Spurs, Mavs Bring It -- In December

[duncan228]

Sampling what's being said tonight.

Spurs, Mavs bring it -- in December (http://www.nba.com/2008/news/features/12/09/120908.ata/)
By NBA.com staff reports

One of the knocks the NBA has taken for some time, true or not, has been how the season is far too long and that games don't begin to matter until after the All-Star break.

Try telling that to longtime Interstate-35 rivals the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks.

Maybe someone forgot to tell these two playoff mainstays that it was Dec. 9, not the win-now-or-go-home time of the year. But with neither team willing to give an inch Tuesday night, the Spurs escaped American Airlines Center with a 133-126 double-overtime victory.

Rather than going through the motions, the Mavs and Spurs brought a playoff intensity in December that could easily put the misconception of lazy early-season NBA basketball to bed. The dogfight that we've come to expect from a Mavs-Spurs matchup, even in the regular season, is a perfect model of how competitive this long, drawn-out season can be.

[duncan228]

Dallas Mavericks fall to Spurs in back-and-forth duel (http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/1084823.html)
By Jeff Caplan 

DALLAS — Tony Parker must have been seeing double, yet it was his brilliant double-double that prevailed against Jason Kidd’s near-triple-double and J.J. Barea’s fourth straight whirling, double-figure extravaganza.

It took double overtime for Parker, and — oh, yeah — Tim Duncan to push the San Antonio Spurs past the Dallas Mavericks 133-126 on Tuesday at American Airlines Center, adding a spectacularly wild chapter, although a highly atypical one, to this usually grind-it-out, in-state rivalry.

Duncan scored eight of his 32 points in the second overtime in a terrific offensive showcase with Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki, who had 35 points and 10 rebounds. Both stars were the only players to top 50 minutes.

However, it was Parker’s tenacity throughout that carried the Spurs to their third straight victory. The Mavs, who earlier in the day learned they’ll be without Josh Howard for some time, saw their winning streak stopped at four.

The Spurs (12-8) pushed one game ahead of Dallas (11-9) in the Southwest Division and evened the season series at one game apiece.

"The whole grind-away thing in a 250-point game, I don’t know if I can buy into that," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "These are all great games. We just weren’t good enough over however many minutes it was."

Parker finished with 29 points, 10 assists and three steals. Kidd posted a season-high 24 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in what started out as a battle royale between the two All-Star point guards.

Come the fourth quarter of a game that included 22 lead changes and 13 ties, the newcomer Barea turned the game into a tit-for-tat with the speedy Parker, who at times looked lead-footed trying to keep up with Barea’s stop-and-go dribble drives.

Barea scored 17 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and the overtimes. In the fourth quarter, the Spurs went up 101-96 before Barea scored eight of the Mavs’ next 11 points and broke down the defense and dished to Kidd for one of his three 3-pointers for a 105-103 lead as the sellout crowd watched on in amazement.

The game went into the first overtime tied at 107-107. Parker looked to have sealed it when Jason Terry was called for a flagrant foul with 19.8 seconds left. But Parker missed the second free-throw attempt and the Spurs couldn’t convert on the extra possession and led 116-113.

Kidd then buried a straightaway 3-pointer to send the Mavs to their first double overtime since March 2007.

In the final 5 minutes, the Mavs, who played Nowitzki, Barea and Terry the entire fourth quarter and all of the overtimes, and Kidd for the majority of the span, wore down after Kidd’s steal and layup gave the Mavs a 125-124 lead with 2:05 to go.

On the next possession, Bruce Bowen, the defensive antagonist, buried a wide-open corner 3-pointer to make it 127-125. Terry (19 points) fumbled the ball out of bounds for his game-high sixth turnover, equaling the Spurs’ team total.

Turnovers were crucial. When the Mavs study the game film they’ll look at a statistically odd third quarter in which they shot 85.7 percent (12-of-14), made three more free throws than the Spurs and outrebounded them, yet gained no ground and trailed 81-79.

The difference? A 10-0 margin off turnovers favoring the Spurs. The Mavs had four of their 13 turnovers in the quarter. The Spurs had none.

The Spurs finished with a 22-8 lead in points off turnovers and the suddenly high-scoring Spurs, mustering more than 100 points for the third straight game, led the Mavs in fast-break points 24-13.

[duncan228]

Bowen, Spurs get last laugh vs. Mavericks (http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/sports/104812.php)

DALLAS - Bruce Bowen got one foul, then another before the clock even started again.

