<div align="center"><font color="blue">Dallas Mavericks (20-7)</font> at <font color="Navy">Indiana Pacers (15-9)</font> Monday, December 26th, 2005 American Airlines Center, Dallas 8:30 CT @ </div> [div=50%] <font size="3"> Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="yellow"> <font size="1"><font color="Purple">(J. Tinsley, S. Jasikevicius, S. Jackson, A. Croshere, J. O'Neal)</font></font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Jermaine O'Neal - 22.5 PPG Leading Rebounder: Jermaine O'Neal - 10.6 RPG Assist Man: Jamaal Tinsley - 5.6 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"><font color="Navy">Dirk Nowitzki</font> </font>- Including this season and the year before, Dirk is averaging 33 points and 11 rebounds. And without Artest, Dirk could have a better game. Croshere seems like the kind of guy who can defend Dirk, but it may seem unlikely. [*]<font color="Indigo"><font color="Green"><font color="black"><font color="Navy">Rebounds</font> -</font></font><font color="Green"><font color="black"> Indiana have some nice rebounders on their team; J. Foster, J. O'Neal, S. Jackson and A. Croshere. If they can all do their thang and Indiana keeps a rebounding edge</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 - 26.5 PPG Leading Rebounder: Dirk Nowitzki - 9.4 RPG Assist Man: Jason Terry - 3.8 APG The 'X' Factor: Josh Howard (15.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.1 APG)</font> <font size="3">Keys to the Game</font><ul> [*]<font color="Blue">Rebounding</font> - The past two games, Dallas haven't been back to their rebounding self. Even though they won against Seattle, they were outrebounded by 10. If they can maintain a rebounding advantage over Indiana, I don't see why Dallas can't win. [*]<font color="Blue">Keeping up form</font> - Last game I said the keys were Rebounding and the Two J's (Josh and Jason). Against Seattle they both had a quarter were they dominated and helped us win. They need to keep up form, for Terry to show he's worth keeping and Josh to show Dallas doesn't need Artest[/list]<font size="3"> Did you know? </font><ul> [*]Dallas his 11-0 when we shoot above 80% at the Free Throw Line[/list]<font size="3">Prediction</font> Dallas is due for a big game, and I think with everyone healthy that we have one. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised if Indiana also had one. Dallas wins in OT Dallas 107, Indiana 101 (OT)
The Pacers really need to focus on shutting down Dirk if they want any chance to win this game. When they played the Cavs on Friday, they focused on shutting down Lebron too much, and forgot about their other offensive threats such as Marshall, Gooden, and Hughes. The Pacers also played miserably on the boards, that's something they can't afford to do tomorrow if they want to win.
I think the mavs will benefit from having 2 days of rest. Now that they got their fulll team together I think they will be really tough to beat. They seemed a little tired lately.
Without Ron Artest this should be a pretty easy game other than Jermaine, there all around good player. The Mavs are playing pretty well so hopefully they can keep there streak going with one of there 2 superstars missing.
Series: The Mavericks won the first meeting this season and lead 28-21 all-time. Key matchup: Jermaine O'Neal vs. Dirk Nowitzki O'Neal is coming off a 34-point, 11-rebound effort Friday against Cleveland, which put him over 8,000 points for his career. Nowitzki has 11 double-doubles this season, O'Neal 15. In the teams' first meeting in Indianapolis, Nowitzki had 31 points and 11 rebounds and O'Neal had 25 points and 13 rebounds. Simply put, these are two of the best power forwards in the league who go about their jobs in much different ways. Inside the Pacers Offensively challenged: Their 15-9 record looks good, but they have to do it with defense because they have trouble scoring. They've reached 100 points only seven times this season and just three times in their last 18 games. They allow only 89 points per game, meaning they can stay in most games regardless of their offensive problems. Briefly: Interestingly, they are 5-2 since Ron Artest made his trade demand. ... Rookie Danny Granger has been improving fast, averaging 12 points and 8.5 rebounds in the last two games. ... The Pacers wrap up a three-game trip against San Antonio on Tuesday night. Inside the Mavericks Key to their success: The Mavericks never know where it's going to come from. Against Seattle on Friday, it was Darrell Armstrong entering the game with 7:41 to play and sparking a 26-11 closing rush. He had only two rebounds, no points and no assists, but his energy was contagious. Briefly: Jason Terry has made at least two 3-pointers in each of the last eight games. He's 20-of-44 (45.4 percent) in that stretch. ... Josh Howard has only five turnovers in seven games played this month. ... Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 3.8 assists in his last eight games.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting miles:</div><div class="quote_post">Without Ron Artest this should be a pretty easy game other than Jermaine, there all around good player. The Mavs are playing pretty well so hopefully they can keep there streak going with one of there 2 superstars missing.