Jalen Rose says Mavs in 5, cake walk

[cd98]

yet, Duncan had more total FTs than Dirk [/fact]

yet, the Spurs had more total FTs than the Mavs [/fact]

Spurs are the last team that should complain about refs

Dirk gets a lot of free throws for a fade away jump shooter.

[MoSpur]

Um...I heard the interview on Mike and Mike and I think he said Mavs in six. He's still wrong. I'll be honest. I didn't want the Mavericks because they usually present a tough match up for the Spurs. However, this year the way Manu is rolling and with Tim and Parker pretty much healthy, the Spurs can take this in six, but probably will go seven.

The Spurs have better role players like Jefferson, Hill, Blair, Dice, Bogans, and maybe even Temple if Pop actually gives him minutes to bother guys like Barea and Kidd.

[mando6599]

I honestly believe that the Spurs match up better with the Mavs now, then they did before the Howard trade. JHo was a painful match-up to watch at times and I don't think that Butler has the same "worry" factor to me as JHo did. Yes Butler can score and play some D. But does he have the mental capacity to play in the playoffs as he's not played in them in a few years and not played with such a contender?

Haywood was a good pickup for the Mavs, no doubt. But he's just a little younger version of Damp, imo. I'm not too worried about him. Jet, although my hatred for him as a player is huge, on the other hand tends to worry me in this regard. We all know he doesn't play any sort of D. However, if he's hot the whole series in terms of shooting, then I think we're in trouble. Dirk will always get his against us, so just let that play out.

This should be a great series and honestly, with the way the Spurs have played on the road recently, I feel pretty good. However, if I take a giant step backward and purvey the season as a whole, the Spurs have a tendency to lay an egg offensively and defensively. I hope the Spurs win and I don't care if it takes 7 games with the 7th game going into 7 overtimes. Just win, baby.

mando

[DPG21920]

I don't get why spurs fans get so upset? Mavs are the favorites. They cake walked the spurs last year. If this series is going to be a cake walk for a team, it will likely be the mavs. Spurs have a good team, but they have not set the world on fire. Gino has struggled in his last few games along w tp. Hill just hurt his ankle to an unknown extent. These things on the surface add up to guys picking the mavs. Nothing to cry about and it's why you play the games.

Spurs will be there, so don't worry about it.

[GSH]

We all know what Jalen Rose was doing there. If Bill Clinton could have done it, he wouldn't have needed Monica Lewinski. I just hope he doesn't start hacking up hairballs on the court.

[jack0fspeed]

Looking at how all 10 ESPN analysts picked the series, it was the second most controversial.

6-4 for UTA over DEN
7-3 for DAL over SAS
9-1 for PHX over POR
10-0 for LAL over OKC
10-0 for ORL over CHA
10-0 for ATL over MIL
10-0 for BOS over MIA
10-0 for CLE over CHI


http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010...purs-mavericks

[sa_butta]

Mavs are the best regular season team since the Phx Suns...eyes on the prize

Exactly, the bad news is they won their championship in the first round of the playoffs against us.

Good news is they did it against an unhealthy Spurs team.

Spurs in 5.

[Wombatzu]

We all know what Jalen Rose was doing there. If Bill Clinton could have done it, he wouldn't have needed Monica Lewinski. I just hope he doesn't start hacking up hairballs on the court.

[Russ]

Jalen Rose is a very credible, thoughtful NBA analyst. The best in the biz.

If he likes the Mavs in 5, it's not because he's foolish or hates the Spurs.

[leemajors]

Mavs could win in 5, but I don't think the Spurs could win in under 6 if they happened to.

[cd98]

Dirk is our big match up problem. He is for everyone. If he's nailing that fade away jumper, there is really not much we can do. The key to the series is whether Dirk plays like an MVP or an all-star. If Dirk is good, but not great, I think the Spurs can win.

But if the Spurs have to double Dirk to get the ball out of his hands, we will get killed on the Mav threes.

Also, the Mavs defend the Spurs's three point shooters very well. So we'll have to win it from the paint. Not sure if our team has that mentality. But we'll see.

[GSH]

We all know what Jalen Rose was doing there. If Bill Clinton could have done it, he wouldn't have needed Monica Lewinski. I just hope he doesn't start hacking up hairballs on the court.

Sorry... too obtuse? Rose has been been all over the Mavs since they traded for Jason Kidd. And he's been known to double down on his picks, once he makes them. Calling it a "cake walk" is just his way of... blowing his own horn.

He'll be courtside for ESPN. If he does hack up any hairballs, they probably won't televise it.

Jalen Rose is a very credible, thoughtful NBA analyst. The best in the biz.

If he likes the Mavs in 5, it's not because he's foolish or hates the Spurs.

I think your credibility suffers a bit when you do things like picking the T-Wolves to win more games than the Rockets this year. That's what Mr. Thoughful did before this season.

[peteee]

Didnt mention that the Spurs were without Manu, Duncan and Hill

LOL bitter ex-Suns
LOL 83 pts Jalen
LOL

LOL Burritos
LOL stammering midgets
LOL legume hybrids

[GSH]

LOL Burritos
LOL stammering midgets
LOL legume hybrids

Seriously... your head is crooked. I can handle the trolling, but the photo has to go.

[GSH]

[CubanMustGo]

Looking at how all 10 ESPN analysts picked the series, it was the second most controversial.