Dallas Mavericks fans loved every bit of it, cheering and taunting their least-favorite member of the San Antonio Spurs as he headed to the bench shaking his head.

By the time the game was over, Bowen was the one standing on the court smiling and laughing. The few Mavs fans left were probably thinking about how much more they despise him.

A defensive specialist who recently lost his starting job, Bowen still knows how to nail an open 3-pointer, and he did exactly that with 1:47 left in a second overtime, putting the Spurs ahead for good in a 133-126 victory over the Mavericks on Tuesday night.

"Bruce is always ready," said Tim Duncan, who threw a pass from the lane to Bowen in the right corner. "That's his shot. We've been making that pass and catch and shot for a lot of years now.

"He stepped up and hit a big one for us. They called on him to give us some defensive help down the stretch and I thought he did a great job of that also."

Duncan scored eight of his 32 points in the decisive extra period, and Tony Parker added 29 points and 10 assists as the Spurs won for the seventh time in nine games. This one evened the season series between these Interstate-35 rivals, and added to their collection of thrilling performances.

There were six lead changes and three ties, and that was just in the overtimes. A clue that it was going to be that kind of finish was when Dallas shot 12 of 14 in the third quarter, made three more free throws than San Antonio and grabbed four more rebounds - yet came out down by two points, just like when the quarter started.

"The trite comment that either team could have won is absolutely true," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "We're thrilled to get it done in the end. For the most part these games go down to the wire. There's a lot of respect, a lot of competitiveness."

Dirk Nowitzki scored 35 points and Jason Kidd added a season-high 24 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds, but the Mavericks lost for only the second time in their last 11 games.

[duncan228]

Analysis: Like old times for the Mavericks, Spurs (http://www.nba.com/2008/news/features/art_garcia/12/10/spurs.mavs/)
By By Art Garcia, NBA.com

DALLAS -- Michael Finley looked almost offended. Jose Juan Barea bodied up to the Spurs vet after Finley rejected the Dallas dynamo at the other end.

Finley tried to bowl Barea over in the low post just minutes into Tuesday's showdown. But the Little Maverick That Could didn't give an inch. Neither side would. Has any rivalry in the Western Conference spilled more bad blood this decade than Spurs-Mavericks?

It doesn't matter if it's the 1st of December or if first place is on the line. These teams leave little on the floor simply because they don't care much for each other. So when these Lone Star adversaries squared off again with equal records, they hardly looked like two squads playing for seventh in the West.

Both sides have too much pride and both came in playing their best ball of the season. Comparing the two, Dallas' run over the last few weeks grades out better than San Antonio's, but that trend mattered little before a packed house that braved the weather to witness the rivalry's latest classic.

The Spurs returned to the Alamo City drained and victorious after a 133-126 brawl that needed two overtimes and plenty of bruised bones to decide. Dallas (11-9) saw its season-high four-game winning streak snapped as San Antonio (12-8) extended its run to three.

"Great game," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich exhaled. "I don't know what else to say, but it was a great game. You know the trite comment that either team could have win easily is absolutely true.

"We were thrilled to get it done in the end."

Tim Duncan led the Spurs' sprint to the finish, abusing Dallas' frontline in the second OT. But Duncan wasn't the only one to rise to the occasion. The usual cast of characters all stepped up.

"It was a lot of great basketball and they just made a couple more plays at key times than we were able to make," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said.

You don't need a box score to confirm the moments of greatness from Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Ginobili, Jason Terry, Tony Parker and Jason Kidd. Kidd may be a late comer to Mavs-Spurs, but he's had his share of battles with the boys in Silver & Black.

Another relative newcomer to the Interstate-35 madness is Barea. Though he's in his third season, the diminutive Puerto Rican nearly willed the Mavs home with his Tasmanian Devil drive. The Spurs thought they had seen the last of that kind of aggression from Dallas' backcourt.

No one in San Antonio celebrated the Kidd trade more than Parker. The guy the Mavs gave up to land the future Hall of Famer just gave Parker fits. Parker is fast. Devin Harris might be faster.

Barea doesn't have Harris' quicks or even his height, but his list of intangibles is long. And in a town that celebrates undrafted quarterbacks, Barea has earned his share of Tony Romo-like fame. Well, sans the pink jersey-wearing pop stars.

"He's a battler," Carlisle said simply.

