Mavs Forecast: January 25
Despite an embarrassing loss to an improving Sixers team, last week was another successful one for the Mavericks. While Philly is playing better with Elton Brand and Allen Iverson playing heavy minutes, they are still a team that Dallas should beat.
“We got to realize we’ve got to come to play every night,” Drew Gooden said. “We’re going to get every team’s best shot. We’re the second-best team in the West. We can’t just show up and have teams bow down. They won’t do that.”
The Mavs sit third in the Western Conference standing, with Denver passing them up recently after going a big win streak. I don’t see the Mavs falling below the 3rd seed this season. Portland sits 4th, even with all of their injuries. 
The thing is, the Blazers won’t be getting many of their IR players back in time for them to make an impact on the playoff hunt.
Erick Dampier missed another game last week with a balky knee. He hasn’t been very reliable this season from an injury standpoint. That surprising considering this is a contract year for him. Jason Kidd also missed Sunday’s game against New York while dealing with a family matter. Dallas still blew them out.
The loss for New York now stands as the worst in their history at home, while the win for Dallas stands as their largest margin of victory in their history. The Mavs record against New York, since 2002, is 15-1. That is the best record that the Mavs hold against any other team.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 7:30 PM CT vs. Milwaukee Bucks (18-24) FSSW
The Bucks have had a rough go of it of late. After confirmation that Michael Redd would miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL and MCL, the team has had trouble scoring at times. It’s not like Redd really contributed much this season anyway. After he came back briefly, Scott Skiles was considering placing him on the block. He, not publicly, said that Redd did not fit the direction of his young team.
The Bucks squad that will face the Mavericks has few offensive superstars, but many solid role players that know how to win. Milwaukee is 18th in opponents’ FG%, but Skiles likes to play a tough defensive game. He may not have the talent to do that quite yet. Brandon Jennings is an electric offensive talent, but after hitting the proverbial rookie wall, I don’t 
expect he is a candidate to score 55 again anytime soon. Starting guard Charlie Bell has hit a slump of late, but veteran forward Carlos Delfino has picked up the slack. Delfino nearly completed a triple double recently, and has been a hot shooter of late save the Toronto game. Andrew Bogut is a load inside, but he is more of a shot blocker and defender than dangerous offensive weapon. If Dallas can play solid defense, I don’t think they have to shoot over 50% to win. The Bucks simply won’t be able to keep up.
Thursday, January 28, 2010, 9:30 PM CT @ Phoenix Suns (26-19) TNT
The Phoenix game always has special intrigue because of the relationship between Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki. The Suns also made the news this week with the revelation that Amare Stoudamire is now on the trade market. Stoudamire has been talked about numerous times over his career about leaving Phoenix, but it has yet to happen. I’ll believe it when I see it.
The Suns are not themselves because they are missing instant-offender Leandro Barbosa for at least a month. Goran Dragic is expected to fill most of his minutes. Jason Richardson will take his place 
in the starting lineup. Brook Lopez has been playing especially well of late. Lopez is a ferocious shot blocker, which will be a key cog in the Phoenix defense. Hopefully, the Mavs will be shooting well from the outside, because the drive and dish game may have to be put on hold by Lopez. Channing Frye is also a weapon that is now coming off of the bench. Frye has been fantastic as a jump shooter from distance this season. He doesn’t have much in the way of post moves, but he can take a big man out to the perimeter, which doesn’t bode well for the Dallas defense.
Saturday, January 30, 2010, 8:00 PM CT vs. Portland Trailblazers (27-18) KTXA
Lamarcus Aldridge and Andre Miller will comprise the bulk of the offensive attack for Portland in this matchup. The good news for Dallas is that Brandon Roy is expected to miss another week due to injury, so Saturday’s bout is not in his plans at this current time. Rudy Fernandez is a sweet shooting weapon off the bench, but after that, the cupboard is pretty bare. Veteran Juwan Howard typically sees heavy minutes at the forward spot and Jeff Pendergraph has been starting of late, but still giving way to Howard in the second half. Patty Mills, the rookie guard out of St. Mary, has been called up from NBDL Idaho and could see some minutes, but don’t expect the inexperienced player to have much of an impact. Defensive specialist Nicolas
Batum could potentially play against Dallas on Saturday. He has been cleared by the Portland medical staff, but coach Nate McMillan has not decided if he is going to let Batum play anytime soon. We’ll wait and see on that one.
Prediction (2-1)
This week isn’t so tough for Dallas. Milwaukee is simply not playing well right now, and unlike college basketball, all NBA count equally. A win against the Bucks is just as vital as a win against the Lakers. Let’s hope that the Mavs don’t lay an egg in this one.
I love watching the games with Phoenix. I feel like there is some sort of Southwestern rivalry or something. It probably has a bit to do with Steve Nash and a bit to do with the fact that the Suns have been playoff lurkers for the past few years. They have always been right around or below Dallas in most playoff scenarios. That being said, this would be a huge win for the Mavs. I guess I just don’t expect it to happen. They are very talented and play a different style than most teams. Their two young forwards make them dangerous.
With Brandon Roy, I see this as a very difficult game. Without him, I don’t see that Portland has a chance. They are like Dallas without Dirk, Oklahoma City without Durant, LA without Kobe. What I’m saying is that he handles the ball quite a bit. I expect some dip in offensive rhythm. I’m sure that the Mavs will be confident in this game.
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