Dallas Mavericks Weekly Notes: March 23-29

Jan 29, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Vince Carter (25) and point guard Jose Calderon (8) and point guard Devin Harris (20) and power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) during the game against the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center. The Rockets defeated the Mavericks 117-115. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

MAVERICKS Weekly Notes- March 23-29 

The Dallas Mavericks (42-28) will host four games during the week of March 23 as they continue their franchise-record eight-game home stand. They’re set to face the Brooklyn Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings.

Dallas is 2-5 against the four teams this season.

Dallas vs Brooklyn- March 23

Playing Good Ball: Both Dallas and Brooklyn are playing some of its best basketball of the year. The Nets are an NBA-record 26-10 since Jan. 1 and have won 10 of their past 12 games, including three straight. The Mavericks were two points away from being on a five-game winning streak, but instead have won four of five and six of eight.

Happy Birthday J-Kidd: Nets head coach Jason Kidd will return to Dallas, where he helped win a championship, for the first time as an opposing coach. It’s also his 41st birthday on Sunday.

Dallas vs Oklahoma City- March 25

Russ or No Russ: Russell Westbrook left during the Thunder’s game with Toronto on March 21 with a knee injury, the same knee that knocked him out of last season’s playoffs. He had an MRI on it that confirmed there is no further damage and should be able to play in upcoming games.

Toe to Toe: With Westbrook, the Thunder defeated the Mavericks by 14 in their first match up in Dallas. Without Westbrook, the Mavericks defeated the Thunder by 23 in OKC. Suddenly, a 2-7 first-round match up sounds quite nice.

Dallas vs Los Angeles- March 27

Game of Runs: The Mavericks were on the verge of winning both games this season vs the Clippers. In the first meeting in Dallas, the Mavericks had a seven-point lead with 3:50 remaining before the Clips finished on a 16-2 run to come away with a 119-112 victory, this coming after Chris Paul left earlier with a shoulder injury.

The UCLA Effect: Three players on the Clippers played at UCLA while two of them suited up for the Mavericks. Ryan Hollins played with Dallas during the 2008-09 season, averaging nearly three points and 55 percent shooting in 34 games including the playoffs. At least Dallas made the postseason while Hollins was on the team. Darren Collison was with Dallas for just one year and couldn’t help the Mavs reach the playoffs. He averaged 12 points and five assists in 81 games. In his return to Dallas earlier this season, they’re were a mix of cheers and boos for Collison.

Dallas vs Sacramento- March 29

Jet is Back in Dallas…Sort of: Beloved Maverick, Jason “the Jet” Terry signed with the Boston Celtics prior to last season. Then the Jet was traded to the Nets, along with KG and Paul Pierce prior to this season. Terry was traded on Feb. 19, with Reggie Evans, to the Kings for Marcus Thornton. Due to a lingering knee injury, the Jet will not join the Kings this season. So we won’t see the Jet take the court on March 29, but he is in Dallas, rehabbing for next season.

I Once Was a King: Sam Dalembert, in his first year with Dallas, spent the 2010-11 season with Sacramento. He played in 80 games starting 46 and averaged eight points, eight boards and 1.5 blocks a game.

We Meet Again: Going through the Kings roster, looking for some sort of relationship with the Mavericks, I came across the name Carl Landry. I won’t go into detail, but if you’re a die-hard Mavs fan like I am, whenever you hear the name Carl Landry, you must think of this, right?