Mavericks buckle down again on D
Until a couple of weeks ago, the Dallas Mavericks were tied with the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs for first place in the Western Conference.
Both teams were only a whisper away from the Detroit Pistons for the much-coveted top spot in the overall standings, a spot that guarantees home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
For the most part, what got the Mavs into that enviable position was defense.
Head coach Avery Johnson has correctly identified that the only way to dominate in today?s NBA and beat the likes of Detroit and San Antonio in the playoffs is to be physical and defensive-oriented.
As such, he has been emphasizing physical defense all year, and for the most part the team has responded.
Traditionally an offensive powerhouse, the Mavs are now allowing only 93.1 ppg, seventh fewest in the league. That?s down from 96.8 ppg last year and a whopping 100.8 ppg two years ago.
But then all of a sudden the Mavs let up on their ?D?, and the result has been losses.
In their past nine games, Dallas has lost five times straight up (SU) and has fallen 2.5 games behind the Spurs. With only seven games left on the Mavs? schedule (as of Wednesday), top spot in the NBA now looks out of reach.
Over the past nine games, the Mavs have allowed nearly 97 points on average. On four occasions, they gave up more than 100 points. More points has resulted in six of Dallas? last nine games having gone OVER the posted total.
The Mavs likely hit their low point of the season last Friday when they were spanked by the weak Orlando Magic 108-99 as five point road favorites. The loss was Dallas? third straight, and capped a brutal 1-3 SU road trip.
It was the first three-game losing streak for Johnson, who took over the team last March. Following the game, he went on a profanity-laced locker-room tirade within earshot of the media. At the heart of Johnson?s ire was the team?s lack of defense.
According to reports, Johnson?s outburst seemed to shock the players. It also appeared to motivate them. The Mavs won their next game against the Denver Nuggets 103-79 as a 7-point home chalk. The score fell well below the 202.5-point total.
?Defensively they found all the answers. We simply lost confidence in our offense,? Nuggets coach George Karl told reporters after the game.
Dallas followed that up with a 127-101 thrashing of the Sacramento Kings Tuesday night. Despite allowing more than 100 points, Johnson was pleased with the Mavs? performance.
?You look at the last two ballgames, we?ve been consistent, especially defensively, which has taken a lot of pressure off our offense,? Johnson told reporters.
?I kind of like that stormy period that we went through now in hindsight. I hope we can continue to go back up the mountain because we took a big dip there for a minute.
?It?s brought us closer together.?
But has the adversity brought them close enough together to beat the Spurs? They?ll find out Friday night when they visit San Antonio (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Unlike the Mavs, the reigning champs have not missed a step all year and have only once lost two straight games. As of Wednesday, the Spurs were riding a four-game winning streak and were 10-2 SU in their past 12.
Spurs? bettors have also enjoyed some modest success recently with the team having gone 7-5 ATS over their past 12.
The Spurs continue to be a defensive juggernaut allowing just 88.7 ppg, fewest in the NBA. Because of this, the team has not had to rely on its offense, which is scoring only 95.8 ppg, 21st overall.
With a tight defense and lower-scoring offense, it comes as no surprise that the Spurs are a fairly solid UNDER bet ? San Antonio is 31-39 on the OVER/UNDER. Only New Jersey and Indiana have seen fewer games top the total (both have 30).
The Spurs have faced the Mavs three times this season. Dallas won the first game 103-84 as a 2.5-point home dog in early November. The score topped the 185-point total.
The Mavs then lost the second game 92-90 on December 1 but beat the spread, again as 2.5-point home dogs. The score fell below the 187-point total.
And finally on March 2, San Antonio won the third game 98-89 covering the spread as 5-point home favorites. The score went OVER the 183-point total.
In a second nationally televised game on Friday night, the surging L.A. Lakers will visit the struggling Phoenix Suns (10:30 p.m., ESPN).
The Lakers are 7-3 SU (6-2-2 ATS) in their past 10 games; the Suns are 5-5 SU (4-5-1 ATS).
Overall, the Suns have one of the better betting records in the NBA at 39-33-1 ATS. The Lakers, meanwhile, are 23-15-1 ATS on the road.
Friday?s game will be the third meeting of the season between these two teams. Phoenix won the first two games both SU and ATS.
