Spurs vs. Mavs Series Previews

No. 3 SAN ANTONIO SPURS (54-28) vs. No. 6 DALLAS MAVERICKS (50-32)
Brian Mahoney

Season series: Tied, 2-2. The highlight was the Spurs’ 133-126 double-overtime victory in Dallas on Dec. 9, and San Antonio’s other victory was a 93-76 home rout in a game that neither Tim Duncan nor Manu Ginobili played. Josh Howard averaged 20.7 points in the three games he played, missing one of Dallas’ losses. Dirk Nowitzki had a pair of 30-point games for Dallas.

Storyline: The state and division rivals meet in the postseason for the first time since the Mavs beat the Spurs in a thrilling Western Conference semifinal in 2006, winning Game 7 in overtime in San Antonio. The Spurs are playing without Ginobili but still managed to win its last four to clinch the Southwest title. Dallas also finished strong to vault all the way to the No. 6 seed.

Key matchup I: Tony Parker vs. Jason Kidd. Kidd no longer has the speed to defend quick point guards. Chris Paul dominated him in last year’s playoffs, and Parker torched the Mavs for 31.3 points per game this season, including a pair of 37-point nights. So Dallas may need another solution for San Antonio’s All-Star.

Key matchup II: Michael Finley vs. Josh Howard. If Howard’s ankle is healthy enough, the Spurs will struggle to find anyone athletic enough to defend him. Finley averaged 14.5 points and made 11 of 24 shots in two wins against his former team but was a combined 3-for-14 for eight total points in the losses.

X-factor: Jason Terry. If Ginobili were playing, this would have been a matchup of the NBA’s two best sixth men. Now there’s no doubt Terry is the top game-changer off the bench in the series.

Prediction: Mavericks in 6.

Did they forget about who is going to stop Ducan. What is your prediction duncan228 on the series

Apparently Duncan is irrelevant to this douchebag.

Mavs go into playoffs at their best
By Jaime Aron

DALLAS — Players say it all the time: They want their team playing its best going into the playoffs.

Well, the Dallas Mavericks certainly are. And they have about as good of a first-round matchup as they could get.

So maybe Jason Terry is on to something when he keeps insisting "the best is yet to come."

Terry has been using that line for days, even proclaiming it to a sellout crowd before the season finale Wednesday night. He was right in the short term, with a bunch of things falling into place and the Mavericks winding up with 50 wins and the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, neither of which seemed likely just a few weeks ago.

"We've continued to gradually build," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We've just really become a fighting team the last couple of months. That helped us."

Dallas will open the playoffs Saturday night in San Antonio, taking on a Spurs team that just won the division and will be looking to add 2009 to its collection of NBA titles in odd-numbered years (1999, 2003, '05 and '07).

But the Spurs will be without Manu Ginobili, which means they're a very different club. While the Mavericks also are different from the bunch that won a Game 7 in overtime in San Antonio three years ago, Terry and Dirk Nowitzki are still around and they'll make sure their team is not intimidated by having to win at least one road game to win the series.

"You always want to steal the first one, then go from there," Nowitzki said. "We'll just see what kind of defense they throw at us and what kind we throw at them. It's a game of adjustments after that."

This has been a season of adjustments for Dallas.

Coach Avery Johnson was fired last April following a second straight first-round ousting and a third straight playoff series loss. Players welcomed the change, but started 2-7 overall and 0-4 at home under Carlisle.

So Carlisle scrapped the Princeton-style offense he installed in training camp and went to a variety of what Johnson ran. After falling into another rut in late January, he made another switch -- letting Jason Kidd run the offense.

Things finally began to improve, especially at home. The Mavs are 15-1 at home since the All-Star break.

Yet they also tend to have some real clunkers on the road. There was a blowout loss in San Antonio when the Spurs were without Ginobili and Tim Duncan, then another in Oklahoma City on a night the lowly Thunder were without their top two scorers. Team owner Mark Cuban followed that loss with a threat to get rid of anyone who wasn't trying hard enough. They were better for a while, but still lost at Memphis two weeks ago, when the Grizzlies were long since eliminated and Dallas needed every win it could get.

The main reason the Mavs are rolling into the playoffs is Josh Howard returning to the lineup and to his All-Star form of a few years ago.

After missing 11 games in November-December and 11 more in March, all because of an aching left ankle, Howard understood the only cure is offseason surgery. Knowing he'd have to tolerate pain no matter how hard he tried, he's decided to go all out and endure the consequences.

Howard is back to flying toward the rim in the half-court offense and in transition, becoming the go-to guy for Kidd that was expected when Dallas traded for the point guard last season. He's once again the team's best defender on the perimeter and he's no longer stirring up off-court controversies like advocating marijuana on local radio or saying the national anthem isn't for him because he's black.

His impact is easy to measure: Since he rejoined the lineup March 31, Dallas is 7-2 overall, 6-1 in the games he's played.

"His energy on both ends of the floor is what we were missing," Nowitzki said. "Hopefully his ankle responds the right way. We've got a couple of days off now, then let it rip this weekend."

Carlisle's lineups have changed frequently all season, with Howard's health giving the rotation an extra twirl. The upside is that Carlisle has a better feel for when to start Antoine Wright or J.J. Barea at shooting guard, and knows he can rely on Brandon Bass and James Singleton as backups. Ryan Hollins has become an energy guy at center, but Carlisle lately has opted to go with smaller lineups when he takes out center Erick Dampier.

Terry comes off the bench, too, although he hardly seems like a sub considering he averages nearly 34 minutes and 19.6 points. Nowitzki averages 25.9 points, third-best in his career and fourth-most in the NBA.

"Right now, we're a confident group," Kidd said. "We're playing well. We're playing together."

Carlisle proudly notes that Dallas is the first team to start 2-7 and finish with 50 wins. This is the ninth straight year the Mavericks have reached that standard of excellence.

However, Dallas is the only team to have such a long stretch of 50-win seasons without winning multiple NBA titles. That's right, not just a championship, but several. The Mavericks have reached the finals only once and blew their chance for the championship by letting a 2-0 lead slip away against Miami in 2006.

They haven't won a postseason series since, but the last few weeks sure have felt like it. Dallas went 4-1 in games against playoff teams to move out of the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

"We've banded together," Terry said. "I think that's made us tougher mentally. I think we're prepared. We're a playoff-ready team. I keep saying it, but the best is yet to come."

Hmm, aren't we a team, and the Mavericks, too. There is no Lebron, Kobe, or Wade on either team. This series will be decided by such intervening factors as coaching, additions to either team since they last met, bench points, players who had not mattered until now (think Udoka, Mason, ... ?). This will be an interesting series, one that will yield many surprises.

I'm counting on it.

Actually SpurYank I have a feeling this series might well be decided more by substractions (Harris) than additions...

Kidd ha little chance of stopping Parker but at the same time, he has shown that he can still play the game, even post triple doubles once in a while. His 3-point shot has become a weapon for the Mavs. This series is going to be tightly contested.

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Originally Posted by mattp2000

What is your prediction duncan228 on the series

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My prediction is Duncan won't be stopped. We got a taste of what he still can do last night. The fire is back.

