Mavs vs Raptors Gameday Thread

[ZueriMav]

Apparently, nobody does like to start the gameday thread today. Well, I'll do it. Even if it is for the first time.

Since I'm 0-3 in all my predictions up till now.... oooups, 0-4 since yesterday...

102-95 Raptors

[FineCubanCigar]

I see the Raptors winning.

[ocelot_ark]

No Nash - no win. Raptors 99, Mavs 90.

[irontoad]

Dirk won't have two terrible games in a row; Mavs will win 105-98.

[Maringa]

If Vince starts off well, it could be a long night for Dallas. Toronto has been playing a whole lot better than last year. If both Nash and Delk are out of the line-ups tonight, I expect to see continuing frustration, miscommunication, and horrendous match-up schemes by Nellie. For Finely's sake, I hope he starts to come out of his slump...if not, Nellie needs to pull Finley out and let him stew for a while. I think Nellie has no choice but to put a combination of Bradley/Fortson on the floor for a minimum of 25+ minutes. Anything less, we are going to see Toronto become the best three point shooting team in the NBA for one night (not having Bradley or Fortson manning the middle, causes the perimeter defense to try and help inside, leaving open 3 pt. looks for the oponents).

Prediction: I think Mavs lose this one ... 105-91

[Dirk Nowitzki]

Look at the quality of the 2-3 that we have been getting torched by. John Wallace, Skip Alston, Larry Hughes & so on. If our zone defense continues to net the results it has so far, VC could go off for 50. I say go back to man to man tonight & tell Delk & Howard to shadow Vince wherever he goes. If he goes to take a leak, I want Delk or Howard right there beside him. I am officially starting a "Make another move before the trade deadline" campaign. I may be pressing the panic button a little early, but I just dont see how this is gonna work. If Walker continues to impress like he has so far, I say try to move him while his stock is high. A deal with the Bulls (for Chandler or Curry) or Hawks (for Mohammed or Ratliff) would be nice & Walker is really the only tradeable contract we have that could net us a Big Man.

[dallas_esq]

Originally posted by: irontoad
Dirk won't have two terrible games in a row; Mavs will win 105-98.

I agree with this proposition. Finley won't either. Mavs win.

[Jamisonite]

Carter will have a great game. But Toronto has no inside presence. Therefore Jamison Walker and Dirk will go off
Mavs win 97-88

[Simon2]

All I know is Carter will have a great game and their big men will have a field day. No predictions.

[Simon2]

Oh. I forgot. One more thing, after game, we will all be hating Nellie again.

[kingrex]

I knew the Mavs would struggle against the Wiz, more of the same tonight, but a little more focused. If we can find a stronger inside presence or shoot better on the outside we should be fine.

Mavs 102
Raps 95

[nowitzki_prophecy]

No Nash no win????people,its Toronto!!
dont get confused over a bad game,this is a sure thing,that could become a blow-out.
Expect Dirk to shine.

[Psychedelic Fuzz]

I think Dirk's woes continue. He won't be as bad, but not great, and the mavs eke this one out 103-94.

[ames7]

I am concerned b/c I didn't think we'd lose to the Wiz either but I think this may be a grind-it-out win. 97-93 Mavs.

[kg_veteran]

I'll tell you what would be nice to see...

Shawn Bradley starting and playing 24 min or more.

Marquis Daniels and Josh Howard getting time.

Travis Best sitting on the bench.

Man-to-man defense.

[bernardos70]

Our performance level has been fluctuating so much, that I will only predict a win for the mavs, just because even without nash, we're still way better than that one-man team that is toronto.

[seelenjaeger]

Quite a convincing game with both Vinsanity and some little German Mav shining bright ...

Mavs by 13.

[Evilmav2]

Vince Carter, Milt Palacio, and Lamond Murray are going to put on a shooting exhibition tonight and bust the Maverick's Bradley-less zone.

Craptors by 17.

