duncan228
03-22-2008, 04:44 PM
http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/nba/deportes/preview?gameId=280323006
Spurs-Mavericks Preview
By BRETT HUSTON, STATS Writer STATS LLC
The pattern has been the same for the Dallas Mavericks since Jason Kidd's arrival last month -- dominate opponents with losing records and drop close games to teams likely to be in the playoffs.
They'll look to end that trend Sunday when they host the San Antonio Spurs, who certainly fit into the latter category.
Dallas (44-25) gambled that trading for Kidd, a nine-time All-Star, would be the boost it needed in the crowded Western Conference playoff race. However, Kidd's numbers (8.5 points, 9.6 assists) are down from his days in New Jersey, and more importantly, the Mavericks aren't beating the teams in front of them in the standings.
They're 9-0 against sub-.500 opponents since Kidd arrived, winning by an average of 18.4 points. However, they're 0-7 against teams currently in playoff position, with five of those losses coming by six points or fewer.
Each of Dallas' last two games ended in that fashion. A torrid comeback wasn't enough to get the Mavericks past the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, as they fell 102-100. They led Boston on Thursday in the fourth quarter, but the Celtics rallied for a 94-90 win.
"We're just right there in a lot of these games," said Dallas' Jerry Stackhouse, who scored 17 points against Boston. "It's disappointing to keep coming up short."
The Spurs (46-23) have won back-to-back games, but can't be feeling much better about their recent play against contending teams than the Mavs are. Since their 11-game winning streak was snapped March 7, they're 1-5 against teams over .500.
San Antonio has bounced back from a four-game losing streak with two straight victories. The competition hasn't been stiff -- Chicago and Sacramento aren't in playoff position -- but Tim Duncan was just happy to get a pair of wins.
"It's great to get a back-to-back, get kind of a little bit of a winning streak going," Duncan said after beating the Bulls and Kings on consecutive nights. "The confidence I think is there."
Duncan, who averages 19.6 points, has been outstanding in two games against the Mavericks this season, averaging 27.5 points and 10.0 rebounds.
Manu Ginobili -- San Antonio's leading scorer at 20.0 points per game -- hasn't reached double figures in his last two, but is averaging 26.3 points in three games against the Mavericks this season.
The Spurs used to dominate road games against their Texas rival, winning 12 straight from the early- to mid-1990s, but they haven't fared as well at Dallas recently. They've lost four of six there in the regular season, the defeats coming by an average of 18.3 points, including a 105-92 loss Nov. 15.
Dirk Nowitzki averaged 28.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in the losses to the Lakers and Celtics, but he's struggled with his shooting against the Spurs this season. Though he's averaging 20.0 points, Nowitzki has connected on just 37.5 percent from the field.
One player who has given the Mavericks a spark against San Antonio is Brandon Bass. The third-year forward averaged 17.0 points and 6.0 rebounds off the bench in his last two games against the Spurs.
When Kidd made his first appearance this season in a Mavericks uniform against San Antonio, he had seven points and 10 assists in a 97-94 loss on Feb. 28 -- nine days after the trade. He was kept on the bench by coach Avery Johnson with the score tight in the final 30 seconds, a move that Kidd later said he understood.
Spurs-Mavericks Preview
By BRETT HUSTON, STATS Writer STATS LLC
The pattern has been the same for the Dallas Mavericks since Jason Kidd's arrival last month -- dominate opponents with losing records and drop close games to teams likely to be in the playoffs.
They'll look to end that trend Sunday when they host the San Antonio Spurs, who certainly fit into the latter category.
Dallas (44-25) gambled that trading for Kidd, a nine-time All-Star, would be the boost it needed in the crowded Western Conference playoff race. However, Kidd's numbers (8.5 points, 9.6 assists) are down from his days in New Jersey, and more importantly, the Mavericks aren't beating the teams in front of them in the standings.
They're 9-0 against sub-.500 opponents since Kidd arrived, winning by an average of 18.4 points. However, they're 0-7 against teams currently in playoff position, with five of those losses coming by six points or fewer.
Each of Dallas' last two games ended in that fashion. A torrid comeback wasn't enough to get the Mavericks past the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, as they fell 102-100. They led Boston on Thursday in the fourth quarter, but the Celtics rallied for a 94-90 win.
"We're just right there in a lot of these games," said Dallas' Jerry Stackhouse, who scored 17 points against Boston. "It's disappointing to keep coming up short."
The Spurs (46-23) have won back-to-back games, but can't be feeling much better about their recent play against contending teams than the Mavs are. Since their 11-game winning streak was snapped March 7, they're 1-5 against teams over .500.
San Antonio has bounced back from a four-game losing streak with two straight victories. The competition hasn't been stiff -- Chicago and Sacramento aren't in playoff position -- but Tim Duncan was just happy to get a pair of wins.
"It's great to get a back-to-back, get kind of a little bit of a winning streak going," Duncan said after beating the Bulls and Kings on consecutive nights. "The confidence I think is there."
Duncan, who averages 19.6 points, has been outstanding in two games against the Mavericks this season, averaging 27.5 points and 10.0 rebounds.
Manu Ginobili -- San Antonio's leading scorer at 20.0 points per game -- hasn't reached double figures in his last two, but is averaging 26.3 points in three games against the Mavericks this season.
The Spurs used to dominate road games against their Texas rival, winning 12 straight from the early- to mid-1990s, but they haven't fared as well at Dallas recently. They've lost four of six there in the regular season, the defeats coming by an average of 18.3 points, including a 105-92 loss Nov. 15.
Dirk Nowitzki averaged 28.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in the losses to the Lakers and Celtics, but he's struggled with his shooting against the Spurs this season. Though he's averaging 20.0 points, Nowitzki has connected on just 37.5 percent from the field.
One player who has given the Mavericks a spark against San Antonio is Brandon Bass. The third-year forward averaged 17.0 points and 6.0 rebounds off the bench in his last two games against the Spurs.
When Kidd made his first appearance this season in a Mavericks uniform against San Antonio, he had seven points and 10 assists in a 97-94 loss on Feb. 28 -- nine days after the trade. He was kept on the bench by coach Avery Johnson with the score tight in the final 30 seconds, a move that Kidd later said he understood.