GDT: Hornets (7-25) at Mavs (13-20) 1-5-13. 7:30pm FSSW/NBALP

[EricaLubarsky]

Hornets-Mavericks Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Jan 04 2013 4:43PM
Dirk Nowitzki is getting his game back into form following an extended offseason, but the wins just aren't coming for the Dallas Mavericks.
Perhaps a visit by the lowly New Orleans Hornets will change that.
Nowitzki and the Mavericks will try to avoid their first four-game home losing streak in four seasons on Saturday night when they face a Hornets team that's won just once in its last 20 visits to Dallas.
Out the first 27 games of 2012-13 following offseason right knee surgery, Nowitzki is averaging 10.0 points off the bench in six games back. The former MVP set season highs for points (19) and minutes (29) on Wednesday in Miami, but the Mavericks lost for the 10th time in 12 games, 119-109 in overtime.
Dallas (13-20) was outscored 9-3 in the final 3:37 after Nowitzki's 3-pointer.
"Execution down the stretch has been one of our problems all year," he said. "We're 0-6 in overtime (this season) and lost a lot of close ones during the season in regulation. We've got to work on that."
Actually, only two of the Mavericks' 14 regulation defeats have been by fewer than 10 points, and they have lost nine games by at least 19. The previous two times the latter happened came in their last two home games - 106-85 to Denver on Dec. 28 and 111-86 to San Antonio on Sunday.
However, if the Hornets' history in Dallas is any indication, the Mavericks should be in good position to prevent their first four-game home skid since starting 0-4 at home in 2008-09.
New Orleans (7-25) has dropped six straight as the road team in this series following a 96-81 loss on Jan. 7. A 104-97 victory on Jan. 14, 2009, is the Hornets' only win at the Mavericks since 1998, when the team was based in Charlotte.
Having Eric Gordon back in the lineup could definitely help New Orleans' chances of winning before it heads home for three straight, but it's uncertain if he'll be ready to go. The fifth-year guard, who missed the first 29 games this season following arthroscopic right knee surgery, did not play in Wednesday's 104-92 loss at Houston as coach Monty Williams rested him as a precautionary measure. Gordon scored 11 points in Tuesday's 95-86 loss to Atlanta after finishing with 24 in his season debut, last Saturday's 98-95 win at Charlotte.
"He's getting more and more game ready each day," Williams, whose team has lost 14 of 16, said Friday. "It's tough to go from not playing at all to jumping right in and playing in an NBA game.
Even if Gordon plays, rookie Austin Rivers will likely make a 14th straight alongside point guard Greivis Vasquez, who is averaging 16.9 and 10.5 assists in the last 11 contests.
Rivers has struggled with his shot - he's hitting 34.3 percent - but a bigger concern could be on the defensive end against O.J. Mayo. Dallas' leading scorer poured in 30 points on Wednesday after averaging 9.8 in Nowitzki's first five games back.
While with Memphis, Mayo averaged 12.8 points in four games against New Orleans last season.
Mavericks center Chris Kaman, who spent last season with the Hornets after being acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers, will try to build off his second double-double of the season (14 points, 10 rebounds).
New Orleans' big man Anthony Davis is among the rookie leaders with five double-doubles despite missing 13 games due to injury.

[Kante]

Dirk starting tonight i guess/heard?

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Dirk is starting. Yay!

[j0Shi]

A source close to the Hollinger Ratings said the Mavs need to win these games against lottery fodder to have any shot of making the playoffs this year.

The source wants to stay anonymous, refers to himself as Mr. Obvious.

[jamaljasonandjimmy]

Originally Posted by j0Shi

A source close to the Hollinger Ratings said the Mavs need to win these games against lottery fodder to have any shot of making the playoffs this year.

The source wants to stay anonymous, refers to himself as Mr. Obvious.

is mr obvious a professor at yale?

[Kante]

Originally Posted by j0Shi

A source close to the Hollinger Ratings said the Mavs need to win these games against lottery fodder to have any shot of making the playoffs this year.

The source wants to stay anonymous, refers to himself as Mr. Obvious.

So, Chris Broussard is the source?

[RareMilk]

Doo-wite howard

[markus1234]

“We still have to understand the spacing that [Nowitzki] needs when he gets the ball in certain areas, but today was actually the first time that he practiced with the starting unit, so a lot of the times when we’ve been playing together it has just been in games,” Mayo said. “I thought today went well playing with the starting unit and getting to see where we get him the ball in great situations and we have to understand our spacing. Sometimes we got him the ball in the right areas, but our spacing wasn’t good and they forced him into some turnovers. So we’ve got to continue to grow in that area and we will. It was a great practice today and we’ve got to carry it over to the game tomorrow.”

