Mavericks-Raptors Recap

(Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks 88 at Toronto Raptors 110

Beginning a long road trip with a win can ways provide a boost to a team on an extended stay away from home. The Dallas Mavericks won't have that luxury after the first matchup of a five-game road trip.

In an early tip-off on Sunday, the Mavericks began their trip away from home with the Western Conference's best road record. After claiming a 129-101 home win and shooting 62 percent against the Toronto Raptors in Dallas' second-best offensive showing of the season on Nov. 7, the Mavericks looked for a repeat performance north of the border in the Air Canada Centre. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, this time the Raptors were the offensively potent team in their matinee matchup. A dominate Raptors' second quarter helped Toronto split the season series and handed Dallas a 110-88 road loss.

"Our inability to sustain anything really consistent defensively was the problem for us," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of the 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. And give Toronto credit, they played extremely well."

(Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dallas looked for leading-scorer Dirk Nowitzki early and often in the opening quarter, while the Raptors countered with big man Chris Bosh. With Jason Kidd passing Glen Rice for fifth on the all-time list for made 3-point field goals on a bomb from long range at the 2:40-mark, coupled with 10 first quarter points from Nowitzki, the Mavericks seized control early with a 23-20 lead after one. The early advantage broke an eight-game stretch of Dallas deficits at the end of the first quarter.

"The first quarter was a good quarter for us, based on the score," the coach said. "They didn't shoot well, I thought we had something to do with that. We didn't shoot particularly well either, but we had a lead. And then we went through a stretch where we turned it over, we were dry and weren't defending –- that's three bad things to have happening at once."

The Raptors rallied with an 8-2 run to start the second quarter and surged ahead on the scoreboard. With Nowitzki and the starters resting on the sidelines, the Mavericks' second unit struggled to find the bottom of the net.

"Our second unit comes in the game and we think it's just going to be easy," sixth man Jason Terry said. "Their second group came out there full of energy -- making shot after shot, making plays. We didn't bring it...You had guys playing uncharacteristically. There are certain things we have to get accomplished, especially with that second group. We don't have Dirk out there, so there's certain things we have to run. We have to stay discipline and we definitely have to defend. But on the offensive end, we have to know what we're looking for, and we didn't. We were searching out there."

When Nowitzki returned to the court, he deferred to Terry. Still Bosh and the Raptors were a determined bunch, outscoring the Mavs 34-18 in the second quarter and equaling their largest lead as they entered halftime with a 54-41 lead.

"The second quarter was our undoing. When they scored 34, we scored 18. Turnovers led to uncontested shots and we went through a drought. When you go through a drought, you have to stop them and we didn't do it. The end result is a loss," Carlisle said.

"It is frustrating especially with this long road trip we have got," forward Shawn Marion said. "I thought we started the game off pretty well and they made a run. It seemed like they made some changes."

Bosh's 17 points led all scorers at the half, while Nowitzki kept Dallas in the game with his 14. Toronto's 50 percent shooting from the field bettered the Mavericks' 43 percent, due in large part to easy scores off of Dallas' seven first half turnovers.

The Mavericks' comeback attempt in the third quarter began with an attacking Marion, as the former Raptor found success raining in floaters over the long arms of the Toronto defenders. Continuously keeping the Mavs at bay, the Raptors increased their advantage with an inside-outside game plan. The frustration began to get to the Mavericks, as Nowitzki picked up his fourth personal foul and a technical for arguing the call with 1:44 left in the period. Meanwhile, the margin grew to 19 before Toronto eventually took an 84-68 lead into the fourth.

"Our problem is not the officials or those kinds of things, our problem is staying on task and knowing what's important to help us win," Carlisle said. "Look, we have to keep hammering and hammering away on it, we have to keep pointing it out, have to keep showing film, we have to keep reminding them and we'll get better."

(Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
The final period began with Carlisle shifting to a "small ball" lineup of rookie Rodrigue Beaubois, Terry, Josh Howard, Marion and Nowitzki. But while the unit played at a faster pace, it did little to impact the scoreboard. With Andrea Bargnani closing the Mavericks out with an array of shots midway through the period, both teams emptied their benches in the final minutes conceding a Raptors' win.

Nowitzki finished with a team-high 19 points, while Terry led the reserve effort with 18. Marion's 15 points and Kidd's 12 made it four Mavericks who scored in double figures.

Bosh's game-high 23 points were just ahead of Bargnani's 22, as Toronto featured five double-figure scorers.

