Comebacking Mavericks Crushes Weakened Cavaliers
November 1st 2007 07:36
Anyone can try to put themselves in the shoes of the Dallas Mavericks and anyone who dares to do so will find out how mad they are at getting up and back this season. In the last playoffs, they got everything all set to taste championship wine: A playoff tested team, homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs and MVP Dirk Nowitzki. Then what happened? They got beat by the 8th seeded Golden State Warriors in the first round with Baron Davis and co. running rings around them. Don Nelson made this team and he also knew how to beat it. Avery Johnson coached like a dear on the headlights looking so confused during the series that ended at 6 games which sent them to early elimination.
What you gonna do now after a wasted season? Payback... that is what it's got to be for Dallas. Many thought they were ready for an NBA title last season. This time they have gotta be more than ready.
The aggression that the Mavs showed against the Cleveland Cavaliers in their season opener is the image of a hungry team ready to dominate again and to be even more determined to make it to the top. Great ball movement, terrific team defense, and an attitude appropriate of championship teams were there in a 92-74 drubbing of the reighning Eastern Conference champions.
Dallas may have missed the services of Josh Howard, Erick Dampier, and Devean George but it didn't even mattered. The depth and talent level of the Mavericks still proved to be too much against the Cavaliers. Jason Terry led the Mavs with a game high 24 points including 6 of 8 from the 3-point line. Jerry Stackhouse scored 17 points as he stepped up in Howard's absence. Desagana Diop pulled down 11 rebounds as he started in place of Dampier. Dirk Nowitzki and Devin Harris had 15 and 13 points respectively rounding up the masterful production the Mavericks brought into the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.Just wait until this Dallas team gets into full health and they will be even more devastating.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had got to face it. They are not as good as last year. Lebron James honestly said that his team is "worse." Without any reshaping and roster improvement last offseason, and with Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic holding out, dark clouds are looming ahead for them this season.
Pavlovic had signed up last Tuesday to the relief of the Cleveland faithful but his extended vacation will have his game to adjust a little late. Varejao is still in Brazil so that leaves only one more player to wait for. Let's just hope that "fluffy-haired" Andy comes back soon because he is curtailing the progress of the franchise. If he feels like earning a $9 million dollar contract, he has got to prove more of what he can do on the hardwood.
It's where Lebron James goes so goes the Cavs. The game was clearly lost when he got himself into foul trouble. He finished the game with only 10 points on a terrible 2 of 11 from the field. Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden, who is playing on extended minutes, got double-double performances that served as silver linings in what can be considered as an anemic showing for Cleveland.
Cavs Head coach Mike Brown knows that the only way that his team can stay with the stronger teams in the league is to rely heavily on offense because they are significantly weaker in defense with Varejao still holding out.
In other games:
Seattle @ Denver
Carmelo Anthony took Kevin Durant to school scoring 32 points and joined forces with Allen Iverson who had a near triple-double perfomance with 25 points, 14 assists and 7 steals to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 120-103 win over the Seattle Supersonics.
Kenyon Martin may be back in the Denver starting unit but he should be getting himself in the scheme of things very soon. Linas Kleiza was a sterling performer off the bench for the Nuggets scoring 18 points including 5 3-pointers.
Sonics rookie sensation Kevin Durant had a somewhat jittery NBA debut by going 7 of 22 from the field but he was still able to score 18 points. Damien Wilkins top scored for the Sonics with 21 points and reserve Delonte West had 19.
San Antonio @ Memphis
Manu Ginobili led the Spurs with 30 points off the bench a go-ahead basket with 32 seconds left to lift his team past the Memphis Grizzlies 104-101for San Antonio's second win in a row.
Tim Duncan and Tony Parker added 17 points apiece in a close game that once again accentuated their teams maturity over the opposition.
