Mavs Moneyball - Gameday: Dallas Mavericks @ Atlanta HawksRick Carlisle approved.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50869/mmb-fav.png2017-03-02T12:24:40-06:00http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/rss/stream/145372532017-03-02T12:24:40-06:002017-03-02T12:24:40-06:00Harrison Barnes posterizes Paul Millsap
<figure>
<img alt="NBA: Dallas Mavericks at Atlanta Hawks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/q0bvvV5y1s5jNqKMwVxNFKgFldg=/0x179:1694x1308/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53501913/usa_today_9910337.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>RIP Millsap</p> <p id="2iYZj1"><span>Harrison Barnes</span> has come into his own with the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> this season. He’s the team’s leading scorer, plays the most minutes, and has the highest usage rate. Barnes is the alpha and omega of the Mavs. </p>
<p id="a4a91O">Now, Barnes can add another title to his growing resume with Dallas: Best dunker on the team. There were some other candidates in the running for that honor this season but after Wednesday night’s game against the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a>, he stands alone. </p>
<p id="j7bdUz">With 5:47 left in the second quarter, Barnes crosses up <span>Dwight Howard</span>, drives the lane, and takes off. <span>Paul Millsap</span> stands in between him and the basket. It doesn’t matter. Barnes soars over Millsap and throws down a thunderous jam. (Oh, jam!) It’s a miracle that Millsap didn’t turn into dust. Take a look:</p>
<div id="10LRw9"><div><div style="left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SqGuWeHAEAk?wmode=transparent&rel=0&autohide=1&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" style="top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div></div></div>
<p id="0COtk0">To quote the immortal Dirk Nowitzki, “Shut it down! Let’s go home!”</p>
<p id="k8VAfe">Watch it again. Trust me. </p>
<p id="nDuE6d">Who cares that the Mavs lost the game 100-95? The dunk is the only thing we’ll remember. As Barnes keeps getting better, he’s going to put a lot more people on posters. You’ve been notified, NBA. </p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2017/3/2/14792240/harrison-barnes-posterizes-paul-millsap-atlanta-hawks-dallas-mavericksDoyle Rader2017-03-01T21:08:48-06:002017-03-01T21:08:48-06:003 things as Dallas makes valiant comeback only to fall short late, 100-95
<figure>
<img alt="NBA: Dallas Mavericks at Atlanta Hawks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qfbICnCp9XVKoid9JySqizbCfgs=/0x0:4486x2991/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53491859/usa_today_9910360.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It looked like the Miracle Mavs might pull this one out, but some late blunders doomed their comeback bid</p> <p id="acwV2J">The Nerlens Noel “undefeated” era in Dallas comes to end.</p>
<p id="FPrJxM"></p>
<p id="SEDz3D">Winners of two straight, the Dallas Mavericks visited Atlanta and nearly pulled off a comeback on the road against a tough Hawk squad, but they sputtered and collapsed in crunch time, allowing the Hawks to score the last six points of the game in the final minute, volleying in front for good.</p>
<p id="gCgT1H"></p>
<p id="0VNp4q"><strong>CURRY AND BARNES KEEP ROLLING</strong></p>
<p id="UC7yGV">It’s become a familiar refrain, but Seth Curry and Harrison Barnes carried the Mavs’ offense again on Wednesday night, combining for 46(25 for Barnes, 21 for Curry) of their 95 points. Dallas frankly struggled when someone other than those two shot the ball. Players not named Curry or Barnes shot 6-21 from three. Dirk and Yogi were the next highest scorers with 11 points, each, and no other Mav scored in double figures.</p>
<p id="wwjSKX"></p>
<p id="xcXloK"><strong>DALLAS CLIMBS BACK FROM DEFICIT ONCE MORE</strong></p>
<p id="6xcIe1">Another recent trend has been Dallas starting slow or otherwise getting down by a large lead, only to slowly grind there way back into it late. Unfortunately, though Dallas went back in front with four minutes left(their first lead since early in the first quarter), and then held a one point lead again with under a minute left, they couldn’t hold on. Atlanta shot a blistering 72%(!) from the field in the first half, cooled off badly in the second, but ultimately it was turnovers that may have decided things. The Mavs committed an uncharacteristic 20 TO’s, including a Barnes fumble with only a few seconds left that turned a one possession game into the nail in the coffin.</p>
<p id="kgdkVH"></p>
<p id="2p6RZB"><strong>CARLISLE THROWING THE KITCHEN SINK LINEUP OUT THERE</strong></p>
<p id="DhJVcc">We saw Nicolas Brussino with some of the earliest minutes of his career, after Dorian Finney Smith got into foul trouble in the first quarter. Ben Bentil made his NBA debut(not that you might have known from the stat sheet). Late in the second half, Dallas made a run with Quinn Cook out there. Clearly, Rick is reaching deep into his bag of tricks to see what works and what doesn’t. The Wizard couldn’t materialize a victory tonight, though.</p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2017/3/1/14786090/3-things-as-dallas-makes-valiant-comeback-only-to-fall-short-late-100-95Ian_Miller2017-03-01T17:30:02-06:002017-03-01T17:30:02-06:00GAME THREAD: Mavericks at Hawks
<figure>
<img alt="NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Dallas Mavericks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eYWHPDGkYhgQ_jPaV2TA1_C3bTM=/0x0:2553x1702/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53489395/usa_today_9796152.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Mavs look to make it three and a row in the ATL.</p> <p id="be0e4y"><strong>WHO: </strong><a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> at <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a></p>
