11.09.05: Dallas Mavericks @ Philadelphia 76ers Game Preview

<div align="center"><font size=""6""><font color=""Blue"">Dallas Mavericks</font> @ <font color=""Red"">Philadelphia 76ers</font></font>


Where: Wachovia Arena
When: Wednesday, Nov. 9, 7:00pm
TV: CSN, NBALP


<font color="Red">Philadelphia 76ers</font>



<font size=""2"">
Lineup: Allen Iverson, Andre Iguodala, Kyle Korver, Chris Webber, Steven Hunter</font>


<font color="Blue">Dallas Mavericks</font>



<font size=""2"">
Lineup: Jason Terry, Doug Christie, Josh Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, Erick Dampier</font>
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<font size=""7""> Match-up Break Down</font>

Point Guards:

The four time scoring champion will be matched up against the “Jet” Jason Terry in this contest it will be a real treat to watch two of the fastest players in the NBA going head to head against one another. Neither are considered pure point guards, but both do a very good job of getting their teammates involved. Allen has been averaging eight assists a game through the first four games of the season as well as 31 points a night. Meanwhile, Terry has had a pretty good season thus far in his own right averaging 16 points, but a meager four assists a game despite having an offense with a lot of different weapons.

Allen and the 76ers have struggled so far this season, but are coming off an upset victory over the heavily favored Indiana Pacers so expect Allen to come out with a lot of energy. Same with terry after his team just got a victory over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. Both point guards have to be feeling good about themselves and the offense they are running. The advantage in this match-up seems pretty obvious to me although both are imperative parts of there team on one side lies Allen who has been an all star the last seven years compared with a player who has yet to earn all star recognition. The advantage is obvious.
Advantage: Philadelphia 76ers

Shooting Guards:

Two great defenders at each teams shooting guard position. Andre Iguodala one of the best, if not the best, young defender in the league will be matched up against the old school defender Doug Christie. Iguodala has struggled so far this season with staying in the game due to picking up fouls early he has already fouled out of one game this season so he will need to stay out of foul trouble to help the 76ers win this game. Doug Christie meanwhile, has not averaged impressive numbers as the starter for the Mavericks this season, but is silently doing his part defending other teams best players, and helping the Mavericks defense become respectable.

Andre has averaged ten points a game along with five rebounds in limited action, and also has the second highest field goal percentage of any player in the league. So the sky is the limit to the affect he can have on a game should he stay out of foul trouble. Not only is he a great defender his offensive game, and ability to get down the floor during transition is key to the 76ers offense.

Advantage: Philadelphia 76ers

Small Forwards:

Kyle Korver has really struggled thus far this season he is shooting the worst percentage from the field of his young career only shooting 29 % from the field and averaging five points a game. Many have begun to suspect it is only a matter of time before he is replaced in the starting lineup by John Salmons who has been having the best season of his career averaging 11 points off the bench for the 76ers. Josh Howard has been the virtual opposite of Korver this season Howard has become a huge part of this Dallas Maverick team after being drafted by the Mavericks 29th overall a few years ago.

Howard is also a lengthy young defender who will probably be defending KK this game so I do not expect Korver will get any extra room to fire up his three pointers in this contest. I hope that the combo of Korver and Salmons can give us some decent numbers at the small forward position this game. I am not so worried about Salmons, because he has many dimensions to his game, and can get to the basket. I hope he sees most of the minutes if Korver struggles early in this game. Right now though I have to say
Advantage: Dallas Mavericks

Power Forward:

This is the closest match-up of the night Chris Webber has really been playing the best basketball he has played the last several seasons so far this year. He is not the player he was before the injuries, but he has returned to possibly all star form averaging 23 points and nine rebounds a game. He will be matched up against a MVP candidate though in Dirk. Dirk who is in the prime of his career is looking to have another career season averaging over 25 points per game.

