GDT: Mavs @ Hornets - 3/9 7:00pm CT (FSW) - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

mavspwnage · 03-09-2011, 08:36 AM

Dallas -5 @ New Orleans

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=310309003

If their first game without Chris Paul is any indication, the New Orleans Hornets could be in big trouble if their star player is out for much longer.

Following their lowest-scoring performance of 2011, the Hornets may not find it any easier Wednesday night when they host the Dallas Mavericks.

Paul sat out an 85-77 loss at Chicago on Monday after sustaining a concussion in Sunday's win over Cleveland. The Hornets (37-29) were held to their lowest shooting percentage (36.3) and fewest points since an 88-70 loss at Philadelphia on Dec. 12.

Paul is considered day-to-day. He did not speak with reporters Monday.

"I know he's in some pain," coach Monty Williams said. "You don't take a hit like that and not be in some pain, but people don't realize how tough that kid is. He's played through pain all year long, with his knee and his hip. ... He takes falls all the time, but last night was a different scenario. I almost have to be the uncle/father/brother, and just say, 'Look, dude, you're not playing tonight.'"

David West will have to do a better job if New Orleans remains without Paul for a longer period of time. The Hornets' leading scorer at 18.7 points per game was held to 11 on 4-of-17 shooting by the Bulls. He went 1 for 6 in the fourth quarter.

"We couldn't convert down the stretch," West said. "We didn't have enough offense."

Jarrett Jack scored a team-high 23 points starting in Paul's place but had five turnovers and three assists. Paul is fourth in the league with 9.6 assists per game and second with a 4.21 assist-to-turnover ratio.

An extended absence by Paul could put the Hornets' playoff hopes in jeopardy. They are holding on to the seventh seed in the Western Conference, but the next four teams in the standings are within four games of them.

Without Paul, it could be tough for the Hornets to compete against the Mavericks. The teams haven't met since splitting two games in November, decided by a combined five points, as Paul averaged 21.0 points and 10.0 assists.

Dallas (46-17) has won 19 of 21 and bounced back from its loss to Memphis on Sunday with a 108-105 win at Minnesota on Monday.

The Mavericks remain second in the West.

"There's a lot of positive aspects to the last 20 games or whatever, but I think there's got to be some perfectionist inside a team that's trying to get where we're going," coach Rick Carlisle told the team's official website.

Dirk Nowitzki battled foul trouble Monday but had 25 points in 27 minutes while Brian Cardinal scored a season-high 12, getting additional playing time with Nowitzki on the bench.

Nowitzki is averaging 26.0 points over the last six games while shooting 60.5 percent. He's averaged 27.0 points and 9.5 rebounds versus the Hornets this season.

The Mavericks, allowing 96.1 points per game, have yielded more than 100 in all three games since losing starting center Tyson Chandler to a sprained ankle. The team leader with 62 blocks, Chandler hopes to return Wednesday to face the team which traded him to Charlotte following the 2008-09 season. He's averaging 10.4 points and 9.4 rebounds this season, and the Mavs are 13-3 when he has a double-double.

Dallas has lost seven straight in New Orleans.

mavspwnage · 03-09-2011, 08:37 AM

Good morning everyone. Let's get this GDT rollin, shall we?

Didn't realize we had lost the last 7 games in NO. Time to end that streak.

Mav Addict · 03-09-2011, 08:49 AM

With TC coming back and possibly no CP3.....should be win

Mavs 105
Bees 94

Bayliss · 03-09-2011, 09:34 AM

If Paul doesn't play for a little while, NO could fall out of the entire playoff picture.

sefant77 · 03-09-2011, 10:01 AM

J.Jack will go 4-6 from downtown

12 Tone Melodies · 03-09-2011, 10:19 AM

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignments
Mar. 9, 2011
Dallas @ New Orleans--Jason Phillips, Matt Boland, Tony Brown

Maringa · 03-09-2011, 10:22 AM

Why do the Mavs alway have trouble with teams when their star player is out? I can't think how many times I've seen Dallas lose to teams like SA without Duncan, etc.....On top of that, New Orleans has always had our number since they beat us in the First Round of the playoffs after the Golden State fiasco the previous year (I think 2008). West always seems to go off on us, and Paul makes every shot...

Never the less...Go mavs!!!

Underdog · 03-09-2011, 10:30 AM

Stomp the mediocre.

Bayliss · 03-09-2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Why do the Mavs alway have trouble with teams when their star player is out?

Because the Mavs play down to their competition. They see: EASY WIN. So therfore they can give it a half @ssed effort. Ans most of the time it bites them in the @ss.

