DALLAS MAVERICKS
The Mavs massive winning streak is over, but a new one has just begun. They're getting it done in crunch time and still look Finals-bound.
Recap Rewind: It was the Lakers who brought an end to the Mavericks' 14-game winning streak back on January 7th. Dallas have since bounced back with three close road wins, and a home demolition of the Portland Trailblazers... They outlasted the Pacers in overtime at Indiana on Friday, then needed a last-second bucket from Josh Howard to defeat the Raptors in Toronto on Sunday... Their record is currently an NBA-best 31-8... Take away that 0-4 start and the Mavs would be well on course to win 70 games at this rate.
Notable News: Nowitzki has been lethal so far this month. Excluding his 26-minute, 11-point performance in the Blazers blowout, he's been averaging about 33 points in January. His 43-point outburst against the Pacers on Friday was a season-high. He scored eight of those points in the overtime session, despite tweaking his ankle late in the fourth quarter. The MVP debate is heating up, and Dirk has to be top of the list right now... Jerry Stackhouse has slotted back into the rotation but has struggled shooting recently.... Devin Harris took a hard charge from Al Harrington on Friday and suffered dizziness and blurred vision. He should have been good to go against the Raptors last night.
Fast Forward: The Mavericks will stay home for games Tuesday and Thursday against the Rockets and Lakers. They'll begin a three-game East-coast trip next Sunday at Miami. That will be the first meeting between the Heat and Mavs since the Finals last June.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
Suddenly, the Rockets are one of the hottest teams in the League, and they're doing it all without the big Chinese dude.
Recap Rewind: With their overtime win at Sacramento on Saturday, the Rockets have now won nine of their past ten games, with that lone loss coming in overtime at Minnesota... The schedule hasn't exactly been easy for them either, with four of their past five games away from the Target Center... Houston are now 25-13 overall, good enough for the fifth seed in the West right now.
Notable News: Different guys seem to be stepping up every night to help Houston win, with Juwan Howard, Rafer Alston, Shane Battier, Luther Head and Dikembe Mutombo all making significant contributions recently... Mutombo in particular has been outstanding in Yao's absence, averaging 14.2 rebounds in the Rockets' last ten games... Tracy McGrady has been struggling with his shooting in the past three games, going a combined 21-of-64 from the field, although he did finish the Kings game with 37 points... Also in that game, Shane Battier took a nasty Corliss Williamson elbow to the head and had to leave the game late to stop the bleeding.
Fast Forward: We get to see just how hot these Rocks are on Tuesday, as they roll into Dallas. The very next night, they host the Phoenix Suns, with the Nuggets paying a visit on Saturday. Not an easy week.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
The honeymoon seems to be over for interim coach Tony Barone and the 9-29 Memphis Grizzlies.
Recap Rewind: The Grizz have dropped four of their past five games, and their new run-and-gun offense met a brick wall on Saturday in Chicago. Even without Ben Wallace and Andres Nocioni, the Bulls still managed to completely dominate Memphis. The final score: 111-66. As Damon Stoudamire noted post-game, the Grizzlies "just got busted, man."
Notable News: The Grizzlies have given up at least 100 points in 14th consecutive games... Stromile Swift has missed the past two games with back spasms, while Jake Tsakalidis missed the Chicago trip with "flu-like symptoms." NBA players never get the flu, just flu-like symptoms... Pau Gasol continues to put up his usual numbers, Alexander Johnson is still surprising inside, while rookie Rudy Gay has struggled shooting in the past two games... All this losing may of course turn out great for Memphis as we get closer to Greg Oden sweepstakes, but team president Jerry West told the Commercial-Appeal this week that he doesn't want the team to pack it in, and that a big trade before the February 22nd deadline is unlikely. However, there is rumor that guard Eddie Jones may be waived in the coming weeks.
Fast Forward: Memphis stay home to play the Suns on Monday and Sixers on Wednesday, then begin a four-game road trip against the Clippers on Saturday.
