The one (and only) Dallas at New Joisey thread - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

EricaLubarsky · 03-20-2004, 11:23 PM

Just 14 more hours until this game will be splashed all over national TV. I don't like to predict as the title post so I'll do so later. I will say that it is unfortunate that we had to play the Nets without both Kidd and Martin. I always hate playing weakened teams and I really don't like when people say that we "got lucky" when we faced a good team without a key player. No one prospers from injury- it hurts the level of play for all the games involved. I want to beat good, healthy teams. So here's to a good morning/afternoon of basketball.
[img]i/expressions/beer.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/beer.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/beer.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/beer.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/beer.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/beer.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/beer.gif[/img]

Quote:

Mavs Game Previews In English
By Matt Pinto, Mavericks television play-by-play announcer

Matt Pinto
Mavs vs. New Jersey, March 21

The long anticipated longest road trip of the Mavericks season has arrived. Are the Mavs ready for it? That's an impossible question to answer given Dallas' incredible inconsistency throughout this season, but the team is certainly feeling a bit better about its prospects after dominating the Celtics Friday night 120-104 than it did after Wednesday's embarrassing one point loss to the lowly Atlanta Hawks. Over the next nine days, the Mavs will take on five Eastern Conference foes on the road. This stretch to close out the month of March will go a long way towards determining the Mavericks playoff seed in the West. They hit the road 43-25, fifth overall in the West.

Stop number one is New Jersey for a Sunday (March 21 at 12:30pm CT) matinee with the ailing 41-27 Atlantic Division leading Nets. The Mavericks catch a HUGE BREAK {[img]i/expressions/rolleye.gif[/img]}right out of the chute on this swing in that Jersey will be without both of its All-Stars Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin in this game due to knee injuries to both. The loss of the duo has rendered New Jersey's potent offense anemic as the Nets managed just 71 points in a blowout loss at the hands of Detroit Thursday (with the two playing but ailing), then minus the tandem put up just 65 points Friday in a 14 point setback to the Knicks. New Jersey has hit a lull entering the stretch run of the regular season, having dropped seven of it's last thirteen including it's last two. Who'll step into the roles of point guard Kidd and power forward Martin? Former Mavericks Lucious Harris ran the offense against New York Friday, while Rodney Rogers started at the '4' spot.

Antoine Walker
This’ll be the second and final meeting between these two this season, with Kidd and Martin healthy on January 20 the Nets fell to the Mavericks at American Airlines Center 106-93 as all five Dallas starters scored in double figures led by Antoine Walker's 22 point, 13 rebound performance. The Mavs struggled to contain Dallas product Martin as he drilled them for 29 points and 9 boards. Athletic swingman Richard Jefferson was also a hindrance, dinging Dallas for 21 points on 9-15 shooting. The Mavericks big edge in the earlier encounter came on the backboards, where they outrebounded the Nets 52-38 (15-7 offensively). And Dallas did a magnificent job of protecting the ball, turning it over just FOUR TIMES. The one disclaimer to the January match-up on the Mavs home court is the fact that Byron Scott was still coaching the Nets for that one. He's since been replaced by young Lawrence Frank, who unlike Scott, has certainly secured the respect of his players.

Zoran Planinic
In the absence of Kidd and K-Mart the Nets will likely start a back court tandem of Lucious Harris and Kerry Kittles, forwards Richard Jefferson and Rodney Rogers and center Jason Collins. The Nets will bring hustlers Aaron Williams and Brian Scalabrine, shooter Hubert Davis and rookie back-up point man Zoran Planinic off the bench. This team is a mere shell of its potent self without Kidd and Martin!

The Mavericks chief concerns will begin with transition defense, while Kidd makes the Nets fast break hum they will still try to run on their home court in his absence. Dallas must force New Jersey to execute its shaky half court offense by getting back to stop the Nets from running. If the Mavs can accomplish that simple feat they should be in great shape in this game.