[Hitman]

I would be shocked if they didn't come out with intensity tonight.

[LRB]

I honestly don't know what to expect. I think that we should be able to win this game going away even without Nash if our players were used effectively. I mean significant minutes for Bradley. No zone w/o Bradley. Post Dirk and Jamison often. Start Delk at PG and have Walker do most of the ball distribution. Get Daniels and Howard meaningful PT. Keep the Poatato on the pine.

Just don't think it will happen. It will take a superhuman effort from our players to win tonight because the will be forced to do it the hard way.

[OutletPass]

The potato is scheduled to start from what I've read, LRB.

Heaven help us all.

[madape]

The raptors have always considered us softies. Wait 'till they get a load of the POTATO.

Dirk's gonng BITCH SLAP these girls. I can see him going off for 40.

Nelson can't ignore the effect of the MANTIS anymore. The zone will look very, very good tonight. Mavs win by 15

Dirk & co: 108
Vincent: 93

[DIRK BRASIL]

Mavs beat Raptors.
No Nash, no problem.
MAVS 107 x 98

DIRK 30P, 16R
FIN 18P
WALKER 15P
DANIELS 10P, 3A

[LRB]

Originally posted by: OutletPass
The potato is scheduled to start from what I've read, LRB.

Heaven help us all.

[img]i/expressions/rolleye.gif[/img]

Well then they'll have to repaint the lane during halftime to make up for all the driving the Raptors will be doing down it. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

[madape]

DIRK BRASIL is predicting double digits from Marquis Daniels! That can only mean one thing. Garbage Time!

Obrigado, DIRK BRASIL! Let's hope you are right!

[Murphy3]

I thought the Mavs couldn't be expected to play at a decent level without Nash?
didn't nellie say something like that?

[ReDIRKulous]

I think Finley needs to take a year off or something.

When was the last time Finley hit his first 1 or 2 shots in a game? Maybe it is just my imagination but it seems like eons ago.

[Murphy3]

5 boards and none for dirk
[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]... he's showing consistency over the past few games on the glass

[bernardos70]

4 points for nowitzki off two walker assists! Nice job! 11-2, toronto calls a timeout.

[MavsFanFinley]

I think Finley needs to take a year off or something.

When was the last time Finley hit his first 1 or 2 shots in a game? Maybe it is just my imagination but it seems like eons ago.

Yeah, a year off will do wonders for Finley.

Was it the Utah or Miami game where he hit his first 4 or 5 shots?

[ReDIRKulous]

I thought the Mavs couldn't be expected to play at a decent level without Nash?
didn't nellie say something like that?

Since when do you have to play at a decent level to go up 11 - 2 on the Raptors?

[Max Power]

Why do other teams go on runs right after timeouts? Last night the Wizards went on a run after every timeout and now the Raptors are doing it.

[Murphy3]

walker's a TO machine so far

[irontoad]

Originally posted by: Murphy3
5 boards and none for dirk
[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]... he's showing consistency over the past few games on the glass

Wait Murph, he got a board, he's tearing it up now!! [img]i/expressions/moon.gif[/img]

[Simon2]

Mavs aren't playing the zone and are playing man-man defense well. I hope this continues.

[Murphy3]

walker's going for a quadruple double..
5 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 turnovers

[Mandyahl]

make it 7 turnovers, murph.

we got an early daniels sighting...

[MavsFanFinley]

Two things I'm thankful for tonight:

1. Dirk is taking the most shots.

2. Finley isn't the one with 7 turnovers.

[Simon2]

Finley takes a short jumpshot and misses. Toronto gets the ball. Next play, Finley turns the ball over. This is getting to be routine and tiresome.

[Murphy3]

how can the mavs be so good on the boards while dirk only has 1?
i guess the mavs simply have alot of good rebounders and he's losing out on alot of the ones that he would have had to jamison and walker...perhaps alot of that goes along with playing the center position