---Perry
BetWWTS.com
Until a couple of weeks ago, the Dallas Mavericks were tied with the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs for first place in the Western Conference.
Both teams were only a whisper away from the Detroit Pistons for the much-coveted top spot in the overall standings, a spot that guarantees home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
For the most part, what got the Mavs into that enviable position was defense.
Head coach Avery Johnson has correctly identified that the only way to dominate in today?s NBA and beat the likes of Detroit and San Antonio in the playoffs is to be physical and defensive-oriented.
As such, he has been emphasizing physical defense all year, and for the most part the team has responded.
Traditionally an offensive powerhouse, the Mavs are now allowing only 93.1 ppg, seventh fewest in the league. That?s down from 96.8 ppg last year and a whopping 100.8 ppg two years ago.
But then all of a sudden the Mavs let up on their ?D?, and the result has been losses.
In their past nine games, Dallas has lost five times straight up (SU) and has fallen 2.5 games behind the Spurs. With only seven games left on the Mavs? schedule (as of Wednesday), top spot in the NBA now looks out of reach.
Over the past nine games, the Mavs have allowed nearly 97 points on average. On four occasions, they gave up more than 100 points. More points has resulted in six of Dallas? last nine games having gone OVER the posted total.
The Mavs likely hit their low point of the season last Friday when they were spanked by the weak Orlando Magic 108-99 as five point road favorites. The loss was Dallas? third straight, and capped a brutal 1-3 SU road trip.
It was the first three-game losing streak for Johnson, who took over the team last March. Following the game, he went on a profanity-laced locker-room tirade within earshot of the media. At the heart of Johnson?s ire was the team?s lack of defense.
According to reports, Johnson?s outburst seemed to shock the players. It also appeared to motivate them. The Mavs won their next game against the Denver Nuggets 103-79 as a 7-point home chalk. The score fell well below the 202.5-point total.
?Defensively they found all the answers. We simply lost confidence in our offense,? Nuggets coach George Karl told reporters after the game.
Dallas followed that up with a 127-101 thrashing of the Sacramento Kings Tuesday night. Despite allowing more than 100 points, Johnson was pleased with the Mavs? performance.
?You look at the last two ballgames, we?ve been consistent, especially defensively, which has taken a lot of pressure off our offense,? Johnson told reporters.
?I kind of like that stormy period that we went through now in hindsight. I hope we can continue to go back up the mountain because we took a big dip there for a minute.
?It?s brought us closer together.?
But has the adversity brought them close enough together to beat the Spurs? They?ll find out Friday night when they visit San Antonio (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Unlike the Mavs, the reigning champs have not missed a step all year and have only once lost two straight games. As of Wednesday, the Spurs were riding a four-game winning streak and were 10-2 SU in their past 12.
Spurs? bettors have also enjoyed some modest success recently with the team having gone 7-5 ATS over their past 12.
The Spurs continue to be a defensive juggernaut allowing just 88.7 ppg, fewest in the NBA. Because of this, the team has not had to rely on its offense, which is scoring only 95.8 ppg, 21st overall.
With a tight defense and lower-scoring offense, it comes as no surprise that the Spurs are a fairly solid UNDER bet ? San Antonio is 31-39 on the OVER/UNDER. Only New Jersey and Indiana have seen fewer games top the total (both have 30).
The Spurs have faced the Mavs three times this season. Dallas won the first game 103-84 as a 2.5-point home dog in early November. The score topped the 185-point total.
The Mavs then lost the second game 92-90 on December 1 but beat the spread, again as 2.5-point home dogs. The score fell below the 187-point total.
And finally on March 2, San Antonio won the third game 98-89 covering the spread as 5-point home favorites. The score went OVER the 183-point total.
In a second nationally televised game on Friday night, the surging L.A. Lakers will visit the struggling Phoenix Suns (10:30 p.m., ESPN).
The Lakers are 7-3 SU (6-2-2 ATS) in their past 10 games; the Suns are 5-5 SU (4-5-1 ATS).
Overall, the Suns have one of the better betting records in the NBA at 39-33-1 ATS. The Lakers, meanwhile, are 23-15-1 ATS on the road.
Friday?s game will be the third meeting of the season between these two teams. Phoenix won the first two games both SU and ATS.
---Perry
BetWWTS.com
