Just as everything seems to be going right for the Dallas Mavericks, precisely the opposite is true for the Minnesota Timberwolves. When the teams square off Wednesday, the Mavericks will be aiming for their 14th win in 17 games while the Timberwolves will try to end a slide of eight losses in 10 contests. Timberwolves Marko Jarick Trenton Hassell Kevin GarnettWally SzczerbiakMichael Olowokandi Mavericks Jason Terry Adrian Griffin Josh Howard Dirk Nowitzki Erick Dampier
Wolves 91 Mavs 78 Grades: Mavs Hit a Season Low The Mavs scored a season low 78 points in an ugly game that was reminiscent of the eighties battles with Dantley and Griffith?s Utah Jazz teams. If you recorded it, start the bonfire now. Dirk did extend his Mavs franchise record to 56 consecutive free throws, but that is a small consolation. Traveling to Denver for a Friday night tipoff doesn?t bode well. Johnson: D, Avery?s 50th game (39-11) is a real stinker. Hopefully it can only go up from here. Howard: D : Josh put up decent stats, but make no mistake, this one was ugly Josh will be first in line to burn this tape. +14 Nowitzki: D, Dirk?s only positive was being able to extend his free throw streak. It certainly wasn?t being sent to the corner wearing a dunce cap for his game high 5 turnovers. Dirk will probably be tipping the game statistician for giving him the benefit of the doubt on about 10 more. +17 Dampier: C+, Erick had a good game with 8 points and 10 rebounds wasted. Still, Erick will pitch this one into the bonfire to prevent embarrassing his teammates. +16 Daniels: C-, Marquis actually spent most of the game playing point guard with Jason hobbling around. Oops, wait a second. A real point guard would have at least one assist. +10 Terry: D, Jason was playing hurt but unfortunately Avery didn?t have many options. Still you?d have to wonder if DJ would have gone 3-14 from the field. -2 Van Horn: D-, Keith?s nose kept twitching, but he couldn?t escape it. That smell followed him everywhere on the court. +1 Stackhouse: D-, Jerry did his best not to make Keith feel to bad. Of course he succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. -1 Diop: C+, DeSagana, like Erick didn?t play bad. The sad thing is that no one will believe that the best thing about the Mavs tonight was their centers. Zero turnovers. +11 Harris: D; Devin?s nickname is still ?rook? as in rookie wall. Zero turnovers. +1 Griffin: C; Adrian finally gets off the bench; too bad its after Avery has waived the white flag. +0 Armstrong : DNP-CD. M?Benga: DNP-CD. Powell: DNP-CD. Marshall : Rawle has been sent to the Fort Worth Flyers (NBDL) to get playing time. Podkolzin: DNC-CD, Pavel had surgery to repair his right foot and ankle and is expected to miss three months. Typical Chef Ed Type
it looked like they just pursuaded with the injuries and the situation of being a back to back that they went into the game convinced that it was "ok" to loose this one. there wasnt any energy...this is irritating to me.