Webber also has played well when rested this season he struggled a bit against the Pistons, which was the 76ers first back to back game of the season following an overtime game against the Bucks. Webber shattered his former opening day high when he was well rested what will he do now that he has rested for a couple of days? Though I like this match-up it is pretty even I have to give a slit advantage to the Mavericks due to Dirk’s consistency compared to Webber’s. I do not think it is that big a difference however, one can only wonder how these two would match-up if both where in their primes still.
Advantage: Dallas Mavericks

Center:

Steven Hunter has really impressed people as the 76ers starter in place of the injured Samuel Dalembert this season, and I see him doing that again tonight. He has been averaging over two blocks a game as well as over 11 points on the offensive end. He has been by far more impressive then the big money Erick Dampier who has only averaged four points and six rebounds for the Mavericks this season. The one problem with the 76ers center position right now is that they have no reliable backup James Thomas is at good rebounding, but when in there we have no offensive option down low.
Advantage: Philadelphia 76ers

<font size=""7"">My Game M.V.P. Prediction:</font>
[IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/act_allen_iverson.jpg[/IMGL] Allen Iverson who is averaging 31 point a game, and eight assists so far this season is my most valuable player pick for this game. I am not going out on a limb on this one, but oh well. Another player to look out for is Chris Webber I got a feeling he is going to have a big game for us in this contest. Allen will be matched up against Jason Terry, but will also be guarded by second year player Devin Harris so he might be able to take advantage on him, and score some easy buckets off the dribble.








<font size=""7""> 76ers Keys To Victory:</font>
<ul>
[*]Play all four quarters in the win over the Pacers the 76ers played three quarters, and almost let a 20 point lead completely disintegrate in one quarter. They cannot keep doing that they must have the killer instinct to close out a team when they smell blood.
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<ul>
[*]Stay out of foul trouble the 76ers have had key guys get into foul trouble early in some contest guys like Iguodala, Chris Webber, and Steven Hunter cannot get in foul trouble in this contest if the 76ers hope to have a chance to win.
[/list]
<ul>
[*]Control the tempo if this game becomes fast paced then it will favor the Mavericks. Though the 76ers like to run as well they do not have the ability to keep going up and down the court with the Dallas Mavericks.
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<font size=""7""> Prediction:
</font>
Do not ask me why, but I have a good feeling the 76ers will win this game. The Mavericks are coming off a huge win over the Spurs, but the 76ers are well rested, and are also coming off a big win in there own right. I think it will be a close game until the end, and will probably be decided in the last quarter of play last minute to be exact. I have the 76ers winning 102-98

 

nice preview man. i really looking forward to this game. it can show us if last nights game against indy was a fluke or not. also, it will give us an in depth look at our defense as we are going against one of the best if not the best offensive team in the league. also, its nice to see the updated player pics. AI looks gansta as hell.

 

dallas' defense isnt going to be able to hold iverson at all, philly will win and iverson will have somthing like 40 pts, and 9 assts.

 

This will be a good game,Nowitzki should have a field day against Webber but also Webber could have a big game against him (everyone knows about Dirk's defense) so they could cancel each other out.Iverson will certainly be the guy who like Nowizki will be all over the court,driving to the lane and passing it to Korver should get him dimes if Korver really got his shot back.
I think Dallas may win this one as their bench is better than ours but who knows cause Pacers' bech was better than ours too.

 

Nice preview man.

Personally, I don't know what to think about this game. The Sixers have been a roller-coaster team so far this season, showing flashes of brilliance throughout most of the Milwaukee game and against Indiana, and also have been dismal against the Pistons and Bobcats.

I'd love to have Iggy guard Dirk, as Dirk seems to have problems with more athletic defenders, such as Tracy McGrady and Shawn Marion. However, that leaves Webber to guard one of their perimeter guys, which is an even worse match-up for us. Dirk presents a big problem for us, and I think Cheeks will put Hunter on him early in the game to see how he defends Dirk.

We certainly cannot get into a run-and-gun game with the Mavericks because they simply have too much firepower for us to handle, even if AI explodes for 50+. Kyle has been missing the first three games, and finally showed up to play against Indiana. Hopefully he continues to play like he did in Indiana.