Duncan said the '06 Mavs series was one of the best he'd ever played in, and the loss hit him hard. Game 7, his court, overtime. It left a bad taste in his mouth and I think he'll take advantage of the opportunity to get rid of it.

The core of the Spurs are battle tested. It's been a rocky season but I believe we'll see them come together now. 'Win or go home' brings out the best in a Champion. Duncan, and the Spurs, are Champions. I expect to see the poise and execution they need to win.

thanks for posting this,

Yes spurs are missing Manu, but the Mavs are missing Avery and by that I mean someone that knows the spur's system. Thats what enabled them to beat us a few years ago.

I don't think they are a bad match up for us, yes we don't have anyone to defend Dirk, but he is not playing MVP level of basketball.

Josh Howard is not 100% healthy and if he is Bruce is going to be on him.

Jason kid is too slow for TP

Spurs in 5.

I think this could be a great matchup for Gooden. The Mavs only ever put one bigman on the court at one time that can score. The other serves as a defender and rebounder. Put Gooden on that guy, and let another bigman defend Dirk, and it'll cover his defensive weaknesses. Then he can go to work on the offensive end.

San Antonio (3) vs. Dallas (6)

Key to series: The benches. There are a lot of miles on the starters for both teams. Drew Gooden gives the Spurs some toughness which they lacked.

San Antonio 54-28
Dallas 50-32

Season Series: Tied 2-2

Head-to-head:

(at) Dallas 107, San Antonio 102
(at) San Antonio 93, Dallas 76
San Antonio 133, Dallas 126
Dallas 98, (at) San Antonio 81

Playoff Gambling Trends: Both teams are probably thinking that this is good way to start the series. San Antonio used the final week of the season to figure out a way to get by without Manu Ginobili (out for the season). Dallas would be comfortable in a half-court that saves Jason Kidd’s legs. Both teams are long in the tooth and will need to be replenished next season.

How San Antonio wins: Tim Duncan sucks it up for one last championship run, Tony Parker makes life miserable for Jason Kidd and the Spurs force the ball out of Dirk Nowitzki’s hands as much as possible.

How Dallas wins: The Mavs collapse on Duncan defensively, taking their chances that the SA perimeter is fatally injured by the loss of Ginobili. Parker has a tough time getting to the rim.

Prediction: San Antonio in 6

Quote:

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Originally Posted by duncan228

My prediction is Duncan won't be stopped. We got a taste of what he still can do last night. The fire is back.

Duncan said the '06 Mavs series was one of the best he'd ever played in, and the loss hit him hard. Game 7, his court, overtime. It left a bad taste in his mouth and I think he'll take advantage of the opportunity to get rid of it.

The core of the Spurs are battle tested. It's been a rocky season but I believe we'll see them come together now. 'Win or go home' brings out the best in a Champion. Duncan, and the Spurs, are Champions. I expect to see the poise and execution they need to win.

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The Mavs are in big trouble :ihit

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Originally Posted by duncan228

San Antonio (3) vs. Dallas (6)

Key to series: The benches. There are a lot of miles on the starters for both teams. Drew Gooden gives the Spurs some toughness which they lacked.

San Antonio 54-28
Dallas 50-32

Season Series: Tied 2-2

Head-to-head:

(at) Dallas 107, San Antonio 102
(at) San Antonio 93, Dallas 76
San Antonio 133, Dallas 126
Dallas 98, (at) San Antonio 81

Playoff Gambling Trends: Both teams are probably thinking that this is good way to start the series. San Antonio used the final week of the season to figure out a way to get by without Manu Ginobili (out for the season). Dallas would be comfortable in a half-court that saves Jason Kidd’s legs. Both teams are long in the tooth and will need to be replenished next season.

How San Antonio wins: Tim Duncan sucks it up for one last championship run, Tony Parker makes life miserable for Jason Kidd and the Spurs force the ball out of Dirk Nowitzki’s hands as much as possible.

How Dallas wins: The Mavs collapse on Duncan defensively, taking their chances that the SA perimeter is fatally injured by the loss of Ginobili. Parker has a tough time getting to the rim.

Prediction: San Antonio in 6

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Oh yeah! Lets kick the mav's asses and continue the drive for our 5th title. Our Slam Duncan has waken! Lets go spurs!! Lets go pinoy spurs fans! :flag::lobt2:

Preview: Spurs vulnerable vs. Mavs, but not doomed
By Tony Mejia
Pro Basketball News

The San Antonio Spurs are more vulnerable now, certainly. Manu Ginobili, out with a stress fracture in his lower right leg, will be missed. Tim Duncan, Bruce Bowen and Michael Finley are a year older.

But you're a fool if you believe the Spurs to be a paper No. 3 seed. A fool beyond redemption.

San Antonio has managed to hold on to its mystique even as circumstances conspire to tear it away. Because Ginobili's ankle has succumbed to the stress of playing basketball year-round for far too long, the likelihood of the Spurs continuing their run of titles in odd years ('99, '03, '05, '07) looks bleak. The Lakers, now at full stength, appear far too imposing.

That said, the Spurs remain interested in making their run. Given their accomplishments over the past decade and the caliber of their personnel, players and coaches alike, you might want to give them the benefit of the doubt before painting them with the incapable brush. Already, they're serving up reminders that writing them off wouldn't be wise.

Since learning Ginobili won't be back for the postseason, San Antonio has won five of six games. On Wednesday night, it looked destined for a No. 5 seed, down two possessions against New Orleans with just over 30 seconds to go.

Fate then intervened, getting a major assist from the Spurs, who, as they've been known to do, bent fate to carry out their will. A smart basket here, a deflection and near-steal there. The ball ended up in James Posey's hands instead of Chris Paul's, a free throw was missed, and a crack of the door was left open.

Gregg Popovich, left with 7.6 seconds to draw up the game-tying play, drew up a deliciously devious play to get a 3-point shot from Roger Mason or Finley, neither of whom panicked in executing flawlessly. Finley gets a look, sends the game to overtime and the Spurs ultimately sew up another Southwest Division title, albeit an unlikely one.

They'll open the 2009 postseason at home, same as they've done every year since 1999, Duncan's second in the league. That's a major victory right there.

Their first-round opponent is another resilient bunch, in-state rival Dallas, a team that won't dwarf the Spurs athletically. That, too, is a major victory.

Although the Mavericks are a cerebral, veteran-laden team currently playing it's best basketball of the season, they offer San Antonio a number of olive branches in what promises to be a competitive series. For one, travel to Dallas will be a lot easier than having to cruise all the way out to Portland. Houston got stuck with that chore.

Another major edge is that Tony Parker avoided fellow road-runner Chris Paul, instead drawing Jason Kidd, who he has a chance at wearing down over a lengthy series.

Over the years, San Antonio has seen so much of Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Josh Howard and Erick Dampier that the Spurs coaches know every one of their tendencies and weaknesses. Although the Mavericks have responded wonderfully to new coach Rick Carlisle, particularly lately, Popovich has to be psyched that he's got a team he knows so well to try and take apart with his short-handed roster. He already knows what should work and what won't.

