Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Memphis Grizzles (13-15) at Dallas Mavericks (20-9)
You won't hear the Dallas Mavericks call Saturday afternoon's matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies a "statement game," but make no mistake, Dallas is out to send a clear message both to Memphis and to themselves when they hit the American Airlines Center hardwood.
(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Shawn Marion says the Mavs need an edge at home
After an 85-81 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night, the Mavs come into their contest with the Grizzlies admittedly looking for improved play in their own backyard. Though they lead the Southwest Division and currently sit second in the Western Conference standings, the Mavs have yet to use their home crowd to their advantage.
"I think it's time to go ahead and find ourselves, especially on this home court," forward Shawn Marion said. "I think we have to come out there and become the main aggressors and intimidators on our home court.
"That home court speaks for itself. That's where you're supposed to have the best advantage to win...That's what everybody is fighting for in the playoffs, to get home court advantage."
If the Mavericks are to improve their play at home it will be because of better play on the offensive end. As hard as it sounds, the run-and-gun Mavs have struggled putting the ball in the hoop at home, while their defense has been their calling card on their way to earning a 10-5 record on the home floor. A breakthrough offensively is as simple as shot-making, according to Mavs coach Rick Carlisle.
"We haven't shot the ball as well at home, for one thing," the coach said. "I think our defensive numbers are comparable (between home and away games)...We know where we have to get better, and we'll concentrate on those things.
"We spent a lot of time (Thursday) shooting, and we just have to stay with our defense and our offense will come around...Shot-making comes and goes, even with the best shooting teams."
(Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Jason Kidd's status Saturday is unclear
While he is not asked to put the ball in the basket much, the Mavs' success rate on shot attempts is often predicated on the play-making of point guard Jason Kidd. But the health of the legendary lead guard is in question and so too is his playing status, after Kidd hit the court hard contesting Brandon Roy's shot attempt in the final seconds of the loss to Portland. Kidd missed the team's practice on Thursday but Carlisle is hopeful that the veteran will be ready to go against the Grizzlies.
"(Kidd) is sore, and he didn't practice (Thursday). We'll hold our breath and see where we are come Saturday. But if he can't go, then Roddy (Beaubois) has to be ready to step in and play minutes. That's where we're at. I'm still hopeful that (Kidd) can play, but he took a nasty, nasty fall," Carlisle said.
But the Mavericks will need every play-maker on the floor if they are going to avenge a 98-82 loss in Memphis on Dec. 4. In that game, Dallas struggled to score while having a hard time defending Zach Randolph in the paint and O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay on the perimeter. Despite sitting last in the Southwest Division standings, the Grizzlies are 7-3 in their last 10 games and a tough squad to corral, as Dallas found out first-hand in Memphis.
"With Memphis coming in here, we've got to deal with a great low-post player and rebounder in Randolph, the best offensive rebounding team in the league and a team that doesn't have great 3-point numbers but they lite us up like a Christmas tree the last time we played them," Carlisle said.
Priority No. 1 will be matching the Grizzlies' effort on the glass, according to Marion. No. 2 will be igniting an offensive assault in front of the home crowd.
"We have to come out here and match their intensity. We have to keep them off the boards. We have to play some offense and make them play defense," Marion said.
The Mavericks-Grizzlies matchup will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 2:00 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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