For a moment it felt like 2006 when it was announced that Devin Harris was going to make his debut on January 18th.
That season eight years ago when the Dallas Mavericks took a visit to the NBA Finals and had a 2-0 lead before getting jobbed on some calls and falling to the Heat in six games. Back then it was the number 34 that was leading Dallas offensively.
On a night we paid tribute to the legacy and the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. it seemed appropriate that the Trail Blazers of Portland (31-9) were in town. Maybe we could say the same for the return of #20 Devin Harris.
A packed house was anticipatory in the announced return of Harris into the rotation of play. The ovation was loud, long and well deserved. It goes without saying that Harris will help to cure many an ill that the Mavericks (24-18) currently suffer from.
It just wasn't going to happen on this night. Not when two Blazers players are in double digits before the first period ends. Nicolas Batum with 15 and LaMarcus Aldridge with 12 as Portland banged out 71 first half points on Team Carlisle-most of any team this season-en route to a 127-111 loss to the red hot Portland Trail Blazers.
Trailiing by 34 points heading into the 4th period Rick Carlisle emptied the bench. Despite some much needed energy it was a case of too little too late on a night the Dallas Mavericks began the second half of their season. A sentiment echoed by Rick Carlisle.
"The first three quarters were beyond embarrassing ... Other than saying, 'beyond embarrassing,' I don't know what to say. The guys that were in there in the fourth quarter really fought. They won the quarter 41-23, which is great. I'm going to find guys that will fight and get them in the game, simple as that." Carlisle said in a rather hasty postgame presser.
Portlands starting five were hitting on all cylinders from the very beginning as they outscored Dallas 91-43. In the paint the Trail Blazers outscored the Mavs 60-38. Portland also outrebounded to the tune of 55-30. Did we mention fast break points? Advantage: Trail Blazers 31-12.
It was the largest margin of victory on Dallas in Dallas since a 28 point blowout at Reunion Arena 3-10-93!
Coach Terry Stotts was all smiles and why not? Back to back wins in two very tough Texas locales with Houston up next on Presidents Day.
"I was really proud of the way our team played tonight, especially on the heels of an emotional win in San Antonio last night. Our resolve, defensively, I thought was very good and got us into a position to have a large lead."
LaMarcus Aldridge led the night with 30 points. Nicolas Batum with 27 followed by Robin Lopez with 16. Dirk Nowitzki led all Mavericks scorers with 18. Shane Larkin pounded out nine points in 23 minutes of play after a career nght in Phoenix 24 hours earlier.
Dirk Nowitzki had no problems in addressing the overall mood of the night in the post game. Two games removed from the 18 point collapse in Los Angeles the biggest challenge facing the Dallas Mavericks (as they sit in the 7th and 8th seed in the standings for playoff considerations) is how they shore up the defense? How do you protect double digit leads? How do you not get embarrassed at home so soundly? Is there anybody out there that might be a welcome piece come Trading Deadline time?
We assume that a player wants to come here. If the season were to have ended this day Portland would be the matchup in the first round of the playoffs. Fans of the Dallas Mavericks may be content to be back in the playoff scheme of things. Being a one and done team at this point might not be to their satisfaction.
Rick Carlisle spoke about the importance of Devin Harris returning to the lineup as a release valve for Monta Ellis.
“He’s worked hard,” Rick Carlisle said of Harris, “and he did well considering this is the first game and it’s been months and it’s a major surgery. It speaks to how hard he’s worked, and this game gave us an opportunity to get him some, I think, what would be considered at this point extended minutes … He’s a guy that can help us for sure.”
Stat of the nigjht: When Dallas gets outrebounded by a 2 to 1 margin it has happened 14 times in their history. Not surprisingly the Mavericks are 0-14 in those games.
Dallas now takes to the road for a noon game in Cleveland on President's Day. They then head to Toronto on the 22nd for a 7pm start before finshing out their road trip in Brooklyn on the 24th before a 6:30 matinee time with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday January 26th.
On the bright side the Mavericks had won four of five prior to Saturday night's debacle with the Portland Trail Blazers. By far the best rebounding team I have seen in person (No Pacer or Nugget visits yet!) you can expect Portland to get far come the playoffs. Youth, speed, and team familiarity are in their favor.
We did get a moment to catch up with Devin Harrid after his first game since undergoing surgery. Here is our visit with the one time #34 and now the current #20.
And so, on a night where we looked back at the legacy of a man born 85 years ago this week we also welcome back a possible piece to a puzzle that can stop some of the defensively bleedling. Just not on this particular night with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Heres to an interesting ten week chase to determine whether or not Dallas meets Portland again in April.
Over and out in Big D.
Mr. Will