Mavericks Practice Report 01/07/10
The Southwest Division has long been dominated by the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks.
(Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)
Winning the season series and the bragging rights between the two squads has often led to the eventual division crowd. Now with the division-leading Mavericks ahead of the Spurs by two games in the standings, the next installment of the sibling rivalry has major early season implications when the two squads meet in San Antonio on Friday night.
"This is your rival," sixth man Jason Terry said. "This is your big brother, little brother...Who wants to win it the most. It doesn't matter where we are playing -- in San Antonio, in the backyard, on the playground. It's going to be a tough game.
"They're big brother because they have all the titles, so we're coming in there looking to try to do what they do. So, I always look at it that way. You never want to sleep on little brother. You know the saying: Little brother, in the end always wins."
The two teams split the first two meetings of the season, with both winning on their home floor. Now the Mavericks try to break that trend, matching up against point guard Tony Parker for the first time this season. With a healthy Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili on the court at once, joined by new additions Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess and rookie DeJuan Blair, the Spurs have improved drastically since Dallas' 99-94 home win on Nov. 18.
"If you've watched them over the last month, they might be the best team in basketball, the way they've come together. You knew it was going to take some time, they have some new pieces they had to implement," Terry said.
(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
Even with the supporting cast playing well, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said stopping the Spurs still hinges on defending San Antonio's Big Three.
"It's Duncan, Parker, Ginobili," Carlisle said. "They still have three great players otherwise too."
While Ginobili is an excellent isolation swingman, the Maverick defense will come into Friday's game looking to limit Parker's driving ability. With Parker operating as the "head of the snake," keeping the quick lead guard out of the lane is a must for the Dallas defense to have a successful night, the coach said.
"Parker is an All-Star...His penetration is something we're going to have to try to limit," Carlisle said. "Whether it's transition, pick-and-rolls or just straight lining you up and driving you, it's a real job to stay in front of him. So we're going to have to have five guys engaged in that task.
Though Duncan is a year older, Carlisle says his game is still as effective. Contending with the perennial All-Star's skill in the painted area will be a challenge for Dallas all night long.
"(Duncan) has only gotten craftier and smarter. He's still as great as he ever was. The difference now is that they've surrounded him with a supporting cast, to where he doesn't have to carry that huge load for them every night for them to be consistent and win. He's one of the Top 2 or 3 post players in all of basketball...He's a load in there," Carlisle said.
The Mavericks will do their best to contain Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and the Spurs' supporting cast in the third of four meetings between the two squads. The Mavericks-Spurs matchup will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Dallas returns to the American Airlines Center on the second night of a back-to-back Saturday, hosting the Utah Jazz, with the game airing locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 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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