April may have dealt the Spurs a nasty surprise with Ginobili's news to start the month, but this middle portion, Wednesday specifically, has cushioned the blow. Finishing up 5-1 without Manu and securing a top-four seed, not to mention a division title, helps keep the faith.

Popovich has been asked about his team from putting its head down without its most dynamic scorer.

"That's not how the team is built," was his simple response.

He's been proven right. Pop's guys have gone out and created a few breaks for themselves. If history is any indication, they'll take advantage.

HISTORY: The Spurs and Mavericks are old pals, splitting four regular season meetings. They've played twice since the All-Star breaking, splitting those as well, with Dallas holding the most recent win, overcoming 37 points from Parker in a 107-102 win. The teams have played each other in the postseason three times this decade ('01, '03, '06), with San Antonio winning the first two showdowns and Dallas prevailing a few years ago, winning an epic overtime game in San Antonio that ultimately prevented a potential three-peat. Mark Cuban remains a villified figure in the city for talking smack about San Antonio's beloved River Walk during that series, calling it an "ugly-ass, muddy-watered thing." Michael Finley, a Mavericks legend with over 600 career starts in a Dallas uniform, will be on the Spurs side of this playoff rivalry for the second time.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Duncan has been nursing sore knees for the better part of 2009, taking days off here and there to ease the burden. It's time to see if there's a payoff. Duncan has played in just two back-to-backs since the All-Star break and can go forward safe in the knowledge that there won't be another one. He played 34 minutes in the overtime win over the Hornets and came up with his best effort in over a month, finishing with 20 points, 19 rebounds, six assists and displaying a healthy amount of juice down the stretch. To say his effort was encouraging would be an understatement, as it's worth mentioning that the Spurs had lost five consecutive times when Duncan played 34 or more minutes. Popovich will have to walk a fine line to keep him fresh and productive.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Somehow, this series will find a way to go seven games. The core personnel is intimately familiar with one another, and there are matchups on both sides that can be exploited. Dirk Nowitzki had some of the best efforts of his career in that 2006 playoff series against the Spurs, and you can expect Bruce Bowen and Ime Udoka to try and slow him despite a size disadvantage. The Spurs will play through Duncan as often as possible, hoping he can draw double teams and create space for Tony Parker to work with and open shots for others on the perimeter.

KEY MATCHUP: Parker was pleased when Devin Harris was shipped out of town, even though it brought Kidd to the Mavericks. He even said so at the time of the trade, glad to be rid of one of the few guards fast enough to hang with him. Kidd is a capable defender and can wear you down with his size, but from a speed standpoint, is left to eat Parker's dust. In his last three games against Dallas, Parker has shot 42-for-82, averaging 34.3 points, 8.7 assists and just two turnovers. Kidd, who has been brilliant with his leadership, floor game and an improved 3-point stroke down the stretch, will have to be active throughout this series to hold his own, not to mention guarantee himself that contract he wants that will allow him to stay put.

LIKELY STARTERS:
Spurs -- F Michael Finley, F Tim Duncan, C Matt Bonner, G Tony Parker, G Roger Mason.
Mavs -- F Josh Howard, F Dirk Nowitzki, C Erick Dampier, G Jason Kidd, G Antoine Wright.

COACHING EDGE: Popovich is a master, but he's got strong competition in the Xs and Os department in Dallas' Carlisle. After using the first 50 or so games to get the talent he wanted in and carve out a strong rotation, he proved a lot of people wrong by guiding the Mavs to this point. Carlisle won 50 games with his third different franchise when the Mavs beat the Rockets in the regular season finale, and can hold his own with anyone in the coaching department.

THE SPURS WILL WIN IF: Duncan can stay in the 35-minute range and keeps from wearing down while providing San Antonio with his usual contributions on both ends of the floor. Parker's production is a given, so if the Spurs can get their two remaining All-Stars to be catalysts, they've got enough of a supporting cast to advance. With Duncan unable to deliver consistently over 40 minutes at a time, Drew Gooden will have to fill in the gaps and make a difference.

THE MAVS WILL WIN IF: Jason Terry continues to deliver in clutch situations, as it's up to him and to a lesser degree, J.J. Barea, to help take some pressure off Kidd. Nowitzki needs to deliver a few big nights, but the only way Dallas wins this series is if it can get enough quality guard play to offset Parker and keep the Spurs from comfortably digging in on defense.

REQUIRED READING: Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News; David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.

PREDICTION: San Antonio in seven. It's so difficult to eliminate a Spurs team with homecourt advantage, having happened only twice in the past seven years, a period spanning 16 seperate series. Dallas was the last to do so, but will find the task more difficult with Kidd trying to check Parker instead of Harris. Ultimately, that will provide the difference in a Game 7.

:hungry:

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Originally Posted by jason1301

I don't think they are a bad match up for us, yes we don't have anyone to defend Dirk, but he is not playing MVP level of basketball.

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:lol

mavs in 6.

sorry spurfan, but you guys aint what you used to be

For Mav fans:

http://ozguru.mu.nu/Photos/teamwork.gif

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 15 RINGS BITCH

mavs in 6.

sorry spurfan, but you guys aint what you used to be

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Neither are the Mavs.

Spurs in 6.

Why I'm scared... :(

Most seasons going into the "second season", we've had at least an idea that the spurs could easily dictate a series with their defense. Because the defense has not been consistant this season, it gives me great disgust to say that I don't like the tempo in which this series will be played. This is gonna be an up and down series with multiple games in the 100s for both teams and I dont think we can beat Dallas over seven games with that format.

Tony will be Tony but Bruce must be Bruce. Whether he's playing dirk or terry. His defense will dictate the tempo in the ballgame. If the spurs can somehow slow the game down, they're chances of winning will be much greater.

Mason has to be ginobili. Not with super manu intangibles, but with his offense. He must provide that offensive punch that we got used to seeing earlier in the season or the Spurs will be in danger of going on long dry offensive spells much to their demise in 2008.

Tim has to impose his will as much as his knees will let him. Diop is no longer in the middle, so Tim must destroy Dampier, repeatedly.

We need Gooden to be our Nazr. Rebound and provide a smidge of offense. Drew Gooden is capable of going off. If he does, the Spurs will be in great shape. Also, keeping Brandon Bass in check on the boards will be his number one priority.

Who's running the backup point? Vaughn can not keep up with Barea. I fear this matchup because I know the mavs are at a huge advantage in this area.

The success of this series will also go to the team that can do a better job shutting down the perimeter shooters. Dallas has deadly shooters that can kill you on the run. The Spurs have to step up their Transition D to make sure dallas doesn't score 10 points in 35 seconds as they can. On the flip side, Matt Bonner must find his touch once again. His shooting will be crucial when dallas decides to make a priority out of keeping tony out of the lane. Note to Matt: don't think, just shoot.

Protect the house. Dallas is putrid on the road. The spurs cannot allow dallas to steal one because the AAC, in all its rediculousness, will not be an easy place to pull out a win.

