Spurs vs. Mavericks Game 4 -- Game Blog

[Tanya]

Come on spurs!
pistons vs. spurs final~~ Please...

[Nocioni]

Terry!!!!!!!!

[FreshPrince22]

Wow... What a crazy shot by Terry. Raaaaaaaainbow.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

man this is such a shame

[FromWayDowntown]

Who on Earth calls that foul for Nowitzki at the end of regulation? Seriously. In a playoff game, no less. What a joke.

The Spurs may lose this game on the merits of their play, but I'm going to join the chorus in saying that the officiating in this game has been absolutely horrendous.

[atxrocker]

its ova

[RON ARTEST]

aint over yet we're still in it
im glad you still have hope. but its over buddy. you guys can join my kings fishing if you want. :lmao

[Pistons < Spurs]

Come on spurs!
pistons vs. spurs final~~ Please...
exactly

[austinfan]

I still believe. Spurs fans better show up at ATT for Game 5.

[Spurologist]

2 for 1. Score. Defend. Score

[CubanMustGo]

Terry 32
Nowitzki 28
Stackhouse 26
Harris 18

bunch of unconcious mofos

[SuperManu!!!]

No manu, no ring

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Who on Earth calls that foul for Nowitzki at the end of regulation? Seriously. In a playoff game, no less. What a joke.

The Spurs may lose this game on the merits of their play, but I'm going to join the chorus in saying that the officiating in this game has been absolutely horrendous.


exactly. not even lebron would have got that call.

[snowboarder]

3 pointers now, barry do this for us

[romsey31]

The mavs have hit some fucking tough shots.

This is the best series ive watched in a longggggggggggg time. these teams are so evenly matched it ain even funny.

[Ginobili_20_gold_medalist]

It's all about the rebounding...bad calls aside, that's the thing that killed SA in this series. REBOUNDING!! They take care of the boards in Game 3 or tonight and this series is looking completely different.

[1Parker1]

Who on Earth calls that foul for Nowitzki at the end of regulation? Seriously. In a playoff game, no less. What a joke.

The Spurs may lose this game on the merits of their play, but I'm going to join the chorus in saying that the officiating in this game has been absolutely horrendous.

Yea, but they're just getting outplayed right now in OT. Unreal.

[snowboarder]

ahhh tp almost got a 3pt play

[Cant_Be_Faded]

shame.

[Horry For 3!]

You gotta fuckin make that shit Tony, fuckin shit, its a damn lay-up

[Horry For 3!]

Tony chokes at the line :pctoss

[ca®lo]

shit

[Leetonidas]

Fuck this. Our season is finally over.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

shame shame shame

good effort though
we just got out played in over time

[FromWayDowntown]

Yea, but they're just getting outplayed right now in OT. Unreal.

No doubt. But the calls for Dirk in the 4th Quarter of this game were inexplicable.

[snowboarder]

Iohmybod Did He Just Miss Both Fuck Fuck Fuck

[Tek_XX]

wow ok game over

[dimsah]

Nice choke job Tony. You mother fucker.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

anyone but the mavs

i would have liked to lose to ANYONE BUT THE MAVS

[beachbarbie948]

what the fuck parker?

[Deb]

TP 2 Bricks not meant to be

[boutons_]

Tony chokes, game over, Spurs eliminated.

[Spurologist]

:pctoss

[atxrocker]

game and series are over guys

[RON ARTEST]

damn can parker make an and 1? PARKER CHOKES on both freethrows. :lmao :lmao :lmao :lmao :lmao :lmao

[CubanMustGo]

Mavs won the OT - congrats.

Refs put it into OT.

[1Parker1]

WOW, Parker chokes at the FT line, misses both.

I think it's safe to say it's over.

[snowboarder]

Omg Game Foul The Fuckin Mavs Wow Wtf

[clooneyschick04]

Wow. This feeling sucks.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

anyone but the mavs

[beachbarbie948]

anyone but the mavs

i would have liked to lose to ANYONE BUT THE MAVS

i know, right? ANYBODY

why not the suns? at least i like them

[Horry For 3!]

Refs help the Mavs in regulation, Spurs lose it on their own in OT :pctoss

[Nocioni]

3-1

[Deb]

Well, I'm finally believing it might not be our season - and with such high hopes this year

[NZHayden]

f*ck

[1Parker1]

No doubt. But the calls for Dirk in the 4th Quarter of this game were inexplicable.

