Mavericks at Atlanta Hawks preview6 p.m. today, Philips Arena, FSNSW; ESPN-FM (103.3), KFLC-AM (1270 in Spanish)08:15 PM CST on Friday, March 24, 2006By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning NewsSeries: Mavs lead 1-0 this season; Hawks lead 28-22 all time.Key matchupMARQUIS DANIELS VS. JOE JOHNSONAfter the way Jason Richardson torched the Mavericks on Thursday, Daniels and friends need to pay particular heed to Johnson, the Hawks' acquisition from Phoenix in the sign-and- trade that cost them Boris Diaw. Johnson has not disappointed, averaging 20.5 points, 6.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds. The Mavericks continue to have problems with upscale shooting guards. This might not be any different with their key defenders out. Johnson is averaging 25.1 points and 8.2 assists in March.Inside the MavsTrying to snap out of it: Jerry Stackhouse still can't shake the slump that has beset him. Over the last 14 games, he has shot 53-of-164 (32.3 percent) from the field, including 0-for-6 on Thursday against Golden State. The dry spell has dropped his season shooting percentage to .385. He's shot 19 per- cent on 3-pointers during the drought.Briefly: Of the top 15 scorers in the league, Dirk Nowitzki is the only one averaging fewer than two turnovers a game (1.9). ... Nowitzki had 30 or more points in six of the last nine games. The Mavs were 4-0 in such games before losing to New Jersey and Golden State.Inside the HawksOn a roll: Josh Smith has been a tad erratic in his young career, but he's averaged more than 17 points in the last four games, including 22 to go with six assists Wednesday night against Philadelphia. He also ranks sixth in the league in blocks per game at 2.44.Briefly: Joe Johnson last month became the fifth active NBA player to have 40 points and 13 assists in the same game. ... Former Texas guard Royal Ivey had 12 points in a career-high 30 minutes Wednesday against the 76ers. ... The Hawks are 11-5 when Johnson and Zaza Pachulia each score 20 points or more.PROBABLE STARTERSMavs Pos. HawksDirk Nowitzki F Josh SmithRawle Marshall F Al HarringtonDeSagana Diop C Zaza PachuliaMarquis Daniels G Joe JohnsonJason Terry G Royal Iveyhttp://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...ap.60dab11.html
Mavs need to come out strong and win this game.I think that they will play hard and win this one.My prediction: Mavs win 102-93
Joe Johnson remind you of Jason Richardson? Well hopefully Daniels can guard Joe Johnson but I see this as another matchup where we need Howard and/or Griffin. Mavs should though anyways. Prediction: Mavs win 95-89.
Joe Johnson and Dirk Nowitzki will both combine for at least 80 points in my kind-of wild prediction, lolz, but Mavs get a one-man team win by Dirj Nowitzki, The German Bomber and MVP.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>but Mavs get a one-man team win by Dirj Nowitzki, The German Bomber and MVP.</div>Only one team wins that way, and that's the Lakers.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>but Mavs get a one-man team win by Dirj Nowitzki, The German Bomber and MVP.</div>Mavs have 5 other players on this team that average over more than 10 PPG, so you cant call Mavs a one-man team. As for the game, should be a easty first game out of the 4 game road trip(That includes Pistons) Everyone should play well tonight. I would like the to see Dampier get a double double tonight, he has the advantage to do so tonight
Lol, wait, five...?Dirk NowitzkiJason TerryJosh HowardJerry StackhouseMarquis DanielsKeith Van HornThose guys are basically the double-digit scorers, but tonightirk Nowitzki (on a HOT streak)Jason Terry (on a HOT streak)Jerry Stackhouse (on a cold streak)Marquis Daniels (playing just okay)I suppose you're right, but Nowitzki is the leader of the team, and I just have a FEELING he can breakout again. I mean, at least 30, right?We'll have to watch the game to find out, though...
Yeah if Dirk can get hot early in the game no doubt he should pass 30 points. It seems like the more shots he gets the better he shoots. Teams have no way in stopping him so he can pretty much shoot all day.
Stackhouse is starting. The only positive I can think of this is that Stackhouse probably won't be shooting as much as a starter as in a 6th man and maybe get a better flow going. Hopefully Daniels can be that 6th man.
Man that Hawks team sucks. They got no point guard and hardly any outside shooting. They rely on athleticism and that's it.
I didn't watch much after 1st half, here and there. Saw the Josh Smith dunk, then Dirk miss one, funny sequence.I'm glad we came in and handled them like we should. Good to see Van Horn get some time, looked rusty.Let's hope Howard can go Tues against Pistons.
That would be great if Howard can come back soon. Daniels had a nice game. Nowitzki does what he always does with scoring along with Terry and Dallas's centers were dominating on defense in the interior.
Dampier played exactly how I predicted, he was due for a double double, 3 blocks also. Dirk and Terry, soild shooting. Terry had nice 3's. Josh Smith owned with a ton on blocks, had a good one on Van Horn. Diop with 5 blocks, pretty sweet
Yeah, Diop is showing his super-defense, and I think he's making a case for Most Improved Player, right?Dirk led the way with 27-13. Shot the ball a little slowly for somebody coming off a 51-point performance, but it was a nice performance.
Yeah but he played some really good defense tonight. Glad to have Van Horn back. It gave Dirk a breather which Dirk has been playing too many minutes lately. He needs to pace himself for the playoffs.
Naw, man, actually when Dirk had his minutes going way down nearing the end of the season, he was not used to playing long minutes in the Game 1.
No Dirk appeared to have dead legs as the playoffs wore on. Van Horn will give Dirk some rest before playoffs.
