GDT 2-26-10: Dallas @ Atlanta 6:00pm CST

[mavs777]

Go Mavs If we win this one it could be the middle of a very long win streak with our upcoming schedule

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=300226001
The Atlanta Hawks have excelled against the Western Conference this season, particularly at home. The Dallas Mavericks are well aware of that fact.

The Hawks will look to continue that home success Friday night when they try to end the Mavericks' season high-tying five-game win streak.

Atlanta (36-20) improved to 18-8 against West foes with a 98-92 home win over Minnesota on Wednesday. That number includes a 10-1 mark at Philips Arena and 6-2 record against Southwest Division foes, with one of the victories being an 80-75 win at Dallas on Dec. 5.

The Mavericks (37-21) finished with their worst home shooting percentage of the season at 37.3 in that game, and the Hawks are now seeking their first sweep of the Mavericks in six seasons.

"Atlanta is a tough team," All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "They beat us here last time. So we'll see what happens. They're very athletic, they really gave us trouble with their athleticism the last time."

The Mavericks, though, feel they are better equipped to handle Atlanta's athleticism after acquiring Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson from Washington during the All-Star break. Dallas has held opponents to 43.6 percent shooting in seven games since the trade after allowing teams to shoot 52.9 percent in the previous eight contests.

Stevenson made his first start with Dallas in a 101-96 home win over the Lakers on Wednesday and helped limit Kobe Bryant to 20 points. Haywood had 11 points, nine rebounds and five blocks.

"We've been playing pretty good defense with the new guys," guard Jason Kidd said. "This was another example where our shots weren't going down, but we relied on our defense and got some stops."

Butler missed the game due to a negative reaction to medication. It is unclear when he will return.

"I am really proud of the guys how they battled without Caron," said Nowitzki, who scored 31. "Hopefully, we can get him back soon."

Nowitzki led Dallas with 32 points in the December loss to Atlanta, which got 31 from Joe Johnson. Jason Terry shot 5 of 16 and had 17 points, but is coming off a 30-point performance against the Lakers.

The Hawks got a big game from Josh Smith on Wednesday in their sixth home win in seven tries. Smith, who has drawn the defensive assignment on Nowitzki in the past, had 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

"He was all over the place," coach Mike Woodson said. "He blocked some shots. He scored for us, made some free throws. He was solid from beginning to end, and we're going to need him the rest of the way."

The Hawks looked lethargic at times in their first home game after a four-game trip. Jamal Crawford did not have a basket for the first time, missing all seven shots, but Smith picked up the slack.

"I felt like my team needed energy, so I was trying to score in a lot of different ways," Smith said.

Haywood played well in two games against the Hawks with Washington this season. He averaged 16.0 points and 9.5 boards while matching up with center Al Horford, who averaged 8.5 points -- 5.3 below his season average -- and 11.0 rebounds in those games.

[Dirkadirkastan]

the Hawks are now seeking their first sweep of the Mavericks in six seasons.

No one has swept the Mavs yet this season, and there are only three teams left that have a chance (Portland, Chicago).

Knock 'em dead, Mavs.

[left texas]

Go Mavs!! The win streak continues!!

[dayman]

i thought the game was at 6:00pm CTL

[xrobx]

it is. 7 eastern.

this game will be a huge test for us. atlanta is very tough at home. if they get past the hawks this it's hard to say how many in a row we could win. the mavs have the longest current win streak in the nba right now. lets keep it up!

[samoan-maverickII]

Damn it's been a long two years since i've kept up with D-M.com but u guys start the GDT's freakin' early as hell now... Dallas Wins by a zillion...

[Bayliss]

Dang it. A mod or the Mavs77 should edit the thread title. It is bad luck to have the wrong time....

[bobbyfg7]

Go Mavs!!!!

[mavErika]

mavs777: If we win this one it could be the middle of a very long win streak with our upcoming schedule

Like Followill pointed out after the game on wednesday, the NO-@Charlotte b2b will be awfully hard; only 21 1/2 hours between the tip-offs, meaning a long flight to Charlotte(one of the best hometeams in the league), arriving in the middle of the night.

So for now, just beat Atlanta and make it 6 in a row! I was surprised to hear that this already is our longest win streak since the 07/08 season.

[Mavsfan4ever]

I have a good feeling about this new Mavs team against Atl.

