Slam Dunk Central

Only one game on Monday night in the NBA, but it should be one worth watching! The Houston Rockets travel across the Longhorn State to take on their rivals the Dallas Mavericks. Houston is 3-0 for the first time since the 1996-1997 season, while the Mavericks come into the contest with a 2-1 record.

Houston of course has gotten huge performances from both of their All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. McGrady scored the most points of the young NBA season when he went off for 47 points against the Utah Jazz. He scored 30 points against the Lakers in the season opener. Yao has been that rare athlete, someone who has actually lived up to the hype! He has been a perennial All-Star and one of the few dominant big men left in the game. Guard Mike James has been strong so far, even Rafer Alston has played the good soldier after an off-season of controversy.  Shane Battier is the consummate professional and one of the classiest men I’ve ever met in Pro Sports. And Luis Scola has been a huge asset to the Rockets front court off the bench.

Dallas has been knocking on the door for the last couple of years before being embarrassed by Golden State last season in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. The Mavericks are a lot like the Phoenix Suns, a team built for the regular season when you can exploit the run and gun style they like to employ. But fast break basketball in the NBA Playoffs have not existed since “Showtime” ended in the late 1980’s as the Detroit Pistons overtook the L.A. Lakers with a mug and thug style. And half court basketball has ruled the Playoffs ever since, why do you think the Spurs have been so prodigious? Nowitzki,  Jason Terry,  Josh Howard, Stackhouse form the nucleus and point guard Devin Harris has finally come into his own. Both these teams should make a lot of noise this campaign!

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