Mavs Moneyball

Tuesday Toss-Up

2010-03-09T18:09:38Z

Here are your Tuesday links and info on YOUR, DALLAS, MAAAVERIIICKS!

Dallas Mavericks Cruise to 12th Straight Win | Eddie Sefko-DMN

"The night, however, ended on a sour note as J.J. Barea stepped on Darko Milicic's foot with 2:29 left in the fourth quarter. Barea limped to the locker room. X-rays were negative, and Barea said, "I think it'll be OK" as he hobbled around the locker room.

It couldn't put a damper on the winning streak, however. The run is tied for fifth-longest in franchise history, and it'll be another 11 days before they face a team with a winning record. Plus, their next four games are at home."

Darko's suck is so strong, he pulled Barea toward him and caused him to injure his ankle. Hopefully Juan will be alright.

Mavs will play the outdoor game next October and Dirty gets named WPOW. Can I get an Amen?

French may soon call on Beaubois for national team. | Sefko-DMN

An article from yesterday on how the French want to steal Roddy for their own nefarious gain. Viva Le Résistance!

Barkley considers hopping on Mavs bandwagon. | Tim Macmahon-ESPN Dallas

"Noted Mavs critic Charles Barkley is almost ready to jump on the bandwagon. A team that was like a “pretty girl with no brain” has earned Barkley’s respect after a trade that transformed the Mavs’ personality."

We don't have anymore room, fatty.

Depleted Dallas Makes Suns-Like Adjustment For High-Octane Offense | David Lord and Mike Fisher- DB.com

Are we really running and/or gunning?

Mavs Donuts: Microwaved For This 'Golden Age'

They need to really make Mavs donuts. Imagine the possible names, The Dirty Donut, Blueberry Barea, Caron's Strawberry Special.

Do You Know What It Feels Like | Rob Mahoney -TheTwoManGame.com

Peeng, Pahng! I always read that site as the women game :(

Finally, a tale about moi. I hate having long finger nails, so I do a good job of keeping them neat. I also hate when my car, "Roxie", is dirty and unkempt. Most of all though, I am a superstitious guy. How are all these three linked?

I put on my Mavs car window flag the 10th of March when I was going to Jamfest. What happened there? I only met The Blonde Bomber and got his autograph. The flag has been on ever since and we've lost only one game. My nails haven't been cut since then and the car has bird poopy. So the question is...

Poll

Do I cut my nails and temporarily take off the car flag to wash the car?

Mavs at Timberwolves Open Thread

2010-03-09T00:56:53Z

Sue Ogrocki - AP

11 days ago: Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love (42) collides with Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nick Collison, lower right, as guard Eric Maynor, left, looks on in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Friday, Feb. 26, 2010. Love had 19 points for Minnesota, but Oklahoma City won 109- 92. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Dallas favored by 7 | Over/Under 208 | Canis Hoopus

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Sunday Roundup

2010-03-07T17:10:31Z

More photos » Nam Y. Huh - AP

3 days ago: Dallas Mavericks' Caron Butler, left, celebrates with Rodrique Beaubois after they defeated the Chicago Bulls 122-116 during an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Saturday, March 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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Mavericks riding rookie Beaubois' wave | ESPN Dallas
"He played great. He had like 18 in that third quarter for us, which was a big lift," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "He hit timely shots for us then when the Bulls were on a run. We're going to need him to continue playing like that with Jet out." "It feels pretty good," Beaubois said. "I've gotten the opportunity to play so I'm trying to be aggressive; just play. My teammates have given me good passes. My coaches, everybody, have been helpful."

Sunday Mavs Donuts! One-Of-A-Kind Numbers | Mike Fisher - DB.com
The statistical oddity that is Jason Kidd surfaced again in the Mavericks’ win at Chicago on Saturday. While everyone else was going nuts with the scoring (Dallas shot 56 percent, Dirk/Caron/Roddy combined for 75 points and even Eddie was in double figures with 11), J-Kidd was contributing 11 rebounds and 15 assists. What’s the big whoop? Kidd is the only player in NBA this year with a rebounds/assists double-double … and he’s done it four times.

For the short-handed Mavericks, less was best in win over Bulls | Sefko - DMN
the Mavericks have faith in Najera, who gave them plenty of solid minutes against the Bulls. Second, bringing in another player would have provided six more fouls. But when you look at the Mavericks' upcoming schedule – plus the fact that Erick Dampier should return this week – it's not real obvious that they have a need for more beef. And, while it's subjective, there may be another benefit to not bringing in an unfamiliar body. Going into a game with only nine healthy players can be a terrific bonding agent.

Mavs QUOTEBOARD: Caron On Win At Chicago | DB.com
Caron on the 11-game win streak "I’m enjoying it. A great feeling. I haven’t been a part of something like this ever.’’

Beat goes on: Out-manned Mavericks win 11th straight | Sefko - DMN
The Mavericks scored on seven of eight possessions at one late stage, which was a good thing because they couldn't stop the Bulls, particularly Derrick Rose. "We were really small," said Nowitzki, who hit five of his last six shots and finished with 27 points. "We just couldn't get any stops. We were using trick defenses and some zones, but they kept scoring. But we shared the ball well, had 31 assists, and I think that's a sign of a bunch of guys who want to play with each other."

Mavs at Bulls Open Thread

2010-03-07T01:15:40Z

Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

5 days ago: Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo, left, snags a loose ball as Chicago Bulls defenders Hakim Warrick, center, and Luol Deng watch during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 4, 2010, in Chicago. The Grizzlies won 105-96. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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Saturday Morning Roundup

2010-03-06T14:29:12Z

More photos » Tony Gutierrez - AP

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Depleted, not defeated: Short-handed Mavs win 10th straight | Sefko DMN
In a sequence of three possessions, Beaubois threw in a 3-pointer, drove by 7-1 center Spencer Hawes for a traditional three-point play and finished off a fast break with another score. Beaubois' show energized the Mavericks. "We needed that extra energy Roddy brings," Marion said. Beaubois has had two consecutive strong games. The telling statistic is the Mavericks have had a 16-point advantage with Beaubois playing and have been outscored by five points with him on the bench.

