Dallas @ Portland Gameday Thread - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

akaarod03 · 01-26-2005, 12:59 AM

The Mavs had legitimate excuses for their poor perfomance on Monday night...4th game in 5 nights...the 2nd of a back-to-back, etc. It was one of the worst performances of the season. My favorite player...J-Ho...didn't suit up. The Mavs are 1-3 when he doesn't play...the lone win being against the Nets...which quite frankly...was a pretty listless perfomance that night. Hopefully...J-Ho can play tonight against Portland. The Blazers have been really struggling as of late...however...they got my attention when they stunned the Spurs on Monday night. I hope Dallas does not take them lightly. If the Mavs can get off to a good start in tonight's ballgame...I think Dallas can come out of the Rose Garden with a win. Go Mavs!

91-83 Mavs

EricaLubarsky · 01-26-2005, 01:25 AM

Matt Pinto's Game Preview

Mavs @ Portland, Jan. 26

The Mavericks complete a mini two game road trip Wednesday night (January 26 at 9pm CT) against the 16-24 Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. Dallas showed definite signs of fatigue in dropping the first game of this trip Monday against the Clippers 97-87, managing a season low first half offensive output of 38 points and just 39% field goal shooting for the game. After an off day Tuesday to re-energize, the 27-13 Mavs look to get back on the winning track in this one.

They also hope to have Josh Howard back from back spasms that have sidelined him for most of the past two games. The Blazers have some injury issues of their own with Shareef Abdur Rahim missing rehabbing from right elbow surgery and Zach Randolph shelved recently with a bruised right knee. But Randolph may return for this game and Portland’s coming off of a huge six game losing streak ending 107-99 stunner of San Antonio. Games here are never easy for the Mavericks it seems. This promises to be no exception.

This is the second of four meetings between these two Western Conference rivals. The Mavs managed a 92-83 triumph the day after Thanksgiving at home. That game featured three Dallas double/doubles. Dirk Nowitzki came through with a 23 point, 14 rebound effort, Josh Howard delivered a stellar 20 point, 10 board showing, and Erick Dampier with 11 points, 11 rebounds. Dallas needed every ounce of that energy especially on the boards as it out-rebounded Portland 57-33! That compensated for a 39% shooting afternoon. The Mavs built an eight-point lead after the first quarter and rode it out to the triumph. That game also featured very poor performances from Blazer guards Damon Stoudamire (5 points on 2-10 shooting) and Nick Van Exel (0 points on 0-6 shooting). Both guys are playing and shooting lights out at the moment.

In fact entering Monday’s clash with the Spurs they had combined for 48ppg over the previous seven games. Monday, Stoudamire drilled 5-7 three pointers for a team high 23 points. Van Exel hung around for just 10 game minutes as he was ejected in the third quarter. Portland will start the tandem of Stoudamire and Nick the Quick in the back court. They are both electrifying off the dribble and capable of taking a game over with their long range shooting ability. In fact, Stoudamire had a 54 point game recently at New Orleans, while Van Exel’s averaged 25ppg on 51% three point shooting over the last seven. The downside to starting this duo at guards is that both are small.

While the Mavericks starting guard tandem of Jason Terry and Michael Finley must focus on contesting three point shots and keeping this pair in front of them, they should both be able to get some things done inside given their height advantage.

The hope is that Josh Howard will return to start at small forward in this game. Dallas is 1-3 in games that he’s missed. He’ll oppose the frenetic energy of Portland’s Ruben Patterson. Patterson, since entering the starting line-up in place of injured Shareef Abdur-Rahim, is averaging 17ppg, 5rpg and 2.5 steals per game. He’s long been known as a Mavs killer and Howard must make a concerted effort to keep him quiet on the offensive boards.

If Zach Randolph is deemed healthy enough to return from a bruised right knee, he’ll likely start at power forward. He’s a silky smooth low post scorer with mid-range shooting ability. Dallas will likely start Erick Dampier against him defensively to keep him from getting deep post position. Expect the Mavericks to come with double teams from all over the place in hopes of both containing him and turning him over.

That would leave Dirk Nowitzki to contest Trail Blazers’ big man Theo Ratliff. The ‘Rattler’ is a shot blocking specialist (2.3 per game), but not much of an offensive threat. Dirk would be able to roam to provide team defensive help in this match-up and create a nightmare for Ratliff, who would struggle to stay with Nowitzki on the perimeter.

