Full-Court Press

Dancers need your vote NOW

The second annual NBA.com Dance Team Bracket is taking place right now. Make sure you vote for the Lindsay, Mallory and the rest of the Mavs Dancers as they go head-to-head with the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Honeybees. Today is the last day so get out and vote. Let your voice be heard. The Mavs Dancers need your help and they'll be forever grateful.

-- Art

Dirk & Steve: Cover Boys

Back in the day, Dirk and Steve shared bad haircuts, not-so-innocent grins and some semblance of anonymity. Not much has changed on the first two counts, but these guys can't fly under the radar anymore. They're sort of a big deal now.

Nash has two MVPs. Dirk should win his first here soon. Both are GQ faves. Steve has graced the pages several times and even co-hosted an All-Star party with the mag in Vegas. Dirk is on the cover on Germany's GQ. I didn't know one existed, but it surfaced in the locker room Friday night and Dirk promised to get Jet Terry an autographed copy.

They were getting together Saturday night at the Mavs hotel for a Sports Illustrated photo shoot to preview the playoffs. Something tells me it won't be the last time they share a lens.

-- Art

Welcome Willis

Kevin Willis passed his physical Saturday morning and will sign a 10-day contract with the Mavs, coach Avery Johnson confirmed...The 44-year-old, 7-footer won't be able to officially sign the deal until Monday when the league offices open for business so he won't be in uniform for the Suns game tomorrow...He will meet the team in Phoenix and begin workouts as soon as the contract is a done deal.

More than anything, the Mavs really love his locker-room presence and work ethic. He'll be a great practice player, able to bang with Damp and Diop, and he'll be able to work with Diop, who's still very young in his career. It's a solid move to fill the last roster spot. And what a deal for Willis, join a championship-caliber team, hoop it up at practice, hang on the bench and maybe get a few minutes here and there. not a bad gig.

-- Jeff

Good stuff

The Mavs got their franchise-record 61st victory Friday night -- with 10 games remaining -- and it's the first time the Mavs have ever been 50 games over .500.

The team's previous best regular-season record of 60-22 was set in 2003-04 and tied last season, Avery Johnson’s first full year as coach.

The Mavs’ magic number to clinch home-court advantage in the playoffs has dropped to four and can get cut in half with a win Sunday at Phoenix. Should they upend the Suns, the Mavs would have their fourth winning streak of at least 10 games this season, a feat never before accomplished in the NBA.

Also of note, the Mavs finished 27-3 against the Eastern Conference this season, their best record ever against the circuit.

 

Dirk scored nine of the Mavs' last 10 points against the Knicks.

Can't buy a bucket

Jason Terry's jumper with about two minutes left in the third was just the second basket of the period. The Mavs finished the period 2 of 19, which is their worst showing of the season.

Their worst quarter had been a 2-of-16 effort against the Hornets back on Nov. 25. The Mavs won that one 85-73 and they enter the fourth tied at 76 with New York.

-- Art

Starbury

Avery's not going to like the defensive job on Stephon Marbury in the first half. He's got 23 and the Knicks are hanging tight...on Wednesday, the Bucks' Michael Redd had 23 at the half and finished with 34. He was held scoreless in the fourth quarter on one shot attempt. Devin Harris, Josh, and Buckner held him down. Can they do it again?

-- Jeff

George won't sit anymore

Avery is so pleased with the progress made by Devean George that he won't sit out the second half of back-to-backs anymore, as was the plan. The do-everything swingman didn't play Wednesday after seeing time Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

The Mavs have two back-to-backs in April, including the last two games of the regular season.

"He’s playing the rest of the year now even if it’s a back-to-back," Avery said. "He’s ready to go. He’s getting stronger and stronger."

-- Art

Dirk gets 15,000 ... and 15,001

Dirk needed all of 56 seconds to get the point he needed to reach 15,000, becoming the 105th player in NBA histoty. The 15-foot jumper officially gets No. 41 up 15,001. he would have reached it Wednesday, but an ankle sprain sidelined him for most of the second half against the Bucks.

Humble Billy Hayes recognized the moment as soon as it happened and at the first timeout, the franchise's career scoring list flashed up on the Jumbotron.

1. Ro Blackman, 16,643

2. Dirk Nowitzki: 15,001 (and counting)

3. Mark Aguirre, 13,930

4. Derek Harper, 12,597

-- Art

Nellie Ball lives!

If you missed Suns-Warriors on TNT on Thursday night, too bad for you.

Nellie was up to his old, small-ball tricks, starting three guards -- Baron Davis, Monta Ellis and Jason Richardson -- and Stephen Jackson at power forward and Al Harrington at center. The Warriors scored 45 first-quarter points (and had 77 at halftime), eventually holding off the Suns 124-119.

So here are our observations and outlandish declarations from one of this season's most entertaining games:

1) Did the Suns throw the game? Of course not. But I bet they would love for the Warriors to claim that final playoff spot in the West and face the Mavs in the first round. Nellie's inside knowledge of the Mavs and his frenetic, up-and-down attack would make for an exciting series, likely forcing the Mavs to expend a lot of energy.

2) Baron Davis is now the league MVP. Stay with us here. When Nash and the Suns got the better of the Mavs on TNT on March 14, the national media was ready to hand the MVP award to Nash during the postgame. If one game can make that much of a difference, then Davis' complete domination of Nash on TNT with 21 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds means he is obviously now the MVP fave.

3) On a serious note, because of injury problems (and some say attitude problems) it's easy to forget how talented Davis really is. When he focuses on pushing the tempo, attacking the basket and staying active, he is a joy to watch. His strength is astounding, and his ability to rebound and put in layups among the trees is remarkable. When he falls in love with the 3-pointer and stops distributing the ball is when he gets in trouble.

4) Andris Biedrins' free-throw form makes Shaq look like Reggie Miller. You have to see it to believe it. Still, the Warriors have quite a talented frontcourt player on their hands.

-- Joe Garza, Mavs Lite

Josh is in...

Josh said he's a go...that is he'll give it a try. He's nursing two injuries, a sore left groin that's been hanging around for a while and the twisted right ankle he sustained on Wednesday...He said if he's not feeling right, he'll tell Avery...no sense in taking chances this late in the season.

-- Jeff