<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Dirk Nowitzki and the streaking Dallas Mavericks opened a difficult three-game road stretch with their 13th straight victory.The owners of the NBA's best record look to extend their run as they face another test in Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers (22-11) on Sunday night.On Friday, Dallas (27-7) moved within one victory of matching the franchise-best win streak set during a 14-0 start in 2002-03, as Nowitzki sparked the Mavs to a 90-85 win at San Antonio. The All-Star forward scored a season-high 36 points to lead Dallas back from an 11-point deficit in the third quarter."Early we didn't play well. They got whatever they wanted, beat us to every loose ball and they got too many offensive rebounds," Nowitzki said. "In the second half our effort was a lot better. We had a bounce in our step. We kept making big plays."Dallas has demonstrated tremendous improvement on defense under coach Avery Johnson, who's in his second full season. That was on display Friday night as the Mavs limited the Spurs to 23 points over the final 17 minutes."(We) didn't have the best of first halves," Johnson said. "They had a lot more energy. We were just out of sync."Dallas closes out the trip Tuesday at Northwest Division-leading Utah.The Mavs have split their last four road matchups with the Lakers after losing the previous 26, including the first 11 at Staples Center.They'll likely be facing a fired-up Bryant after the Lakers superstar scored a season-low eight points on 2-of-9 shooting in a 123-104 victory over Denver on Friday. Bryant compensated by recording 10 assists, reaching double figures in that category for just the third time this season."It's about being a big brother, giving them encouragement, but also getting on top of them at times," Bryant said of his teammates.Prior to Friday night's effort, Bryant averaged 45.0 points in his last three games.He's been notorious for tormenting Dallas over the years. The most memorable effort came in his last home game against the Mavs on Dec. 20, 2005, when he scored 62 points through three quarters and sat out the final period of the Lakers' 112-90 victory.Bryant's motivation apparently stemmed from being limited to 24 points in his previous contest."I was very angry, I felt like I wanted to come out and send a message, that we're going to dominate at home," Bryant said after the 62-point game. "We're going to hit you, we're going to bring it to you. I wanted to send that message."That total was Bryant's career high until his 81-point performance just more than a month later against Toronto.Bryant scored 33 points in a 110-101 loss at Dallas on Dec. 13. The Mavs shot a season-high 60.0 percent and Josh Howard had 29 points to top four players in double figures.Los Angeles is 9-1 at home against Western Conference opponents this season.</div>LinkShould be a pretty good game between two good teams. I'm a bit worried about this game since we havent had the greatest success against Kobe the last few seasons. Remember the 61 in 3 quarters? :cry2: Hopefully we will be able to contain him somewhat better since Howard is getting better, Buckner is faster than Griffin, and since we have more bodies with George and Stack. I think all of them will get some time on him except for Stack unless something happens like an injury. Hopefully Kobe doesn't go off on the Mavs and we win this game pretty easily. I think Harris should be able to drive on them and Dirk should be his usual self since they really dont have a good matchup for either of them.
We gave up way too many second chances in the first half, we can't allow that. Look for Kobe to be more agressive also.
Oh no, another reason for the Lakers to get more love. At least it gets the Suns closer to the 1st seed, home court will be crucial this year and so will having a 1st round match-up against the 8th seed. Good game by Kobe, I think he overtook Nash's spot in the MVP race. Nash needed to be perfect and he hasn't been as good the last few games so he drops a spot imo.
This was a really good game played by both teams this game actually felt like a playoff game if u ask me...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brando @ Jan 7 2007, 09:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This was a really good game played by both teams this game actually felt like a playoff game if u ask me...</div>I agree, and alot of people say that certain games feel like playoff atmosphere type games...but this one really was. I had my speakers turned up LOUD. It was a great feeling game and everyone contributed. The Lakers have one of the deepest teams in the league and it was a good win.
