Official Game #50 Thread

Statistical breakdown:

When: Friday 7:30 CST
Place: American Airlines Center
DAL home record: 14-8
MIN road record: 3-21
DAL record v. Western Conf: 16-13
MIN record v. Western conf: 5-26
DAL PPG: 100.6 (15th)
MIN PPG: 97.6 (23rd)
DAL opponents PPG: 98.2 (17th)
MIN opponents PPG: 106.7 (28th)
DAL RPG: 42.6 (13th)
MIN RPG: 43.2 (8th)
DAL RPG Diff: -0.2 (17th)
MIN RPG Diff: 1.0 (11th)
DAL AST/TO: 23.0/12.4
MIN AST/TO: 19.4/15.6
DAL FG%: 46.2% (12th)
MIN FG%: 44.3% (25th)
DAL opponents FG%: 45.3% (21st)
MIN opponents FG%: 47.3% (26th)
DAL FT%: 80.9% (1st)
MIN FT%: 74.5% (20th)
Last meeting: DAL 89-77
My prediction: DAL 112-94
NBA 2K10 Simulation: MIN 96-88

Preview: Add 1 cup 3-21 on the road
1 ¼ cup 5-26 against Western conference teams
3 cups 20th ranked free throw shooting team against the #1 free throw shooting team in the NBA
2 Tbsp 28th ranked defense v. 17th ranked defense; and you have one perfect recipe for disaster.
Dallas is built for speed and Minnesota is not. If Minnesota has any chance to stretch this win streak one more game they must impose their will upon the Mavs. Jonny Flynn has to continue to not turn the ball over. Corey Brewer must continue to hit open jumpers. Most importantly Big Al, Kevin Love, and the surging Ryan Hollins must abuse Dallas in the post. By pounding the ball down low hopefully the T-Wolves will induce fouls. Early foul trouble equals better opportunity to take an early lead. An early lead can help them take the home crowd out of the game and hopefully exert all of Dallas’s energy during any comeback effort.

Key Matchups: Dirk v. Big Al (I recommend assigning Hollins to defend Dirk); Flynn v. Kidd (Jason Kidd will likely use both his size and experience to his advantage); Jason Terry v. Brewer (I recommend countering Kidd by placing Brew on him and Flynn on Jet); and lastly Minnesota’s power v. Dallas’s speed.

Starting Lineups:
Dallas Mavericks
PG Jason Kidd 9.0 Pts, 9.2/2.3 Ast/TO, 5.2 Reb,
SG Jason Terry 16.5 Pts, 3.7 Ast
SF Shawn Marion 11.7 Pts, 6.5 Reb
PF Dirk Nowitzki 25.2 Pts, 7.8 Reb
C Drew Gooden 8.4 Pts, 7.0 reb

Minnesota Timberwolves
PG Jonny Flynn 14.0 Pts, 4.3/2.8 Ast/TO
SG Corey Brewer 13.3 Pts, 3.9 Reb
SF Ryan Gomes 10.5 Pts, 4.5 Reb
PF Al Jefferson 17.8 Pts, 9.9 Reb
C Ryan Hollins 6.1 Pts, 2.9 reb (9.6 Pts, 4.0 Reb as starting C)

Go Wolves!!!