GDT: Mavs vs Hawks January 29th - 7:30 CST/8:30 EST

[Lor20]

4 in a row.. with atl on a b2b.. get it done

Hawks-Mavericks Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO
Posted Jan 29 2011 1:19AM
Dirk Nowitzki still isn't fully healthy, but the Dallas Mavericks are winning partly thanks to an unlikely source.
With their best player still working himself into shape, the Mavericks may need another strong effort from Jose Juan Barea as they attempt to run their winning streak to four against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.
Nowitzki missed nine games with a sore right knee, and is still trying to re-establish himself through seven games. The star forward is averaging 19.0 points in that span, a drop from his team-leading 23.1 season average.
He scored 18 points in a 111-106 win over Houston on Thursday, but stated that he's still struggling physically.
"Not very well, but it's getting better," Nowitzki said of his conditioning. "Moving better again, especially in the first half, but in the second half I got a little fatigued. But I've got to keep on fighting, and eventually I'll get there."
While Nowitzki attempts to regain his form and fitness, Dallas (30-15) has won four of five and three in a row with help from Barea.
Though he is averaging a career-high 8.5 points as a reserve, Barea scored 19 points Thursday after getting 25 in a 112-105 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. He's made 17 of 22 shots in those two games.
"Everybody has to step up," said Barea, averaging 6.7 points during his four-plus seasons with the Mavericks. "There's no question he's not even close to being Dirk Nowitzki. We've got to keep getting wins and giving him some time."
Tyson Chandler is also helping to pick up some of the slack. The center is averaging 20.3 points during the winning streak, more than doubling his season average of 9.9. He leads the team with 9.1 rebounds per game, and grabbed 15 while scoring 21 points for a second consecutive contest against the Rockets.
A meeting with Atlanta (30-17) might get Nowitzki untracked. He's averaging 26.9 points over the last 10 matchups, but struggled to get to 21 points in a 98-93 road victory Nov. 20, making 8 of 22 field goals.
Barea and Chandler combined for 13 points in that meeting.
Dallas has won 10 of 12 at home against Atlanta, but lost 80-75 in the most recent matchup at American Airlines Center on Dec. 5, 2009, ending its five-game home winning streak in the series.
The Hawks enter this meeting with some momentum after beating New York 111-102 on Friday after their six-game road winning streak ended with Wednesday's 98-90 loss to Milwaukee.
Joe Johnson has been somewhat erratic of late, scoring at least 30 points in four of the last seven games, including 34 against the Knicks. However, the swingman has scored under 20 points in the other three games in that stretch.
He leads the team with 19.9 points per game.
Atlanta might be awaiting word from the NBA concerning an altercation between Marvin Williams and New York's Shawne Williams, as the two were ejected with a technical foul and another for fighting Friday.
Marvin Williams, averaging 10.8 points, has been called for only 10 technical fouls in six seasons, none in 2010-11 until Friday. He'd been ejected only once before in a loss at Sacramento on Dec. 10, 2006.
"I've never seen him snap like that," coach Larry Drew. 'It's an emotional game. Sometimes these things happen. Hopefully whatever the penalty is, it won't be too severe."

[j0Shi]

Uh oh ... Hawks are a good rebounding team -.-

[dirt_dobber]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dal...ks-preview.ece

By JEFF MILLER / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

Published 28 January 2011 08:59 PM

7:30 p.m. today; FSSW, ESPN-FM (103.3), KFLC-AM (1270 in Spanish)

Scouting the Hawks

In the dominoes that form the NBA schedule, the Hawks will arrive for the second of back-to-back games after hosting New York, which played its second of back-to-backs. {ellipsis} The Hawks went into Friday’s play having won eight of their last 11. One of the losses was a record setting 100-59 humiliation against New Orleans on Jan. 21. And in losing at Milwaukee on Wednesday, they allowed the league’s lowest scoring team to pull out a 98-90 win with 34 points in the fourth quarter. {ellipsis} F Al Horford returned to the lineup against Milwaukee after missing two games with a sprained right ankle. {ellipsis} PG Mike Bibby played Friday against the New York Knicks after x-rays on his injured left hand were negative. Bibby missed Thursday’s practice. {ellipsis} Rick Sund, part of the Mavs’ front office from their founding through 1994, is in his third season as Hawks general manager.

