Mavs Moneyball - YOGISANITY: Dallas Mavericks defeat Portland Trail Blazers, 108-104Rick Carlisle approved.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50869/mmb-fav.png2017-02-04T00:14:28-06:00http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/rss/stream/142587792017-02-04T00:14:28-06:002017-02-04T00:14:28-06:003 things from the Mavs close win over the Blazers, 108-104
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<img alt="NBA: Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BAfZvRu-0WwcxC00xhO9ptA2sHM=/333x0:3524x2127/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53088331/usa_today_9856496.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Yogi Ferrell went nova and Wes Matthews showed up his former team nicely.</p> <p id="2yB5N1">The <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> won an absolute gem of a game against the <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a> Friday night at the Moda Center. This was easily one of the most entertaining games of the season where the Mavs shot a fiery hot 54.8 percent from downtown and gave us some last minute excitement and heroics when it mattered most.</p>
<p id="ytkuPT"><span>Yogi Ferrell</span> was up to his old (new) tricks again setting a career high of 32 points to go along with 2 rebounds, 5 assists and continued to add to what is quickly becoming one of the best highlights of this Mavericks season. Ferrell shot 9-11 from the 3 point line and hit a late game dagger to seal the win.</p>
<h4 id="ykIaVu">Wes Matthews is my favourite Maverick this season</h4>
<p id="GMI1yN">Game after game, Wes just keeps giving happiness to Mavs fans all around the world. Tonight was no different where he poured in 26 points and played aggressive defense for 40 minutes. The Ironman turned his season right around after a slow start, and tonight was just another occasion where he reiterated how great he is. </p>
<h4 id="4XC3Hj">My first Yogi experience was really something</h4>
<p id="yxEXs7">After having a crazy week and not being able to watch any NBA, all I could do was read about all the things he was doing, so today as he put on one of the best shooting performances I’ve seen from a Mav, I can now tell my grandkids about the time I watched an undrafted rookie be called up from the D-League and put the Mavericks into championship contention.. Okay maybe I’m getting too excited and a little ahead of myself here, but man he makes this team better.</p>
<h4 id="s4GNBq">The Mavericks might actually make a valid run at the playoffs</h4>
<p id="XUPIsP">After tonight’s win, the Mavs are now only 2 wins outside of a playoff spot, and are looking like a completely different team. Whether or not we want them to push for it, the Mavs being able to almost taste the playoffs will really make them go for it now, and will hope to get that sweet sweet rematch with the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> some 10 years after the heartbreak of the Mavs losing to the eighth seed Warriors in 2007.</p>
<p id="zzhKNK">The Mavericks will look to build on their 4 game win streak as they take on the <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Nuggets</a> this Monday night in Denver.</p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2017/2/4/14507298/3-things-from-the-mavs-close-win-over-the-blazers-108-104Dan Const2017-02-03T00:00:02-06:002017-02-03T00:00:02-06:003 things to watch as the Mavs meet the Blazers
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<img alt="NBA: Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/va3cywpLnJ8HogIQmVIw6fSXcbw=/242x0:3725x2322/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53070273/usa_today_9761915.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Damian Lillard rising from nowhere but Seth Curry don’t care. | Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Can’t stop, won’t stop, it’s the Yogi Ferrell era.</p> <p id="JJgccN">Don’t look now but the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> have won 7 of their last 10 and are 2.5 games behind tonight’s opponent, the <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a>, for the 8th seed in the Western Conference playoffs.</p>
<p id="1eVX3u"><em>(Never mind that the Mavs are also tied with two other teams and the Trail</em><em> B</em><em>lazers are tied with the </em><a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/"><em>Nuggets</em></a><em> so it’s a basically five bun race with one hot dog on the grill situation. Oh, and the </em><a href="https://www.thebirdwrites.com/"><em>Pelicans</em></a><em> are also only half a game behind the Mavs.)</em></p>
<p id="fqPEY5">Only 2.5 games!</p>
<h4 id="tYd0V9">Another hot Western Conference backcourt</h4>
<p id="BGzh51">There may not be another team so backcourt-dependent as the Blazers. Damian Lillard and <span>C.J. McCollum</span> both have a usage rate north of 28 percent and average 49.6 points a game between the two of them. Like the Cavs game, the Mavs should employ a "contain" strategy, i.e., let the two bonafide stars get their buckets but manage rest of the team.</p>
<p id="uoYg88">For we can not deny McCollum is a filthy scorer and a shining beacon of truth:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We hit the lottery by not signing you <a href="https://t.co/eSiBaNT061">https://t.co/eSiBaNT061</a></p>
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) <a href="https://twitter.com/CJMcCollum/status/825233275392139264">January 28, 2017</a>
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<h4 id="I3CHEQ">Watch out for their floor leader</h4>
<p id="oXsNiK">Mason Plumlee. Yes, 6-11 Mason Plumlee. Okay, he’s not their floor leader, but he’s their number two distributor at 4.1 assists per game, behind Lillard’s 5.8. In fact, his assist to turnover ratio is leading the team at 2.57 (Lillard’s 2.15). He’s a legitimate threat for double-digit assists for a big man as the Blazers like to utilize him as a facilitator so the Mavericks need to be careful about leaving their man when Plumlee has the ball.</p>
<h4 id="V8eQ8p">Every day a star is born</h4>
<p id="NJaaY9">Technically, it’s estimated 275-400 million stars are born a day but it seems like every other game there is a new Maverick breaking out.</p>
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<li id="3NdX1N">Since becoming a starter two weeks ago, <span>Seth Curry</span> has become the Mavericks’ second leading scorer and their best three point shooter.</li>
<li id="wmUUQa">Since joining the Mavs about a week ago, <span>Yogi Ferrell</span> has lead the Mavericks in dimes and steals per game (5.0 and 2.3).</li>
<li id="DFygJV">Last night, Salah Meijri feasted on former #3 overall pick Jahlil Oakfor to the tune of 16 points and 17 rebounds in 21 minutes. The minutes where they were matched up against each other were not pretty for Oakfor.</li>
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<p id="WdrtjB">It’s exciting times when fresh faces come out and play starring roles. Who will it be against the Blazers?</p>
<h4 id="7YykyF">How to watch</h4>
<p id="dgyTLL">Buy some coffee, we might have a midnight game. Tip off is at 9:30 CT on ESPN or NBA League Pass.</p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2017/2/3/14483860/dallas-mavericks-portland-trail-blazers-preview-game-time-channelMichael Chang