The Dream Shake - Game 2: Rockets host Mavericks hoping to go 2-0The best footwork on the Internethttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/34031/32x32.png2013-11-01T18:30:03-05:00http://www.thedreamshake.com/rss/stream/48178812013-11-01T18:30:03-05:002013-11-01T18:30:03-05:00Mavs at Houston
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SyGPhY_Gjjdf6ss6myw-0QQRkq4=/0x1111:2667x2889/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/22218901/20131021_ajl_ac6_122.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Dallas Mavericks, who recently hired and subsequently fired former Houston front office executive Gersson Rosas, refuse to retool in a responsible manor. The Mavs will look once again to vault their way into the lower half of the Western Conference playoff seedings by surrounding Dirk Nowitzki with veterans on bloated contracts.</p> <table cellpadding="5" width="577" align="center" height="666" border="1" cellspacing="5" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table"><tbody> <tr><th colspan="3" bgcolor="silver" align="center">2013/2014 NBA Season</th></tr> <tr> <td width="240"><center> <a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/91780/Dallas.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Dallas_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/91780/Dallas_medium.gif"></a> <br>(1-0)</center></td> <th width="20" align="center">@</th> <td width="240"><center><center> <center><img alt="Houston_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/91861/Houston_medium.gif" class="photo"></center> <center>(1-0)</center> </center></center></td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="3" bgcolor="silver" align="center"><strong>November 1st, 2013</strong></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center">Toyota Center, Houston, TX</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center"><strong>7:00 PM CST</strong></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center"><strong>CSN Houston, Fox Sports SW, 790AM</strong></td></tr> <tr><th colspan="3" bgcolor="silver" align="center"><strong>Starting Lineups</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><span><span>Jose Calderon</span></span></td> <th width="20" align="center">PG</th> <td width="240"><span>Jeremy Lin</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><span>Monta Ellis</span></td> <th width="20" align="center">SG</th> <td width="240"><span>James Harden</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><span>Shawn Marion</span></td> <th width="20" align="center">SF</th> <td width="240"><span>Chandler Parsons</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><span>Dirk Nowitzki</span></td> <th width="20" align="center">PF</th> <td width="240"><span>Omer Asik</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Samuel Dalembert</span></span></span></span></span></span></td> <th width="20" align="center">C</th> <td width="240"><span>Dwight Howard</span></td> </tr> <tr><th colspan="3" bgcolor="silver" align="center"><strong>2012/13 Advanced Stats</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><span>94.1 (7th of 30)</span></td> <th width="20" align="center">Pace</th> <td width="240">96.1 (1st of 30)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><span>105.9 (14th of 30)</span></td> <th width="20" align="center">ORtg</th> <td width="240">109.7 (6th of 30)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><span>106.5 (19th of 30)</span></td> <th width="20" align="center">DRtg</th> <td width="240">106.1 (15th of 30)</td> </tr> <tr><th colspan="3" bgcolor="silver" height="20"><p>Also see: <a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavs Moneyball</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/mavsmoneyball" target="_blank">Twitter</a>) | Stream</p></th></tr> </tbody></table>
<p><strong>Injuries:</strong></p>
<p>James Harden: back spasms, likely to play tonight</p>
<p><span>Patrick Beverley</span>: partial torn muscle, out 10-14 days</p>
<p><span>Terrence Jones</span>: strained right shoulder, questionable tonight</p>
<p><span>Greg Smith</span>: strained right hip, questionable tonight</p>
<p><span>Devin Harris</span>: left toe surgery, out indefinitely</p>
<p><span>Shane Larkin</span>: right ankle surgery, out indefinitely</p>
<p><span>Brandan Wright</span>: broken left shoulder, out indefinitely</p>