Mavericks' Kidd doesn't catch many breaks | DMN
Carlisle understands the importance of not burning Kidd to a crisp before the playoffs. Carlisle does not plan on giving Kidd another game off but would like to keep his minutes in the mid-30s range. "Any time we try to talk about a number, it goes up," Kidd said. "The thing is being fresh, but we have to win games now and not worry about the playoffs. We can rest all summer."

Haywood day-to-day; Wafer walks | Jeff Caplan - ESPN Dallas
Center Brendan Haywood experienced stiffness in his lower back Friday morning and then tweaked it on the game's opening jump ball. He left for good after playing just seven minutes in the first quarter. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said Haywood is day-to-day, leaving his status for Saturday night's game at Chicago uncertain.

Saturday Morning Mavs Donuts: 'The Streak Is Alive!' | DB.com
Von Wafer apparently won't be re-upped as his 10-day contract is expiring. Tim Thomas is unavailable, Damp is still more than a week away from returning, Big Wood could only go for seven minutes, Dirk had to play some 5 and Eddie Najera (being stretched to 26 minutes but unfortunately not able to stretch beyond 6-8) is suddenly the most important character to come out of New Jersey since Tony Soprano. Dallas needs a body.

Kings at Mavs Open Thread

2010-03-06T01:00:40Z

Dallas Favored by 8.5 | Over/Under 201 | Sactown Royalty

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Timberwolves at Mavs Open Thread

2010-03-04T01:25:31Z

Dallas favored by 13 | Over/Under 202 | Canis Hoopus

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Tim Thomas likely will not return this season to care for ailing wife

2010-03-02T22:46:39Z

Tim Thomas likely will not return this season to care for ailing wife

The nature of her illness is unknown, but it seems to have been an ongoing problem for about a year now and serious enough for him to put this situation ahead of his sport and profession.

Good luck to Tricia, Tim, and the rest of their family.

(Dallas Morning News via RealGM)

Game Recap: JET Powers Mavs Past Bobcats in Fourth, 89-84

2010-03-02T04:53:06Z

More photos » Chuck Burton - AP

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LJRotter is back with another recap:

The Dallas Mavericks arrived in Charlotte a little before 4:00am, just after a win at home against the Hornets. Their game yesterday started strong, but they let the score get close in the third, ending any chances of giving the starters a rest before the back-to-back. The win gave them their 7^th straight victory, but may have taken too much out of them. The Mavericks are the only team the Bobcats haven’t beaten. Will tonight be their night?

Game as a Whole:

As luck would have it, no, tonight was not the Bobcats’ night. They led for the majority of the game, but thanks to a poor shooting quarter in the 4^th from Charlotte, the Mavericks were able to capitalize and pull ahead for good. Jason Terry didn’t have a great night to start, but he turned on the jets (pardon the pun) in the 4^th to help Dirk elevate the team for the win. Dirk had his first double/double since January 13^th (27 points/13 rebs) and was helped in the point category by Terry (with 20) and Butler (22). Haywood and Kidd both had a bit of foul trouble (both with 4), and Haywood’s time on the bench further reminded us how much we’re missing Dampier right now. The game was pretty uneventful, but it goes in the win column so the Dallas streak is extended to eight in a row.

Let’s look at the quarters…

1st Quarter:

Mavs win the tip, Marion misses his first shot. Bobcats miss their first as well, but Wallace gets fouled. He misses the first free throw, makes the second.
11:04, HUGE rotation failure on defense gives Wallace all day to make a three.
Dallas’ first points come from a pair of free throws by Haywood.
Kidd misses a three, Stephen Jackson makes a long two on the other end.
9:49, Marion makes one of his weird shots for the Mavs’ first basket.
Defense will need to step up on Jackson, because he’s shooting well.
8:31, Caron Butler hits a midrange jumper. The Mavericks look as though their 4am arrival is affecting their energy.
7:44, Raymond Felton recovers a steal for the Bobcats and takes it down the open floor. The Mavericks look extra sluggish.
Kidd misses ANOTHER three. Maybe try another method for now.
6:57, Butler drives to the basket and gets fouled for the and-one. He makes the extra point.
6:00, Jason Terry comes in and scores a pair for Dallas.
Stephen Jackson is 4-5 already.
5:14, Dirk Nowitzki takes and makes his first shot, and gets a foul in the process. He makes the extra point for the three point play.
Marion and Haywood both miss in close.
4:03, Terry makes a much-needed three from his favorite spot on the baseline.
Mavericks are having a hard time putting the ball in the basket. Kinda defeats the purpose of the game, doesn’t it?
1:34, Dirk gets his defender to bite on a shot fake, and makes the basket.
1:02, Dirk gets double-teamed and fouled, and the Charlotte announcers refer to it as ‘hack-a-Dirk’. Doesn’t have the same ring.
:10.9, Butler drives to the basket and makes it with the foul. He gets the extra point to go for the three point play, bringing the Mavs within 4.

2nd Quarter:

Barea starts the second quarter for Kidd. The announcers from Charlotte seem to think it’s pronounced to rhyme with diarrhea.
11:23, Dirk makes a beautiful long jumper, impossible to defend.
10:43, Butler seems to be willing this team back into it. He makes a nice shot to stay within 2.
9:31, Terry ties the score with a short runner in the lane.
Several players end up on the floor hustling for the ball, and it results in a Dallas steal ending with a Barea score.
7:28, Butler gets some wide open space to take a nice jump shot, putting the Mavs up by three. He then commits a foul on the other end.
6:38, Refs are unable to determine who last touched the ball, so they call a jump ball between Butler and Jackson. Jackson wins the tip.
5:22, Haywood tries to get a foul but just goes ahead and makes the basket in close.
4:24, Kidd finally makes a three. Maybe he’ll go on a run again.
3:54, Terry makes a slick pass to Dirk, who rattles it in.
Dirk looks tired as his jumper falls short.
With less that a minute to go, Graham makes a three, extending the Bobcats lead to 12. Not a great way to go into the locker room.
:04.3 Dirk decides to do something about it and puts in a fadeaway.

