Is it fair to assume the following about Spur Nation?

[HarlemHeat37]

Look, I'm not gonna comment on the "ref issue", I have an opinion, but it doesn't matter for squat now. However, if you're gonna try and make a realistic argument about this, you need to allow for minutes played (and/or shot attempts in your statistics). For example, Duncan average 34.5 minutes in the regular season, and 41.5 against Dallas. He averaged 20.6 FGA in the dallas series, vs. 14.8 regular season... This kind of thing may account for a LOT of the variability you are seeing. It's realistic that his FTA/Game went up with his shot attempts.

Similary, Dirk averaged 19.3 FGA per game in the RS, 15.7 FGA per game against SA, and took 17.5 FGA/game against Miami. His shots went down, and his FTA/Game went up? Weird...

Wade, 18.8 FGA/Game RS, 23.16 fga/game against Dallas.

Good point..+ the fact that 81% of Dirk's FGA were jump shots from outside the paint, yet he still averaged 10 FTA per game, as I pointed out in the NBA forum..

I'm not complaining about the refs either, I accept that the Mavs beat the Spurs in 2006, I don't blame the refs at all, it happens..Pop and the Spurs could have avoided losing the series with some adjustments, it happens..it makes sense to point out the facts in this case though..

[Blackjack]

Aside from all the cir stances and/or decisions we as fans believe were detrimental or put the team behind the 8-ball that year, you've got to give Avery credit for his defensive gameplan: stay with the shooters, play Tim straight up.

This is what accounted for the majority of Tim's increased numbers and why he got to the line at a much better rate than the regular season. But it also completely changed the Spurs' rhythm and chemistry they'd been playing with all season (not to mention taxed Duncan significantly more and had him on fumes late in games because of his condition).

Tim was much less of a focal point in the offense than prior years for '06's regular season (due in large part to his PF) and the 4-down attack ceded way to more perimeter play. Tony and Manu began to cease more control of the reins and the role players had grown accustomed to playing that way.

The Mavs gameplan forced the Spurs' roster to play in a way they hadn't all year and had them trying to find their team's overall rhythm all over again; you've got to give the coaching staff credit for that.

[DJB]

the league had an Agenda that year , and it was to AVOID at all costs the Inevitable Spurs-Pistons rematch

[FromWayDowntown]

Why does this matter to anyone?

I don't think that officiating had anything to do with the outcome of the fabulous Spurs/Mavs series in 2006. I attended 5 of the 7 games and remain firmly convinced (as I did at the time) that they were among the most compelling playoff games I've seen -- of the nearly 100 that I've seen in person. Two closely-matched teams playing 6 really tight games that left little margin for error on either side. Things other than officiating make a difference in those sorts of games and I'm certain that the Spurs just didn't do enough little things to win 4 games in that series -- but they were REALLY close to doing just enough to win.

Were there calls or no-calls in Game 3 or Game 4 that hurt the Spurs? Yes. Were there calls or no-calls in Game 1 or Game 5 that hurt the Mavericks? Yes. Spurs fans want to point to the foul-out on Duncan in Game 3, but rarely question the no-call on Bowen (on what I thought was a close play) blocking Dirk at the end of Game 5.

Ultimately, the Spurs moved on and won a le in 2007. The Mavericks parlayed their good run in 2006 with a great regular season in 2006-07 and a playoff loss that, I think, strongly suggested that their collapse in 2006 was more a product of the Mavericks than of an officiating conspiracy favoring Dwyane Wade.

[roycrikside]

To the OP, correct. The refs absolutely ed the Spurs in Games 3 and 4. SA should've won the series in 5. Really, even without the Manu foul in Game 7, the Spurs were the better team in 5 of the first 6 games.

[Obstructed_View]

Dallas won the 2006 series. I remember there being a number of questionable calls and Dallas parading to the free throw line an awful lot for a jump shooting team, but both teams played incredible that entire series, and it was unfortunate that only one of them could end up winning it.

That being said, what happened in the 2006 Finals was sweet, sweet poetic justice. Just like in 2004 when the Pistons slapped the Fab Four Lakers.

One reason that happened is because the Mavs didn't settle for jump shots. Dirk spent far more time going to the rim and drawing contact. It's no coincidence how good the Mavericks got over the next year or more. In addition, the painted area for the Spurs was ripe for the picking because they had no shot blockers. Dirk, Stackhouse, Terry, and Harris all routinely got to the front of the rim with nobody to stop them but Duncan, which is why Duncan was in foul trouble so often during that series.

[boutons_deux]

"Mavs beat the Spurs in 2006 thanks to artificial help at the FT line"

no, Spurs beat themselves with Manu's fatal foul, violating Pop's instructions not to foul, on Dirk with the Spurs having the lead in the last seconds of Game7.

[dbestpro]

The games appeared to be not on the up and up. Whether, they were or not is moot. The point is if you have allowed yourself in today's world to appear to be wrong, then you are wrong. The NBA, overall, has lost the benefit of the doubt.

