San Antonio Spurs (#1) vs. Dallas Mavericks (#8) Playoff Series Thread

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Originally Posted by midnightpulp

What clear matchup advantage can the Spurs really boast in the series? It should be at the PG with Parker/Mills vs. Calderon/Harris, but Mills seems to have gotten exposed. And Parker's game is a far cry from how he was playing last year.

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Tony in half a leg can and should play better than this... Diaw/Tiago should outplay Dalembert/Wright... Kawhi should outplay Marion...

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Originally Posted by ElNono

It is, IMO... no legs, and no way to get to the rack... Manu wasn't really a passer back then, he'll just go to the rack... heck his 3 pt shooting was money...
I think he's at that point where his mind says do this, and his body does what it cans... he's still great in spurts (like tonight), but it's obviously not sustainable.

My beef with Enrique is that he doesn't even look hurt... he just dribble, dribble, dribble, and don't know what to do until he chucks with 3 secs left.

Then again, I think pretty much everyone knew that once that speed went somewhat away, that career wasn't gonna last, tbh

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I won't defend Enrique because he has pissed me off far longer than Turnobili. But it is still mental with Manu. Perhaps it starts with the physical side and his body breaking down, but even last season he said his mind wasn't in the right place. We saw that in the Finals where he gave the greatest gift to Lebron. Manu's carelessness is not physical imo.

They both need to step their game up and get things right. Especially Parker who is supposed to be the leader but we all know that's just nominal.

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Originally Posted by HI-FI

I won't defend Enrique because he has pissed me off far longer than Turnobili. But it is still mental with Manu. Perhaps it starts with the physical side and his body breaking down, but even last season he said his mind wasn't in the right place. We saw that in the Finals where he gave the greatest gift to Lebron. Manu's carelessness is not physical imo.

They both need to step their game up and get things right. Especially Parker who is supposed to be the leader but we all know that's just nominal.

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Manu played a lot better this season, but the 2-3 TOs have been there all season. I think the mental aspect was there last season due to the injuries. But I wouldn't say that's the case this season.

At any rate, I'm with you. Everybody says this is Enrique's team right now, he needs to play like it and stop waiting for TD/Kawhi to bail him out.

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Originally Posted by ElNono

Tony in half a leg can and should play better than this... Diaw/Tiago should outplay Dalembert/Wright... Kawhi should outplay Marion...

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Is Enrique playing the injury card like Choke Paul and his fake "hamstring injury"? :lol

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Originally Posted by Clipper Nation

Is Enrique playing the injury card like Choke Paul and his fake "hamstring injury"? :lol

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not yet, AFAIK :lol

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Originally Posted by DAF86

lol Monta isn't better than Manu. Not in the regular season, not now in the playoffs. Not ever.

Dirk is the best player of the series (not by far over Duncan, tbh) after that the Spurs are better in pretty much every other aspect. Stop being a faggot because of a playoffs loss. Thanks.

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:lol

What have Belinelli and Mills ever done in the post season? Just because their regular season stats were better than Carter's and Harris's doesn't mean shit. These two, a big part of the Spurs' regular season success, are shrinking on the playoff stage. Carter and Harris have outscored them 55 to 14 over the last two games. Throw in Danny Green, and it's 55 to 20.


Maybe Monta isn't better than Ginobili, but there's not a big gap there.

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Originally Posted by spurraider21

so you are boiling talent down to scoring ability... do you lie to yourself when arguing with Bigalo?

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No. I boil it down to scoring efficiently.

I also value defense, as you know, but the Spurs just gave up 113 points at home in a playoff game. And that was with Dirk scoring 16 points on 7-19 shooting.

Granted, 33 points came off Spur TOs, so I'm hopeful they can clean shit up, but to think Dallas doesn't have comparable talent to San Antonio is deluded. They have an all-time great coming off a strong year, battle tested veterans and solid role players.

The Spurs talent depth is something of a mirage because of the years Mills and Beli had. Not the most proven of players.

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Originally Posted by midnightpulp

How are they not?