3rd Quarter:

11:27, Dirk starts the quarter off right for the Mavericks.
Neither Kidd nor Marion can get the same easy shot to fall.
9:31, Dirk puts a sweet little jumper in, nothing but net.
8:37, Caron Butler makes a long jump shot. Maybe some drives into the lane might be a good idea…
7:44, Apparently Dirk has decided he wants to win this game.
7:03, Thanks to a great offensive rebound from Haywood, Caron is able to make a second chance basket after Dirk misses.
6:25, Somehow Dirk was left open, so of course, he makes his shot. Dallas within 5.
5:46, Butler shows some excellent movement with the ball and shoots over Jackson.
4:43, Haywood with a monster dunk, thanks to the dish from Dirk.
4:09, Same play results in a foul for Haywood. Jackson picks up his 3^rd foul, and Haywood picks up one of two. Four point game.
2:00, At the two-minute warning, Dirk dumps an easy one in. Mavs down 2.
Haywood goes out with 4 fouls
:55.2, Butler ties the game with a jumper.
Dallas goes into the final quarter down by two.

4th Quarter:

10:44,DJ Augustin charges right into Barea for the offensive foul.
First three shots to start the quarter have all been misses for the Mavericks, turnovers for the Bobcats. Score hasn’t changed.
Make that four with a miss from Dirk, followed by a travel for Charlotte.
9:34, Butler gets the first score after losing his defender.
8:28, Terry finally makes one. He’s been cold.
7:42, Terry misses again, but gets the first team foul for the Bobcats from Felton. He makes both free throws. Mavericks still down 2.
7:26, Fast break play caused by a steal from Terry leads to a Marion dunk.
6:50, Apparently Terry is feeling inspired. He takes a quick shot for the Dallas lead. Could this be the turning point?
6:14, Could be! Terry scores again!
5:34, Dirk gives Dallas their biggest lead of the night with his signature shot.
Bobcats are 6 of 23 in the 4^th.
4:45, Suddenly Jason Terry is on fire. He nails a three to put the Mavericks up by 8.
4:02, Off balance, on one foot, Dirk puts it in. Awesome.
1:15, Terry makes a nice little move to the basket.
Kidd fouled after a Bobcat miss, but he misses both free throws, keeping it a two possession game.
:08.8, Dirk fouled on the inbounds. If he makes these, he can ice the game. He does, and that’s it for the Bobcats.

Some Choice Statistics:

Tonight’s win over the Bobcats was the 12^th in a row for Dallas. In fact, Dallas is the only NBA team that Charlotte has yet to beat.
The longest win streak in Mavericks history is 17 wins, during the 06-07 season. That makes 8 games seem kind of weak, doesn’t it?

Final Thoughts:

Over the past few games, we have seen streaks of excellent basketball from the Mavericks. Tonight’s game lacked that luster, but added to the stat for wins by 5 points or fewer. Speaking as a fan, I ask that the Mavericks try to aim for some more convincing wins to close out the season.

Mavs at Bobcats Open Thread

2010-03-02T00:00:02Z

Chuck Burton - AP

10 days ago: FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2010, file photo, Charlotte Bobcats managing partner Michael Jordan, left, talks with player Stephen Jackson during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Charlotte, N.C. Jordan struck a deal late Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, to buy a controlling interest in the Bobcats, making the NBA's greatest player the owner of the money-losing team in his home state. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

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Game Recap: Mavericks Hold Off Hornets, 108-100

2010-03-01T06:00:42Z

More photos » Tim Sharp - AP

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The New Orleans Hornets have found another great point guard in Darren Collison, too bad it took Chris Paul going down with a knee injury to come to that realization. While their 31-28 record makes it seem like they are underachieving, the Hornets are only six games back in the race for the 8^th playoff spot. The "red hot" Dallas Mavericks have rattled off six straight wins since adding Butler, Haywood, and Stevenson from the Washington Wizards.

Do the Mavericks make it 7 straight or do the Hornets play spoiler?

Game as a Whole:

The game looked like it was in the bag at the half and then late in the fourth quarter I could have sworn the Hornets had Chris Paul back on the court. While the Mavericks have "renewed energy" and are "The NBA’s hottest team right now", hopefully this game gave them a bit of a wake up call. Even a championship contender has to play the full 48 minutes to get a win.

The Mavericks clearly took a few possessions off late in the third quarter (all those turnovers) and this happened just as New Orleans started making shots. Without a spectacular rebounding effort from Brendan Haywood and a handful of clutch baskets from Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks do not escape with the win tonight. Dallas also got away from the ball sharing that worked so well for them in the first half. After only seven games together the "new look" Dallas Mavericks are still very much a work in progress.

Let's look at the quarters...

1st Quarter:

