Dallas has won five in a row and are about start a road trip that actually gives them a chance to put together their first truly impressive winning streak this season.
They play five of the next six games on the road, but only one of those opponents is within seven games of .500 (Washington, 17-16).
@ SEA, @ LAC, @ SAC, vs SEA, @ WAS, @ CHA.If Dallas can make the most out of that stretch, they'll almost certainly be #1 team in the Western Conference when they face the currently 23-11 Lakers on the 25th.
Of course, the Mavs haven't exactly excelled on the road this season, but Avery is hoping that's about to change.
"Yes, really looking forward to it," coach Avery Johnson said of the road trip. "You can't really play well overall on the road until you start with the first game. Our next game here on the road is a big game. I'd like to see some carryover from what we've been doing at home and getting that bunker mentality, and hopefully we can start doing it."
------------------Sefko compares the best teams in the Western Conference home vs road records and says the Mavs need to make up ground.
----------------
Sefko also has an article about Avery's desire to play Harris and Terry together as little as possible.
The more Eddie Jones can keep defending and spreading the floor like he's doing for us, and the more we can get Stack and Josh on the floor at the same time and stay big at the two-guard spot, we think that's going to pay dividends for us down the road," Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said.
----------------Around the NBA: Both San Antonio and Phoenix lost last night.
That means Dallas now sits atop the Southwest Division and a half game behind Phoenix for best in the West.
-------------------
Down in the D-League: Nick Fazekas was a monster last night. 32 points. 18 rebounds.
There will be two Tulsa games broadcast live on NBATV next Wednesday and Thursday.
------------------
This Day in Mavs History
2001 The NBA fined Mark Cuban $100,000 for "decorum not becoming an NBA owner" for sitting on the floor along the baseline during the Minnesota game on 1/10/01.