The Spurs highest scorer this year averages 16.7 points per. Dallas has two 20 point scorers, one of whom is an all-time great who has been hot all year.

The Spurs may have better defensive talent, but they sure haven't proven it so far in this series.

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Come on now ...Spurs are more talented 1-12.

Sure the bench players are largely unproven.
But the Spurs have only ayers and maybe Bonner that are one dimensional ...
All the key contributors except green can score, create opportunities for each other when called on to do so.

Mavs were due for a win against the Spurs.
They have arguably the 2nd best coach.
A sure-fire HOF er along with a all-star caliber Ellis and proven scorer Vince.
I am not sure Blair and Calderon can duplicate the same exact output in games 3 & 4.
Either way I will stick to Spurs in 5 but it will not be easy.
Game 3 will be a war. Winner should win series.

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Originally Posted by Killakobe81

Mavs were due for a win against the Spurs.
They have arguably the 2nd best coach.
A sure-fire HOF er along with a all-star caliber Ellis and proven scorer Vince.
I am not sure Blair and Calderon can duplicate the same exact output in games 3 & 4.
Either way I will stick to Spurs in 5 but it will not be easy.
Game 3 will be a war. Winner should win series.

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I thought the Spurs played pretty much the same as Game 1... didn't surprise me at all that Pop didn't change anything after a win... he does that.

We had a piss poor game. It happens. And the Spurs need Leonard a whole lot, if anything, just for defensive purposes in this series.

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Originally Posted by midnightpulp

Maybe not when Tony Parker is in form, but he's been underwhelming all year. Dirk is better than any Spur this year. Monta is better than Manu. Marion and Leonard are a wash. Same with Splitter and Dalembert. Vince and Belinelli is another wash.

I don't like how we match up with these guys.

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inform or not inform doesnt make a difference, same fkn tactic used from day 1 still gettin exposed as nothing more than a fake ass leader hero wannabe who offers nothing else on the court when his only way of offense is shut down, doesnt play defense and shit, no play making skills cause to buzy looking for his own stats...

any team will have his numbers if they pack the paint and chuck a big wing man on him, enrique is just overrated pg who benefited from playin with TD...

he continues t o be called top5 pg in the league, but how can u be top5 if you continue to be shit on by scrubs?

http://media.giphy.com/media/ilqOZKP...PnAQ/giphy.gif

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Originally Posted by TDMVPDPOY

inform or not inform doesnt make a difference, same fkn tactic used from day 1 still gettin exposed as nothing more than a fake ass leader hero wannabe who offers nothing else on the court when his only way of offense is shut down, doesnt play defense and shit, no play making skills cause to buzy looking for his own stats...

any team will have his numbers if they pack the paint and chuck a big wing man on him, enrique is just overrated pg who benefited from playin with TD...

he continues t o be called top5 pg in the league, but how can u be top5 if you continue to be shit on by scrubs?

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scro did you watch the game? this was easily one of the most Enrique of performances.

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Originally Posted by DD

Spurs by 23

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Close........ http://media.giphy.com/media/2XskdWt...qUTe/giphy.gif

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Originally Posted by Leon Black

Close........ http://media.giphy.com/media/2XskdWt...qUTe/giphy.gif

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lol, DD wrong but will still troll this board. so you think your Mavs win this series? I predicted we'd lose this game, but not this bad.

We're still winning this series, don't lose faith mis hermanos y amigos. We had coasted for 10 games something preceding the playoffs while the Mavs were fighting their guts off for a playoff spot. Mavs are supposedly in better form than us at this point of time but I think the giant (Spurs) will wake up in game 3 or 4 and then the Mavs will be annihilated. Spurs in 6

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Originally Posted by HI-FI

lol, DD wrong but will still troll this board. so you think your Mavs win this series? I predicted we'd lose this game, but not this bad.