No series prediction here. The spurs will need all hands on deck for this one. Any kind of championship moxy the Spurs have left will be shown in this series. The only question is, will it be enough?

Believe?

From an X's and O's standpoint, I think we are going to have all kinds of matchup problems against the Mavs. That said, I absolutely despise Cuban, so all I can do is believe and hope that gay bastard mopes his way out of town. I don't even care if the Spurs get swept in the 2nd round, just beat the effing Mavs!

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Originally Posted by Shank

:lol

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Of course Dirk just hit a bunch of bullshit shots to be 4th in the league in scoring.

NBA Playoff Preview - San Antonio vs. Dallas
By John McMullen, NBA Editor

(Sports Network) - The three-six matchup in the Western Conference quarterfinals will be a Texas-sized showdown between San Antonio and Dallas with the opener slated for Saturday at 8 p.m. (et).

The Spurs were able to win the Southwest Division on the final day of the regular season thanks to a clutch three-pointer at the regulation buzzer from Michael Finley, then surging ahead in overtime to beat New Orleans.

Trying to win the NBA title for a fourth time in seven years, San Antonio guard Tony Parker is looking forward to the postseason again. The Spurs though will be without a main cog, as star swingman Manu Ginobili is out due to a stress fracture in his leg.

"We've had a lot of injuries. With Manu (Ginobili) being out half the season, it was a tough season," said Parker. "There were a lot of ups and downs but at the end of the day we got that third seed and that's what we wanted."

The Spurs are facing a familiar foe in the sixth-seeded Mavericks. The division rivals will be meeting in the playoffs for the fourth time since 2001, with the Spurs holding a 2-1 lead in the three previous meetings, although Dallas won the most recent series, a seven-game thriller in 2006.

Dallas surged to the sixth seed following a home win over Houston on the final night of the regular season.

The Mavs are now three years removed from their NBA Finals collapse against the Miami Heat and no longer considered a serious title contender.

It's been a steady if not precipitous decline for Mark Cuban's franchise since bowing to Miami. The following year, the team sprinted to the finish line with 67 wins but were stunned in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. Last year, the New Orleans Hornets did the dirty work, bouncing Dallas in the first round yet again. Now the Mavs will hope to avoid a third consecutive first- round exit.

A late season spurt helped Dallas reach the 50-win plateau for the ninth consecutive season but its 50-32 mark is the worst record the team has posted in those nine seasons.

The clubs split the four-game seasons series this year with the highlight being the Spurs' 133-126 double-overtime victory in Dallas on December 9.

MATCHUPS:

POINT GUARD: The Parker-Jason Kidd matchup at the point figures to be the most compelling of the series. The two point stars are on opposite career paths but both are playing well coming into the series.

Parker is coming off the best season of his career, leading the Spurs in scoring and assists at 22.0 ppg and 6.9 apg. He's one of the quickest players in the league with the ball and has improved his jump shot over the years, making him a tough check for anyone, nevermind an aging player like Kidd. In fact, Parker lit up the Mavs to the tune of 31.3 points per game this season, including a pair of 37-point nights.

Kidd isn't exactly chopped liver, however. The veteran recorded 11 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds Wednesday in the Mavs win over the Houston Rockets, giving him his third triple-double of the season and the 103rd of his career. J-Kidd was one of only three players in the NBA this year to notch three-or- more triple doubles, joining LeBron James (seven) and Chris Paul (six). Overall, Kidd scored 9.0 ppg and dished out 8.7 assists but shot just 41.6 percent from the floor.

EDGE: SPURS


SHOOTING GUARD: With Ginobili on the sidelines, San Antonio needs Roger Mason to deliver some scoring and he has been doing that lately but needs to show more consistency on a game-to-game basis.

Either way, Mason should be able to contribute more offense than his counterpart for Dallas, Antoine Wright. Problem is, Jason Terry will often come off the bench for Rick Carlisle and light it up.

EDGE: SPURS


CENTER: Polar opposites here. Spurs center Matt Bonner is a perimeter center that can stretch the defense with his outside shot but offers little help on the boards or the defensive end.

The Mavs' Erick Dampier, on the other hand, is a plodding pivot that can be a presence on the glass and a deterrent to anyone with a desire to drive the lane. His offense leaves a lot to be desired, however.

EDGE: MAVERICKS


SMALL FORWARD: Finley, a former Maverick, is the veteran starter for the Spurs. He's no longer a big-time scoring threat (9.7 ppg) but can still fill it up from beyond the arc, nailing 131 three-pointers this season and shooting a solid 41.1 percent from long range.

The athletic Josh Howard should have a big edge. Howard missed 30 games this season with a balky ankle but was very productive (18.0, 5.1 rpg) when on the floor and scores with consistency from inside and out. He averaged 20.7 points in the three games he played against San Antonio this year.

EDGE: MAVERICKS


POWER FORWARD: Balky knees and all, Tim Duncan is still Tim Duncan. The veteran All-Star is certainly slowing down and Gregg Popovich often rested him on the second day of back-to-back games but that's never an issue in the postseason. Duncan is still a nightly double-double guy at 19.3 ppg and 10.7 and a solid presence on the defensive end.

The Mavs, meanwhile, have their own All-Star at power forward in Dirk Nowitzki. The German star still fills it up to the tune of 25.9 ppg and 8.4 rpg. The former MVP finished the season with 26 double-doubles and tied a career-high for 30-point games in a season with 26. Two of Nowitzki's 30-point outings came against the Spurs and Dallas was 19-7 when Dirk notched 30-plus points, so he needs to get off a few times in the series.

EDGE: SPURS


BENCH: Last year's Sixth Man of the Year, Ginobili, is not available for the Spurs. His heir apparent, Terry, will be ready for the Mavs.

San Antonio doesn't have many offensive options off the bench now, save veteran forward Drew Gooden. Popovich has already indicated that rookie guard George Hill will not be much of an option.

Terry has been money all year, netting 19.6 points per game, second on the team to Nowitzki. Meanwhile, guard Jose Juan Barea and forward Brandon Bass have also given Rick Carlisle effective minutes on a nightly basis down the stretch.

EDGE: MAVERICKS


PREDICTION: If you are looking for an upset in the first round, you have to look long and hard at this series. The Mavs have played very well late in the season while the Spurs are without their finisher, Ginobili.

I still think a veteran-laden San Antonio club, with all its championship experience, will have enough to oust Dallas in a Game 7 set for the Alamo City. But, anytime you are in a do-or-die situation and staring at Nowitzki and Terry on the opposite bench, things could go wrong.

The Spurs have advanced past the first round of the playoffs in every season since 1999-2000.

SPURS in 7

Western Conference playoff preview: No. 3 San Antonio vs. No. 6 Dallas
By Sean Deveney - SportingNews

Frontcourt: The Spurs' frontline has been held together by chicken wire and bubble gum all season. PF Tim Duncan is still an All-NBA player, but his knees are hurting, and he's getting by on guts just now. Before this season, sharp-shooting C Matt Bonner made just nine starts in four years in the NBA—he made 67 starts this year. And 36-year-old Michael Finley is the starter at small forward. Yet, this team won 54 games. The Mavericks are anchored by PF Dirk Nowitzki, and he will be a puzzle for the Spurs. Nowitzki's ability to play on the perimeter means the Spurs can't put Duncan or Bonner on him, but Nowitzki has five inches on Finley. C Erick Dampier might not play very much if Bonner can make his 3-pointers, but the real key figures to be Mavs SF Josh Howard, whose ankle injury has bothered him all year. Howard needs to provide some support for Nowitzki. Edge: Mavericks.

