GDT 1/14/12: Kings @ Mavs (8 CT/FSW) - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

mavspwnage · 01-14-2012, 03:35 AM

Kings (4-8, 1-5 away)

Mavs (7-5, 5-2 home)

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=320114006

Quote:

After a rough start, the Dallas Mavericks are finally looking the part of the defending NBA champions. The Sacramento Kings are unlikely to slow them down. The Mavericks go for their 15th straight home win over the Kings on Saturday night.

Dallas has won four in a row as it makes its 0-3 start an increasingly distant memory. The Mavericks (7-5) defeated Milwaukee 102-76 at home Friday, leading by as many as 30 points while holding the Bucks to 37.2 percent shooting and connecting on 52 percent of their own field-goal attempts.

Dirk Nowitzki, who finished with 11 points in 22 minutes, became the 23rd NBA player to score 23,000 before he and the rest of the Dallas starters rested the entire fourth quarter with the game's outcome no longer in doubt.

"Milestones are going to be great when I look back on my career in 10 or 15 years," Nowitzki said. "But as of right now, I'm trying to help this team, and franchise, win as many games as I can. We've been playing better. That's all I'm worried about right now."

After giving up 100 points in each of its first three losses, the Mavericks have allowed an average of 86.9 in the nine games since. They scored 33 points off 19 Milwaukee turnovers Friday, also outrebounding the Bucks 43-36.

"On defense, we're doing a good job of holding each other accountable and we feel like we can always do better at not letting the other team get in a flow," said Vince Carter, who scored a season-high 16 points.

The Mavericks haven't played great defense against Sacramento in recent meetings, but they haven't had to. Though the Kings have reached 100 points in seven of the last nine games in the series, Dallas has won all nine. The Mavericks have scored 114.7 points per game during their 14-game winning streak versus the Kings.

Sacramento (4-8) might have trouble keeping up with Dallas on both ends of the court. The Kings, who are scoring a Western Conference-low 93.0 points per game while allowing an average of 102.3 -- also worst in the West -- suffered their third loss in four games Friday, falling 103-89 at Houston to drop to 1-5 on the road in 2011-12.

Tyreke Evans scored 27 points, but the rest of the starting lineup combined for only 20. DeMarcus Cousins managed four points and four rebounds as his streak of four consecutive double-doubles ended. He shot 1 of 7, and admitted after the game that he was feeling under the weather.

"I don't know what's going on," Cousins said. "I couldn't stop coughing and I can't seem to get over it."

If Cousins plays Saturday, he'll look to have another good game against the Mavericks. He averaged 17.3 points and 12.7 rebounds in three games versus Dallas last season.

mavspwnage · 01-14-2012, 03:37 AM

Another team struggling on the road limps its way to the AAC. Show no mercy.

Also, from the preview: "Milestones are going to be great when I look back on my career in 10 or 15 years,"

...does this mean Dirk doesn't plan to retire for 10 years?

j0Shi · 01-14-2012, 03:40 AM

We'll be sweeping a 4-in-5. Nice!

deamon · 01-14-2012, 07:04 AM

JUST DESTROY THEM!
More minutes for VC and Wright please.

left texas · 01-14-2012, 08:07 AM

Go Mavs!!

oilfieldtrash · 01-14-2012, 08:40 AM

I think this game will be closer than expected although Dallas wins.

I'm also interested in Jimmer's game. Is this guy any good at the nba level?

Also can't stress enough how good a pickup Delonte and Carter have been.

mavspwnage · 01-14-2012, 10:08 AM

I'm excited to watch Jimmer play. Loved him in college and I haven't seen any Kings game action with the exception of a few rare highlights on espn.

Underdog · 01-14-2012, 10:08 AM

HULK SMASH!

deamon · 01-14-2012, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

HULK SMASH!

We play in green tonight? Then smash them

dude1394 · 01-14-2012, 10:37 AM

Worried a little bit about tonight. Last night was possibly too easy.

Ah hell with it. F'em

j0Shi · 01-14-2012, 12:42 PM

Evans is normally beasting vs. us, hope West is prepared.

41mvp · 01-14-2012, 01:32 PM

Go Mavs!!!

Just win!!!

tgfan · 01-14-2012, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0Shi

Evans is normally beasting vs. us, hope West is prepared.

West
Carter
Marion
Dirk
Haywood

Let VC put some body and length in Evans' way.

RareMilk · 01-14-2012, 03:36 PM

So...when Kids comes back who earned the starting job? Vince or West?

Skywalker · 01-14-2012, 04:21 PM

F'em

dude1394 · 01-14-2012, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RareMilk

So...when Kids comes back who earned the starting job? Vince or West?

Good question. Vince has been really good on and off the court.

CanadianMavsFan · 01-14-2012, 05:07 PM

Jimmer has been pretty awful. As a shooter he's been streaky and he plays miserable defense. He could develop just as JJ Redick has, but so far he's probably been one of the more disappointing rookies.

Mavericks have been very impressive of late. It sucks to see Dirk's scoring go down but he's taken a lot less shots and his team has been really balanced on the scoring end. I think we have to see it as a plus, Dirk will be relied upon in the playoffs but him being able to coast is a huge plus for this team. Reminds me of Duncan's numbers going down during the runs of the 05 and 07 Spurs. Mind you he was remarkable in the playoffs.

mavspwnage · 01-14-2012, 05:37 PM

This thread needs to be sticky-switched with the Bucks thread.

j0Shi · 01-14-2012, 05:38 PM

The Kings by the numbers: http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2012/1/...cramento-kings

Summary: Defense Bad... Offense, too.

sefant77 · 01-14-2012, 05:41 PM

Sacramento Craps

deamon · 01-14-2012, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RareMilk

So...when Kidd comes back who earned the starting job? Vince or West?

Move Marion to bench, he played good with Terry. Marion with West in one line tries too much shots from long distance.
Start: Kidd, West, Carter, Dirk, Haywood.

Budapest Maverick · 01-14-2012, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadianMavsFan

Jimmer has been pretty awful. As a shooter he's been streaky and he plays miserable defense. He could develop just as JJ Redick has, but so far he's probably been one of the more disappointing rookies.

Mavericks have been very impressive of late. It sucks to see Dirk's scoring go down but he's taken a lot less shots and his team has been really balanced on the scoring end. I think we have to see it as a plus, Dirk will be relied upon in the playoffs but him being able to coast is a huge plus for this team. Reminds me of Duncan's numbers going down during the runs of the 05 and 07 Spurs. Mind you he was remarkable in the playoffs.

When Dirk was on the court in the last 4 games, the Mavericks had an average +30.1 differential per 48 minutes, when he was on the bench, we were at -9.1 per 48 minutes. Imagine what will happen when his shots start to fall on a normal percentage.

DMOC · 01-14-2012, 07:26 PM

Dirk's shooting 47.3% overall, not much off from his 47.6% average. What's mainly holding him back is the lack of minutes (30.9).

oilfieldtrash · 01-14-2012, 07:33 PM

I think the mavs are not calling Dirk's number as much and that's the reason his scoring is down. Last few years it was basically give Dirk the ball and stand around and watch him score. I think Dirk could still give you 30 a night but could he do that in this compressed schedule and still have gas in the tank for the playoffs? I'd say no.