Hold the Mayo No matter how good your team is, often, there is an inferior opponent that "has its number." Skill be damned! A bad team can be an unsuspecting cache of kryptonite for a good team.
The Dallas Mavericks know this phenomenom well.
In 2007, they saw it with the Golden State Warriors. A 67-win Mavericks team had zero answer for the eighth-seeded Warriors, who used their athleticism, length and killer instinct to discombobulate the Mavericks in a first-round ouster.
Inexplicably throughout sportsdom, there are instances like these.
Right now, take notice: The Dallas Mavericks should fear the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizz beat the Mavs 104-103 last night at the American Airlines Center. All thanks to a 41-point third quarter and a last-second jumper from Zach Randolph.
The Mavericks are 1-3 against the Grizzlies this season, including a 19-point drubbing in January.
The Grizz are trouble. They're athletic. They're young (only two players over 30 ... the newly acquired Shane Battier and back-up back-up point guard Jason Williams). And they don't know any better. They've got edge.
Randolph is enemy No. 1. He's plagued the Mavericks since his days in Portland. A big body with an inside-outside game. A good player with no brains. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, it seems he has his head screwed on straight.
And they're on a crash course with the Mavericks. The Grizz are the No. 8 seed and in the gaggle of teams within two games of each other through the fifth seed. The Mavs are the No. 2 seed.
The Grizz aren't great. Middle of the road at best. Taking full advantage of a number of teams falling off and rebuilding (Phoenix, Utah). But as good as the Mavericks' record is, they aren't exemplary. They're a flawed team.
In a playoff series, the Grizz give the Mavericks all they can handle. You've been warned.
Notes:
1. At the end of the season, we might understand what a fruitful year Shawn Marion had. Another 10 points, 12 boards and three assists. No matter his role, he fills it up.
2. Roddy Beaubois' scoring is up. About 54 percent from the field in March. Just under 50 percent from three-point range. Still, just one rebound and three assists this month.
3. Prediction: Peja Stojakovic will be on the bench in two weeks. His minutes have gone from 29 to 16 to 13 this month. His shooting's even worse. Just 4-18 from the field, 0-7 from behind the arc. It was a valiant effort.
4. How Brendan Haywood can play 38 minutes and get eight rebounds is beyond me. He was outdone by Shawn Marion, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Shane Battier. All of whom, except Randolph, played less minutes.
5. Dirk Nowitzki has two double-doubles in 2011. Ten for all of 2010-11.
