The Pistons (33-13) will be hosting the Dallas Mavericks (31-14) tip off from the Palace will be at 2:30 pm est. The game will be broadcast nationally on ABC as the RV Tour rolls into the Motor City.
Mavericks’ Snapshot
Road record: 11-11
Vs. East: 8-4
Last game: 1/31 (Thur) L 90-96 Vs. Celtics
Last 10: 7-3
Last meeting: Jan. 9th Pistons (86) @ Mavericks (102)
The Mavs gave the Pistons a real thumping back on January 9th. It was one of those games. The Pistons were never really in it and were waving the white flag when the 4th quarter started. Even though this is a big game and the league is doing their part to hype it up it’s coming on the eve of what is sure to be one of the most monumental games in sports history (should the Pats seal the deal), so I’m not sure how many people are going to actually be up for this one.
Despite Mavs’ coach Avery Johnson’s claims to the contrary they continue to be one of the top trade partners for the services of triple-double machine Jason “White Snake” Kidd. Former Piston Jerry Stackhouse is said to be part of the package that would bring Kidd back to where his NBA career began when Dallas took him #2 overall in the 1994 NBA draft. For his part Stack knows trade talks come with the territory having himself been dealt 3 times in his 12 year NBA career. When asked about the prospect Jerry reminds me of how envious I am that he, along with every other NBA player, play basketball to make their livings.
“The checks cash in all 50 states,” he said Thursday. “That’s all you need to worry about. If you get somewhere where the checks don’t cash, then you got an issue. But up until then, they’re going to cash.”
On a Pistons/Mavs historical tip check out this throwback 1986 Mitch Albom piece on Adrian Dantley. Remember it was the Mavs that we traded A.D. to in exchange for Mark Aguirre during the 1988-89 season, and with the Pistons going onto win the 1989 crown I’d say that worked out pretty well for us. For more on that trade see No A.D. in team. Extra Credit: it was the Mavericks who picked right before the Pistons in 1981 draft (Isiah Thomas) and the 1985 draft (Joe Dumars).
