Spurs are going to pummell the Mavs

Mark it down - This reslient Spurs team has been pummelling good teams during arguebly the hardest stretch I can recall of any NBA team the last two months (despite injuries) and the trio of Manu (the best guard in the NBA the last two months), Parker + Duncan with Hill, Blair and Jefferson are going to shock many by laying a beating on the over-hyped Mavs - this Spurs team is not going to lose to the boorish and braggart Mavs in the first round. Will be over in 5.

Yea thats the vibe I'm getting as well. No more Josh Howard ftw.

I sure hope so, but the these Mavs are not the Nuggets, the Celtics, or even the Lakers. Over the second half of the season, they've been right up there with Orlando as the best team in basketball. The first round may prove to be the hardest this year. I wouldn't be shocked to see Dallas go all the way.

Originally Posted by Rummpd

Mark it down - This reslient Spurs team has been pummelling good teams during arguebly the hardest stretch I can recall of any NBA team the last two months

8-6 versus winning teams in March/April.

Rummpd, if the Spurs lose this series I hope you never post again.

Originally Posted by Findog

8-6 versus winning teams in March/April.

Hammered the Cavs, Mavs, Lakers and Magic within 2 weeks and without Parker. Mavs fans be very afraid!

oh ok.

Originally Posted by spizzle_tronk

oh ok.

T'wolves? Really? You must really like underdogs. Shouldn't you be somewhere reading up on how the Chicago Bulls are going to shock the world and beat the Cavs?

NOW-OR-NEVER TEAM: The Dallas Mavericks


Owner Mark Cuban was ahead of the curve on the Internet streaming and HDTV, but he's based his NBA ownership on the questionable premise that a team can win a championship with Dirk Nowitzki as its best player.

Maybe, as is usually the case, Cuban knows more than the rest of us. This is the last chance to prove it. Nowitzki has his best supporting cast with Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood aboard. Jason Kidd is still a great quarterback for this squad (Cuban deserves more credit for making that move after getting blasted during Devin Harris' lone All-Star season in New Jersey. Do we even need to ask which team is better off two years after the trade?). But after this season, Kidd will be another year older, and the Mavericks will have their Stetsons full fending off the likes of the Thunder. If Nowitzki can't bring home a le this season, he'll never be able to do it.

One thing Nowitzki doesn't get enough credit for: putting on one of the great playoff performances under duress that we've ever seen. During the Denver series last year, his fiancée was arrested and found to have more personas than Leo DiCaprio in "Catch Me If You Can" -- and Nowitzki responded with games of 35, 33, 44 and 32 points. He shot 53 percent for the series. We know he's tough enough. Now we need to find out if he's elite enough, if he merits mention alongside Hakeem Olajuwon or Dwyane Wade. You could argue that Nowitzki's buddy Steve Nash has as much to prove as Nowitzki and even less time to accomplish it (age 36 to Dirk's 31). But with two MVP awards, I'd say Nash has already overachieved. Nowitzki still has a chance to take that necessary final step for unqualified acclaim. That's a chance, as in singular.


SCARIEST TEAM: San Antonio Spurs

Put it this way: They even had the Suns wondering if they might be better off losing their final game of the regular season to avoid any possibility of facing the Spurs in a potential 3-6 matchup. After all, these are the Spurs that sent the Suns home in the 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008 playoffs.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playof...outlook-100415



Record since Dec. 15: 38-20.

Number of playoff games: Tim Duncan, 160; Tony Parker, 122; Manu Ginobili, 107; and Richard Jefferson, 78.

And now, with Ginobili's extension locked up, the Spurs enter the playoffs distraction-free. Not that they've traditionally been an easily distracted group. The last time they had issues looming, with David Robinson's pending retirement and the possibility of Jason Kidd replacing Tony Parker at point guard, the Spurs won a championship.
__________________________________________________ _____________
Hollinger based on stats goes with Spurs in 6 - but since Fintraitor left this team has gelled and has been hammering not just good, but potentially great teams the last month so I am going again 5 games. Spurs split in Dallas and then sweep and home and break Cuban's heart in game 5 behind a monster game by both Duncan and Manu.

I am calling it the Scariest team over any "now or never" team led by Dirk and Kidd - perpetual losers when it counted. Kidd may be a great point guard but Harris was tougher on the Spurs and Parker and Hill will run by him with impunity.

Originally Posted by amuseddaysleeper

rummpd, if the spurs lose this series i hope you never post again.

+1

Remember game 1 of ECSF in 1994, Indiana @ NY ?