<p id="WDzw5F"><strong>WHAT: </strong>Moar Nerlens Noel, pls. </p>
<p id="iGdEt4"><strong>WHERE:</strong> Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA</p>
<p id="FMj2Kv"><strong>WHEN:</strong> 6:30 p.m. CT</p>
<p id="Cggs57"><strong>HOW:</strong> FSSW or NBA League Pass</p>
<p id="WYHVML"><strong>THE STORY:</strong> Noel missed the team bus this morning and thus his chance to start with <span>Wesley Matthews</span> nursing an injury, but don’t think that will let <span>Rick Carlisle</span> stop him from trotting out the Mavs’ new acquisition at the first possible chance. That’s all I got today as Dallas goes for three in a row.</p>
<p id="TY3NyT">GO MAVS.</p>
<div id="glTTU6"><div><div style="left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xI5NQ-0Ubfs?wmode=transparent&rel=0&autohide=1&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" style="top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div></div></div>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2017/3/1/14784370/game-thread-dallas-mavericks-at-atlanta-hawksRebecca Lawson2017-03-01T00:00:01-06:002017-03-01T00:00:01-06:003 things to watch as the Mavericks face the Hawks
<figure>
<img alt="NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-wA5n2p-JwlpY2tkF3xQ_rO-j4g=/0x0:2057x1371/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53471161/usa_today_9905292.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Riding high on their recent wins, the Mavs head to Atlanta to take on the Hawks.</p> <p id="08u7dH">After a disappointing loss to Minnesota right after the break, the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavericks</a> have roared back with solid wins over both the <a href="https://www.thebirdwrites.com/">New Orleans Pelicans</a> and the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a>, handing <span>Dion Waiters</span> and company just their third defeat in the last 19 games.</p>
<p id="Sl8h8X">Tonight they look to start an actual winning streak as they head to Atlanta (minus <span>Wesley Matthews</span>, out with <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/mavericks-wesley-matthews-ruled-out-wednesday-with-hip-injury/">a hip injury</a>) to take on the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Hawks</a>, who struggled out of the post-All-Star gate with losses to Orlando and Miami but got a solid win over the second-place <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a> in Boston Monday night.</p>
<p id="hGzNvq">So far, new Mavericks <span>Nerlens Noel</span> has fared very well against some of the best big men in the league, including <span>Anthony Davis</span>, <span>DeMarcus Cousins</span>, and Hassan Whiteside. How will he and the Mavericks measure up against <span>Dwight Howard</span> and the Hawks tonight?</p>
<p id="F2in8z">Here are three things to keep in mind ahead of tonight’s game:</p>
<h4 id="CC4rdS">The Hawks are pretty good</h4>
<p id="CUBoFu">They’ve had an inconsistent season, getting off to a hot start before plummeting in the rankings (and then crawling their way back up them), but the Hawks are a tough match up. They traded veteran sharp-shooter <span>Kyle Korver</span> immediately before their previous match with Dallas, but the team hasn’t seen any negative impact on their record, which includes 13 wins (out of 23 games) since the trade, including against the Mavericks.</p>
<p id="iafytM">Dwight Howard in particular is still a force to be reckoned with. He’s no longer at his prime in terms of volume (his per game numbers are down across the board), but he’s still a very efficient shooter and<a href="http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/DRPM/position/9"> a good defender</a> who pulls down nearly 13 boards per game.</p>
<p id="eYM1re">And while the the Hawks aren’t generally a great (or prodigious) three-point shooting team, they sank an impressive 11-22 in Dallas last month, a feat the Mavericks’ defense will obviously not be keen to let them repeat.</p>
<h4 id="O9rVNk">Noel is still finding his footing</h4>
<p id="tVAgQQ">Given the inconsistent and often poorly matched role Nerlens Noel was forced to play in Philadelphia, it’s remarkable that his numbers coming to Dallas were as good as they were. Since suiting up as a Maverick, he’s been asked to take on a wholly different kind of role. His minutes have gone way up, but his field goal attempts are down as Carlisle has been easing him into the offense.</p>
<p id="YpEFKq">But despite being thrown into a more complicated offensive scheme, Noel has largely lived up to expectations. Sure, it’s only two games, but it’s been heartening to see his field goal efficiency take only a small hit and his total rebounds per 36 minutes increase. He’s seen some challenging big men in his previous games as a Maverick, and that will continue tonight in Atlanta. But each game is an opportunity to see how Noel is adjusting to his new role, and it’ll be interesting to see how he handles it.</p>
<h4 id="uAHZfK">Dirk’s inconsistency</h4>
<p id="98Pb91">The Mavericks have been incredibly fun to watch the last several games, but one of the few sore spots has been watching Dirk still struggling to recover his shot. He’s had some stellar games (he looked in vintage form against both Detroit and Portland), but he’s also had a lot of games in which his shot just. will. not. fall.</p>
<p id="kuiRLa">The Hawks are possibly the strongest team the Mavericks have faced since acquiring Nerlens Noel. They made need both their new young players AND their veterans clicking if they want to take home this win.</p>
<h4 id="8f4Mab">How to watch</h4>
<p id="4jfTA5">Tonight’s game tips off at 6:30pm Central on Fox Sports Southwest. Outside of the Dallas and Atlanta areas, you can catch the game on NBA League Pass.</p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/game-coverage/2017/3/1/14764810/dallas-mavericks-atlanta-hawks-game-time-how-to-watchKate Crawford