duncan228
04-21-2009, 02:53 AM
Time to split: Dallas Mavericks return home after Game 2 flop (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/042109dnspomavslede.f5d31149.html)
By Eddie Sefco / The Dallas Morning News
SAN ANTONIO – After another Tony Parker bucket, this one just beating the third-quarter buzzer, the San Antonio point guard went to the bench and was greeted by Tim Duncan, who wrapped an arm around his neck and applied a knuckle rub to his scalp.
It was a lot friendlier than what the Spurs did to the Mavericks' head, which was nothing less than a battering.
Game 2 was a thorough knockout as the Mavericks fell behind by 21 points in the first half and never gave themselves a chance in the second, finally getting drop-kicked, 105-84, Monday night at AT&T Center.
They looked perfectly content to take their San Antonio split and go home, where the next two games will be contested at American Airlines Center.
They were mangled by Parker, who finished with 38 points. He got enough help from Tim Duncan's double-double to reverse the momentum back to the Spurs' side after the Mavericks' gritty Game 1 win.
"This was pretty much a must-win for them," said Jason Terry, who had 16 points. "Give them credit. Now it's the same way for us going home."
Terry dismissed any notion that the Mavericks' mental state might be dented with the lopsided loss.
"Whether it's by one or 30, it's just one game," he said.
For that, the Mavericks can be thankful.
Between now and Thursday in Game 3, they will have to figure out a way to slow down Parker, whose 19-point first quarter set the tone for the night.
"We definitely have to get a hold of Parker," Dirk Nowitzki said. "It was like a layup drill out there. He was fantastic."
For the second game in a row, Nowitzki was neutralized by a San Antonio defense geared to shut him down. He also suffered minor ankle and thumb injuries in the second half but shook them off.
The Mavericks were adamant after the blowout that their outlook on the series remains good.
"I guess a split in San Antonio in a tough building is not bad," Nowitzki said. "But when you get that first one, you want to find a way to get the second one, too."
The Spurs were diplomatic after their dominance.
"They did their job," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "They came here and won a game and they're in great shape."
Perhaps, the Mavericks failed to get greedy and take a second win that would have put them in control of the series. The Spurs had something to do with that. They made adjustments, but mostly, they just executed a lot better than in Game 1 and played with more hunger.
What changed most was the Spurs' aggressiveness, especially in the rebounding department. In Game 1, the Mavericks won the rebounding battle and had 21 second-chance points to eight for the Spurs.
In the first quarter, the Mavericks had zero offensive rebounds and only four on the defensive end.
They had a grand total of two second-chance points in the first half, in which they trailed by as much as 21 before creeping back to 57-46 at halftime. The Mavericks made a brief push early in the third quarter, creeping within 61-52. But the Spurs scored the next 13 points to blow it open.
"I thought we were playing hard," coach Rick Carlisle said. "They just took it to another level, and we weren't able to meet that level of intensity."
By Eddie Sefco / The Dallas Morning News
SAN ANTONIO – After another Tony Parker bucket, this one just beating the third-quarter buzzer, the San Antonio point guard went to the bench and was greeted by Tim Duncan, who wrapped an arm around his neck and applied a knuckle rub to his scalp.
It was a lot friendlier than what the Spurs did to the Mavericks' head, which was nothing less than a battering.
Game 2 was a thorough knockout as the Mavericks fell behind by 21 points in the first half and never gave themselves a chance in the second, finally getting drop-kicked, 105-84, Monday night at AT&T Center.
They looked perfectly content to take their San Antonio split and go home, where the next two games will be contested at American Airlines Center.
They were mangled by Parker, who finished with 38 points. He got enough help from Tim Duncan's double-double to reverse the momentum back to the Spurs' side after the Mavericks' gritty Game 1 win.
"This was pretty much a must-win for them," said Jason Terry, who had 16 points. "Give them credit. Now it's the same way for us going home."
Terry dismissed any notion that the Mavericks' mental state might be dented with the lopsided loss.
"Whether it's by one or 30, it's just one game," he said.
For that, the Mavericks can be thankful.
Between now and Thursday in Game 3, they will have to figure out a way to slow down Parker, whose 19-point first quarter set the tone for the night.
"We definitely have to get a hold of Parker," Dirk Nowitzki said. "It was like a layup drill out there. He was fantastic."
For the second game in a row, Nowitzki was neutralized by a San Antonio defense geared to shut him down. He also suffered minor ankle and thumb injuries in the second half but shook them off.
The Mavericks were adamant after the blowout that their outlook on the series remains good.
"I guess a split in San Antonio in a tough building is not bad," Nowitzki said. "But when you get that first one, you want to find a way to get the second one, too."
The Spurs were diplomatic after their dominance.
"They did their job," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "They came here and won a game and they're in great shape."
Perhaps, the Mavericks failed to get greedy and take a second win that would have put them in control of the series. The Spurs had something to do with that. They made adjustments, but mostly, they just executed a lot better than in Game 1 and played with more hunger.
What changed most was the Spurs' aggressiveness, especially in the rebounding department. In Game 1, the Mavericks won the rebounding battle and had 21 second-chance points to eight for the Spurs.
In the first quarter, the Mavericks had zero offensive rebounds and only four on the defensive end.
They had a grand total of two second-chance points in the first half, in which they trailed by as much as 21 before creeping back to 57-46 at halftime. The Mavericks made a brief push early in the third quarter, creeping within 61-52. But the Spurs scored the next 13 points to blow it open.
"I thought we were playing hard," coach Rick Carlisle said. "They just took it to another level, and we weren't able to meet that level of intensity."