Backcourt: Dallas PG Jason Kidd is 36 and has lost a step, but there are two things he can do that might prove useful in this series. The first is nothing new: Kidd can post up the much smaller Tony Parker. The second is very new: Kidd can make 3-pointers, having shed his rep as a bad shooter while making 40.6 percent of his 3s this year. Kidd will have to exploit Parker on the offensive end, because when it comes to defending Parker, Kidd has little chance. Parker has become an elite point guard, too quick and smart to contain. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle will probably use SG Jose Barea or SG Antoine Wright on Parker when possible. The Spurs' Roger Mason Jr. has cooled off since his hot first half, but he is still a dangerous 3-point shooter. Edge: Spurs.

Bench: The loss of Manu Ginobili is a crushing blow for the Spurs, but they've rallied and managed to hold up without him over the last five games of the season. They'll count more on Ime Udoka, they'll need some scoring from Drew Gooden, and we may see more of Bruce Bowen. The Mavs have stocked up on bench bruisers like James Singleton and Brandon Bass, but the guy the Spurs have no answer for is Jason Terry (19.6 points per game). Edge: Mavericks.

Go-to guy: Mason has been an excellent last-second option for the Spurs, and with the threat of a Duncan jumper or Parker penetration, he figures to be left open for his share of clutch field-goal attempts. Nowitzki is a proven go-to guy, too. Edge: Even.

X-factor: Howard's ankle could decide this series. If he's playing up to par, and if he can perform well in the second half of games (which has been a problem), then the Mavs might have too many weapons for the Spurs to handle. Over Howard's last seven games, he's averaged 18.0 points and 6.3 rebounds.

SNumber: 10-0. There's some history working against Dallas here. That is Duncan's all-time record in first-round series in which he has played.

Who's hot? Parker is hard enough to handle, even when he is just playing at his usual level. But he has picked it up down the stretch, averaging 24.6 points and 7.3 assists over his last 25 games.

Who's not? He can still make an open 3-pointer, but Bowen—a fixture in the Spurs starting five for the last seven seasons—has seen his minutes cut and averaged just 2.7 points this year. Still, he could be a factor in this series, because he's been known to irritate Nowitzki.

Outlook: These two teams know each other well, and last time they played in the postseason, the Mavs took a thrilling overtime Game 7 victory on their way to the Finals. It's a good, comfortable matchup for both teams. Losing Ginobili hurts the Spurs, but having Parker (and the home edge) helps. Spurs in 7.

Quote:

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SNumber: 10-0. There's some history working against Dallas here. That is Duncan's all-time record in first-round series in which he has played.

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I don't think Duncan is going to let that streak end this year. :)

who on the mavs side is going to gaurd parker?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by weebo

who on the mavs side is going to gaurd parker?

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Nobody.

Team-by-team look at the West playoffs
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com

No. 3 San Antonio Spurs

What I like: Snagging the No. 3 seed in the West on the final day of the regular season to set up a rematch of the '06 second-round epic with Dallas was the best available scenario for San Antonio.

So the Spurs will actually be pleased to see their old rivals from North Texas on Saturday for Game 1, strange as it'll undoubtedly seem to be facing the Mavs so early.

San Antonio actually might be the only team on the NBA map that still retains the sort of respect for Dallas that it had for the Mavericks back in 2006. That's probably because, to this day, the Spurs still don't have a consistent answer defensively for Dirk Nowitzki.

The positives of the matchup, though, are undeniable. Travel will be easy for the Spurs' vets. Dallas has as much (or more) trouble guarding Tony Parker as San Antonio has with Nowitzki. And all this means that San Antonio is out of L.A.'s bracket until the West finals.

You might say that's just delaying the inevitable, since Tim Duncan (knee) is still ailing and with Manu Ginobili out for the rest of the season thanks to persistent ankle trouble, but the Spurs don't do surrenders. Certainly not when they have what might be their deepest supporting cast in the Duncan era and not after San Antonio just escaped landing in L.A.'s bracket and opening the playoffs on the road in Portland.

What I don't like: The overriding source of distress, of course, is the state of Tim Duncan's knees. Having Ginobili out and Duncan at a reduced capacity heaps a ton on Parker, who has been advised by his bosses that they need him scoring big throughout the playoffs to have any chance of hanging around.

The secondary source of concern is the real possibility that the Mavs, no matter how favorable it seemed for San Antonio to land this matchup, have a better shot at beating the Spurs in their current state than their potential first-round foes in the other bracket. I would have picked San Antonio to beat Portland or Houston in a series, even without Ginobili, because I believe in the Spurs' veteran know-how that much, especially against playoff neophytes. But this is a little bit different.

Happy as the Spurs were to get this draw compared with the other options, Dallas has been to South Texas too many times to be unsettled by the crowds down there. Comfortable might be stretching it, but this will be a setting and an opponent that the Mavs know infinitely well. Which should only enhance their chances.


No. 6 Dallas Mavericks

What I like: What's even better than the history that tells us the Mavericks are one of just two teams this decade to win a playoff series against the Spurs when Duncan is playing?

The strong finish.

It's been awhile since we've seen one from the Mavs.

"I think the last two years," Mavs sixth man Jason Terry says, "we kind of lost steam going into the playoffs."

Not this time. Presumed to be locked in a battle with Phoenix for the No. 8 spot in the West, Dallas instead wound up surging into the No. 6 slot and a playoff reunion with the Spurs. The Mavs thought for sure that they were headed to Denver to start the playoffs against a team that oozes athleticism and swept the teams' four meetings this season, so they're as pleased with Wednesday's late shuffle of the seeds as anyone. They didn't want to deal with Denver's athleticism so soon.

What I don't like: You could argue that the Mavs haven't entered a playoff series with as much confidence as they have right now since the Finals in 2006 after toppling the Spurs and Phoenix back-to-back. That kind of self-belief was clearly not there in the first round against Golden State in 2007 and again in 2008 when Dallas was ousted in the first round by New Orleans.

However ...

You can't ignore the issues that had Dallas near the No. 8 spot for the bulk of the season until the late push. Three biggies:

1. Josh Howard's uncertain health is the biggest worry. He's been a huge spark in April, playing with more energy and passion than the Mavs have seen since he made it to the All-Star Game in 2007. But it's also evident that he's bothered by the ankle injury, which Howard says will likely require offseason surgery. He'll be monitored on a day-to-day basis throughout the playoffs.

2. The Mavs' 32-9 home record -- 32-5 since starting out 0-4 at home this season -- is not as gaudy as it looks. Their play at home has been lackluster more often than not. And San Antonio is more capable than most teams of capitalizing, even without Ginobili.