The Raptors finished the day out-shooting the Mavericks from the field, 49 percent to 45 percent, also winning the battle of the boards with a 45-41 rebounding edge. Toronto utilized 10 Dallas turnovers to push the tempo out to a 23-9 advantage in fast break points.

Though the play of the second unit is normally decisively in the Mavericks' favor, led by Jose Calderon's 15 points off the bench, Toronto's reserves outscored their Dallas counterparts 38-34.

"Our starters did an outstanding job. But 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 tonight. That's embarrassing."

Now the Mavericks look to get back on the winning track Monday, on the second night of a back-to-back, heading into Boston to battle the Atlantic Division-leading Celtics. The Mavericks-Celtics game will air nationally on TNT at 7 p.m. CT. It is the first meeting between the two teams this season, after Boston swept the two games last year.

"We're going to challenge each other to come out tomorrow night," Terry said. "It's another opportunity and get a win. Let's just flat out get a win."

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.

Mavericks-Raptors Preview

(Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)>

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (26-13) at Toronto Raptors (20-20)

A five-game East Coast road trip could not come at a more inopportune time for the Dallas Mavericks.

After dropping the first two matchups of a three-game home stand, the Mavericks broke through with a 99-98 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Though the victory was by the narrowest of margins, getting a win and much-needed momentum was a necessity.

"It wasn't pretty, but definitely before you go on a big road trip you never want to leave with a loss," forward Dirk Nowitzki, who scored a game-high 32 points, said of the one-point win. "We found a way as a veteran team to grind it out and get a win."

Now the Mavs hit the road, amid the frigid eastern winter season, leaving the refuge of the American Airlines Center and the Dallas forecast.

"We've got some tough games on this trip. We've got to be ready...It's going to be cold, too. It's been cold here but it's going to be really cold on that East Coast. Get your coat and button up," forward Shawn Marion said.

(Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)

The expedition away from home begins north of the border against the Toronto Raptors. Toronto just may be the perfect opponent for the Mavericks to match up against, after scoring one point shy of a season-high number of points in a 129-101 blowout home win against the Raptors in a Nov. 7 meeting.

That game, the season debut for swingman Josh Howard, was also the first time the Dallas squad showed how explosive they can be. The Mavericks shot a stellar 62 percent from the field en route to capturing the win.

"That's the first game I think everyone was clicking on the same cylinder. It looked good and felt good," Marion said.

But despite their .500 record, the Raptors sport a 12-6 mark at home and have won seven of their last 10 games.

The Mavs also found out how versatile the Raptors are, headlined by the frontcourt of Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani. The duo combined for 48 points in the loss. According to Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, containing the two big men is no easy task for any team.

"They both shoot the ball really well. They both put the ball on the floor. It's an awareness thing. If you're a big guarding those guys you have to be ready to close out away from the basket and then be ready to move your feet when they put it on the floor. It's tough. It's one of the toughest matchups in the league, because they both shoot the ball so well. They both drive the ball so well," the coach said.

(Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the Mavericks may have found their recipe for success, finding Nowitzki and sixth man Jason Terry continuously down the stretch against the Thunder. The newest member of the 20,000-point club and reigning Sixth Man of the Year combined to score 16 of the final 18 for Dallas in the win. Nowitzki finished with a game-high 32 points while Terry added 21 in his reserve role.

"That's Maverick basketball," Terry said. "Myself and Dirk, we take a huge responsibility at the end of the game. But it's all about effort, desire and the will to win."

Sunday, the Mavericks will enter Toronto with the will to win and a Western Conference-best 13-6 road record. The Mavericks-Raptors game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 11:30 a.m. CT.

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.

Mavericks-Raptors Recap

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Toronto Raptors 101 at Dallas Mavericks 129

Injuries can derail a season for any NBA team. Due to injury, a gaping hole was missing early this season from the Dallas lineup thanks to the void left by the absence of Josh Howard.

Though they are still not at full strength, the Dallas Mavericks took a step in the right direction Saturday night with Howard's return. With No. 5 back in the starting lineup, Dallas showed just how potent they can be when healthy, scoring a season-high number of points in their 129-101 runaway win over the Toronto Raptors.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Howard looked like the Howard of old in the blowout win

"It felt pretty good, you know getting back in the swing of things," Howard said after his first game. "Trying to be out there for my team today, that was it. I had a good time out there."

"Of course I'm fatigued and I have to work through the process of getting back to 100 percent, which I am not. But, I'm just glad to get out there and play with my team and give them some kind of effort and I am working on that."

