Mavs Moneyball - Gameday: Dallas Mavericks at Memphis GrizzliesRick Carlisle approved.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50869/mmb-fav.png2015-01-20T08:00:04-06:00http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/rss/stream/75975522015-01-20T08:00:04-06:002015-01-20T08:00:04-06:002 things we learned in the win against Memphis
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<figcaption>Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>With a huge win against a division foe, Dallas finally earned a true, quality win against a playoff team in the West.</p> <p><b>1. Dirk and the Mavs showed up to close out Memphis</b></p>
<p>Josh Bowe recently wrote about the <a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2015/1/15/7549799/the-sad-truth-behind-dirk-nowitzkis-prolonged-shooting-slump">struggles</a> of the Big German. Whether or not the reverse jinx was intentional, Dirk has looked more like Dirk recently. After putting up 25 points and grabbing 9 rebounds while knocking down four of his five threes against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Nuggets</a>, he had another uplifting game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/">Grizzlies</a>.</p>
<p>Dirk put 21 points and 6 rebounds against the West's third-best team. More importantly, it's how he did it that should give Mavs' fans some excitement. He knocked down 2-4 threes and was 7-13 from the floor overall. With the game close, Dirk did what we've come accustomed to over the seasons. He knocked down a jumper off a pump fake three, rolled to the basket and hit a layup, hit his patented turnaround jumper and knocked down two free throws after a loose ball foul on the defensive end.</p>
<p>If this is actually Dirk turning the corner, fans and opposing teams will be seeing a new and better <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavericks</a>' squad.</p>
<p>One note about Dirk and the Mavs' offense: The team went to him plenty in the final minutes, but throughout the game he seems to be more of a decoy than anything at times.</p>
<p>Along with Dirk, <span>Rajon Rondo</span> and <span>Monta Ellis</span> hit some big time shots for the Mavs. Down 89-91, Rondo hit a runner. Ellis would follow up Rondo's make with a jumper to give the Mavs the 93-91 lead. Rondo would knock down another jumper to extend the lead to four. The final eight points would come form the hands of Dirk. The Mavs' defense would also allow just four points in the final 3:47.</p>
<p><b>2. Powell earned minutes, but the rotation is shortening</b></p>
<p>The "throw-in" in the Rondo trade has found his way into the Mavs' rotation recently. Despite five fouls and just having three points and one rebound, the rookie's energy and size has been a pleasant site for the Mavs.</p>
<p>Powell has played both the power forward and center spot for the Mavs, which has left <span>Greg Smith</span> and <span>Charlie Villanueva</span> out of the mix. In the last two games, Powell has played 31 minutes to a combined 57 seconds combined for Smith and Charlie V. Powell's ability to play both spots, roll to the basket and spread the court some have made the other veteran bigs expendable for the moment.</p>
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<p>Also in the win against the Grizzlies, <span>J.J. Barea</span> (seven minutes) and <span>Al-Farouq Aminu</span> (four minutes) saw limited minutes. The Mavs have struggled against the West's top teams and the shortened rotation could be common theme against better teams.</p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2015/1/20/7856031/mavericks-grizzlies-final-score-things-we-learnedRamiMichail2015-01-19T18:40:20-06:002015-01-19T18:40:20-06:00Dirk's fourth quarter leads Dallas to 103-95 win
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<p>The Mavericks' best win of the year.</p> <p><span>Dirk Nowitzki</span> had two points at halftime. He'd only taken three shots. He's 36 now, and maybe the size and physicality of <span>Marc Gasol</span> and <span>Zach Randolph</span> was just too much for him. Maybe it just wasn't his night.</p>
<p>Then he scored the final eight points of the game to close out Memphis on the road in a 103-95 win, notching Dallas their best win of the year and first real one against a Western Conference playoff opponent (they previously beat the Spurs who rested five players). Yeah, no, Dirk is forever. This was just a gentle reminder.</p>
<p>The takeover started just a couple minutes into the third quarter. Dirk hit a simple 15-foot jumper and followed it up with a vintage 4-point play. Later in the quarter, he ended a 6-0 <a href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Grizzlies</a> run with another long ball.</p>
<p>Memphis was feisty and the Gasol and Randolph combination was hard to deal with all night, but they trailed the entire second half until a Mike Conley 3-pointer found its mark with 4:01 to play. Suddenly, Dallas found themselves down 91-89 and on the verge of a demoralizing loss to a team they had on their heels.</p>
<p>But the Mavs didn't stop there. Rajon Rondo hit a floater and Monta Ellis retook the lead with a fadeaway jump shot on the baseline. Another Rondo jumper gave Dallas a four-point lead, setting the stage for Dirk to seal the deal.</p>
<p>The Mavericks' superstar has been <a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2015/1/15/7549799/the-sad-truth-behind-dirk-nowitzkis-prolonged-shooting-slump#comments">in a prolonged slump since December</a>, but maybe this game signaled a beginning of the end for that nonsense, because Dirk did everything we're accustom to see him do his whole career. He knocked down a one-legged fadeaway with his foot firmly planted on the elbow. On the next play, he threw his tendencies in the air on a roll to the rim. If that layup didn't seal the deal, his falling jumper out of the post the next possession did.</p>
<p>Dirk finished with 21 points on 13 shots, having the game we've been waiting for. Dallas couldn't have won without him.</p>
<p>In the first quarter that was rather sluggish, <span>Devin Harris</span> sparked the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mavericks</a>. He hit his first four shots, including a 3-pointer, leading Dallas to a 25-16 lead after 12 minutes.</p>
