DALLAS – As the Dallas Mavericks prepare to match wits with the Detroit Pistons on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center, this is the type of matchup in the middle that Dallas Mavericks center DeAndre Jordan covets.
That’s because the Pistons have one of those true down in the trenches gritty old-school type centers in Andre Drummond. And that’s what Jordan is – a gritty old-school type center.
“I love playing against big guys like that,” Jordan said after Thursday’s practice. “Guys who are extremely physical in the inside.
“Andre is a great competitor, (Oklahoma City’s) Steven Adams, guys like that, (Philadelphia’s Joel) Embiid. I know it’s going to be a physical game and it’s not going to be a flopping game to where you’ve got to worry about how physical you are on the inside.”
Friday’s game pits the NBA’s top two rebounders against each other. Drummond leads the league with 14.9 rebounds per game and is third in double-doubles with 36, and Jordan is second in the NBA in rebounds with 14 per game and is tied for 11th in double-doubles with 29.
Thus, for Jordan, this physical matchup with Drummond in the middle is exactly his cup of tea.
“They use him well,” Jordan said. “He’s crashing the glass, he’s trying to get every rebound, trying to block every shot.
“So like I said, with him it’s going to be a battle in there and it’s one I’m looking forward to and I’m excited about it.”
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