Brand said Mavs fortunate they haven't been booed

DALLAS -- With the way the Dallas Mavericks have played lately, center Elton Brand knows he and the Mavs appreciate the fact that they're not based on the East Coast.

The fans in Dallas, Brand said, are much more cordial than the fans out East. In other words, had the Mavs lost 11 of 13 games while beaing an East Coast-based team, they would be hearing more than their share of boo birds.

"I was telling Dirk (Nowitzki) we have the best fans in the world,'' Brand said following Saturday's 99-96 overtime loss to the lowly New Orleans Hornets. "I appreciate all those 60-plus win seasons and the champions, because these fans are great sticking with us, because Northeast, New York, Philly we would have been booed off the court a few times for sure.''

The Mavs are 13-21 overall this season, including 0-7 in overtime games.

-- Dwain Price

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