Welcome back Caron Butler. Let’s see how that knee holds up tonight.
11:41, West tries to drive to the basket and is immediately met by Nowitzki and Haywood.
11:16, Kidd makes his first three of the game and puts the first Maverick points on the board.
10:46, Butler takes a quick jumper coming off a screen and drills it. That is an early confidence builder for Caron, sans straws.
Mavericks are pushing the ball hard up the floor on every miss. The quicker pass seems to suit them.
8:53, Collison shows why you don’t gamble for the steal on a veteran. Butler gets the fast break two.
7:42, Nowitzki is just watching Butler work right now. Caron takes the feed from Dirk and finishes with a smooth jumper.
7:17, Marion gathers a bunch of offensive rebounds but he can never seem to finish on the put-back.
6:52, Stojakovic takes a "what were you thinking" three and it leads to a fast break bucket for Kidd.
Early timeout comes for both teams. There currently isn’t too much defense being played, and the guys need a breather.
6:14, Nowitzki’s first shot attempt is a rolling lay up in the paint. Attacking the paint early is a little out of character for Dirk.
5:21, Nowitzki gets schooled by Collison on a nasty crossover.
4:59, Nowitzki fights hard and nails his first basket in the paint.
4:43, Haywood running the floor takes the feed from Kidd and finishes at the cup. Have to reward the big man for running the floor.
3:56, First turnover of the game for either team. Hornets cough up the basketball.
Nowitzki has been spending a lot of time bodying up David West. The energy he is saving on the offensive end is flowing right into his defense.
3:11, Terry switches to another gear and knifes into the paint for a score. He then stays back and denies Collison the ball.
ESPN says Jason Kidd got "a man’s triple double", whatever that is.
2:07, Haywood gets an early dunk. Everyone likes easy offense.
1:24, Butler gets another easy score and the Mavericks are running a lay up line.
:33.1, Butler, playing full court defense, gets a quick steal that leads to another quick basket for Dallas.
Mavericks turned up the intensity on defense (really it was only Peja hitting shots) and that led to early offense.

2nd Quarter:

11:43, Assist from Barea to Terry for a short jumper. I am hoping the Mavericks go up big so we get to see Von Wafer.
11:08, Haywood at the line for the second time tonight. Makes both free throws.
10:51, Carlisle makes a smart move by putting Barea on Collison. Even though Barea gives up size at least he can stay with the Hornets point guard.
10:30, Terry gets an excellent look thanks to a Marion offensive rebound. The three ball goes down for the Dallas sixth man.
9:45, The Hornets are giving up a lot of "soft" fouls around the basket. Marion gets the basket and a foul.
9:12, Barea and Marion are playing a little two man game. Nowitzki doesn’t look like he is coming back in anytime soon.
8:35, Give the Barea/Marion duo another basket.
7:19, Collison goes to the crossover again and Barea falls victim.
The Mavericks are currently shooting 65% from the floor. Not going to win many games that way, Hornets.
6:38, Caron gets Najera into the scoring act with the perfect pass. Butler is playing better without the straws.
5:43, You know the Mavericks are having an amazing night when Najera has 4 points in the middle of the second quarter.
5:21, Nowitzki comes back in to practice his jump shot. He gets a front row seat to Butler hitting another midrange jumper.
3:01, Nowitzki is just wearing James Posey down on the offensive end. Posey tries to pull the chair out but Dirk still hits the jumper.
2:11, Nowitzki notches 14 points as the shot clock expires.
1:30, Najera, with a dunk? If only every game was like this.
:46.9, Barea feeds Nowitzki the ball for a lay up. Hornets try to contest but there is little defense to be found.
Didn’t you just want that last three pointer to go in?

3rd Quarter:

Butler starts his quarter off with a short jumper, that gives him 14 for the game.
All of the starters are back on the floor to start the second half. I don’t think they will stay on the floor for long.
10:12 Screen going to the basket for Butler results in a foul. Caron makes 1 of 2.
9:23, Kidd hits another three and is 2 of 3 from behind the arc.
8:36, Butler, after his last made field goal, is currently 8 of 11 from the floor. The knee looks good.
The Hornets go to the zone to try and disrupt the barrage of offense coming from the Mavericks.
6:43, Nowitzki thinks about a lay up but instead goes for the two handed jam.
6:18, Dirk gives up the ball on a fast break to pad Butler’s point total for the night, unselfish play all around.
5:44, The Mavericks are winning by so much that Dirk actually has time to tie his shoe. In case you wondered, it was a double knot.
4:53, Peja doesn’t get an easy basket as Nowitzki fouls him hard on his way to the basket.
4:21, Carlisle takes a timeout to stop a Hornet run, a strategic timeout.
3:35, Dallas has turned into a turnover machine this quarter. They have already racked up seven turnovers and the Hornets are on a 10-0 run.
2:36, Stevenson comes in to give the team more activity on the defensive end. The lead is now down to 14.
1:42, Haywood slows the game down with a post move and gets fouled by Okafor.
As they say, every team makes a run.
See you in the 4^th quarter, starters. There goes any chance of Von Wafer getting into the game tonight.

4th Quarter:

10:58, Barea draws the offensive foul on Thornton. That is the first thing to go the Mavs way this quarter.
10:15, Terry makes the first basket of the 4^th quarter.
10:03, David West picks up a travel, hopefully that gets the Mavericks rolling again.
9:33, Najera sky’s for a lose rebound. Najera negates this play by getting called for a moving screen.
Hornets are insisting that the Mavericks play the full 48 minutes.
8:15, Butler and Kidd come back into the game. Kidd is giving Collison a ton of space so that he doesn’t get taken to the rim.
7:39, Key rebound for Haywood on the last play. The Mavericks need every possession they can get right now.
7:22, Terry hits
7:19, Kidd with a veteran move, wrapping Collison up as he goes to the rim.
7:16, Have there even been back-to-back jump balls in the NBA? Kidd with another crazy play.
6:46, Where does Dallas go when they need a big play? Answer: Nowitzki.
6:21, Haywood tells Emeka "not in my house’. Two blocked shots lead to a shot clock violation.
6:05, Bower picks up a technical foul for the Hornets, for an instant momentum killer.
5:10, Thornton shows his inexperience as he coughs up the ball in the lane. Jason Kidd forces a pass and it ends up going back to the Hornets.
4:16, Nowitzki with another big jumper, that gives him 31 for the night.
3:30, Haywood backs down Peja exploiting the obvious mismatch.
3:21, West and Haywood pick up the double foul as the play gets a little chippy.
2:44, Collison has 32 points, do you bring Roddy in to try and play some defense on him?
2:15, Haywood gathers in a crucial rebound to give Dallas an extra play.
1:54, Butler draws iron on a fade away. Hornets fail to get any points on their next possession.
:58.2, Nowitzki takes the ball straight into the paint and puts it up right over Posey’s head.
:45.0, Butler anticipates Collison’s crossover perfectly and gets a steal to ice the game.

