GDT: Portland at Dallas 7:30 PM CST - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

MavsFTR · 01-04-2011, 02:50 AM

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011010406

With a difficult homestand this week, the Dallas Mavericks are hoping Dirk Nowitzki(notes) returns quickly. The likelihood of Caron Butler(notes) playing, however, appears to be remote.

The Mavericks may be without two of their top scorers as they face the Portland Trail Blazers and one of the league’s best scoring defenses Tuesday night.

Dallas (25-8) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 104-95 victory at Cleveland on Sunday, winning for the first time since Nowitzki sprained his knee last Monday.

It was also the first game for the Mavericks without Butler after he went down with a knee injury in a 99-87 loss at Milwaukee on Saturday. Butler may have suffered a torn tendon that could keep him out at least a couple of months.

Official MRI results have not been released, and Butler flew from Milwaukee to Dallas on Sunday to undergo tests.

“Anyone who speculates beyond that should be very careful in what they do because it could have ramifications,” coach Rick Carlisle said.

Butler is third on the team with 15.0 points per game.

While Nowitzki, averaging 24.1 points and 7.4 rebounds, could return soon, it’s not certain if he’ll be available Tuesday. Butler and Nowitzki played a big part in a 103-98 home win over Portland on Dec. 15, as Butler had a team-high 23 points and Nowitzki scored 12 of his 21 in the final quarter.

The injuries come at an especially difficult time with the Mavericks hosting the Trail Blazers (18-16), Oklahoma City and Orlando this week. However, Dallas hopes to continue getting multiple contributions as it did against Cleveland.

Shawn Marion(notes) returned after he missed the previous game with a thigh injury and scored a season-high 22 points, shooting 11 of 16 from the field. DeShawn Stevenson(notes) also set a season best with 21 points while Tyson Chandler(notes) had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

The Mavericks averaged 85.3 points in the three losses and were outrebounded by an average of 14.0. They had a 37-34 advantage on the glass Sunday.

“I didn’t have a choice but to suck it up and do what I had to do,” Marion told the Mavericks’ official website. “It felt better today, so I was like, ‘I’ve got to go.’ I didn’t even question it. … My teammates were there to support me.”

Marion will try to help Dallas cool off the surging Trail Blazers, who have overcome their own injury problems, including one to Brandon Roy(notes), out indefinitely with knee troubles.

Portland has won two straight and six of eight. It defeated Houston 100-85 Sunday - the fourth consecutive opponent held to 95 or fewer points.

Coming off a 100-89 victory over Utah on Thursday, the Blazers had another solid defensive performance against the Rockets, holding them to 14 points in the third quarter and 37 in the second half.

LaMarcus Aldridge(notes) had 25 points and 11 rebounds while Nicolas Batum(notes) added a season-high 21 points.

“Our chemistry has gotten better,” Aldridge said. “I think guys are really figuring out their roles.”

The Blazers may be tested this week, though. Portland is beginning a three-game trip in a place it has lost 12 of 14 and is 6-13 on the road, giving up 97.2 points per game compared to 91.2 at home.

“When we are here at the Rose Garden we are consistent,” center Marcus Camby(notes) said. “We win a couple and get momentum from it. Then we go out on the road and lose a few. We have to change that.”

Dirkadirkastan · 01-04-2011, 04:15 AM

This one needs a sticky.

Skywalker · 01-04-2011, 07:21 AM

This is the official GDT!

Kante · 01-04-2011, 07:56 AM

Any word on Dirk?

Fragism · 01-04-2011, 08:01 AM

I hope they bring Mahinmi into the game to defend Aldridge.

Underdog · 01-04-2011, 09:00 AM

Wow, mavs777 made THREE duplicate threads when this one was already up.

Do any of the mods even post here anymore? I think we need new ones...

Underdog · 01-04-2011, 09:04 AM

Can't wait to see Dirk vs. Oden tonight!

j0Shi · 01-04-2011, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

Can't wait to see Dirk vs. Oden tonight!

Good one. Really made me smile. Thank you

sefant77 · 01-04-2011, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

Wow, mavs777 made THREE duplicate threads when this one was already up.

Do any of the mods even post here anymore? I think we need new ones...

I got a temporary ban because i used the full F word and this dude can do whatever he wants in here...funny

j0Shi · 01-04-2011, 09:33 AM

With Dirk out, we try to carry our offense with 3s. 26 attempts per game in that 4-game span without Dirk. Our season-avg is slightly above 20 and Orlando ranks 1st with 24.6 in that category. Portland is an above the average team defending the 3pt-shot. So better keep your fingers crossed that we find bottom from behind the arc.

12 Tone Melodies · 01-04-2011, 10:23 AM

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignments
Jan. 4, 2011
Portland @ Dallas--Bill Spooner, Brian Forte, Eric Lewis

Rick41 · 01-04-2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

Do any of the mods even post here anymore? I think we need new ones...

I volunteer.

SMC0007 · 01-04-2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sefant77

I got a temporary ban because i used the full F word and this dude can do whatever he wants in here...funny

tattletale

Flacolaco · 01-04-2011, 12:18 PM

I think we're still trying to figure out if mavs777 is a human or not. And if he is, just exactly what kind of "special" is he?

BGMaverick9 · 01-04-2011, 12:20 PM

Per Carlisle at shootaround, dirk is out tonight and a caron update will hopefully come today.

41mvp · 01-04-2011, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGMaverick9

Per Carlisle at shootaround, dirk is out tonight and a caron update will hopefully come today.

Why?noooooooo!!!