I think we let this go. I'd still give Sasha that shot and make him make it rather than Kobe make shoot it. Kobe makes his shot at a way higher rate. Not really any fault on any of the Mav players for leaving him open. Thy did EXACTLY what they wanted to do. They got the ball out of Kobe's hands and made someone else win it. Just this time that other player did it. Good win by the Lakers. Also, I know that if you watched the Mavs broadcast, they were bringing up the Smush swat and if Sasha was standing on the line. It looks like both were borderline, but I wont use it as an excuse. One thing that I am very disapointed in is the play of the center position. They were outplayed by Duncan, Horry, and Oberto(I'll give them Duncan, but come one Oberto and age stricken Horry?) and were outplayed by Bynum and Turiaf tonight. No offense to any of the players stated, but Dampier and Diop should be at least keeping even with them. I've noticed the last few games Damp has gotton into some foul trouble often and early. Not much of a factor on offense or on the boards. Diop hasnt been much either although he did get like 5 blocks tonight. He had only had 5 blocks in the last 12 games or something like that. I dont think its because they arent trying, but just some sort of slump. Avery has also had to go to small ball due to the lack of good play as well. One other thing, George is by far one of the better transactions of the last few years for the Mavericks. It took him a while to get going since he had to get the triangle out of his head and becuase he was sick early in the season. He really has come around though. Great 3 point shooter, defender, and just hustles. He in a way sort of reminds me of Najera with a 3 point shot. They might not play the same exact game, but they do the same things for the team.
Well I had a bad feeling about this game. Pretty much every time we play the lakers since the mavs are so worried about Kobe that everyone else gets wide open shots.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ Jan 8 2007, 01:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Oh no, another reason for the Lakers to get more love. At least it gets the Suns closer to the 1st seed, home court will be crucial this year and so will having a 1st round match-up against the 8th seed. Good game by Kobe, I think he overtook Nash's spot in the MVP race. Nash needed to be perfect and he hasn't been as good the last few games so he drops a spot imo. </div>Yeah no doubt Kobe is better than Dirk. I mean he scored 81 points in one game. That's enough right there for Kobe to be better. Dirk has way more support. I mean you got a borderline all-star coming off your bench. Man I wish I had Kobe as a teammate.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jerry Stackhouse @ Jan 8 2007, 07:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah no doubt Kobe is better than Dirk. I mean he scored 81 points in one game. That's enough right there for Kobe to be better. Dirk has way more support. I mean you got a borderline all-star coming off your bench. Man I wish I had Kobe as a teammate.</div>Wait... are you really Jerry Stackhouse...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Jan 8 2007, 12:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well I had a bad feeling about this game. Pretty much every time we play the lakers since the mavs are so worried about Kobe that everyone else gets wide open shots.</div>Interesting...so if you guys get the first seed and the Lakers advance to the 2nd round....they could beat yall maybe? :rock: That would be nice.
Dirk is a pansy. He has kobe guarding him. Naturally any 7 footer would post the guard up. I've seen carmelo and bonzi wells do it to kobe. But not dirk. He doesn't like using his size advantage.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Melo061 @ Jan 8 2007, 07:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Dirk is a pansy. He has kobe guarding him. Naturally any 7 footer would post the guard up. I've seen carmelo and bonzi wells do it to kobe. But not dirk. He doesn't like using his size advantage.</div>I wouldn't call Dirk a pansy for doing that. He is one of the best mid range players in the game (as of late, I think he is better than Rip and Melo), and he has a good 3 ball as well. He has an advantage shooting over the players from mid range as well, so I really dont think you can call him a pansy. After all, it does work.
Dirks a Pansy?!?That's one of the worst off the wall posts I've ever see on this site...Dirk is a shooter, who can slash and post up when he wants, but is primarily a shooter. He has a size advantage, and Nobody can block his shot...so why would he post up, when Kobe could get help from the weak side and bigger guys, when He'll have alot better % shooting over a guy from 12 ft?