Kerry Kittles
Who can hurt Dallas? Kerry Kittles, Lucious Harris and Hubert Davis are all pure jump shooters with three point range. All three are capable of big afternoons if they're not contested on the perimeter. <u>The Mavs must stay at home on all three defensively.</u> How can Dallas exploit New Jersey's loss of Kidd and Martin? By simply playing it's game. Rebound. Run. Get the ball to Dirk Nowitzki and Antoine Walker {and Jamison} inside frequently to attack the Nets in the paint.

Steve Nash
Steve Nash should dominate at the point, triggering what could be a healthy afternoon of Mavericks offense. In the absence of the firepower that Kidd and K-Mart generate 90 plus Mavs points should be plenty to secure victory.

Dallas has beaten the Nets seven consecutive times, including three straight at the Continental Airlines Arena in the Meadowlands. There is absolutely no reason that those trends won't continue here. The Mavericks have a golden opportunity to get this road trip off to a flying start here, if they're to be have a successful week away from home and begin applying heat to the teams in front of them in the Western standings this game is a great start point to get that accomplished.

mavsfanforever · 03-20-2004, 11:31 PM

F'em. Who cares what they say. We need W's. Actually considering the fact that we have a back to back NJ and Philly, it might help to have Kidd and Martin out of the game. I am sorry but how do you know that martin is out?

EricaLubarsky · 03-20-2004, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: mavsfanforever
F'em. Who cares what they say. We need W's. Actually considering the fact that we have a back to back NJ and Philly, it might help to have Kidd and Martin out of the game. I am sorry but how do you know that martin is out?

Matt Pinto says so. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] I havent heard anyone but Pinto say Martin will be out, but I saw the ESPN ticker says Kidd will be out 5 days.

I'd like to hear an update on Martin- anyone hear anything?

MavsFanFinley · 03-20-2004, 11:42 PM

Taken from the DMN game preview:

Putting the hurt on:

They not only are without Kidd, who has a bum knee, but may be without Kenyon Martin, who is suffering from tendinitis in his left knee.

The game preview on yahoo has Martin as out for our game.

EricaLubarsky · 03-20-2004, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: MavsFanFinley
Taken from the DMN game preview:

Putting the hurt on:

They not only are without Kidd, who has a bum knee, but may be without Kenyon Martin, who is suffering from tendinitis in his left knee.

Looks like either Pinto knows something DMN doesnt, or Pinto is guilty of some irresponsible journalism.

mavsfanforever · 03-20-2004, 11:45 PM

I just saw the box score of Detroit Vs Nj Nets and it looks like Martin played about 38 minutes of that game until the game went out of reach. If martin is out then there is not question that Dallas will win it.

mavsfanforever · 03-20-2004, 11:48 PM

Amazing article from Rivers: Mention of difference between Minny and Dallas. Also this article was written before Kidd was injured.
Defense is the Difference
The Nets are coming off a huge win against Sacramento on Tuesday night. That's a question they needed answered. During their (13-game) winning streak, the teams they played weren't very impressive. But you still have to win those games. Those games are still on the schedule and just because they were teams that were below .500 or not great teams, most teams still can't put a streak together like that.

They went West without Jason Kidd and I think they did extremely well without Kidd. (Editor's note: Doc wrote this blog entry before Kidd went on the injured list on March 19.) But this is the big question for them: Can they beat the elite teams in the West?

By beating Sacramento the way they did on Tuesday night has to give them confidence. The game is interesting because of the style of play from both teams. It's funny, the Nets are a running team and want to push it up, but after they push it up, they either score in the first six seconds of the shot clock or the last six seconds of the shot clock. Where Dallas is an open-court freelance offensive basketball team.

The difference will be on the other end. Dallas has struggled all year defensively. And on this streak, where the Nets have turned around their season, it's been all about their defense, although they're looked upon as a fast break basketball team. They are a terrific defensive basketball team.

Kenyon Martin makes them great. The whole team is athletic. Martin is athletic. Jason Kidd is athletic and so is Richard Jefferson. If you put three great athletes, who have basketball skills, on the floor at the same time and the desire to play defense, you have a pretty good defensive team.

The thing the Nets lack is size, yet they get away with it because of their quickness.

