A Wild and Crazy Week

It's been awhile since my last blog, but it as been a wild and crazy week around the house, even at work. I've barely had time to watch my beloved Mavericks over the last eight days, but that is definitely going to change next week as Dad and I are attending not one but two games. Monday night we will be watching the Mavs take on the Denver Nuggets in a crucial must win game for Dallas if they hope to have any chance of claiming the 2nd seed (and the potential matchup against the aged and all-too-familiar Spurs) in the Western Conference playoff picture. On Thursday, we'll be in attendance as the Mavs return from Memphis on the second night of a back to back to face the Orlando Magic for the final time this season. Thursday's game will also be the Mavs' final regular season game against the Eastern Conference.

I missed last Saturday night's loss to the Celtics as we were out of town visiting family way out in West Texas, where UPN's signal doesn't dare to roam. I did have dad set the DVR and record it for me, but as the final few minutes unfolded and I received message after message (might as well have been a play by play) via Twitter and my cell phone, I learned that all was for naught, and my Mavs had fallen apart in the final few minutes. Shoot. So Sunday night when we returned home, I skimmed through the game and the post game show, somewhat disinterested as I already knew the end result.

Since I was off work on Monday, I had full intentions of sitting my booty on the couch with Little T, my MFFL in waiting, and enjoying the Mavs @ New Orleans in its entirety. But in the words of a country song, "If you wanna hear God laugh, tell him your plans." My appointment at the ear doctor was short and sweet (paid $20 for a 5 minute test to determine what I already knew -- I'm deafer than a doornail in my left ear), but then I had to run my niece to an appointment (we only have one car for the four of us) and in the meantime, pick up my sister from work, run her to the bank, and then go back and get my niece and her daughter before we all headed out to Rowlett to pick up my sister's new car. By the time all was said and done, it was too late for me to set the DVR, so I had to settle for listening to the first half of the game in the background while my sister and I chatted all the way back home. I'm still not sure what exactly happened; at one point, we were up by double digits early in the first quarter, but by the half, we were down, 52-45. Huh?!? What happened? I didn't get to see it, but judging by the rest of the games the Mavs have lost (or nearly lost) lately, I'm 99% sure it had to do with either silly turnovers (love you, JJ, but you got to hold on to the ball a little better) or a lack of focus and intensity on the defensive end -- my guess would be the latter. By the time we grabbed dinner and headed home, all I really saw was the fourth quarter, nothing very remarkable. Although I was glad to see Jet's offense pick up, as he lead the team with 24 points.

Tuesday night, I was supposed to be attending a meeting of the newly formed Social Services Committee for the city, but fortunately, it was rescheduled, which allowed me to watch the majority of the Clippers vs. Mavericks. Now that was a much more exciting and fun game to watch. Granted, we should have been able to beat a team such as the Clippers by a larger margin, but overall, it was a good game. And as far as Jason Kidd was concerned, it was phenomenal. Celebrating his 37th (are you freaking kidding me??) birthday, the seemingly ageless Kidd imposed his will upon the team at both ends of the floor, again leading the charge for Dallas in every way imaginable. Dirk may be our MVP, but without Jason Kidd, there would be no oil in our engine, no caffeine in our coffee. Kidd is the grease that makes the Mavericks' wheels go round and round, and no matter how much praise I may heap on him, I still can't fully explain just how important he is to this team. Don't get me wrong, I still love Devin Harris, but the midseason trade that brought Kidd and his veteran leadership and experience to Dallas in exchange for Devin Harris and his quickness, athleticism, and future potential is still one of the smartest moves this front office has ever made. The only thing that would make me happier than seeing Kidd win a title here and end his legendary career as a Dallas Maverick would be to see Dirk Nowitzki do the same thing. You just gotta love a guy that, at age 37, still dives for loose balls and makes unbelievable passes and can STILL score the ball. After Dirk, who was fire hot in the first half, was ejected for picking up two quick technical fouls (truth be told, the ref in question might have been a little thin skinned as quickly as he rung Dirk up and tossed him) early in the third quarter, Kidd stepped up his game as he has so many times this season and brought the 106-96 victory home to Dallas. He led the team with 26 points on 10-of-21 shooting, including 6-of-11 from three point range, to go along with his 12 assists.

If Tuesday was greatness, Thursday was sloppiness. The Mavs faced Portland, and lost to them, for the third time this year. I keep hearing local radio personalities and other talking head types saying that Portland presents the best potential playoff matchup for the Mavs in the first round, but I couldn't disagree more. In all three games this season, Portland has had the upper hand. They have been better defensively, offensively, on the boards, and all-around. Their length and athleticism have hounded and harassed the Mavs at every turn, and until Dallas can be consistent on both ends of the court, but particularly on defense, Portland -- and other teams like them-- (see also Denver Nuggets) will continue to give the Mavericks trouble. Dallas really needs to step up their game, not only because they have to face the Blazers in Portland again in two weeks, but because the playoff picture in the West is so shaky, they have just as great a likelihood of an opening round matchup with the Blazers as they do with any other team.

Prior obligations will again keep me from watching tonight's matchup with the Golden State Wienies (from San Fran) -- live, anyway. But rest assured, either late this evening or sometime tomorrow, I will make time to sit down and watch my boys in blue do their thing -- which will hopefully include stomping all over the Warriors and getting back on the winning track. With only ten games left, now more than ever, every game counts.

Game on!