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I just thought I'd reply to this since nobody else has bothered. Apparently nobody gives a about the Mavericks.
Mavs-Grizzlies series could be a grind
Mavericks hope first round is a defensive tuneup for Spurs
02:59 AM CDT on Thursday, April 20, 2006
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
The Mavericks expect their first-round playoff series against Memphis to look a lot like last year's opening round against Houston – except without the two opening home losses.
The Grizzlies allow the fewest points per game in the NBA (88.4) and with the Mavericks focusing on defense, the series figures to fall into the grind-it-out variety.
That's great news for the Mavericks because it will be a better primer for a possible second-round date with San Antonio than had they faced the up-tempo Los Angeles Clippers.
"We think a lot of the things that happened in the playoffs against a tough, hard-nosed Houston Rocket defensive team, we're going to see some similar things in this playoff because Memphis is really tough-minded defensively," coach Avery Johnson said Wednesday. "The more you watch them on film, the scarier it gets.
"They sit on all your plays. You got to move the ball against them. They can shut down our offense if we don't play well offensively. It's going to be a very, very tough series."
What the Grizzlies don't have is Tracy McGrady, who confounded the Mavericks in the first round last season. But they are not without firepower. And at least one impartial observer believes the Grizzlies are on the verge of becoming playoff-savvy.
Although they have never won a playoff game, the Grizzlies will be in the playoffs for the third straight season and they are building their franchise the right way, ABC and ESPN analyst Bill Walton said.
"They're a very good team that has brilliant leadership and coaching," Walton said. "Pavel Podkolzin from Siberia was closer to the NBA than Memphis was until Jerry West got there.
"In four years, Jerry's gotten them in the playoffs three times. And [Mike] Fratello is a great basketball coach. Together, they've done what San Antonio does. Character counts. They got good guys in there, got rid of the problem guys, and it's worked."
Johnson said he's more worried about his team than the Grizzlies. Health will be an issue. Devin Harris has played just seven games since the All-Star Game because of a strained left quad. There is a chance he won't be ready to play in Game 1 on Sunday.
Neither is Marquis Daniels recovered from a left hamstring problem.
But the Mavericks are far ahead of where they were last season when they went down 0-2 to Houston last April.
"I think we're better defensively and much more physical," Johnson said. "We're a little bit more mature and a little bit more experienced and a little bit more tougher minded."
Another important factor, at least in the eyes of Jerry Stackhouse, is Memphis' proximity to Dallas. The Mavericks will not have to worry about three-hour plane flights or time differences.
"We don't have to deal with staying on the West Coast for an extra day or traveling overnight to get home," Stackhouse said. "That's big for us, I think."
Also on the Mavericks' side – at least in theory – is the schedule. Starting on Sunday instead of Saturday means an extra day of rest for the injured players.
"It could be a good thing all the way around – if we use it to our advantage," Johnson said. "A lot of things were supposed to be in our favor last year and things didn't go our way. That was a great learning experience."
And it was a lesson they hope not to repeat.
E-mail [email protected].
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...w.1814b22e.html
I just thought I'd reply to this since nobody else has bothered. Apparently nobody gives a about the Mavericks.
If Paul is healthy I think this series goes 6
Yeah I guess no one cares since this is a spurs board. It is Pau and not Paul.
Oh, oh oh. Okay. My first thought was Chris Paul and I had to go back and make sure they didn't make the playoffs.It is Pau and not Paul.
Howard's back has Mavs concerned
Guard says his back still feels tight, but he plans to play Sunday
09:32 PM CDT on Friday, April 21, 2006
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
As he lay on a table getting kneaded by the hands and elbows of massage therapist Gary Fineske, Josh Howard grimaced through a particularly deep dig into the small of his back.
This was not the kind of massage that you get while enjoying the good life.
"It's not the good life when it hurts," he said.
Howard's lower back tightened up after he came out of Game 82 on Wednesday. It was enough of a problem Friday that he could not take part in the Mavericks' lengthy practice.
Howard, a 15.6-point, 6.3-rebound producer in the regular season, said he expects to play in Game 1 on Sunday, even though the Mavericks are somewhat concerned by the back problem that has flared up occasionally in the last month.
"I don't really know what it is," Howard said. "It's just tight. The last game, I got a little tightness in it when I came out of the game, and it got tighter when I sat for a while. It was worse by the time the game ended and when I got home."
So does he plan on playing in Game 1?
"Right now is the most important time to play, so I'll go out there and play," he said. "It's two days away, so I should be back. It's nothing major like that."
Avery Johnson said Howard would be checked out thoroughly and evaluated daily.
Some good news: While Howard's back further clouded the Mavericks' injury situation, they received good news when Devin Harris was able to go through practice with no serious problems from his sore left quad.
"Everything felt great – no setbacks," he said. "I got the OK from the doctors. As for minutes [Sunday], that's up to AJ. But I'll be in uniform."
Having played only seven games since the All-Star break, Harris was asked if he was worried about being rusty.
"Nah, I can still get to the rim," he said.
Johnson said Harris "looked OK" during practice. "Now we've got to see what happens with the recovery," he said. "He went at it pretty hard."
Marquis Daniels (left hamstring) also practiced Friday, but Darrell Armstrong (left ankle) did not.
Speaking of health: Memphis' Pau Gasol has been bothered by a left foot injury, but the Mavericks aren't buying any of it.
"He'll play, and he'll be 100 percent," Johnson said.
Upset sprinter: Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki raced each other in a wind sprint after practice, with Nowitzki winning, much to the surprise of assistant coach Del Harris and others, Terry included.
"That was totally unexpected," Terry said, before adding, "Next time, I won't give him that two-second head start."
Last edited by mavsfan1000; 04-22-2006 at 01:04 AM.
Howard and McGrady apparently have the same issue...and it's not the lazy eye.
NOTE: I take no pleasure from this comment...I have a guilty conscience.
This is going to be a rough series. Gonna be interesting.
Jason "the piper cub" Terry?Upset sprinter: Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki raced each other in a wind sprint after practice, with Nowitzki winning, much to the surprise of assistant coach Del Harris and others, Terry included.
if howard is done so are the mavs
This series should be interesting, I am hoping that Memphis can pull off an upset, but it's more likely that Dallas wins.
i think the grizz match up well against the mavs, i wouldnt be suprise of an upset
Mavs in 6.
I'll be surprised if the Mavs don't sweep.
The mavs aren't going to sweep. The Grizzlies are a much tougher team this year than past years. Eddie Jones, Bobby Jackson, and Mike Miller will make sure of it.
God knows Gasol's not doing a damned thing about it!
If the Mavs sweep it is because of Gasol.
The series will be a grind and will be frustrating if Reggie Miller is calling the games the rest of the series. Dear sweet LORD, he was horrible. You better pray on your knees hoping he doesn't call your game in the next one whoever you are.
I wouldn't know, I was AT the game and I will be at the next one too! I generally like Reggie but I prefer Marv/Steve, I like Van Gundy too. Nice to see Harris back, he looks like he hasn't missed a step, made some mistakes but whatever.
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