On offense, New Jersey doesn't have a great center and they don't have great shooters. Yet, they still dish assists extremely well, and to me, that is more impressive than Sacramento. Usually, when you don't have great shooting or a great big to pound the ball into, it's very difficult to compile assists, because usually guys need to take the ball off the dribble to the basket.

Yet, the Nets still do it by moving the ball. And again, that goes back to the defensive end, because the Nets can stop you in a halfcourt game. When the Nets get stops and steals, there's no such thing as a halfcourt game with the Nets, because they are pushing the ball.

As for Dallas, incorporating Antwan Jamison and Atoine Walker has taken time, but that's not a surprise. I've read all this stuff about Dallas and how disappointing their season has been and how they haven't won a lot of games on the road. Personally, before the year, I expected them to struggle a bit until toward the end.

I don't think you make significant changes that they made and expect things to go smoothly. The difference between Dallas and Minnesota, which also made key changes, is Minnesota changed two guys and put them in the starting lineup to fit spots where the Wolves were weak before. In Dallas, they brought in more guys where they already had guys playing those positions. In a lot of cases, they have guys playing out of position just to try to get them minutes on the floor, so it's been harder for them to get going.

So, I think the game will be played at a high pace, it will be an enjoyable game to watch, but the question will be "Can Dallas play enough defense to win this basketball game?"

mary · 03-20-2004, 11:49 PM

Here's some snippets from AP article about the Martin injury

Quote:

Also, tendinitis in Kenyon Martin's left knee kept him out of the Nets' game against the New York Knicks on Friday night, and he did not sound optimistic that he'll return soon.

Martin said his tendinitis was causing the worst knee pain of his career.

``Hopefully this is just something that can go away. It's just a matter of getting right, me and Jason,'' Martin said. ``You want to go in to the playoffs healthy, you don't want to go in limping.''

EricaLubarsky · 03-20-2004, 11:58 PM

good article, MFForever. Really good.

You have to give the Nets credit for what they do. Unfortunately Kidd is their one-man fast break and they multiple man fast-break leader. The Nets arent that bad without Kidd but they are almost completely locked into the half-court set which isnt as kind to them as the full court is.

Kid California · 03-21-2004, 12:05 AM

From Dallas-Mavs.com:

It doesn't matter if Kidd or Martin is out. They will get spanked either way. Nellie is pissed and Walker is confident. Bottom line, the Mavs need Wins, and it doesnt really matter if its against a team with 95 percent of their talent sitting in street clothes. No mercy.

Simon2 · 03-21-2004, 12:49 AM

Without Kidd and Martin, the Mavs should destroy this team. Too bad, the announcers will probably say that the win was more of Kidd and Marting not being there. Regardless, Mavs should win by 15 at least. It should be over by the half.

DubOverdose · 03-21-2004, 01:31 AM

I will be soooo happy if the mavs blow the Nets out and hold them to 80 points...please!

CT Mavsfan · 03-21-2004, 06:24 AM

I don't normally post, but I just needed to add that this is my first time seeing the Mavs play live today! I won't make a prediction, but I am obviously hoping for (and expecting) a victory. Go Mavs! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Mavdog · 03-21-2004, 10:44 AM

Our boys need to start their drive for home court in the playoffs with a W today in Jersey.

I don't like the fact the Nets are down a leader as the other guys generally step it up when that happens.

I see the Mavs taking care of business, dominating from the start ala the way they played on the road last year, with confidence.

Quetzalcoatl · 03-21-2004, 10:47 AM

I'm glad Kidd and Martin are out. I also think that even with both of them healthy we would beat them, but much better for us if they are out. As you have told in your posts, we need wins.

Nevertheless... Be careful! The Atlanta game also was a easy win and then we lose.

We must win.

We will win.

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Simon2 · 03-21-2004, 11:33 AM

To make it interesting, what about having Nash and Dirk sit? :-) I would like to see how Nellie spins this one where the Nets are a dangerous team. Nellie will probably say that the Nets were missing players. Classy.

mavsman55 · 03-21-2004, 01:32 PM

I predict that Dallas will take a game off since Martin and Kidd are injured, and get beat. They will go out there and expect to win without trying, give up 120 pts, and make an almost-comeback in the 4th quarter but come up short. Either that, or they keep up their momentum from the other night and blow out NJ. Hopefully the latter.

