Mavericks at Nuggets: Game 51 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (20-30) at Denver Nuggets (22-28)
Mon. Feb. 6, 8:00 at the Pepsi Center
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Nuggets by 3.5

2016-17 Matchups
Dec. 12 at Dallas
Mavs 112 Nuggets 92
Dec. 19 at Denver
Nuggets 117 Mavs 107

All-Time Series
Mavs 86 Nuggets 78

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 106.0 (24th)
Def. Rating: 108.6 (18th)

Point Differential: -2.5
Nuggets
Off. Rating: 111.5 (8th)
Def. Rating: 113.1 (30th)
Point Differential: -1.6

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Yogi Ferrell
SG; Seth Curry
SF: Wesley Matthews
PF: Harrison Barnes
C: Dirk Nowitzki
Nuggets
PG: Jameer Nelson
SG: Gary Harris
SF: Wilson Chandler
PF: Kenneth Faried
C: Nikola Jokic

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Barnes, 20.2
RPG: Bogut, 8.4
APG: Williams, 7.1
PER: Powell, 19.2
Nuggets
PPG: Gallinari, 17.2
RPG: Jokic, 8.4
APG: Nelson, 4.6
PER: Jokic, 26.3

Of Note

• The Mavericks enter the game only 2 games back of the Nuggets for 8th place in the West.
• Yogi Ferrell was a nominee for Western Conference Player of the Week. In leading the Mavs to a 4-0 record, Ferrell averaged 17.8 points and 5.0 assists. Stephen Curry won the award.
• J.J. Barea (calf) and Andrew Bogut (hamstring) remain out for the Mavs while Deron Williams (toe) is listed as doubtful.
• Nuggets leading scorer Danilo Gallinari (groin) is out for the Nuggets while Emmanuel Mudiay (back) is questionable. 
• In the two games against the Mavericks this year, Nikola Jokic is averaging 27 points, 13 rebounds and 6.5 assists.

Yogi Ferrell to Sign Two-Year Contract With Mavs

After a sensational first week as a Maverick, the Mavs are making sure that Yogi Ferrell sticks around not only for the rest of this year but next year as well. According to a report from The Vertical's Shams Charania, the Mavs and Ferrell have agreed on a two-year contract that he will sign Tuesday when his 10-day contract expires. Ferrell will make the minimum salary of $2008,00 for the remainder of this year and $1.3 million next year according to The Vertical's Bobby Marks.
The Mavericks are 4-0 with the rookie from Indiana starting at point guard, with Ferrell averaging 17.8 points and 5.0 assists per game. He scored 32 points and made 9 threes in last night's win in Portland. Ferrell was playing in the D-League when the Mavs signed him, after he appeared in 10 games earlier this year for the Nets. He went undrafted after a standout career with the Hoosiers.

Mavericks at Blazers: Game 50 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (19-30) at Portland Trail Blazers (22-28)
Fri. Feb. 3, 9:30 at the Moda Center
TV: FSSW, ESPN
Line: Blazers by 5.5

2016-17 Matchups
Nov. 4 at Dallas
Blazers 105 Mavs 95
Dec. 21 at Portland
Mavs 96 Blazers 95

All-Time Series
Blazers 79 Mavs 69

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 105.7 (24th)
Def. Rating: 108.5 (18th)
Point Differential: -2.6
Blazers
Off. Rating: 109.2 (10th)
Def. Rating: 111.5 (26th)
Point Differential: -2.2

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Yogi Ferrell
SG; Seth Curry
SF: Wesley Matthews
PF: Harrison Barnes
C: Dirk Nowitzki
Blazers
PG: Damian Lillard
SG: C.J. McCollum
SF: Evan Turner
PF: Noah Vonleh
C: Mason Plumlee

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Barnes, 20.4
RPG: Bogut, 8.4
APG: Williams, 7.1
PER: Powell, 19.2
Blazers
PPG: Lillard, 26.2
RPG: Plumlee, 8.0
APG: Lillard, 5.8
PER: Lillard, 23.0

Of Note

• The Mavs have won 3 games in a row for only the second time all year. They are only 2.5 games behind Portland and Denver for 8th in the West.
• J.J. Barea (calf) and Andrew Bogut (hamstring) are listed as out, while Deron Williams (toe) is listed as doubtful
• The Mavs previous win in Portland on Dec. 21 came thanks to a last second stop of Damian Lillard by former Blazer Wesley Matthews.
• Yogi Ferrell has started all 3 games during the Mavs current win streak, averaging 13 points and 5 assists in 37 minutes per game. 
• Since entering the starting lineup 11 games ago, Seth Curry is averaging 15.8 points while shooting 50% from the field and 47% on threes.

Wesley Matthews to be in 3-Point Contest

Despite not having a player selected to the All-Star Game the Mavericks will still have representation during All-Star Weekend. Wesley Matthews was named as one of eight participants in this year's 3-Point Contest on All-Star Saturday Night. Matthews finished fourth in the 2015 contest when he played for the Blazers. He is the first Mav participant in the event since Dirk in 2008. Matthews has made 129 threes (10th in the league) in 339 attempts this season, good for a percentage of 38.1%. Besides Wes, this year's field includes defending champion Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, Kyle Lowry, Kemba Walker, Eric Gordon, C.J. McCollum and Nick Young.

