Mavs at Pistons -- No Excuses

[chumdawg]

Since no one else has put this up yet, I'll stick my neck out. We don't need no Josh Howard or Devin Harris to take it to these Leastern Conference foes. The Pretenders to the Throne will be exposed tonight, and it won't be the team from Dallas.

94-88 Mavs.

[dirno2000]

Just the edge we need?

Subpoena blues

The Pistons' practice routine will be disrupted today, thanks to a civil suit initiated by John Green , the man who ignited the brawl at The Palace on Nov. 19, 2004 by throwing a cup at Indiana's Ron Artest .

All five Pistons starters were supposedly subpoenaed by Green's lawyers and were scheduled to appear in court today. However, it is likely that all five won't have to go.

The Pistons were hoping to send two players. Either way, the Pistons couldn't set practice time until the details were worked out.

http://detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...47/1004/SPORTS

[sike]

any edge is a good edge.

Mavs 91
Pistons 87

[Thespiralgoeson]

Mavs are gonna take care of business. Dirk scores 30+, grabs 10-13 boards, and the Mavs win by 8.

[orangedays]

Mavs win: 88 - 78.

Dirk lays down the law.

[mavericks#1fan]

Mavericks win 95-88. I have a feeling that Keith Van Horn may come in handy for this game.

[wescx]

Detroit is going to be seriously fired up after the November blowout and home oss to NJ on Sunday.

[Thespiralgoeson]

I doubt they'll be any more fired up than the Mavs will be.

[wescx]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

I doubt they'll be any more fired up than the Mavs will be.

Not saying the Mavs won't be, but if had to pick a more fired up team it would definitely be Detroit.

[greensborohill]

Never make excuses for a win . . . Dallas 93 Detroit 88

[sp3nc3r13]

This game doesn't scare me as much as tommorrow nights.
92-83 Mavs

Dirk for 30+

[TripleDipping]

Howard and Harris won't be playing... that's enough to tip the scale. I'm predicting a loss here fellas... the odds are stacked against us. I do hope I'm wrong though.

[Drbio]

No excuses dammit.

Mavs win. 104-99

[MavsN06]

Last second shot by Stack Daddy or JET lifts Mavs to a Mavs 89-85 win

[Five-ofan]

WHEN we win, dirks mvp will be cemented. i think this is one of the games where we see dirk come out looking to dominate. Dirk goes for his first career triple double as the mavs win 94-87.

Edited because i changed my prediction for what dirk will do.

[sike]

Originally Posted by mavericks#1fan

I have a feeling that Keith Van Horn may come in handy for this game.

its funny how I almost NEVER have that feeling...

[Drbio]

sike = hater

[nowitzki_prophecy]

I heard Howerd might make his debut today,anyone heard anything about it?

[Murphy3]

I'm pumped to say the least. If only I didn't have a test in an hour...

[Folterkammer]

we need to remember the world we are still there!
we need this win more than they need it so we will win this game!

[sixeightmkw]

Originally Posted by Folterkammer

we need to remember the world we are still there!
we need this win more than they need it so we will win this game!

Are you from Germany? Just wondering. If so, the saying is " We need to remind the world we are still here." Just some advice.

[EastDallasCowboy]

Detroit -5.5 is the line, in case anyone cares.

I'd take that bet.

[dude1394]

Mavs 99-93

[MavsX]

mavs are gonna dominate in every aspect of the game, mavs win

[dalmations202]

Git 'R Done -- No Excuses...............

[TripleDipping]

Some perspective from the other side....

---------------------------------------------

Forget about Mavs' blowout

Playing solid game is more important than revenge for a 37-point loss in Dallas on Nov. 19.

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

AUBURN HILLS -- For the Pistons, playing the Mavericks tonight isn't about gaining redemption for their 37-point drubbing in Dallas on Nov. 19 -- nor is it really about holding on to their slim game-and-a-half advantage for the best overall record in the NBA.

"Not at all," Richard Hamilton said. "We can only be concerned with ourselves. We are just trying to win every game. We aren't thinking about anybody else's record but our own. All you can do when you have a chance to play these teams is to beat them."

That's not to say the Pistons have forgotten about the debacle in Dallas.

"I know that's not going to happen again," Rasheed Wallace said.

When asked if the sting of that loss had been mitigated somewhat by the passing of time, Wallace said, "Yes and no. I say that because it was an embarrassing loss, but at the same time, we still have to come out and play the way we have to play to win."

The Mavericks have won five of their last seven games despite injuries to key players Josh Howard (left hamstring), Adrian Griffin (right hamstring) and Devin Harris (left quadriceps). Howard was expected to return to practice Monday and is questionable. Griffin and Harris are doubtful.

"We kind of slept on them down there," Hamilton said. "We can't afford to do that this time around; their record speaks for itself. We didn't have a chance down there. Once the ball went up, it seemed like we were down by 10 or 15 points. That just gives us more motivation, more awareness that we can't come out lackadaisical."

As for the race for best overall record and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, coach Flip Saunders acknowledged that a victory over the Mavericks could be a three-game swing -- a win for the Pistons, a loss for the Mavericks, and it saves the tiebreaker.

"You think about that, but it's not a situation where it's do-or-die," he said. "A lot of things have to happen in order for you to get there. You can't just assume that because you have home-court advantage you're going to get to the Finals and win. There are a lot of steps to clear before that."

