<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">DALLAS - In a span of less than two weeks, the Mavericks humbled both a defending champion and a team expected to contend for this year's title. The easy inference is to say the Mavs beat two physically intimidating squads, Detroit and San Antonio, at their own games. Perhaps a more accurate assessment: That's the Mavs' game now. "It's definitely what we're trying to get to," Mavs point guard Jason Terry said. "It's a goal of ours. I wouldn't say we're there yet, but we want to be a defensive team." The Mavs were the first to realize that beating up on the Spurs 104-68 Thursday night at American Airlines Center without Tim Duncan would be dismissed in many circles. Take away a two-time MVP and it's not the same team. "It was a good defensive effort," said Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki, who played despite missing practice Wednesday with a sore knee and ankle. "But we don't want to over-write it too much. They were without Tim Duncan."</div> Source
Both of these wins were big for the Mavs, and although Duncan wasn't there I believe this was a big step forward. Avery Johnson is doing an amazing job with this squad, who has gone 9-2 in their last 11. I believe this team is playing much better AS a team, in every aspect of the game. If we keep this momentum going for the last few weeks of the season, we can make a deep run into the playoffs without a doubt.
