(2) Mavericks Vs. (7) Spurs

[NovU]

This is it, boys. Game 6! If the Spurs fail to capitalize on this opportunity, I see Mavericks taking the game 7 at home with momentum on their side.

Advantage Spurs for now though. I can't wait to see how the Mavericks will react tonight under pressure.

[Andrew]

The Mavericks certainly have their work cut out for them if they want to force Game 7. Just eight points in the first quarter and down 33-12 as of this post.

[hova-]

wow, how bad can you play? They took bad shots from the start, did not find a way to defend TD and Manu and now make silly fouls. That's the worst game I have ever watched from the Mavs. Makes me feel so pissed as it is 3 a.m. here and I got up just to watch the game. Why can't it not be close at least.

This team does not work very well and the Spurs do so. Get rid of Carisle please.

/edit: Roddy Buckets is saving my night, at least keeps it close and fun. Still fire Carisle for not letting him play the whole series.

[benji]

Still fire Carisle for not letting him play the whole series.

Ask Tayshaun Prince, Rodney White, and James Jones about Carlisle and rookies. At least Beaubois got to start some games and play 700 minutes during the season!

[Andrew]

Miraculously, the Mavericks aren't done quite yet. They still trail, but the Spurs may have missed an opportunity to coast into the next round.

[atlwarrior]

Pretty physical game. I saw Dirk on the floor atleast ten times.
And I havent heard from Rodney White in ages. Whatever happened to that guy?

[shadowgrin]

He's competing against Marbury in China.

[atlwarrior]

oh wow! wats the deal with all of these former nba players going to China?

[benji]

$$$.

And the low quality of the leagues.

[atlwarrior]

Well anything to feed their families i guess.

[Rip32]

I also think Roddy Beaubois will create quite the following during these playoffs.

Too bad no one can cover superstar George Hill annnnd Jason Kidd continues to miss every shot he puts up.

I wish I didn't hate the Spurs so much, I wouldn't have to root for the Mavs. If the Spurs do win I guess it's good that Dyess will be back to playing meaningful late-ish round playoff games. I can root for that

[Andrew]

It's over; Mavs are heading home, Spurs are moving on.

[atlwarrior]

Spurs advance to either play Phx/Por. If Phoenix wins that series theyre probably not going to beat the Spurs either. They havent had much luck playing the Spurs in the playoffs in recent years.

[Lamrock]

Well, unless the Blazers can somehow pull off a monumental upset of the Suns, looks like I've lost the tipping contest with my friends. My one friend who took San Antonio in 6 killed it.

[franmdq]

amazing what Hill did, thanks Manu heart again, now go for the championship!!!

[NovU]

Well... that was the best series from the first round. I really enjoyed it while it lasted.

This Mavericks team, I think will be a great addition to benji's list of interesting teams that he mentioned in other thread. Having all the pieces/opportunities and yet fail so horribly year after year for like a decade. Well... There is a next year to look forward to. Cuban will definitely bring changes.

Last but not least, are we seeing Spurs from old dynasty days? Very impressive, though I sort of expected this series to be in favor of Spurs in 6.

[hova-]

Tough loss. I'm looking forward to the offseason. Damp's ass will get shipped because he is simply too expensive for a 20 mpg player (at best). I also don't think they will bring back Haywood. The contract situation all in all sucks pretty much.

[Jackal]

My one friend who took San Antonio in 6 killed it.

Should've made a bet with you as well.

I usually suck at picking in how many games.

[shadowgrin]

Cuban will definitely bring changes.

That's one of the problems, Cuban always brings changes to the team hoping that those changes will make the team much better than the previous season. It just screws up the team having a solid and dependable core of role players.

[hova-]

I hope Beaubois can develop into an all-star type player. Not that I'm hyping him, so far he could also end as a two years and then Europe guy or a 8 ppg bench player. But I would really love to see him working on his game and be a guy to identify with. The Mavs did not have any gifted young players since Nowitzki developed into the franchise guy. When Dirk retires I want to stay a Mavs fan, but I always need someone to identify with, and Roddy would be such a guy.

[atlwarrior]

Rick Carlisle has always failed with championship caliber teams. Just check his resume. They wouldve been better off with Avery Johnson IMO.

[NovU]

Cuban will definitely bring changes.

That's one of the problems, Cuban always brings changes to the team hoping that those changes will make the team much better than the previous season. It just screws up the team having a solid and dependable core of role players.

LIke they have any other choice but to keep trying. It just is damn too tricky to build around Dirk, as others pretty much have to wait around and watch him shoot over the defender in his face. Also one of the perimeter player pretty much loses his space due to Dirk being a shooting big man, and he most of times, has to work in a limited space with limited usage and that can put take away many stars' strength of the game. On the other hand, it's really hard to blame a big man with great shooting touch, thus staying around perimeter more often. I'm assuming finding a mix with Dirk right now seems to be close to impossible. We'll wait and see the changes Cuban brings though.

[shadowgrin]

LIke they have any other choice but to keep trying. It just is damn too tricky to build around Dirk, as others pretty much have to wait around and watch him shoot over the defender in his face. Also one of the perimeter player pretty much loses his space due to Dirk being a shooting big man, and he most of times, has to work in a limited space with limited usage and that can put take away many stars' strength of the game. On the other hand, it's really hard to blame a big man with great shooting touch, thus staying around perimeter more often. I'm assuming finding a mix with Dirk right now seems to be close to impossible.

So you're basically saying that the Thunder are also fucked up for the future?

[hova-]

Yeah, I also don't see the point. A guy like Beaubois is the perfect addition to Dirk's game as Nowitzki can spread the floor and open up space for penetration as well as draw double teams and kick it out for the open jumper.

The Mavs have also never tried to add a decent offensive post player to the mix which could also work very well. (like Gasol and Bynum running a high-low combination)

[NovU]

So you're basically saying that the Thunder are also fucked up for the future?

I hope so, or at least I'd like to think so, as OKC is one of my least liked team, maybe second to the Grizzlies.

I think better comparison would be players like Rasheed Wallace, but the main difference of Dirk being the focal point and Wallace not.

I like hova's suggestion, coupling Dirk with another legitimate big man on offense. It is yet to be seen, so perhaps...