I haven't watched last night's game yet, but judging from the box score it looks like Dallas won pretty easily without even trying because Philadelphia is really bad.
That Chris Webber (bruised foot/sprained ankle) was unable to play, and Rodney Carney was limited by the lingering effects of a stomach virus, just made it that much more difficult for the Sixers.
After jumping out to a 6-2 lead, the Sixers spent the next 8:07 doing their impression of the Keystone Kops.
While the Mavericks rattled off 21 unanswered points, the Sixers had 15 futile possessions without a point. They missed 10 shots and turned the ball over six times.
And the Mavs literally didn't try.
After jumping out to a 6-2 lead, the Sixers spent the next 8:07 doing their impression of the Keystone Kops.
While the Mavericks rattled off 21 unanswered points, the Sixers had 15 futile possessions without a point. They missed 10 shots and turned the ball over six times.
In their own way, the 76ers were a challenge even without NBA scoring leader Allen Iverson, home awaiting a trade. For the Mavericks, the game came down to their focus against a team that could have easily been dismissed.
"We really got complacent," Devin Harris said. "We didn't push the ball as well, and defensively we lacked a little focus at the start of the third quarter that let them back in the game."
--------------------"We really got complacent," Devin Harris said. "We didn't push the ball as well, and defensively we lacked a little focus at the start of the third quarter that let them back in the game."
Injury Update: Jerry Stackhouse will play tonight against New Orleans.
Stojakovic, David West, and Bobby Jackson are all out for the Hornets.
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Chuck Carlton and Art Garcia each have Katrina-centric articles about Avery going to back home to Louisiana for tonight's game. Garcia's piece is far better if you are going to read one of them.
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And Cuban's money isn't the only reason Iverson won't be coming to town for Christmas. The whole front office is on the same page about it.
Owner Mark Cuban, president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson and Avery Johnson met last week to discuss whether Iverson would be a good fit for the Mavs.
And it was a very short meeting.
"The minute that it came up, it was killed like two seconds later," Johnson said before Friday's game. "That's not something we spent a lot of time on.
"But I will say, fortunately I'm in a situation where Donnie and Mark, we all collectively get together. There are no decisions that are made without us collectively."
Johnson said Iverson wasn't a good fit for the Mavs "for a lot of different reasons."
---------------------And it was a very short meeting.
"The minute that it came up, it was killed like two seconds later," Johnson said before Friday's game. "That's not something we spent a lot of time on.
"But I will say, fortunately I'm in a situation where Donnie and Mark, we all collectively get together. There are no decisions that are made without us collectively."
Johnson said Iverson wasn't a good fit for the Mavs "for a lot of different reasons."
Around the NBA: Pau Gasol returned last night from a broken foot he suffered over the summer. He played 17 minutes as the 5-18 Grizzlies lost to Atlanta.
And Phoenix won their 13th straight game last night, passing the Mavs as the longest winning streak on the season.