<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> December 20, 2006 - 10:30 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on ESPN</span></div> <span style="color:#000099">Dallas Mavericks</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">(17-7)</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, Greg Buckner, Deaven George, Austin Croshere</span><span style="color:#006600">Seattle Sonics</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">(10-15)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">PG</span> <span style="color:#006600">Luke Ridnour</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SG</span> <span style="color:#006600">Damien Wilkins</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SF</span> <span style="color:#006600">Rashard Lewis</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">PF</span> <span style="color:#006600">Chris Wilcox</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">C</span> <span style="color:#006600">Andreas Glyniadakis</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#006600">Earl Watson, Nick Collison, Johan Petro, Mickael Gelabale</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Anthony Johnson will not play (sprained right ankle)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">SEA:</span> <span style="color:#006600">Ray Allen will not play (strained tendon in right foot)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">SEA:</span> <span style="color:#006600">Robert Swift is out for season (torn ACL)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 24.0 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.3 apg</span><span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 17.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 apg</span><span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 15.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.3 apg</span><span style="color:#006600">Rashard Lewis</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 22.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.4 spg</span><span style="color:#006600">Luke Ridnour</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 14.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 6.2 apg</span> Rookie Watch <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">1.5 ppg, 0.3 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">0.7 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.3 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</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SEA:</span> <span style="color:#006600">Mouhamed Sene</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 10</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#006600">0.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SEA:</span> <span style="color:#006600">Mickael Gelabale</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#006600">3.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SEA:</span> <span style="color:#006600">Andreas Glyniadakis</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#006600">1.7 ppg, 0.6 rpg</span><span style="color:#000099">Dallas's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000099">Erick Dampier</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 9.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.3 bpg</span><span style="color:#000099">Seattle's frontcourt is terrible. Damp needs to just do what he does best: play tough around the basket and gobble up the boards.</span><span style="color:#006600">Seattle's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#006600">Chris Wilcox</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 12.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg</span><span style="color:#006600">Wilcox is an extremely athletic player, and he is very strong. He needs to come in and provide some offensive firepower and tenacity downlow against an excellent Dallas frontcourt. If he can bring great energy, that would be huge.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#006600">Rashard Lewis</span></div><span style="color:#000000">Howard is one of the best young forwards in the league, while Lewis is a long-range bomber. When Lewis is on, it's tough to stop him (he's a 6'10'' SF with a great shot). Howard is a pretty good defender, he's a burst of energy, he's very athletic, and he is improving every day. This should be a nice one.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesNo Ray Allen... ugh. CelticBalla's PredictionDallas shouldn't have much of a problem winning this game by 10-15+, especially with no Ray Allen.
CB that is awesome. Shame the game wont be competitive! Dallas could bench thier big 3 and still win it against my defenceless sonics. But major props for the preview
I'm pretty sure both Ager and Mensah-Bonsu are in the D-league right now.Other than that, I don't have a whole lot to say about this game. I hope Croshere, Barea, and Mbenga get a lot of minutes, if you know what I mean.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Justice @ Dec 20 2006, 01:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm pretty sure both Ager and Mensah-Bonsu are in the D-league right now.Other than that, I don't have a whole lot to say about this game. I hope Croshere, Barea, and Mbenga get a lot of minutes, if you know what I mean.</div>Yeah both are in the D...which actually makes them in Ft Worth and not the Big D. I'm suprised that they didnt keep Ager and put Barea in, but it could be because of a matter of things. Johnson's injury and maybe Barea wouldnt get a ton of time on the Flyers because they might have a bunch of PG or something. I've not looked at the roster, but that could be a reason. I'm leaning more on the Johnson injury. Yeah, I'd tend to agree with everyone and say that the Sonics are pretty much the underdogs in this. Tell you what Clangus, if we win by 20, you become a Mav fan. :winkglasses:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lakaboy42 @ Dec 20 2006, 03:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Why in god's name is this game on ESPN?</div>Because Dallas is arguably the best team in the league, and they obviously scheduled this game before Ray Allen got hurt.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pjcolpitts? @ Dec 20 2006, 02:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah both are in the D...which actually makes them in Ft Worth and not the Big D. I'm suprised that they didnt keep Ager and put Barea in, but it could be because of a matter of things. Johnson's injury and maybe Barea wouldnt get a ton of time on the Flyers because they might have a bunch of PG or something. I've not looked at the roster, but that could be a reason. I'm leaning more on the Johnson injury.</div>I think it might be a little bit because of the Johnson injury, but I think it's less of that than you might think. I haven't watched Barea or Ager that much, but I'd be willing to say that Barea is a lot more NBA ready than Ager. Obviously neither of them are scoring a lot or earning big minutes, but Barea seems to make smarter decisions. He makes great passes and shoots decently when he does shoot. I did see Ager make a great pass outside to Barea for a 3 in the Philly game, which is an improvement over missed layup. However, I think Avery would like to see him make great strides this year, and that can only happen by getting good minutes. That's my opinion.
Two stars got hurt in this game so far. First Lewis with his finger, he left the game he is questionable. Then Dirk just turned his ankle and needed to get helped off the court. Not good for Dallas.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Dec 20 2006, 11:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Damnit that Wilcox guy is dirty. Dirk will be out for awhile. This looks severe.</div>Dirty? Nah man he didn't do that on purpose, he couldn't even see Dirk the way he was standing.
Haha I know this has nothing to do with the game, but I'm watching it right now and Bill Walton was saying how the Knicks just won 2 games in a row on buzzer beaters. Then he goes, Should we print out the playoff tickets now ? Haha I don't know I just found this funny.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jkidd51524 @ Dec 20 2006, 11:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Haha I know this has nothing to do with the game, but I'm watching it right now and Bill Walton was saying how the Knicks just won 2 games in a row on buzzer beaters. Then he goes, Should we print out the playoff tickets now ? Haha I don't know I just found this funny.</div>Bill Walton is always a "joy." <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Damnit that Wilcox guy is dirty. Dirk will be out for awhile. This looks severe.</div>Wilcox is not a dirty player, and that was not a dirty play, it was just an unfortunate situation.This game is not much fun to watch, lately I have actually been watching more of the LSU/Washington game. Spencer Hawes has been awesome!
Difference in the game was in the first quarter where Watson stole the ball like 3 times against Stackhouse and got layups. Terry looks crappy as well. The mavs are getting outhustled. Pitiful.
Great way to end the game for the mavs. Dampier had a huge night. Devean George was pretty efficient as well tonight. Stackhouse is still not right. Hopefully he gets back to where he was a couple weeks ago.
They're right; Wilcox wasn't being dirty. He just took a step back and it happened to be on Dirk's ankle. It certainly wasn't "good," but it's a lot better having a bad sprain than a broken ankle. That's what my worry was when they said that Dirk couldn't put any pressure on it (this is what usually happens when you have a fracture... I guess they were being precautious).Anyway, great finish by the Mavs. Devean and Damp were stellar at the end there defensively and offensively as well. It looks like the chemistry is finally coming together with good performances from George and Buckner lately.
