GDT 03/25/10 Mavs @ Blazers 9:30 CT - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

rmacomic · 03-25-2010, 12:16 PM

As much as the Dallas Mavericks covet second place in the Western Conference, they may not want the spot if it means facing the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs.

Having lost both home games in the season series, the Mavericks look to beat the Blazers for the first time in 2009-10 on Thursday night.

A 13-game winning streak lifted Dallas (47-24) into contention for the No. 2 seed. The Mavericks then lost three of four before knocking off the Los Angeles Clippers 106-96 on Tuesday night.

Two of Dallas' next three games are against teams in playoff position. One is a Monday night matchup with Denver, the Mavs' main competition for second place, and Thursday's contest versus Portland (42-29) could very well be a first-round preview.

Dallas is 0-2 against Portland this season, losing twice at the American Airlines Center by a combined six points. The Blazers, in eighth place in the conference and within reach of the sixth spot, had won eight of nine before a 93-87 loss to Phoenix on Sunday night.

Portland has won four straight at home.

"We haven't beat them all year so this is a big game for us," Mavs guard Jason Terry said. "And then looking at Golden State and then Denver -- so a big three-game stretch for us and we want to win them all."

Dallas will likely need to shore up its defense to beat Portland. The Blazers, a win away from taking a series from the Mavs for the first time since 1998-99, shot 53.5 percent in a 114-112 overtime win Jan. 30 in the teams' last matchup.

Dallas allowed an average of 112.8 points in four games prior to limiting the Clippers to 5-of-22 shooting in the fourth quarter.

"We're pretty good when we do that," point guard Jason Kidd said. "We might make or miss on the other end, but when we get stops that definitely helps us. We haven't been getting stops of late. After that little 13-game streak we had, we stopped doing that."

Kidd had a strong performance on his 37th birthday with a season-high 26 points and 12 assists. He has been held to 7.5 points and 31.8 percent shooting in his last 11 games versus the Blazers.

Portland has had its own shooting woes, making 34.3 percent over the last two games.

"The last couple of games we've struggled in the fourth quarter against zone defenses, so we've got to start picking that up," said Blazers leading scorer Brandon Roy, shooting 30.5 percent in his last three contests.

Roy led Portland with 23 points against the Suns, but the Blazers couldn't extend their win streak despite holding the league's highest-scoring team to 38.8 percent shooting.

Portland has allowed fewer than 82 points in three of its last four home games.

The Blazers may be without second-year guard Rudy Fernandez (quadriceps) for the second straight game. Fernandez, averaging 8.8 points and 1.1 steals, is listed as questionable.

Is a win not enough for some of you crybabies. "Oh no, Coach didn't get himself thrown out with Dirk. Coach Hates Dirk!" You little brats are starting to piss me off. Don't make me unleash Zombie-Dirk. He will eat your face. Support your Mavs or GTFO!

SMC0007 · 03-25-2010, 12:31 PM

Damn skippy.

LSMF · 03-25-2010, 12:36 PM

Lets get this win, I dunno why people are scared that we'll meet the Blazers in the playoffs. Who cares? Im damn sure we can kick the Ail Blazers butts if we play the way we're supposed to play. Let's get this win tonight, in front of their home fans.

BGMaverick9 · 03-25-2010, 12:59 PM

I thought this was a little interesting
it was mentioned on db.com today

http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/3/24...practice-notes

Quote:

Defending Dirk

The Blazers went through an extended-length practice today, spending almost two hours working behind closed doors before the media was let in. Once inside, the small crowd was able to watch former Mavericks assistant and current Blazers assistant Joe Prunty lead the instruction of the team's defensive adjustments for tomorrow night's monumental game against Dallas.

(Let me be the first to recommend poaching one of Utah's assistant coaches this summer.)

As you might expect, much of Prunty's instruction was focused on dealing with Dirk Nowitzki on various parts of the court. While the primary focus was on the player set to defend Dirk everything was presented from a 5 man unit perspective. Together, the starting unit walked through how they plan to collapse into the lane when Dirk gets the ball in some of his favorite spots and Prunty offered specific instructions regarding how to close out on the Mavericks' shooters once Dirk kicks the ball out of the post and it rotates. Andre Miller, for example, was instructed to close out hard on the sharpshooting Jason Terry after sagging near the paint on the weakside. And, if possible, Miller should close out on Terry in such a way that forces Terry to dribble to his left (his off hand).

Obviously any defensive scheme against a player of Dirk's caliber is a "pick your poison" affair. When Dirk receives the ball with back to the basket in the mid post, LaMarcus Aldridge was instructed to get up into his body with the express purpose of making Dirk use his dribble while his back was still to the basket. The theory is simple: Cut down Dirk's potential options when he turns and faces. More than just about anyone in the NBA, Dirk has the ability to be a deadly triple threat while facing the hoop: he can shoot over the top, drive either direction off the bounce or read the defense and pass instantly. The Blazers seemingly would prefer Dirk not to be able to turn and face with his dribble intact and would rather take their chances with him dribbling into the key with his back to the basket. Interestingly, Aldridge was also instructed not to show Dirk either direction in the post but to simply play him square. That shows a respect factor for Dirk's ability to turn and shoot over either shoulder. Something to watch tomorrow: How well does Aldridge execute this portion of the game plan? How easy and often is Dirk able to turn with his dribble intact? How diligent and careful is Aldridge in bodying Nowitzki without fouling?

