Live Blog: Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trailblazers

On the road, second night of a back-to-back, the Mavs should lose by 20. Let’s do this:

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The First Lady of Big-League Hockey in Texas

Colleen Howe died last Friday. You probably recognize that she was the wife of Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe. You might not realize she was the driving force for bringing her husband out of retirement in 1973 to play with sons Mark and Marty with the state’s first foray into major league hockey, the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association.

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That’s Right, Mark Cuban, I’m Asking About the Mavs

But in case Mark can’t personally respond to us here, I’ll settle for Zac.

Here’s my question and it’s pretty basic now that a playoff spot appears all but clinched following last night’s win over Phoenix: Where does this club fit into the playoff bracket. Though the Mavs currently hold the eighth seed, they are within 2.5 games of the third seed in the West. How far up the ladder can or will they climb in the seedings. With 18 games remaining, including six against teams ahead of them in the standings, there seems to be plenty of opportunity for significant movement. But I also know the Suns game last night started a stretch of 11 games in which nine are on the road. I’m figuring on a loss tonight at Portland and Sunday at Los Angeles. That certainly can’t help.

And, Zac (because I know Mark won’t answer this) do you even want to see the Mavs in the playoffs this year or would it simply be extending the misery of a disappointing season.

[My answers are in the comments. -- Z.C.]

Off Day, Off Topic: It’s In-N-Out Time

Let’s go over our day. You (in Dallas) right now: Eating your salad and feeling pretty good about holding to the diet plan and planning to work out later on. Me (in Arizona): About to ruin your afternoon.

Having just finished breakfast, I’m moving on to planning lunch. It’s In-N-Out Burger time. I’m blowing off the Margaritaville Café and the official Jimmy Buffett Cheeseburger in Paradise that is about 100 yards from my hotel hideout to head up to Peoria (Ariz.) for the first In-N-Out of spring. Semi-true story: Rangers/Stars owner Tom Hicks makes his first and last stop of every trip to spring training the In-N-Out.

Every time I mention In-N-Out, no matter what forum I call home, it raises a great debate about best burger chains. Well, let’s just open the annual debate up, shall we. Head to the jump for my unofficial list (disclaimer: I have not yet scarfed down any of the Five Guys Burgers and Fries product, so I couldn’t rank them). You will have to jump to tell me how wrong I am.

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Game Book: Mavs v. Suns

Big win for the Mavericks last night, stretching their lead over the 9th-place Suns to five games. Perfect way to kick off what is perhaps their most crucial road swing of the season, especially since they had not won a game away from the AAC since an early February W against the Orlando Magic. Jump for some notes from the action:

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Attention InsideCorner Shoppers, Your Questions Are Now Ready for Pickup

To those of you I ditched yesterday once the game started, I’ve answered all the questions that remained in the pseudo-chat room for the pseudo-chat. So get on down there to pick up your answers.

Question of the (Off) Day: Andruw Jones on Your Roster?

OK, GM Jon Daniels and assistant Thad Levine are out of the office today, enjoying a beautiful Arizona Wednesday. Time for us to, um, borrow their chairs for a bit. We’re in charge now. We’ve got 10 days to decide if we want to put Andruw Jones on our major league roster. Here’s the good news: Jones is looking much more like his old self at the plate lately. Here’s the bad news: He’s looked so good hitting the last couple of days that if we don’t put him on the roster by March 20, he might just take his exit clause and go play somewhere else. So do you add him or not?

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Elsewhere in the NHL …

With the Stars struggling and losing forwards by the day, let’s turn our attention to the man forever beloved for riding herd on the group that brought a Stanley Cup to 777 Sports Street. What Ken Hitchcock’s Columbus Blue Jackets have done their last two outings is nothing short of remarkable in pursuit of the franchise’s first playoff berth.

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