After battling back from a nagging ankle injury, which he had off-season surgery on, No. 5 finally hit the hardwood in a game situation. Howard's entrance into the lineup came at the perfect time, with Quinton Ross (bruised lower back) playing limited minutes and Drew Gooden (strained rib cage) out while he rehabs.

Now with Howard back on the court, the next step began for the star as he made the transition from small forward to shooting guard.

"Those (smaller) defenders have to learn how to guard a three-man (small forward). It's not me changing up my game," Howard said.

Howard stepped into the starting lineup immediately, joining Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki and Erick Dampier. Wearing the team's alternate royal blue uniforms, the Kidd-to-Howard connection looked rusty early as the point guard missed on an opening alley-oop lob pass to the returning former All-Star on the first possession.

On the team's third possession, Howard earned his first point of the season at the free throw line (1-of-2). Howard continued to be aggressive early in the period, and the team continued to call No. 5's number as he matched up with Toronto rookie DeMar DeRozen.

"Josh was aggressive, which he is, its his nature," Carlisle said. "I thought the best thing to do was to start him. He’s going to be one of our stars and one of our best players. I thought the guys playing with him did a good job of understanding the situation, of looking to get him opportunities to attack and do some things and get to the free throw line."

With Howard on track, the team began to get Nowitzki and Marion into the flow, but their inability to slow down Dallas native Chris Bosh in the paint prompted Carlisle to call a timeout at the 5:20-mark in the first quarter with Dallas down 17-13. Bosh had just moved into double figures with 10 of Toronto's 17 points.

Out of the timeout, the Mavs went to a "small ball" lineup, bringing in sixth man Jason Terry to play along with Kidd, Howard, Marion and Nowitzki, but the Raptors' success from behind the 3-point arch answered every Maverick score.

With the period coming to a close, Dallas made a run. Howard's jumper in transition off of Terry's outlet pass, followed by Nowitzki's spin and score in the lane, put Dallas up 26-25 at the end of one.

"It was good to have Josh back out there tonight and he helped us
out tremendously," Terry said. "He gives us another scoring option and you get to look at the lineup that everyone wants to see -- myself, J. Kidd, J-Ho (Howard), Shawn Marion at the four and Dirk as the five. That is a dangerous lineup for us."

Howard and Nowitzki combined for 15 of Dallas' 26 points in the period. In a virtually even quarter, Dallas connected on 10-of-22 while Toronto hit on 10-of-23 from the floor.

"I don't want to lose that job (as the go-to scorer in the first quarter)," Howard said. "I know one person beside myself that does as great job in the first quarter and that's LeBron James. To be considered in that category as one of the best, I have to keep working at it and keep doing what I've been doing."

The Mavericks' defense picked up early in the second quarter, as Dampier sent Amir Johnson's shot into the seats with a block shot. Dampier then sent away Bosh's dunk attempt later in the period.

Dallas' offense then began to follow suit, as Marion's baseline drive and feed to James Singleton for a corner 3-pointer gave the Mavericks life. Back-to-back-to-back Nowitzki scores gave the Mavs a 41-37 advantage with 7:12 remaining in the half.

The Dallas faithful then got a glimpse of vintage Howard, as he spun baseline for a finger-roll layup to give the Mavs a 47-42 lead with 3:13 on the clock. The run-and-gun Mavs then dazzled the crowd on a fastbreak score started by a spinning no-look Kidd pass to Howard and ending with a Terry jumper.

After Terry's layup rimmed out, Dallas took a 55-48 lead into halftime. The Mavs outscored the Raptors 29-23 in the second quarter.

Nowitzki led all scorers at the half with 16 points, while Howard shook of the rust for 13 first half points. Bosh led Toronto with 15 points, but Dallas out-shot Toronto 52 percent to 38 percent.

The second half started the same way the game began, with Dallas looking for Howard in the half-court offense, as his jumper gave Dallas a nine-point advantage early in the third. The lead later grew to 12 as Kidd found Nowitzki for a 3-pointer.

Consecutive scores from Marion pushed the lead up to 15, forcing Toronto to take a timeout with 7:48 left in the third. The Mavericks then went into the penalty just 10 seconds later, which would have allowed the Mavericks to pad their lead at the charity stripe.

But Marion and Nowitzki extended the Mavs' lead the old fashion way, as the two powered Dallas to an advantage as large as 20 in the quarter. While Marion scored at will in the paint and on a thunderous transition throw-down, Nowitzki's 3-point barrage widened the gap.

After missing his first two shots of the night, Marion connected on a stretch of nine in a row, mainly on easy buckets in the third.