I know, I'm with you. I'm just in shock right now.

[jn77]

Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllllllllll lsssssssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiittttttttttttttttttt!!!!!!!!

[Horry For 3!]

I am starting to hate the nba, the playoffs are not even fun to watch anymore because of the fuckin refs ruining it


Even Charles Barkley went off on the refs for awhile after the game, that it has been horrendous

[JohnMcClane]

I love how the Spurs and their fans have yet to give the Mavs ANY kind of respect yet and they are about to get 5 game swept out of this series..

[Joaquin]

we suck jesus :(

[Don Quixote]

And was there any doubt, anyway? This was never our year. The Mavs & Pistons were better from Day 1.

It was a great year, all things considered. All the injuries, the up-and-down play from just about everyone except Tony, and still 63 wins. Not too bad.

Like I've been saying since the playoffs started, the Spurs do not have the athletes, shooters, or defenders to keep up with teams like the Mavs.

We need some young blood for next season. Van Exel and Horry probably have got to go. I would like to see our team pick up J.R. Smith from New Orleans, like they tried to do in Feb. Thoughts?

Congrats to the Mavs, although it looks like they're going to run into a different animal altogether in the Pistons. Unlike us, Detroit can defend.

[strangeweather]

Fuck this. Our season is finally over.

:stfu It ain't over until it's over. :flipoff

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g134/evilmaggi/SpursFishingTrip.jpg

will be joining the Nuggets soon

[CubanMustGo]

I love how the Spurs and their fans have yet to give the Mavs ANY kind of respect yet and they are about to get 5 game swept out of this series..

Do it without things like bogus 19-4 FT advantages in the last 15 minutes of regulation and I'll give you props.

[Extra Stout]

If the Spurs are to come back, it will be because the Mavericks cool off or get the yips, not because the Spurs kick it into another gear. The Spurs have brought their "A" game two straight games, and lost both of them.

[NBA_FAN1]

I am starting to hate the nba, the playoffs are not even fun to watch anymore because of the fuckin refs ruining it


Even Charles Barkley went off on the refs for awhile after the game, that it has been horrendous

Charles B. is a Manu fan. :rolleyes

[RON ARTEST]

what a great day.

[JohnMcClane]

Do it without things like bogus 19-4 FT advantages in the last 15 minutes of regulation and I'll give you props.

This series is clearly being called in the Spurs favor.. they keep you in every game.. if the refs called Bowen for fouls as easily as they call fouls on our bigmen agianst Duncan every game would be a blowout.. so please.. don't complain to me about officiating.. it's a joke.

[Spurminator]

I don't recognize this team anymore. It's like we traded teams with the Suns. Yeah, the offense is working for the most part, but the defense is awful.

Would it have really killed our offense to have an extra shot blocker in the paint?

I just can't help but wonder "What if?"

[strangeweather]

I love how the Spurs and their fans have yet to give the Mavs ANY kind of respect yet and they are about to get 5 game swept out of this series..

The Mavs are a damn fine team and I respect the hell out of them. But it takes four wins to close out a series, and the last time I checked, the Mavs still only have three.

Enjoying the Lakers-Clippers series?

[Hatfield]

If the Spurs are to come back, it will be because the Mavericks cool off or get the yips, not because the Spurs kick it into another gear. The Spurs have brought their "A" game two straight games, and lost both of them.

Agreed. The Spurs have played as good as they can. Give props to the Mavs.....they hit some huge shots. Yes, free throws too.

[Deb]

This series is clearly being called in the Spurs series.. they keep you in every game.. if the refs called Bowen for fouls as easily as they call fouls on our bigmen agianst Duncan every game would be a blowout.. so please.. don't complain to me about officiating.. it's a joke.
Just the opposite, Johnny boy. But I don't want to hate on the refs too hard. We are the vets and the champs, and we have to play through this crap. The young gum Mavs have yet to learn thatl

[JohnMcClane]

So you think the Mavs bigmen get away with just as much against Duncan as Bowen gets away with against Dirk? You have got to be kidding me...

face it.. you have turned into the Lakers.. where you now expect to get every call in your favor. and when you don't 1 time out of 20 you claim the refs are biased.. you are spoiled rotten. You are so used to Bowen getting away with even more than he gets away with on Dirk you now lie to yourself and tell yourself he deserves it... simply because he got away with it in the past.

