GDT: Dallas (43-30) @ Minnesota (21-53) - 3/31/09 - 7:00 CST - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

tcat075 · 03-31-2009, 07:11 AM

2-0 record in GDT's. Combining my awesome GDT skills with a sucky Minnesota team, Minnesota has no shot

But seriously, we have to beat Minnesota. I know this is sounding cliche, but does anybody really think we "deserve" to be in the playoffs if we lose this one?

Doesn't matter. Let's go accomplish what we need to do.

Big news tonight. It sounds like Josh is good to go tonight:

http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archi...dy-to-run.html

Quote:

Howard ready to run?
4:09 PM Mon, Mar 30, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Eddie Sefko E-mail News tips

It sounds like Josh Howard is a go for Tuesday night, although neither coach Rick Carlisle nor Howard would say as much at practice today.

But Jason Terry was asked how Howard has looked in recent practices and gave this report:
"He looked great. Even last week in our last hard practice. He looked confident. I know he felt a little bit of pain. But the biggest test will be tomorrow. If he hits that first shot, I'll bet he won't feel a thing tomorrow.''
Get that? Tomorrow. As in Tuesday night against the Timberwolves.
Terry, by the way, said the Mavericks have taken on a playoff mentality for this week's four-pack of games.
"We got to get them all,'' Terry said. "We're looking at it as a seven-game series and we want a sweep. They're all critical. We're right there. We still got room to move up. And you sure don't want to move down.''
--Eddie Sefko

Yahoo preview.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview;...gid=2009033116

Quote:

The Dallas Mavericks can’t wait to put an embarrassing loss to one of the NBA’s best teams behind them. A road game against the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves may be just what they need to do so.

Dallas looks to win its 11th straight over Minnesota when the clubs meet Tuesday night at the Target Center.

The Mavericks (43-30) have lost two in row, but fortunately for them, it hasn’t hurt them in the Western Conference standings. They have a 3 1/2-game lead over Phoenix, loser of three straight, for the final playoff spot with nine games remaining.

Dallas, though, is in the midst of a rough season-ending stretch, which includes a home matchup with the Suns on April 5. Starting with Friday’s 103-101 loss to Denver, the Mavericks face only two opponents in their final 11 games that have records under .500 - Minnesota (21-53) twice and Memphis.

Dallas is looking to avoid its first three-game losing streak since dropping four in a row Jan. 9-14. It’s coming off a 102-74 blowout by Cleveland on Sunday, as the Mavs were held to their lowest point total of the season and were outscored 30-11 in the third quarter and 55-25 in the second half.

“We’ve had disappointing games and we have always had to bounce back, and for the most part, we have been able to,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We don’t have a lot of time to mope. We have a lot of important games coming up this week, so we are going to have to regroup and get ready to play Minnesota.”

Looking to get back on track, Dallas will try to end the shooting struggles that plagued them during the last two losses. The Mavs shot 36 percent (29-for-80) from the field and 29 percent (5-of-17) from 3-point range Sunday.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points but went 7-for-23 from the floor, while Jason Terry, who averaged 23.0 points in his previous two games, was held to 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting.

The Mavericks shot 36 percent in the defeat to the Nuggets on Friday night, with Nowitzki again going 7-of-23 and Terry shooting 6-for-17.

Like his team, Nowitzki’s history against Minnesota suggests he’ll bounce back Tuesday. He’s averaging 25.7 points and shooting 55.4 percent in his last six games versus the Timberwolves, who have lost 10 straight in the series since a 91-78 win Jan. 4, 2006.

Dallas forward Josh Howard, the team’s third-leading scorer at 18.0 points per game, missed his 11th straight game Sunday with a sore left ankle. His status for Tuesday is uncertain.

Minnesota snapped a seven-game losing streak during which it averaged 89.6 points with a 108-99 win over New Jersey on Sunday. The victory was the Timberwolves’ fifth in their last 31 games.

Mike Miller had 22 points and 10 rebounds while Ryan Gomes added 21 points. Miller came in averaging 5.3 points over his previous six games.

“(Mike) has been aggressive all year long as far as rebounding and passing, but tonight he looked for the shot first,” coach Kevin McHale told the Timberwolves’ official Web site. “That’s definitely what we need. When Mike does that, it just opens up things for everybody else.”

The Timberwolves need Miller to continue to step up given their injury situation. Guard Randy Foye missed Sunday’s game with a sore left hip while forward-center Craig Smith sat out with a calf strain. McHale said both players are questionable for Tuesday.

The Timberwolves haven’t won two in a row since a three-game winning streak Jan. 23-26.

frankvizza · 03-31-2009, 07:51 AM

when is stack returning ?

Underdog · 03-31-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcat075

Big news tonight. It sounds like Josh is good to go tonight

Smokin' our way into the playoffs...

ghazi · 03-31-2009, 08:20 AM

Lets go out there and you know.... beat a team we're supposed to beat.

BGMaverick9 · 03-31-2009, 08:35 AM

i got the post-game thread, haha.

12 Tone Melodies · 03-31-2009, 09:32 AM

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignments
Mar 31, 2009
Dallas @ Minnesota--T. Brothers; E. Lewis; B. Spooner

SMC0007 · 03-31-2009, 09:49 AM

M.A.V.S. MAVS

horse900703 · 03-31-2009, 09:59 AM

If we lose this one, I will be.................

SMC0007 · 03-31-2009, 09:59 AM

Damned?

left texas · 03-31-2009, 11:21 AM

Go Mavs!!

mmmfast · 03-31-2009, 11:23 AM

Time to again look like a playoff team against a scrub team, yay.
I wonder which player we have never heard of will have a career night for the Wolves this evening?