Pau Gasol led the Grizzlies with 22 points. Damon Stoudamire, Rudy Gay contributed 18 and 16 points respectively while Mike Miller turned up with a double-double game with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Other results:
Toronto Raptors 106, Philadelphia 76ers 97; Orlando Magic 102, Milwaukee Bucks 83; Indiana Pacers 119, Washington Wizards 110; New Jersey Nets 112, Chicago Bulls 103; New Orleans Hornets 104, Sacramento Kings 90
Devin Harris gets past Zydrunas Ilgauskas
What you gonna do now after a wasted season? Payback... that is what it's got to be for Dallas. Many thought they were ready for an NBA title last season. This time they have gotta be more than ready.
The aggression that the Mavs showed against the Cleveland Cavaliers in their season opener is the image of a hungry team ready to dominate again and to be even more determined to make it to the top. Great ball movement, terrific team defense, and an attitude appropriate of championship teams were there in a 92-74 drubbing of the reighning Eastern Conference champions.
Dallas may have missed the services of Josh Howard, Erick Dampier, and Devean George but it didn't even mattered. The depth and talent level of the Mavericks still proved to be too much against the Cavaliers. Jason Terry led the Mavs with a game high 24 points including 6 of 8 from the 3-point line. Jerry Stackhouse scored 17 points as he stepped up in Howard's absence. Desagana Diop pulled down 11 rebounds as he started in place of Dampier. Dirk Nowitzki and Devin Harris had 15 and 13 points respectively rounding up the masterful production the Mavericks brought into the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.Just wait until this Dallas team gets into full health and they will be even more devastating.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had got to face it. They are not as good as last year. Lebron James honestly said that his team is "worse." Without any reshaping and roster improvement last offseason, and with Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic holding out, dark clouds are looming ahead for them this season.
Pavlovic had signed up last Tuesday to the relief of the Cleveland faithful but his extended vacation will have his game to adjust a little late. Varejao is still in Brazil so that leaves only one more player to wait for. Let's just hope that "fluffy-haired" Andy comes back soon because he is curtailing the progress of the franchise. If he feels like earning a $9 million dollar contract, he has got to prove more of what he can do on the hardwood.
It's where Lebron James goes so goes the Cavs. The game was clearly lost when he got himself into foul trouble. He finished the game with only 10 points on a terrible 2 of 11 from the field. Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden, who is playing on extended minutes, got double-double performances that served as silver linings in what can be considered as an anemic showing for Cleveland.
Cavs Head coach Mike Brown knows that the only way that his team can stay with the stronger teams in the league is to rely heavily on offense because they are significantly weaker in defense with Varejao still holding out.
In other games:
Seattle @ Denver
Carmelo Anthony took Kevin Durant to school scoring 32 points and joined forces with Allen Iverson who had a near triple-double perfomance with 25 points, 14 assists and 7 steals to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 120-103 win over the Seattle Supersonics.
Allen Iverson had a good all around game against the Sonics with a near triple-double
Kenyon Martin may be back in the Denver starting unit but he should be getting himself in the scheme of things very soon. Linas Kleiza was a sterling performer off the bench for the Nuggets scoring 18 points including 5 3-pointers.
Sonics rookie sensation Kevin Durant had a somewhat jittery NBA debut by going 7 of 22 from the field but he was still able to score 18 points. Damien Wilkins top scored for the Sonics with 21 points and reserve Delonte West had 19.
San Antonio @ Memphis
Manu Ginobili led the Spurs with 30 points off the bench a go-ahead basket with 32 seconds left to lift his team past the Memphis Grizzlies 104-101for San Antonio's second win in a row.
Tim Duncan and Tony Parker added 17 points apiece in a close game that once again accentuated their teams maturity over the opposition.
San Antonio's end-game savvy strikes again!
Pau Gasol led the Grizzlies with 22 points. Damon Stoudamire, Rudy Gay contributed 18 and 16 points respectively while Mike Miller turned up with a double-double game with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Other results:
Toronto Raptors 106, Philadelphia 76ers 97; Orlando Magic 102, Milwaukee Bucks 83; Indiana Pacers 119, Washington Wizards 110; New Jersey Nets 112, Chicago Bulls 103; New Orleans Hornets 104, Sacramento Kings 90
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