Thread Tools

Display Modes

Mavs Maniac · 03-15-2006, 02:50 AM

Mavericks-Rockets preview

8 p.m., Toyota Center, Ch. 21; ESPN-FM (103.3), KFLC-AM (1270, Spanish) 10:52 PM CST on Tuesday, March 14, 2006

By EDDIE SEFKO / Staff Write

Series: Mavericks lead 2-0 this season; Rockets lead 72-54 all time

Key matchup

Yao Ming vs. DeSagana Diop: China's 7-6 center has been on a sensational roll lately. In the last five games, he's averaged 32.2 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 52 percent from the floor and 86 percent from the line. In his only game against the Mavs this season, he had 20 points and six rebounds. He's averaging 21.8 points and 10 rebounds, both careere bests. The last Rocket to average a double-double for the season was Hakeem Olajuwon. Erick Dampier and DeSagana Diop will have their hands full trying to slow down Yao.

Inside the Mavericks

Big difference: If you're looking for the reason the Mavericks' scoring is down roughly three points from last season, look no further than shots per game. They are hoisting 78.3 shots per game, compared to 81.6 shots last season. Go back to the 2003-04 season and they averaged a whopping 88.2 shots.

Briefly: They have lost as many games in March (three) as they did in January and February combined. They were 23-3 in those months, 4-3 before Tuesday in March. ... In the last 12 games, Jerry Stackhouse is shooting 4-of-30 (13.3 percent) from 3-point range.

Inside the Rockets

Hot and cold: They traded Maverick-killer Mike James to get a truer point guard in Rafer Alston, who has shown both his dazzling and disappointing sides. He dished out a season-high 14 assists last week and has had 10 double-digit assist nights since Jan. 1. But he's shooting just 38.7 percent from the field and 67.9 percent from the line.

Briefly: Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady (out with a back injury) have played together in only 31 games, in which the Rockets are 21-10. ... Stromile Swift continues to perplex with his inconsistency and his occasional indifference. He's averaging 9.1 points and 4.9 rebounds.

<table class="dwsmodule" bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td> <table class="dwsmodule" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" class="bilabel"> PROBABLE STARTERS </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td class="dwsmodule"> Rockets </td> <td class="dwsmodule"> Pos. </td> <td class="dwsmodule"> Mavericks </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td class="dwsmodule"> Juwan Howard </td> <td class="dwsmodule"> F </td> <td class="dwsmodule"> Dirk Nowitzki </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td class="dwsmodule"> Keith Bogans </td> <td class="dwsmodule"> F </td> <td class="dwsmodule"> Josh Powell </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td class="dwsmodule"> Yao Ming </td> <td class="dwsmodule"> C </td> <td class="dwsmodule"> DeSagana Diop </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td class="dwsmodule"> Luther Head </td> <td class="dwsmodule"> G </td> <td class="dwsmodule"> Marquis Daniels </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td class="dwsmodule"> Rafer Alston </td> <td class="dwsmodule"> G </td> <td class="dwsmodule"> Jason Terry</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

**t1no** · 03-15-2006, 11:01 AM

Double Yao and we have a pretty good chance. Simple? YES!!!

Cornholio · 03-15-2006, 11:46 AM

Do you still want me to post the game thread??

Mavs Maniac · 03-15-2006, 12:25 PM

Nah, it's alright

southeasy · 03-15-2006, 03:38 PM

well, one of you dallas fans PLEASE tell me whats going on with my boy josh howard???? god damn, i saw him playing the other night but he didn't have his usual effect on the scoreboard, so i know he didn't play the whole game.. is his injury still bothering him? whats going on? up in t.o. i can't get no news.

otherwise this would be a game i'd watch off support for howard, and my boy stromile swift alone.

**t1no** · 03-15-2006, 03:48 PM

He is not coming back any time soon.

marketgod · 03-15-2006, 04:34 PM

Here is how you beat the Rockets... send 5 players at Yao Ming... and let the other players shoot wide open shots.... other then Yao who shot above 50% fg... the other players on the team shot a whopping 28% combined last game...

**StackAttack** · 03-15-2006, 04:44 PM

I don't know if we can come out with a win tonight...the Rockets, despite being in a slump earlier, have had a pretty successful second half of their season. And I have an undying fear of back-to-backs ever since that streak-ending game in Denver.

Dragnsmke1 · 03-15-2006, 05:03 PM

due to injuries this is a game that we probably do need to run...with no TMac we need to make Yoa a non factor by raising the tempo a bit...let Rawse and Marshall make a name tonight...they have fresh legs...