Mavericks vs. New Orleans Hornets preview7:30 p.m., today, American Airlines Center, Ch. 21; ESPN-FM (103.3), KFLC-AM (1270 Spanish)08:27 PM CDT on Friday, April 7, 2006By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News Series: Mavs lead, 3-0, this season; 27-12 all time KEY MATCHUP CHRIS PAUL VS. JASON TERRY Paul is one rookie who hasn't hit any walls in his first pro season. He's a lock for rookie of the year, averaging 16.4 points and 8.0 assists. He had an astounding 17 points, 16 assists, 11 rebounds and six steals Wednesday against Golden State. Terry has had some success against the Hornets, scoring 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter in the last meeting on New Year's Eve. Paul already has established himself as one of the best true point guards in the league. Terry will have to offset him with his shooting. Defensive responsibility might fall to Marquis Daniels or Darrell Armstrong. Inside the Hornets Last-ditch effort: They are struggling to stay in the hunt for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference, trailing Sacramento by one game in the loss column going into Friday's action. The Hornets will be fighting fatigue tonight, too, having played Toronto in Oklahoma City on Friday. Briefly: They have dropped their last 16 games against the Mavericks, extending to the last millennium when they were still in Charlotte. ... Rasual Butler had his first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds Wednesday. ... After going 9-1 before the All-Star break, they were 7-15 afterward going into Friday's action. Inside the Mavericks Don't forget Jet: Dirk Nowitzki has been a beast in the second half of the season, but Jason Terry hasn't been too shabby on the offensive end, either. He's averaged 19.4 points since the all-star break, shooting better than 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point land and nearly 90 percent from the free throw line. Briefly: They are one of only two teams in the NBA with at least 50 wins in each of the last six seasons. San Antonio is the other. ... What does Josh Howard mean to the perimeter defense? Opponents shoot 40.4 percent from 3-point range when he's out and 33 percent when he's in the lineup. PROBABLE STARTERS Hornets Pos. Mavericks David West F Dirk Nowitzki Linton Johnson F Josh Howard Marc Jackson C DeSagana Diop Rasual Butler G Marquis Daniels Chris Paul G Jason Terry LINK
Could be a closer game than most people think. Hornets have droped latley in playoff race, but still have that small chance. With all the stuff they went through latley, this team has the heart to beat anyone in the league. And they have proved it at home. Even though its in Dallas.
Oh there isn't an easy game at all in the Southwest divsion, not even the Rockets.We must win our last few games against the Division opponents if we hope to get the tiebreaker and the 1 seed.
Well, if Terry is really going to be more pressured than Dirk, look for Dirk to have a huge night.I'm not trying to get overconfident, but Dirk is probably going to get another 30-10 game, but hey, that's just what I think.
I don't like the 2 guard matchup once the Hornets go small. Hopefully Dallas can win on a back to back but I'm sure they are tired from tonights game. They had to play 48 minutes to win this one.
it should be a hard game coming home from a back to back. Everyone will be tired and its true, maybe dirk will have to get 30 for a mav win.
Over March and these few games in April, he's averaging 30 and 10, and I was kind-of worried Nowitzki's hot streak would end against Bruce Bowen, but it didn't happen.Remember, last time Dirk played here he had five treys.
The mavs just dominated this game from the start. Josh Powell once again makes an impact on this game both offensively and defensively. It's nice to have a tough 4 out there that isn't afraid of contact.
Good win, we did a good job on Paul and limiting him in the 1st half. He kind of went off in the 3rd a little with his drive and kicks that got them within 15. Man things look so easy with Howard on the floor, he's clearly the 2nd best player on the Mavs, no offense to Terry but Howard just brings more to the table that we can't replace.I stopped watching like 10 minutes into 4th, it was over lol.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Josh Powell once again makes an impact on this game both offensively and defensively.</div>Did he really? I don't know I didn't see him do anything special unless it came in the 4th in garbage time. He just didn't jump at me in the game.
