Holding Court: Mavs Need to Win at Home

Since 2005, the Mavericks have consistently made their home court one of the toughest places to play in the NBA. Dallas had single digit home losses over the course of each season between 2005 and 2009, and in the '06-'07 season boasted their franchise best 36-5 home record. Last season, however, the Mavericks ended up with only one more victory at the AAC (28) than they had on the road (27), finishing with their worst home record in several years. Heading into the 2010-2011 season, all the Mavs could talk about, from Coach Carlisle to Jason Terry, was how important it was for the team to get back to their winning ways at home this season. So far, it's not looking so good.

For starters, Dallas lost its second game of the season to the Memphis Grizzlies, 90-91, at home. It was a game where the Grizzlies stayed too close for comfort much of the night, and in the end, Memphis was able to pull off the upset win. Dallas' next home game (and next home loss) came a week later, when they faced Denver on the second leg of a home-and-home series. Dallas had won the first game in Denver, squeaking out a one point victory, and the Nuggets came here looking for revenge -- which they got by earning the W. Two days later, the Mavericks had a near miss with the Boston Celtics but were able to pull off the win and restore their home record to an even .500.

Things were starting to look up as the Mavs proceeded to win their next two home games against Philly and New Orleans, handing the previously undefeated Hornets their first loss of the year. But on Friday night, when Dallas let Chicago walk away victorious in what could only be called an ugly game, it again left fans (and perhaps the team and coaching staff as well) wondering, Why can't the Mavericks win consistently at home?

For Dallas, who plays 17 of its first 26 games at the AAC, finding a way to win at home is crucial to their overall success this season. The Mavericks really need to take advantage of this scheduling situation and not only beat the teams they are supposed to beat (that means you, Memphis) but also beat the teams they aren't expected to beat -- the contenders, such as the Celtics and the Lakers. Between February and the end of the regular season in April, Dallas will only play 14 out of 35 games here, in front of their home crowd. The Mavs really need to go into the home stretch with an outstanding home record and make the AAC once again a place where other teams dread coming to play.

For all their talk about home court advantage, the Mavs' need to get out on the floor and prove that it really does matter. They need to do it not only for themselves, but for their legion of loyal fans like myself, who love nothing more than to see their beloved Mavericks rack up another W here at home. As a super rabid Mavs' fan, I can definitely say that it matters to me. Let's hope it really is a matter of pride for our boys in blue as well.

Love & Basketball

No, I’m not referring to the movie, but to real life for a couple of NBA superstars, Tony Parker and Steve Nash. Let’s start with the complete and total moron, that lovely little Frenchman Tony Parker. After being one of the luckiest men on the planet and spending the past seven years in a relationship with Eva Longoria, he is now on the receiving end of divorce papers. Rumor has it (and Longoria confirmed it) that Parker was sending and receiving multiple "sexting" text messages from Erin Barry, the wife of former teammate Brent Barry. Nothing against Erin Barry – I’ve never laid eyes on the woman – but come on, Tony, we’re talking about Eva Freakin’ Longoria! Are you NUTS?? Longoria also mentioned that Parker had indeed cheated on her early on in their relationship, and he continued to maintain a Facebook friendship with the other woman.

When speaking of their split, Longoria chose the high road, noting how much it hurt to dissolve their marriage and how she still loves Tony and wishes him happiness and all the best. Personally, I just want to know – Tony, what were you thinking? You were happily married to one of the most beautiful women not only in Hollywood but anywhere in the world. Eva is kindhearted, talented, and highly successful – what on Earth could prompt you to look elsewhere? Oh wait, maybe that’s it…maybe Eva was stealing too much of your glory and your spotlight. Maybe you’re the kind of guy who can’t stand it when your woman is more successful and loved and adored than you are?

By NBA standards, Tony Parker, you’re an All-Star, but in this instance, you’ve proved to be nothing but a bonehead.

