That’s how determined the Grizzlies were that Mayo was not going to have an impact on that Dec. 21 game, which Memphis won, 92-82.
However, Dirk Nowitzki missed that contest because he was still recuperating from the right knee surgery he underwent on Oct. 19. And now, since Nowitzki is back in the starting lineup, that should lessen the overall attention Mayo received from the Grizzlies three weeks ago.
Or, will it?
“I’ve been over there and they’ll play Dirk one-on-one with no double-teaming and just try to make us beat them,’’ said Mayo, who spent his first four seasons with the Grizzlies. “We've got to just do a good job of trying to get to the rim and attacking instead of settling for jump shots.’’
No team has smothered Mayo this season the way the Grizzlies did. The fifth-year guard finished that game with just 10 points, four assists and five turnovers while only going 3-of-11 from the field in 35 minutes.
“They’re a defensive team, they’re the No. 1 defensive team in the league,’’ Mayo said after this morning's shoot around at American Airlines Center. “So they’re going to do what they feel is best for
them to get the win tonight.’’
Mayo is hoping for some better results tonight at 8 when the Mavs meet the Grizzlies at American
Airlines Center. However, coach Rick Carlisle noted that this game has less to do about Mayo and
more about the Mavs as a whole as they attempt to win two games in a row for the first time since beating Houston and Sacramento on Dec. 8 and `10, respectively.
“It has nothing to do with OJ, it’s about our team,’’ Carlisle said. “We’ve got to do the things that we have to do to be successful.
“With Memphis it comes down to a physical game. They’re the best at stealing the all and converting turnovers, so we’ve got to take care of the ball.’’
-- Dwain Price
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