Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (26-14) at Boston Celtics (27-11)
The Dallas Mavericks have shown the ability to bounce back after disappointing losses all season long.
Monday, while celebrating the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the Mavericks will have to respond to disappointment once again.
Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Southwest Division-leading Mavericks will continue along to the second matchup of a five-game road trip through the Eastern Conference, just 24 hours after suffering a 110-88 loss to the Toronto Raptors. The Mavericks have no time to feel sorry for themselves, meeting up with the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Celtics for the first time this season. The Celtics won both games between the two teams last season.
(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
"We're going to challenge each other to come out (Monday night)," sixth man Jason Terry said. "It's another opportunity and get a win. Let's just flat out get a win."
But for the Mavericks to get a win in the matchup between the second-best records of the East and West, the defensive intensity will need to pick up. According to Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, his team has lacked consistency on the defensive end.
"Our inability to sustain anything really consistent defensively was the problem for us," the coach said after Sunday's loss. "When we get stops, we can get out in transition, we can get good shots.
"Every team in this league is looking for consistency. When we struggle with it, we're like every other team, we struggle. We have to play better."
The Mavs' offensive production off of the bench suffered against Toronto as well. Aside for Terry's 18 points in the loss, the rest of the Dallas reserves posted a total of 16 points off the bench. That is something that must change, not only against Boston but going forward, Terry said.
"For our second unit to come in and play the way that we did, it's embarrassing. I've challenged them. I've challenged myself. I'm a part of that group, so we have to come out and do a much better job," Terry said.
"We know going into a game, our bench can not come out and put up production like we did (Sunday). That's embarrassing."
Despite Sunday's loss, Dallas still has the West's best road record at 13-7. But the Mavericks are just 5-5 in their last 10 games. Fortunately for Dallas, the Celtics are a banged up squad.
(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Boston will be without big man Kevin Garnett (knee), while Rasheed Wallace is optimistic that can give it a go against the Mavs despite a foot injury. Reports say that the team is expected to have Paul Pierce, after the All-Star collided knee-to-knee with teammate Shelden Williams in practice.
The Mavericks-Celtics game will air nationally on TNT at 7 p.m. CT. It is a part of a triple-header on the network to celebrate the MLK holiday.
Dallas returns home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 26. 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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