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Coming off a tough overtime loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, The Washington Wizards (2-4) will strive to have another strong road game tonight against the Dallas Mavericks (4-3) and pull out with a win.

Washington Wizards Starters - John Wall | Bradley Beal | Trevor Ariza | Nene Hilario | Marcin Gortat


Dallas Mavericks Starters - Jose Calderon | Monta Ellis | Shawn Marion | Dirk Nowitzki | Samuel Dalembert


MatchUp of the Night - Dirk Nowitzki & Nenê Hilario

Wizards Key to winning the game - Making freethrows, rebounding and keeping the points in the paint to a minimum.

Interesting Statistic - The Wizards are allowing approximately 106.8 points a game! I wonder how much of that is in the paint.

The key is actually let Monta shoot threes and let him stay on the perimeter.

Wall better not get schooled by Calderon again. Last season with DET I remember Wall looking like an idiot trying to guard Jose.

Dirk is going to get his. He looks like he's back to form this season and is healthy to begin a season for the first time since 2010... his scoring and FG% is down but I've watched a couple of their games and he looks much better than he did last year and the year before when he returned from injury.

BTW, crazy how fast rosters change. The Mavs only have Dirk and Marion left from the 2011 championship team.

Dallas was the oldest team in the league that championship year. No surprise they've turned over the roster. Hanging on to Nowitzki seems sorta...sentimental...for Cuban. The more "business" move would be something like what Boston did with Garnett and Pierce.

Looking forward to seeing Crowder play. He's shot the ball extremely well so far this season.

They'd better win tonight because tomorrow's game will be uuuuuuuuugly.

I think Cuban might have a sentimental stake but it's still largely based on the fact that he believes that Dirk's still got enough to go a couple more exits before the light turns on. Plus we'll see just how much sentiment there is by how much Dirk gets in free agency next summer. That said, Dirk clearly is not good enough to carry the Mavs into the playoffs by himself any more. He'll have to be part of a triumvirate and Ellis/Marion isn't going to cut it. It's a double-shame because with all the cap room they have there is nobody in 2014 worth signing. The only [reasonable] target is probably Pau Gasol.

I think the Wiz win tonight in convincing fashion and I expect Beal outplaying Monta Ellis to be the difference.

tontoz wrote:They'd better win tonight because tomorrow's game will be uuuuuuuuugly.

Spurs will win that one by 15... way too good.

FAH1223 wrote:

tontoz wrote:They'd better win tonight because tomorrow's game will be uuuuuuuuugly.

Spurs will win that one by 15... way too good.

Hopefully Timmy, Parker and Ginobili will take the night off, doubt it. Wait they still have Leonard that will hurt us.

This may be the most winnable game out of the 3 road games. We have the Cavs and Wolves at home and can possibly even it up at .500 (5-5) by next tuesday. Just some positive thinking.

evolushunize wrote:This may be the most winnable game out of the 3 road games. We have the Cavs and Wolves at home and can possibly even it up at .500 (5-5) by next tuesday. Just some positive thinking.

I can dig it. We win tonight take our *** whipping in SA than spank the Cavs and the Wolves (let Love go off shut everyone else down) at home.

BTW Wiz gave OKC that game Sunday.

It really kinda feels like a must win game given that the following game is a guaranteed loss. A 2-6 start might bring on some panic.

TheBabyMaker wrote:

FAH1223 wrote:

tontoz wrote:They'd better win tonight because tomorrow's game will be uuuuuuuuugly.

Spurs will win that one by 15... way too good.

Hopefully Timmy, Parker and Ginobili will take the night off, doubt it. Wait they still have Leonard that will hurt us.

San Antonio's second string could probably beat us -- that's how well-coached they are.

pancakes3 wrote:I think Cuban might have a sentimental stake but it's still largely based on the fact that he believes that Dirk's still got enough to go a couple more exits before the light turns on. Plus we'll see just how much sentiment there is by how much Dirk gets in free agency next summer. That said, Dirk clearly is not good enough to carry the Mavs into the playoffs by himself any more. He'll have to be part of a triumvirate and Ellis/Marion isn't going to cut it. It's a double-shame because with all the cap room they have there is nobody in 2014 worth signing. The only [reasonable] target is probably Pau Gasol.

I think the Wiz win tonight in convincing fashion and I expect Beal outplaying Monta Ellis to be the difference.

Ala Tim Duncan.

And I agree. With the right players around him, Dirk can still get there.

As for this game. Its kind of a big deal. Early jockeying is important. And when shooting for the playoff, every game is important. Even Miami being 3 ½ down only 7 games into the season is something to take notice of. If Indy is really that good, 3 ½ games is a lot to make up. Now its still a long season for sure but you don't want to be in a position to have to make up to much ground.

For one, its hard.
For two, the psychology of it.
For three, it makes a coach like Randy who has only won with a tight bench, stay they way. That wears out players and it doesn't develop depth. That leads to the EFJ effect. Good record at the AS break, but the team is warn out and injured.

miller31time wrote:

TheBabyMaker wrote:

FAH1223 wrote:
Spurs will win that one by 15... way too good.

Hopefully Timmy, Parker and Ginobili will take the night off, doubt it. Wait they still have Leonard that will hurt us.

San Antonio's second string could probably beat us -- that's how well-coached they are.

No disputing this Pop has been the best coach in the league for over a decade now, not always had the most athletic talent either.

Marion is shooting 3s way better then his career averages. Hopefully he plummets back to earth. Dalembert also seems to be playing decent ball. Ellis is having an oddly great year. He's getting to the rim well. I'd actually like to stick Wall on him. Wall has better lateral quickness then Beal so I think he ought to be effective there.

Must win.

Washington 109 Dallas 98

vesley goes off for 1 point

hands11 wrote:Ala Tim Duncan.

And I agree. With the right players around him, Dirk can still get there.

As for this game. Its kind of a big deal. Early jockeying is important. And when shooting for the playoff, every game is important. Even Miami being 3 ½ down only 7 games into the season is something to take notice of. If Indy is really that good, 3 ½ games is a lot to make up. Now its still a long season for sure but you don't want to be in a position to have to make up to much ground.

For one, its hard.
For two, the psychology of it.
For three, it makes a coach like Randy who has only won with a tight bench, stay they way. That wears out players and it doesn't develop depth. That leads to the EFJ effect. Good record at the AS break, but the team is warn out and injured.

Thing is, Timmy has a guy who has been in the MVP running at the PG spot. SA is arguably the best team in the NBA.

Dirk has Marion who is still an excellent defender on the wing but a revolving door everywhere else. I think the group they have right now is it and I think they're just a Round 1 team.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/MrMichaelLee/status/400271297940164608[/tweet]

WTF? Pause.

I still think Carlisle is the 2nd best coach in the NBA.

Jay81 wrote:Must win.

Washington 109 Dallas 98

vesley goes off for 1 point

You're calling for Vesely to make a free throw. Not very likely.

FAH1223 wrote:Thing is, Timmy has a guy who has been in the MVP running at the PG spot. SA is arguably the best team in the NBA.

Dirk has Marion who is still an excellent defender on the wing but a revolving door everywhere else. I think the group they have right now is it and I think they're just a Round 1 team.

I was floored looking over Duncan's numbers from last year. On a per-minute and efficiency standpoint, he was almost as good as prime Duncan.

In just 30 minutes a night, he blocked nearly 3 shots per game.

Per-36, he put up 21.3pts, 11.9rebs, 3.2asts, 3.2blks and 0.9stls on sky-high efficiency (PER of 24.4!!!)



The man doesn't age.