Memphis vs. Dallas: The Matchup
2005-06 Record: 49-33 – It?s time to Play On. The Grizzlies have qualified for their third straight playoff appearance, and they?ll take on Southwest Division rival Dallas in the first round. The Grizzlies won the first meeting of the season between the two teams, with a 112-92 win on the road on Nov. 26, snapping a nine-game losing streak in Dallas. Pau Gasol had one of the best games of his career that night, with game-highs of 36 points and 15 rebounds, while adding five assists and two blocks. However, Dallas took the next three games: a 90-83 win in Memphis on Dec. 9, an 81-80 win in Memphis on Feb. 1, and a 97-87 win in Dallas on Feb. 23. Not surprisingly, the key for the Grizzlies will be Gasol. After his dominant performance in the first meeting, the Mavericks adjusted their defense and kept him in check the rest of the way, as he shot just 41.5% over the next three meetings, with 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Of course, the entire onus can?t be put on Gasol. After the team scored 112 points on 55.4% shooting in the first meeting, they scored under 90 points in each of the final three meetings, and shot below 40% in two of them. That?s the bad news. The good news is that while their offense sputtered, the Grizzlies? trademark defense did not. The Mavericks averaged 90.0 points on 44.9% shooting in the season series, well below their season average in each category. If the Grizzlies can keep them in that range, while hitting more of their own shots, it will make for a very interesting series.
Dallas Mavericks
2005-06 Record: 60-22 – This season, the Mavericks finally earned the capital ?D? in Dallas. They held opponents to just over 93 points per game this season, which placed them in the Top 10 in the NBA. It?s a far cry from past seasons, when the Mavericks were known for only playing one end of the floor. Twice in the previous four seasons they gave up over 100 points per game, and that indifference on defense is what did them in in the postseason. It?s for that reason that the players bought into Head Coach Avery Johnson?s system in his first full year at the helm, and why many prognosticators believe Dallas can make a long run into the postseason. Of course, even with a solid defense Dallas is still a prolific offensive team, and like the Grizzlies, are led by a foreign forward. Perennial All-Star Dirk Nowitzki has had his name thrown into the MVP debate this season, and the Grizzlies have seen first-hand why. Nowitzki torched the Grizzlies in the four meetings this season, averaging 27.8 points, including 35 in their 90-83 win on Dec. 9, and 9.0 rebounds. However, the Grizzlies made him work for those points, as he shot just 45.6% from the field. But even if Memphis keeps Nowitzki in check, the Grizzlies still have to contend with Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, Marquis Daniels and Devin Harris, all of whom averaged double figures in scoring (Harris finished with 9.9 ppg). Dallas has become a much more balanced team this season, and will give the Grizzlies all they can handle.
? Source: Memphisgrizzlies.com