[Sportstudi]

If Butler returns, our chances are good. But it will be hard anyway, Atlanta is very strong at home.

[bcrav4]

I have been following ATL periodically, and lately they start out really slow against everyone. So we should definitely try to jump on them early because they are one of the best teams in the NBA at tightening it up in the fourth quarter.

My prediction: we lock down Joe Johnson and win.

[Windmill360]

have we had a 6 game win streak all season? all two seasons?

[12 Tone Melodies]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignments
Feb 26, 2010
Dallas @ Atlanta--Mark Wunderlich, Bennie Adams, Eric Dalen

[Flacolaco]

Originally Posted by Bayliss

Dang it. A mod or the Mavs77 should edit the thread title. It is bad luck to have the wrong time....

Got it...

[SMC0007]

I have a feeling Butler gets over 25 pts tonight.

Wanna make something of it?

[horse900703]

Lets do this!!!

[mavErika]

nvm

[sefant77]

We still need another 6-9+ guy...

[nowitzki_prophecy]

What do we know about Caron's status?

[pkdumas]

In ATL. Going to the game tonight. Is Butler playing?

[mavErika]

Mavs' Caron Butler A 'Game-Time Decision' In Atlanta
By Mike Fisher -- DB.com

The Mavs just this second issued an injury report on Caron Butler for tonight in Atlanta.

It’s a game-time decision? What the what?

Butler did fully participate in Dallas' shootaround today … but will nevertheless be officially listed as a game-time decision for tonight's game vs. Atlanta.

Butler did not play in the Mavericks win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night due to a reaction to medication. From what Butler has said, that was a medication for his knee … Smart money says his knee will be fine, his chewing will be gum, and he will be fine. …

[nowitzki_prophecy]

Is that a yes?If the man was in shootaround,what reason does he have to miss the game?

[Nowitzki4President]

Butler looked fine when I saw him on TNT last night. He'll most likely play IMHO. We got this.. Go Mavs!

[esoteric562]

time to clip the hawks wings! GO MAVS!

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Hope we get another solid game from Stevenson.

Go Mavs.

[Dim499]

Haven't followed the Hawks that much. Guessing they still have Josh Smith (Marion), Joe Johnson (Butler, Stevenson), Horford (Haywood).

(In parentheses the guys who shut said Hawks players down.)

[mavs777]

Originally Posted by Dim499

Haven't followed the Hawks that much. Guessing they still have Josh Smith (Marion), Joe Johnson (Butler, Stevenson), Horford (Haywood).

(In parentheses the guys who shut said Hawks players down.)

and Jamaal Crawford off the bench who is having a great year

[badfish22]

Very tough game. Could be a let down game after LA...........



















....If this were the old Mavs. Mavs win.

[RareMilk]

I see jj getting defensive assignment to guard Joe Johnson hah

[badfish22]

Caron Butler will be sidelined again tonight because of the reaction to medication that also kept him out of Wednesday's game.

Expect DeShawn Stevenson to start again in his place.

Meanwhile, Mark Cuban was having some fun at the expense of the NBA's decision to ban Butler from chewing on straws during games.

Cuban said the Mavericks missed an opportunity on the injury report. They could have joked that Butler missed the game because of PDD -- plastic deficiency disorder.

--Eddie Sefko

damn. He looked fine last night on TNT

[LetsGoMavs]

That sucks...but nonetheless the Mavs are going to win this.

[badfish22]

How the hell did he do shoot around and everything then decide not to play? Their not telling us everything about whats going on here.

[soul2k8]

go mavs!

[LetsGoMavs]

Originally Posted by badfish22

How the hell did he do shoot around and everything then decide not to play? Their not telling us everything about whats going on here.

Maybe some kind of sudden swelling or something like that...








...actually i don´t even believe myself. I have no idea what could be the reason to be capable of doing the shootaround, but missing the following game.

[GermanDunk]

Go take this one. 500 k should be suitable for most of the members

[Dirkadirkastan]

Caron's toughness overrated?

[xrobx]

not playing again... i'm getting worried

[Windmill360]

Mavs organization is great and not letting us know what's happening behind the scenes. Sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes it's bad.

[LonghornDub]

There's gotta be something else going on here. Not saying it's anything serious or seedy, but I'd imagine we're not getting the full story.