[strangeweather]

So you think the Mavs bigmen get away with just as much against Duncan as Bowen gets away with against Dirk? You have got to be kidding me...

The Mavs plodding big men are too slow get get proper position, which is why they've been completely owned this whole series. Bowen is definitely quick enough to cover Dirk, and has been one of the few Spurs bright spots.

On the other hand, Dirk has been fucking awesome against pretty much everyone else, and brilliant at driving and creating contact.

I'm sick of Spurs fans bitching about the refs, but I REALLY don't want to hear this shit from Mavs fans.

[JohnMcClane]

The Mavs plodding big men are too slow get get proper position, which is why they've been completely owned this whole series. Bowen is definitely quick enough to cover Dirk, and has been one of the few Spurs bright spots.

It doesn't matter how quick Bowne is.. he can't stop Dirk's jumper without constantly fouling him. You know it.. I know it... Dirk knows it.. and Bowen knows it better than anyone.. which is why he does it.

Just because Bowen is a better defender than Diop or Dampier doesn't mean he is allowed to foul and Dampier and Diop aren't. There should be no Brownie points. The fact is Bowen gets away with murder. There is no excuse for it. And even with Bowen pulling his cr@p.. and the refs turning a blind eye to it.. he still can't stop Dirk.

[Nero]

"On the other hand, Dirk has been fucking awesome against pretty much everyone else, and brilliant at driving and creating contact."

I don't think the series is being called unfairly. It is being called tight which favors the Mavs, but that's just because of the personal of each team.
1) Spurs are worse freethrow shooters
2) TD gets into foul trouble
If the league wants to decrease physical play then the Spurs just have to adjust to that. Especially Bowen is playing way too aggressive.

But the calls on Dirk are out of hand. There is no way a jumpshooter gets that many freethrow attempts without ref help. I've noticed that so many of his trips to the line are off the ball calls when the Spurs are over the limit or when he's 21 feet out. Players make an effort not to foul jump shooters especially ones that shoot 90% at the line. Yet he is consitently fouled. Are the leagues defenders stupid? No, it's mostly star call syndrome. You say he's brilliant at driving to the basket and creating contact? Yes, but that's all he does is create contact. When was the last time Dirk finished a drive with a 2 point basket? I can't remember. He's not a finisher that deserves the benefit of the doubt when he drives like AI, Kobe, Nash, Parker, Manu, LeBron, Harris!, etc do. Please let's see him finish around the rim before we give him a call every time he barrels into the lane out of control and throws up a prayer.

That said, we didn't lose because of officiating. We lost because we're old, slow and pretty weak. We can't rebound, we can't grab loose balls, we can't force turnoversWe always end up with less posessions than the opponent (11 fewer today) and so even when the inside-outside game is running perfectly, the other team simply has too many posessions to stay with us. Getting Van X, Finley, and retaining Horry were mistakes (the last one understandable). Oberto didn't pan out, but instead of aggressively looking for someone during the season we stood pat. At least we can count on the Spurs front office learning from their mistakes last offseason.

[JohnMcClane]

Saying that Dirk doesn't finish isn't an excuse not to call a foul. If the refs called Bowen for him fouling Dirk when shooting the basketball Dirk wouldn't need to drive. Why should a post player like Duncan get the benefit of all the calls he wants but a guy like Dirk who is an incredible shooter can't even shoot without getting fouled and then there being no call made?

Just because that's how the game has been called for a long time doesn't make it right. The fact is that Dirk is a freak of nature like Shaq.. he is unstoppable. If he is "on" you can't stop him.. but unlike Shaq he does it within the rules of the game rather than bowling guys over.. If the refs called Dirk like guys like Duncan and Shaq and Kobe or LeBron.. he could arguably be the greatest offensive player in league history because he is a great freethrow shooter too.

Why doesn't Dirk deserve these calls? Why should he be punished for being a jumpshooter? If that's how you want it then make jumpshots only worth 1 point or something.. If not then stick to the rules and call the fouls.

[milkyway21]

i didn't logged in (was too busy due to very important event), in the last two game blogs but I watched games 3 & 4 on TV. And I'm sorry we lost.