He added: “[Nowitzki] brings patience to the game and I think we all can learn from that. Him being such a dominant player for so many years in this league, he brings a great poise to our game and we’ve just got to continue building and getting better.”

...that's what's up.

[DarrenCollisonSucks]

Ok if we lose this, we seriously need to consider tanking the season

[jamaljasonandjimmy]

Originally Posted by DarrenCollisonSucks

Ok if we lose this, we seriously need to consider tanking the season

tank or tanking is everybodys new favorite word around here. what happened to keeping the powder dry.

[markus1234]

Originally Posted by DarrenCollisonSucks

Ok if we lose this, we seriously need to consider tanking the season

62-20 still possible.

[Kante]

Originally Posted by markus1234

69-12 still possible.

Could be our best reg. season ever.

Huh?

And:

Rick Carlisle says Dirk Nowitzki will make his 1st start of the season tonight vs. New Orleans.

[grndmstr_c]

Originally Posted by DarrenCollisonSucks

Ok if we lose this, we seriously need to consider tanking the season

You should start a thread so that we can further discuss this novel and fascinating topic.

[jamaljasonandjimmy]

Originally Posted by markus1234

69-12 still possible.

Could be our best reg. season ever.

thats only 81 games nba plays 82 games and mavs lost 20 so best case scenario 62-20

[jamaljasonandjimmy]

Originally Posted by markus1234

69-12 still possible.

Could be our best reg. season ever.

also mavericks best season would be 67-15 and that would be impossible because 20 games down alredy

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by jamaljasonandjimmy

thats only 81 games nba plays 82 games and mavs lost 20 so best case scenario 62-20

62-20 is still 2nd best

1st - 67-15 (first round loss to 8th seed)
2nd - 60-22 (Lost to Dwyane Wade)
3rd - 58-24 (lost in 2nd round to Suns)
4th/5th - 57-25 (twice - championship one time, killed by Kinds in 2nd round the other)

FWIW those "best" three seasons record-wise were the most heartbreaking and frustrating.

[He15man]

Would be nice if Dirk shot well tonight, and the Mavs had a solid team. This team could use on if they're not going to tank the season.

[Ninkobei]

Originally Posted by jamaljasonandjimmy

is mr obvious a professor at yale?

No, that would be Dr. Obvious. Common misconception

Mavs by 7!

[Bayliss]

Dirk needs to be on the boards againt lopez or davis. Will be intrresting to see who Dirk takes in the halfcourt.

[fluid.forty.one]

Anyone have a link?

[Kante]

S5:

Collison, Mayo, Marion, DIRK and Kaman

Link(s):
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/1619...s-hornets.html
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/1619...s-hornets.html
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/1619...s-hornets.html

[Kante]

Pretty bad start.

[Bayliss]

Mavs are fumbling the ball left and right.

[Bayliss]

Marion... please dont shoot any more threes.

[fluid.forty.one]

Originally Posted by Kante

S5:



Link(s):
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/1619...s-hornets.html
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/1619...s-hornets.html
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/1619...s-hornets.html

Thanks for the link. +rep

[jamaljasonandjimmy]

put dirk back in they been playing for 5 minutes and hes on the bench errrrrrrrrrrrr

[Bayliss]

Good lod they missed about ten shots near the hoop.

[jamaljasonandjimmy]

dirk played 4:45 before going to the bench
he gets paid 15 mil a year
probably made about 3 mil so far this season but played about a total of 1hour
carlisle get him a beer and a burger while hes setting on the bench

[Bayliss]

Come on... pick up the energy.

[Kante]

Really liked that Roddy slowed down to give Dirk the ball.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Roddy playing well. Keep it up.

[Bayliss]

Roddys decision making is improving. Wish he would find his shot.

[Bayliss]

Dontay... swing that to Dirk... he had an open three.

[jamaljasonandjimmy]

my name is austin rivers and im a douchebag

[Kante]

Wright is still out i see, with a suit on the bench.

Good start into the 2nd quarter!

[fluid.forty.one]

Dirk starting to look like himself.

[Kante]

I like the RC gameplan of switching every pick Anderson sets, although Crowder slept that time.

[Kante]

Why not leave Roddy in just a bit longer?

[jamaljasonandjimmy]

post brand up at th free throw line because thats about the only spot he can hit

[saclare]

Eric Gordon looking really lazy out there...