Mavs looking for 'swagger'

[kriD]

MAVERICKS NOTES

Mavs looking for 'swagger'

By ART GARCIA
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DALLAS -- It's too early to call it a swagger, though there's a definite confidence in the air each time the Mavericks take the floor at American Airlines Center.

The kind of confidence that isn't shaken by little things such as trailing the Memphis Grizzlies by 19 points.

"You wouldn't even know we've won 13 in a row at home," Jason Terry said Friday after practice. "It's more of us coming out and focusing in on our task. We are trying to get a swagger. I don't feel we have that swagger yet."

The Mavs did set a franchise mark with their 13th consecutive home win in stirring fashion Thursday, roaring back from a 50-31 deficit to subdue the Grizzlies 97-87.

The victory moved the Mavs to 24-4 within the friendly confines of American Airlines Center, the third-best home record in the league.

Toronto (20-34) visits AAC today for a noon tip in the fifth game of a season-high six-game homestand for the Mavs.

The Mavs had the best home record in the NBA in 2003-04 at 36-5, setting the franchise record in the process.

Living at home wasn't as sweet last season, though 29-12 isn't anything to scoff at.

It appears, however, that home-court edge is coming back.

"We've been really doing a nice job protecting our home court," Dirk Nowitzki said. "Doesn't matter if we're down or up, we're just playing our system and trying to work on stuff to get us better for the playoffs.

"Obviously, in the playoffs home court means a lot."

The top seed in the Western Conference -- where the Mavs (43-11) currently sit -- is guaranteed the home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

"That's something we're playing for right now with each and every game," Terry said. "That's why we're taking each game so serious. We can't slip up. If we slip up now, we'll be regretting it at the end."

The Mavs nearly let the Grizzlies slip away with a win, and that concerns coach Avery Johnson.

"We need to get off to better starts," Johnson said. "The last couple games we kind of dug ourselves a hole. You just can't turn it on in the second half."

Johnson said teams are looking to take the fight to the Mavs early. Terry added: "I don't know if teams really fear coming in here yet."

That's another step.

Howard misses practice

Forward Josh Howard (sprained right ankle) is a game-time decision today after not practicing Friday. Howard turned the ankle late in the first quarter against Memphis and briefly returned in the second quarter before missing the second half.

Howard shot free throws Friday between treatments. He injured the same ankle in late November and missed eight games.

"It wasn't as bad as the first one," he said.

Briefly

Dirk Nowitzki's 31 points against Memphis marked his first 30-point game since Jan. 16 against Milwaukee, a span of 16 games.

Avery Johnson periodically excuses a veteran from practice to rest, and Friday was Jerry Stackhouse's turn.

[orangedays]

Originally Posted by kriD

"You wouldn't even know we've won 13 in a row at home," Jason Terry said Friday after practice. "It's more of us coming out and focusing in on our task. We are trying to get a swagger. I don't feel we have that swagger yet."

Jet should play that intro vid for Tha Reason Records & West Coastra Nostra for the Mavs. That would help them get their swagger on fo sho.