Home Sweet Home.
Don’t look now, but the Dallas Mavericks are tough to beat in American Airlines Center.
Rested and ready, the Mavs led wire-to-wire in a pedestrian 105-91 victory over the Grizzlies last night, propelling them to an 11-2 record at home this season. I’m not saying the AAC has been transformed into the Reunion Rowdies of the ‘80s, but the improved Mavs’ success this season can be directly traced to their better play on their home court.
If the Mavs beat the lowly Raptors Friday night, they’ll improve to 12-2. Only the Thunder (12-0) and Pacers (11-1) have better home records.
With a home winning percentage of .846, the Mavs are on pace for a home record of 35-6, which would be second-best in franchise history behind only 2007’s 36-5 when they finished with the NBA’s best overall record at 67-15.
The Mavs, of course, aren’t just better at home. They’re simply better.
But coming into this year they were only 47-29 (0-2 in the playoffs) at AAC since winning Game 5 of the 2011 Finals, including a very mediocre 24-17 last year.
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The Mavs are better at defending this season. More importantly, they’re defending their home court.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently writes a sports/guy stuff blog at DFWSportatorium.com and lives in McKinney with his fiancee, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
