Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (39-21) at Charlotte Bobcats (28-29)
Now is when the Dallas Mavericks show their grit.
(Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
On an NBA-best seven-game winning streak, the Mavericks enter Charlotte with little rest before playing the Bobcats. The Mavs hit the road immediately after a hard-fought 108-100 win over the New Orleans Hornets, in a late game on Sunday night. But even though the Mavericks arrived in Charlotte Monday in the early morning hours, they are completely aware that complaining about the scheduling will do no good. Instead the Mavs have to shift their focus directing to the task at hand.
"I think you've got to look at it as one of the great challenges of our season," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "We'll have a breakfast meeting, we'll have a pre-game meal and basically jump on the bus and go play. You look at it and whine about it, or you can bat down the hatches and go at it. I think, at this point, we're ready to go at it."
"Back-to-backs are unfortunately a part of the NBA. Everybody has them, but this is obviously one of the tougher ones with the traveling. We just got to get it done," forward Dirk Nowitzki said.
The Mavericks certainly have the right mind state before matching up with the Bobcats for a second time this season. That's because the Dallas squad just squeaked out a 98-97 home win in overtime on Dec. 12 over the young Charlotte team. Nowitzki says the Mavericks certainly are not taking Monday's game lightly, as the team tries to sweep the season series between the two squads.
"Charlotte is proven. They play well at home. Stephen Jackson is a handful and Gerald Wallace is having an All-Star season, so we have our hands full," Nowitzki said after a 36-point night against New Orleans.Nowitzki hit the nail right on its head. Despite sitting one game under .500, the Bobcats own a 20-7 record at home. Much of that success is predicated on the play of Jackson and Wallace. In their December meeting, Jackson's 28 points led Charlotte, while Wallace added 23 points and 16 rebounds.
Though the Mavericks are coming in with little rest, they still believe they can contend in a tough environment.
"We're probably not going to get a lot of sleep, but I think we're deep enough and we've got enough guys that can step in and score. So, if a couple of guys are tired, our bench has to come in and step up and get the other guys some rest," Nowitzki added.
Fortunately for the Mavericks, they got a key contributor back in action in the win against the Hornets. After missing two games due to a bad reaction to medication, starting shooting guard Caron Butler returned to the hardwood with 19 points on 9-of-18 shooting. The sight of a healthy Butler was just what the Mavericks needed during a tough stretch.
"I thought (Butler) looked good (in Sunday's win)...Offensively, he's real consistent and gets good looks. Our guys are getting a good feel as to where and when to deliver the ball. Defensively, he battles and stays within the system. When he's in the position to make a play, he does. Good to see him back out there. It really helps our rotation," Carlisle said.
"It felt good getting out there and getting a rhythm," Butler said.
Now Butler and the Mavericks try to run their winning streak to eight on a quick turnaround. The Mavs-Bobcats matchup will air Monday evening locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 6 p.m. CT.
For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.
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