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GG overall........ can't see the Mavs winning both at home, will get one though. Game 5 back in SA should be fun. Playing with house money

Think the Spurs take both at Dallas; they've been better on the road this year than at home for whatever reason, though considering how bad the bench has looked who knows. Hope Pop actually decides to act like the best coach in the league going forward.

http://media.giphy.com/media/cEYFeDV...qnwA/giphy.gif

We tanked the 4th quarter and gave up this game on purpose, which was obvious. I believe that when we're determined to win a game, nobody can stop us.

I was thinking the mavs would win game 2, but I didn't think it would be a curb stomping.

Spurs are coming back to San An down 3-1

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Originally Posted by Leon Black

GG overall........ can't see the Mavs winning both at home, will get one though. Game 5 back in SA should be fun. Playing with house money

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yeah, Mavs definitely playing with house money. I didn't care if Spurs got Mavs or Grizz, I knew both would be tougher than people on here expected. Spurs just playing like pussies, especially Parker who always has this problem, because Spurs probably thinking of how to get back to the Finals, while the Mavs are just trying to pull off an upset. The whole team better get their shit together, not just Parker. Game 3 will be real telling to me, to see how Spurs respond.

Damn, can't believe my Mavs won. I was not sure they would win until about 2 minutes left. I just kept thinking that the Mavs were gonna blow it but they wanted to win badly tonight. I know Spurs fans and the national media won't admit but the Mavs could be up 2-0 in this series. If they hadn't went cold in the 4th, they probably would have won game 1. Anyways, my Mavs can't act like they've won anything. Got to play like badasses in game 3 at the AAC. Can't let the Spurs wake up and spank them.

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Originally Posted by Jacob1983

Damn, can't believe my Mavs won. I was not sure they would win until about 2 minutes left. I just kept thinking that the Mavs were gonna blow it but they wanted to win badly tonight. I know Spurs fans and the national media won't admit but the Mavs could be up 2-0 in this series. If they hadn't went cold in the 4th, they probably would have won game 1. Anyways, my Mavs can't act like they've won anything. Got to play like badasses in game 3 at the AAC. Can't let the Spurs wake up and spank them.

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Pretty sure everyone and their mothers have been saying that all night tbh. Where have you been?

At the hospital but back home now.

I know I am pre-ejaculating but would if my Mavs pulled off the miracle, would it be a bigger upset and chokejob than the Warriors and my Mavs in 2007?

^ Let's see how these two games in the D go before we start talking about winning this series.

Yeah I know. Not over until it's over. That means your team has 4 victories and the other team does not have 4 victories.

:lol ur talking as if the mavs are up 2-0

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Originally Posted by spurraider21

:lol ur talking as if the mavs are up 2-0

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It really comes down to who wins 4 games. I really feel if Mavs win it first they got this series.

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Originally Posted by midnightpulp

I have no idea how they were a 49 win team.

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That happens if you blow double-digit leads during the regular season for about 10 times.

Spurs played like absolute crap last night, and played timid, almost scared.

That said, in the playoffs, no matter if you lose by 40 points or 1 point, it still counts as one loss. The series is tied up at 1-1, and the Spurs still is the favourite to win the series.

I have said it before, but the Spurs are not really built for the playoffs because there is a lack of superstars that demand constant doubles on the team, and the Spurs are not particularly quick. What this means is that in the aggressive defense of the playoffs, teams can stick to every single one of the Spurs players at all time and deny open/easy shots for the Spurs. Without a superstar that require constant doubles, the Spurs cannot disrupt that pattern and leads to difficulty in generating points.

The key now is for Parker to drive into the lane and wreck havoc, or to feed Duncan and let him make the necessary decisions to break down the Mavs defense.

It was a worrisome display, but I am not ready to jump off the cliff just yet. I'd be worried if the Spurs go down 1-3.

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Originally Posted by jeebus

Errors, when you go for a rebound, don't tap it to the crowd you stupid fucking nigger

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:lmao

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Originally Posted by ElNono

I guess the good news is that it's only a 1 point game and we can't possibly play any worse... can we?

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:rolleyes

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Originally Posted by Roxsfan

I was thinking the mavs would win game 2, but I didn't think it would be a curb stomping.