The Suns felt the same way when they trailed 1-3 vs. the Lakers and Kobe was already anticipating for a Staples Center showdown vs the Clippers.

Then one miracle happened Nash was resurrected... they won 3 in a row.

This team still has Duncan, Manu TP and Bowen.

It's not the end of the road yet for you Spurs!

:flag:

[Nero]

Of course he should get calls when he does get fouled. My point is that he often gets BS calls. He rarely gets fouled when shooting. NBA players know not to foul jumpshooter. A lot of these are ticky tack off the ball or non shooting fouls that players like Ray Allen (another great jumpshooter, ft shooter) don't get. His team is over the limit and he shoots 2. A lot of them are also bail out calls on his awful drives. For example, the one in the first quarter when he spun around and barelled into Duncan and threw up some awful crap, but went to the line. The rules are murky on plays like that with a guy driving and a defender manning the paint, so refs generally give them to proven finishers who have shown and continue showing that they can score when there is little or no contact. When they throw up a bad shot after a drive, the refs are glad to blow the whistle cuz the assumption is that they must have been fouled. But I RARELY see Dirk finish and he still gets those borderline calls whereas other players who are not known as finishers don't. Dirk gets fouls on his drive because of his JUMPSHOOTING reputation. It's like he just drives into the paint and crashes into someone on purpose. What I love about guys like Nash, Parker, and Harris now is that they actually drive and try to make a basket, and it's because they can. They're great finishers. Manu is in between.
Dirk is a great player, but please don't tell me that the star calls aren't awful.

[JohnMcClane]

Of course he should get calls when he does get fouled. My point is that he often gets BS calls. He rarely gets fouled when shooting jumpshots A lot of these are ticky tack off the ball or non shooting fouls that players like Ray Allen (another great jumpshooter, ft shooter) don't get.

Dude.. I have seen Bowen just HAMMERING Dirk in the back with his elbow.. as hard as he can.. and he gets no call. There have been playoff games where guys have been allowed to hit Dirk on his shooting elbow throughout the whole game -- Portland series game 2. Dirk asked the refs about it and they said "i didn't think it affected your shot"..

Dirk is the least respected MVP candidate in NBA history. He is the least hyped too. Scotie Pippen said Carmelo was a better player than Dirk this season...

I don't understand how you can possibly say Dirk gets cheap fouls.. it's the complete opposite.

His team is over the limit and he shoots 2. A lot of them are also bail out calls on his awful drives. For example, the one in the first quareter when he spun around and barelled into Duncan and threw up some awful crap, but went to the line. The rules are murky on plays like that with a guy driving and a defender manning thepaint, so refs generally give them to proven finishers who have shown and continue showing that they can score when there is little or no contact. When they don't the refs are glad to blow the whistle. But I RARELY see Dirk finish and he still gets those borderline calls wheras other players who are not known as finishers don't.
Dirk is a great player, but please don't tell me that the star calls are awful.

You are looking at the minority of calls and ignoring the majority of no-calls where Bowen is constantly pushing Dirk and hitting his shooting arm...

Like I said.. I think the refs give some of those calls as makeup calls.. Like game 3.. they let Bowen get away with murder on Dirk all game.. then at the end they give Dirk a couple calls because they let Bowen do his thing all game. Dirk simply earned it from the refs. And in reality Dirk has more than earned it.

[Nero]

Dude.. I have seen Bowen just HAMMERING Dirk in the back with his elbow.. as hard as he can.. and he gets no call. There have been playoff games where guys have been allowed to hit Dirk on his shooting elbow throughout the whole game -- Portland series game 2. Dirk asked the refs about it and they said "i didn't think it affected your shot"..

Bowen is playing physical D that sometimes is allowed and other times isn't. I agree that it's his fault he's not adjusting. But it's not just Bowen, this series, or against the Spurs. This is an ongoing thing that I think was worse in last year's playoffs. Last year Dirk's jumping into the lane against Phoenix and Houston was depressing. I was a fan of his before that, but jumped off the bandwagan. It was embarrassing.This year he done a much better job. I don't blame him for the officiating.

[Winnipeg_Spur]

Mavs fans aren't allowed to complain about the refs after than travesty.

[Vashner]

Woah I just woke up.. I had a nightmare... seems we where loosing to Dallas..


GWAAAAAAKKK shit it's real.. :(

Oh well we got one more shot at this...