Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (18-7) at Oklahoma City Thunder (12-11)
What a difference a year can make in the NBA.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a shining example of how a team can immediately go from the cellars of the standings to playoff contention within a year's span. Last season, the franchise's inaugural season in a new city, the Thunder got off to a putrid 2-21 start through 23 games. A season later Oklahoma City is sniffing the playoffs with a 12-11 record within the same span.
(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
A young Thunder core gave Dallas problems in the past
Perhaps the Dallas Mavericks saw this coming last season, as the Thunder gave the Mavs all that they could handle in their three meetings a season ago. Dallas went 2-1 against Oklahoma City in the 2008-09 campaign, with their two wins coming by a total of six points. The last game, a 96-87 road loss on March 2, was seemingly a wake-up call to the Mavs that catapulted a run to the Western Conference semifinals. But Dallas would like to leave that in the past, as center Erick Dampier says the Thunder is not the only squad of the two teams that has improved from a season ago.
"Last year and this year are two total different years," Dampier said. "We got new players on this team, guys that know what happened down there last year. We're just going to go out there and leave it out on the floor and try to come home with the win."
If the Mavs are to return to Dallas with a win it will be because they found an answer for Kevin Durant and the young Thunder nucleus. Durant is the league's third leading-scorer, putting up 28.5 points each time he touches the hardwood. While the former Texas standout is one dilemma, not allowing his compatriots to get going is also a tough task.
"They're a good team," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said, not singling out Durant. "They're right there looking at the playoffs. They're very good at home. They're much deeper this year than they were last year. They're healthy right now, so they're a very good basketball team from top to bottom."
"Look, when you have teams that are athletic and aggressive, you have to contain them, be able to contest shots and be able to rebound. That's really the key. When we do that, we can get out into transition and make some of our good stuff happen."
And transition offense will play a big role in the Mavs' game plan as they head into Oklahoma City. While the upstart Thunder will be looking to run, the Mavericks will try to limit Oklahoma City's fast-breaking by countering back with running and gunning at the other end.
It is all a part of Carlisle's trust in point guard Jason Kidd's command of the team. The coach has deferred more and more to Kidd as an extension of the coaching staff on the court, going whole quarters without calling a play from the sidelines.
"(Kidd) does a great job and he has a very good pulse on our team. When I feel like we need some help, I'll make some calls, but when he's on the floor he's doing the vast majority of the play-calling," Carlisle said.
"We didn't even call that many plays in the first quarter (in a 94-90 win over New Orleans). We'd rather play that way if we can -- with the ball moving and a lot of screening, a lot of passing, a lot guys touching it. That kind of basketball energizes your team and it gives you energy at both ends of the floor."
Dallas now heads north up I-35 to battle the Thunder on Wednesday night, as the Mavs go in search of their fifth straight win. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest, and nationally on ESPN at 7 p.m. CT.
The Mavs return home to the American Airlines Center for the start of a four-game home stand on Friday night, when they host the Southwest Division rival Houston Rockets. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. That game will air locally on TXA 21 and TXA HD at 7:30 p.m. CT.
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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