Source: http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/1185790.html
*********************************************************************
Dallas Mavericks avoid a monumental collapse, beat Blazers
Posted on Thu, Feb. 05, 2009 / By EDDIE SEFKO
*********************************************************************
DALLAS — Nobody likes to be on the wrong end of history.
The New York Knicks were there when Indiana’s Reggie Miller scored eight
points in 11 seconds in the 1995 playoffs, although their defense obviously
wasn’t.
The San Antonio Spurs were on the court when Houston’s Tracy McGrady scored
13 points in 35 seconds in 2004.
So there were the Dallas Mavericks, ahead by nine points with 27 seconds
remaining against Portland on Wednesday night. Who could blame coach Rick
Carlisle for trying to squeeze an extra moment or two of rest for his heavy
lifters. He took all of them out of the game to save at least a little energy
for tonight’s visit to Utah.
Less than 17 seconds later, it was a three-point game.
The Mavericks averted joining those other observers of history. They held on
for a 104-99 victory, their fourth in a row, but it was a tough sell down the
stretch at American Airlines Center.
Josh Howard, Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki had to come back into the game. The
Blazers scored eight points in the final 22.1 seconds and nearly stole what
would have been a blooper-reel special for years had the Mavericks coughed it
up.
"I subbed those three guys out to try to buy them an extra minute of rest
because we’re playing [tonight]," Carlisle said. "They made two great plays
and we made two horrible plays. But the guys that came into the game have to
shake it off. If we’re in a situation where we’re trying to get a little
extra rest for our guys at the end, I have to trust that our guys can do the
job."
Most times, they will. Against the Blazers, they failed miserably. The
Mavericks had fought off the Blazers twice in the fourth quarter. Then,
Portland got two free throws from Rudy Fernandez with 55 seconds left to make
it 100-91.
The Mavericks milked the clock and Kidd missed a 3-point shot. Brandon Roy
hit a 3-pointer with 22.1 left. James Singleton, who had come in for
Nowitzki, had a pass stolen and Roy hit another 3 with 10.4 showing.
Boom! 100-97. And the Mavericks were in trouble.
After a timeout and a Nowitzki missed free throw, Terry hit a pair of free
throws that essentially sealed it at 102-97. Even then, Terry fouled
Fernandez on a 3-point shot with 4 seconds remaining.
It was far more drama than anybody expected in a game the Mavericks led
comfortably most of the way.
"Coach let the guys know they weren’t prepared coming into the game," said
Howard, who led the Mavericks with 23 points. "You can’t blame him [for
taking out the starters]. But he got on the guys who got in the game. I
guarantee you it won’t happen again."
And, as Carlisle added, it was a quality win against a Blazers team that had
won five in a row.
"Tonight was a very good effort, in spite of the defense in the last 25
seconds," he said.
Kidd moving on up
With his third assist — and it came barely four minutes into the game —
Jason Kidd passed Oscar Robertson for No. 4 on the NBA’s all-time assists
list.
Robertson finished his career with 9,887 assists. Kidd, who finished with 10
assists against the Blazers, has 9,895. At his current pace of 8.3 per game,
he’ll also pass Magic Johnson (10,141) for third on the all-time list later
this season.
Aldridge can relate
Ex-Seagoville and University of Texas player LaMarcus Aldridge, now with the
Blazers, said he needed about 40 tickets for Wednesday’s game, all of which
were paid for by his family and friends.
"Yeah, right," he said.
Aldridge said he could sympathize with what former Longhorn Kevin Durant is
going through with Oklahoma City.
"It’s tough," he said. "When you’re used to winning games, it’s tough to
not be on a winning team. All I can tell him is it’s a process."
*********************************************************************
--
Only the strong survive- Iverson ⊕ ═█┘
⊕ ●╱ Ｗ
● ●︵ ● ●)) ３╯
<３\ /３⊕ ／３﹚ ３ \\
/>⊕ >/ ⊕ ╲> >>
========= http://www.wretch.cc/blog/AWEI3 =========
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 58.114.81.64