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There will be no Dirk Nowitzki tonight to play against the Utah Jazz. There will be no Monta Ellis. There will be Tyson Chandler. Those three - the core of the Dallas Mavericks - will not be around tonight to face the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Heck, they aren't even in Salt Lake City with the team. They flew back home last night.
Welcome to the end of the season, where teams rest multiple players when they have little to play for. The Mavs certainly qualify under that umbrella. They are locked into the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They can't move, either way.
So that leaves the Jazz facing a depleted team with a depleted roster, playing on a back-to-back, after facing the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.
This should be fun. Right?
"I think it does impact us," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "Obviously Dirk isn't going to be here, so it changes our pick and roll coverage. It impacts us the same way a back-to-back would. There are so many variables that go into each game. The challenge for us is to go into each game figuring out how to get the most out of that game. There are going to be opportunities for guys, and there are going to be opportunities for us to get better."
Jazz star small forward Gordon Hayward is questionable with right achilles inflammation. He's questionable, but if there's the slightest doubt, he probably won't play tonight. If he doesn't, it will be the second consecutive game that he's missed and it will once again put onus on Rodney Hood to take on a bigger role.
Second year point guard Trey Burke is probable for tonight, after missing the last few games. He went through shootaround without a hitch and seems to be pain free.
So, who will play for the Mavs? Rajon Rondo will be available. Former Jazzman Richard Jefferson will be available as well. The Jazz could win their 38th overall game with a victory tonight. They could go 21-20 at EnergySolutions Arena on the season with a win tonight as well.
At ESA, it will be fan appreciation night, being that it's the last home game. It will also be the last home game for longtime Jazz trainer Gary Briggs, who will retire after the season, the Jazz announced on Monday.
Briggs will be honored tonight during the game.
Tony Jones