*****************************************************************************

We had it all planned out, Holly and I. We weren’t exactly sure how or when it would happen, but we were going to run into Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash somewhere in the greater Dallas area, and when we did, I would make my move on Dirk and she would throw herself at Steve. We watched Mavs’ games all season long just to watch our two favorite guys. Then reality sunk in, and I realized my husband Rickey would kill me if I ever chased down Dirk. Not to mention the fact that the whole encounter would probably end with me behind bars for stalking Dirk and doing something silly, like stealing 17 pairs of his tube socks. As for Holly and her crush on Steve Nash, she was heartbroken to learn that he was involved in a serious relationship with Alejandra Amarilla, who in 2005, would become his wife.

I was shocked and saddened recently to read that Nash and his wife were divorcing, because both they and their twin daughters Lola and Bella had seemed like such a beautiful picture perfect family…at least as far as the general public, like myself, could tell. But Nash’s announcement of their divorce came on the heels of the birth of the couple’s first son, Matteo Joel Nash, just 24 hours earlier. How difficult it must be to celebrate the new addition to the family, while at the same time facing the dissolution of that same family.

Since he first graced the court in a Mavericks’ uniform years ago, I have been a big Steve Nash fan. Not only is he an unbelievable player, but during his time in Dallas, local fans like myself were privileged enough to learn what a great guy Steve is off the court as well. I wish Steve Nash all the best as my heart and prayers go out to Steve and his family during this difficult time.

Show Me Some Love..Kevin Love, That Is

First, it was Paul Millsap sticking it to the much hated Miami Heat that captured my attention and reminded me there are 29 other teams full of talented athletes playing in this league. On Friday night, my attention was drawn to the Target Center in Minnesota, where Kevin Love of the Timberwolves put on one helluva clinic, schooling the New York Knicks in post play and rebounding. Love finished the night with 31 points and 31 rebounds, a feat that had not been accomplished in nearly 30 years, since 1982, when the great Moses Malone managed a 30-30 night.

"My dad always said if you can't get close enough to the basket, throw it up there and grab the rebound like Moses Malone," Love said after the game, noting the irony of repeating Malone's 30 point, 30 rebound accomplishment. Love singlehandedly outrebounded the entire Knicks' team on the offensive glass, pulling down 12 offensive rebounds to only 11 for New York. Love snagged fifteen of his rebounds in the third quarter, helping spark the T-Wolves recovery from a 21-point deficit. Despite Love's 31 point effort, it was teammate Michael Beasley who led the Wolves in scoring with 35.

"K-Love just whispered in my ear and said, 'I'm going for 30 tonight,'" Beasley mentioned, of a third quarter exchange between he and Love as they sat on the bench. "I was like 30 what?" Beasley said, unaware at the time that Love had already pulled down 18 rebounds.

The Beasley-Love duo was primarily responsible for giving the T-Wolves their first pair of consecutive wins since last February, as Minnesota claimed an awesome 112-103 comeback victory over the Knicks, losers of three of their last four games.

Little Man Comes Up Big: Barea Leads Mavs Past 76ers

Mavericks 99, 76ers 90

Maybe I made a mistake. (Ok, so it’s highly unlikely, but I guess there’s always that remote possibility.) Maybe I jumped the gun and misjudged these Mavericks. Coming out of the gate, it looked like once again, their game plan was going to be all about Dirk. Get Dirk the ball, have Dirk knock down the jumper, post Dirk up in the low block, and so on. Let Nowitzki, who has been not only the franchise player but has become the franchise itself, shoulder the load and lead this team in its journey toward the promised land. But if the last two games are any indicator, perhaps Dallas has finally realized what loyal Mavs’ fans have known all along: as amazingly talented, dedicated, passionate and committed to winning as Dirk is, he still can’t do it by himself. Other players are finally stepping up and providing that much needed help, and spurring the Mavericks to victory in the process.

“Our balance has been very good the last two games,” said Mavericks’ head coach Rick Carlisle. “It’s something we talked about heading into the season that was part of defining who we are as an exceptional team.”

Balance was definitely key last night, as six Mavericks (Barea, Nowitzki, Marion, Terry, Chandler and Kidd) scored in double figures, led by 19 points from J.J. Barea. Easily the smallest man on the floor, Barea has always played with oversized heart, and last night it really showed up on the hardwoods at the AAC. He was 7-of-14 from the field, a perfect 4-of-4 from the line, and provided a fiery spark off the bench when the game had seemingly begun to lull not only the fans but the players themselves to sleep.