Some Choice Statistics:

Mavericks shoot 67% from the field and 50% from three in the first half.
Jason Terry was +20 for the first half and Darren Collison was -19 for the first half; a tale of two guards?
Brendan Haywood (53%) actually shoots worse from the free throw line than Erick Dampier (59%).

Closing Thoughts:

Rick Carlisle has some great footage to run through with his team after tonight’s game. One can see both how well and how poorly the Mavericks can play just by comparing the two halves. We will all have to wait to see how the Mavericks respond to making this win harder on themselves when they could have embarrassed the Hornets.

Hornets at Mavs Open Thread

2010-03-01T02:00:32Z

Dallas favored by 8 | Over/Under 199 | At the Hive

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Dallas Mavericks representatives declined formal comment Sunday, but one source briefed on the...

2010-02-28T21:26:30Z

Dallas Mavericks representatives declined formal comment Sunday, but one source briefed on the discussions told ESPN.com that Ilgauskas' agent, Herb Rudoy, has informed the Mavericks that Ilgauskas intends to re-sign with the Cavaliers as soon as he's eligible.

Source: Dallas Mavericks told Zydrunas Ilgauskas will return to Cleveland Cavaliers - ESPN

The Jason Kidd Saturday Roundup

2010-02-27T18:43:49Z

More photos » Scott Cunningham - NBAE/Getty Images

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Pretty amazing performance by Kidd last night -- hope you were able to see it. 19 points, 16 rebounds, 17 assists, 2 steals. In the fourth quarter alone he had 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. Then he added four more rebounds and another assist during overtime...

The last time a player had a 15+/15+/15+ triple-double was 1996 -- and it was Jason Kidd (box score). And via mavsstats, since 1986 only four players have had a 19p/15r/15a triple-double -- Magic (twice), Bird, Lever, and Jason Kidd (twice).

And oh yeah, Dirk had 37 and 9.

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Mavs 111, Hawks 103: The Genius Of Jason Kidd, As Described By, Among Others, Del Harris | DB.com
But the hero of the night was Kidd, who has been terrific in all seven games since the All-Star Break and the Wizards trade (his scoring numbers: 12, 10, 10, 18, 21, 14 and now 19). Here he outplayed everybody on the floor (19 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds gives him his 104th triple-double of his career, third most behind only Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson) … and on one occasion outplayed one guy who wasn’t supposed to be on the floor. ''The coach is not supposed to be on the floor,'' Kidd said. ''You see that a lot in games. The NBA has so many rules, and there is a coaching box, and some of the coaches do stretch that box. For me, it's just a reaction. Make something happen. It was a big play for us. … I thought from there, mentally, we took control of the game.’’

Kidd's savvy coach bump kept Mavs' winning streak alive | Sefko - DMN
"Ask Joe Johnson or any of their players, if they had a chance to do the same thing, they would," he said. "If they thought of it." That's a huge if.

Technical assistance helps Mavericks OT win over Hawks | Sefko - DMN
Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 37 points, hit the free throw on the technical foul. Without it, the Mavericks might not have made it to overtime, where they scored the first seven points and didn't allow the Hawks to score until under a minute was left and the win was in hand. "He's the smartest player I've ever seen," Nowitzki said. Coach Rick Carlisle also had high praise. "I don't know if there's ever been a smarter player in this league," Carlise [sic] said. "There may be a few equals. Magic Johnson, Bird, Jordan, a few others. But I tell you, to have the presence of mind to make that happen at a critical situation is just amazing."

The Hawks lose on a night when losing seemed impossible | Mark Bradley - AJC
The Mavs dusted off their zone — Jamal Crawford: “They saved it for the end; that was smart on their part” — and the Hawks could do nothing against it. Horford: “They couldn’t guard us one-on-one.” But that’s the point. The Mavs overrode their weakness. As Woodson noted, the Hawks “controlled the game until the six- or seven-minute mark.” Then they threw it away.

Woodson takes the hit as Kidd, Mavs stun Hawks | ajc.com
The Hawk said Kidd’s collision with Woodson and the technical foul shifted the game’s momentum. “It kind of changed the game, but that’s not what lost the game for us,” Johnson said. “They went zone, and we couldn’t get no continuity on offense.”

Jason Kidd's unusually clever play | John Hollinger - ESPN
Kidd’s veteran move was one of two rare plays he contributed to in the fourth to help rally Dallas from a 13-point deficit in the last five and a half minutes of regulation. The other was a five-point play with 4:50 to go that cut Atlanta’s lead from 11 to six. First, Dallas got a foul and basket from Brendan Haywood. When he missed the subsequent free throw, Kidd grabbed the offensive rebound and quickly pitched it out to an open Jason Terry, who sank a 3.

Kidd's scoring key to Mavs winning | Jeff Caplan - ESPN Dallas
Kidd's recent point surge has his season average nearing 10.0 a game. It took him until Feb. 5 to take his scoring average consistently into the 9-point-a-game range. When's he's scored in double figures this season, the Mavs are 20-10. More critical is Kidd posting 14 points or more. When he does, the Mavs are 10-3, including 4-0 in the seven games since the All-Star break.

Mavericks' Caron Butler says he'll play Sunday | DMN
After the game, Butler said: "I'm feeling better. I'll be out there Sunday."

Nightly Notable (via nbaus)

2010-02-27T18:10:23Z

Nightly Notable (via nbaus)

Game Recap: Mavericks Soar Past Hawks in Overtime, 111-103

2010-02-27T03:20:16Z

More photos » Gregory Smith - AP

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Another recap courtesy of LJRotter:

The Dallas Mavericks are media darlings this week. They are on a league-best, five-game winning streak, with their latest W coming against the world champion Los Angeles Lakers. Their trade is the talk of the town, due in no small part to the immediate positive effect of their acquisitions. Caron Butler is still out, thanks to some bad medicine, and Erick Dampier is still sidelined by his middle finger. Will Dallas continue riding high after Wednesday’s game, or will the Atlanta Hawks send them back down to earth?

