Dallas Mavericks (12-4) at Cleveland Cavaliers (11-5)
Both the Dallas Mavericks and the Cleveland Cavaliers came into the 2009-10 season with gold hardware on their brains.
Both squads made blockbuster off-season trades this summer to bring in former All-Stars, as Dallas pulled off a four-team trade to welcome in Shawn Marion and Cleveland acquired Shaquille O'Neal via trade.
(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Both Nowitzki and James are playing like MVPs this season
Essentially, the two teams are in the same place, as both the Mavs and Cavs lead their divisions and have won eight of their last 10 games in pursuit of an NBA title. Both franchises are also faced with the daunting task of building a championship contender while their superstars are still in their prime, as both Dirk Nowitzki, a former league MVP, and LeBron James, the reigning MVP, are each putting up numbers worthy of the honor again this season.
"Cleveland's a top team. They're a top franchise. So is Dallas. It's an interesting matchup," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said before the two teams met in the preseason.
With neither team playing their full compliment of players in the two meetings, Dallas and Cleveland split the pair of exhibition games. Now the two meet, and the game actually counts.
As with any time you square-off with the Cavs, you must try to contain James on the perimeter, while also not allowing O'Neal to dominate in the painted area. If only it was that simple.
"LeBron is one of the best, if not the best player in the league. You just have to try to limit his touches," Mavs point guard Jason Kidd said.
"Shaq is still a great player," Carlisle said though the big man has fought through injuries this season and is getting up in age. "No question. We'll try to play him straight up when we can, but it's very difficult. So, you have to have help ready."
At the other end, the Mavericks will hope to carry over the offensive explosion and high activity that has been on display the last two games, both blowout Dallas wins on the first two legs of a three-game road trip.
"Our activity and our energy were good, and we have to carry it over to Cleveland," Carlisle said of his team's play recently.
The Mavs have averaged 122 points per game in this two-game stretch, which will have to continue if Dallas is going to sweep this road trip with a victory against traditionally one of the best defensive teams in the league.
"Our offense really seems to be clicking," Nowitzki said. "The last two games we've done a good job of swinging the ball and shooting the ball well."
"All around, our offense has been looking better the last couple of games. I like what we’re doing lately."
Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Mavericks hit the court against James and the Cavaliers on Saturday evening, with the game airing locally on KTXA 21 and KTXA HD at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Dallas returns to the American Airlines Center on Monday, when they play host to the Philadelphia 76ers. That game will air 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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