As for Dallas's high pick and rolls -- a set they love to call using Terry and Nowitzki at the top of the key -- Aldridge was showing hard on the pick and the recovering with both arms in the air to make the pass from guard to big more difficult. The Blazers appear to want to encourage Dirk to abandon his comfort zone for catching (the area near the top of the key) and instead tempt him to roll to the basket, where center Marcus Camby is now waiting weakside. This would force a higher-risk pass in traffic, allow the team's defense time to recover and/or collapse and prevent Dirk from operating freely in isolation at the top of the key. This will be another fun wrinkle to watch play out tomorrow night. Is Aldridge able to limit the number of times Dirk finds his spot at the top of the key? How effective are the Mavericks guards in getting Dirk the ball on the move? How effective is the Blazers' team defense in reacting to Dirk on the move?

Lest we forget how well Nicolas Batum guarded Dirk Nowitzki earlier this season, you should obviously expect to see him guarding Dirk too. But with Caron Butler added to the Mavericks roster via a recent trade, Batum's life on defense just got that much more complicated.

Windmill360 · 03-25-2010, 01:07 PM

Oh boy..

mavErika · 03-25-2010, 01:15 PM

I know that the Blazers are scared to meet Dirk(and like every other team, they better be!):

Quote:

Wednesday Practice Notes - Defending Dirk
[edit: Oh well, BG beat me to it. What took you so long, rmacomic?

]

http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/3/24...practice-notes
(from Fish's donuts, like this revealing piece about the mess in the Blazers FO: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slu...yhoo&type=lgns

also worth reading: http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/3/25...w-mavericks-vs

Dirka knows for sure, but I think the Blazers are the one and only team we haven't beaten all season until now, with to game son their court still to play.

Mavs are going to kick the crap out of the Bläsers and stuff it down their throats!

fluid.forty.one · 03-25-2010, 01:35 PM

please win

bcrav4 · 03-25-2010, 01:36 PM

Blazers are softer than the Mavs. I hope we bully them to the hoop tonight.

left texas · 03-25-2010, 02:21 PM

Play some solid basketball for four quarters, amazing what will happen.

Go Mavs!!

horse900703 · 03-25-2010, 02:22 PM

We can beat them!

SMC0007 · 03-25-2010, 02:46 PM

Lamarcus Aldridge will have a great game, with 17 dunks.

12 Tone Melodies · 03-25-2010, 03:10 PM

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignments
Mar 25, 2010
Dallas @ Portland--Greg Willard, Sean Corbin, Courtney Kirkland

esoteric562 · 03-25-2010, 03:12 PM

bring the noise mavs BRING THE NOISE!!!!!

xrobx · 03-25-2010, 04:00 PM

tonight is the night we shut up FailBlazers fans once and for all

CadBane · 03-25-2010, 04:16 PM

"How diligent and careful is Aldridge in bodying Nowitzki without fouling?"

He doesn't have to be either unfortunately.

TNT · 03-25-2010, 04:29 PM

very important game for us. We have to use the situation and lock the second place in the west.

EricaLubarsky · 03-25-2010, 04:45 PM

Strange situation--

If we win, we solidify our 2nd seed but help keep the Blazers in the 8th seed where we wont see them in the playoffs. Blazers at least used to be a good matchup with the Lakers when they were healthy.

If we lose, we may slip to the 3rd seed, but allow the Blazers to possibly get the 6/7th seed. If we drop to the 3rd and Blazers climb to the 7th seed, the Blazers could really challenge the Nugs.

Of course we wanna win any game against a playoff competitor, but there are interesting complications to this late-season matchup.

bobbyfg7 · 03-25-2010, 04:46 PM

Go Mavs!!!

Rick41 · 03-25-2010, 04:58 PM

Just win.

Budapest Maverick · 03-25-2010, 06:57 PM

Go Mavs!

me770706 · 03-25-2010, 07:25 PM

this game is going to be rugged..tough match-up and tough place to play

tcat075 · 03-25-2010, 07:30 PM

tough game. but we will prevail.

aurelino9 · 03-25-2010, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Strange situation--

If we win, we solidify our 2nd seed but help keep the Blazers in the 8th seed where we wont see them in the playoffs. Blazers at least used to be a good matchup with the Lakers when they were healthy.

If we lose, we may slip to the 3rd seed, but allow the Blazers to possibly get the 6/7th seed. If we drop to the 3rd and Blazers climb to the 7th seed, the Blazers could really challenge the Nugs.

Of course we wanna win any game against a playoff competitor, but there are interesting complications to this late-season matchup.

Given the strength of the schedule, the Jazz will be right up there competing for #2 and Denver may even fall out of top 4. Lot of possibilities.