Game as a Whole:

If ever there was a game of runs, this was it. To start, the teams were about even, but the Mavericks pulled ahead to a 14 point lead at one point in the second quarter. By the end of the half, the game was tied at 50-all. Then the Hawks showed their range with an impressive run of outside shots to put the Hawks up big in the third. Fortunately for Dallas fans, the Mavericks have recently made a habit of coming back from behind for big wins. They caught up with unbelievable clutch shots from all of their big players to force the game into overtime. In the end, Dallas proved the veteran team and pulled out their sixth win.

Though the play itself was impressive, the stars shined brighter than ever tonight, with Jason Kidd obtaining his 104^th triple double. He hit a dry spell in the middle of the game, but all was forgotten as he put in clutch three after clutch three. Dirk was reliable throughout, hitting key shots when they mattered most, including a huge three in overtime. Barea, who has felt the wrath of Dallas fans for losing his spark, saw extended minutes in place of Marion at the end of the game, and made them worth it with active defense and several important layups. Terry had a respectable 17 points off the bench, and Haywood continued his impressive contribution to the Dallas lineup with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Most exciting? Every Maverick that set foot on the hardwood tonight managed to score.

Let's look at the quarters...

1st Quarter:

Caron Butler still out due to his bad reaction to medication. DeShawn Stevenson will start again in his place.
11:23, Jason Kidd starts the game off for the Mavericks with a long jumper for two.
10:49, DeShawn Stevenson drives hard to the basket and makes a layup. He may benefit greatly from this trade as well.
10:19, Shawn Marion with a resounding dunk with the assist from Kidd to take the Mavericks ahead for the first time, 6-4.
8:56, Dirk Nowitzki makes a difficult turnaround jump shot from the middle of the floor to get on the board for Dallas.
Some sloppy passing from Dallas and good defense by the Hawks causes a turnover with a resulting fast break dunk for Atlanta. Fortunately, Kidd throws a touchdown pass down the court to Nowitzki who then hits Marion for another dunk.
6:52, Dirk makes a rainbow jumper over good defense.
Marion has committed too many turnovers only midway through the first. He needs to get his head in the game.
5:13, After a bit of bad basketball, Dirk gets a shot close in to bring the Mavs back within 3.
4:24, Brendan Haywood with a nice dunk with the dime from Kidd. He must be thrilled to be playing with a pass-first PG.
3:44, Dirk able to overcome great Hawks defense again for a long jumper. He’s 4 of 5 shooting with 8 points already.
3:14, After a great defensive stop, the Mavs find Dirk wide open for another shot. He’s now in double figures.
2:43, Terry throws a behind the back assist to Marion who flushes it home. Marion scores again after another Hawks turnover, capping a 12-0 run by the Mavericks.
2:11, Terry with a huge fast break, and another great assist to Marion. They look totally different from the start of the quarter.
1:36, Terry must be feeling his oats. He scores with a nice fadeaway jumper from the baseline. The run now stands at 16-0, and Dallas has scored on 14 of 16 shots.
Najera comes in for Haywood to close out the quarter and he provides some nice defense.

2nd Quarter:

Barea in to start the second to give Kidd a rest.
Not a lot going on offensively to start this quarter, but some decent stops on the defensive end.
10:00, JJ Barea speeds into the lane for a layup.
9:04, Terry is way too fast for the Hawks defense, and his drive to the basket takes the Mavericks up by 14.
Horford with a man-sized block that takes Stevenson to the ground.
8:01, Terry hits a turnaround jumper off a screen. He’s 3-3.
7:26, Barea hits Najera under the basket. The second unit is playing pretty well right now.
6:40, Barea hits a fadeaway over Horford with the mismatch on defense.
Hawks claw back into the game with a 9-0 run, now only down by 3.
3:47, Dirk gets his 14^th point on a beautiful jump shot.
Atlanta comes all the way back to take the lead after a fast break.
Dallas is committing too many turnovers to finish out this half. They need to tighten up.
1:18, Marion stops the bleeding of a 25-6 run by the Hawks with a quick shot.
Dirk gets to the line with less than a minute left to play. He makes both shots.
:14.5, Kidd makes a clutch three to give the Mavericks back the lead, but it disappears as Marvin Williams makes the tying shot.

3rd Quarter:

Marion has his first shot blocked, resulting in a turnover. Fortunately the Hawks can’t take advantage of the fast break, and Dirk scores back on the Dallas end.
10:44, Kidd scores on an easy jumper.
Both teams are just trading baskets.
Dirk blocks Bibby’s shot from behind. Kidd’s fast break layup is blocked, but Dirk makes it back down the floor to put back the miss.
8:00, Dirk makes his automatic shot with the assist from Kidd. These two players are on their games tonight.
4:58, Dirk gets himself to the line by posting up on Smith. He puts both free throws in.
Mavericks get three consecutive offensive rebounds, but only try for three point shots. None of them fall, and then the Hawks get the fast break.
Dallas has now missed 9 shots in a row, most of which were wide-open shots after the shot clock had reset. They need to settle down and play their game.
Dirk currently has 8 of Dallas’ 10 points in this quarter.
2:40, Terry picks up a quick basket with the assist from Kidd. They are unable to get a stop on the other end, and are now down by 10.
1:33, After missing in close, Haywood gets his own rebound and puts it in.
24.8, Kidd attempts a circus shot but misses. He gets sent to the line, misses the first and makes the second.
The Mavericks fell apart in the third quarter, and are down 11.