Dirk, Terry and Shawn Marion scored six points apiece in the opening frame, and Brendan Haywood was a beast on the backboards early on, pulling down 10 rebounds in nine minutes and ending the night with 17 rebounds (in just 22 minutes!), nine of them on the offensive glass. Tyson Chandler was a force to be reckoned with on the boards as well, posting another double-double of 12 rebounds and 11 points before fouling out. Chandler was on the receiving end of several highlight reel plays, including the alley-oop lob pass from Jason Kidd which marked Kidd’s 11,000th career assist. Kidd is #2 in assists in NBA history, behind Utah great John Stockton. J-Kidd, aside from his poor shooting night, really filled up the box score, posting 10 points, eight assists, four steals and two rebounds. And although Dirk and Jet shot a combined 10-of-30 (33%) from the field, Dallas was still able to pull out the victory, all because of their balanced approach, not only to scoring, but to the game in its entirety.

With last night’s victory, Dallas has improved its home record to 3-2, its overall record to 6-2, and earned their first three-game win streak of the season. If Dallas can continue to find balance between their offense and defense and spread their scoring around effectively, they may truly be, in the words of Coach Carlisle, “an exceptional team” come playoff time.

Dallas’ next test comes in the form of a home-and-home series with Chris Paul and the currently undefeated New Orleans Hornets as the AAC on Monday night, followed by game two in New Orleans on Wednesday.

Revenge is Sweet as Dallas Remains Undefeated on the Road

Mavericks 106, Grizzlies 91

“No!” I screamed at the television, jumping up off the couch and covering my mouth with my hands. “No, no, no, Dirk, NO!”

As my hero lay squirming on the court clutching his ankle and the play continued at the other send of the floor, all I could do was stare wide-eyed in horror, hold my breath, and hope and pray it wasn’t as bad as it looked. For as durable as dirk has been over the past decade and change, (missing only 29 games in ten seasons), his ankles are the one thing that have continually caused him problems. Please, please, Lord, don’t let him be hurt. The grimace of pain that covered Dirk’s face as the camera flashed on him and the whistle finally blew seemed to tell me everything I needed to know: that he wouldn’t be returning anytime soon. Yet as Mavs’ athletic trainer Casey Smith rushed to Dirk’s side, an amazing thing happened: Dirk not only rose to his feet, but managed to put pressure on his ankle, pacing up and down the baseline, as it appeared he was seriously going to try and walk it off. You have GOT to be kidding me, I thought, staring in amazement as he finally headed back to the locker room of his own accord. Somehow, some way, the German Wunderkind had managed to astonish me yet again with his dedication, durability, and sheer toughness. How so many others – be they media, athletes, or even a select few Mavs’ fans, can’t see it and don’t appreciate what we have in Dirk Nowitzki is beyond me.

Although Dirk did return in the second half and played a total of 29 minutes, this was a game where the Mavericks really didn’t need him to be his superstar self in order to pull of their double-digit victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum. Still stewing over the Grizzlies’ one-point victory at the AAC less than two weeks prior, Dallas came into Memphis ready to seek revenge. And avenging their first home loss of the season is exactly what the Mavericks did, dominating the Grizzlies throughout the game, resulting in their highest scoring effort of the season, with a 106-91 victory over Memphis.

“We have a very talented team,” said Shawn Marion, who moved into the starting lineup in place of the injured Caron Butler and responded with a season-high 20 point scoring effort, which included shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field in the second half. “Everybody is capable of going out there and having a big night,” he added. And on Wednesday night, Jason Terry did just that, coming off the bench and leading all scorers with 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting. Terry also led the Mavs in steals, with three on the night. Even though he saw limited playing time, Dirk led Dallas with 10 rebounds. And Kidd, who only logged 26 minutes on this night, still managed to dish out double-digit assists, finishing with a team-high 12 dimes. DeShawn Stevenson, who replaced Terry in the starting lineup, was hot from behind the arc, knocking down 3-of-5 three pointers. Brian Cardinal, in twenty minutes of extended playing time, nailed a three pointer, dove for a loose ball, grabbed two rebounds, and added one assist and two steals.

