Utah Jazz (1-2) @ Dallas Mavericks (2-1)

Probable Line-Ups
Jazz: Deron, Brewer, AK, Booze, Okur
Mavericks: Kidd, Ross, The Matrix, Dirk the Jerk, Dampier

Coming In:
Yet again, the Jazz face a team that made some big changes this off-season. The Mavs went out and made a splash, adding Shawn Marion, who immediately became a starter and good complement to Dirk. They added Quinton Ross, who is a currently a starter. And they added ex-Jazzster Kris Humphries (aka a Karl Malone wannabe), who is getting major minutes for them. Throw those guys into a core consisting of Dirk, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry & (when healthy) Josh Howard, and that's quite a rotation. At least in the top 6. Jose Juan Barea & Matt Carroll are also getting some minutes. And they have Drew Gooden as well, though he did miss the last game.

The Mavs started the season out in disappointing fashion, getting hammered by the Wizards. They then bounced back in style, crushing the Lakers in LA (and then beating the Clippers in LA as well). Yeah, they're winning. And they've held the Lakers to 80 & Clippers to 84 to try and off-set the 102 the Wizards got on them.

The Jazz played last night. Back-to-backs can't be good. Especially with the way the Jazz "played" yesterday.

What We Know About The Mavericks... Through 3 Games
(AKA: Overreactions & small sample sizes be ****ed.)

• Erick Dampier is shooting 64.7% from the floor.
• Dirk & Marion are both averaging double-digits, as are JET & JJB.
• Dirk, Dampier & Marion are all getting 8+ rebounds/game.
• JET (5-15), Dirk (3-12) & Kidd (1-10) have been launching from downtown.
• Dampier & The Matrix will get their blocks. Oh joy.
• Dirk hates AK & Harpring. (This is utilizing previous knowledge)
• The Mavs don't play defense at home.
• The Mavs can't win at home.

Other Stuff To Know/Consider/Think About/Ignore
The Jazz are bad on back-to-backs, have been for years... Booze is struggling big time... Dampier is a center, meaning we could see some Fesenko/Koufos... Drew Gooden is an idiot... It's not Brewer, but Marion's shot is fairly awkward too... Are people really blaming slow for the lack of preparation last night? Or am I the only one?... Greg Miller said he wouldn't mind resigning Booze. Oh man... The Clippers got 29 points in the 2nd half against the Mavs... Dirk has scored 20+ points in 28 straight games... The Jazz haven't won in Dallas since April 13, 2007... slow continues to rant about a lack of defense. Maybe he should get over it for a bit and let the team run-and-shoot and try to outscore opponents? Because this defense thing obviously IS NOT WORKING... We should call Memphis and try to get a Boozer for Gay (& Jaric thrown in?) deal... If you're upset, just be glad that we don't have Bobby Brown as a back-up PG (yet).

Keys For The Jazz
What the Jazz have to do to win the game.

1. Um... stop giving up open treys. They're not the Rockets, but they'll still shoot them.
2. Don't let them drive in with ease. slow hates that.
3. Keep Booze on the bench if his shot isn't there.
4. Use the Fesenko/Koufos combo.
5. The Mavs have 6 guys that average 9+ ppg against the Jazz (including Gooden), led by Dirk, Marion & JET. Stop them.
6. Make your jumpers WHILE playing in the offense.
7. 'Sap needs to play better.
8. SHOW UP!

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