GDT: Mavs vs Pacers (day games suck) 3-12-16

[dirt_dobber]

Pacers-Mavericks Preview

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400828860

A four-day break this late in the season is fairly unusual. At least two Indiana Pacers were happy about it, though their teammates might not have been.

Newcomer Ty Lawson could be healed enough to play, and C.J. Miles might finally return as the Pacers look to reclaim the positive vibes from an impressive victory by dealing the Dallas Mavericks another crushing blow Saturday night.

Monta Ellis wants to be a major part of doing that, playing his first game in Dallas since the Mavericks chose not to re-sign him after last season even though he was their top scorer. Ellis appeared motivated when the Mavs played in Indiana on Dec. 16, scoring 13 of his 19 points in a game-changing third quarter of the Pacers' 107-81 win.

"It was nothing personal, but Dallas was talking in the second half, a little. It probably got me going," Ellis said at the time.

The loss was the Mavericks' worst in the history of this series and most lopsided of the season to a team other than San Antonio.

It was the Spurs against whom Indiana received a big confidence boost Monday, halting their eight-game winning streak with a 99-91 victory behind Ellis' 26 points. The Pacers (34-30) haven't played since knocking off the league's second-best team.

"For me it's a blessing, for the rest of the guys it's a curse when they've been playing and you got four days off all of a sudden," said Miles, who should be ready to go after missing nine games with a calf injury.

"It was a blessing to be able to have the practice days and to be able to have the time in between to get ready."

Lawson feels similarly.

The veteran point guard made his Pacers debut against San Antonio but sprained his left foot. Lawson is hoping to play, though, after the lengthy break provided extra time to recover and get acclimated to Frank Vogel's offense, similar to the one he ran with Denver for six seasons.

"It's exactly the same," Lawson said. "They're saying the plays, they have different names for the plays, but it's basically the same action."

He'll come off the bench along with Miles, who is intrigued by the prospect of playing alongside a speedy point man like Lawson.

"That second unit, we really wanna try to run anyway. I mean, that's 'beep beep' over there," said Miles, a Dallas native who has averaged 24.0 points in his last two games against the Mavs.

Whereas Lawson and Miles provide Indiana extra perimeter production, the Mavericks likely need more. The struggles of Wesley Matthews, Deron Williams and Raymond Felton have played a role in Dallas (33-32) being at risk of falling to .500 for the first time since mid-November.

"I think there's some anger that's got to manifest the right way on Saturday," coach Rick Carlisle told the team's official website.

The Mavericks are trying to avoid their longest losing streak since December 2012, having dropped four in a row.

That skid has seen Matthews average 7.0 points on 9-of-37 shooting after scoring 17.8 per game as Dallas won four of five. Felton has shot 8 for 28 during the four-game skid, and he's 1 for 21 on 3-point tries since the All-Star break.

Williams has averaged 8.5 points on 5-of-20 shooting in the last two games, beginning a stretch of nine straight against teams with winning records.

"The biggest thing for us right now is just for us to stay positive, stick with one another, keep believing in one another and stay confident," forward Chandler Parsons said. "You know, we're too good of a team and we've worked too hard to be having struggles like this."

[dirt_dobber]

What kind of welcome will Monta receive?

[Sportstudi]

I'm actually not complaining about a day game. Because of work (making it impossible to follow any game during the week) and other duties so far I have almost not been able to follow the Mavs this season. Additionally, I'm not getting younger anymore and standing up during the night (or going to be after the game instead) gets more and more difficult Today's game must be the 6th or 7th game of the year I'm really able to watch.

Anyway, go Mavs! I hope we can bounce back and finally get a win again.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by dirt_dobber

What kind of welcome will Monta receive?

I'm guessing a positive one. At least 75% of his time as a Maverick was positive IMO.

[CGM]

...4 game losing streak??? ...no problemo!!!! ...today, the Mavs start an 8 game winning streak against the Pie,Sir, no matter if Wes has been slumping badly, no matter if Monta scores 40, no matter if traditionally the Mavs suck on early weekend games...

Mavs - 108
Pie,Sir - 102

[DGM]

Originally Posted by Sportstudi

I'm actually not complaining about a day game. Because of work (making it impossible to follow any game during the week) and other duties so far I have almost not been able to follow the Mavs this season. Additionally, I'm not getting younger anymore and standing up during the night (or going to be after the game instead) gets more and more difficult Today's game must be the 6th or 7th game of the year I'm really able to watch.

Anyway, go Mavs! I hope we can bounce back and finally get a win again.

Great! Glad you are getting a chance to watch. Bring a win with you.

[Bryan_Wilson]

It's early but another bad start for Zaza.

[Sportstudi]

OMG Zaza...

[yahyes]

Go mavs

[DGM]

[QUOTE=Bryan_Wilson;1398852]It's early but another bad start for Zaza

Is he injured? He doesn't look right.

[Sportstudi]

The rim is our best defender.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by DGM

Is he injured? He doesn't look right.

Could be just worn out. Could also just be the that the honeymoon is over. I rly don't know. Earlier in the season he seemed to finish better or at least draw fouls on his finishes. Now he seems to do neither.

[Skywalker]

Monta fouling jump shooters lmao

[Sportstudi]

Lee is an absolute steal.

[yahyes]

Day games just got fun

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Sportstudi

Lee is an absolute steal.

Dude is getting it done.

[DGM]

Big difference with Lee in the game vs. Zaza.

[CGM]

That Mavs group on the floor is pure energy!

[yahyes]

Originally Posted by Sportstudi

Lee is an absolute steal.

He could be the 6th man next couple years for us.

[yahyes]

Devin gets sooo bad on defense now. He can't pressure as good now of days for steals.

[DGM]

Announcers quoted RC that he plans no rotation changes. He should reconsider that with Zaza vs. Lee.

[Underdog]

Zaza looks like Eric Dampier on offense right now.

[DGM]

Zaza was moving on that crash with Turner.

[yahyes]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Zaza looks like Eric Dampier on offense right now.

His only advantage to damp is tussling under the rim for rebounds.

[Sportstudi]

Zaza has butter fingers.... reminds me of Dampier, sadly.

[Melonhead]

Really enjoying seeing the mavs only taking 4 threes and working inside. Zaza reminds me of dalembert on pick n rolls.

[yahyes]

I want Deron to go for a triple double. Spread the floor better on offense.

[yahyes]

No Anderson/Powell/Mejri at least?

[yahyes]

I like small ball sometimes. But we have players who can contribute to match length to rebound.

[DGM]

RC has spoken. Small ball for the rest of the year.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Lookin' like another loss...

[EricaLubarsky]

Man, a 5th loss would be crippling to our psyche

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by DGM

RC has spoken. Small ball for the rest of the year.

It's been a failure, but sometimes a coach only has what he has to work with. Too many point guards on the roster. That needs to change.

[Melonhead]

This team is so horrible.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

At least Matthews isn't absolutely terrible this game so there is that.

[Sportstudi]

This is just god awful.

[DGM]

Dirk playing center.

[EricaLubarsky]

Dirk doesn't want no 5-game losing streak

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by DGM

Dirk playing center.

Litters of kittens die when that happens. Ugh. At least we're almost in it now so yay?

[DGM]

Looks 28 not 38