Carl "the tooth" Landry... and I was almost certain that they were gonna lose when the game went to overtime.... Nice W
Brooks in respect to Ariza's screaming at him for the last play in regular time: “I was just trying to tell him the last play of the game, if he’s going to take it, he should probably pull up because going in there, you’re probably not going to get a foul or anything can happen,” Ariza said. “It’s nothing big. It was just something on the court. We both want to win. I’m just going to say what I have to say and that’ll be it.” “We were all emotional,” Brooks said. “Nothing’s personal. Everybody wants to win. I don’t think about it. I have a short-term memory. When people get mad, sometimes my mind goes elsewhere. I think happy thoughts.” Lol. Got love Brooks. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6778196.html
Does anybody have video of Ariza yelling at Brooks? I was watching the game and seemed to have missed that part. Also, T-Mac looked like he had a spring in his step which was really good to see.
^^^ Ariza played over 44 minutes, had 13 points 8 rebounds and 2 assists while shooting 50%. How's that failing?
This game finally got Kyle Lowry to the 40% shooting mark. His shot has been off this year. Last year he shot 47%, this year he was closer to 37%. Compared to Brooks this year at 44% and 37% 3pters. Brooks has outplayed Lowry this year. If Lowry keeps having games like this, it will make decisions more interesting...
Failing to hit shots..ha.ha.ha. Dude just needs to slow down and be a roleplayer, he'll do fine. He's trying to do too much all at once.
Ariza was much more in control this game, then he has been since the beginning of the season. Ariza surprised me this game. He shot 50% and only took 10 shots with 3 turnovers in 44 minutes of play. If he did his usual routine for 44 minutes, he would have had 20 shots on 35% or less shooting and 5 turnovers.
http://www.thetwomangame.com/?gcid=C12289x022>kw=Dallas:+The Two Man Game "“There’s such a thin line between winning and losing.” -John R. Tunis Sometimes a game flows like the scripted word, with a rhythm, climax, and resolution that unfold seamlessly. All is right in the world as the good guys win and the bad guys falter, with no doubt in anyone’s mind as to who was the victor. Heroes are born, legends are written, and everything fits neatly into archetypal form. But others are written like a biting satire. They make mockery of everything we think to be true, and rely on that defiance and a departure from the expected to prove some kind of point. There may be heroes, but winning the day is hardly an assumption. From a Maverick perspective, the game would certainly be described as the latter. After just ten minutes of play, a collision between Dirk Nowitzki and Carl Landry left Dirk with a deep laceration on his arm and Landry minus three teeth (according to Marc Stein, pieces of two of those teeth were actually in Nowitzki’s arm). Neither returned, and the game’s narrative structure had set a prime opportunity for the Mavs to prove their Rocketsesque mettle; Dallas would have to win without their primary scorer, their undisputed best player, and their leader. The cast of characters included: Jason Kidd (the wise sage), Jason Terry (the sidekick with an iron will), Josh Howard (the returning hero), Erick Dampier (the rock, the guide), Shawn Marion (the unwavering defender), J.J. Barea (the seemingly overmatched hero), and Tim Thomas (the rogue with a heart of gold). The stage was set for an epic tale of loss and redemption and triumph in the face of adversity. And though the game lacked any kind of rhythm or pacing whatsoever, it seemed bound for the fairytale ending. With the Mavs trailing by four points with just over a minute remaining, Shawn Marion stripped Trevor Ariza on what looked to be an easy bucket for the Rockets. After running the floor in transition, Marion was left wide open by the scrambling Houston defense, and Jason Kidd rewarded his efforts with a feed for an easy bucket. And once Aaron Brooks missed one free throw to plant hope in the Maverick huddle, Rick Carlisle drew up a doozie of a play. After some misdirection by Jason Kidd and Jason Terry and a nice shot fake, Tim Thomas was left with a wide open look from the corner. Nothing but net, and the Mavs had one shot to make a defensive play and send the game into overtime. Shawn Marion, who had been terrific on defense all night, demanded the assignment of guarding the red-hot Aaron Brooks. According to Kidd, Marion insisted that with his height and length he could bother Brooks on the drive or on the shot, and he couldn’t have been more right. Brooks passed up a shot attempt with a taller defender in front of him, and Marion forced him into an out-of-control dive toward the basket that ended with Shawn standing triumphant and a Rockets turnover with .4 seconds to play. The stage for the miracle had been set, but Jason Kidd’s lob was a bit off the mark, and Shawn Marion’s alley-oop layup attempt a bit short as a result. But in most cases, overtime periods carry only false hope for short-handed teams. With Dirk nowhere in sight, the Mavs certainly qualify, and what had been a tremendous run by the remaining Mavs quickly spiraled into an emotional explosion. Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry continued to run their offense with confidence, and the Mavs provided themselves no opportunity for catharsis by missing jumper after jumper. Ultimately, the game’s defining sequence featured the Mavs down six with a minute to play, and a bit of hope as Erick Dampier began to elevate for a dunk attempt. But rather than rise and finish with a momentum-shifting slam, Dampier was pulled down by the shoulders by Aaron Brooks, who made no play on the ball whatsoever. Brooks was assessed a flagrant one, and in the ensuing video replay aftermath, the officiating crew also assessed a technical foul to Erick Dampier. It was Damp’s second tech of the night, and despite the fact that the elbow is virtually invisible on video, it warranted Damp’s automatic ejection. From then on, finishing the game was a mere formality. It was a bizarre sequence, and according to Mark Cuban, one that doesn’t follow the letter of the rulebook (only flagrant two fouls are eligible for video review, and Brooks was assessed a flagrant one). But such a sequence only illustrated the value of a single basket in a close game. Regardless of who was right and who was wrong in their assessment of whatever it is that happened on that play, the Mavs