3. How do we know? The Mavs' vulnerability was exposed in a road loss to the Spurs in February with both Duncan and Ginobili sidelined.

Spurs-Mavericks series breakdown
Steve Aschburner
SI.com

OVERVIEW: Neither team is what it was three years ago, when the Spurs and Mavs squared off in a conference semifinal series that went to seven games, plus five extra minutes, before visiting Dallas eliminated the defending champions en route to its own Finals trip. Manu Ginobili won't be around this time, Dallas swapped out Devin Harris for Jason Kidd and a lot of the principals are three years older. But the history and the passions run hot.

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THREE THINGS TO WATCH

1. Howard's production. Dallas' Josh Howard has talked about how he "gets it'' now, meaning that he accepts his responsibility for the team's successes or failures based on how he plays. He is a much-needed third scoring option (behind Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry) for the Mavs, as much for how (slashing, opportunistic baskets) as for how much. But he still can be maddeningly inconsistent. After three straight postseasons in which he boosted his scoring from its regular-season rate, Howard went backward last spring, dropping from 19.9 points to 12.6 in the first-round exit against New Orleans.

2. San Antonio's support system. Tim Duncan is as inevitable as death and taxes, Tony Parker gets neglected too often in the debate about best point guards, and the Spurs' record does drop off considerably when Ginobili's not around. But no San Antonio team accomplishes anything without key bench players stepping up in the postseason to help the stars. The Robert Horry-Brent Barry-Malik Rose roles likely will get filled in one way or another this spring by Roger Mason, Matt Bonner and Drew Gooden. Does "Big Shot Rog" have a ring to it?

3. Dirk in rhythm. Dirk Nowitzki's name won't be included on many MVP ballots this year -- they only have space for five nominees -- but it's hard to imagine Dallas without the 7-foot sharpshooter. He has averaged 30.3 points in April, and his season-ending streak of 25 games with at least 20 points is the NBA's longest of 2008-09. He'll want to come up big in this series, at least, because the Mavs around him could look entirely different if they make another premature playoff exit.

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UNDER THE RADAR: Michael Finley actually had a few people feeling sorry for him in 2006 when he switched teams via the amnesty clause that Dallas owner Mark Cuban invoked and wound up leaving the Mavs just as they were taking San Antonio's regular place in the Finals. But a year after Dallas collapsed against Miami in the championship round, Finley won a title with San Antonio. And here we are now, Finley's 36 and he's coming off another solid year, hitting two huge shots in the final week (one to beat Sacramento, one to force overtime in Wednesday's victory against New Orleans). He's not the player he was in his prime in Dallas, but San Antonio's system doesn't require that.

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PREDICTION: Spurs in 7. The Mavs weren't thrilled to win 50 games and still not have home-court advantage in the first round. Then again, they had been so spooked by the prospect of facing the Lakers this weekend that getting San Antonio -- normally quite a booby prize -- seems like a lucky break. That said, the Spurs are riding even higher, with their victory in game No. 82 nailing down the division title and a possible four games in San Antonio versus Dallas. That edge, stubborn Spurs pride and the Mavs' maddening inconsistency should swing it.

A couple from The Wall Street Journal.

2009 NBA Playoffs: The Daily Fix Preview
by David Roth

The San Antonio Spurs always seem to save their best ball for the postseason, but they’ll bring a little extra for the sixth-seeded Dallas Mavericks because — how to put this kindly — the two teams freaking hate each other. But the Mavericks have played well enough against the Spurs this year so that, strange as it may seem, they’ve gotten the match-up they wanted.

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The Count: Celtics and Spurs Play a Man Down
By Carl Bialik

Two NBA playoff teams — defending champion Boston and last year’s West finalist, San Antonio — begin play tomorrow without stars. Just how much weaker are the Celtics without Kevin Garnett and the Spurs without Manu Ginobili? Advanced stats don’t always agree, though the general conclusion is that Boston has suffered a bigger blow.

With Kevin Garnett mostly on ice since mid-February, Boston’s defense has slipped.
With Garnett, the Celtics were the second most dominant team in the NBA this season, by point differential, Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus points out. Without him they were a second-tier playoff team. “The Celtics missed Garnett’s defense in virtually every area,” Pelton writes. “Opponents shot better on both twos and threes, grabbed far more offensive rebounds, and turned the ball over less frequently. Surprisingly, the biggest difference at the defensive end was in forcing turnovers — not exactly Garnett’s specialty.”

Indeed, Garnett’s steals aren’t off the charts — yet another reminder that defensive value is more difficult to measure in the box score. His scoring and other numbers also understate his value. According to Basketball Prospectus, if Garnett played 48 minutes of every game with four average teammates, they would win 64% of his games, based on his box-score stats this season. That’s far better than, say, Mardy Collins’s 37%, but it lags far behind MVP candidates LeBron James and Chris Paul, whose so-called per-minute win percentages are above 83%.

More-advanced analysis comparing Boston’s defensive efficiency with and without Garnett helps his case. According to 82games.com, Boston gave up 7.3 more points per 100 possessions when Garnett was off the floor this season — including his time on the bench before he went down to injury.

Ginobili, meanwhile, had a per-minute win percentage of 68% this season — better than Garnett’s, based on box-score stats. David Berri, also relying on his formula based on box-score stats, said Ginobili’s early exit may have cost the Spurs at least six wins this season and his unavailability for the playoffs changes San Antonio from “possible contender to a likely early vacation.”

But outside the box score, there is evidence that Ginobili is a defensive liability. Overall the Spurs were slightly better at outscoring opponents without him on the court than with him. Pelton corrects that stat for home/road and opponent quality and finds a more-logical conclusion, that San Antonio is better with their third-leading scorer on the court. Yet Ginobili’s value, even after these corrections, doesn’t approach Garnett’s.

After the hell of a collapse in the post-ASB part of the season, TD looking terrible, Manu getting KO'd, the defense seemingly getting worse before our eyes... it's hard to be optimistic right now.

Maybe once this series starts, I'll start to believe again.

But right now, I can't help but see this as a matchup of a couple of teams that are probably not going to win the next round. The opposite of that epic 2006 series where there was no real loser... there might not be a real winner in this one.

San Antonio still has Parker ... Spurs in seven
Tim Cowlishaw
Dallas Morning News

As the Mavericks fought their way to the regular-season finish line, they finally got what they wanted. But teams have been known to pay dearly for wanting to face the San Antonio Spurs in the postseason.

For sure, it's better than starting off in the No. 8 spot and facing the Los Angeles Lakers. That's instant death.

And I think Denver would be more troubling for Dallas for a few reasons, one of them being the Nuggets surely wouldn't lack confidence after sweeping the Mavericks 4-0 this season.

So if you are going to finish around the bottom of the Western Conference playoff picture, the Spurs are the division winner you want to play.

But I still think San Antonio wins this series in seven games and sends the Mavericks out of the playoffs in the first round for the third year in a row.

It doesn't have to go that way. There are some definite things to like in the Mavericks' favor.