Defense was a big factor in this game as well – particularly Memphis’ lack of it. Although going into this game, the Grizzlies led the league in forced turnovers (22), Dallas managed to do a great job of handling the ball, only coughing it up 10 times. None of those turnovers occurred during the crucial third quarter, when Dallas went on an 18-5 run, stretching a five point halftime lead to an 18 point advantage at 73-55. Memphis also averages a league high 12.5 steals per game, but managed only four against the Mavericks. The Mavs made their fair share of layups and easy baskets, accounting for their 54 points in the paint. Dallas shot 54% from the field, but managed only 45.5% on free throws, primarily thanks to Brendan Haywood, who went 0-for-5 from the line.

Wednesday night at the FedEx Forum, the Mavs feasted on something much tastier than the famed Memphis barbecue: sweet revenge, as they handed Memphis a 106-91 loss while boosting their own road record to an unbeaten 3-0.

MAVERICKS: Mavs Fans On Tour

I think I was adopted and these are my REAL parents. What I wouldn't give for this type of amazing opportunity! This couple, in celebration of their 30th anniversary, has decided to follow along on the road with their beloved Mavericks this season, visiting each of the thirty arenas that plays home to the 30 teams in the NBA. Check out their story and follow along on their amazing adventure as the season progresses!

MAVERICKS: Mavs Fans On Tour

Dirk Does It Again as Dallas Defeats Boston

Mavericks 89, Celtics 87

It was a sight that Mavs' fans have become quite familiar with over the past decade at the AAC on Monday night: Dirk Nowitzki drilling the dagger, sinking the shot that would seal the Mavericks' last second victory yet again. With 17.4 seconds remaining and the game knotted at 87, Dirk did what he does best, taking the team on his shoulders and willing them to win. Not only did he hit the game-winning shot, but Dirk was also responsible for 10 of the Mavs' last 13 points as they defeated the reigning Eastern Conference champions, the Boston Celtics.

Although Boston did jump out to a six point lead, 80-74, (their largest of the game) in the third quarter, their hot hand turned icy over the next few minutes, missing six straight shots and 11 of their last 14 attempts. During the Celtics’ third quarter push, Dallas committed turnovers on several consecutive possessions, including a rare five second call, when Jason Kidd was unable to get the ball inbounds for the Mavs. Despite their sloppy third quarter play, Dallas was in control for the better part of 48 minutes, amassing as much as a 14 point advantage over the Celtics. Boston took over 25% more shots from the field (91) than did Dallas (66), yet the Mavs shot an even 50% from the field while Boston only hit its field goals at a 41.8% clip. Boston was a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line, as was Dirk; as a team, the Mavs shot 85%, or 17-of-20 from the charity stripe. Speaking of perfection, Tyson Chandler was 5-for-5 from the floor, finishing the game with 12 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks and one steal, and notching his first double-double as a Maverick.

Coach Carlisle inserted DeShawn Stevenson into the starting lineup, giving the Mavs’ more of a defensive presence and also allowing Jason Terry to jump start the Mavs’ reserves. Jet responded with a solid 17 point performance, which included the rare four-point play that took place in the second quarter when Boston’s Marquis Daniels (a former Maverick) fouled Terry behind the arc and Terry not only nailed the three but the subsequent free throw. Terry knocked down the three-pointer that tied the game with a minute and a half to go. He was also responsible for a heads up defensive play, fouling Ray Allen with 1.5 seconds left in regulation, which reset the clock as the Mavs still had a foul to give.

J.J Barea also provided some much needed help off the bench during a stretch spanning the end of the first and beginning of the second quarter, scoring nine straight points for Dallas. Barea hit a three-point shot at the first quarter buzzer that gave the Mavericks a 23-19 lead over Boston. Although he was a scoreless 0-5 from the field, Jason Kidd managed 10 assists and two steals. Dallas displayed a good solid team effort, with five players finishing in double figures: Nowitzki (25), Terry (17), Chandler (12), Butler (11) and Barea (11).

