Dallas Sports Roundup – October 20
Dallas Sports Roundup – October 20 2009
The Texas Rangers’ World Series odds slip to the back of our minds as we watch their competition compete in the ALCS, so Dallas Sports fans’ focus turns to the hardwood and the ice this week. Let’s chase down our teams and see what’s new.
The preseason news is good for the Mavs, as they’ve now won four straight games. Plenty of things are looking up for the Mavs. Not fulfilling World Championship, Olympic or German National team obligations for the first time in years, Dirk Nowitzki is fresh as can be. He’s shooting 63 per cent from the floor. Online betting fans will warn you that stats like those don’t matter, but it’s certainly encouraging to see Dirk rejuvenated.
The Mavs even have a special plan to get the most out of Erik Dampier and Drew Gooden, who are penciled in as “co-starters” at center. Head coach Rick Carlisle plans to play Dampier against the giants and Gooden against average-sized centers.
Dallas Stars
The Stars aren’t perfect like the Broncos’ NFL odds but they’re pesky so far, opening the year 3-2-3. Blended between disappointing losses to L.A. and Boston were a 6-0 beating of the Nashville Predators and a very impressive 4-3 win at Chicago. Thanks to a mix of veteran and youth offense, the Stars are averaging more than three goals per game. Brenden Morrow and Brad Richards are bouncing back to elite scoring levels after missing time to injury last year; Mike Ribeiro seems poised to produce at a point-per-game clip for the third straight year; youngsters Jamie Benn and James Neal continue to surprise, each tallying seven points in eight games.
The news isn’t all good; longtime Dallas stalwarts and Stanley Cup champions Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen both landed on injured reserve this week – Modano with a rib injury and Lehtinen with a groin injury.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers are determined to boost their World Series odds for next year and have already started working on 2010. They sent blue-chip pitcher Derek Holland to Japan to help court Japanese pitching prospect Yusei Kikuchi, an 18-year-old whose electric arsenal reportedly includes 96 MPH heat.
Kikuchi reportedly showed genuine interest in pitching for a Major League Club and Holland said he felt the meeting went well. Only time will tell if the Rangers add Japanese flavor to their rotation for next season.
Comments