[Budkin]

2006 is pure pain for both Spurs and Mavs fans. The Spurs for the worst foul in the history of the NBA, and the Mavs for the worst choke in the history of the NBA. Pain Pain Pain.

[Findog]

2006 is pure pain for both Spurs and Mavs fans. The Spurs for the worst foul in the history of the NBA, and the Mavs for the worst choke in the history of the NBA. Pain Pain Pain.

Blazers beat the Sixers in the 77 Finals after being down 0-2. Numerous teams have blown 3-1 leads.

[admiralsnackbar]

Blazers beat the Sixers in the 77 Finals after being down 0-2. Numerous teams have blown 3-1 leads.

How about 2007, then?

[guzmangm]

Manu's brain fart cost us the series in the end. I think the Mavs got the benefit of the refs, which was a shame because they were a good enough team. On the other hand Olajuwon and the 95 Rockets beat the crap out of us hands down.

[Obstructed_View]

2006 is pure pain for both Spurs and Mavs fans. The Spurs for the worst foul in the history of the NBA, and the Mavs for the worst choke in the history of the NBA. Pain Pain Pain.

No, that wasn't until 2007.

[Findog]

How about 2007, then?

How about your mom, then? Mavs didn't choke in 2007. Isn't a choke when you blow a big lead? 2007 is more in the category of " ting the bed."

[Findog]

No, that wasn't until 2007.

Arguably the greatest upset in NBA history, but not the biggest choke. You can't choke up a lead you never had.

[in2deep]

Isn't a choke when you blow a big lead? 2007 is more in the category of " ting the bed."

wrong.

IT IS A CHOKE JOB when you are the #1 seed with 67 wins and home court throughout the playoffs and you lose in the 1st round to the lowly Warriors.

A 67 win season and the soon-to-be MVP both disappeared in 6 games = CHOKE JOB

[z0sa]

Arguably the greatest upset in NBA history, but not the biggest choke. You can't choke up a lead you never had.

Typical excuses making basketball fan.

When you have 67 wins, it doesn't matter who you play in the first round, you beat them or face the criticism.

How many Mavfans argue it wasn't even an upset, in fact, GS was better than Dallas all year!

[LoneStarState'sPride]

wrong.

IT IS A CHOKE JOB when you are the #1 seed with 67 wins and home court throughout the playoffs and you lose in the 1st round to the Warriors.

A 67 win season and the soon-to-be MVP both disappeared in 6 games = CHOKE

If that's not a choke job of epic proportions, I don't know what is. What I don't get is why everyone was so surprised. The mavs came heart-stoppingly close to letting SA pull off a series comeback after being down 3-1, and of course their shortcomings in the previous year's finals had already been well do ented. , take it all the way back to '03 or thereabouts, and if my memory serves me correctly the mavs got taken to 7 games by Sacramento after being up 3-0.

[Findog]

wrong.

IT IS A CHOKE JOB when you are the #1 seed with 67 wins and home court throughout the playoffs and you lose in the 1st round to the lowly Warriors.

A 67 win season and the soon-to-be MVP both disappeared in 6 games = CHOKE JOB

A choke is when you blow a big lead. The Mavs lost Game 1 and were never in control of that series. Huge upset? Sure. Historically embarassing? Sure.

Choke? Uh no. Once again, Spur fan demonstrates trouble with cognitive functioning and basic reasoning.

[Findog]

if my memory serves me correctly the mavs got taken to 7 games by Sacramento after being up 3-0.

Your memory doesn't serve you correctly.

[Cane]

A choke is when you blow a big lead. The Mavs lost Game 1 and were never in control of that series. Huge upset? Sure. Historically embarassing? Sure.

Choke? Uh no. Once again, Spur fan demonstrates trouble with cognitive functioning and basic reasoning.

Nope. "Choke" can mean a number of things in sports and the Mavs franchise has been a pretty good example of most of those definitions.

[LoneStarState'sPride]

Your memory doesn't serve you correctly.

Meh, don't care. I'm not an expert on mavs history, nor do I want to be, quite frankly.

[Findog]

Typical excuses making basketball fan.

What excuses did I make? The Warriors won that series fair and square.

When you have 67 wins, it doesn't matter who you play in the first round, you beat them or face the criticism.

Yep, and that criticism goes under the category of "huge upset" and "embarrassing letdown." I'm a stickler for precision, and that criticism doesn't entail taking them to task for choking. The Mavs were never ahead in that series . Choke = blowing a big lead.

How many Mavfans argue it wasn't even an upset, in fact, GS was better than Dallas all year!

Nobody argues that, so go debate your shadow.

[Findog]

Meh, don't care.

Then don't comment.

[FromWayDowntown]

Mav fan is really touchy about the use of the word "choke" associated with his team.

Apparently, the Mavs haven't ever choked. They've been hosed by referees (who gave them a chance to ice a 3-0 series lead at the free throw line) and they've suffered historically embarassing upsets, but they haven't choked.