</div> Maybe you don't know this, but Danny Granger has been playing awesome for the Pacers lately. He guarded Lebron pretty well, and he's a monster on the boards, offensively and defensively. Freddie Jones also stepped up on Friday when the Pacers played the Cavs. They have a number of players that can step up at any time. Sarunas Jasikevicius can be a huge offensive threat, the streaky Stephen Jackson has showed that he can step up during big games, Croshere is playing great this year, Tinsley has showed flashes of brilliance the last couple weeks, and of course Jermaine is almost always pretty consistent. Don't count the Pacers out of the game at any time; they were down 15 going into the fourth quarter of the Cavs game Friday, they ended up tieing it with about 1:00 to go. Eventually they lost due to bad defense and bad shot selection by Stephen Jackson. Had they played like they did during the fourth quarter, it would have been a blow out for the 2nd game in a row vs. the Cavs. (And yes, I know how biased I am toward the Pacers)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Fat Nips:</div><div class="quote_post"> Don't count the Pacers out of the game at any time; they were down 15 going into the fourth quarter of the Cavs game Friday, they ended up tieing it with about 1:00 to go. Eventually they lost due to bad defense and bad shot selection by Stephen Jackson. Had they played like they did during the fourth quarter, it would have been a blow out for the 2nd game in a row vs. the Cavs. </div> Let me take this opportunity to gloat, and tell you Dallas was down 12 points with 7 minutes left in the 4th against Seattle, but we won..hehe just playing. It's good seeing an outsiders views on the game, who do you think Dallas should watch out for. For some reason, I see Sarunas having a big game
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Maverick:</div><div class="quote_post">Let me take this opportunity to gloat, and tell you Dallas was down 12 points with 7 minutes left in the 4th against Seattle, but we won..hehe just playing. It's good seeing an outsiders views on the game, who do you think Dallas should watch out for. For some reason, I see Sarunas having a big game</div> Saras has been in a bit of a slump lately. I think he only had like 1 point on Friday. I don't know what his problem is, he was really shooting well. He just needs to hit some shots, he'll break through. Players to watch out for? I would say Danny Granger. I'm not totally confident in him yet, as he still makes a lot of rookie mistakes, but he's been playing really well lately. Not so much scoring wise, but his defense is phenomenal for a rookie who has only gotten a few games where he has gotten good playing time (he learned his defense from Ronnie before Ronnie ****** the team). His rebounding is also to be noted. He gets some of the biggest rebounds at the biggest moments. As always, look out for Jermaine. I don't know who you guys will match up against him. Dirk or Dampier. I would say Dirk would be better to guard him, but I want to see Dampier do it so there's a mis-match.
I remember this was on last year, on my birthday. I analyised it, pin-point stats and **** And I came up with this: Dirk defended Jermaine O'Neal brilliantly
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Maverick:</div><div class="quote_post">I remember this was on last year, on my birthday. I analyised it, pin-point stats and **** And I came up with this: Dirk defended Jermaine O'Neal brilliantly</div> And that's why I want Dampier to guard him
this will be a good matchup but the pacers don't have ron artest and i dont think they will get the job done in this game. i mean jamal tinsley and jermaine on'nile are all they got. and i dont think they'll be able to pull out the win. but we'll see when the game comes up
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting $Quan$:</div><div class="quote_post">this will be a good matchup but the pacers don't have ron artest and i dont think they will get the job done in this game. i mean jamal tinsley and jermaine on'nile are all they got. and i dont think they'll be able to pull out the win. but we'll see when the game comes up</div> You should add Jasikevicius to that list. Croshere and Jackson could be on it, but they're both pretty streaky.
Everyone seems to ebe playing pretty well Dampier has 10 rebounds in the half Devin Harris is shooting 6-7 for 12 points in 8 minutes Dirk has 11 points And Dallas has 24 rebounds, compared to Indys 9
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Maverick:</div><div class="quote_post"> And Dallas has 24 rebounds, compared to Indys 9</div> That's really the reason why the Pacers have been struggling lately. We only have 1 or 2 guys rebounding. Eh, Pacers suck. Hopefully we play better in the second half. At the half: Pacers- 41 Mavs- 50
Not the best shooting first half but the offensive rebounds are helping us trmendosly. Devin is playing awesome right now with 13 points in the little time he played. Josh is plaing awesome hitting two great jump shots at the end of the half. Dirk is doing his normal thing with 15 points and looking great. Damp is looking good with the rebounding with 10. So far we are playing very well and hopefully we can keep it up.
Mavs up 80-61. Harris is owning the pacers. The pacers look very flat today. The mavs should finish this off pretty easily.