The Mavs needed another one of those with two former All-Star swingmen -- Josh Howard and Jerry Stackhouse -- in boots. And these aren't the kind cowboys wear. So there's Barea, the same Barea who can use Erick Dampier's sock as a sleeping bag, running the offense in crunch time and, often, being the offense.

"I hit a couple of buckets in a row," Barea said after scoring 24. "Coach kept calling that pick-and-roll for me and I just kept being aggressive."

And he did it with Kidd on the floor.

"JJ did great," Duncan said. "He changed the game himself for stretches out there. It's something we weren't used to from these guys and something we have to be ready for next time."

Parker admitted being thrown the three-guard set that included Barea, Kidd and Jason Terry.

"It was kind of weird for us," Parker said. "We haven't seen them play like that."

Barea's flurry at the end of the regulation put Dallas in position to go up 2-0 in the season series and 4-0 on the current seven-game homestand. Parker led San Antonio's matching spurt and the two teams kept trading blows after most games are put to bed.

"Anybody that watched the game, came to the game or participated in the game ... this was a great game," Kidd said. "Nobody wanted to lose. Nobody wanted to go home."

It seemed like old times.

[duncan228]

Entertaining but draining: Dallas Mavericks fall to Spurs in 2 OT (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/121008dnspomavsledehp.4a4b0430.html)
By Eddie Sefko

There might have been snow falling outside instead of May flowers blooming, but it never seems to matter for the Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs.

The frosty weather couldn't cool off this fiery rivalry. It looked, felt and smelled like the playoffs. On a night with off-the-charts intensity and entertainment value, the Mavericks came up a few plays short as the Spurs got out of town with a 133-126 double-overtime win at American Airlines Center that offset the Mavericks' victory in San Antonio last month.

"It's disappointing," coach Rick Carlisle said. "It was a great game. It was a lot of great basketball, and they just made a couple more plays at key times than we were able to make. We battled. We just weren't good enough over however many minutes it was."

It seemed like the teams played all night long. And the Mavericks had a ton of big-time performances, but so did the Spurs. What it came down to was the final two minutes of the second overtime. Down by a point, the Spurs found Bruce Bowen in the right corner after Dirk Nowitzki had drifted away from him to help defensively. Bowen canned the shot for a 127-125 lead.

"He's been making shots like that for a long time," Tim Duncan said. "Just a great game by both teams fighting through ups and downs."

After a couple of botched possessions, the Mavericks got a free throw from Erick Dampier. But Duncan took a nice pass from Manu Ginobili for a driving layup with 40.7 to go and a 129-126 lead.

J.J. Barea, who had a huge second half, missed a 16-foot jumper, and Roger Mason's free throws with 23.5 to go clinched it for the Spurs.

It was a shame the Mavericks couldn't capitalize on a silver-bullet effort. They came away knowing they played well. They also came away with their four-game winning streak halted.

Wasted was Nowitzki's 35 points and 10 rebounds, not to mention 64 points, 21 assists and 19 rebounds from the guard troika of Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and Barea.

The Spurs had a statistical hero to answer every Maverick, however. Duncan was unstoppable, except on occasion by Dampier, and finished with 32 points and 14 rebounds. Tony Parker had 29 points and 10 assists, and Ginobili had 18 and eight.

Carlisle sensed the Mavericks were headed for a tight, tough finish when they failed to take care of business after going up by 11 in the second quarter.

"They had a 30-point quarter and got going offensively," Carlisle said. "Then as we played well in the third, we were only able to tie. So that was tough."

The Mavericks made 12-of-14 shots in the third quarter but made up no ground. When it went to overtime, they fell behind, 115-111, but got two free throws from Terry, then survived a flagrant foul as Terry had no choice but to foul Parker hard to prevent an easy layup.

It was a playoff-caliber foul, for sure. Parker made one free throw to make it 116-113.

When Dampier flipped out a pass to Kidd on the 3-point line, Kidd's shot was perfect to extend the game to another bonus frame.

"I think anybody that watched the game, came to the game or participated knew this was a great game," Kidd said. "Nobody wanted to lose. Nobody wanted to go home. We had our chances in the first overtime, but came up a little short."

[tp2021]

You are on a roll.

[Man In Black]

Thanks

[DannyT]

dunc are you married?

[wijayas]

Thanks 228!

[Manufan909]

dunc are you married?

