Pacers

Vs.

Mavericks

The Indiana Pacers will hosting the Mavericks.

They started out with a horrendues three-game losing streak, snapping it, and then going on a five-game win-streak. Then, the five-game win-streak got snapped and they went on to go on a four-game losing-streak, and snapping that, and now they are on a one-game win-streak.

Did you get that? Let’s hope. Yes, I know, this season has been a bit awkward as streaks of wins and losses continue. Hopefully, this streak continues. Just like the Pacers, the Mavs are also on a one-game win-streak.

Mike Dunleavy, who hasn’t played all season yet and missed most of last year, is finally back and he may play, hopefully. Danny Granger is doubtful for today’s game. Travis Diener is still injured.

For the Mavericks, Josh Howard and Erick Dampier–who leads the team in blocks–will be out today. Quinton Ross and Shawn Marion have a possible chance of playing.

But if Granger does not play, Dunleavy will most probably play. Jim O’Brien also thinks so.

“I anticipate (Dunleavy) should not be out much longer,” coach Jim O’Brien told ESPN, “and I would say based on what Danny’s situation is, I would suspect he needs to get back on the court.”

Troy Murphy went off to a great start two days ago against the Clippers, leading the team with 18 points and eleven rebounds after missing many games. Hopefully he had a good Thanksgiving dinner, saying he eats pasta on the holiday.

The Pacers will be facing a tough Mavericks team. And at 11-4, let’s hope they don’t get intimidated with the records. According to the statistics, the Mavericks look like an overall better team, averaging more points and allowing opponents fewer points per game.

The Mavericks also coming off their biggest win of the season, destroying the Rockets 130-99.

Jason Kidd also looks to add to his assists’ record, already reaching second all-time in NBA History, behind John Stockton. But at Kidd’s age, it’d be impossible to reach that feat as Stockton is about 5,000 assists ahead of Jason’s total.

“Some records are meant to stay where they are,” Kidd said. “I don’t see anybody breaking that any time soon.”

True that.

But listen, I’m not saying this as a Pacers fan, but with the streaks, I think they can win this game. I predict them winning this. Also, according to ESPN’s AccuScore Predictions, they say the Pacers have a 55% chance of winning this and are the favorites as they have been on top at Conseco Fieldhouse.

They also beat the Boston Celtics there so I wouldn’t see this as much of a surprise. The Mavericks have a 45% chance of winning this game.

I think the Pacers will come on top.

Let's hope these predictions are true.

Also check out Fansided’s Mavericks blog, The Smoking Cuban.

With the Dallas Mavericks’ recent additions of Drew Gooden and Shawn Marion in the offseason, rumors started to heat up of starting center Erick Dampier heading to the bench.

“It excites me to have our quarterback back (Jason Kidd) and to have Shawn Marion on one wing and Josh Howard on the other. You got a runner like no other in Drew Gooden that can get up and down the court with the best of them,” said Mavs’ president Donnie Nelson. “You got Dirk Notwitzki, who knows how to play the game a little bit. And then you got Erick Dampier coming off the bench and giving you that role that you need.”

Dampier has been playing an important key role in his stay with Dallas, playing good on the defensive side of the ball overall and making some smart decisions on offense by helping the team out in rebounds consistently.

Dampier was originally drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the NBA Draft back in 1996. He became a star with the Golden State Warriors and is now playing as a mentor in Dallas to help out the young centers.

He had averaged 5.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in the 2008-09 season last year. But Dampier actually may not be heading to the bench after all, though. Despite Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Thomas and Dampier himself all maybe playing at the center spot this year, The Dallas Morning News is saying Dampier can start.

Dampier is still the starting center, because he has started about 700 of his 800 career games, and starting 80 last year. I don’t think the Mavs will do that. The Morning News says that the Mavs will start Thomas, Marion, Gooden, Dirk, Thomas, and Dampier at the center spot against certain teams.

So it really isn’t that bad for Dampier I guess because he was pretty good last year. The problem with him is sometimes he is inconsistent but overall, I think he is pretty good. Dampier is a good shot-blocker and expect some good things from him coming into this year.

He maybe getting older and he not as mobile as he used to be, but heck, it’s way better than having a guy like The Kandi Man or Kwame Brown.