Dallas Mavericks (5-2) at San Antonio Spurs (3-3)
There is usually very little time to celebrate a big win in the NBA.
That is especially the case when a team, like the Dallas Mavericks are, goes through a stretch of five games in seven nights. After the Mavs got through the first game in that brutal stretch with a 121-103 runaway win at home against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night, Dallas returns to the court just one night later as they travel south to San Antonio to meet the Spurs.
(Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)
Dallas hopes Dampier continues his low-post dominance
With the win over the Rockets, the Mavericks moved into first place in the Southwest Division but now the team must venture out on a four-game road trip. Dallas was fortunate to be able to use the energy from the home crowd to to overcome a 17-point first half deficit against Houston, but if they are to be successful on the road then the Mavs can not spot teams double-digit leads and expect to win on a nightly basis.
"We know how good San Antonio is," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said after the win against Houston. "We're going to have to play a lot better to win down there. I think we can, we've just got to correct some things and we don't have a whole lot of time to do it but we'll figure out a way."
"We probably played 30 minutes of the kind of basketball we want to play (against Houston). But the other 18, that's where it's got to get better for us. It's a mindset and we'll do our best to learn from this and move on. The games are coming fast and furious now, almost every 24 hours."
One thing that Dallas doesn't have to correct is the play from the center position, as Erick Dampier has shown a high propensity to score and rebound in the paint from the five position. Dampier claimed his third double-double of the season with a 14-point, season-high 20-rebound night against the Rockets.
Now Dampier figures to see a lot of time tormenting the Spurs, with Tim Duncan listed as doubtful for the matchup. Duncan, who has torched the Mavs and the rest of the NBA in the past en route to his four titles, has been fighting a nagging ankle injury. The San Antonio offense figures to go through slow spells, as both Duncan and point guard Tony Parker, who is also listed as doubtful with an ankle injury, are expected to be missing in action Wednesday night.
Though the Spurs have gotten contributions from the likes of a healthy Manu Ginobili, newcomer Richard Jefferson, George Hill and rookie DeJuan Blair, the bulk of San Antonio's success falls on a healthy No. 21 and No. 9. But if Duncan is unable to play, expect for Dampier to thrive, as the Mavs' center hopes his play in the paint will help lead the Mavs to an NBA title of their own.
"I think the biggest goal in mind is the championship," Dampier said. "So, I'm just going to go out there and play the way that I've been playing and try to help us win games."
"We just have to make up our minds to go out there and get the job done. We know what we have to do. It's going to be a team effort (on defense and the glass), and we just have to go out there and stop guys and get rebounds."
The Mavericks meet the Spurs on Wednesday night with the game airing on KTXA 21 and KTXA 21 HD at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Dallas returns to the American Airlines Center on Oct. 18, when the Mavs host the Spurs. The game will air locally on KTXA 21 and KTXA 21 HD and nationally on ESPN at 8:30 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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