The Dallas Mavericks rolled into this week's return to DFW as one of
just seven NBA teams that remain undefeated at home. But they didn't
easily roll over the Sixers, finally securing a 97-94 victory at the AAC
on Monday despite having less than their usual potency and amid a pair
of two key lineup changes.
"We were a little
sloppy,'' said Dirk Nowitzki. "They came out and took it to us. We
weren't ready.''
Nevertheless, Dallas secured the
win to move to 7-4. The decision drops Philly to 5-7 and will no doubt
once again fuel some talk of the Sixers being among the franchises that
toys with tanking in order to position itself for draft help to play
alongside youngsters Michael Carter-Williams (an early
Rookie-of-the-Year candidate unavailable due to a foot injury) and Evan
Turner (who had 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists).
"This was a survival-type game,'' said a respectful
Mavs coach Rick Carlisle. "We did what we had to do to win. It's a
difficult game as we knew it would be.''
Dallas was
held scoreless for the first five minutes of the game and then trailed
by 10 at halftime. In the end, though, it moved from a "survival-type
game'' to one between kids who have lost their path and vets who by the
fourth quarter found their groove.
The integration
into the rotation of rookie Shane Larkin represents a positive change.
Larkin, the rookie first-rounder debuting after breaking his ankle in
July, came off the bench to contribute three points, three assists and
two steals in nine minutes.
"I was out there smiling
the whole time, living my dream,'' Larkin said. "It was a great night."
Less great: Carlisle's decision to make a
first-time alteration to his starting lineup. Center Sam Dalembert, a
starter in all 10 previous games, came off the bench here as Dallas
opted to go small by starting Jae Crowder. He managed just two points on
1-of-8 shooting,
"The lineup to start the game
didn't work out,'' Carlisle said in an understatement.
But Dalembert began the second half. He contributed
eight points, a season-high 14 rebounds and three blocks as the Mavs
finally surged ahead on a Shawn Marion dunk with 1:41 remaining in the
third period.
And then, Dallas' offensive firepower
started showing itself. Nowitzki had his first double-double of the year
with 20 points and 10 rebounds. And Monta Ellis did the same with 24
points (19 in the second half) and 10 assists.
Ellis
has now scored 18 or more in every one of the newcomer's outings in a
Mavs uniform. But ... why did it take so long on Monday?
"Maybe we got away from the team concept a little
bit, and it really started on the defensive end,'' said Ellis, who also
had two of Dallas' 11 blocked shots. "We really weren't helping each
other like we should. But in the second half we picked it up on both
ends and got the win."
The manner wasn't
foreseeable. But with a 5-0 record at home? In the end, it was fun.
