NBA Regular Season 2012-2013: Dallas Mavericks (13-21) at Utah Jazz (17-18) -- Game Preview

NBA Regular Season 2012-2013, Game 36:

Dallas Mavericks (13-21) @ Utah Jazz (17-18)

#DALatUTA Game Stream -- Mavs Moneyball -- Mavericks vs Jazz coverage

Save a Cowboy, beat a Maverick . . . yes, these are getting worse . . .

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The always amazing Media Notes produced by the Utah Jazz:

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The Basics:

The Mavs and Jazz are both out of the playoffs right now. Both have ideas about getting there. We're 10-4 at home, they are 5-14 on the road. Both teams have had a rough schedule to start the season. It's going to be . . . interesting.

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History:

Our Jazz lead the series 88-61 all time against the Mavericks, and we're killing it at home. In Utah we win 76% of the time (all time 57-18), and I can't complain about that. Last season the Mavs beat us 3 times out of 4, their only loss to us being a 3OT game in The 'Solution. The teams play each other 3 times this year, twice in our gym. The Jazz started the season off with a thrashing of the Mavs (113-94). We play at home tonight, and then in Dallas on March 24th.

This has been a contested series the last few years with chippy games and lots of techs. I expect the same tonight.

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Scouting, Stats, and Stereotypes:

Both teams are good on offense, and bad on defense. We have better rebounders, they have better guard attack.

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Injury Report:

Mavericks Injuries --

• Brandan Wright (PF) GTD -- Wright has a strained left quadriceps and is questionable for tonight
  

Jazz Injuries --

• Mo Williams (PG) OUT -- Mo is going to miss 6-8 weeks with recovery from a right thumb injury.
  
• Enes Kanter (C/PF) IN -- He was just cleared to play tonight, he missed the last two games with a sprained right ankle.
  
• Raja Bell (SG) OUT -- He swallowed a band-aid and thinks he's going to die.

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Advantage --

Well, we're down Mo, so we're still at a disadvantage here.

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Player Focus:

Paul Millsap. Sap has been coming alive and he's that small four that Dallas seems to have a glut of (Jae Crowder, Shawn Marion, etc). Paul needs to continue showing signs of life as a near dominant force on any given night like he did a few nights ago. Dirk Nowitzki is going to be back and he is a tough stretch four to cover. Enes Kanter can't do it. Derrick Favors can't either. Al Jefferson? Yeah. No. Millsap is going to have to bring it tonight.

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X-Factors:

Coaching. Rick Carlisle is one of the best coaches in the game today. Tyrone Corbin is still trying to find his footing. Coaching will be a big deal.

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Word from the Badguys:

Hold on for the Jazz Jam Session later on after this post.

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As an aside:

Mark Cuban is a passionate owner, you can tell that he cares about his team. He does a lot of other crazy stuff though. So, well, uh? He's a passionate owner.

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Fearless Prediction:

Jazz win, why? Because we're at home.

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Reader Poll:

Who is going to score more transition points? The Jazz or the Mavs?