On the night when the Mavericks clinched their 11th consecutive
playoff berth, they were shown exactly how they need to play if
they want to have any success when the postseason gets here. Tyson
Chandler provided the blueprint. His heavy dose of authority in the
paint led the Mavericks to a 101-73 crushing of the Golden State
Warriors on Sunday night at American Airlines Center.
DALLAS
On the night when the Mavericks clinched their 11th consecutive playoff berth, they were shown exactly how they need to play if they want to have any success when the postseason gets here.
Tyson Chandler provided the blueprint. His heavy dose of authority in the paint led the Mavericks to a 101-73 crushing of the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night at American Airlines Center.
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For once, the Mavericks got it right and didn’t fool around against an outmanned opponent. Chandler ripped down 17 rebounds and shook off the doldrums from a series of blah games in the last past week.
“The last three or four games, I felt like I really wasn’t myself,” Chandler said. “I got caught up in the way things were going and getting frustrated that I started to let it affect me. And I can’t let that happen. I got to play and let the cards fall where they fall.”
Chandler also had seven points, all from the free throw line. But he wasn’t the least bit concerned about his points.
“I agree 100 percent,” when asked if 17 rebounds were better than 17 points. “That’s what this team needs from me. We got all the scorers in the world. For me to be able to grab rebounds and be vocal and challenge shots and be on the floor and stay out of foul trouble is huge for us.
“When we’re not playing well defensively, I lose sleep.”
Which means he hasn’t been sleeping much lately.
However, against the smallish Warriors, the Mavericks asserted themselves and took control in the third quarter when they started a 32-10 blitz that broke open a six-point game.
Chandler did all his damage in three quarters. For the most part, so did Dirk Nowitzki, who had 20 points.
“He’s the key to our success,” Jason Terry said of Chandler. “He’s been that way all season long. When he plays like that, it’s hard to beat us.”
Chandler wasn’t the only center to dominate. Ian Mahinmi had a career-best 13 rebounds, giving the Mavericks 30 out of that position.
The Mavericks’ defense was strong all night, largely because of Chandler. They held the Warriors to 35 percent shooting and the 73 points was just one above Golden State’s low for the season.
It was the lowest defensive output of the season for the Mavericks and the 10 points in the fourth quarter was also a season-best defensive effort.
Marion’s absence will be short: Shawn Marion missed Sunday’s game because of a sprained right wrist, but said he doesn’t expect to miss any more game action.
The Mavericks have three days off before playing Thursday against Minnesota, which should help Marion’s recovery.
He suffered the injury in a fluke manner Friday against San Antonio.
“I went to try to block Tony Parker’s shot and ended up hitting Roddy’s hand,” he said, referring to Roddy Beaubois. “But it’s OK. It’s better. I’ll be all right come the next game. It had a little swelling in it. So I’m wearing this.”
“This” is a wrist brace that is designed to help knock out the swelling and keep the wrist from getting banged up. No word yet on whether he’ll wear it during the games.
“It’s cool,” he said. “I got some dribbling in, and it’s still a little tender. But it’s way better than it was before. I’ve been treating it like crazy. I got a few little shots up, real close, like 2-footers. And I think Tuesday, I’ll suit up and practice.”
Briefly: The Warriors were starting the Texas Triangle, heading on to play San Antonio on Monday and Houston on Wednesday. It’s a rarity for teams to play all three Texas teams in succession these days. Chicago is the only other team to do it this year, going 2-1 in November. … Brian Cardinal was the first big man off the bench with Marion sidelined, coming in with just over five minutes to go in the first quarter for Nowitzki. … Cardinal shot two rare free throws in the first quarter. He now has shot 18 for the season, making 17. He also suffered a jammed finger on his left hand in the third quarter, but returned moments later. … Center Tyson Chandler and athletic trainer Casey Smith received their championship rings from USA Basketball at halftime for their parts on the gold medal-winning team at the World Championships last summer in Turkey.
— Story by Eddie Sefko, The Dallas Morning News