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Thanks to themselves.

Mavs have won 6.5 of the 8 quarters played and have to be kicking themselves they're not up 2-0.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-...inst-the-spurs

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Still: How can you not feel terrific tied at 1-1 if you're Rick Carlisle and the Mavs? Because even with the Game 1 loss, the Mavs made a solid statement that they're completely capable of playing with the mighty Spurs. It's not that the Mavs present difficult matchup issues or having overwhelming youth and athleticism. It's that they basically are able to beat the Spurs at their own game. Crisp execution, brilliant half court offensive design and star keystone that makes it all work.

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Originally Posted by Findog

Mavs have won 6.5 of the 8 quarters played and have to be kicking themselves they're not up 2-0.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-...inst-the-spurs

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They should be kicking themselves, after seeing what happened to Golden State last year.

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Originally Posted by SpursFan313

They should be kicking themselves, after seeing what happened to Golden State last year.

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Yep, this series has a similar feel so far.

Dirk hasn't had a big game yet. That'll change in Dallas but I think the Spurs can split on the road.

Carlisle has won the coaching battle so far but not much Pop can do about half his rotation choking and everybody doing their best 2013 Finals Manu impersonation tbh.

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Originally Posted by Mugen

Dirk hasn't had a big game yet. That'll change in Dallas but I think the Spurs can split on the road.

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It's not a coincidence that Dirk has struggled since we got Tiago

What Carlisle is doing is quite simple actually.

Force the big 3 to beat you one-on-one defensively. Don't let average players and scrubs like Leonard, Green, Splitter, and Mills kill you with easy layups and wide open 3s from doubling the big 3. Make everyone work for every point they get.

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Originally Posted by Phillip

What Carlisle is doing is quite simple actually.

Force the big 3 to beat you one-on-one defensively. Don't let average players and scrubs like Leonard, Green, Splitter, and Mills kill you with easy layups and wide open 3s from doubling the big 3. Make everyone work for every point they get.

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Since when was Kawhi Leonard a scrub?

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Originally Posted by DieHardSpursFan1537

Since when was Kawhi Leonard a scrub?

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Since his first round showing in the 2014 playoffs.

Well DPG I was wrong. Wrong about the Spurs sweeping dem Mavs.

Right about their reliance on scrubs, though...god help them in the later rounds after RC's blueprint is replicated by far more talented opponents

:lol

But seriously losing to an 8th seed relying on Blair in the first round would be mortifying for Pop, would make him look like such a dumbass he might retire on the spot...

Switch everything and the great mastermind can do nothing but shit his pants, even Scott Brooks knows that... The system is a regular season gimmick and we haven't a true all NBA kind of player like last year, we fucked tbh...

We have seen it time and time again, when you choke away a game on the road as the lower seed (Mavs Game 1), it always comes back to haunt you

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Originally Posted by DieHardSpursFan1537

Since when was Kawhi Leonard a scrub?

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never said he was a scrub.

I said "average players and scrubs"

KL is in the average players category. Not bad but not great.

We just played a terrible game last night. You can't expect to win playing like that. We only played with playoff-type intensity for like 3 mins at the end of the 1st half.

Carlisle deserves credit for the scheming, but there's a lot of blame to go around from the Spurs themselves, especially on defense. The Spurs played about 1.5 quarters of solid D in game 1 and that was enough to win the game.

It really boils down to doing that more often. It was the same story against GS last season.

I'd like to give credit to Carlisle, but most people know that the Spurs just played like dogshit.


I don't see the Spurs turning it over 24 times in Dallas.

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Originally Posted by spurraider21

:lol ur talking as if the mavs are up 2-0

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shut up faggot

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Originally Posted by Leon Black

shut up faggot

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Sup ashraf

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Originally Posted by Leon Black

shut up faggot

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:lol

averaging 91 ppg at home against the worst defensive team in the playoffs :rollin

we just tanked the game last night. We already had 14 turnovers with half a quarter to be played in the first half, which was atrocious even by a scrub team's standard. We're still in the coasting mode and we haven't waken up from it yet, but things will get better and we will win this series in 5 or 6.

