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interesting that he mostly wrote about the mavs. he played for the spurs in 03 when the spurs lost game 1 to the suns.
If it hasn't been posted before...
If I had to sum up Day 2 of the NBA playoffs with one phrase, it would be this: opening-night jitters.
Nerves are a major factor for players in the first game of the postseason because the atmosphere is totally different from the one they've experienced for almost the entire season. Regular-season games pile on top of each other, and the players get into a groove where they just go out and play without thinking. But when the playoffs arrive, the arena feels different. An electricity is apparent; there's a sense of nervous anticipation that hasn't been there since early in the schedule.
That feeling can quickly turn into alarm and desperation for teams that are favored to win. We saw that Sunday in Phoenix, where the Suns scored just 39 first-half points before finally overtaking the Lakers in the fourth quarter. And we really saw it in Dallas and San Antonio, where the home teams were upset by red-hot, nothing-to-lose type of opponents.
The beauty of the NBA playoffs -- if you're a fan of the favored team, anyway -- is that there are no flukes. A seven-game series provides plenty of opportunity for adjustments, including mental ones, and that's exactly what the Spurs and Mavericks will experience heading into Game 2 on Wednesday. The nerves will be more familiar, the edge will come back and players will more easily settle in and play the game without fear.
I'd be shocked if both clubs didn't bounce back with victories to tie their respective series. Still, both Dallas and San Antonio have a lot of work ahead of them.
* Player of the Day: Baron Davis. The Warriors point guard was unstoppable in leading his band of athletic and ultra-quick teammates and making life miserable for Dallas.
* The Mavs actually changed their lineup to match up with Davis, starting Devean George in place of Erick Dampier. When was the last time the league's No. 1 seed altered its starting lineup to match up with an 8 seed? That's the respect that Dallas coach Avery Johnson has for Davis, who is incredibly strong and is Golden State's best post-up player.
* George did what he could on Davis, but it wasn't anywhere near enough. It will be interesting to see if Johnson goes back to his usual starting lineup for Game 2.
* If Johnson does return to his regular lineup, the problem is that either Jason Terry or Devin Harris will have to cover Davis. Both are too small to handle the Warriors' powerful guard. Also, the Mavericks face a mismatch on the perimeter with Dampier trying to cover Al Harrington, Golden State's "center."
* Therein lies the problem for Dallas: The Mavericks are looking at mismatches in two spots, and if Dampier or DeSagana Diop comes off the floor to fix one matchup, there's no interior defensive presence. And at the offensive end, Dallas doesn't have an inside player who can make the Warriors pay for going small.
* The usual strategy against a small lineup is to pound the ball inside, but Dampier and Diop aren't offensive players. Dirk Nowitzki would rather play on the perimeter, too. This is a nightmarish situation for Johnson, but he's smart and compe ive and has a versatile roster. He and his team have a lot to think about as they try to solve the Warrior riddle.
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interesting that he mostly wrote about the mavs. he played for the spurs in 03 when the spurs lost game 1 to the suns.
2 sentences regarding Spurs and paragraphs dedicated to mavs problems
That's because the Spurs main problem is showing up to the arena and playing with fire. If they do that, there won't be much of a problem.2 sentences regarding Spurs and paragraphs dedicated to mavs problems
I don't know why, but I have a nagging feeling that Baron goes down with an injury in the next couple of games.
^Shocking prediction considering Baron's history......
Although...I can totally picture Stackhouse or another Mavs thug giving him a hard foul and injuring him on purpose.
That sums it up.
I just find it odd for any team, not to mention a #1 seed, to ajust their lineup so much that for one other player.
It just seems counter productive.
I mean what's Dallas's record against the Warroirs any how?
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