Scouting the Mavs

The Mavs’ 98-93 win at Atlanta on Nov. 20 resembled Thursday night’s 111-106 victory over Houston. Dallas raced to a big lead but had to hold off a fierce counterattack at the finish. {ellipsis} Reserve guard J.J. Barea is 20-for-28 from the floor in the last three games, averaging 17.3 points. ... Center Tyson Chandler has tied or set his season scoring high in each of the last three games. ... In each of the Mavs’ last two games, they have established a season high for points in a half. They scored 58 in the second half on Tuesday night to overtake the Los Angeles Clippers 112-105. They scored 64 in the first half against Houston. ... When scoring at least 100 points this season, the Mavs are 20-1. ... This will be the first of six consecutive games against Eastern Conference teams.

[Mav Addict]

Play some freaking defense...score more than 20 in the first quarter...get balance scoring...... Wait that's the key to every game

[41mvp]

Dirk vs. J.Smith PF war tonight
I hope Dirk will be winner!!!
Go Mavs!!!
F the Hawks!!!

[Mav Addict]

Yes my Polish comrade .....F the Hawks!

and Josh Smith couldn't hold Dirks jock strap....although that sentiment would change if he ever suits up in a Mav uniform

[12 Tone Melodies]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignments
Jan. 29, 2011
Atlanta @ Dallas--Bill Spooner, John Goble, Scott Wall

[xrobx]

JJB scores 40 and mavs cruise to victory

[BGMaverick9]

No Peja tonight, there is a possibility he could play sometime next week but that is still iffy.

Carlisle said the team needs to remain in scramble mode and be ready to face a tough challenge in the Hawks.

Sasha's contract expires after the game tonight, Donnie Nelson said that they will evaluate the situation after the game. Everyone was tight-lipped on the situation.

[j0Shi]

Sasha will be gone after tonight.

[MavsFTR]

Just get Kidd to shove the coach again and we'll be fine

[fluid.forty.one]

go mavs!

[DMOC]

Which of the two teams today is the better rebounding team?

[CadBane]

Who will Marvin Williams take a swing at tonight???

[BGMaverick9]

Originally Posted by CadBane

Who will Marvin Williams take a swing at tonight???

Air or himself...he's suspended

[deamon]

OKC is just behind us, we have to win it.

[DavidDaMonkey]

Originally Posted by deamon

OKC is just behind us, we have to win it.

We have to win for sure. If OKC catches us in January, we might as well tank for a lottery pick.

[BGMaverick9]

Cuban mentioned there are 3 ways to look at a team: Win a Championship, Save Money or blow it up...You can't go halfway in each setting.

more @BallinWithBryan

[Rick41]

Let's get this win.

Dirk needs to get himself back to normal.

[Kante]

Hope Dirk shoots the ball better tonight.

[41N]

wheres bob?

[Kante]

Who is the guy with Followill?

[Rick41]

Derrick Harper filling in for Bob Ortegal tonight.

[Rick41]

Dirk starting off sexy.

[sefant77]

why is the aac so empty?

[SleepyEye]

I stayed awake in Germany.... Don't tell me there is no link.... 8-/

[Kante]

It was a good time, Deshawn!

[LSMF]

D

[Kante]

Links:
http://atdhe.net/33367/watch-atlanta...llas-mavericks
http://www.firstrow.net/watch/47761/...nta-hawks.html
http://www.firstrow.net/watch/47761/...nta-hawks.html
http://www.firstrow.net/watch/47761/...nta-hawks.html
http://www.firstrow.net/watch/47761/...nta-hawks.html

[sefant77]

we are missing bunnies

[LSMF]

Nice move Dirkster

[Rick41]

Sweet cut by Dirk. His knee looked fine on that sprint to the basket.

[LetsGoMavs]

Dirk...again!

[CadBane]

Dirk has started VERY well. Lets see if the Mavs actually continue to go to him instead of arbitrarily sitting him for massive stretches and going away from him on offense.

[CadBane]

Could our wings at least try to guard Johnson? Johnson is just using Kidd.

[sefant77]

2nd bunny missed by Sasha

[Kante]

What´s the career-high for Johnson? He will get a new one tonight...

9 baskets, 9 in the paint/layups for the Hawks!

[j0Shi]

Hawks getting everything they want inside. Think 16 out of 18 so far in the paint.

[CadBane]

Originally Posted by j0Shi

Hawks getting everything they want inside. Think 16 out of 18 so far in the paint.

It's mostly just Joe Johnson shooting floaters right over Kidd. Can't blame the bigs.

[Rick41]

Haywood is in, let's see if he gives some effort this game.