Dallas Update: Mavericks Stars Cowboys & Texas Rangers

NBA: Dallas Mavericks (45-21, 2^nd in Western Conference)

-       The Mavericks keep on rolling and have now won 13 games in a row after dispatching the Kings, the Bulls, the Timberwolves and the Nets in the past week. Dirk Nowitzki and crew have continued their strong play since the trade deadline but it has been rookie guard, Rodrigue Beaubois that has been a big reason for the success.  Widely thought of as heir apparent to Jason Kidd, Beaubois has seen his minutes rise this past week and his production has followed suit as Beaubois has averaged 27 minutes in the past five games after being a DNP for a lot of the previous month. In these past five games, Beaubois is averaging 17 points, 3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. He’s also shooting a shade below 55% from the field and 35% from three. Beaubois is lightning quick in transition and gives the Mavs a whole different element going into the playoffs. After a torrid schedule last week where they played five games in seven days, the Mavs get to relax a bit as they only have two games this week, and they’re against the lowly Knicks and the sliding Bulls. Look for the Mavs keep to keep the engine going full bore and get that win streak up to 15 by week’s end.

5dimes review: NHL: Dallas Stars (29-25-12, 70 points, 10^th in Western Conference)

-       The Stars just finished a week in which that had to face some of the top teams in the league. They came away 1-3, with a surprise victory over the Washington Capitals in Washington on Monday, 4-3 in a shootout. Goalie Marty Turco made 49 saves in that game. In the rest of the Stars games, they were massacred. The Stars gave up 6, 6 and 5 goals in the other three games last week and the defense has been a whole new kind of atrocious recently. The Stars will face four more playoff teams this coming week and look like a good team to bet against as their playoff hopes look grim unless they can somehow turn it around quickly.

Sportsbook: MLB: Texas Rangers – Preseason

-       Preseason is a week underway now and the Rangers got outfielder Josh Hamilton on the field, albeit a couple of games after spring training began. Hamilton came back and went 2-3 and felt fine after the game.

-       Texas acquired relief pitcher Edwar Ramirez from the Yankees for cash. Ramirez, when on, has one of the best changeups in the game.

-       1^st base top prospect and likely to threaten to be a starter out of camp this year, Justin Smoak, has a strained hip and took some time off for treatment.

-       P Rich Harden threw two and 2/3 innings and gave up four runs, walked three and threw a wild pitch. His velocity was in the mid to high 80’s which is a red flag. More to come on the often fragile Harden.

NFL: Dallas Cowboys – Offseason

-       All is quiet in Cowboys land as free agency in the uncapped year is underway. The Cowboys already have a very high payroll and will have to pay out big money to Roy Williams, who doesn’t deserve it, Flozell Adams, who is likely to be replaced in the draft or in some other means, and Marion Barber who is always hurt. Jerry Jones will probably wait until after all the March Madness betting is over and the complex structure of the free agent class of 2010 sorts itself out as the Cowboys are restricted by the “final eight rule” that prohibits them from signing an unrestricted free agent for more than 5.7 + million dollars a year. Look for the Cowboys to look at trading Marion Barber in the upcoming weeks.