Dirk, who has often been criticized by the media as well as other NBA players (most notably Dwyane Wade) as not having the ability to truly lead a team, proved on Monday that even though he is soft spoken and mild mannered, there is still a fire in his eyes and a passion in his gut that drives him to win games. After the game, Nowitzki noted, “We came together in that final timeout and said, ‘This is our game, let’s go out and get it.’”

And then Nowitzki did just that. Just like he’s done so many times before.

Millsap Torches Heat; Pacers Blow Up Basket

Paul Millsap is my new hero. I got much love for anyone who can singlehandedly will his team to victory over the much hated (at least by me) Miami Heat, which is exactly what Millsap did on Tuesday night. Finishing the night with a career-high 46-point performance, Millsap dropped in 11 points in the final 29 second of regulation to tie the game at 104, sending it into OT. Utah eventually won the game, 116-114, despite a triple-double from the self-proclaimed "King James" and a 39-point showing from Dwyane "I-can't-spell-my-name" Wade. Utah, who was down by as many as 22 points early in the game, handed the Miami Heat their first home loss of the young season.

Millsap, who had only made two three-pointers in his NBA career, was 3-for-3 from three-point territory, with all three shots coming during the crucial fourth quarter run by the Jazz to send the game into an extra five minute frame. Millsap made 19 of his 28 shots, but according to Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra, "It's not about Millsap's threes." On that note, Coach, we'll have to agree to disagree. Without Millsap's incredible shooting effort, the Jazz would never have had the chance to win in it in the extra period.

Let me be the first to submit Paul Millsap as a candidate for Western Conference Player of the Week. Heck, while we're at it, let's make him an All-Star in 2011!

************************************************************************************

In other hot handed news, the Indiana Pacers scored a whopping 54 points in the third quarter of their Tuesday night matchup with the Denver Nuggets, winning 144-113 at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Pacers hit their first 20 shots from the floor to start the second half, finishing the quarter by shooting at a 92.6% clip on 20-of-21 field goals. Their only miss came on a Josh McRoberts three-point attempt with three seconds left in the quarter. Indy was hot from anywhere and everywhere in the third, hitting layups, mid-range jumpers, and making a living behind the three-point arc. The Pacers went 8-for-9 from three-point range and managed to extend their advantage from 10 points at the intermission to as much as 37 points, at 113-76. Mike Dunleavy lead the franchise record setting third quarter charge, shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field, with five of those shots from three-point land.

Quipped Pacers' head coach Jim O'Brien, "That was as much fun as you can have on a basketball court."

No, Dirk, NOT THE HAIR!

Oops, he did it again.

Even after asking his Twitter followers their opinions, and receiving hundreds of "No, no, NO!" responses, Dirk once again commenced with his seemingly annual buzz cut. Much to the chagrin of many of his loyal female fans (including myself), he chose to shear off his golden locks rather than just trim them.

*Sigh.*

It really shouldn't surprise anyone, though, as it seems to be the way Dirk does everything in life: all or nothing, no in between. That fire, intensity and passion is what fuels Dirk and makes him who he is once he sets foot on the court: one of the best to ever play the game. So while I'll miss seeing the long lovely locks of the Blonde Bomber bouncing around his broad shoulders, I'm thankful for that intense passion and commitment, because it makes him who he is.

A silly little superstitious part of me wants to equate Dirk buzzing his hair off to the Biblical story of Samson losing his strength when he shaved his head, but if last night's game against Boston was any indication, it appears Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks will be just fine. With the new 'do, Dirk and the Mavs are officially 1-0 and have gotten back to their winning ways.

Let's see how long it will last!

GO MAVS!

Denver Drowns Mavs, 103-92, By Raining Threes

Dallas 92, Denver 103

It’s hard enough to beat any team on any given night in the NBA. But it’s even harder to try and beat the same team in two games in a row, which is what the Mavericks set out to do on Saturday night when they faced the Nuggets here in Dallas for the second game in a home-and-home series. (Game one was on Wednesday night in Denver, where the Mavs squeaked by with a 102-101 victory). And even though statistics show that the team who wins the first game in a home-and-home loses the second game the overwhelming majority of the time in the NBA, the Mavs still had quite a few factors working in their favor.