6-4 for UTA over DEN
7-3 for DAL over SAS
9-1 for PHX over POR
10-0 for LAL over OKC
10-0 for ORL over CHA
10-0 for ATL over MIL
10-0 for BOS over MIA
10-0 for CLE over CHI


http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010...purs-mavericks

Not only that, but five of the analysts hedged their bets by saying SAS-DAL will go to seven. Four of those picked Dallas so it's not like they're saying there's a huge margin of difference.

On the bad side, Hollinger is one of the ones that picked SA outright.

[rjv]

the mavs should be favored as they are deeper, have home court and have been the most consistent team. they are also healthier.

for the spurs to win, manu has to be great, duncan has to be a presence in all of the games, parker has to step up to being the TP of last year and jefferson, mcdyess and hill have to be effective. then, our bench has to be steady. a lot of ifs to get together but the chances are at least far better than they were last year with no manu.

[MannyIsGod]

I think most knowledgeable fans realize that the Mavericks are the favorites to win this series. The Spurs are the 7th seed for a reason and its not because they wanted a new challenge.

I think the Spurs CAN win this series but they need for a lot of things to fall into place:

1. The Big 3 need to play like the Big 3. If any of these guys does not play up to their potential then the odds of winning will drop dramatically. Manu is going to have to do the heaviest lifting but unless Duncan and Parker also contribute at all star levels then the Mavs are probably going to dominate this series.

2. We're going to have to get solid role playing contributions in every game. This doesn't mean that Hill, Jefferson and others have to play amazingly ever single game but the fact of the matter is that the Spurs will need SOMEONE to step up each and every game to provide a fourth option and reliable bench scoring. It could be Hill one game and Jefferson another but they will need someone to step up and help the Big 3.

3. Jefferson will have to play good to great defense on Dirk. Hill is too small, Hairston isn't likely to get much of a shot and is probably too light anyway but Jefferson provides the best chance we have at limiting Dirk from a superstar performance. We don't need him to channel Bowen but we do need him to provide good defense and prevent Dirk from having amazing games. Good games we can live with, Amazing games not so much.

They may seem obvious but the lack of consistency on these issues is a huge reason the Spurs are the 7th seed and not the 2nd seed.

[EmptyMan]

ok you guys want real talk, this is what i really think. i honestly think the spurs have a solid 55-45 or 60-40 advantage over the mavericks this playoff series, and it has marginally to do with tonight's game

i really honestly think the spurs have a slight edge winning against the mavs in 6 or 7 games.

mavs are easier than the lakers. nuggets would have been easier than the mavs.

mavs are easier than the jazz.

mavs and suns is sort of a toss up.

lol in no way, shape, or form are the Mavs easier than the Jazz.

The Jazz are SCRUBS. They have not proven the last decade, yet they keep getting play. I still don't get it.

The Mavs have proven time and time again they have no fear whatsoever towards the Spurs.

[GSH]

the mavs should be favored as they are deeper, have home court and have been the most consistent team. they are also healthier.

Win or lose, the "cake walk" comment was ignorant. That's all I'm saying.

[leemajors]

I think most knowledgeable fans realize that the Mavericks are the favorites to win this series. The Spurs are the 7th seed for a reason and its not because they wanted a new challenge.

I think the Spurs CAN win this series but they need for a lot of things to fall into place:

1. The Big 3 need to play like the Big 3. If any of these guys does not play up to their potential then the odds of winning will drop dramatically. Manu is going to have to do the heaviest lifting but unless Duncan and Parker also contribute at all star levels then the Mavs are probably going to dominate this series.

2. We're going to have to get solid role playing contributions in every game. This doesn't mean that Hill, Jefferson and others have to play amazingly ever single game but the fact of the matter is that the Spurs will need SOMEONE to step up each and every game to provide a fourth option and reliable bench scoring. It could be Hill one game and Jefferson another but they will need someone to step up and help the Big 3.

3. Jefferson will have to play good to great defense on Dirk. Hill is too small, Hairston isn't likely to get much of a shot and is probably too light anyway but Jefferson provides the best chance we have at limiting Dirk from a superstar performance. We don't need him to channel Bowen but we do need him to provide good defense and prevent Dirk from having amazing games. Good games we can live with, Amazing games not so much.

They may seem obvious but the lack of consistency on these issues is a huge reason the Spurs are the 7th seed and not the 2nd seed.

Solid.

[rjv]

Win or lose, the "cake walk" comment was ignorant. That's all I'm saying.

definitely. and jalen rose can often be a dumb ass so i agree...

[bus driver]

mavs and mav lovers

i know the S&B will lay all the chips on the table and win the series.....but it they happen to fail then it is nothing more than a #2 seed beating the #7 seed and i dont give the mavs any credit

[carib]

I don't get why spurs fans get so upset? Mavs are the favorites. They cake walked the spurs last year. If this series is going to be a cake walk for a team, it will likely be the mavs. Spurs have a good team, but they have not set the world on fire. Gino has struggled in his last few games along w tp. Hill just hurt his ankle to an unknown extent. These things on the surface add up to guys picking the mavs. Nothing to cry about and it's why you play the games.

Spurs will be there, so don't worry about it.

Thanks so much for bringing some common sense to this dialogue

[GSH]

We was wonderin. Could we get some a that cake?