NBA: Monta Ellis Key For Dallas To Beat Miami

by +Rodney Fisher

Monta Ellis warms up before game against Miami Heat.
Photo credit Rodney Fisher 

The Dallas Mavericks are on the road tonight to face a familiar foe in the Miami Heat. Only a two players on the current roster have great memories of American Airlines Arena from Game 6 in 2011 when the Mavericks won their first championship title. The most important player tonight for the Mavs to pull off a rare road victory is a player with a more recent memory of facing the Heat in the playoffs. Monta Ellis, last year with the Milwaukee Bucks, was swept by the Heat in the first round in the 2013 playoffs. Tonight he will have to be the key for a win.

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle addresses the media. Photo credit
Rodney Fisher 

Coach Carlisle did not undersell his importance for tonight as well as the entire season during his pre-game interview. "He is so vital to our entire team", he said. "We need his playmaking and scoring ."

He is averaging a team high 22.5 points per game, but his team high 36.4 minutes per game is the biggest concern. "I am going to try and keep him around 36 if it is possible", continued Carlisle, "It is difficult to do because of our health situation right now, eventually we will have some more playmakers in the fold and I think that will help alleviate some of the minutes."

The Mavericks loaded up on guards in the offseason, but injuries to both rookie Shane Larkin and veteran Devin Harris have left the postition thin.

"We want him to be a 35 to 36 minutes a game player", says Carlisle. "He can easily do that because his conditioning is great. He is one of those guys that can just run all day."

The Mavs will need him tonight to score with the Heat.