"Shawn’s game was terrific. He’s starting to really get his conditioning now after missing those 10 days toward the middle part of training camp. That was something that set him back a little bit. He’s playing a little bit different style of play, especially with that first group, and I think he’s starting to adapt to it a little bit better. We’re just going to keep working on that stuff," Carlisle said.

"We called some plays and got me going down there," Marion said. "He saw something that we really liked and took advantage of it. It opened everything else up as well."


Meanwhile, Nowitzki posted 13 points in the third quarter, as Dallas outscored Toronto 30-22 in the period to take an 85-70 lead into the fourth.

While the Raptors went with their starters at the beginning of the fourth period, Nowitzki played next to the Mavs' reserves and helped lift the team to an 100-78 lead after Terry nailed a corner 3-pointer off of J.J. Barea's sixth assist with 8:09 remaining in the game.

Both teams emptied their benches soon after, as Dallas had the blowout well in hand. But the win wasn't complete until Barea found rookie Rodrigue Beaubois above the rim for a two-handed flush, putting the cap on the night.

"That's the first game I think everyone was clicking on the same cylinder. It looked good and felt good. We have to keep it going, keep improving and everything else will take care of itself," Marion said.

Nowitzki finished with a game-high 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Marion added 18 points and eight rebounds, while Howard debuted with 16 points in 25 minutes. Off the Mavs’ bench Terry scored 19 points and Singleton added 10 of his own. Barea finished with a game-high 12 assists.

Bosh led the Raptors with 26 points and 12 rebounds, while Andrea Bargnani added 22 points.

The Mavericks shot a staggering 62 percent, while holding the Raptors to 44 percent at the other end. The Mavs shot 74 percent for the entire second half, efficiently scoring 74 points in the second half. Dallas also out-rebounded Toronto 42-39.

"We played well and shot the ball well. We have not had this kind of a shooting night yet, and so the thing that we have to be cautious of is feeling like since we shot 62 percent and won by a big margin that all is hunky-dory heading into next week, where we play five in eight days," Carlisle said.



The Mavs return to action Tuesday night when the Houston Rockets travel up to the American Airlines Center, with tickets still available. For ticket information call (214) 747-MAVS. The game will air on KTXA 21 and KTXA 21 HD at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Mavericks then play four straight on the road beginning with the rival San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.

"Houston right now is probably playing harder than any team in the league," Carlisle said. "We know that, and so we're going to have to prepare the right way. Not only from a strategic standpoint but mentally because that's going to be an 'in the trenches' type game."

The Mavs have also introduced the “MavsU” program, designed to offer college and university students an opportunity to attend Mavs games at a discounted rate. The Mavericks and Genghis Grill have teamed to offer discounted tickets to students for many upcoming games.

To purchase any MavsU ticket and receive a coupon for a free bowl at Genghis simply call 214-747-MAVS or visit Mavs.com.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks-Raptors Preview

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Toronto Raptors (3-2) at Dallas Mavericks (3-2)

It's been a long-awaited sight, but Saturday night it could become a reality.

After missing the entire preseason and the first five games of the regular season (ankle), Josh Howard could return to the Dallas Mavericks' lineup against the Toronto Raptors. The swingman will be counted upon instantly with Quinton Ross (bruised lower back) questionable and Drew Gooden (strained rib cage) likely out of the game.

"It's great to have Josh Howard back tonight," sixth man Jason Terry said. "He's probable. In the NFL, there's questionable, probable and doubtful. He's not doubtful, so you can take the other two, probable and questionable. Hopefully he'll be out there tonight, and if he is, then that's going to be the lineup that we've been looking to see since Training Camp."

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Josh Howard is expected to make his season debut against the Raptors


"We're looking to get healthier, we're working to get better," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "We've got three or four guys that are hurt right now, so we're going to continue to work on getting those guys feeling better and work on getting our game better."

Though the Mavs coaching staff is keeping it secret how much game time Howard may see, No. 5's impact has been sorely missed. After the team gave away a late lead and eventually lost in overtime to the New Orleans Hornets in their last game, the squad could use Howard's ability to create easy offense back on the court. The Mavericks are hopeful that Howard's insertion into the lineup takes the sour taste of the last loss out of their mouths.

"It was a tough lost to swallow. I haven't really slept too much the last couple of nights. But tonight's a great opportunity, here at home," Terry said.



Tonight the Mavericks matchup with one of the most versatile and offensively-driven lineups in the NBA. The Toronto Raptors are controlled by Jose Calderon at the point, and then bolstered by Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh running an inside-outside post game.