Down boy.:nope

She's already married to Tim, she just likes to get on ST and see what we're saying about her man.
:p:

[raspsa]

The quality of this game was truly exceptional. The Spurs are ussually struggling this early in the season trying to work out the kinks in their game and losses are welcomed by Pop as an object lesson to point out areas that need improvement.

Well, the Spurs don't always have to lose to learn any lessons. This game is an example of great teamwork and effort by every Spur who played and it will serve as a measuring stick as the team strives to improve. After a series of relatively easy wins over lesser competition, the Mavs provided a good test from which the Spurs emerged victorious.

[SenorSpur]

Parker admitted being thrown the three-guard set that included Barea, Kidd and Jason Terry.

"It was kind of weird for us," Parker said. "We haven't seen them play like that."


This was the 3rd game in a row the Mavs have started that 3-guard lineup. While it may have thrown Tony initially, he or anyone else that scouted the Mavs, shouldn't have been surprised by it.

[raspsa]

This was the 3rd game in a row the Mavs have started that 3-guard lineup. While it may have thrown Tony initially, he or anyone else that scouted the Mavs, shouldn't have been surprised by it.

Watching your opponent run plays on film can't compare to playing them on the court. I'm sure Pop will be better prepared the next game with the Mavs.

[SenorSpur]

Watching your opponent run plays on film can't compare to playing them on the court. I'm sure Pop will be better prepared the next game with the Mavs.

Agreed. I'm just saying, it's not as though the Mavs trotted out this lineup for the very first time.

That said, coming into the game, I was hoping to see a trio of TP, Parker and Manu as a counter to that lineup.

[Manufan909]

Agreed. I'm just saying, it's not as though the Mavs trotted out this lineup for the very first time.

That said, coming into the game, I was hoping to see a trio of TP, Parker and Manu as a counter to that lineup.

Dude, I hope you went to sleep after this post, it seems like your were dead-tired.:lol Am I assuming correctly you meant Mason with Tony and Manu?

[MarHill]

It was a great game to watch and I'm glad the Spurs are starting to show that championship-level competitiveness where they can go someone's building and take the game from them.

That's two strong road games (Denver & Dallas) they've won and the team is getting closer to who they can become by the end of season.

Also, I have to give respect to J.J. Barea....he can play!!!!

[Shank]

Ugh...we have to wait until 1/24 to see these teams match up again.

[sribb43]

WTF? Only one Mavs/Spurs game is on national tv this season and thats the final matchup in March 4th @ DAL

[SenorSpur]

Dude, I hope you went to sleep after this post, it seems like your were dead-tired.:lol Am I assuming correctly you meant Mason with Tony and Manu?

You got me, man. I actually meant to say Hill, TP and Manu. Thanks for catching my wee-hour, faux pas. :lol

[Dex]

WTF? Only one Mavs/Spurs game is on national tv this season and thats the final matchup in March 4th @ DAL

Yeah, for some reason the league doesn't feel the need to market one of the best rivalries in the league, even after our epic playoff series in 2006.

I guess they'd rather show more of the Lebron and Kobe Show, as opposed to games that are almost guaranteed to be boiling hot and contested down to the wire.

[hater]

best game I seen since last playoffs Suns vs. Spurs game 1. and this one might have been more entertaining.

[xtremesteven33]

One of the best regular season games ive ever seen. (mind you im only 21). No giving in from neither team. They played thier hearts out.

[MarHill]

Yeah, for some reason the league doesn't feel the need to market one of the best rivalries in the league, even after our epic playoff series in 2006.

I guess they'd rather show more of the Lebron and Kobe Show, as opposed to games that are almost guaranteed to be boiling hot and contested down to the wire.


I agree, Dex!!

This has been the best rivalry in the NBA in the last 5 years and it should gotten more national coverage!

[Anti.Hero]

West/East coast hates the South. Get used to it.

[ShoogarBear]

If ESPN didn't completely have their heads up their asses, they would be promoting Spurs-Mavs like they do Red Sox-Yankees.

[T Park]

If ESPN didn't completely have their heads up their asses, they would be promoting Spurs-Mavs like they do Red Sox-Yankees.

Pfft

promote something not in New York, Boston, nor has a headband, nor lives in LA?

Impossible.

Silly old bear.