My 2016-17 NBA Predictions

West
1. Golden State
2. L.A. Clippers
3. San Antonio
4. Utah
5. Houston
6. Oklahoma City
7. Portland
8. Dallas
9. Memphis
10. Minnesota
11. Denver
12. New Orleans
13. Phoenix
14. Sacramento
15. L.A. Lakers

East
1. Cleveland
2. Boston
3. Toronto
4. Indiana
5. Atlanta
6. Detroit
7. Charlotte
8. Washington
9. Chicago
10. New York
11. Orlando
12. Milwaukee
13. Miami
14. Philadelphia
15. Brooklyn

West Finals: Golden State over L.A. Clippers
East Finals: Cleveland over Boston
NBA Finals: Golden State over Cleveland

Awards
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Joel Embiid
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert
Coach of the Year: Quin Snyder
6th Man of the Year: Zach Randolph
Most Improved: D'Angelo Russell

All-NBA
First Team
F: LeBron James
F: Kevin Durant
C: Karl-Anthony Towns
G: Stephen Curry
G: Russell Westbrook

Second Team
F: Kawhi Leonard
F: Paul George
C: DeAndre Jordan
G: James Harden
G: Chris Paul
Third Team
F: Anthony Davis
F: Blake Griffin
C: DeMarcus Cousins
G: Kyrie Irving
G: Klay Thompson

Mavs Media Day Highlights

Here is a selection of some of the best quotes from Monday's Mavericks Media Day from players and coaches.

Rick Carlisle
On supporting pregame player demonstrations:
"Mark and I had a discussion with the team today about the issues with anthem protests, etc., and we had a really discussion about it. Mark gave his views, and we’re going to be 100 percent supportive of our guys with whatever they decide to do."

On the roster turnover:
"What's more exciting than seven new guys? It's new blood."

Dirk Nowitzki
On the team's defense:
"We should be able to have a great defensive lineup -- once I'm out.''

On Kevin Garnett's retirement:
 "KG and I had a few battles just because he was so intense, and he was a competitor, the fiercest competitor. He always wanted to win, always wanted to get an edge on you early. He tried to intimidate you at times, but that was just his style. I have nothing but respect for him and what he did for this league.

Harrison Barnes
On his new teammates:
"I like this locker room. I think this is a group of high-character guys." 

On Colin Kaepernick's anthem protest:
"In terms of his message, I support what he's standing for. The persecution of black people is never an easy topic to talk about. It makes a lot of people uncomfortable, and there does need to be change about that. I'm definitely in accordance with him on that."

Andrew Bogut
On Playing with Dirk:
"I'm going to try to get him as open as I can. ... When they're physical with him, I'll be physical with them."

On Wanting to play in Dallas:
 I like Texas. I’ve always liked Texas. I like Dallas. Just the organization, I think, is always in the top when I hear from someone, guys like Richard Jefferson, guys I’ve played with. They speak so highly of the organization and the way it treats its players, how professional everyone is here. They really go out of their way to help you, so that was critical to me.”

Wesley Matthews
On expectations:
"I'm not going to say what seed we're going to get. I just know we're going to work. ... We're not going to back down."

On being all the way back from his Achilles injury:
"I'm going to be better than I was in Portland.''

Mavericks Schedule Highlights

With the NBA  and Mavericks schedule getting released today (Mavs Schedule Link), let's take a look at 10 gamess of note for the Mavs.

Oct. 26 at Indiana- The Mavs open the season on the road against a new look Pacers team that still features Paul George and old friend Monta Ellis.

Oct. 28 vs. Houston- The rivalry will be renewed in the home opener, but some luster is lost in this matchup without Chandler Parsons and Dwight Howard taking part.

Nov. 9 at Golden St.- Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut return to face the team they helped lead to a title and a 73 win season. Of course this also the Mavs' first look at Kevin Durant in a Warriors uniform.

Nov. 18 vs. Memphis- Chandler Parsons returns to the AAC after leaving Dallas this off-season after the Mavs refused to offer him a max deal.

Dec. 3 vs. Chicago- Dwayne Wade will play in Dallas for the first time as a member as the Bulls, which will be really weird. He will still get booed.

Jan. 12 at Phoenix (in Mexico City)- The Mavs will head south of the border to face the young Suns and Tyson Chandler.

Jan. 26 at Oklahoma City- The Mavericks will get their first look at the Durant-less Thunder which should feature even more of Russell Westbrook.

Jan. 30 vs. Cleveland- LeBron and the defending champion Cavs make their only visit of the season to the AAC.

Mar. 21 vs. Golden St.- The Warriors will make only one appearance in Dallas this year, so tickets will be especially hard to come by.

April 12 at Memphis- The season finale could have big playoff implications just as it did when the Mavs closed in Memphis in 2014.