For one thing, the Nuggets, who defeated the Clippers 111-104 on Friday night, did not arrive at the team hotel here in Dallas until after 4:00 AM on Saturday morning. In fact, the start time of the game had to be pushed back thirty minutes to comply with league regulations regarding rest periods between games. Dallas, on the other hand, had not played since defeating Denver on Wednesday, giving them fresher legs and more energy heading into the game – in theory. Nene’, who missed Wednesday’s matchup, was in street clothes yet again on Saturday night, giving the Mavs the upper hand when it came to size. If Dallas could just exploit the smallness of the Nuggets, primarily with Nowitzki, the way they had done on Wednesday, they could have walked away with a pair of wins against the Nuggets.

But they didn’t.

The first half was fan-freaking-tastic, an up-and-down, back-and-forth competition. Both teams led at different points and the game was ultra competitive. Denver, who torched Dallas from behind the three-point arc all night long, did not look like a team lacking in energy. Jason Terry was playing on a level I don’t think I’ve ever seen him at before, finishing the opening half with a team high 23 points while shooting lights out from the floor at 90% (9-of-10, including 2-of-2 on three pointers). Terry’s second three pointer came with just seven seconds left in the first half, cutting Denver’s lead to one, 53-52, heading into the locker room. And even though Denver (yes, the whole damn team) was all up in his jersey, Dirk still managed to add 14 points on 3-of-6 shots in the opening half. (At one point, Mavs TV analyst Bob Ortegel noted, “This is a physical game out there.” Well, duh, Bob – it is the Thuggets, after all!)

Although the Mavs have been a great ball handling team in recent years, Dallas did turn the ball over 10 times in the first half. With 7:30 left in the third, Dirk made a beautiful mover, spinning away from the second defender and dropping down a Thunder Dirk dunk to make it a 66-60 Dallas lead. On the other end of the floor a few plays later, Tyson Chandler and J-Kidd jointly stripped the ball out of Williams’ hands as he moved through the lane, causing us to wonder, is there such a thing as half-steal? Carmelo Anthony got the Nuggets backing the game after being down by double digits by dropping in three three-pointers during the third quarter alone. Denver killed the Mavs’ from the three-point line, knocking down 13-of-21 shots for a ridiculous 62%. By the end of the third quarter, the game was knotted at 79 and appeared to be building toward another amazing finish.

And then, the fourth quarter started and a funny thing happened: the Mavs fell apart. Missed free throws, forced turnovers, stolen balls – it was nothing but ugly. And it pains me to do this, but I have to give Denver some credit, as their defensive intensity picked it up a notch in the final frame. The Nuggets had six steals and eight forced TO’s in the last twelve minutes, setting the tone for their decisive victory. They were also able to shut down not only Dirk, but the Jet as well – the two combined for just one point in the fourth quarter. As a team, the Mavericks only managed 13 points in the final frame.

Aside from the Matrix, Dallas received very little help off the bench. The Nuggets’ reserves outscored the Mavs by a total of 40-19. Shawn Marion was a bright spot, however, finishing with 12 points, nine boards, a steal and a block. Jet led the way for Dallas with 26 points, 23 coming in the first half, which was a career high for a single half for the Jet. Caron Butler had a double-double, 13 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds, to go along with his team-high three steals. Dirk dropped in 23 points, including a perfect 9-of-9 from the stripe, but was singlehandedly responsible for seven of Dallas’ 21 total turnovers. Dallas had more turnovers (21) than they did assists (12) in the game, continuing a recent disturbing trend of turning the ball over 20+ times per game.

If protecting home court is as important as Coach Carlisle and the 2010-2011 Mavericks claim, they need to prove it by not only defeating but dominating the Boston Celtics when they come to town on Monday night at the AAC.

Dallas Drops Denver, 102-101

Dallas 102, Denver 101

It would figure that on the one night I’m so exhausted I can’t see straight from a long “weekend” (which included driving 500+ miles in less than 48 hours) would be the one night that the Mavs’ would pull out a nail biter of a win over that punk ‘Melo and the Denver Nuggets. We made it home after the start of the second half, but I did manage to watch a good bit of the third quarter. After seeing the Mavs’ push their lead to double digits at 73-63, I decided to call it quits and head to bead, hoping their lead would hold up. I left Merenda and Trystan, my Mavs-fan-in-training, watching the game, and asked T to let me know who won in the morning.