4th Quarter:

11:35, Shawn Marion starts the final quarter off with a dunk on a fast break.
Kidd gets called for a rare travel violation. Whatever mojo he and Dirk had at the start, Kidd is slowly losing.
9:58, Terry makes a long jumper. He needs to pick his game up to pull Dallas out of their slump.
9:36, Kidd takes the ball coast to coast for a score on the other end. He needs to get his groove back.
Nowitzki misses badly on an uncharacteristically bad shot.
Barea, in for Kidd, dishes down low to Haywood, but the ball is knocked out. On the inbounds pass, the ball is picked off and Barea is forced to foul.
7:59, Dirk gets a wide open shot, but the Mavericks are still down 13.
7:29, Terry gets a quick jumper from Kidd on the baseline.
6:59, Dirk gets his 28^th point with a contested jump shot to bring the Mavs within 9.
5:35, Haywood with an athletic scoop for the score.
4:55, Haywood gets the rebound off of Dirk’s miss, and puts it in hard for the and-1.
4:50, Terry gets a huge, timely three.
4:28, Barea takes the assist from Kidd, who stole the ball right out from under Atlanta to add to the 9-0 Dallas run.
3:55, Dirk with an enormous three to bring Dallas within one. Now it’s getting good!
3:38, Jason Kidd gets a triple double, the 104^th of his career.
2:58, Kidd makes a massive three to give Dallas the lead! I can only use exclamation points from here on out!
2:10, Oh my. Kidd gets another three with the dish from Barea!
1:37, Hawks coach Woodson is on the court, and Kidd runs into him to make a point. The two exchange some angry words. Dirk gets to shoot the technical free throw. He makes it.
:56.4, Kidd adds to his impressive stat sheet with yet another three. He is clearly on a mission after a poor showing, earlier.
Barea inbounds with :13.2 left in the 4^th. Two missed shots send the game into overtime.

OT:

4:21, Excellent ball movement leads to a Dirk jumper.
3:06, Barea coming up clutch with a nice layup to put the Mavericks up 4. If ever there were a time to peak, this is it.
2:17, Haywood with a monster block to cause a jumpball with Jo Johnson. Hawks get the ball, though.
1:06, We don’t call him Dirty Dirk for nothing. Dirk Nowitzki with the phenomenal clutch three.
:35.6, Jason Terry with the dagger-like shot.
:24.7, Brendan Haywood fouled on the made basket, with the beautiful pass from Dirk. He makes the extra point.
Dallas wins the craziest game I’ve seen in a while.

Choice Statistic:

There is only one. Jason Kidd: 19 points, 16 rebounds, 17 assists, and 2 steals. A monster night for one of the greatest point guards ever to play the game.

Final Thoughts

This win gives the Mavericks a 6-game win streak, which is the longest active streak in the NBA. It’s a refreshing change after the mediocre play prior to the trade. Dallas hosts the Hornets (30-28) on Sunday, where they hope to continue their excellent run of basketball.

Mavs/Hawks Game Thread

2010-02-27T00:04:25Z

Since Wes doesn't have a thread open, I thought that I would take some initiative, and start one myself. Early game tonight, and Caron Butler isn't playing for the second straight game. Probably withdraws. The Hawks will probably give us a little bit of trouble, but I think that the Mavs will pull it out in the end. Shocker, right? Anyways, this is a good place to talk about the game. Go Matt Carroll, and go Mavs.

Game Recap: Mavericks Outmatch Lakers, 101-96

2010-02-25T05:22:59Z

More photos » Tony Gutierrez - AP

Browse more photos »

The Lakers (43-14) come into the American Airlines Center riding high after Kobe Bryant willed them to a two-point win against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Dallas Mavericks put their four-game win streak on the line as they continue to get acclimated to a new lineup.

Can the Lakers steal a win in a back-to-back or do the Mavericks come out with too much energy?

Game as a Whole:

The "new look" Mavericks must be doomed without their new marquee player in Caron Butler, right? News Flash, the Mavericks gut out a tough win and hold their sixth straight opponent under 100 points (thanks Walter). Has Brendan Haywood proved that he was the key piece the Dallas Mavericks were really looking to acquire in their trade with Washington?

It’s amazing how a trade can shake up a team and get them re-energized at exactly the right moment. A win over the Lakers is a huge confidence boost but there were also a bunch of other bright spots for Dallas. DeShawn Stevenson comes in and plays some excellent defense against Kobe Bryant in the first half. Terry gets his scoring touch back as he nailed clutch basket after clutch basket. The Dallas team as a whole outworks Los Angeles on the offensive glass. Finally, Haywood doesn’t pick up his first foul until the fourth quarter.

When the Mavericks play well they can be scary. They are still working on which point guard will get the bulk of the minutes when Kidd has to go to the bench. The bigger problem is who will the Mavericks sign to backup Haywood as Dampier recovers?

Let's look at the quarters...

1st Quarter:

11:02, Nowitzki comes out and nails his first shot over the outstretched hand of Gasol. Lets see if they start double teaming him early.
10:36, Haywood stays down on all of Bynum’s post moves. Don’t try to block Bynum just make him work for every shot he takes.
9:35, Haywood handles a fast break pass from Marion that would have surely been bobbled by Erick Dampier.
8:31, The referees are calling this game really tight tonight.
8:11, Haywood posts Bynum up and drops in the teardrop.
7:52, Stevenson is playing some very tight defense on Kobe. Sure, it’s early but the activity has been encouraging.
6:06, Stevenson needs to take advantage of Kobe being lax on defense and drive it straight to the basket. Would be great if Bynum picked up some early fouls.
5:25, As expected, Gasol and Bynum are doing a lot of work in the paint. The Mavericks aren’t really running any double teams at either of them letting Haywood and Nowitzki try to stop them.
3:40, The Lakers give Nowitzki a super easy shot. Gasol doesn’t even follow as Dirk receives the ball from Haywood.
2:53, Terry hits the jumper and the Mavericks go up by two. Dallas will need Terry tonight with Butler out.
1:40, Terry takes it right up the gut for his second basket.
:44.7, Kidd gives Farmar a slap on the wrist and it results in a basket plus the foul. Should have forced Farmar to pass the ball.
Kobe hasn’t made a basket in the quarter. Bynum is more than making up for Kobe’s lack of scoring.
Kidd airballs a three to end the quarter.

