<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> December 1, 2006 - 8:30 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on ESPN</span></div><span style="color:#6600CC">Sacramento Kings</span> <span style="color:#000000">(8-5)</span><span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Mike Bibby</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Kevin Martin</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Ron Artest</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Kenny Thomas</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Shareef Adbur-Rahim</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Brad Miller, John Salmons, Ronnie Price, Corliss Williamson, Francisco Garcia</span><span style="color:#000099">Dallas Mavericks</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">(11-4)</span><span style="color:#3333FF">PG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Devin Harris</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">PF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">C</span> <span style="color:#000099">Erick Dampier</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop, Anthony Johnson, Greg Buckner, Austin Croshere, Deaven George</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki is probable (eye)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#6600CC">Mike Bibby</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 18.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 5.8 apg, 1.4 spg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Ron Artest</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 17.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.8 spg, 1.1 bpg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Kevin Martin</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 23.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.5 spg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Brad Miller</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 6.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.2 apg</span><span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 24.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.0 bpg</span><span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 16.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.0 spg</span><span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 15.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.0 apg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#000000">SAC:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Quincy Douby</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 19</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">0.7 ppg, 0.3 rpg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Maurice Ager</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 28</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">1.3 ppg, 0.4 rpg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jose Barea</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">0.4 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 0.4 apg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Pops Mensah-Bonsu</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">1.0 rpg (1 game)</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Sacramento's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Brad Miller</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 6.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.2 apg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Miller is just getting back from injury, and he had a nice game the other night off the bench. He will surely work his way back into the starting rotation and redeem himself as the All-Star caliber center he really is. But tonight, he has to play well against a tough Dallas frontline. They don't take any breaks on the boards, Miller can't either.</span><span style="color:#000099">Dallas's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000099">Devin Harris</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 10.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.2 spg</span><span style="color:#000099">Harris has been having a great season, and he's a good young player. Tonight, he has to bring his A-Game defensively on Kevin Martin/Mike Bibby. Both of those guys can go off at any given time, he needs to stick with them and disrupt their shots.</span> Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#6600CC">Ron Artest</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span><span style="color:#000000">Howard is the young star that is expanding his all-around game tremendously. He's a freak athlete, a good rebounder, he can score inside, he plays defense, and he has a much improved outside shot. Artest though, will not make it easy on Howard. He's a top 3 perimeter defender in the NBA, extremely tough, and a guy that gets it done on both ends. Should be interesting.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesThis should be a solid game. Sacramento has been alright lately, Dallas has won 11 in a row. :shok: I am excited to see a lot of players in this game, I don't even have to name them, you know who they are. CelticBalla's PredictionI see Dallas winning this one, and keeping their massive winning streak alive. They are at home, they are fully healthy (except for Dirk's eye). I think Jason Terry is going to explode in the second half, and I think Dallas will make noise and take this one home with a smile on their face. They are simply the better team.
X-Factor? This aint Live 07 :lmao-1: Na, nice thread, very nice.I think the Mavs will win this one tho, they are tearing it up I believe with 11 wins in a row. Good Luck trying to stop them. Should be a good game tho, I will try to catch the end after cavs v.s ATL.
Yeah I like the mavs in this game. They've been playing well against the kings for the last couple of years. Bibby has had troubles with Harris in the past. Dampier though might have to be benched since he can't keep up with Abdur-Rahim and he isn't enough of an offensive threat in the post.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Larry Hughes @ Dec 1 2006, 02:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>X-Factor? This aint Live 07 :lmao-1:</div>Wow, do you even know what that means?
I think whoever Dallas puts in at center will dominate... Miller isn't 100% yet... Sac's backcourt is awesome, but their frontcourt isn't nearly as good as Dallas'. It will be a decent game... the key to Sacramento winning is holding down Dallas in the first half... they have been pretty dominant early in the game.
^You're right about that man.Dallas has been putting up some massive numbers up in the first half...but they have struggled in the second half.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Dec 1 2006, 02:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow, do you even know what that means?</div>Lmao, yes I do, but chill it was just a joke.
Josh Howard and Kevin Martin both had a good 1st half, 15 points for Howard and 11 for Martin. They're shooting a pretty good percentage as well.I want to see a close game.
Sorry to disappoint you Balla. I think this game will be a blow out. Sacramento doesn't have the interior prescence to stop players like Howard and Harris. The mavs look 2 steps faster than the kings. I don't see them slowing down due to being so deep. It looks like though that Buckner is the new Daniels and won't be getting much burn.
Buckner will play in games that are slower paced, with the opponents that have good scorers at the wings...He played alot against the Spurs the last time they played, and I'd expect to see him in those games.Damp is playing great on both sides of the court as well...he seems to be overlooked right now.He keeps playing like this, and he might be a darkhorse Allstar Center...now I can't believe I just thought that...
Buckner got more minutes because Devean George wasn't available. I think Avery wants to stick with a 9 man rotation.
Buckner is better suited in that role, he's cheaper and a veteran who does not complain about playing time. He comes in when the coach calls for his number and does his job. He's been consistent since coming off the bench. And I don't think George is the one hurting Buck's minutes. I think it's mainly Howard returning and his time increasing, also how Avery likes to pair two pgs at a time throughout the game, followed by Stack getting his time as well. George effects Croshere more then Buckner.
George coming back forced Stackhouse to play the 2 position more. Having Howard back also took away chances for Buckner. So this means that Buckner is lucky to get in the game now.
I didn't watch much of this game, I was too busy watching a close one between Boston/Toronto. But when I did eventually fully switch over to this one, Dallas was up by like 27. I knew it was over then, so I still watched it. 12 in a row for Dallas, wow. They are on a tear.