I hope we win, as it would be another big victory for us, and we need to open up our four game homestand (the longest of the season) on a positive note.

 

I think the Mavs will win this one. They destroyed the Spurs and beat the Suns. I just can't see them losing this one.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_fan:</div><div class="quote_post">I think the Mavs will win this one. They destroyed the Spurs and beat the Suns. I just can't see them losing this one.</div>
most people didnt expect the sixers to be blown out by the bobcats, or for the sixers to beat the pacers. so anything is possible, so im betting my money with the sixers.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phiLA:</div><div class="quote_post">most people didnt expect the sixers to be blown out by the bobcats</div>

But then again that's not that surprising. But I hate the fact that the Mavs got a huge win and then have to cool off with a 3 day break. I predict we suck the big one in this game and go to .500 for the first time in a long time.

 

http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45746

Dallas game thread, for those interested.

 

I actually have a good feeling about this game.

Yeah Dallas has the offense, the a tad defense, the depth, but I think we have the power to overcome them. Our defense has to be huge, and our bench has to be big. If that doesn`t come to be, the Mavs should of have no problem.

Sixers win, 98-94.

 

Dirk is hurt right now a minute before half time it is his lower back. Probably back spasms or some pulled muscle. Either way it just improved the Sixers chances to win this game tremendously.

 

Dirk is playing and playing well. The 76ers are right in this game and they are not even playing close to their best basketball. They seem cold from the field, especially AI and Webb. Finally we get Dre involved more, he has 10 points at the half but now AI and Webber are having cold nights. They are also giving up to many easy buckets. They need to come out swinging in the second half.

 

Dirk is out for the rest of the night, they just announced.

 

dang. 2 minutes left we're up by 12. i say we take this one. good comeback from the sixers.

 

Dre is a monster nice win by the 76ers. Two tough wins against teams that are supposable finals contenders. What does that make the 76ers? I had a feeling we where going to win this game, it helped that Dirk got hurt, but we always play well against Dallas like last year when we beat them without Iverson.

 

Solid win by the Sixers. Dre and Korver played thier tails off, and no Dirk certainly helped them out, go Sixers!

 

yeah, great win by the sixers. korver played well, and i guess we can officially say he got his shot back. iggy played terrifically, and cwebb had an okay night.(off night on shooting) and AI was just plain AI. also, kevin ollie got 5 assists!! i just hope the lakers win, that'll make my day.

boxscore:http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore;_ylt=...?gid=2005110920

 

Damn I said you guys were gonna win but you didnt have to take Dirk out!!! j/k. Good game by Iggy.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/sixers/Iverson170.jpg[/IMGL]The Philadelphia 76ers without Allen Iverson looked a lot better than the Dallas Mavericks without Dirk Nowitzki.

With their superstar cheering from the bench, the 76ers pulled away in the second half for a 112-97 victory over the Mavericks, who lost Nowitzki to a first-half back injury.

Andre Iguodala tied a career high with 22 points and Kyle Korver added a season-high 20 for the Sixers, who put together a 29-5 surge and finally won at the Wachovia Center as they began a four-game homestand.

Philadelphia had lost two preseason games and two regular-season games on its home floor, drawing boos in Friday's 17-point setback to Charlotte.

It was not a good night for All-NBA selections. Iverson missed 11 of his first 13 shots and managed 25 points on 8-of-21 shooting. He added seven assists but also took a hard fall on his hip in the third quarter.

Nowitzki scored 14 points but pulled up lame late in the first half. He immediately walked gingerly off the court and did not return due to a strained lower back.

The Mavericks also lost backup point guard Devin Harris to a sprained left ankle late in the third quarter, when the game got away from them under some backcourt pressure from the 76ers.
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Box Score l Recap</div>

 

this was a great win by the sixers, but i just hope the mavs players get healthy. they lost not only dirk, but devin harris as well? thats a big blow to their team.