:lol the spurs better not fuck this up if the grizz actually proceed to beat OKC

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Originally Posted by Spurs 4 The Win

We have seen it time and time again, when you choke away a game on the road as the lower seed (Mavs Game 1), it always comes back to haunt you

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Agreed. This series will be just like Spurs-Dubs last year. I had you guys in 5 but now I'll say 6.

People aren't giving Carlisle enough credit. Now, the Spurs can make adjustments and should so the question is are there any other adjustments Carlisle can make after that. But for now, his strategy is perfect for the Spurs. It wouldn't work against other teams, but against the Spurs, for now, it's perfect.

It's all centered around the fact the Spurs stars can't play the playoff minutes (or Pop won't play them those minutes).

Lord,

I don't ask for much, but the Spurs, Rockets and Seattle SloppySeconds all going fishing after being upset in the first round will cause me to ejaculate.

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Originally Posted by DPG21920

People aren't giving Carlisle enough credit. Now, the Spurs can make adjustments and should so the question is are there any other adjustments Carlisle can make after that. But for now, his strategy is perfect for the Spurs. It wouldn't work against other teams, but against the Spurs, for now, it's perfect.

It's all centered around the fact the Spurs stars can't play the playoff minutes (or Pop won't play them those minutes).

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I do.
RC is an amazing coach.
He doesnt have equal talent this series but you could not tell.
If I could not have Pop, Phil or Riles RC would be in the discussion for my first pick as coach.

Carlisle should learn how to give funny interviews or learn African philosophy, that's how you get credit as a coach in the NBA, tbh..

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Originally Posted by Malik Hairston

Carlisle should learn how to give funny interviews or learn African philosophy, that's how you get credit as a coach in the NBA, tbh..

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he needs to go pull some faces like the real jim carey....

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Originally Posted by chief keef

averaging 91 ppg at home against the worst defensive team in the playoffs :rollin

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I am a Spurs fan but that is FUCKING Pathetic.... I can't even laugh but I can.

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Dirk Nowitzki has come a long way in his career in many areas, including that sometimes-bothersome area of dealing with the media.

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On Friday, the Pro Basketball Writers Association honored Nowitzki with its Magic Johnson Award, given annually to the player who has been the most media-friendly through the season.
It’s a major leap from when Nowitzki sometimes went out of his way to duck out of practice without having to hold court for the media.
And it could not be more well-deserved. Nowitzki is as accommodating as any superstar — any player, really — in the league and always has a second to talk if you need him.
Nowitzki will be presented with the trophy at halftime of Saturday’s Game 3 against the Spurs.
In addition, Nowitzki’s tepid start to the first round series might have had something to do with his mentor Holger Geschwindner returning from a quick stop in Germany. Geschwindner arrived on Thursday and that usually means a pick-me-up to Nowitzki’s game.
So far, he has averaged 13.5 points in the first two games of the series, eight below his regular-season average and 12 below his playoff career average.

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Congrats to Dirk for winning the Magic Johnson award, tbh...

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Originally Posted by IrisHockey

Congrats to Dirk for winning the Magic Johnson award, tbh...

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How about our Red Wings... :depressed

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Originally Posted by IrisHockey

Congrats to Dirk for winning the Magic Johnson award, tbh...

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Dirk got AIDS? Sorry to hear that :wow

Grantland gave RC props: http://grantland.com/features/nba-pl...kend-two-2014/

Highlights:
The most shocking series so far. The Mavs have junked things up on defense, slotting Shawn Marion on Tony Parker, hiding Jose Calderon on Danny Green, and switching a lot of pick-and-rolls. Those switches carry a cost — Parker dribbling around against big men — but they have gummed up the Spurs’ beautiful game.