Yeah, but Powell showed that he can rest Dirk for those few precious minutes come playoff time.It was nice to see Dirk, Howard, and Terry, all to-be playoff starters for the start of the playoffs, get rest.Remember when Dirk had that three bomb from Stackhouse? That was the dagger, lol.
Josh Powell hit some open shots, like he's supposed, kinda like he did last night against the Spurs...but his stats won't jump out at you.He should help out, he needs too, especially in the playoffs without KVH.
I think Powell is very underrated for his jumpshot. The guy is still an 80%+ free throw shooter in 31 games (okay, fine, but still), but if you double Dirk or Damp, Powell will usually be open for something (in San Antonio, Dirk found him WIDE-open for a long two, and Damp had a behind-the-back pass for Powell, who slammed it home).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I think Powell is very underrated for his jumpshot</div>No he's not, he's a average jumpshooter. Teams will leave him open, he just has to make them pay. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>He can also power his way to the basket like Adrian Griffin.</div>I want him to use that pump fake more often, he just goes straight up and gets blocked. Just learning the ropes still.
Well he is a rookie, so any meaningful contribution, will be good for him anyways.I mean I don't expect him to play like Josh Howard yet, but in a year or 2 he has the potetial to be a very good role player for the mavs.
Both Josh Powell and Van Horn are free agents this summer. If I had to choose I would go with Powell. He just brings what Dallas needs more. Defense, rebounds, hustle, and making open shots. Mbenga is looking good also these days so I would resign in this order of importance. 1. Terry2. Powell3. Mbenga4. Van Horn5. Marshall
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Defense, rebounds, hustle, and making open shots.</div>The only thing Van Horn doesn't bring of what you said is defense. You can also argue Van Horn has better range then Powell and a team has to put a body on him.But otherwise we can just sign them both, Powell will get the league min again, same goes for Rawle. I don't mind Van Horn back especially since we could cut him right now but we haven't. A sign for the summer?If he just does his job and keeps Dirk resting like he did at the beginning of the year. I'm fine with Van Horn/Powell again at backup.My only problem with your order of importance is having Powell at number 2 when he's easy to sign.
Well if he keeps playing well, he might not be easy to sign. I just don't think Van Horn is a nice fit for this team. This team needs defense and Van Horn is not that player. Van Horn has more range but he is missing those shots. Just look at his percentage for the year. Also don't forget all the turnovers he has. He makes careless mistakes that caused Dallas to lose to San Antonio in the second game of the year in Dallas. Dallas should be 3-1 right now. Powell hasn't hurt Dallas in any way yet like that.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Well if he keeps playing well, he might not be easy to sign. I just don't think Van Horn is a nice fit for this team. This team needs defense and Van Horn is not that player. Van Horn has more range but he is missing those shots. Just look at his percentage for the year. Also don't forget all the turnovers he has. He makes careless mistakes that caused Dallas to lose to San Antonio in the second game of the year in Dallas. Dallas should be 3-1 right now. Powell hasn't hurt Dallas in any way yet like that.</div>That has to be a joke, no one is going to be offering Powell any more then he can with the Mavs. Stop overrating the guy, he won't be a commodity in the offseason. He's only playing by default because of injuries now.Also, give me a break on Van Horn losing us the game against the Spurs. Your just a hater, I'm sorry but we were up still up after that play and you can blame our pourous defense as much as Van Horn's turnover for the loss. It's a joke, I don't see anyone lynching Duncan for his travel call just this past game. The turnover hurt, but that one play doesn't lose a whole game.And like I said double standard, I can pick out Powell mistakes but to you their nothing compared to Van Horn who makes his share of turnovers but other that one incident it's overblown. Also, maybe Powell hasn't made any mistakes like those because Avery doesn't play him when it counts.
The defensive mistakes were by Van Horn at the end of the game to. This guy has done nothing for Dallas ever since he came here. The only time he got on a row was at the end of the season last year and than he disappeared in the playoffs.
