Dirk returns to line up, Ian Mahinmi leads Mavs with 17pts!

By K. King

Images by Channing Jemerson/TSB Images

Road Game @Memphis - After some light shooting during practice and pre-game shootaround with the team in previous days, Dirk Nowitzki is in tonights starting line-up against the Memphis Grizzlies. It may be too soon for the big guy to get in there and run up and down the court.

Taking very careful and calculated shots, Nowitzki only played about 15 minutes of game time and 7 points. Becoming frustrated with the officiating , Dirk received two technicals and was escorted off the floor. With a five game losing streak, it's easy to see the teams frustration. Whatever the case, frustration has been building up within the team, some bad officiating also bare some blame.

Offensive play came from an unlikely source against the Grizzlies, Ian Mahinmi, Mavericks (F) played impressively tonight for the Mavs. Scored 17pts, 21 minutes and 6 rebounds. Unfortunately, not enough to help the Mavericks leave Memphis with a win. J.J. Barea suck from the FG, Jason (J.T.) had an awful night as well. Brendan Haywood played decent, Tyson Chandler was out ill.

The Mavs lose to the Grizzlies, 70 - 88. A five game losing streak. The Mavs have had two five game losing streak in the ten years.

NBA D-League; The Texas Legends

By Katrina King

Photo by Layne Murdoch/Gettys Images

The Texas Legends are the newest team to join the brotherhood of professional sports teams in the Dallas Fort Worth area. They are the NBA Development league (D-League) a sibling of the Dallas Mavericks and host their games at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, TX.

The Legends are headed by owners, Donnie Nelson, whom is also the Mavericks General Manager and Evan Wyly; President of Basketball Operations Spud Webb (Atlanta Hawks) who grew up in Dallas and former All-Star Slam Dunk winner; GM Del Harris (former NBA coach and assistant coach); and last but certainly not least Head Coach Nancy Lieberman, former SMU Women's Basketball coach.

The Legends have played good basketball for a development league. This league is also designed for rookies, such as Dominique Jones to further advance his basketball skills, as well as other players scouted. It's as if the Mavs can pull from their sibling league to play in the big league if needed. For example, if the Mavericks are plagued by more injuries, they will have a pool of players, good players, scorers, defenders to fill the need.

The Legends have a nice line up with six former NBA first round picks, introducing three of the three of those players, Rashad McCants, Joe Alexander and Mavs first round pick, Dominique Jones. Jones have since returned to the Mavericks lineup.

Mavs forward Caron Butler season ending injury

By K. King

Images by Channing Jemerson/TSB Sports

Dallas- Dallas Mavericks forward Caron Butler is out for the rest of the season. Caron injured his knee during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on the road. Butler underwent surgery on Tuesday morning on his patella tendon/knee. He is expected to be out the rest of the season.

On his twitter page, Butler thank his many supporters and vows to be ready for next season.

It's another unfortunately lost for the Mavs with in a couple of weeks. Nowitzki went down against the Oklahoma Thunder and has not played since. It is not clear if Dirk will play against the game against the Thunder at the American Airline Center this Thursday.

"What the hell was he thinking?"

By K. King (Dallas, Texas)
Images by Channing Jemerson

What was coach Rick Carlisle thinking when he chose to play Ian Mihinmi over Brendan Haywood in a game against the "Best in the West" showdown between the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks. Dirk dressed in street clothes missed the game against the Spurs.

Coach Carlisle, fans I spoke with seem tho think that coach made a "stupid" decision playing Ian Mihimi and not Brendan Haywood. Talk about scratch my head? What the hell was he thinking?

What was coach thinking? "He's stupid" says fan as we walked out the American airlines Center after the game.. Makes no sense. Of course, in the post game interview, Carlisle attempted to explain his reason for his decision. We (media) left the interview with nothing.

However, Carlise did say he spoke with Haywood (Brendan) of his decision earlier before game time. Haywood hasn't been playing his best game. Not sure if something negative has gotten him in a funk thereby, affecting his game. Could it possibly be 'coaches decisions' made that lessens his minutes? Who knows? Whatever his reason, why the game against San Antonio, where a win for the Spurs was inevitable.

Oh yeah, the referees favored the Spurs too. No breaks for the Mavs. Surprised?

Can you say "fixed".

Rockets win 8 consecutive home games beat Wizards 100 - 93

Image by Channing Jemerson
The Toyota Center - Houston, Texas

Aaron Brooks (13 points) helped the Rockets come back from a 10 point deficit, scoring 13 points in the final minutes of the game. Shane Battier also had a good night against the Wizards with 16 points also helping the Rockets extend their lead to a victory.

Mavs lose to Toronto 84-76

By Katrina King

Image by Channing Jemerson

Can't blame it on not having the big guy (Dirk Nowitzki) in the game. Can't blame it on Toronto for playing a solid defense and an offensive game. Can't blame it on the referees. The Mavs played "subpar" as coach Carlisle said.

The Toronto Raptors simply outplayed the Mavericks at the Ameican Airlines Center. Yes, the Mavericks may have had a chance to win if Dirk was in the lineup tonight, but, he wasn't. The guys stepped up played cohesively and won in Oklahoma when Dirk went down in the first quarter of the game.

Shawn Marion joined the starting line up in place of Nowitzki. Marion had another good night ending the night with 12 points. Even, Brian Cardinal got a piece of the scoring action.

"It's been bothering me for awhile"

By Katrina King

Image by Channing Jemerson

Dirk went out in the first quarter in the OKC game with 9 minutes to go in the first quarter. during a play dirk went up for the ball and landed awkwardly twisting his ankle. He would not return for the remainder of the game.

Dirk spoke briefly to reporters after the game, saying " This felt scarier than any other injury. If this was just a twisted ankle than I could walk it off. But this is a different. I'll have a M.R.I tomorrow morning and will go from there".

On the team win: "Guys were stepping up left and right." Tyson with the tip in, Caron and Shawn with scoring. It felt good to see the guys perform well".