<p><strong>Tweets:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p>Could be active. Unlikely to play unless emergency. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewCunningham8">@DrewCunningham8</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen">@Jonathan_Feigen</a> could we see Canaan dress and get minutes tonight?</p>— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/statuses/396329353132257280">November 1, 2013</a> </blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p>Patrick Beverley on injury that will keep him out 10-14 days & then B re-assessed:"I don't think it'll B 10 days,probably about 5 to 7 days"</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/statuses/396319381648457728">November 1, 2013</a> </blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"> <p style="margin: 8px 0px;">McHale says he expects to play Ronnie Brewer some tonight.</p>— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) <a href="https://twitter.com/clutchfans/statuses/396400581809422338" style="background-color: transparent; color: #c8181d !important; text-decoration: none !important;">November 1, 2013</a> </blockquote>
<p><strong>Player to watch:</strong></p>
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<div class="pane sports_data_widget player_info clearfix"> <h2>Jose Calderon</h2> <h4 class="player-position">#8 / Guard / <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> </h4> <div class="player_info_body"> <p><label>Height:</label> 6-3</p> <p><label>Weight:</label> 211</p> <p><label>Born:</label> Sep 28, 1981</p> <p><label>College:</label></p> </div> </div>
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<p><strong>The conversation starts now.</strong></p>
https://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/11/1/5055718/game-2-dallas-mavericks-at-houston-rocketsthomasfenoglio2013-11-01T07:00:11-05:002013-11-01T07:00:11-05:00Rockets-Mavericks game preview
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<img alt="It went in. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Oa6ohFcx0Pb0n6cMSh3qHrEFhPM=/0x120:2667x1898/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/22145093/20131021_ajl_ac6_122.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>It went in. | Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Rockets and Mavericks take part in a battle of unbeatens in Houston tonight. </p> <p>I don't hate Mark Cuban.</p>
<p>Okay, I do. But I still respect the guy.</p>
<p>Or, I did. But then he says <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/_/id/9909058/mark-cuban-dallas-mavericks-owner-says-dwight-howard-made-wrong-decision">stuff like this</a>.</p>
<p>Still, it's hard not to appreciate what Cuban has done for the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mavericks</a>. Since buying the team, Cuban has taken a perennial doormat and taken them to the Finals twice. Ignoring the fact that Cuban has absolutely screwed the pooch the last two years, you have to see the success.</p>
<p>A lot of <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rockets</a> fans praise Les Alexander for being hands-off. Alexander isn't really removed from team decisions (everything still runs through him, especially trades), but Alexander leaves the day-to-day operations to Tad Brown, Daryl Morey, and the rest of the hard workers that inhabit the Toyota Center. Cuban is almost the complete opposite.</p>
<p>He's very much hands-on. He not only wants to make final decisions, he wants to make the original decision. He sits in the front row or behind the bench for almost every game, including those on the road. He gets into feuds with players, he tweets, he cheers, he complains to refs, and he mingles with his team whenever he can.</p>
<p>And if he was the owner of the Rockets, we would all love him. Most fans want an owner who cares. Well, you can accuse Cuban of many things (insider trading, for instance), but you can never say he doesn't care about the Mavericks. Most fans want their owners to make moves when things go south. Cuban has done that time and time again, including this summer when he <strike>panic-signed</strike> signed <span>Monta Ellis</span> and <span>Jose Calderon</span>. All-in-all, he's what most fans want. I'm sure some Texans fans are nodding their heads. This guy is.</p>
<p>The only thing Cuban does that grinds my gears is his repeated use of the word "culture" to describe how the Mavericks operate. In <a target="_blank" href="http://blogmaverick.com/2013/08/03/lets-talk-mavs-mffl/">this blog post</a> alone, he uses the word 11 times. Cuban has always been cocky, but continually stating that players succeed in "our culture" betrays an arrogance even more far-flung than average. He's saying that his team is better than yours, and he knows it.</p>