2nd Quarter:

Beaubois comes in to start the 2^nd quarter. It seems like Carlisle wants to get some more quickness on the floor to take advantage of the tired Lakers.
11:36, Nowitzki hits the bank shot coming off the screen.
11:21, Terry gets a little pay back on Farmar as he exploits the weak side for an easy basket (gets the foul as well).
10:52, The Mavericks are being a bit lazy with their passing.
10:47, Terry takes the ball hard to the basket again. If only he were this aggressive every game.
9:59, Beaubois hits the deck to fight Odom for the lose ball. The refs originally said that it was Odom and Beaubois for the jump but they change it to Farmar versus Beaubois.
9:50, Beaubois gets a full extension block on Farmar. Farmar scores on the next play as a screen cuts off Beaubois.
9:28, Terry hits a three and he has put the Mavericks on his back this quarter.
8:40, Nowitzki with only his second basket of the quarter. The Mavericks are still down four.
Neither team has gone over the foul limit in the first two quarters.
7:30, You can tell that Beaubois’ game is still raw. Running down the court stride for stride right next to Dirk isn’t a good way to spread the floor. He commits a turnover on the same sequence.
6:48, Barea comes in and immediately takes a three, which he misses. Barea should be attacking the basket with Butler out tonight.
6:21, Two offensive rebounds lead to a Terry three. You have to like when your shortest guy on the court is rebounding the ball.
4:20, Barea leaves two shots short at the rim. Dallas could have used those two points.
3:32, Dallas is currently taking only tough shots. Ball movement has stagnated a bit.
2:15, Dirk snaps a streak of seven Dallas misses. Caron’s scoring is definitely missed.
Any time you can hold Kobe Bryant to 3 of 11 shooting in a half, you are putting yourself in a position to win.

3rd Quarter:

11:44, Nowitzki starts the quarter with a quick basket and a rebound off a Kobe miss.
11:18, Marion gets a wide-open dunk due to lazy transition defense by the Lakers.
10:39, Two bounces and a bank shot for Haywood. That was a great looking post move.
9:45, Slow close out by Kidd leads to a Fisher three. Wasn’t bad defense just a split second late.
8:49, Nowitzki strips Gasol on the way up. Pau looks to the refs for the foul but there isn’t one coming.
8:10, Kidd drills his third three of the game. Kobe Bryant has hit three consecutive baskets.
7:06, Possible game turning point, clear path foul on Stevenson.
7:02, Stevenson picks up another foul in less than four second. That gives Stevenson 3 for the game.
6:12, Bryant gets backed down by Marion for the score. Marion now has to guard Kobe.
5:27, Marion gets fouled by Artest on the lay up. Is this Marion’s quarter?
4:05, Wanted: Good center willing travel and cleans glass. Please send all inquiries to the Dallas Mavericks.
3:52, Lakers get their first offensive rebound since the first quarter. You can thank Haywood for that.
3:01, Jason Terry brings his total to 21 with a timely three.
1:37, Kobe Bryant botches a pass and Marion almost blows a lay up on the fast break. Neither team can seem to pull away.
:20.6, Najera didn’t expect Kobe Bryant to step out of the way and give him a look at the basket. Needless to say, he botches the lay up.
Buzzer beater three for Jason Kidd gives Dallas a two-point lead. This would be a fun playoff series to watch.

4th Quarter:

Kobe sits down for the start of the fourth quarter. Let’s see how long that stays the case.
First two possessions for the Lakers have been turnovers. The Mavericks are being extremely active on the defensive end.
Haywood doesn’t have a foul yet. He has achieved the "not picking up any stupid fouls" portion of his game.
10:46, Bynum has to foul Haywood as he forces the issue on a dunk attempt.
9:41, Kobe has to come back in as the Lakers are already three fouls deep with nine minutes to go.
9:11, Nowitzki picks up a shooting foul and pushes the Lakers further into foul trouble.
8:03, Bynum picks up the travel on what he thinks was a foul.
6:41, Dirk hits the tough jumper over Fisher.
Dallas has been really good about picking their spots to foul the Lakers.
5:52, Kobe commits what has to be the worst foul of the game. Gives Nowitzki an "and 1" as the shot clock was about to run out.
5:20, Terry notches his fourth three of the night to put Dallas up by 6.
4:16, Haywood shows super hard on a pick with Kobe but actually gets back to alter Gasol’s jumper.
3:17, Give Nowitzki 29 points as Odom can only watch the ball hit the bottom of the net.
2:39, Odom is really upset on the last offensive rebound that Haywood pulls down.
2:21, The Lakers have given up. Need Kobe to bail them out if they have any hope. The Mavericks need two more scores to put the game away.
1:41, Jason Terry pushes the Maverick lead back up to eight.
1:25, Kidd needs to manage the game as the Lakers look to make a run.
:23.7, Refs go to the replay to determine the Mavericks get the ball with the shot-clock off.
:15.9, Terry has iced the game with two free throws. Mavericks up 5.

Some Choice Statistics:

Nowitzki currently shooting 96% from the line this season in clutch situations (4th Quarter & Overtime). Thanks DOH
Kobe’s worst shooting night this season was a 2 of 11 night against the Charlotte Bobcats.
DeShawn Stevenson has only averaged about 8.1 points per game for his career.

Closing Thoughts:

Dallas gets the win without Butler due to some pretty stellar team defense and clutch offense from Terry/Nowitzki. Rick Carlisle said something that should strike a chord with every Dallas fan "These games are practice for us". You don’t want to see these Mavericks in the playoffs.

Lakers at Mavs Open Thread

2010-02-25T01:30:14Z

Dallas favored by 2 | Over/Under 195 | Silver Screen and Roll

Discuss the game here

GO MAVS

D-League Profiles: Dwayne Jones - Ridiculous Upside

2010-02-23T18:37:56Z