[wisnub]

Did any of you notice how Mavs played when he play Spurs compared to other teams? Mavs definitely put their best,strongest,and MEANEST effort when it comes to SA. They are the ones who always pick the fight and intensity and tried to make this looks like a rivalry. I got NBA League Pass..I saw how Mavs played in previous games before playing SA and when they played Spurs they become a different team. Please Spurs fans..dont be tempted to treat near city Mavs as rival because MAVS IN LOWER LEVEL THAN SPURS. NONE OF MAVS ROSTER EVER TASTE A CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS IN THEIR LIFETIME. And this is not a hatred statement, it is uncontested fact. One Finals is like their best achievement so far with that roster. Just treat Mavs as sparring partner but dont drag in into some kindda rivalry cause they are not. Celtics and Lakers are more appropriated to be called Spurs rivals due to their history.

But I guess media need this kindda rivalry to fill out their writing's duty and some media want to blow it up to make the game more exciting. In truth they are the ones who tried to be in Spurs level all this time..they did get lucky Manu fouled Dirk and beat SA that time, but right after that it is obvious that Mavs will never won a championship in their lifetime, particularly looking at how the League has developed. Avery Johnson knows it, he is considered a young coach who got lots of potential but if you look carefully, his confidence toward Dallas roster is becoming thinner every single time and up to the time when he was no longer a coach. Look at his expression in couple of games before AJ gone from Mavs and you will understand. Cuban just made a wrong move by bringin Kidd and dumping AJ. Harris is now flourished in Nets (look at his stats and performance) while Kidd is getting old and Rick performance is just like any other coach compared to what AJ did. I really hate AJ,but honestly he did a good job while he was in Mavs. Good thing he is gone for good.

[dirk4mvp]

NONE OF MAVS ROSTER EVER TASTE A CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS IN THEIR LIFETIME.


FWIW, Dick Breath has 3.

[ehz33satx]

NONE OF MAVS ROSTER EVER TASTE A CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS IN THEIR LIFETIME. And this is not a hatred statement, it is uncontested fact. One Finals is like their best achievement so far with that roster.


What about Devean George? He has 1 or 2 rings with the Lakers que no?

[wisnub]

FWIW, Dick Breath has 3.

he is not in mavs roster. Maybe in ancient times,but not in current roster when it all happened. If we count all former Mavs then we should count Finley as well :lol


"What about Devean George? He has 1 or 2 rings with the Lakers que no?"

I forgot about him since he is a non factor player in Mavs, but i guess you are right..Lakers won some championship and he must got some at least 1, or maybe he's in the Lakers at the wrong time but i guess he should get 1 or maybe more. But I think he just join Dallas not long ago..I mean not right from all of this rivalry thing started, but that is not the point. I guess my point has been made,thanks

[dirk4mvp]

Thanks for the insight, ducks :tu

[Fingaroll44]

Did any of you notice how Mavs played when he play Spurs compared to other teams? Mavs definitely put their best,strongest,and MEANEST effort when it comes to SA. They are the ones who always pick the fight and intensity and tried to make this looks like a rivalry. I got NBA League Pass..I saw how Mavs played in previous games before playing SA and when they played Spurs they become a different team.

Yup. I already knew. I didnt need to see the Mavs other games to know this. I could just tell by how they play us when we get together and play them.

[DROB4EVER]

Is anyone else concerned we are at 100% and had to go to double OT to beat the mavs without their second best player? Where is our D? Are we just gonna try to outscore teams now?

[Reck]

Great articles.

The last one got repetitive abit so I skipped that one. The others were a good read. :toast

[Manufan909]

Is anyone else concerned we are at 100% and had to go to double OT to beat the mavs without their second best player? Where is our D? Are we just gonna try to outscore teams now?

No, since the Spurs are only 100% generally speaking, Manu still isn't back in game shape and we all know it. And Fin pissed away some open shots, its all good. Try to look at the bright side, goddamnit!!!

But yeah, I thought about how Howard would've affected the game.

[hater]

Is anyone else concerned we are at 100% and had to go to double OT to beat the mavs without their second best player? Where is our D? Are we just gonna try to outscore teams now?

u forget we usually get raped by the mavs during regular season. especially when they outrebound us and shoot over 50%. I am willin to bet this is the first time we beat them when they shoot over 50%

no matter who's playing or not. it was a great win.

[ClingingMars]

also I haven't seen ONE mention of this game on ESPN all day.

-Mars

[Reck]

also I haven't seen ONE mention of this game on ESPN all day.

-Mars

No, they're too busy showing all possible plays of every single NFL games. Might as well call ESPN NFLNETWORK.

[ShoogarBear]

If the Celtics or Lakers had played this game, it'd be on ESPN Classics continual rotation all week.