<p>But then again, <span>Dwight Howard</span> made a mistake. And the Mavs are better off without him. But they would have loved to have him. Okay, buddy.</p>
<p>Anyway, back to the Rockets.</p>
<p>Well that was ugly. If you had said that both teams would score under 100 points, I would have thought the Rockets had gotten off to an 0-1 start. This team HAD to score last year to win games. This iteration of the Rockets clearly doesn't.</p>
<p>The quotation that really sums up the evening came from Head Coach Kevin McHale. He said that the game was like a trip to the dentist. He's right. That game was painful for long stretches.</p>
<p>BUT, McHale also qualified that with this (emphasis mine):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We did not play the way we normally play. We had three on ones where we didn't pass the ball. We played very unlike ourselves. We weren't getting out running. The ball was sticky. Everybody was trying to come back and get the ball. We've got a lot of stuff we have to clean up on. <b>If we had played this way for a month, I would be really concerned.</b> This is the first time we've played like this since the first practice.</p>
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<p><b>Tip off is at 7pm CST.</b></p>
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<p>Matchups:</p>
<p><b>Point Guard: <span>Patrick Beverley</span> vs. Jose Calderon</b></p>
<p>Bummer for Beverley to get early in his first career start. Whether you're a Lin supporter or not, you can't derive happiness from an injury to a person whose livelihood is so dependent on his health.</p>
<p>The good news is Bev isn't seriously injured and will likely be ready to go tonight. But if he doesn't, we all know what Lin can do. He'll be especially important against the soft underbelly of the Mavericks interior defense.</p>
<p>Calderon lit up the Rockets in the preseason, mostly against Lin. He'll get another chance tonight.</p>
<p>Advantage:<b> Mavericks</b></p>
<p><b>Shooting Guard: <span>James Harden</span> vs. Monta Ellis</b></p>
<p>The bane of Rockets fans' existence, Ellis ironically continues to destroy the poster-boy of advanced statistical analysis with his inefficient game. Ellis scored 32 and dished out 8 assists on 11-17 shooting against the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hawks</a>, getting to the line 8 times. The 7 turnovers are the only negative from that game for Ellis and the Mavs.</p>
<p>Harden gets the soft advantage here because of Ellis' ability to kill the Rockets and the fact that he's injured. Hopefully he's back to 100% for tonight, but that's asking a lot.</p>
<p>Advantage: <b>Rockets</b></p>
<p><b>Small Forward: <span>Chandler Parsons</span> vs. <span>Shawn Marion</span></b></p>
<p>Marion's Phoenix form should be what Parsons strives for in his career. Marion did it all and was an athletic whirling dervish that defended and slashed for the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Suns</a> when they were running and gunning. He's got that ugly shot, but it seems to go in plenty. And his floater is criminally underrated. He puts up at least two a game, and he never misses them.</p>
<p>Advantage:<b> Even</b></p>
<p><b>Power Forward: Dwight Howard vs. <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span></b></p>
<p>Really, this matchup comes down to which team gets the ball to their star the most. Nowitzki can give any defender fits. The same could be said of Howard. Really, whichever player impacts the game more will probably be the deciding factor in this game.</p>
<p>Advantage:<b> Even</b></p>
<p><b>Center: <span>Omer Asik</span> vs. <span>Samuel Dalembert</span></b></p>
<p>Dalembert played 27 minutes and 4/9. He only blocked a single shot and only committed one foul. This Mavericks team is requiring a lot from Dalembert, and it will be interesting to see how much he can give them over the course of an 82 game season.</p>
<p>Despite being the secondary big, Asik still had a meaningful impact against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Bobcats</a>. Now, the Rockets need him to be a bit more solid around the rim on offense and to get a putback dunk every now and again.</p>
<p>Advantage: <b>Rockets</b></p>
<p><b>Bench</b></p>
<p>Rockets: <span>Jeremy Lin</span>, <span>Francisco Garcia</span>, <span>Omri Casspi</span>, <span>Aaron Brooks</span></p>
<p><span></span>Mavs: <span>Vince Carter</span>, <span>DeJuan Blair</span>, <span>Wayne Ellington</span>, <span>Gal Mekel</span>, <span>Jae Crowder</span></p>
<p>Advantage: <b>Mavericks</b></p>
<p>Prediction: Ellis hits another game-winner. Mavs win 111-109.</p>
