Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Milwaukee Bucks (18-24) at Dallas Mavericks (29-15)
There truly is no place like home for the Dallas Mavericks.
After being away from the American Airlines Center during a five-game East Coast road trip, the Mavericks return to the home court on Tuesday night. Going 3-2 on the extended stay away from Dallas, concluding in a franchise record 50-point win in New York, the Mavericks have already turned their attention to a Milwaukee Bucks squad that pushed Dallas to the limit in the first meeting between the two teams.
"(The win in New York) is in the past," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said after the team's Tuesday morning shootaround. "We've got to move on to this one, and (the Bucks) are a hard competing team. So, this is going to be another really good test for us. It's all about meeting the physicality, the persistence and the intensity. And against Milwaukee you have to compete on defense but you've also got to compete on offense, because they really challenge every inch on the floor."
The Mavericks found out first-hand how big of a challenge the Bucks present on Nov. 16, when Dallas escaped Milwaukee with a 115-113 overtime win on Dirk Nowitzki's game-winning, buzzer-beating jumper.
Carlisle expects nothing less than another closely contested game in the second meeting. But the coach would also like to see his team showcase a dominant performance on the home floor against a team that is just 5-17 on the road, as Dallas enters the game with a 13-7 record in front of the hometown faithful.
"We're in the middle of the pack in the whole league, in terms of home record. We know we have to get better. And tonight's another opportunity to take a step in that direction, but I don't expect it to be easy," Carlisle said.
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Duplicating a 50-point win is nearly impossible, but the production from unheralded players is something the team hopes traveled back with them from the Big Apple.
With starting point guard Jason Kidd (personal reasons) and first-team center Erick Dampier (left knee effusion) out against the Knicks, the Mavericks utilized their depth to capture the record-setting win. Players like Drew Gooden and Rodrigue Beaubois demonstrated that they are ready to perform at a high level should their numbers be called. Though Kidd and Dampier are expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday, Carlisle would still like to see his bench players continue to be ready for the "prime time moments."
"(The bench players) have to continue to do it. The job of our depth guys, our bench guys and our backup guys is to be ready to step forward when needed and perform big. Drew had a very good trip and played very well against New York. Roddy (Beaubois) did a terrific job for us, and now we just have to keep going with it."
Gooden already had a big game against Milwaukee, posting 22 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in the November meeting.
"I'm taking my time and just going out there and trying to approach the game the same way every night," Gooden said, fresh off of a 15-point, 18-rebound effort against the Knicks. "I feel like I've been doing that for awhile, and it's just starting to pay off now."
Dallas hopes Gooden's improved play continues against an upstart Bucks squad, though Carlisle's mind is more so fixed on shutting down the opposing team's 3-point shooting.
"They're a tough team to play," the coach said. "They hit 14 threes on us in that game, and we managed to survive that, but that's difficult to do. Limiting the number of threes made and open looks is a real key. We have to play a hard 48 (minutes) and we have to play well."
(Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
Atop the Mavericks' list of concerns on Tuesday night is stopping rookie Brandon Jennings, who scored 25 points against Dallas in a losing effort.
"(Jennings) is a great young player. He's dynamic, he's explosive...He shoots the three extremely well, which sets up his penetration. He presents a lot of challenges," the coach said.
But the Bucks also pose a threat on the inside, as big man Andrew Bogut has terrorized opposing defenses. Milwaukee is 10-2 when Bogut scores at least 19 points. Dallas held the 7-footer to just 13 in November.
"Bogut is having a great year," Carlisle added. "There's a strong correlation between him having big scoring games and them winning. So, we know that he is a guy we have to key in on."
The Bucks also have recently added former Mav Jerry Stackhouse into the fold, after the swingman spent five seasons in Dallas.
"(Stackhouse) can bring scoring, toughness, leadership, big game moxy and he's played well for them so far," Carlisle said.
Dallas tries to capture the season series over the Bucks when the two teams meet on Tuesday night. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT.
For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.
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