Mavericks @ Kings - Christmas Day Preview!!

Mavericks @ Kings Live!!

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When: Thursday, December 25, 2003
Where: Arco Arena, Sacrameto, CA
Time: 5:00 CT
TV: ABC

Records:

<ul>Dallas: 15-12 4th Midwest[/list]
<ul>Sacramento: 26-6 2nd Pacific[/list]



Probable Starters
Steve Nash vs Mike Bibby
Michael Finley vs Anthony Peeler
Dirk Nowitzki vs Doug Christie
Antoine Walker vs Brad Miller
Danny Fortson vs Vlade Divac

Injury List

<u>Dallas</u>
Jon Stefansson
Tariq Abdul-Wahad
Shawn Bradley Out Indef

<u>Sacramento</u>
Chris Webber


Key Matchup

Doug Christie vs Dirk Nowitzki



Key Bench Players

<ul>Bobby Jackson - 13.9 ppg 3.5 rpg 2.4apg[/list]


<ul>Josh Howard - 7.9ppg 5.6rpg 1.2apg[/list]


X-Factor

Peja is comming off a carrer-high 41 points vs Memphis. Peja wont be in todays game. Neither will Webber. Hopefully the Mavs can take advantage of this.





Keys to the Game:

<u>Dallas</u> - Then the Mavs must pressure passers Mike Bibby, Vlade Divac and Brad Miller, who are pinpoint deliverers of the ball on back cuts. If the Mavericks can find some early game success in these two areas they will be in this game. On the offensive end of the floor, I would expect that both Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki will rebound strong from a lost night in Portland Tuesday. Both have too much talent and too much pride to allow that performance to stay stuck in their respective craw without a powerful response. The Mavericks need both to come through with 20 plus point scoring outings here.



<u>Sacramento</u> - Things are going much better for the Kings these days, of this season. They've ripped off four straight victories and wins in 8 of their last 9. On top of that, Sacramento is a robust 15-1 at home. Try to pound the ball inside to Brad Miller as much as possible. The Mavericks don't have a real inside big body to bang on the boards so look for Sacramento to take advantage of that. When you rebound start to run as soon as you do. Dirks ankle is giving him problems, be like other teams and take advantage of that. Transition points, easy baskets, three point shooting and overall field goal percentage will be critical numbers to watch during this game.




Dee's Predection: The Mavericks and Kings have played some memorable regular and post season games over the past two yes, but Dallas finding its share of success at Arco Arena, posting wins in 4 of the last 5 regular season meetings here. Does this team carry the confidence to pull one out here? I think the Kings will pull this one out.

<font color="Red">ENJOY THE GAME</font> <font color="Green">AND MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!</font>

 

I say Kings will when this one in the 4th quater. It's going to pretty neck-in-neck throught the first through third. IMO I say Kins take this one by 3

 

Should be a very close and high scoring game. I'd say the Kings edge this one out just barely. Expect a big night from Peja.

 

Dallas has been struggling now, and since the Kings are 16-1 at home, no contest for Dallas. Sactown rolls in this one.

 

Peja, the Kings MVP thus far, is going to miss this game due to his suspension. But I will still go with the Kings. No matter who goes down on this team, they always find a way to win. That is what makes them so fun to watch.

 

End of 1st. Kings by 6.

Jamison leads Dallas with 11/6
Bibby leads Sacramento with 10 and Wallace has 4 rebounds.

 

There has been little to no defense so far. Makes for a fun game to watch though.

The Mavericks defense, or lack there of, is being exposed. The Kings are having their way on offense and are now up by double digits.

Brad Miller is something else. This guy is doing it all for them. If I were a kings fan, I don't think I would want Webber to return.

 

Haha I do thought. Thats just gonna make them alot better. They need to give Jamison the ball alot more. I agree with the commentartors.. This isnt the Mavs team from last year.

This is much better than I expected the games to be lol

*Edit* I dont know WHAT THE HECK DALLAS IS DOING. But Sacamento is doing the oppiste and has went on a 26-7 run. This is getting hetic.

 

Shawn Elliot said it best, the Mavs went out and got a whole new team after reaching the Conference finals...why? They got rid of all their "in your face" defenders and in exchange got all offensive players. There is no one on that team that can shut down the opposition.

The Kings are looking amazing. They play GREAT team basketball.

 

Yes they did. Griffin, Bell, Walt Williams. The things they did for the Mavericks. I was upset they didnt resign them. Geeze.

 

Where is Najara?! The Mexican Sensation!!!!!!!

 

Foreal, theyve yet to play him.

Sacreamento up 60-44. Dallas needs to do something bad, or they are going to fall 3-11 on the road.

Jamsion leads Dallas with 17/7

Wallace has 10 rebounds along with 13 points same as Miller.

Something needs to go down or Dallas is going to get blown away!

 

The thing with the Mavs is that their offense allows them to get themselves back in the game. They will go on some runs in the second half. They just can't sustain those runs without Defense.

Look for Dallas to cut into the lead, but it won't be enough to win this game.

 

That always happens. Happend with Minnesota. Came back but still lost. 3-11 on the road. This surley isnt the Mavs from last season. Make some trades or something lol.

 

Theres no D in Dirk. The Kings are just running the Mavericks led by an injured Steve Nash.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deestillballin:</div><div class="quote_post"> Make some trades or something lol.</div>I think they have done enough of that already.

I say let them play together, let them gel. They need to develope some trust. If you get beat, you have to be able to trust your teamate will rotate and save your ass. This is not happening with the Mavs right now.

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The Mavs come out in the 2nd half on FIRE and are making a run, like I said. They are now down by 8 and forced the Kings to take a TO.

The Kings are settling for outside shots now, no one is taking it to the basket and the Mavs are getting back on D.

The Mavs on the other hand are getting out on the break and getting some easy buckets. This is key for them.

 

In the 3rd right now..I think the Kings might still it...we'll see.

 

Dallas cut it down to 4. Dirk is showing that hes not being too scared of his ankle getting hurt. So thats how they caught up. Now at the end of the 3rd they are only down by 6, down by as many as 16

 

The Mavs will need to continue to hit their shots from the perimeter in order to stay in this game.

I'm off to a Christmas dinner but I'll be back for the post game comments.

 

Save me some!

Dallas leads now. For the 2nd time in the fourth. What an assist by Dirk, the arena thougth he was going for 3 he gave it to Walker for a nice layup.

Merry Chritsmas Dee, this is one good game!

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Nash, Bibby, Walker all just hit big 3's but Walkers was the biggest to give them the lead with 53 seconds left, and the ball!

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FINLEY CLUTCH!! He hit a HUGE 3, and Dirk hit 2 freethrows to give the Mavs a victory over Sacramento! What a game!!