Preseason game preview: Houston Rockets (2-1) at Dallas Mavericks (1-1)
Preseason game preview: Houston Rockets (2-1) at Dallas Mavericks (1-1)
DALLAS – It’s perhaps fitting that the new-look Dallas Mavericks’ preseason home opener comes against a team they’ll see four times when the games actually begin to count during the regular season.
Facing the Southwest Division rival Houston Rockets with an equally complete roster turnover, the Mavericks will look to put on a show in front of their home crowd after splitting two games during their European exhibition tour. The Mavs will also see how they stack up against NBA competition for the first time, facing a Rockets team on the second half of a back-to-back after prized off-season acquisition Jeremy Lin was held to just four points in a 116-107 home loss to San Antonio.
“They’re an energetic, hard-playing team that force you to play,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said of the visiting Rockets. “So, more than anything, we’ve gotta be ready to jump into the game with high energy and high efficiency, and that’s the biggest thing I am looking at, at this point. We’ll adjust the way we need to adjust, but I think every team in the league is going to be a hard-playing team.”
Fortunately for the Mavs, only fourth-year guard Rodrigue Beaubois has been officially scratched from the lineup as he continues to battle his way back from a sprained left ankle suffered in the team’s 89-84 win over ALBA Berlin nine days ago. That means both 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki and newcomer O.J. Mayo should be available after suffering minor setbacks before the Mavericks’ 99-85 loss to F.C. Barcelona Regal last Tuesday.
Nowitzki was held out of the loss due to a right knee effusion, but hasn’t missed a practice due to the swelling since returning stateside. Meanwhile, Mayo continues to play with a laceration on his right hand suffered in a fall before the loss, in which he finished 0-for-7 from the field for just one point.
And with a potent Mavs’ offense close to full strength, the defense will be able to key in on slowing down Lin, who totaled 28 points and 14 assists against the Dallas team last season for New York en route to handing the former champs a 104-97 road loss.
“Look, he’s a proven good player in this league,” Carlisle said of Lin. “I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. … Was I surprised (by his Lin’s performance against the Mavs last season)? No, he had done it the previous 10 games. So, no, I wasn’t surprised at all.”
“You know, he’s a good player,” new addition Darren Collison added as he prepares to take the primary responsibility of defending Lin. “It’s no different from any other good player that I’ve played against. You know, just have the same mindset. For me, it’s always being aggressive and going out there and playing my game. … I thought he did a good job during the short spell that he was in (last season). I thought he ran the team well. You know, he deserves the credit that he is getting right now. And like I say, he’s a good player but my mindset doesn’t change if I was guarding him or any other player.”
With Collison also running the show on offense, the Mavericks will try to display a more well-rounded attack.
Lowing their turnovers from 27 against ALBA to 14 against Regal, the Mavs still looked stagnant through their first two exhibition efforts. That should all change Monday night, according to Collison, as the Mavericks inch closer to the season opener in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Oct. 30.
“I think right now we have so many talented guys that can score the ball, we don’t need anybody to put a lot of pressure on themselves to do it on their own,” the point guard explained. “All we have to do is support Dirk in our own way. And I think we have a good enough team where everybody can do the same and take off that pressure.”
Note: The Mavericks host the Houston Rockets in the preseason home opener Monday night at the American Airlines Center. The game will air on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for the game are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS or by visiting Mavs.com.