And that is why the Mavs MOV is so poor. Instead of stomping the sh*tty teams, they let them hang around, hang around and wait for someone to bail them out in the 4th quarter.

sefant77 · 03-09-2011, 11:12 AM

Could be the first game in NO that i dont watch on mute thanks to the "CP Woooooooooow"

Sportstudi · 03-09-2011, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sefant77

Could be the first game in NO that i dont watch on mute thanks to the "CP Woooooooooow"

So true. Those announcers over there are flat out annoying.

nowhereman · 03-09-2011, 11:39 AM

I don't doubt the hornets, even without Paul, could blow up on our so called "defense". But I still think we win. 116-108.

41mvp · 03-09-2011, 11:55 AM

(win or di... guys)
If we lose tonight game,Lakers will take us!!!
So more energy and everything will be ok!!!

deamon · 03-09-2011, 12:04 PM

Paul out, Chandler in, so just destroy them!

BGMaverick9 · 03-09-2011, 12:10 PM

Looks like Paul is out for sure and Ariza could be out for the Hornets.

Underdog · 03-09-2011, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGMaverick9

Looks like Paul is out for sure and Ariza could be out for the Hornets.

No Paul, no Ariza?

Hornets by 12.

DevinHarriswillstart · 03-09-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

No Paul, no Ariza?

Hornets by 12.

The Mavs won't know what to do with themselves!

Go Mavs!

BGMaverick9 · 03-09-2011, 01:13 PM

From the great @Mavstats

Over the last two seasons, Hornets are 14-24 without Chris Paul.

Usually Lurkin · 03-09-2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

No Paul, no Ariza?

Hornets by 12.

ha! It'll probably happen after the Mavs go up by 30 in the 3rd, and Roddy's minutes only increase by 2, and JET misses 3 shots in the 2nd half, and D-M.com is in full meltdown.

mavs777 · 03-09-2011, 01:16 PM

7 Losses in a row in NO? Jack is a pretty poor PG but he is capable of scoring in bunches, watch him drop 35 on 14-18 shooting

BGMaverick9 · 03-09-2011, 01:25 PM

Per EKS, Chandler is a game-time decision.

mavs777 · 03-09-2011, 01:36 PM

he better play or im going to streak across the court

Mav Addict · 03-09-2011, 01:44 PM

So with Peja out...who starts? Marion or Brewer?

EDIT: Finally sent a RT before BG

41mvp · 03-09-2011, 01:44 PM

Peja is out tonight!!!

41mvp · 03-09-2011, 01:45 PM

Brewer should start

mavs777 · 03-09-2011, 01:47 PM

Why is peja out? Knee?

MavsFTR · 03-09-2011, 01:47 PM

I agree. Brewer should start so we can preserve the Jet/Matrix combo.

41mvp · 03-09-2011, 01:49 PM

He has back and neck issues.

BGMaverick9 · 03-09-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mav Addict

So with Peja out...who starts? Marion or Brewer?

EDIT: Finally sent a RT before BG

Went to get lunch

jthig32 · 03-09-2011, 02:00 PM

This Peja thing almost smells like they're easing a struggling veteran out of the rotation without making a story out of it.

I'm very curious to see who starts.

mavs777 · 03-09-2011, 02:06 PM

i just hope it isn't stevenson unlike you jthig, that would make our rebounding below average at 3 of the 5 starting positions

jthig32 · 03-09-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavs777

i just hope it isn't stevenson unlike you jthig, that would make our rebounding below average at 3 of the 5 starting positions

I didn't say I hoped it was Stevenson.

EricaLubarsky · 03-09-2011, 02:07 PM

Cmon Brewer/Chandler starting lineup and the resurgence of the top defense in the league!

mavs777 · 03-09-2011, 02:08 PM

Dirkadirkastan · 03-09-2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavspwnage

Didn't realize we had lost the last 7 games in NO. Time to end that streak.

As I understand it, that number does not include the three playoff losses that occurred during that time period.

mavs777 · 03-09-2011, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

As I understand it, that number does not include the three playoff losses that occurred during that time period.

well that makes it better

mavspwnage · 03-09-2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

As I understand it, that number does not include the three playoff losses that occurred during that time period.

ouch

BGMaverick9 · 03-09-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthig32

This Peja thing almost smells like they're easing a struggling veteran out of the rotation without making a story out of it.

I'm very curious to see who starts.

It could but it's New Orleans. He has a home there and his family lives there. I would think they'd let him get this game in if that was the case.

jthig32 · 03-09-2011, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavs777

I still didn't say I hoped it was Stevenson.

jthig32 · 03-09-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGMaverick9

It could but it's New Orleans. He has a home there and his family lives there. I would think they'd let him get this game in if that was the case.

I think it being in NO might make my conspiracy theory even more likely. If they just bench him he's answering questions about why he's not playing, if his poor play led to it, etc. Might be a pain for him in his old city.