Philadelphia 76ers (5-12) at Dallas Mavericks (12-5)
Most teams would look at a 2-1 record on a three-game road trip as a success. The Dallas Mavericks aren't most teams.
For Dallas, it's the one defeat, a 111-95 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Mavs' last game, that makes the stretch away from home somewhat disappointing.
"The thing that stays with you is the last game," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "There were some things that happened defensively that were very poor, that we needed to address today and we did. We just have to get better. We played well in the previous two games, at Houston and at Indiana, and we just took a step back against Cleveland. We have to get the wheels back on the wagon tonight."
If the Mavericks are looking to get back on the winning track, then the Philadelphia 76ers are the perfect sacrificial lamb. The 76ers come into Dallas limping to a 5-12 record, 180 degrees from where the Mavericks sit at this point in the season. Philly is spiraling downward, riding a six game losing streak.
"This is a big week for us," Mavs sixth man Jason Terry said. "Coming off a loss at home (to Golden State), we want to avenge that loss tonight against Philly, which is a young team that get up and down the court. They pose a big threat to us."
"You got to get back on defense and you have to have a disposition about your body that says: 'We're not going to lose this game.' That's what you'll see tonight from us."
(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Crowding Iguodala ranks tops on Dallas' priority list
Monday night, much of the Dallas defense will be predicated on stopping All-Star forward Andre Iguodala.
"He's (Iguodala) a tremendous player. We have to just have a lot of different guys ready to guard him. Our whole team has to be tuned into his whereabouts on the court. Every time he puts the ball on the floor and looks to drive it, he has to see a crowd. He's just a terrific player and we're going to have to work hard to limit him," Carlisle said.
The 76ers will be without starting point guard Lou Williams for eight weeks with a fractured jaw. With Williams out, the door opens for rookie guard Jrue Holiday. The former UCLA standout will be required to step up in a big way and add support to Iguodala.
"Holiday was a guy that was highly rated in the Draft," Carlisle said. "I thought he was a really good player, and now he's getting an opportunity to play. He's getting better each game. He's a guy that can run a team, he can make shots, he can drive it, he can guard people, he's got good size, so he's a factor in the game and we're going to have to deal with him too."
With an offensive explosion on display recently, the Mavericks come into their matchup with Philly with a hardcore focus on the defensive end.
"In our wins, we have tremendous defensive numbers. In our losses, the numbers are extremely poor, which I guess you would expect. We're working towards consistency at both ends, but I really believe it starts with defense," Carlisle said.
The Mavericks-76ers game will air Monday night, locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.
The Mavericks and the NBA have introduced the official NBA All-Star game ballot, featuring Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry. For more on how to vote for your favorite Mavs for the All-Star game, to be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, visit Mavs.com.
Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.
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