Cleveland at Dallas

Last season the Mavericks did a great job at home against teams that eventually went on to the playoffs. The Mavs finished 12-5 against the class of the NBA at home. The Cavs have not had a great deal of success heading on the road against a playoff-caliber team, as they finished just 7-13 last year, and if you add in the playoffs the Cavaliers posted an even worse mark of 9-18. It doesn't help Cleveland that LeBron James is off to a slow start where he is averaging an uncharacteristic 19.7 points per game and has yet to hit a three-point shot and is 0-9. He is trying to get his teammates involved as he is averaging 9.3 assists per game, but it isn't working overall. Nowitski, Howard, and Terry are forming into the trio needed in the NBA for big games as they are producing 66 ppg between them, and I look for the Mavs to take it to Cleveland.