SMC0007 · 03-31-2009, 12:45 PM

Playing Minnesota tonight, Dirk will get 30 pts and seem half interested on defense at times. Maybe he has a good defensive game or maybe it's just Minnesota, but I predict the over-defenders will try and bring the hammer on those who have recently criticized. The more points he scores the bigger the hammer regardless of anything else..points points score more points it's all about the points.

Underdog · 03-31-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMC0007

points points score more points it's all about the points.

Dirk with 35-ish tonight (so I can justify posting that DirkNutz pic in the recap thread!)

Mavs - 108
Wolves - 97

SMC0007 · 03-31-2009, 12:54 PM

That alone should start the recap thread!

Sportstudi · 03-31-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankvizza

when is stack returning ?

If he returns after he has been traded, I don't care.

MX425 · 03-31-2009, 03:12 PM

Does Josh act like he cares tonight ro not? I think he acts interested in the game plan enough to tease us into thinking maybe he will help push us into the 6-7 spot.

Also, Let's Go Baylor.

darkwitzki · 03-31-2009, 04:26 PM

go mavs.

TheMaverick · 03-31-2009, 04:49 PM

I gave up when we lost to the Nuggets when alby made the GDT.

if alby can't get us a win, it's pretty much over.

RareMilk · 03-31-2009, 05:08 PM

I want Stackhouse and Josh back just to see how well these two can contribute on our run to move up.

TheMaverick · 03-31-2009, 05:10 PM

What is wrong with Stackhouse?

MX425 · 03-31-2009, 05:20 PM

it is kind of odd stack was almost ready to come back, then its like he disappeared.

Sportstudi · 03-31-2009, 05:27 PM

Well, I think I can't make it today. I'm tired as hell, have an ass full of work and to get up early tomorrow. Thus another night without or with almost no sleep would seal my physical knockout...

Keep the good mojo for me! Go Mavs!

tcat075 · 03-31-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMaverick

I gave up when we lost to the Nuggets when alby made the GDT.

if alby can't get us a win, it's pretty much over.

2-0 ain't doing nothing for ya?

tcat075 · 03-31-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

Smokin' our way into the playoffs...

Note I didn't say "good" news. I said "big" news.

Interprete that however you want

AxdemxO · 03-31-2009, 05:55 PM

GO MAVS

Lets make this the turning point and go on a run to end the season and enter the playoffs HOT and beat the Lakers ; )

tcat075 · 03-31-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AxdemxO

GO MAVS

Lets make this the turning point and go on a run to end the season and enter the playoffs HOT and beat the Lakers ; )

And the award for the most optimistic goes to...

monty55555 · 03-31-2009, 06:00 PM

Go Mavs!!

TheMaverick · 03-31-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcat075

2-0 ain't doing nothing for ya?

Nothing against your or anything. I like what you bring to the board.

You're just not on alby's level yet though.

tcat075 · 03-31-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMaverick

What is wrong with Stackhouse?

He sucks at basketball?

TheMaverick · 03-31-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcat075

He sucks at basketball?

haha true.

tcat075 · 03-31-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMaverick

Nothing against your or anything. I like what you bring to the board.

You're just not alby's level yet though.

WHAT!?!?!

i'm crushed...

TheMaverick · 03-31-2009, 06:04 PM

it'll take a lot of time and a lot of good posts. you're on your way IMO. of course, i'm a newbie as well (as far as being an official member is concerned)

tcat075 · 03-31-2009, 06:06 PM

Yup, lol.

(does that count as a "good post"? cause you said I'm going to need a lot of them...)

tcat075 · 03-31-2009, 06:07 PM

http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archi...s-to-josh.html

Watch for early looks to Josh
12:59 PM Tue, Mar 31, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Eddie Sefko E-mail News tips

Josh Howard was bouncing around shootaround this morning with tons of energy, which the Mavericks will welcome back with open arms - and hopefully open jump shots - tonight against Minnesota.

The first thing Jason Kidd will try to do is get Howard, who has been out 10 games with a left ankle injury, rolling early in the game.

"Just try to get him an easy shot, a wide-open shot the first go-round,'' Kidd said of the game plan for the early moments of tonight's game. "We'd like to get him an easy one going to the basket. Should that not happen, maybe just make sure it's not a stressful shot.''

Kidd added that the return of Howard could be the catalyst for gaining some positive vibes in the final nine games of the season heading into the playoffs.

"If he's healthy going into the playoffs, it's big,'' Kidd said. "But also if he brings some scoring and defense, he kind of balances us out. And we get more of our bench back. We were trying to get Jet (Terry) some minutes under his belt with him coming back and now with Josh coming back Jet can get back to his role off the bench.''

--Eddie Sefko

We do this every game. How is this news?

GermanDunk · 03-31-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

Dirk with 35-ish tonight (so I can justify posting that DirkNutz pic in the recap thread!)

Mavs - 108
Wolves - 97

I ve never seen you posting the Dirk ball squirrel

GermanDunk · 03-31-2009, 06:27 PM

I´d be interested in the game

Allez les bleus! http://xr.com/skytalkertv

tcat075 · 03-31-2009, 06:34 PM

Someone yell at me and tell me to do my homework...

I may be a little bit late to this game, but I'd rather be late than leave early.

I should AT LEAST catch the 2nd half.

Laotor · 03-31-2009, 06:46 PM

Hopefully if the Mavs get a good lead on the Twolves, they can rest Dirk, Kidd and JET.

That's if they have a good lead and don't let go of it....

AxdemxO · 03-31-2009, 06:52 PM

any good links???

Bayliss · 03-31-2009, 07:14 PM

Dampier had a nice move in the post.