<p><span>Mavericks vs Rockets coverage</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavs Moneyball</a></p>
<p> </p>
</div>
<h4>More from The Dream Shake:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/11/1/5055062/houston-rockets-patrick-beverley-injury-rib?utm_source=thedreamshake&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Patrick Beverley to miss 10-14 days with rib injury, Lin to start</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/10/31/5052714/dwight-howard-omer-asik-houston-rockets-twin-towers?utm_source=thedreamshake&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Breaking down Dwight Howard and Omer Asik's opening night together</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/10/31/5052272/csn-houston-to-offer-45-day-free-coverage-to-carriers?utm_source=thedreamshake&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">CSN Houston to offer 45 days of free coverage to carriers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/10/31/5049754/video-highlights-from-the-rockets-victory-over-the-bobcats?utm_source=thedreamshake&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Video: Highlights from the Rockets victory over the Bobcats</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/10/30/5049100/dwight-howard-houston-rockets-charlotte-bobcats-final-score-recap?utm_source=thedreamshake&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Dwight Howard grabs 26 rebounds as Rockets beat Bobcats in season opener</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/11/1/5052606/houston-rockets-vs-dallas-mavericks-game-previewArmin Khansari2013-11-01T05:00:09-05:002013-11-01T05:00:09-05:00Rockets vs. Mavs tip-off time, TV information
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<img alt="sad face mark cuban" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GUIAcPIADYmhxq5AMwm4k7VrN8o=/0x52:4000x2719/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/22159253/20130226_jla_an4_403.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>sad face mark cuban | Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Rockets host the Mavericks hoping to go 2-0 in the early season. Get all your info for the game here!</p> <p>After taking down the Charlotte Bobcats in the season opener, the Rockets now turn their attention to their in-state rival, the Dallas Mavericks, as they take on Mark Cuban's band of mercenaries in game two. We have your information on TV, streaming, and tip-off time right here!</p>
<p><b>Tip-off Time: 7:00 CST</b></p>
<p><b>TV: CSN Houston</b></p>
<p><b>Streaming: NBA League Pass</b> (free through November 5th)</p>
<p><i>Editor's note: It is site policy to forbid discussion of illegal streams. Please do not ask for or discuss them in the comments, as we can get in legal trouble for that.</i></p>
<p><b>Opposing Team Blog: </b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavs Moneyball</a></p>
<p>We'll have a gamethread here, so feel free to check back before tip!</p>
<h4>More from The Dream Shake:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/10/31/5052714/dwight-howard-omer-asik-houston-rockets-twin-towers?utm_source=thedreamshake&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Breaking down Dwight Howard and Omer Asik's opening night together</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/10/31/5052272/csn-houston-to-offer-45-day-free-coverage-to-carriers?utm_source=thedreamshake&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">CSN Houston to offer 45 days of free coverage to carriers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/10/31/5052134/houston-rockets-injury-update-james-harden-patrick-beverley-jeremy-lin?utm_source=thedreamshake&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Rockets injury update: James Harden, Patrick Beverley miss practice, hope to play Friday</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/10/31/5049754/video-highlights-from-the-rockets-victory-over-the-bobcats?utm_source=thedreamshake&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Video: Highlights from the Rockets victory over the Bobcats</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/10/30/5049100/dwight-howard-houston-rockets-charlotte-bobcats-final-score-recap?utm_source=thedreamshake&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Dwight Howard grabs 26 rebounds as Rockets beat Bobcats in season opener</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.thedreamshake.com/2013/11/1/5053826/houston-rockets-dallas-mavericks-streams-tv-tip-off-time-informationPatrick Harrel