I guess Trystan was too excited to wait, because about 45 minutes later, I heard her faint tap-tap-tapping on my bedroom door and climbed out of bed to open it.

“Mavs won!” she said, jumping up and down excitedly.

“We did?” I asked, giving her a high five to celebrate. “What was the score?”

“Um, it was good,” she said, and trotted her happy little behind back into the living room.

Merenda, who heard the whole exchange from the living room, hollered out, “You missed it – it was a good game, 102-101.”

Well, hell. Of course I missed it. That’s just the way the ball bounces for me so far this season. But I did jump online Thursday morning and check out the highlights, and I checked the box score and saw that, had Dirk not been Dirk, Dallas would not have been in position to win this game like they were.

Don’t get me wrong here, I adore Dirk as much as anyone, probably more so than most. But realistically, he is advancing in age, and if Dallas has to keep riding him for extended minutes just to eke out one-point wins, especially starting this early in the season, is he going to have any gas left in the tank, say, even by the time we hit the All-Star break? Neither Mavs’ fans, nor players, nor the coaching staff can or should expect the big German to put up 35 points and pull down 12 boards night in and night out. And as hard as he can sometimes be on himself, I don’t even know if Dirk expects that much out of his aging body.

Jason Terry dropped in 20 points (16 in the third quarter, when he got hot from behind the arc) and Caron Butler had 16, but Dirk has got to get more help if the Mavs want to continue their winning ways deep into the postseason. So far this year, he has been nearly unstoppable from anywhere on the floor, his FG percentage well over 50% through the first four games. But, like all mere mortals do, eventually, Dirk is bound to have an off night. Isn’t he?

Mavs Sink Clippers, Gain First Road Win

Mavs 99, Clippers 83

It’s the start of a new Mavs’ season, and I hate to admit it, but I haven’t quite gotten my bearings and jumped back into the swing of things just yet. I’m trying my darnedest to get my butt in gear but as I’ve said before, sometimes life just gets in the way. For instance, I brought three Mavs’ pocket size schedules home with me from their season opener last week. That same night, when I threw my jeans in the washer, I absentmindedly left not one or two but all three of them in my pocket; alas, I had none, aside from the magnetic schedule I had taken to work and slapped on my file cabinet. So on last Saturday night, I was shocked when I started reading tweets from Matrix31 and DallasMavs talking about being in LA. Why are the Mavericks in LA? I asked myself, thinking that their next game was not until Wednesday the 3rd in Denver. And amazingly, my dear husband Rickey-the-misguided-but-lovable-Spurs-fan knew the answer I sought: the Mavs were scheduled to play the Clippers in LA on Halloween Sunday afternoon.

“Didn’t you see at the end of the broadcast the other night, they were saying the Mavs’ next game was Sunday in LA?” he asked innocently. “Oh wait, you couldn’t have…you were at that game!” Well, duh, but still shame on me for not knowing when my boys in blue would be hitting the hardwoods.

Halloween Sunday was inconvenient for me personally to have the Mavs playing, but of course, the schedule maker neglected to consult me, darn it. First and foremost, my work schedule has changed yet again, and my “new and improved” weekends now come on Tuesday and Wednesday, rather than Saturday and Sunday. Not so bad, except that I play in two fantasy football leagues (for money, mind you) and now all I can do is watch the points rack up on my computer rather than enjoying the games themselves. Secondly, World Series baseball was being played here in Arlington for the first time…well, EVER. So even though I am a self-proclaimed anti-baseball junkie, I was still on the Rangers bandwagon, savoring every minute of their unlikely ride towards a championship, in hopes that maybe if they could do it, then my Mavs could finally win their title, too. I’m not really superstitious, but what harm could there be in trying to promote some local sports karma among the fandom? Lastly, my hapless, hopeless Cowboys were also playing on Sunday, and I had planned to listen to them on the radio, but forced to choose between the two, of course my Mavs came out on top.

