http://www.nba.com/mavericks/matchup/2001-...on_preview.html <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> There are a number of questions to address entering this game. Number one, what's the status of Dirk Nowitzki, who went down in the second quarter Friday with a sprained left ankle? The answer is that we won't know until close to game time whether or not he'll be available for this big game. He will undergo treatment on the ankle in an urgent fashion to get him ready to play and he is a quick healer. </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> The problem is that one of the game's premiere defenders will oppose him. Doug Christie has been a Mavs nemesis all the way back to last season's Western semi-finals. This individual match-up and the effectiveness of Finley offensively against Christie's defense could determine the winner of this game. The most outstanding offensive force that the Kings have thrown at the Mavericks this season is Peja Stojakovic. He's delivered performances of 23, 24 and 36 points in the three earlier meetings. At 6-10, with the lightning quick release and sweet shooting stroke that he possesses offensively he is a lethal force. The Mavericks have no individual answer to deal with his game. It will take a physically aggressive effort from Finley, Adrian Griffin, Walt Williams and maybe even Dirk Nowitzki to keep him from dominating. </div> Best Part of what I read... (Talking about Dirk and Chris) <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Speaking of dominating, we haven't even mentioned Sacramento's best offensive player yet...that is Chris Webber. Webber laid one of the greatest showings of this season on the Mavs January 15 at ARCO Arena in the form of a 29-point, 15-rebound, 11-assist triple-double in a 123-94 rout of Dallas. Nowitzki and Raef LaFrentz will tag team in defending Webber. The key against him is to disallow his 16-18 foot jumper around the high post. The Mavericks must force him to earn his points inside. On the flip side, again assuming Nowitzki's availability, Dirk can take advantage of Webber when the Mavericks are on offense. He fouled Webber out in the last meeting laying 36 points on Chris and the Kings. His presence offensively is a significant factor here for the Mavs to hang with this explosive opponent. And finally in the middle, Vlade Divac is still at less than 100% due to bronchitis, but he is so crafty and always a thorn in the side of the Mavericks with his up and under moves from the low post and his ability to hit open cutters attacking the basket. The type of performance that Dallas got from the Shawn Bradley/Raef LaFrentz two-headed center tandem at Golden State Friday night (combining for 27 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots), will be needed in duplicate here. Off the bench, Bobby Jackson, Keon Clark, Jim Jackson, Hedo Turkoglu and Scot Pollard may be the most solid reserve corps in the NBA. It will be imperative in this game that the Mavericks get outstanding bench efforts from Nick Van Exel, Walt Williams, Eduardo Najera and Adrian Griffin to off-set the productivity of Sacramento's subs. The type of urgency and focused purpose that the Mavericks presented in the second half of Friday's outstanding win at Golden State are needed in this game from the outset. It's time that Dallas begin elevating its game in both preparation for the playoffs and in order to secure it's spot as the number one seed in the Western Conference and Midwest Division champ. This is a golden opportunity on national TV to deliver the message league-wide that this team plans on being a force deep into the postseason. With or without Nowitzki, the Mavs, for their own state of mind, need a strong performance on this stage Sunday. What will it take to win the game? Solid transition defense. A rebounding effort similar to the one the team delivered Friday in Oakland. Remaining in attack mode all afternoon offensively with a high level of shot making. And an iron will and resiliency that leads to solid late-game execution in the face of the league's most potent sixth man, the ARCO Arena crowd. Is this team capable of rising up and delivering that type of performance? ABSOLUTELY. It's time to make it happen. </div>
