3-on-3: Previewing Hornets at Mavericks

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Published: January 7, 2012

Young stud (we can say that about writers, too) Rob Mahoney joins us to preview tonight’s Hornets game against the Mavs, even though 99% of locally based Hornets fans will be watching the Saints. Update- Jason Smith won’t play due to a death in his family.

1. Which matchup most favors the Mavs?

Rob Mahoney (TheTwoManGame.com) It’s tough to say. The Mavs have been wildly inconsistent this season, with even the rock solid Dirk Nowitzki struggling to get into a post-lockout rhythm. With that in mind, I’ll take Jason Terry — who has at least been the most consistently aggressive Mav — against Marco Belinelli. Eric Gordon would have been a great defensive counter for Terry, but without him in the lineup, JET could be set for a big night.

Mason Ginsberg – Given the fact that nobody on the Mavs is playing very well right now, the answer that seems to make the most sense is power forward. Dirk is still one of the best players in the NBA, and the Hornets will undoubtedly struggle to stop him. Right behind PF would be bench disparity; given the Hornets’ injury woes, Terry and Odom could outscore the Hornets’ current second unit playing 2 against 5.

Ryan Schwan – With Gordon out, Xavier Henry brand new to the team, and Belinelli stinking it up, they could run a one-legged hamster out at the shooting guard spot and get more production.

2. Which matchup most favors the Hornets?

Rob Mahoney (TheTwoManGame.com) Jarrett Jack against some combination of Rodrigue Beaubois, Terry, and Dominique Jones. Jack does characteristically solid work on both sides of the ball, but — though I need not remind any regular reader of this blog — he’s been really impressive for the Hornets this season. I see him slowly working over Beaubois and Jones on Saturday night en route to another strong performance.

Mason – Point guard. If Jarrett Jack keeps up his aggressiveness, he should get the best of Jason Kidd offensively. On the defensive side, he should be able to hold his own against a slower PG like Kidd.

Ryan – Center.   Okafor is a B- center.  Haywood is a solid C.  He just doesn’t have the fire.

3. Care to make some predictions about the game?

Rob Mahoney (TheTwoManGame.com)This game is a bit of a wild card considering the injuries on both sides, but I’m inclined to default Dallas as a matter of attrition. The Mavs are struggling, but they’re fortunate to catch a Gordon-less Hornets squad on the tail end of a back-to-back, and have motivation to rebound strongly from their embarrassing lost to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. If nothing else, Dallas is poised to outlast New Orleans, and should pull out a victory in the low double-digits.

Mason – Without their best offensive threat (Gordon) and defensive threat (Ariza), I have a hard time picking the Hornets to beat any team in the NBA on the road. Dallas is currently in the bottom third of the league in both FG% and 3P%, a stat that caters to the Hornets’ rebounding success thus far, but New Orleans simply doesn’t have the healthy personnel to hang with the Mavs for 48 minutes.

Ryan – Landry is going to break 20 points tonight, bullying around and through Dirk and his non-existant shot-blocking skill.  One of our guards will hit a three point shot.  And that’s a bold prediction considering how things have been going from range this year.

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