GDT:1/8/11 Orlando @ Dallas 7:30 PM CST

[mavs777]

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=310108006
When the Orlando Magic hosted the Dallas Mavericks last month, Dallas was in the midst of a 17-1 stretch while Orlando, days after overhauling its roster, was on its way to an eighth loss in nine games.

Nothing has gone wrong for the Magic since. Little has gone right for the Mavericks.

Orlando looks to match the longest winning streak in franchise history Saturday night when it opens a five-game road trip against struggling Dallas, which hopes to avoid a fifth loss in seven games since Dirk Nowitzki went down with a knee injury.

The Magic (24-12) had lost five of six when they got an extreme makeover Dec. 18, swapping four of the rotation's top eight players for Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark.

After playing shorthanded in a loss the day of the overhaul, Orlando dropped the first two games with its reconstructed look -- including a 105-99 defeat against Dallas (26-9) on Dec. 21.

"It can't get any worse," Magic center Dwight Howard said.

Sure enough, it didn't get worse in Orlando. These days it couldn't get much better. The Magic, who averaged 89.3 points during their 1-8 skid, have scored 106.5 per game since. They stretched their winning streak to eight Friday, using a 39-21 run in the third quarter to cruise past Houston, 110-95.

A victory in Dallas -- where Orlando has won its last two -- would tie the franchise-record winning streak of nine, first set in the 1994-95 season and matched in 2000-01.

"I think the trades have made us better, there's no doubt in my mind," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I thought that we've come together offensively quicker than I thought we would have, but we still need to work on our defense."

While Arenas is still struggling -- he's shot 35.9 percent since the trade -- Richardson and Turkoglu have thrived. Richardson has averaged 14.3 points and Turkoglu 13.5 during the streak, with both shooting above 50 percent from the floor overall and 40 percent from 3-point range.

"We still have some things to work on but for the most part, everybody is a lot more comfortable than they were weeks ago," guard Jameer Nelson said. "Guys are coming in from a different situation and a different system and stuff like that. We just try to make them as comfortable as possible."

As Orlando's offense has begun to click, Dallas' has sputtered. Not only has Nowitzki missed the past six games with a sprained right knee, but third-leading scorer Caron Butler was lost for the season last Saturday after tearing a tendon in his right knee.

The Mavericks are shooting 43.3 percent since Nowitzki went down and averaging 89.8 points -- nearly 10 fewer than what they were scoring during a 24-5 start.

Thursday's 99-95 loss to Oklahoma City was Dallas' third in four games at home -- its worst stretch at the American Airlines Center since opening 2008-09 with four consecutive defeats.

Saturday's game will mark the first time in Nowitzki's 13-year career he's missed seven games in a season. The earliest he'll return is Wednesday, when the Mavs open a four-game trip at Indiana.

"We definitely miss him," center Tyson Chandler said. "Not only down the stretch, but he changes the entire game. When he's in the game, he stretches the floor. Guys aren't as willing to help off of him, he's a big body. He plays great team defense."

Chandler's biggest problem Saturday will be containing Howard. Orlando's big man has averaged 26.8 points, 17.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in the teams' last four meetings.

[left texas]

Not sure we are going to be streak busters tonight, but we can hope.
Go Mavs!!

[Kante]

Seriously dude, stop it! So, who makes the GDT?

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Kante

Seriously dude, stop it! So, who makes the GDT?

We lost the last game, so it's wide open - I guess mavs777 makes the GDT this time...

Go Mavs!

[deamon]

Still No Dirk, and ORL is better team than OKC.
If some players step up, there is a chance to win it.

[fluid.forty.one]

okay I will for SURE be gone today. GO MAVS!

[fluid.forty.one]

Originally Posted by Underdog

We lost the last game, so it's wide open - I guess mavs777 makes the GDT this time...

Go Mavs!

Nah, he's still an asshole.

[12 Tone Melodies]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignments
Jan. 8, 2011
Orlando @ Dallas--James Capers, Curtis Blair, Tony Brothers

[41mvp]

Go Mavs!!!

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

Nah, he's still an asshole.

But if the Mavs win tonight, he'll be a victorious asshole...

(good enough for me!)

[mavs777]

Originally Posted by Kante

Seriously dude, stop it! So, who makes the GDT?

We haven't been playing great of late so i started it, if someone wants to take it down and start up a new one, I honestly don't care

[mavs777]

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

Nah, he's still an asshole.

correct

[j0Shi]

Useless to say that quite a lot has to go right tonight to win this one. Without Dirk we depend on our 3pt-shots, but can't turn this on into a shootout from beyond the arc either cause they will eat us alive in that case.
I would think best chance to win is getting Howard into foul trouble, work through our bigs and use our size-advantage to wear them down. But you know this isn't going to happen

Additionally I doubt Barea will score a single layup with Howard defending the rim

[Axilla]

lol 6 out of 13 responses are about who actually started the game day thread.

i've seen the semblance of superstition, but is it this serious?