had wasted two and a half quarters worth of opportunities. With no Dirk Nowitzki to balance the offense and no cohesion to the team defense, the Mavs looked beyond helpless. Kyle Lowry (a career high 26 points, 10 assists, and a career high-tying five steals) and Aaron Brooks (23 points, six assists) were simply too proficient, and with both on the court, the Mavs lacked the speed to combat their penetration into the lane and separation for jumpers. Meanwhile, Jason Terry struggled from the field (6-15 FG) and didn’t have command of his usual basketball savvy. Josh Howard started the game terribly before finally getting his act together in time to help the Mavs mount a run. And though Erick Dampier’s work on the glass and on defense was, frankly, game-changing (three blocked shots, seven offensive rebounds, and 14 total rebounds), his reinforcements (Drew Gooden and Kris Humphries) failed to defend or produce in any meaningful way. After Dirk left the game, the odds were not stacked in the Mavs’ favor, and until the final run of the fourth quarter, the responded with lethargic D and sloppy offensive execution. The finale was poignant and demonstrative. It was a sign to the Mavs that coasting isn’t acceptable, and that refusing to play to your potential will only end in heartbreak. Dallas’ efforts were all for naught, and though Dirk’s absence provides a convenient scapegoat, the message here makes no mention of fighting valiantly. Rather, the point is this: Although the Mavs have come so far in terms of their defense and clutch execution, this is still a work in progress. This is still a team that has plenty to learn from a game that has plenty to teach, and regardless of just how high you’ve climbed, every game has the potential to be a humbling experience. •J.J. Barea was instrumental in keeping this game competitive. He finished with 23 points on 8-15 shooting, with his couple of turnovers balanced by some pretty timely shots. •The Mavs and the Rockets shot an identical 8 of 20 from three, but you would have never guessed it based on their impact. Each Maverick long ball was powerful, but the Rockets’ makes were of monumental importance. Brooks’ final shooting numbers (8 for 20 from the field) may not be sterling, but that man is a master of the momentum-killing three-pointer. •Jason Kidd didn’t have a great defensive night, but he does so many things for the Mavs when he’s on the court. His work out of the post against Brooks gave the Mavs a fighting chance in overtime, and though the Dallas offense was anything but smooth, Kidd still contributed with 11 rebounds, 10 assists, four steals, and two blocks. •The Rockets killed the Mavs with their ability to quickly shift into the transition game, and only when the Mavs began to counter the fast break did they make any headway whatsoever. •Kyle Lowry was sensational. Seriously. •The Mavs tried their hand at some zone, with mixed results. It seemed to at least slow down the Rockets, but the Mavs surrendered too many offensive rebounds because of the lack of box-out accountability. On top of that, David Andersen (16 points) and Luis Scola (19 points, 10 rebounds, five assists) have the range to be zone busters, and Lowry and Brooks were able to lure away chunks of the zone to leave jumpers open for the taking. •Emotions were running high as the Mavs put pressure on the Rox late in this one. A tech for Jason Kidd and David Andersen for a little scuffle, two Ts on Erick Dampier (one for the alleged elbow, and another for Damp breaking his usually stoic demeanor to argue a non-call), two Ts on Rick Carlisle, and one T to the talkative Josh Howard. •Shawn Marion really put the shackles on Kevin Durant the other night, but this may have been an even more impressive defensive performance. He wasn’t quite as consistent, but he made huge defensive plays with the game hanging in the balance. •Dirk Nowitzki is considered questionable for Sunday due to the deep lacerations in his elbow, and Carl Landry will see a surgeon tomorrow."
tracy looks sooooo lost in the offense out there but you know watching him play out there I could swear that the team is kind of 'iso-ing' him. i mean last night he tried posting up kidd several times only to not get the ball or be waved off or have the ball rotate to the other side. then on a semi-fast break he was on the other side of the court wide open for a elbow three frantically calling for the ball and lowry just dumped it into scola. but he has to move on offense he is the most stationary player out there when everyone else is moving around thats the only way he'll get the ball
I don't think they are iso'ing him, but rather he is not the main guy and they are more comfortable right now passing to the guys that are moving. He clearly looks lost on offense, unless a pin down screen is called where he pops for the elbow jumper. I am not sure Tracy is taking advantage of his time, he really needs to be busting it......on both ends....going all out for 7 minutes...since that is all he is going to get he should go all out. If he keeps playing like this, I think he goes back to the bench. DD
He might go back to the bench,but busting it out for the 7 mins or so,isn't easy for him. I don't think it's due to a lack of effort,he isn't fit enough to do more than this right now. Coming back after a long period post-surgery is hard.
I agree Saleem, but if he is unable to go all out, and the other wings are....what do you do? It is a disruption to play a guy who is not on the same page, and not able to play the game the way the rest of the team is....what would you do? DD
I enjoy seeing the lowlights of this game on ESPN. You definitely know where the love is. Blond Jesus and his lacerated elbow get a lot of attention. Sometimes they even fail to mention that Landry lost a mouthful of teeth and will have to visit an oral surgeon. Landry, what's left of him, will be asking for a niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice raise next year. He puts it all out there on the floor. Literally.
The only wing on the team who really looks in-sync on offense in the half-court is Budinger. Its not like Ariza and Battier are running "Adelman's offense" to perfection.
I agree Budinger is running the offense the best but both Shane and Trevor are running it better than TMac is, especially off the ball. I would like to see Tracy hustling a bit more, running the break, and moving off the ball. I know he is just gaining confidence in his knee, but he really needs to go all out to find out where he is at in the recovery. DD