Lindsey Hunter, who has played in 99 playoff games, agreed.

"I've been in enough playoff series to know that you always have to go on the opponent's court and win a game at some point," he said. "It doesn't matter if you have home-court advantage or not. Something usually happens where you have to go and win a game on the road.

"Still, having home-court advantage doesn't hurt."

The bigger issue for the Pistons is to put together a complete game.

"Recently, we've put in a lot of work on our defense and our bench, and those have been two areas where we've had success," Saunders said. "One area we haven't worked on much was our offense, and we've seen some major slippage. I told the guys, we have not put together a game where we've played at a high level at both ends of the floor in a while.

"Now would be a good time to do that."

All or nothing

The Pistons' mantra all season has been championship or bust.

It's been their mantra the last two seasons, actually.

"That's our only goal," Hamilton said. "If we don't win it all, then our season isn't a success."

That kind of talk obviously rubbed some of the Mavericks the wrong way.

"A lot of them (Pistons) didn't understand it until they won it," Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said.

"They found out when they got here and it all came together."

Jerry Stackhouse was a bit more adamant.

"Everybody's mentality isn't that way," he said. "Our goal is to win a championship. But if we play as well as we can, and it's not in the cards, you can't say it's all for naught.

"Detroit was seven bad minutes away from not even being in the Finals last season. It would have been Miami representing the Eastern Conference. So, they're saying that was nothing if they lost that?"

Well, yes, that is what the Pistons are saying. But it is a touchy subject for the Mavericks, who are trying to shed the label of being a great regular-season team that typically fades during the playoffs.

"They've had good records and good teams, but they haven't been able to go far in the playoffs -- that's sort of been the knock against them," Wallace said. "Has that changed? You never can tell."

In the bonus

Pistons rookies Amir Johnson and Alex Acker are expected to be back with the team tonight. Both have been averaging better than 17 points at Fayetteville of the NBDL. The team has a week off, so the two get to come home for a couple of days. They will rejoin Fayetteville at the end of the week. The NBDL season ends April 8.

You can reach Chris McCosky at (313) 222-1489 or chris.mccosky@detnews.com.

[TheBlueVan]

just wanted to let ya'll know i'll be at the game tonight!!!

i dont know who will win, but its a great place for dirk to make a statement

[Drbio]

Originally Posted by TheBlueVan

just wanted to let ya'll know i'll be at the game tonight!!!

i dont know who will win, but its a great place for dirk to make a statement

If you wish to continue posting here you must provide the mandatory after game update. Photos get you extra credit.

Now get to work.

[Stranger]

It says a LOT that Detroit is apparently concerned about having home-court advantage against us for the playoffs. I love it.

[digit]

Too bad I can't watch that game over here...

Anyway, big game from Dirk coming up, he will lead the Mavs to a hard fought win at the Palace.

91-88 Mavs

Pistons' talk over here http://pistons.infopop.cc/groupee/fo...1/m/8911035583

[Arne]

Originally Posted by TheBlueVan

just wanted to let ya'll know i'll be at the game tonight!!!

i dont know who will win, but its a great place for dirk to make a statement

Try to start the Dirk-V-P chant...!

[Bookit]

Originally Posted by MavsX

mavs are gonna dominate in every aspect of the game, mavs win

Is this hope or do you truly believe it? You might want to take your homer goggles off.

[Bookit]

I was reading a thread on the Spurs forum and funny how most there want the Mavs to win because they believe the Mavs are no threat whatsoever.

http://www.spursreport.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=51591

[Pongo]

Originally Posted by digit

Too bad I can't watch that game over here...

Anyway, big game from Dirk coming up, he will lead the Mavs to a hard fought win at the Palace.

91-88 Mavs

Pistons' talk over here http://pistons.infopop.cc/groupee/fo...1/m/8911035583

Try CCTV5
I know I shouldn't get up every night and look like a zombie the next day, but it's worth it! Love "my" mavs! Go Mavs!

[mavsman]

Those pistons fans don't sound very confident at all. That said, Mavs will start out strong and never look back. 101-89.

@ Digit, Mavs-watching coming sunday? Yours Sports Bar, Berger Str.

[Tokey41]

This one will be close, you guys are giving way too much love to Dallas... I mean its friggin Detroit. Its not like they have forgotten about the mavs being the first team this season to put them in the loss column way back when, or more recently NJ taking one from them at home. Doesnt help when we arent at full strength either. Hopefully mavs sweep the series but I dont think it will be as decisive as round 1. Mavs wins 92-89 with Dirk lighting it up everywhere going off for 30+!

[Evilmav2]

Our Mavs always match up well with the Pistons, so as long as Tayshaun isn't able to frustrate Dirk defensively (assuming Flip decides to use the small-defender-on-Dirk gimmick), I say we should be able to defeat Detroit in this dubiously dire, donnybrook with a comfortable 10+ point margin of victory...

[u2sarajevo]

We have to stop giving the Spurs bye's everytime they lose. If not for my Health, then for the record column.

[Thespiralgoeson]

The Mavs have pretty much owned Detroit over the past few seasons. Ain't gonna change tonight.

[peppersquad]

F* EM!!!!