Chandler: Looks like he's having fun, Manu Ginobili's bald spot not so muchIn the past week, they've waxed the Thunder and Spurs, the latter coming tonight, 103-94.
They're lucky. Because the Mavericks have played like shit as of late.
Dirk Nowitzki absolutely carried them against Detroit. Tyson Chandler showed up against Oklahoma City. Then both Chandler and Shawn Marion showed signs of life against San Antonio.
Basically, it's Nowitzki and Chandler from night to night and those two hope that someone else contributes significantly because Nos. 3-9 on this team are aaawwwwwfffffffuuullllllll.
The win in San Antonio put the Mavericks at 6-1 on the road.
Notes:
1. Brendan Haywood was suspended for a game for an unspecified team policy thing. Maybe mouthing off at a coach (Rick Carlisle? They're relationship ain't the best.) or whatever. Our $54 million-man isn't overpaid at all. No way. He's averaging 3.7 points and five rebounds per game.
2. My other fav J.J. Barea is shooting 34 percent on the year. I hope he gets more minutes.
3. I plug Shawn Marion into that awful set of players backing Dirk Nowitzki up, but he's been OK this season. Shooting 50 percent from the field and average about 10 points, six rebounds a game. For a seventh man off the bench, that's not bad.
4. Tyson Chandler went to the line 16 times. Eight times against OKC. He's averaging 3.9 attempts per game, his most since 2004-05. Clearly, he wreaks havoc against San Antonio and the Mavericks have figured out how to inject him into the offense.
5. Ian Mahinmi had four rebounds in 14 minutes. Caron Butler had three in 27 minutes. One of those two simply isn't trying.
