LA Clippers at Mavericks preview7:30 p.m. Tuesday, American Airlines Center, FSNSW; ESPN-FM (103.3), KFLC-AM (1270, Spanish)09:21 PM CST on Monday, February 20, 2006By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning NewsSeries: Mavs lead, 1-0, this season, 65-42 all-time.Key matchupSam Cassell vs. Jason Terry: Cassell has been rolling of late. In his last nine games, he's hitting almost 50 percent from the field (68-of-137) and even better (18-of-34) from 3-point range. He's usually better when he's had rest, meaning the All-Star break probably did him wonders. Expect the effervescent Cassell to be talking, as always, so the pressure is on Terry and Devin Harris to muzzle him.New kid on the block: They traded for Vladimir Radmanovic from Seattle a week ago, and he had 14 points and eight rebounds in 30 minutes in his first game as a Clipper. They gave up Chris Wilcox to get the 6-10 long-range specialist.Briefly: They are 30-21 despite losing four of five going into the All-Star break. ... Small forward Corey Maggette has missed the last 33 games with a foot injury. He will not play tonight.Inside the MavericksStill going down: They have won 15 of their last 16 games, and the only time they've allowed 100 points was in the loss at Denver. During that span, they have allowed about 88 points per game, dropping their season average to 92.9.Briefly: This is the second of four meetings. They will meet twice in April. ... They jumped on the Clippers, 37-21, after one quarter last month in LA and never looked back.PROBABLE STARTERSClippers Pos. MavericksElton Brand F Dirk NowitzkiShaun Livingston F Josh HowardChris Kaman C DeSagana DiopCuttino Mobley G Adrian GriffinSam Cassell G Jason Terry http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...ew.ceabc2d.html
The mavs barely squeaked by in this game. 95-93. It was their DEFENSE that saved them in the 4th quarter. They were shooting horribly but found a way to grind out a win. A quality win against a tough team as the clippers.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Feb 21 2006, 08:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The mavs barely squeaked by in this game. 95-93. It was their DEFENSE that saved them in the 4th quarter. They were shooting horribly but found a way to grind out a win. A quality win against a tough team as the clippers.</div>they didnt grind out the win. they just took bad shots(cassell's shot over dirk). Dallas just got lucky but they did play and harder and deserved the win.
Yeah Dallas didn't even try on defense. The clippers just missed shots. Whatever dude. Have you been watching many mavs games this year? Teams rarely score 100+ points against the mavs.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>they didnt grind out the win. they just took bad shots(cassell's shot over dirk). Dallas just got lucky but they did play and harder and deserved the win.</div>I'm pretty sure defense had something to do with them taking bad shots. Also, Mavs only scored a point in the last 5 minutes, and they still won. 25% 2nd half shooting for Mavericks. 17 turnovers.
I also heard Mobley say the mavs are a scrappy team. Avery is the reason for this mavs new philosophy of defense. Gotta give him credit.
True but the Clippers give the mavs some matchup troubles. Kaman is stronger than Dirk as well as Elton Brand. Dirk usually doesn't have to guard scorers but when he does he struggles.
The Mavs defense sure has improved but their offense seems to stink now. I guess the Mavs will never learn how to have a good all around team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ArizonaFan @ Feb 22 2006, 11:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Mavs defense sure has improved but their offense seems to stink now. I guess the Mavs will never learn how to have a good all around team.</div>Their offense is still better than their defense and they are clearly better offensively than the spurs. They didn't play their best game and still won. I think they are as much as an all around team as you get.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Mavs defense sure has improved but their offense seems to stink now. I guess the Mavs will never learn how to have a good all around team.</div>Their doing pretty good at both of em. That should make them a all around team, rather then being just good at one thing like the Suns. You can't take one game and say man their offense ain't that good. Overall, it's been consistent all year and a top 5 offense. Along with a top 10 defense in cats. That's not bad.
Suns defense is actually doing pretty good. Mostly in fg%. I guess it's just me then but i haven't seen many 100-point games by the Mavs at all, very very few of them.
Yeah the mavs don't run and gun that much anymore. It was entertaining while it lasted but now they concentrate on defense more. It has lead to 43-11 though it is not as entertaining.
Well hopefully it works out for you. I hope you beat the Spurs because I really hate them and I want another Suns-Mavs game. I think this time no one team will dominate like last year but it will be a great series, assuming Amare comes back good.
I hope Clips force Suns into 4th or 5th by taking the division. And play the Spurs, that is if Mavs get 1st seed. Suns and Spurs can battle it at.
That would totally suck! With the 2nd seed we got an easy road to the WCF, I don't want to play you guys or them in the first. I don't think it will happen though since we are 6 games ahead and Amare should be back soon.
No way the Suns fall behind the Clippers. The suns are a much better team and are the third best team in the Conference with no one close behind them. Only 3 teams have a chance in the west which are Dallas, San Antonio, and Phoenix. The rest are pretenders and don't have a chance.