[Axilla]

^^^ a little alliteration for dat ass

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by Axilla

lol 6 out of 13 responses are about who actually started the game day thread.

i've seen the semblance of superstition, but is it this serious?

Superstition or not, the GDT is our most sacred tradition, and no one has so crassly defiled it with such heinous sacrilege as mavs777 has.

[Axilla]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

Superstition or not, the GDT is our most sacred tradition, and no one has so crassly defiled it with such heinous sacrilege as mavs777 has.

well you know what they say about traditions..


either way GOM AVS

[BGMaverick9]

The Mavericks have not allowed 100 points in 11 straight games, longest active streak in NBA. The Magic are averaging 106.5 ppg in last 8, all wins.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by Axilla

well you know what they say about traditions..


either way GOM AVS

It's what makes our forum great, rook.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by BGMaverick9

The Mavericks have not allowed 100 points in 11 straight games, longest active streak in NBA. The Magic are averaging 106.5 ppg in last 8, all wins.

We still have yet to give up 104 all season.

[Bayliss]

I just don't find that streak that impressive. The way the Mavs are playing... a lot of nights they would be lucky if they reach 80 points.....

That never played as a fast paced team before Dirk and Caron got hurt, but I imagine they are playing evwn slower now....

[CadBane]

Scoring 80 points will be a real struggle tonight.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by @tysonchandler

@swish41 You have never dunked on me in your life! you couldn't dunk on me with a running start & a step latter 2 jump off of

Link

[tcat075]

Here's a better Dirk tweet:

RT @Beastatwork: Is @swish41 out for the rest of the season?(Are u insane?)

and...

RT @EGotGame: @swish41 looks especially good in a suit...(My suit game is sick)

(for those confused by twitter, its a question, his answer is in the parenthesis.)

[mavs777]

lol him ragging on Roddy for dressing like a waiter

[NoTnERb]

I won't be able to watch the game tonight, but let's go mavs!!!

[BGMaverick9]

Carlisle said end of shot-clock situations are leading to Kidd's shooting woes. Mavericks have to be more aggressive early in the shot clock. Activity on the boards will be huge tonight, leak outs are troublesome against a team like this.

Orlando is showing great balance and over the last seven games, they have 8 players scoring in double figures.

More @ballinwithbryan

[GermanDunk]

I should get this Twitter thing, too... ;.)

( Do you have to use a mobile to communicate with Dirk and Tyson ? )

[tgfan]

Originally Posted by BGMaverick9

Mavericks have to be more aggressive early in the shot clock.

Agreed. Mavs players are not decisive enough to get an edge on the defense. Either make a move, or pass the ball.

[tgfan]

All I know is, with Dwight Howard shooting FTs at 57%, RC better use every center he has to foul Howard and put him on the line. But make sure he does not make the shot. Make them beat us with jump shots.

[Rick41]

Originally Posted by tcat075

Here's a better Dirk tweet:



and...



(for those confused by twitter, its a question, his answer is in the parenthesis.)

I have Dirk's twitter account set up to everytime he tweets, I get a text message showing me what he said. Well today Dirk decided to be a tweet whore while I was taking an epic nap.

I forgive him though, he is still awesome.

[Bayliss]

I just save the web address of his twitter account because my phone can only have so many texts a month...

[Rick41]

I was watching Haywood practice on his free throws behind Mark and Bob... only saw him shoot about 5 but he clanked like 4 of them.

[Bayliss]

Maybe it's the reverse. You alwaya hear about guys making thousands in practice... then brivking them in the game. Perhaps he is doing the opposiye... getting all his bricks out of the way.

[Rick41]

Originally Posted by Bayliss

Maybe it's the reverse. You alwaya hear about guys making thousands in practice... then brivking them in the game. Perhaps he is doing the opposiye... getting all his bricks out of the way.

I pray to god you're correct Bayliss haha.

I mean I'm no NBA talent on a $50+ million dollar contract, but I can do better than 27%.

[Rick41]

Tyson already picks up his first foul 13 seconds in. Sigh.

[deamon]

THREEvenson!

[Jon Avalon]

Threevenson!!!

[Rick41]

Threevenson has become almost automatic from the 3 line!!

[Bayliss]

Nice start offensively. Chandler needs to back away from Howard a little and make him shoot the outside shot. Easier said than done, I know.