"He (Calderon) doesn't make mistakes," Terry said of the point guard. "For a guy that's still primarily young in this league, he does a great job of running his team. They look to him. He's their leader, but I think we have a pretty great leader ourselves with Jason Kidd. That's going to be a great matchup tonight."

The Raptors have also added newcomer Hedo Turkoglu to the team, a do-it-all forward that was a key contributor for the Orlando Magic last season when they made a run to the NBA Finals.

"He (Turkoglu) just gives them another play-maker that's 6-9 or 6-10. He can put it on the floor and make threes. He can get guys shots. He's a weapon," Carlisle said.

Dallas host Toronto at the American Airlines Center on Saturday night, with tickets still available. For ticket information call (214) 747-MAVS. The game will air on KTXA 21, KTXA 21 HD and HD NET at 7:30 p.m. CT.

The Mavs have also introduced the “MavsU” program, designed to offer college and university students an opportunity to attend Mavs games at a discounted rate. The Mavericks and Genghis Grill have teamed to offer discounted tickets to students for many upcoming games.

To purchase any MavsU ticket and receive a coupon for a free bowl at Genghis simply call 214-747-MAVS or visit Mavs.com.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks Practice Report (11/06/09)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs Practice Report (11/06/09)

The Dallas Mavericks must have a sudden case of convenient amnesia if they are going to rebound from their 114-107 overtime loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.

Dallas' poor execution and failure to knock down game-clinching free throws proved to be their downfall, after having a chance to close the game in regulation. But that must be out of their memory now, as the Mavs prepare for a versatile and athletic Toronto Raptors squad.

"It's a long season," Mavs center Erick Dampier said. "It's a game that we've learned from and hopefully we don't make those mistakes again."

Hopefully for Dallas' case, the 7-footer is correct.

(Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Nowitzki-Bargnani matchup could decide the game

With forward Drew Gooden (missed Thursday's practice) still questionable for Saturday's matchup with Toronto due to a strained right rib cage, Dampier figures to play a big role for the Mavericks against Toronto's frontline. The Raptors feature two of the most interchangeable big men in the league, with both Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh capable of scoring on the low block and behind the 3-point arch.

"Obviously, those guys are going to hit some shots, we've just got to contest some of their shots. We still have to go out and play good defense on those guys and stay with the defensive plan, and just make them make shots over contesting hands," Dampier said about defending Bargnani and Bosh.

"We're just going to foul them every time," Dampier said jokingly about defending the two bigs for Toronto outside the paint. "We're not giving them any shots. We have enough guys on this team that we could foul everybody out."

If Gooden is unable to go, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle is prepared to experiment with his lineup, maybe playing "small ball" with Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion possibly seeing time at the center position. Marion could also see more time at the power forward spot if Nowitzki plays at center, as the Mavericks' defense tries to slow down the Raptors' frontcourt.

"Those things (Marion and Nowitzki at center) are possibilities," Carlisle said. "Kris Humphries and James Singleton will have to be ready to guard those two guys (Bargnani and Bosh), and Marion is a possibility. We'll see where it goes, but they're always difficult to guard no matter what your situation is."

"They both shoot the ball really well. They both put the ball on the floor. It's an awareness thing. If you're a big guarding those guys you have to be ready to close out away from the basket and then be ready to move your feet when they put it on the floor. It's tough. It's one of the toughest matchups in the league, because they both shoot the ball so well. They both drive the ball so well."

Perhaps none of the Dallas scouts know Toronto as well as Marion. The forward started all 27 games he played for the Raptors last season, before coming from Toronto to Dallas in a four-team trade this offseason. There are no bad feelings between Marion and the Raptors, the forward said, though he is looking forward to playing against his former teammates.

"They're some great guys there," Marion said about playing against his former team. "It was just a situation that happened. I almost ended up going back there, so it's not like I left on bad terms or anything like that. But at the same time, I'm a Dallas Maverick right now, and that's in the past."


Dallas host Toronto at the American Airlines Center on Saturday night, with tickets still available. For ticket information call (214) 747-MAVS. The game will air on KTXA 21, KTXA 21 HD and HD NET at 7:30 p.m. CT.

The Mavs have also introduced the “MavsU” program, designed to offer college and university students an opportunity to attend Mavs games at a discounted rate. The Mavericks and Genghis Grill have teamed to offer discounted tickets to students for many upcoming games.

To purchase any MavsU ticket and receive a coupon for a free bowl at Genghis simply call 214-747-MAVS or visit Mavs.com.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.