<font color="Red">Philadelphia 76ers (19-23)</font> @ <font color="blue">Dallas Mavericks (28-13)</font> Time: 8:30 PM, EST Arena: American Airlines Center TV: CSN, NBALP (Free Preview) ____________________ <u>Last Meeting</u> N/A ____________________ <u>Starting Five</u> <font color="Red">Philadelphia 76ers</font> C- Samuel Dalembert F- Kenny Thomas F- Kyle Korver G- Andre Iguodala G- Allen Iverson* <font size="1">*- Denotes GTD, Willie Green may serve as possible replacement</font> Head Coach- Jim O?Brien <font color="blue">Dallas Mavericks</font> C- Erick Dampier F- Dirk Nowitzki F- Jerry Stackhouse G- Michael Finley G- Jason Terry Head Coach- Don Nelson ____________________ <u>Key Match-up</u> <font color="Red">Willie Green</font> v. <font color="blue">Jason Terry</font> ____________________ Player To Watch <font color="blue">Jason Terry - Dallas Mavericks</font> [IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jason_terry.jpg[/IMGl]PPG: 11.3 RPG: 2.5 APG: 4.7 FG%: 52.1 % 3P%: 46.2 % He's slightly under last season averages, however statistics doesn't tell the whole story. While his numbers are just a tad down from last season averages, his production is arguably at an all-time high. Heading into this game, Jason Terry is the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week. In the past four games he led the Mavericks to a 4-0 record while posting 18 PPG on 72% shooting, 6.8 APG and an astonishing 69% from the 3Pt range. So playing against a lackluster defensive team and possibly without their best player, Jason Terry may have a field day out there. Projected Stats: 18 Points, 7 Assists, 3 Rebounds, 5 Steals, 0 Blocks ____________________ <u>Keys To The Game</u> <font color="Red">Philadelphia 76ers</font> <ul><font color="Red">Slow Downn Dirk</font> This is not an easy task for any defender or team for that matter. Dirk height gives him the advantage on virtually every defender. His ability to shoot way over the defender gives him the edge each and every single time. With the 76ers undersized big men, they will have a very difficult time containing Dirk. Their best option would be to put Dalembert on him and just see what happens from there. Dalemebrt is the only player on the roster that has a chance at slowing down Dirk. With Dalembert length, quickness and mobility he can go anywhere Dirk can go. However, Dirk can also get to the paint at will and with that overwhelming strength it may catch Dalembert off guard and get himself into early foul trouble.[/list] <ul><font color="Red">Force Turnovers</font> The 76ers are number one in the league at forcing turnovers. That said, they must put pressure on the Mavericks guards and force them to make bad passes. If the 76ers can force the Mavericks to commit a high number of turnovers and at the same time take care of the ball themselves, they can surprisingly make this a competitive game.[/list] <ul><font color="Red">Perimeter Shooting</font> This is going to be a decisive factor in this game for the 76ers. There is no question the Mavericks will knock down their perimeter shots, so the 76ers must make sure they do the same. With the Mavericks you have an intimidating frontcourt that can block shots that gets into the paint. So what the 76ers must do is drive into the paint and hope for a foul and if not, kick the ball out to the open perimeter shooter and either shot the ball or make the extra pass. It?s obvious that the 76es best perimeter shooter is Kyle Korver, so the Mavericks may pay him a little more attention than the others, so Korver must act as ad decoy and give the extra pass here and there and from that point it?s all up to the beneficiary of that pass to make the shot.[/list] __________________ Personal Prediction- Iverson is doubtful, their on the road and they?re playing the Mavericks. I believe the 76ers can make this competitive for the for the first half, but they will eventually fall apart in the 2nd half. 94- 115 Mavericks
Nice preview, although your missing your best player were missing our best defender and this can turn into a shootout. Although a lot of the time i'd take us but we havent been pushing the ball as much as we should.
Great preview as always by Avery. Iverson is not playing tonight, Willie Green is going to be replacing him in the starting lineup. In order for us to win we need to have a big game from either Kenny, Iguodala, or Green. Either that or slow Dirk down and hold the Mavs to under 100. I predict 107-94 Mavs...
Great win for us. I think this team knows they can play, even when AI is out. It was a solid game for us, we could have put this game away but as usual a 4th quarter collapse from are Sixers occured. Fourtuntly the Sixers were able to withstand the Mavericks run, and come out with the W. With some help from Boston we'll be right back on top of the Atlantic Division.
Man, the 76ers show some big heart in this one. They're defense really impresses me sometimes. As well as Andre and Salmon's lock down on certian Mavs.
This really showed the versatility by our rookie Andre Iguodala. In the forth quarter he was bringing up the ball for a minute or so and then coming back down the floor to cover Dirk, and Dirk didn't do so great in those last 2 or 3 minutes. John Salmons really stepped up to play in the absence of Iverson, 19 points, 6 assists playing a little point guard. Really helps his trade stock Erick Dampier, man this guy was pulling down rebounds like crazy 26 rebounds, not to mention 7 blocks and a sick one against Willie Green (I think).
Great team effort by the Sixers in this game. Okay so we`re a game and a half behind the Celtics, hopefully A.I. can play and they can pull out another good win against the Pacers...I mean... I`m going!!!