MavsFTR · 01-04-2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 41mvp

Why?noooooooo!!!

Guy... calm down.

Kante · 01-04-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 41mvp

Why?noooooooo!!!

The playoffs starts today or what is the matter with you?

41mvp · 01-04-2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kante

The playoffs starts today or what is the matter with you?

I want win today that's all

BGMaverick9 · 01-04-2011, 01:29 PM

Carlisle did say Lieberman did a great job with Jones in Frisco and he got solid work at the 2 and a new opportunity at playing the point and that could prove to be very valuable experience going forward.

Flacolaco · 01-04-2011, 01:29 PM

BG...How far away is Dirk, exactly? Does he even take any shootaround? I don't suppose you'd get anyone to give you an estimate at this point...?

41mvp · 01-04-2011, 01:39 PM

Go Mavs!!!
I believe!!!

Kante · 01-04-2011, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 41mvp

I want win today that's all

What´s so important at this game tonight?

41mvp · 01-04-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kante

What´s so important at this game tonight?

everything

.I like when we win.And you?

BGMaverick9 · 01-04-2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

BG...How far away is Dirk, exactly? Does he even take any shootaround? I don't suppose you'd get anyone to give you an estimate at this point...?

"No update on Dirk," Carlisle said. "When Dirk's ready to play, we'll let everybody know when he's ready to play. In the meantime, he's making gradual progress, but that's going to be it. We're not going to have a daily Dirk update, Dirk watch."

That was the response to what exactly Dirk is doing in practice. He walked by us as we were going on the court and he had a good sweat built up...so he's close. My hunch is he's back Thursday.

tsar · 01-04-2011, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGMaverick9

"No update on Dirk," Carlisle said. "When Dirk's ready to play, we'll let everybody know when he's ready to play. In the meantime, he's making gradual progress, but that's going to be it. We're not going to have a daily Dirk update, Dirk watch."

That was the response to what exactly Dirk is doing in practice. He walked by us as we were going on the court and he had a good sweat built up...so he's close. My hunch is he's back Thursday.

I <3 you. No homo.

mavs777 · 01-04-2011, 01:56 PM

The key is Aldridge and not letting any of there 3 guards explode (Mathews, Roy, and Miller)

After a slow start to the year Aldridge is averaging 25.3 ppg in his last 9, 9.9 RPG, 54% shooting

Kidd Karma · 01-04-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGMaverick9

That was the response to what exactly Dirk is doing in practice. He walked by us as we were going on the court and he had a good sweat built up...so he's close. My hunch is he's back Thursday.

At least he's working up a sweat on the court.

Kante · 01-04-2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 41mvp

everything

.I like when we win.And you?

Sure, winning is fun but i take a few more games without Dirk and the risk to lose some of them just to get him 100%!

Kidd Karma · 01-04-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavs777

The key is Aldridge and not letting any of there 3 guards explode (Mathews, Roy, and Miller)

After a slow start to the year Aldridge is averaging 25.3 ppg in his last 9, 9.9 RPG, 54% shooting

Yea, same game plan as Orlando, let the big man get his, tired legs late in the fourth. Stay at home with the shooters.

BGMaverick9 · 01-04-2011, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsar

I <3 you. No homo.

thank you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mavs777

The key is Aldridge and not letting any of there 3 guards explode (Mathews, Roy, and Miller)

After a slow start to the year Aldridge is averaging 25.3 ppg in his last 9, 9.9 RPG, 54% shooting

"I don't mind him getting numbers and shooting a lot of shots if we keep them down to a low percentage and get a win," said Chandler about going up against Aldridge. “We know he’s gonna come with big energy, because it’s his hometown, but we’ve got to make sure we finish the job this time and make things tough on him.”

41mvp · 01-04-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kante

Sure, winning is fun but i take a few more games without Dirk and the risk to lose some of them just to get him 100%!

right!He return when he'll be ready.

deamon · 01-04-2011, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kante

The playoffs starts today or what is the matter with you?

So what we will have Dirk in April?
Don't know what Butler or Roddy will play like after injuries. Still 1st round and out.
Go Mavs, RS warriors.

fluid.forty.one · 01-04-2011, 03:01 PM

I, obviously, really hope we win this game.

Kante · 01-04-2011, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deamon

So what we will have Dirk in April?
Don't know what Butler or Roddy will play like after injuries. Still 1st round and out.
Go Mavs, RS warriors.

You suck! Go back to spurstalk...

deamon · 01-04-2011, 04:36 PM

I was on Mavstalk before this forum, but Spurstalk? Didn't even know something like that exist. Looks like you was there - Kante the San Antonio villager.

fluid.forty.one · 01-04-2011, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deamon

I was on Mavstalk before this forum, but Spurstalk? Didn't even know something like that exist. Looks like you was there - Kante the San Antonio villager.

surprise surprise

BGMaverick9 · 01-04-2011, 04:59 PM

The game is allllmost becoming secondary to all the news and initial waves of thoughts in the Mavericks organization to the tough news today.

jcm28 · 01-04-2011, 06:30 PM

No dirk or butler tonight (or ever again). Fortunately I think we can take Portland with what we got. We need another Jkidd triple double, 20 rebs from TC and another 29 from JJB. Also, we need JT to shoot over 5% as well.

iella · 01-04-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcm28

No dirk or butler tonight (or ever again). Fortunately I think we can take Portland with what we got. We need another Jkidd triple double, 20 rebs from TC and another 29 from JJB. Also, we need JT to shoot over 5% as well.

Bad combination of words to put in a single sentence. The basketball gods might misinterpret your meaning.