So as I sat at my desk clickity-clacking away on my ancient keyboard with its letters rubbed off after years of abuse at my fingertips, I tried to listen intently to the Mavs as they appeared to handle the Clippers rather easily. Unfortunately, the only part of the game I heard in its entirety was the final 37 seconds, because by that time I was in my car, away from overly chatty colleagues, and able to truly focus my attention on the game itself. I wish I had more insight to offer on the Clippers game, but in the end, the Mavs did what they had to do, stomping on the bottom-dwelling Clippers and rebounding from their sad showing against Memphis two nights earlier. The one thing I did notice – and really wished I could have seen, rather than heard – was Jason Kidd’s ri-dic-u-lous shot from behind the top of the key on the Clippers’ end of the court that swished through the Mavs’ basket on the other end of the court to end the first half, giving the Mavs a 52-50 lead, which they would hold onto for the remainder of the game.

Dirk (16 points in 30 minutes) didn’t have to play 40 minutes and score 30 points for Dallas to win this game; the bench was a big boost, particularly Brendan Haywood (10 points on 5-6 FG, to go along with four offensive rebounds) and Shawn Marion, who brought great energy to the game, finishing with 12 points, two boards, two assists, a block and a steal. How’s that for some help off the bench?

Fortunately for me, the Mavs won’t play another Sunday afternoon game until January 2, 2011, when they will face the King-less Cavaliers in Cleveland. (I almost want the Cavs to win, just to burn LeBron’s booty…notice I said almost.) By that time, even if my work schedule hasn’t changed, the Cowboys will be so far out of the NFL playoff picture I won’t be distracted by them anymore and I can focus solely on what matters most: my Dallas Mavericks.

Whatchoo Talkin' Bout, Willis: Mavs Drop One to Memphis, 90-91

Mavs 90, Grizzlies 91

A simple text message I received from Dad after the final buzzer sounded at the AAC on Friday night summed up my feelings: “HOW exactly did we lose to MEMPHIS?”

Good question. And judging by the befuddled looks on the many faces still standing on their feet, lingering at their seats long after the final horn, I wasn’t the only one at a loss to explain this Mavericks’ loss.

The simplistic answer is that the Mavericks’ were their own worst enemies in this game. They played sloppy basketball (20 turnovers in the game, nine of them in the final frame) and made poor decisions, like fouling Marc Gasol with 6.7 seconds left, allowing him free throws to give the Grizzlies their go ahead points and seal the victory. Dallas was uncharacteristically awful at the charity stripe, shooting a meager 66.7% on 16-of-24 free throws. Two of those misses came off the hand of Dirk Nowitzki, whose regular season consecutive made free throw streak ended at 82, becoming the third longest in NBA history.

Aside from the two missed free throws, Dirk was again nearly perfect from the floor, racking up 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting to lead the way for the Mavs. Butler added 18 points and one helluva block early in the game that caused the arena to sound a collective “Oooh!” Jason Terry also finished in double digits with 13 points, five assists, and only one turnover. And while Jason Kidd was just shy of a double-double with nine points and 10 assists, he was also responsible for five turnovers, including his misstep on the final inbounds pass which could have set Dallas up for an easy shot and a chance to win the game. If only Kidd had been able to toss the ball in over Marc Gasol the way he did over Yao Ming in the Mavs’ one-point win over the Houston Rockets during their preseason finale, perhaps we would be lamenting the brilliance and veteran leadership and experience that Kidd brings to the hardwoods, rather than laying a large part of the blame for a pitiful Dallas loss at his sneakered feet.

The bottom line is that an injury depleted Memphis team (minus Zach Randolph and his bruised tailbone and playing with a less than 100% healthy Gasol brother) was able to come in to the Mavs’ house, where the Grizz had lost nine straight games, and eke out a one point win. Dallas was slack on defense (as evidenced by their zero steals in this game) and returned to its jumpshooting ways, allowing Memphis to hang around for too long, ultimately costing themselves what should have been an easy W.

And as much as that irritates me, especially when my Mavs come out on the losing side of things, it’s also a big part of why I love the NBA. Because on any given night, any perceived underdog can step on the court and compete with the reigning NBA champions. That’s reason #1341 why I love this game!