Off the bench, Portland would come with Joel Przybilla, who’s been starting recently to rave reviews (17 points, 16 rebounds versus San Antonio on Monday), up and down shooting guard Derek Anderson, energetic and athletic Darius Miles and rookie point man Sebastian Telfair. This is a very solid unit and will call forth the best the Dallas’ M.O.B. has got to offer.

It’s hard to figure the Trail Blazers struggles over the past two weeks when looking at their offensive numbers, but Portland is entering this game on a high and always brings a wealth of confidence against Dallas when playing in the Rose Garden (they’re 41-10 against the Mavs all-time in Portland). The keys to Mavericks success in this game will come in successfully defending the three point line, where the Blazers drill an extraordinary 38% of their threes, fending off Portland’s athletic wing rebounders (Patterson, Miles and Randolph) and generating some easy buckets in transition. The Blazers have been susceptible defensively all season long (yielding 99 or more points in 12 of their last 15 games), but the Mavs must be mindful of accelerating tempo to get Portland on its heels at the defensive end early on to establish a solid tone for the night.

This will be an intriguing game to watch. The Mavericks have won 10 of their last 13 games and coming off of Monday’s lackluster showing in L.A., their response against a juiced up Blazers bunch could be telling. This could turn into a real entertaining offensive show if the Mavs can get Michael Finley back on track. They’re sure to be challenged throughout by a Trail Blazers team that’s flying after knocking off the Spurs on Monday.

ames7 · 01-26-2005, 01:46 AM

Aw, Oregon Trail! I used to love that game in school. ...I was kinda a dork.

Bounce-back game. Terry should be over whatever he had, & maybe Fin will go back to, you know, not sucking. 99-92 Dallas. Let's Go Mavs.

Waschdel · 01-26-2005, 03:25 AM

Having Josh back Mavs should remember that they´re a good road team. Defend their guards and don´t allow too many offensive rebounds.
Mavs win 105-97.

Btw, aka didn´t you post a minute too early [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

twelli · 01-26-2005, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by: WaschdelBtw, aka didn´t you post a minute too early [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

posting too early means: JINX ALERT!!!!

Anyway, the Mavs should handle the Blazers

Mavs by 5 (they lead early, the lead swells to 20, the Blazers make a late run, but fall short, Dirks seals the win with 4 consecutive free throws)

u2sarajevo · 01-26-2005, 07:57 AM

Nick looks horrible in that sweater. Where do you find all these common-man pictures of these athletes EL? ([img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img])

5th game in 7 days. I think we will win, but our guys might still be tired. Is Josh playing? If so, no question we win. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

mercury_rev · 01-26-2005, 08:05 AM

I'm pretending to believe that last night AJ cut practice short and took the weary Mavs on a road trip. They packed some hot cocoa and warm clothing and then star-gazed in the Oregon Cascades mountain range. Some Mavs saw the Milky Way for the first time in their lives. Some Mavs learned that most globular star clusters are more than ten billion years old.

Enchanted by cosmic perspective, rushing rivers and pine-scented ambience: a relaxed and recuperated Josh Howard makes some key 4th period defensive stops that subconsciously inspire Fin to nail two clutch 3-pointers late in the game.

Mavs win 99-92.

Azn_Baller101 · 01-26-2005, 11:10 AM

fin and terry get sidelined with pulled groins and we're forced to play a line up of
C Damp
PF Mbenga
SF Bradley
SG Booth
PG Nowitzki

portland gets a record 999 steals in regulation and we lose 2574 - 82 =P

haahha! just kidding

probably 102 - 88 mavs

vinnieponte · 01-26-2005, 11:29 AM

We need to keep in mind that this is the same team that beat the SPURS a couple of nights ago. Thats something we can't even do! It will be close

Mavs 108
Blazers 96

endtroducing · 01-26-2005, 11:43 AM

Van Exel decides to take the game over after his ejection the other night against SA and being shipped out by Cuban last summer...Nick scores 30, but it's not enough...Mavericks win by 5.

V2M · 01-26-2005, 11:45 AM

With Josh coming back and the fact that Blazers could be without Sharif and Randolph, this has to be an easy win.

But if we do end up losing, I'd squarely lay the blame on the 'Jinx Alert' due to akaarod03 starting the thread on Tuesday. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Murphy3 · 01-26-2005, 02:12 PM

Off to the game...

bo319 · 01-26-2005, 02:41 PM

The Blazers did to the Spurs exactly what the Clipps did to us. They caught a team on a back to back with a winning streak while getting home off of a road trip with a 5+ game losing streak and won the home game. Repeating that task could well be very hard. Randolph may not play...DA has been bad lately and Abdur-Rahim is on the DL with surgery. That's the bad stuff...the good is that Nick the quick and Stoudemire are lighting it up from 3, Joel Pryzbilla has been playing outa his mind, and Darius Miles is back. We need Josh back and to run them off the 3 point line. If we get those two things without giving up the easy shots in the lane then we win rather easily. I think it may be a little of both and somewhat of a struggle.

