Another triple roadie waits on the horizon and begins with the a trip back to the Northeast. The Dallas Mavericks face the Boston Celtics and a very familiar player tonight – Jason Terry. Terry bled Maverick blue for eight wild years. The ‘JET’ was born in Dallas. He and the rest of the 2010-2011 NBA Champion Mavs squad achieved the ultimate goal. JET spent one last abbreviated season defending the title before signing with Boston this summer.

The Celtics have used Terry more as a starter than the 6th man role he owned all to well in Dallas. It could be due in part to the lack of offense provided by Courtney Lee, another offseason addition to replace the void left when Ray Allen chose to sign with the Miami Heat. The statistical numbers have dipped for Terry who averages 11.5 points in about 30 minutes each night.

Aside from Terry the Mavericks will have Rajon Rondo as the primary defensive focus. Rondo isn’t going to hurt you with his scoring, but he’s dangerous in just about every other aspect of the game. Just two games ago Rondo posted 16 points/14 assists/13 rebounds for his 18th career triple double (He also had 3 steals and 3 blocks). On the season he’s averaging 13 points, 12.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds.

The Mavericks enter this game winners of three straight for only the second time this year. Dallas defeated the Sacramento Kings 119-96 Monday night in one home game sandwiched between two three-game road trips. Six Mavs scored in double figures led by O.J Mayo’s 19 and Chris Kaman’s 18.

Mayo continues his all-star caliber play for the Mavericks in the absence of superstar power forward Dirk Nowitzki. Many have compared Mayo’s role to that of Terry in his time here. After a somewhat slow start and a brief slump, Juice has left very few Mavericks fans disappointed, if any.

Dallas has had recent success in Boston, winning all three trips in as many seasons.

1) 2009-2010 – Dirk scores 37 on MLK Day

2) 2010-2011 – Jason Kidd’s Clutch Game Winning 3

3) 2011-2012 – Dirk wins the game on this go-ahead And-1

Now obviously the Mavericks will not have the services of either Dirk nor Kidd, but that doesn’t matter to this group. Mayo has shown he’s more than capable of coming through in the clutch.

NOTES:

Since the addition of Derek Fisher the Mavs have won 4 of 5 games. The Mavs and Celtics each sit in 7th place in their respective conferences. Shawn Marion is a game-time decision with a groin strain. Rookie Jared Cunningham has been assigned to the Mavericks’ D-League affiliate Texas Legends. Rajon Rondo has recorded at least 10 assists in every game he’s played and finished this season.

Tonight’s game tips at 7:00 p.m. CT and airs nationally on ESPN. Also can be seen on CSNE (Boston).

Let’s go Mavs!

Ryan Wilson

Ryan Wilson founded Mavs Fanatic (Now Dallas Sports Fanatic) in January of 2012. He had a vision of starting something new and different. A place where fans of the Dallas Mavericks and fans of writing could come and be heard. A blog "Run By Fans For Fans". He is also a fan of the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago WhiteSox (His hometown team). Mavs Fanatic is now known as Dallas Sports Fanatic, a blog that covers all of the major Dallas pro sports teams.