Al DeMarco
Saturday's Play
15 Dime Release
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas is coming off a miserable performance Thursday at home against New Jersey, and the player who struggled most in that game was Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavs won 96-87, but had to rally from 18 down against the league's worst team.(., And Nowitzki, who had averaged 27.8 points in the previous 13 games, scored just 12 on 3-for-16 shooting from the field. Yet the team's miserable performance - and especially Dirk's - is the exact reason I love them laying the 12 or 13 points tonight against visiting New York.
Why? Two reasons: First, after such a poor effort, I expect Dallas - and especially Dirk - to come out fired up and aggressive on defense in this contest against a New York squad playing its third road game in four nights. And with the Mavs idle until Wednesday after this one, look for them to let it all hang out against the defenseless Knicks. Second reason: The Mavericks - and Dirk - have owned the visitors. A 15-1 series run, including eight straight wins, versus the Knicks with the last one the biggest in franchise history, a 128-78 blowout at the Garden on January 24. And that streak includes nine consecutive home wins since 1999, a stretch in which New York has averaged just 88.3 points. As for Dirk, he's averaged 26.5 points on 50.2% shooting in his last 14 versus New York.
The Knicks are coming off a 119-112 loss at Memphis Friday, but don't let the final score fool you. They were down by as many as 29 point in the second half before an aborted rally in garbage time.
Dallas can break a tie with Cleveland for the season's longest winning streak at 14 games with a win tonight. And it will be of the blowout variety as the Mavericks coast to a 17 point triumph.
Bought, Paid & Confirmed by me :toast:
Saturday's Play
15 Dime Release
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas is coming off a miserable performance Thursday at home against New Jersey, and the player who struggled most in that game was Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavs won 96-87, but had to rally from 18 down against the league's worst team.(., And Nowitzki, who had averaged 27.8 points in the previous 13 games, scored just 12 on 3-for-16 shooting from the field. Yet the team's miserable performance - and especially Dirk's - is the exact reason I love them laying the 12 or 13 points tonight against visiting New York.
Why? Two reasons: First, after such a poor effort, I expect Dallas - and especially Dirk - to come out fired up and aggressive on defense in this contest against a New York squad playing its third road game in four nights. And with the Mavs idle until Wednesday after this one, look for them to let it all hang out against the defenseless Knicks. Second reason: The Mavericks - and Dirk - have owned the visitors. A 15-1 series run, including eight straight wins, versus the Knicks with the last one the biggest in franchise history, a 128-78 blowout at the Garden on January 24. And that streak includes nine consecutive home wins since 1999, a stretch in which New York has averaged just 88.3 points. As for Dirk, he's averaged 26.5 points on 50.2% shooting in his last 14 versus New York.
The Knicks are coming off a 119-112 loss at Memphis Friday, but don't let the final score fool you. They were down by as many as 29 point in the second half before an aborted rally in garbage time.
Dallas can break a tie with Cleveland for the season's longest winning streak at 14 games with a win tonight. And it will be of the blowout variety as the Mavericks coast to a 17 point triumph.
Bought, Paid & Confirmed by me :toast:
