Mavericks-Pistons Preview
http://tinyurl.com/zj3czf8
By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Posted Mar 31 2016 1:19PM
When they last met three weeks ago, the Dallas Mavericks were in the middle
of an untimely swoon while the Detroit Pistons had begun to make their climb
in the playoff race.
Looking to win three straight for the second time since December, the
Mavericks try to move back into postseason position with their fifth straight
road victory over the surging Pistons on Friday night.
Dallas was in the midst of a season-high five-game losing streak and 2-10
stretch that pushed it out of the playoff picture when it suffered a 102-96
home defeat to Detroit on March 9.
The Mavericks will certainly need a better game plan this time against big
man Andre Drummond, who has averaged 20.0 rebounds in the past three
meetings. The All-Star led the way with 25 points and 17 boards March 9 while
the Pistons finished with a 51-40 advantage on the glass.
At that time, Detroit was eight games into its current 13-6 push that has
taken it from 2 1/2 games out of a playoff spot to seventh in the East. The
club won for the sixth time in seven games Tuesday, holding Oklahoma City to
37.8 percent shooting on the way to an 88-82 home victory.
"To go into seventh place is huge," forward Marcus Morris, who has averaged
18.6 points over his last five games, told the team's official website. "Got
Dallas coming in, then we got a big back to back versus Chicago. Those are
two big games, maybe two of the biggest games all year."
Morris led the way with 24 points and seven rebounds Tuesday while Drummond
posted his league-leading 62nd double-double with 13 and 15.
Detroit (40-35), though, has shot 38.3 percent overall and gone 11 for 48
from 3-point range over its last two games after averaging 111.0 points
during a 5-1 start to this nine-game homestand.
Dallas (37-38) looks to continue its tight defensive play after limiting
opponents to 88.5 points per game and 29.3 percent shooting from 3-point
range in back-to-back victories. The Mavericks had surrendered 124.0 points
and 43.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc over their previous five.
J.J. Barea scored 26 points and made the go-ahead layup with 49.9 seconds
left in Wednesday's 91-89 home win over New York. The reserve guard has
stepped up for short-handed Dallas, averaging 19.8 points while sinking 12 of
23 of his 3s in his past four games.
"I've always been aggressive as a player," Barea said after helping the
Mavericks close the game on a 22-11 run. "Now, I know I'm going to have to
get more minutes."
Among three teams in a tight battle for the West's final two playoff spots,
the Mavericks seek their first three-game winning streak since Feb. 26-March
1. They're likely to be down two starters for a fifth consecutive contest
with Chandler Parsons out following season-ending knee surgery and Deron
Williams nursing an abdominal strain.
Dirk Nowitzki has struggled to pick up the slack offensively, totaling 21
points on 9-of-40 shooting in his last two games. He played well with 25
points and 10 rebounds in the first meeting with the Pistons.
"Now I'm 9 for (40), and we're 2-0," Nowitzki said. "I'd rather have the two
wins."
Dallas has lost the last two matchups but has won a franchise-best four in a
row at Detroit.
簡單說明一些內容：
1.小牛要追求自12月以來的第二次三連勝......
小牛雖然對戰二連敗，過去四次在底特律通通贏球，在底特律四連勝同時也是
隊史紀錄。(這也算利多......?)
2.小牛得特別想辦法針對Andre Drummond，因為過去三次交手，日他搶下平均20
顆的籃板......3月10號的交手，他繳出2517籃板的成績，活塞籃板也以51:40
遠勝小牛。
同時他也擁有全聯盟最多次(62)的double-double。
如果明天Dwight Powell仍是先發中鋒，那小牛勢必面臨到嚴峻挑戰， Zaza和
Lee都得做好準備。
3.這是活塞在主場九連戰的最後一場，在前六場比賽打出了6勝1敗，團隊平均得
分高達111分的優異成績。然而過去兩場活塞投籃命中率只有38.3%，三分線48
投僅中11。
4.小牛得持續過去兩場嚴謹的防守，他們只讓對手(金塊、尼克)平均得到88.5分
，僅有29.3%的三分投籃命中率。
小牛過去五場平均攻下111分(原文寫124分，似乎有誤)，三分球投籃命中率有
著不錯的43.8%。
JJB在人手短缺時再次跳出來。 過去四場比賽平均19.8分，三分球23投12種中
，特別是上一場拿下26分，且在最後49.9秒完成了取得領先的上籃。
他說：我一直都是很有侵略性的球員，而我知道現在我會有更多的上場時間來
幫助球隊。
Wesley Matthews過去五場三分球40投19中(47.5%)，其他人106投35中(33.0%)
5.Deron Williams腹部拉傷，可能不會上。
Dirk陷入掙扎，過去兩場比賽合計40次投籃只進9球，得到21分......
不過上次對到活塞，Dirk拿到25分和10籃板。面對這樣的窘況，他本人回應則
是：嗯...過去兩場我只投進9球，而我們拿下兩勝，我寧可想要這兩場勝利。