Los Angeles Clippers at Dallas Mavericks gameday

[EricaLubarsky]

Matt Pinto's game preview

What will the Mavericks offense do for an encore? The Los Angeles Clippers are curious about what the answer to that question will be as they’re next up for Dallas in the finale of a three game Mavs home stand Thursday night (January 20 at 7:30pm CT) at American Airlines Center. Dirk Nowitzki and company laid a NBA single game high 137 points on the helpless Washington Wizards Tuesday night in a game that featured four Mavs scoring 25 or more points. Dallas thus becomes the first team since the 1990 Run TMC Golden State Warriors to earn that distinction. By the way, Don Nelson was also coaching that Warriors squad.


Don Nelson
Speaking of Nellie, this game will be the first of at least eight that he’s expected to miss as he undergoes right rotator cuff surgery prior to tip-off on Thursday. So, it will be Avery Johnson’s show versus the Clips and for at least the next two weeks as Nellie rehabs and recovers.

The Mavericks dive head-long into a four game in five day stretch of scheduling with this clash (their first of the season) against the Clippers. This will in fact be the first of two meetings with Los Angeles over a five day period (the two teams collide at the Staples Center Monday, January 22 also). Dallas brings a 24-12 record into this one, a mark that includes 7 wins in it’s last 8 home games. The Clippers, who are missing point guards Marko Jaric and Shaun Livingston and power forward Chris Wilcox due to injury, are 18-19 entering their Wednesday night match-up with the Spurs in San Antonio. L.A. is on the fringes of the Western Conference playoff race and has proven capable of rising up to hang with the contenders on occasion this season.



Corey Maggette
The Clippers offer up three starters who score 15 or more points per game in explosive Corey Maggette (21.7ppg), fundamentally sound power forward Elton Brand (19ppg and 9rpg) and emerging swing forward Bobby Simmons (15.9ppg and 6.5rpg). The real trouble spot for this club has been at the point guard position with the extended absences of Jaric and Livingston. Los Angeles starts journeyman Rick Brunson at the lead guard spot, subbing one-time Mav Darrick Martin as his back-up. The Clips can be turnover prone (coughing it up 16 times per game), quite susceptible to opponents defensive pressure on the ball. Where they excel is on the boards, where they average 2 more rebounds per game than their opponents.



Jason Terry
Let’s take a look at the starting line-up match-ups. Jason Terry figures to have a sizable edge over the Brunson/Martin duo at the point given the level at which he’s playing these days. JET is coming off of a sizzling 26 point (10-12 field goal shooting), 7 assist effort against Washington Tuesday. He’s playing with extraordinary confidence and figures to have his way both penetrating and dishing and scoring against the Clippers contingent at the point guard spot.

I suspect that Josh Howard will draw Clippers leading scorer Corey Maggette defensively, leaving Michael Finley to battle Bobby Simmons. Howard’s chief objective against Maggette will be to shutdown his dribble penetration and force him to beat the Mavs from the perimeter (where he shoots just 27% from three point range). Maggette’s at his best finishing on the break and forcing opponents to foul him on hard thrusts to the basket. He attempts an average of 9.9 foul shots a game.

As for the Finley-Simmons match-up...Michael shot it well in the blow-out of the Wizards, draining 5-7 from three point range. He’ll need to use ball fakes and smarts to keep Simmons, an aggressive defender, off balance. Defensively, Fin must prepare to fight Simmons in the low-post, where he’s surprisingly effective.



Dirk Nowitzki
Speaking of low post effectiveness, Dirk Nowitzki must contend with one of the best in the business inside in Elton Brand. While Dirk figures to drive Brand crazy with his perimeter game, Elton will look to match Nowitzki point for point on the interior. This should be a fun match-up to watch.

The Clips go with gangly Chris Kaman at center. He’s a bit unorthodox in his offensive approach, but with Erick Dampier struggling with a bruised and tender left knee Kaman could be an X-factor in this game.

Off the bench, the Clippers bring Kerry Kittles, Zeljko Rebraca, Quinton Ross and Mikki Moore. With the exception of Kittles, this group is hardly distinguished or recognizable. Jerry Stackhouse should be able to physically overpower Kittles offensively, as he’s rolling at the moment. Look for Devin Harris and Allan Henderson to play and provide productive minutes in reserve for Avery Johnson in this game as well.

The Mavericks catch the Clippers a bit undermanned in the backcourt on the second night of a tough back-to-back sequence. They should have little trouble subduing this foe. Dallas figures to have far too much fire power for Los Angeles on it’s home floor. As long as the Mavs handle their business on the boards and keep the Maggette-Simmons tandem in reasonable check they should be boarding the plane for Friday’s tilt with expansion Charlotte with their 25th win of the season in hand.