The Spurs are actually averaging about the same number of total passes and drives per game as they did in the regular season, per SportVU data provided to Grantland, but those actions aren’t really going anywhere. The Mavs are walling off the paint, sticking to San Antonio’s spot-up shooters, and inviting Parker midrangers and mismatched post-ups. About 21 percent of the Spurs’ possessions in this series have ended via post-ups and isolations, up from 13.7 percent in the regular season, per Synergy. They’re taking nearly four more shots per game within the last four seconds of the shot clock than they did in the regular season, despite averaging six fewer overall possessions. They’ve jacked just six corner 3s (shots that indicate good ball movement), below their single-game average in the regular season.

What Dallas is doing to the Spurs is similar to what San Antonio did to Miami in the first part of the Finals: Drop everyone back, concede midrange jumpers, and do other unconventional things to kind of spook the other team. The Spurs’ machine has stalled.


and

Devin Harris, long a Spurs killer, has been on fire. It will be interesting to see if the Spurs extend their big guys a bit higher, something they experimented with late in Game 2 — to largely bad results.

Get into this series if you’re not already. Rick Carlisle is a warlock.

with the way people talk I would have though that we were down 1-3 :lol

Dallas is going to get bitch slapped, and there is no way around it

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Originally Posted by Killakobe81

Grantland gave RC props: http://grantland.com/features/nba-pl...kend-two-2014/

Highlights:
The most shocking series so far. The Mavs have junked things up on defense, slotting Shawn Marion on Tony Parker, hiding Jose Calderon on Danny Green, and switching a lot of pick-and-rolls. Those switches carry a cost — Parker dribbling around against big men — but they have gummed up the Spurs’ beautiful game.

The Spurs are actually averaging about the same number of total passes and drives per game as they did in the regular season, per SportVU data provided to Grantland, but those actions aren’t really going anywhere. The Mavs are walling off the paint, sticking to San Antonio’s spot-up shooters, and inviting Parker midrangers and mismatched post-ups. About 21 percent of the Spurs’ possessions in this series have ended via post-ups and isolations, up from 13.7 percent in the regular season, per Synergy. They’re taking nearly four more shots per game within the last four seconds of the shot clock than they did in the regular season, despite averaging six fewer overall possessions. They’ve jacked just six corner 3s (shots that indicate good ball movement), below their single-game average in the regular season.

What Dallas is doing to the Spurs is similar to what San Antonio did to Miami in the first part of the Finals: Drop everyone back, concede midrange jumpers, and do other unconventional things to kind of spook the other team. The Spurs’ machine has stalled.


and

Devin Harris, long a Spurs killer, has been on fire. It will be interesting to see if the Spurs extend their big guys a bit higher, something they experimented with late in Game 2 — to largely bad results.

Get into this series if you’re not already. Rick Carlisle is a warlock.

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stfu.

Had a good feeling about this one until I saw Tony Brothers was officiating...

Not a good start...

Good to see an active Splitter at the start.

ugh CWebb...

Dirk looks dialed in....and another Parker turnover.

Looks like Dirk woke up...

:lol

Fuck I think I saw Errors in uniform. Pop playing with fire again

:tu drawing those weak fouls vs the Mavs bigs

Duncan looks fantastic.

Spurs stars are doing work.

Mavs will have to adjust. They can't keep giving Parker wide open jumpers.

Diaw!

Parker hitting that J will open up a lot of stuff for the Spurs. Nice to see.

There's the Leonard we know.

Leonard doing what he do!

Shitter makes Shawn Bradley look like Shaq.

lol blair

C'mon Beli. Let them nuts hang.

Parker god mode tbh

Nobody minds Enrique right now tbh

Good recovery by the Spurs after Dallas came out hot.

Parker taking names.

Defense was pretty disappointing, but I'll take the offense. Good start.

Tony gonna cool down, tbh... we need a lil better D

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Originally Posted by resistanze

Nobody minds Enrique right now tbh

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Australia is asleep atm imo

Good sign

did crofl webber say Patty hasn't been successful in this league with his jumper?

nice 2 man game there

lol det foul call

Terrible call

that nig tony brothers putting in work