That list has to start with the absence of Manu Ginobili, who is out for the rest of the season. Ginobili has been such an integral part of the Spurs' last three championships that it's impossible to think about them winning another without him.

The Spurs were 32-12 when Ginobili played this season and 22-16 without him. In other words, the Spurs were close to the Lakers' level with him, somewhere around the staying-at-home Phoenix Suns without him.

I can't say his absence completely tilts this series in the Mavericks' favor. It helps, of course. But one of the reasons the Spurs lost games without Ginobili was resting Tim Duncan on the second nights of back-to-back games.

There aren't any back-to-backs in the playoffs.

And the Spurs have won big games without Ginobili, none of them bigger than the season-ending overtime comeback win over the New Orleans Hornets that won San Antonio the division.

I think the Mavericks can go into this series with confidence they certainly wouldn't have had playing the Lakers and probably wouldn't have had against Denver. Most of the key members of the Mavericks other than Jason Kidd were part of the nucleus that knocked off San Antonio in the second round in 2006.

And the Mavericks split the season series with San Antonio. Both teams won in the other's arena, so I don't think the home-court advantage is huge for the Spurs in this series.

Coach Rick Carlisle was obviously pleased that his team reached the 50-win plateau with that final victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. He believes his team has developed a certain toughness over the course of the season.

That seems to be the case, but I'm not sure it can hold up to the toughness the Spurs have been bringing to the postseason for years.

The Mavericks really struggle to deal with Spurs point guard Tony Parker, and while Duncan no longer plays at an MVP level, he can be the best player in this series just as easily as Dirk Nowitzki can.

I don't know that Bruce Bowen at 37 can play anything close to the defense on Nowitzki that he did in the playoffs three years ago, and I'm not sure he will even guard him. But coach Gregg Popovich's teams usually find a way to cause problems with their defense.

I didn't think they could do it to New Orleans all-world point guard Chris Paul after he had carved up the Mavericks last year, but the Spurs did.

This should be an outstanding series, with two good coaches and prideful but older teams that want to prove they are still relevant in today's league. Both have been winning 50 games a year all decade, but the Spurs have been piling up championships while the Mavericks failed in their one trip to the Finals.

It won't be a major surprise to anyone if the Mavericks get it together and win this series. But if there's a way to win at least one round without Ginobili, the Spurs will find it.

And I think Parker's ability to shred the Mavericks' defense is it.

Although the series will be a challenging on, I must echo the sentiment that I am glad the Mavs traded Harris and Diop (twice). They still have some length and athleticism on the bench, but Parker should have his way in the lane.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks
By Loren Jorgensen
Deseret News

The season series: tied, 2-2

The stars: Two of the top power forwards of the last decade will do battle: San Antonio's Tim Duncan (19.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg) against Dirk Nowitzki (25.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg).

The telling stat: Duncan has won four NBA titles, tying him with Shaquille O'Neal for most by an active player.

The scoop: These two Lone Star State rivals last met in the playoffs in the 2006 Western Conference finals, with the Mavs upsetting the Spurs in the seventh game in San Antonio. Since then the Spurs have earned another NBA title, while the Mavs haven't won another playoff series.

This is a series where both aging teams had to play well down the stretch to get where they are. Despite star guard Manu Ginobili being out with an injury, the Spurs won their last four games to earn the Southwest Division title.

The Mavs, meanwhile, looked like they were in a battle with the Suns for the final playoff spot in the West until the final few games of the season. But not only did they make the playoffs, they climbed past Utah and New Orleans to earn the No. 6 seed with their strong play down the stretch.

A key battle here will be at point guard where Tony Parker (22 ppg, 6.9 apg) would seem to have an advantage over aging star Jason Kidd (9.0 ppg, 8.7 apg). If Kidd can keep this matchup close, it will be a huge advantage to the Mavericks.

Dallas' second best scorer, Jason Terry (19.6 ppg), comes off the bench to give his club some instant offense. That's the same role Ginobili has played over the years, but he's out of commission, giving the Mavs an advantage here.

Nowitzki and Duncan are still two of the best players in the game and outstanding competitors. They will make sure this is one of the best first-round series out there.

The prediction: Spurs in 7.

San Antonio Spurs carry memories of 2006 and Dallas Mavericks’ second-round win
Randy Galloway

SAN ANTONIO — It’s not about then. It’s all about now. But tonight, in an arena on the outskirts of this city’s beautiful downtown, an arena far removed from Mark Cuban’s "dirty" little river, don’t dare think the then-factor has been forgotten. Certainly not here.

The NBA officially lists this 7 p.m. tipoff as Game 1, Mavericks-Spurs, best-of-seven, 2009.

A quick survey, however, tells me that anyone locally who bleeds silver-and-black (and that’s everyone in these parts) totally disputes that notion.

In those fanatical heads, this is Game 8, best-of-14.

It’s 2006 all over again, the continuation.

Go back three years. The playoffs. Best of times, absolute worst of times for the Dallas Mavericks.

Second round: Outlasted the Spurs in seven games in one of the best playoff series in NBA history. Game 7 here was an all-time classic. Trade uniforms, and make it like Celtics and Knicks playing that exact Game 7, and to this day the NBA Channel still would be showing weekly reruns.

In 29 years of franchise existence, there has never been a bigger postseason moment for the Mavs. And it was only the second round.

It’s funny — a weird kind of funny — that the Spurs, as a franchise and as a fandom, still have that series lodged in stomach pits, sitting there three years later like bad taco meat.

The very next season, it was the Spurs who continued their storied championship history, winning a fourth NBA title. But not even that erased the bitter memory of Second Round ’06.

Obviously, history has been awful since then for the Mavs. They went on from Santone to beat the Amare-less Suns in the Western Conference Finals, but while on the way to a first NBA championship, the Miami Meltdown was also an instant classic. A classic Finals’ choke.

More disgrace came the next year in the first-round ouster by the eighth-seeded Warriors. And last season, the better team simply prevailed in the first round. That was the Hornets.

So ...

That brings us to the now-factor. A hostile and heated now-factor.

They know in San Antonio that losing to the hated Cubans in ’06 cost a fifth title. Because they know in San Antonio the Spurs wouldn’t have choked against Miami. They could live with it locally if it had been anyone except the Mavericks and their mouthy owner. That’s why, three years later, they still can’t stomach it.

Mr. LeBreton wrote on these pages Friday that what happened in ’06 are tired, well-traveled story lines.

Maybe so, Gil. But not in this town, my man. Not at all here.

In a bit of irony, the Mavericks are in sort of a no-win situation, perception-wise, starting tonight.

If they win this series, the Spurs have the excuse of no Manu. Mr. Ginobili has been reduced to an injured spectator, removing one of the best players in the world from the floor.

But if the Mavs lose this series, beaten by a Manu-less Spurs, oh, wow. More catcalls, particularly since word has filtered throughout this region that this is the playoff matchup the Mavs had "wished" for.

Coach Rick Carlisle would drink the dirty river water before allowing such words to leave his lips, and no Mavs player has come close to uttering such a public comment. It’s a D-FW media theme, although it’s true.