[mercury_rev]

The nurse slaps the whiskey bottle out of Nellie's hand.

Mavs win 113-98.

[#41]

Dirk goes for 47, Finley for 23 and Terry puts up 13 assists, Mavs win 106-82.

[XERXES]

I'm very uncomfortable with that random shock of dark hair at Stackhouse's waste-level...I don't want to even ask questions...


Mavs feel cocky - Clips take them to OT and Mavs pull out a tough one.

[endtroducing]

Terry: 22 pts, 6 ast, 2 stl
Dirk: 28 pts, 15 boards
Dampier: 10 pts, 8 boards
Finley: 15 pts
Howard: 20 pts, 10 boards

Mavs - 108
Clippers - 86

[mary]

The Clips always make me nervous for some reason.

Mavs 109
Clips 101

[bo319]

Clips coming off a tough loss on a back to back. Avery coaching a little more conventionally. Mavs win.

LAC 92
Dallas 104

[vinnieponte]

Mavs 118
Clippers 103

[AnMan21]

mavs: 108
clips: 90

[DubOverdose]

Chris Kaman has played well lately. However, I think Dampier should be able to make a living during the time he's on the court, then Bradley should be able to slow down Kaman easily from a 12pt outburst. I'm a little worried that the Clippers hung with the Spurs last night until the very last shot of the game, but they are on the back end of a back to back which helps out. Mavs win, but isn't as easy as it should be.

[Simon2]

I think Mavs will continue their roll. MAvs all over the Clips 120-105

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally posted by: XERXES
I'm very uncomfortable with that random shock of dark hair at Stackhouse's waste-level...I don't want to even ask questions...

just saw that. pretty.....disturbing.

but you gotta admit that the pic of the Mavs and the clippers on a clipper ship is pretty clever.

[Murphy3]

It's amazing how little respect Dirk gets from officials at times.
Dear God, how obvious can it be?

[Windmill360]

This game is going too slow for my liking. Dirk got a T. Too many seconds chances for the Clips.

[Murphy3]

I never want to see Damp shooting the 15 foot jumper.

[twelli]

Time to realize that the Clips aren't that bad...

[Murphy3]

dirk's forcing it..sit him down for a bit.

[Windmill360]

^^ Yea but we always get a pissed off team comming from a loss in San Antonio.

[Bayliss]

Dallas still needs to force the action and make the officials call the fouls. It should even out.

[G-Man]

Mave gotta improve the shot selection and lay off the long jumpers. and play some D

[Murphy3]

Why is Fin so incapable of passing in last second situations? He had a man wide open in the corner with plenty of time to pass it, but he decided that it's better for him to take a long three with a man in his face.

[Bayliss]

If Dallas actually gets their defensive rebounds, they will win this game.

[Murphy3]

...this is more like the Stack that we all know and love.

[MavsFanFinley]

Clippers lead 29-20 after 1st quarter:

Howard (8) 3-3, 1-1, 7pts, 1rb

Dirk (12) 2-6, 2-2, 6pts, 3rbs, 1as, 2tos

Dampier (9) 1-5, 2pts, 3rbs, 1as

Finley (12) 0-4, 0-3, 1-1, 1pt, 1rb

Terry (12) 2-4, 0-1, 4pts, 2as, 1stl

Stackhouse (4) 0-1, 1to

Henderson (3) 2rbs, 1stl

[Bookit]

Originally posted by: Murphy3
...this is more like the Stack that we all know and love.

Stack makes more bonehead plays than anybody.

[Murphy3]

Originally posted by: Bookit

Stack makes more bonehead plays than anybody.

Yeah, I know it. He's a poor shooting turnover machine for his career for a reason....

[twelli]

They are awake!

Great start of second quarter!

[Windmill360]

hmmm... I like Harris.

[Windmill360]

BRADLEY!

[Bayliss]

Dirk needs to hold his ground against Kaman and quit swiping at the ball. He's getting out of position because of his dumb play.

[Bookit]

Originally posted by: Bayliss
Dirk needs to hold his ground against Kaman and quit swiping at the ball. He's getting out of position because of his dumb play.

Yeah, he doesn't look like an "all defensive" player tonight does he?

[Bookit]

Sometimes I think the refs secretly root for the underdog so they can ref a 'game'.

[Bayliss]

Good that Avery is giving Dirk a rest.

[Bookit]

Its official. Damp is lazy.

[NoHeartIncluded]

GRAB AN EFFING REBOUND!!!!!!

[NoHeartIncluded]

it's official: fin is all or nothing

[Windmill360]

That albino guy is killing us.

[Bookit]

Finley and Stack are sucking tonight.

[Murphy3]

Fin's affected too much by physical play.

[Bayliss]

Dirk needs to get his @ss in there and rebound instead of "releasing."