RSS
Home
Mavericks defeat Raptors, look forward to Rockets, Spurs
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
On November 7th, 2009, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Toronto Raptors 129-101 in Dallas. Dirk Nowitzki went for 29-9-4, Jason Terry added 19, Shawn Marion 18 on 9 of 11 shooting. Josh Howard scored 16 in his return from injury.
It’s hard to judge any more about the general state of the Mavericks from this game. There was never any real doubt that the Mavericks offense was eventually going to start making shots, and it’s just as unlikely that they’ll shoot 63% every night—67% without Howard’s understandably shaky 5-12 effort, 6-10 FT effort.
Since that’s the case, as a fan you’re not overly happy that the Raptors broke 100, but on the other hand, there was no pressing imperative to play defense in the 4th, when the Raps went for 31 (to the Mavs 44).
I think ultimately you take two things from this game.
First, with the return of Josh Howard, there’s absolutely no reason, nor even a reasonable expectation, that Howard, Marion, and Terry can’t all average around 15, with Dirk hitting at about 24 and 25. For those scoring at home, that’s about 70 points. Get some contributions from Dampier, Barea, Kidd, Gooden, Thomas, and eventually Humphries and Beaubois and that’s something you can work with.
Two, this, like the Charlotte game, serves as a kind of feeling out of the West’s middle powers. The Hornets failed to impress and the Raptors, despite the addition of Turkoglu in the offseason, and who have victories over the Cavs and the Pistons, as well as a loss to the Grizzlies, also showed few flashes that they’re prepared for a leap.
Turkoglu was 3-8, notable more for the lack of shots than anything else. It was one less than ex-Mav Antoine Wright took, in a truly unmemorable 1-9 performance. It’s possible that Wright, for whom one made shot is reasonably familiar, but usually out of 3 or 4, may have been trying to make a point. On the other hand, if your gameplan calls for Antoine Wright taking 9 shots, you may be in trouble.
One more point is that Dirk Nowitzki looks terrific this year. In terms of shooting percentage, he’s not at his usual efficient levels, but he’s moving better than I think I’ve seen him in years. His four attempted three-point shots this game—three made—lead me to believe he knows it too. He attempted four three-pointers in a game only sixteen times last year. Three times this season already. He’s rebounding well, and he’s blocking shots.
The Mavericks now face the challenge of trying to reintegrate Josh Howard even as they integrate Shawn Marion—and soon, Tim Thomas and Drew Gooden. But this team is showing flashes of what it could be, when it all comes together, and that’s something worth getting excited about.
A peppy Houston team bent on defying expectations, and an uber-talented Spurs team that has struggled in the early going wait for the Mavericks in the next two. More will be revealed, as more happens.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
