Mavericks 123, Spurs 118 (OT)
For a moment after tonight's game, I tried to imagine what this series must be like for the casual observer, an interested but neutral basketball fan that has no allegiance to either of these teams. It was pretty much impossible to do, but I would have to guess that so far, many neutral observers would tell you that this has been one of the most exciting and compelling NBA playoff series in recent memory between ANY two teams. I think it is pretty clear that these are the two best teams in the NBA, and that they are playing an absolutely amazing series.
I know I know, everyone wants to talk a bunch of shit about how good the Pistons are. I agree that they are very good, and I don't doubt their ability to take it to either of these two teams on any given night. What I am starting to doubt is their ability to beat the Mavs or the Spurs in a seven game series. I don't think their Eastern Conference "best record" is as impressive as everyone else seems to, because I think they easily drop 6-12 of those wins if they're playing in the Western Conference. Add in a very confident and talented Mavs team and a Pistons team that appears to be having trouble with the Cavs, and you seem to have the makings for what could be a very close and exciting NBA finals.
I know that the Mavericks still have a really hard task ahead of them, because the Spurs will NOT go down easily. But starting tonight, I am confident that the Mavericks are confident in themselves, and that feels pretty great. Jason Terry: money. Devin Harris: fucking money. Dirk Nowitzki: a great team leader. Stack was great for most of the night too, and Diop is playing really tough. Shit, even Damps added a bit here and there. Although I in no way think this series is over, even being able to talk about the possibility of the Mavs beating the Spurs in five games feels great. And being able to confidently suggest that the Mavericks are now in the same league as the Spurs and the Pistons feels even better.
posted by stonedranger at 2:08 AM
27 Comments:
mmm hmm.
eAT ME WHEN I'M SOFT.
MMMM.
mavs feel good, i feel good, i've never bet in my life, but i'd change my ways on this team this year.....
I dont know if anyone has noticed, but this is NOT the same Champion Spurs team of the last couple years. I feel they should have won both game 3 AND game 4 but it was those turnovers at the end of each game that cost them the games. Don't get me wrong, this Mavs team is an awesome team. But, we've gone through these playoffs WITHOUT a game winner from Big Shot Bob OR a healthy contribution from Brent Barry. Spurs will win game 5. Game 6 is the game to watch.
You speak of the Pistons like they are no match for the Mavericks. I think you're wrong. We all know basketball is about matchups. The Pistons have an advantage in every position (except maybe for Dirk vs Rasheed). This Piston team can turn it off and on. You say if they were in the Western Conference they would lose 6-12 more games. If they turned it on every night and were NOT jacking up left-handed threes like Wallace did vs the Raptors, they would have won 6-12 more games. The Pistons are hungry. They have something to prove. Add the fact they have homecourt all the way through, this team is very difficult to beat. The Cavs? please. The Pistons don't even look like they're trying very hard. They have a tendancy to play down to a team's level. But once they face either the Spurs or Mavs, their level of competition will be raised a notch, and once that happens, they will NOT lose.
if the spurs should have won game 3 and 4 they would have.. just like the mavericks 'should have won' game 1.. this being said there is no question who won game 2.. and what city they won that game..
pistons?? did you not see the game last night?? if they can turn it 'off and on' they have to be on all the time.. and esspesially if they can make it through the this series..
yes.. i'm making a bet the cavs take them.. in 7..
I am one of the "casual" and "neutral" observers of this series- and yes- it's been quite a bit of fun to keep up with. Go team go.
during the 05-06 seanson we played the pistons 3 times (including 1 time during the preseason)and won 2. the game we lost, neither devin harris nor josh howard played due to injury and we lost by 5 pts.
both times we beat them, we won by at least 15.
you wanna talk matchups? the pistons have no offensive threat at the center position. the mavs perimiter defense is 3rd in the NBA. the mavs interrior defense is getting better, but is still vulnerable. that's why duncan has scored 30 points against us in every game, but ben wallace and rasheed wallace are no where near tim duncan, even though his age is starting to become a factor.
our bigs can stop point guard penetration with their length, which is what they would do against the penetrating piston guards and forwards. with no offensive center to clean up, the pistons will be a relatively easy opponent for the mavs, as longs as harris and howard stay healthy.
the mavs perimiter defense will close out on their shooters just as they've done against the spurs and contest everything from their mid and long range jump shooters.
if the mavs do play the pistons, watch for qeezy to have some huge defensive games.
i'd be more worried about the suns or the clippers than ANY team from the eastern conference.
that said, this is shaping up to be the mav's year. for the first time in franchise history, they're finally playing like they got something to proove.
to correct myself, when the pistons beat us in march, they won by 7, not 5 as i stated above.
we DID hand them their biggest regular season loss in november, beating them by 37!
ha! pistons....
this is the same Spurs...it's not the same Mavericks.
J Terry is awesome
to the bad speller-anonymous above who's willing to bet the cavs beat the pistons in 7, shoot me an email. we can make that happen.
Listen, I'm strongly in Dallas' corner, but:
1. This series isn't over yet
2. I do not want to see Phoenix in the WCF
1. I agree.
2. I don't either, but I think we win that series.
yeah that was devin harris's night - even with the two quick turnovers
as far as i'm concerned, the series is over. there is not a team out there that can beat the mavs 3 games to none.
the Suns have nothing on us w/out Stoudemire.
the suns only beat us at the end of the season because we didn't have howard, harris or van horn.
we can take them. their inside game is weeeeeeeeeak!
You know, I'm not the biggest fan of basketball but these games have been great... last nite was fun to watch. So, Go Mavs!
chris..
1. i'v allready made the bet
2. all bets are always hedged
3. my lack of spelling ability is the same reason why i figured out who j.r. was after 1 paragraph..
sure ya did sweetie.
kevin philips..shots of hot sauce..
you figured out who someone was because you can't spell.... call me crazy, but WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
not to start an eruption, that just doesn't even make sense.
yeah really, that doesn't even make sense?
yes, the Spurs are the biggest crybabies in the NBA. They've had just about every call go their way for the past five years, and now that the calls are fairly even, they've decided to cry about them. Boo hoo indeed.
its ok. Game 6 is ours.
i might be wrong about the cavs in 7.. it might just be 6!
i was unable to tie my shoes until third grade.. this has a direct relation to me being able to build an engine because i read a book about it 8 years ago..
when you understand that you'll understand the spelling.
Oh I get it- FRENCH CLASS!
troo
Reason number 4,678 why the NBA is rigged.
SURE JewSteirn doesnt have a grudge against Cuban.
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