<p>Dirk Nowitzki made a elbow jumper off a pindown screen early in the second in what would end up being his only points of the first half. The Mavericks offense spread the ball all around, though, getting an <span>Al-Farouq Aminu</span> driving 3-point play, among other things.</p>
<p><span>Jeff Green</span> had a successful quarter with nine points while playing all 12 minutes, but the Mavericks hung right there with the Grizzlies for a 53-46 halftime lead.</p>
<p>On Dec. 9, the Dallas Mavericks came out of the Memphis locker room at halftime feeling good about a 62-56 lead. It didn't last -- the Grizzlies crushed Dallas in the third quarter, outscoring them by 19 and eventually winning 114-105.</p>
<p>But thanks to Dirk and other key contributors, the Mavericks avoided that all too familiar ending.</p>
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<li><span>Tyson Chandler had to come huge against the Grizzlies front court and did. He played a team-high 40 minutes -- also the most he's played in a regulation game this year -- with 10 points and 16 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass with constant tip outs to his teammates. He saved possessions and dealt with the Memphis behemoths in a manner no one else on the roster was suited to do. Games like this makes you wonder who New York ever gave him up for Jose Calderon and change, but then you just smile and shrug because who cares. He's here now.</span></li>
<li><span>Chandler Parsons' best game of the year came against Memphis in that December loss, but he was mostly horrid on Monday. Give him credit for three important 3-point makes, but he did strange things inside of the arc (passing up jumpers or driving straight into traffic) and throwing his body around defensively with no real motive. Such is the life of an inconsistent player.</span></li>
<li><span>Dwight Powell didn't make a shot but scored three points off free throws (one on a Marc Gasol block that was very nearly a charge). Still, he made some plays and certainly did much better than Greg Smith, who had a bad 57 seconds of court time. The back-to-back Denver games was Powell playing at just about his best, but he doesn't need to make three straight jump shots or drive past a defender for a dunk to be an impact big on this team for as long as they need him to be.</span></li>
<li><span>Even though wins against playoff teams in conference don't mean much when they turn to a seven-game series, it still feels good to earn one. Dallas needed confirmation that they could stick with a team like that, and even if they didn't, the fans definitely did. To do it in front of a fantastic Memphis crowd with a vintage Nowitzki is even better.</span></li>
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https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2015/1/19/7854485/mavericks-vs-grizzlies-final-score-dirk-nowitzki-fourth-quarterTim Cato2015-01-19T00:00:02-06:002015-01-19T00:00:02-06:00Can Dallas stop the Memphis front court?
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<p>The Mavericks take on the Grizzlies Monday in Memphis at 4 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Southwest and NBA TV.</p> <h4><b>What have the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/">Grizzlies</a> done lately?</b></h4>
<p><b></b>The Grizzlies will be looking to earn their fifth straight win today. Their recent winning streak has coincided with a three-game Portland losing streak to put Memphis just half a game out of second place in the Western Conference.</p>
<p>They also recently traded small forwards with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a>, swapping <span>Tayshaun Prince</span> for <span>Jeff Green</span>, who's been logging major minutes during his three games with the Grizzlies. So far he's played major role in terms of point totals (he's wracked up 10, 21, and 17 points) but at just 25 percent from deep and 39.5 percent overall, his efficiency hasn't been impressive.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavericks</a> last saw the Grizzlies in Memphis in early December. Although the Grizzlies won by 10, the game was close until the final two minutes.</p>
<h4><b>What team stat might determine the game?</b></h4>
<p>Memphis is known as a gritty, defensive team, but their defensive efficiency this year hasn't been stellar. They do still play a slow, deliberate style of basketball (they're the fourth slowest team in the league and rarely turn the ball over) but while they were a top ten defense last year, they've slipped to 11<sup>th</sup> in defensive efficiency this season. In contrast, their offense has improved hugely. While they languished in the middle of the pack in 2014, they've gritted and grinded (ground?) their way to the 10<sup>th</sup> most efficient offense in the league.</p>
<p>This means that while they're not necessarily as well positioned to stop Dallas' offense as their reputation might suggest, the Mavericks are going to have to continue to step up their defense to counter this year's more balanced Grizzlies team. During their last meeting, Dallas was unable to stop <span>Marc Gasol</span> or prevent <span>Mike Conley</span> from getting into the paint, where Memphis was able to score 52 of their 114 points.</p>
<h4><b>What are the match-ups to watch?</b></h4>
<p>While Dallas seemed powerless to stop Memphis from scoring in the paint, they also struggled there on offense. <span>Tyson Chandler</span> scored zero points on 0-1 shooting during the 32 minutes he played. Similarly, <span>Monta Ellis</span> put up a frustrating stat line, going just 1-11 that night and logging more turnovers than assists. Hopefully they'll be looking for vengeance this time around.</p>
<p>The Grizzlies will be missing point guard Mike Conley, who's out indefinitely with two sprained ankles.</p>
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<p>Tip off is at 4 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Southwest and NBA TV.</p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2015/1/19/7814595/dallas-mavericks-memphis-grizzlies-preview-time-channelKate Crawford