Mavs 96
Blazers 89

EricaLubarsky · 01-26-2005, 04:55 PM

we need to rebound in this one in both senses.

Windmill360 · 01-26-2005, 07:22 PM

These 9:00 starts annoy the heck out of me.... I want to see Dirk and Damp be rebounding machines. Rebounding is one of the things that killed us against Clips and Cats.

EricaLubarsky · 01-26-2005, 07:32 PM

rebounding wasnt too bad in the game with the clips. We lost because we couldn't defend and at the same time we couldnt make a shot. Rebounding, assists, freethrows, steals and turnovers were all decent.

Bayliss · 01-26-2005, 10:22 PM

Dirk better start showing up offensively. He's rebounding okay, but he can't continue to miss easy, open looks.

PepperTheMavsFan41 · 01-26-2005, 10:26 PM

Damon scoring 54 has got to be the most impressive outburst in a while if Ruben Patterson and Theo Ratliff were on the floor.

You dont even have to guard them.

Bayliss · 01-26-2005, 10:26 PM

Am I the only one here tonight?

Windmill360 · 01-26-2005, 10:27 PM

Man to man def. looking good so far.

PepperTheMavsFan41 · 01-26-2005, 10:27 PM

Imagine if Stack and Damp could finnish.

We would OWN the world!!!

PepperTheMavsFan41 · 01-26-2005, 10:32 PM

What was Bradley doing Guarding Darius Freaking Miles 18 feet from the Rim?????

Bayliss · 01-26-2005, 10:34 PM

I thought Armstrong would help the Mavs. But he is awdul.

Bayliss · 01-26-2005, 10:34 PM

Even if he makes the three pointer. He is still awful.

PepperTheMavsFan41 · 01-26-2005, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: PepperTheMavsFan41
Damon scoring 54 has got to be the most impressive outburst in a while if Ruben Patterson and Theo Ratliff were on the floor.

You dont even have to guard them.

Add Darius Miles to that list.

Mandyahl · 01-26-2005, 10:36 PM

wow, where is everyone? is dirk missing tough shots or is he just missing?

ames7 · 01-26-2005, 10:36 PM

How does it look, people w/TV? That point total seems awfully low.

Windmill360 · 01-26-2005, 10:38 PM

Yea it's sorta slow except we're winning at the moment. Def has been okay.. some nice blocks. Wow armstrong nice block.

Bayliss · 01-26-2005, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Is dirk missing tough shots or is he just missing?

Dirk is just missing.

NoHeartIncluded · 01-26-2005, 10:39 PM

OMG how no foul on hendu dunk?!?

Mandyahl · 01-26-2005, 10:39 PM

am i reading this right? the mavs lineup is harris, armstrong, finley, henderson, and bradley??

PepperTheMavsFan41 · 01-26-2005, 10:40 PM

ARMSTRONG!!!!

PWN2DER!!!!!

PepperTheMavsFan41 · 01-26-2005, 10:42 PM

Didnt Telfaif shoot his mouth off about the other points coming outta the draft?

Windmill360 · 01-26-2005, 10:44 PM

Lol Marquis got stuck with a $760 tip from last night I presume.

PepperTheMavsFan41 · 01-26-2005, 10:44 PM

Wow an actually basketball play from Darious Miles. Nice pass.

the steal and the dunk.

wow

Windmill360 · 01-26-2005, 10:44 PM

Miles dunk fest.

Mandyahl · 01-26-2005, 10:45 PM

wanna take care of the ball, devin?

PepperTheMavsFan41 · 01-26-2005, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: Mandyahl
am i reading this right? the mavs lineup is harris, armstrong, finley, henderson, and bradley??

Avery left them out there too long. Of course Portland would eventually start to score on them.

NoHeartIncluded · 01-26-2005, 10:46 PM

pathetic play by fin, sitting there posting damon and lets shot clock run out on devin, uncalled for, we may think hes old and all that but that is just pure intelligence, cmon findawg you're better than that!

Mandyahl · 01-26-2005, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: Windmill360°
Lol Marquis got stuck with a $760 tip from last night I presume.

huh?