Novice#41 · 03-21-2004, 01:34 PM

no kidd - nash duel today ?!

well, who cares ?!

i wanna see a big W and i'm convinced they will make it...

mavs win by 12

Chiwas · 03-21-2004, 01:39 PM

WOO HOO!

At last the Mavs in the Mexican tv!

No more Pinto and Ortegel. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

They always show a NBA game at Sunday, the only in the whole week, but rarely a Mavs game.

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

mavsman55 · 03-21-2004, 01:42 PM

2 minutes played, 2 wide open 3-point attempts by New Jersey... not looking good so far.

Chiwas · 03-21-2004, 01:47 PM

Frustrating.

If you were the owner or the head coach, wouldn't you care about this?

MavsFanFinley · 03-21-2004, 01:49 PM

Get Nash out right now !! Get Daniels or Best in there this minute.

mavsfanforever · 03-21-2004, 01:50 PM

Mavs are sucking at the offensive end and that has created some easy baskets for NJ. Once mavs start making some baskets , they will blow this out.

Chiwas · 03-21-2004, 01:50 PM

DubOverdose · 03-21-2004, 01:51 PM

ARG! Not a good start AGAIN! Anyone excited that the Mavs are now the #1 scoring team in the NBA? Mavs 104ppg, Sac 103.9ppg

mavsman55 · 03-21-2004, 01:52 PM

they are playing crappy, effortless defense right now. They better turn something around and make some defensive stops.

MavsFanFinley · 03-21-2004, 01:54 PM

Nash lucked out twice with kick balls which would have been turnovers. The turnover by Jamison was because of Nash. And he's throwing up some ugly junk on offense.

#41 · 03-21-2004, 01:54 PM

Nash 0-4 Dirk 1-3 hmm

#41 · 03-21-2004, 01:54 PM

Nash 0-4 Dirk 1-3 hmm

dude1394 · 03-21-2004, 01:55 PM

Boy we cannot get a call at all.

#41 · 03-21-2004, 01:57 PM

what a crappy one

MavsFanFinley · 03-21-2004, 01:57 PM

Thank goodness for Finley.

Why are we doubling anybody on NJ today? They're just passing the ball and finding the open man outside or the one cutting to the basket.

MightyToine · 03-21-2004, 01:59 PM

Walker 0-0

It's pretty sad when you WANT the most inefficient player on this team to start taking shots....

Nash is 0-4

Dirk isn't faring much better....

Only FIN has come to play....

WAKE THE FUK UP, YOU MORONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chiwas · 03-21-2004, 01:59 PM

Our defense is the Grouyere cheese defense.

Holes everywhere.

#41 · 03-21-2004, 02:00 PM

Finley keeps us in, but we'll need points from Nash and Nowitzki too... We should really be able to get on top without Kidd and Martin on them...

dude1394 · 03-21-2004, 02:02 PM

When you really watch fortson's play you can see why he doesn't get many minutes. He's just not alert defensively. He hustles his brains out for rebounds, but is really slow on identifying what to do on defense. He also seems to be saving fouls instead of using them on cutters. He's really poor as the gatekeeper.

Redbug · 03-21-2004, 02:04 PM

How come the Mavs never show up ready to play?????

Playing an undermanned Nets team that has struggled to score points lately and the Mavs are down double digits quicker than you can say...WTF??????

dude1394 · 03-21-2004, 02:05 PM

Dirk really needs to take a cue from the last celtics game there aren't shot-blockers out there.

The nets are out-running us. We have more difficulty with running teams this year but it's really to be expected as we are playing bigger in general.

Bookit · 03-21-2004, 02:07 PM

Dirk looks lost, yet again.

mavsman55 · 03-21-2004, 02:07 PM

Kittles is killing them... PLAY SOME FREAKIN DEFENSE DALLAS!

But hey, at least Nelson made a request for them to play defense. Set the goal of 25 in the first quarter, haha, that's kind of pathetic but at least he acknowledged defense for once.

And yes, Finley is the only one playing right now for Dallas.