In 7 of 8 Dallas losses this season, the opposing star player has scored more than 9 points higher than their season average. Josh needs to use length to his advantage. Seattle is Jason Terry's hometown, and JT hit the game winner last season -- he needs to get out of his slump[/list]<font size="3"> Did you know? </font><ul> [*]Dallas has won 7 of the last 9 matches with Seattle. But last year, all the 4 games (3-1) were within 5 points at the end.[/list]<font size="3">Prediction</font> This is the kind of game that Dallas succeeds in, and with Jerry Stackhouse back Dallas finally has some guard depth which they have lacked this season. It is likely that Marquis Daniels will play, and if it is then this is the first time all main Mavericks have been healthy Dallas 97, Seattle 88
Series: First meeting this season; Sonics lead, 59-48, all time. KEY MATCHUP JASON TERRY VS. LUKE RIDNOUR Terry returns to his hometown, where he won a game last season with a buzzer-beating jump shot. Terry's shot has been on a holiday of late. He's 5-of-23 in the last two games and hasn't shot better than 50 percent since missing two games earlier this month with a hamstring problem. Ridnour is a pure point guard who sets up teammates first, but he can knock down jumpers if needed. Inside the Mavericks Closing it out: This game ends a three-game swing up the West Coast but is only the beginning of their tough sledding. This trip started a stretch of 19 games that includes 13 on the road. The schedule evens out in February, when they play nine of 11 at home. Briefly: They've dominated the series lately, winning seven of the last nine games, including twice in Seattle last season. ... They are the only team in the league whose top three scorers average fewer than two turnovers per game. ... When only two players reached double figures Tuesday against the Lakers, it was the first time since April 9, 2003, that they'd failed to place three players with 10 or more points. Inside the Sonics Allen-town: Ray Allen may have inherited the tag of best shooter in the league when Reggie Miller retired. However, Allen's shooting (42.2 percent overall and 35.7 percent from 3-point range) is down from his career numbers (44.5 percent and 39.5 percent). Defenses are zeroing in on him and Rashard Lewis. Briefly: They are coming off a 28-point loss at Phoenix on Tuesday, which came despite 21 points and 18 rebounds by Reggie Evans. ... They have not taken advantage of a gracious early schedule. This is their 15th home game among their first 25, yet they are below .500.
I think the mavs matchup well to the sonics. Ray Allen is not as quick as Kobe so Howard knows he can get in his face without getting blown by unlike Kobe. Prediction: Mavs win 98-88
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lol. We should win this game. Hopefully they dont let Ray Allen light us up like Kobe did. We really need to improve on our passing game. Terry is the assists leader with only 3.7 ASP. Lets go Mavs
The mavs should be able to pull this one out. Despite being on a the second game of a back to back, Dallas should still be relatively fresh and able to compete at a decent level. Providing we don't let another premier SG erupt on us (Ray Allen) then we should be able to keep them in the mid 90's, or hopefully below. Dirk is coming of a huge game against SAC, so hopefully he can carry his shooting streak into tonights game, if he does all should go well. Predictions Mavs Win - 96-90 Dirk has an average night Ray Allen goes for 30
should be a good game i expect we will probably do our usual and come out fast and then lose the lead then pull it out in the 4th and come up with the win, should be a nice game though, hope dirks streak continues
unfocused start so far in the game but Dirk gets them back withen 2. Hopefully they can get it togther....
Our FG% has been horrible to start of games lately, I wonder why? Maybe we don't come out with enough energy...AJ's pre-game G up's not good?
Dallas leading the way with 17 points and 5 rebounds and the only one flowing right now. Jerry Stackhouse just scored. Devin Harris doing pretty well with 7 points...
I'd like to see a Terry, Harris, Howard, Nowitzki and Diop lineup at the moment. But I think Griff has been playing well
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DH34BucksPhan:</div><div class="quote_post">Let's go Mavs! 1st post in the forum..will be around every once in a while....</div> Welcome DH! glad to see you made it.