I’d say, however, it’s true for any team in the Western Conference. The absence of Manu combined with Tim Duncan’s cranky knees, and the Spurs, despite their royal pedigree and best playoff coach in the business, are regarded as a limping target.

But consider the opposition. Over the last two years, and now more than ever, the Mavericks have been reduced to mutt status around the NBA. Another 50-win season, and no one notices.

Of the eight playoff teams in the West, the Mavs are by far the least respected even after Utah and New Orleans crashed in the regular-season stretch.

Dave's 2 Sense: 5 Reasons Spurs Win in 5
by: David Chancellor
WOAI.com

Prediction: Spurs will in five. Come playoff time, everybody has a prediction. Here's mine: Spurs beat the Mavericks in five games. 6 or 7 is the trendy pick, so why do I think the series won't be that close? Here are my five reasons the Spurs win in five games.

1. Tony Parker...
Dallas has no answer for him. Reread that, and believe it. NO ANSWER. Parker averaged 29.5ppg against Dallas this season. He scored 37 points twice. Parker won't say it, but he will always carry the chip on his shoulder from the summer of 2003. The Spurs courted Jason Kidd, and Parker stewed. I think he finds extra motivation in proving the Spurs ended up with the better end of the deal.

2. Better coach...
I can't say it any better than Gil Lebreton did in the Star Telegram. "Other than the late Red Auerbach, San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich might be the best postseason coach in NBA history."

3. The Schedule...
The Spurs might be the first team in history to win a 1st round series, even before it began. The minute Michael Finley's three against New Orleans went in, the Spurs knew the playoff road got shorter. No long flight to Portland. Not sure who was more excited? The team, or the media that usually follows the Spurs during the playoffs. Combine that with no back-to-backs, and Tim's knees aren't nearly the issue they were during the regular season.

4. Deceiving Record…
Let's not forget who Dallas was this season. A team that started 2-7. A team that was fighting off Phoenix for the 8th seed just a few weeks ago. Nice finish for Dallas, but this is not the powerful franchise it was in 2006. Neither are the Spurs, but the Mavs have fallen further--faster.

5. 2006 Payback...
If you don't know what I'm talking about, then turn in your Spurs jersey now, and find a hobby for the next few weeks. Except for .4, I can't think of a more negative moment in Spurs history than the 2006 series against Dallas.

Confident Mavs look to carry strong finish into playoffs
By Jeff Caplan
Pro Basketball News

Based on their peculiarly inconsistent play and some disturbingly disheartening performances, old man Jason Kidd and the over-the-hill Dallas Mavericks were left for dead months ago.

And the deal that brought the 36-year-old Kidd back to his roots and shipped enticing, young point guard Devin Harris to New Jersey? Panned incessantly from coast-to-coast, and then further mocked every time audacious Mavs owner Mark Cuban opened wide and said he'd do the deal again, and again, and again.

Now on the precipice of Saturday night's first-round opener, stunningly enough at the hobbled San Antonio Spurs and not at the Los Angeles Lakers after a late escape from the dreaded eighth spot, could Kidd, Cuban and the Mavs be on the verge of getting the last laugh?

"I think we're as confident as we've been all season," said Dirk Nowitzki, who quietly put together one of the finest seasons of his career, having averaged 25.9 points, fourth in the league. "It's been a tough up-and-down year, but we've really played well as of late. Hopefully, we can carry that over into the playoffs."

The Mavs did finish the first 82 playing some of their best ball, even if they still had trouble keeping the passion levels high game-in and game-out (see near loss to Miami at home on April 1, loss at Memphis on April 3 and a near-horrific loss at home to Minnesota on April 13).

Still, wins over Phoenix, Utah, New Orleans and Houston in the final six games pushed the Mavs into the sixth seed and created a renewed buzz in apathetic Big D.

Josh Howard's strong play since his recent return from a chronic left ankle problem clearly juiced the club. The lanky, 6-foot-7 Howard is a serious matchup problem for the Spurs and his numbers prove it. He averaged 20.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in the three games he played.

"J-Ho has been big in this stretch run for us," Kidd said. "When we're healthy and he's out on the court for us you can talk about his offense, but if you look at what he does for us defensively he's big for us."

Added Nowitzki: "Josh has been great. His energy on both ends of the floor is what we'd been missing."

The Mavs might not admit it outright, but facing the third-seeded Spurs, who are also concerned about Tim Duncan's sore knees, is the matchup they hoped would come their way. The Mavs and Lakers are the only teams this decade to defeat the Spurs in the playoffs.

Dallas rode its classic, seven-game series win to the 2006 Finals.

"Getting past them was a stepping stone," said Jason Terry, the favorite to finish as the league's top sixth man. "It did give us confidence knowing we could take down a powerhouse, because that's what they are."

Getting back to Kidd, this series is highly significant for him, and not just because he becomes a free agent. Remember, it wasn't long ago that the Spurs tried to lure Kidd to San Antonio when speedster Tony Parker was just another unproven kid.

Since Kidd's been back in Dallas, it hasn't exactly been a daily parade. Kidd and his new teammates struggled to mesh after the trade, were trounced by Chris Paul and the Hornets in the first round and Avery Johnson was fired.

Rick Carlisle entered and implemented a motion offense that never clicked. He fell back on old schemes from Johnson's playbook and, finally, after half a season, put the play-calling in Kidd's hands. The Mavs' scoring immediately increased, even if they continued to throw in some clunkers against woeful teams.

Kidd capped the regular season with a rare triple-double to sink the Rockets and set up the Spurs matchup.

"Over the last couple of months, he's played as well as he has since he's been here," Nowitzki said. "He's leading the troops on both ends of the floor and making big shots for us. It just seems like he's a lot more comfortable than he was when he first got here.

"It's all about him running the show."

Parker no doubt remembers the Spurs' pursuit of Kidd. When the Mavs made the deal 14 months ago, Parker, calculatingly no doubt, made this comment: "To be honest with you, I'm really happy for that trade. Devin Harris, most of the time, he played good against us. So I thought it would be good for us. No disrespect to Jason Kidd, he's a great point guard, but..."

Parker's burned the Mavs this season, averaging 31.3 points on 51.5-percent shooting, and 7.3 assists. Still, the rivals split the season series 2-2, in large part because Kidd played some his best basketball in those games.

Kidd averaged 13.0 points against the Spurs, his highest point production against any West team, plus 8.8 assists and 7.3 rebounds. He hit 51.3 percent of his shots, well above his season average, including 45 percent from beyond the arc (9 of 20) where he often finds himself unguarded.

The series outcome could hinge on Kidd's play in San Antonio. His home and road statistics against the Spurs are glaring. In Dallas, Kidd averaged 20.5 points on 16 of 25 shooting, and nine assists.

In San Antonio, he dropped to 5.5 points on 4 of 14 shooting, and seven assists. As a team, the Mavs were disappointing, if not completely frustrating, on the road at 18-23. They'll have to win one, and likely two, on the Spurs' floor to avoid a third consecutive one-and-done.

"We're a veteran ball club and we understand how important it is to win at home and we're confident at home," Kidd said. "We've got to find a way to win on the road in the playoffs."