AO41 · 03-25-2010, 08:13 PM

GO MAVS

** people have been bitching a lot lately every game about how Dirk isnt getting calls and how his defender is allowed to do anything. I dont completely disagree, but Dirk has played such wee defense lately its unbelievable. If Dirk wants to get cal he needs to play D on his mann and if he doesnt get them take a hard foul on someone instead of letting them go in for 10 layups while watching. The refs. are then forced to calll fouls on both side so things dont escalate.

Should be a good game thou

41N · 03-25-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AO41

GO MAVS

** people have been bitching a lot lately every game about how Dirk isnt getting calls and how his defender is allowed to do anything. I dont completely disagree, but Dirk has played such wee defense lately its unbelievable. If Dirk wants to get cal he needs to play D on his mann and if he doesnt get them take a hard foul on someone instead of letting them go in for 10 layups while watching. The refs. are then forced to calll fouls on both side so things dont escalate.

Should be a good game thou

never read a more senseless post...
i've watched every game and dirks one-on-one defense is certainly not the problem (f.e. he completely shut down garnett and wallace against boston). i can explain it thousand times but it's not his task to protect the paint and rejecting layups, for that we have haywood and damp. dirk can't afford to collect cheap fouls...
and there can't and won't be a connection between dirks defense and the opposing defense on dirk. thats ridiculous...

sefant77 · 03-25-2010, 08:42 PM

Cant wait to see how LMA, Camby and Batum can hack and slap the crap out of Dirk...again.

And if Andre Miller thinks he can drive again to the basket put his ass straight on the floor.

She_Growls · 03-25-2010, 09:04 PM

Vettle Link: http://www.veetle.com/index.php/chan...#4bac0898b100b

AO41 · 03-25-2010, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 41N

never read a more senseless post...
i've watched every game and dirks one-on-one defense is certainly not the problem (f.e. he completely shut down garnett and wallace against boston). i can explain it thousand times but it's not his task to protect the paint and rejecting layups, for that we have haywood and damp. dirk can't afford to collect cheap fouls...
and there can't and won't be a connection between dirks defense and the opposing defense on dirk. thats ridiculous...

Well my friend wetr seeing 2 different things then. The D that Dirk plays now isnt close to what he was plating in the beginning of the year and he has his occasional good games on D now, but there are many times where he doesnt even try to challange or play D.

He doesnt have to pick up fouls, maybe put a hand up..that would help. Bur you saw some of what I am talking about against NO, in the 2nd Q Dirk let West do whatever he wanted on Offense and on the other end West fot to do whatever he wanted on D simply because he was more aggressive on both ends. There is a connection there.

But the team as a whole hasnt been great...soo hopefully we just get on track and finish th season strong.

GO MAVS

AO41 · 03-25-2010, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 41N

never read a more senseless post...
i've watched every game and dirks one-on-one defense is certainly not the problem (f.e. he completely shut down garnett and wallace against boston). i can explain it thousand times but it's not his task to protect the paint and rejecting layups, for that we have haywood and damp. dirk can't afford to collect cheap fouls...
and there can't and won't be a connection between dirks defense and the opposing defense on dirk. thats ridiculous...

and you can explain it as much as you want and you would be wrong because it is his job as well as every other players to protect the rim and when the other fail its Dirk and Damps because theyr the BIGS

twelli · 03-25-2010, 09:13 PM

I think the game will be on http://en.justin.tv/blazerscasthq122#r=T0Gag0Y~

For those who look for good quality images and can stand the Trailblazer Lovefest that is going on there.

She_Growls · 03-25-2010, 09:20 PM

TNT on vettle---the best quality live streaming...

http://www.veetle.com/index.php/chan...#4bac0898b100b

xrobx · 03-25-2010, 09:28 PM

no link needed tonight, watching in high def on tnt

fluid.forty.one · 03-25-2010, 09:29 PM

PLEASE WIN

NoTnERb · 03-25-2010, 09:34 PM

Mavs win, book it!

LSMF · 03-25-2010, 09:37 PM

Link please

Bayliss · 03-25-2010, 09:37 PM

Mavs can't have a giant loll tonight. They seem to **always** have a quarter/two quarter stretch of suckiness.... they'll get blown out pretty easily at the Rose Garden if they do that tonight.

I can live with them losing as long as hey play hard. And I am just frustrated that I really haven't seen them play hard lately.

AO41 · 03-25-2010, 09:40 PM

is there one thats not in HD because it cuts off on me??

LSMF · 03-25-2010, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bayliss

Mavs can't have a giant loll tonight. They seem to **always** have a quarter/two quarter stretch of suckiness.... they'll get blown out pretty easily at the Rose Garden if they do that tonight.

I can live with them losing as long as hey play hard. And I am just frustrated that I really haven't seen them play hard lately.

I feel the same way brother. I have a good feeling tonight though.

Sportstudi · 03-25-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSMF

Link please

Just take a look above

xrobx · 03-25-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bayliss

Mavs can't have a giant loll tonight. They seem to **always** have a quarter/two quarter stretch of suckiness.... they'll get blown out pretty easily at the Rose Garden if they do that tonight.

I can live with them losing as long as hey play hard. And I am just frustrated that I really haven't seen them play hard lately.

on the same token, i can live with them not playing hard as long as they win.