Reggie Miller miraculously tied the game, then for some reason, Sam Mitc fouls John Starks and sends him to the FT line.

I don't what Sammy was thinking, he must have been caught in the heat of the moment, but the Knicks were like: " WTF ???? why did they do that? "

You looked a John Staks's face and his body language, you knew he didn't want to be on the FT line; why? because the Knicks interpreted the situation as : " did they just foul us on purpose, even though it's a tied game, because they know we are going to miss? "

Starks misses both FT's, Miller grabs the rebound, Mason goes Sam Mitc on Reggie, and Pacers win.


So, this is what the mavs must be thinking: " they tank the game, knowing that they will face us in the 1st round and that we own them in the playoffs? "
See, Mavs must be ting in their pants now, they know we know we can beat them.




Now, back to your regular program

Originally Posted by Rummpd

Hammered the Cavs, Mavs, Lakers and Magic within 2 weeks and without Parker. Mavs fans be very afraid!

The wins count but the losses don't. Got it.

Hollinger has the Spurs 2 and the Mavs 13 in his final rankings - that is about right. Spurs when healthy are the superior team. Spurs much more impressive point differential and have the greater ability to turn it on to pummell good teams. Would not be surprised to see the Spurs sweep but give the Mavs one on their home court with the probabiity they will go to the line for nothing time after time. If Hill out whole series it might take the Spurs six but the Mavs going fishing. Mark it down and loving the fact 6 0f 9 from ESPN are picking against the Spurs - that is a good sign!

http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerrankings

Jesus effing Christ, Rummpd, you've got bad juju all over you.

Give it a rest.

bout time the real season finally got started...i sure hope THAT Spurs team shows up Rummpd!

but i don't gotta tell you that playoff bball is another level...

Manu will be the focal point of the other teams D every night, and our Spurs weakness is still gonna be the half court defense...and lack of length down low, unless Ian starts taking away mcdyess or bonner minutes, as i'd hate to lose a minute of blair on the floor.

long story short, we shall see, and as timvp said months ago...a healthy big 3 means there's a chance...


But what lineup do you have on the floor when you absolutely, positively, gotta have a stop at the end of a game?

Originally Posted by spizzle_tronk

oh ok.

Who is Rummpd and why does he talk like San Antonio starts Jordan Stockton Hakeem Bird and young Shaq with Lebron and Kobe coming off the bench?

Originally Posted by Findog

The wins count but the losses don't. Got it.

Kind of like winning a series against a shorthanded team counts (see 2009) but losing a series when you're the shorthanded team doesn't. (see 2003).

Originally Posted by Rummpd

he's based his NBA ownership on the questionable premise that a team can win a championship with Dirk Nowitzki as its best player.

The good news is that's true -- no Nowitzki-led team will likely ever win a le.

The bad news is they don't have to -- they can ruin the season of a team that could win a le (and they've done it before).

The Mavs are like the roaches that Darrell Royal once called TCU -- It's not what they eat and tote off, it's what they fall into and mess up that hurts.

Originally Posted by Strike

Kind of like winning a series against a shorthanded team counts (see 2009) but losing a series when you're the shorthanded team doesn't. (see 2003).

It is kind of like that. Except nobody in this thread said that.

So, if you could go ahead and point me to where a Mavs fan actually did say that, then maybe your remark will become at least slightly relevant.

T - 80 or so hours till the Mavs beat down commences. Sadly the Spurs will not sweep the Mavs, as the Mavs have some robust talent and even Kidd might get lucky and hit a shot or two. Yet for all the Mavs talent (albeit manly a bunch of so called stars that other teams keep trading away when they catch on to the stars limitations, {i.e., Kidd (slow and probably the worst shooting top point guard ever), Marion (so over-rated on both sides of the ball , but particularily on defense, it is not funny, and Butler - a gritty solid player but one that had been trade fodder as teams realize he cannot reliably stop anyone)} - I for one am amazed at how the much of the media is discounting how well this Spurs team has played over the last month pummelling great teams and going with the Mavs who had an up and down last month and half despite a soft schedule. Some experts in particular talk about Haywood in particular as a great addition but I saw him play multiple times for the Wizards, and the bottom line he has size but absolutely no heart and limited skill. Throw Blair on him and get physical with him and it is over.

This Spurs team is on a roll and it will be like Sherman's March breaking Cuban's heart again and shutting up the boorish Mavs players and their fans, albeit more North and South. Remember this Spurs team is basically for the first time all year healthy (with Hill the one confounder) team that most experts thought could win the West going into the season and with the addition by subtraction of Finley and the growth of Hill, Blair and finally Jefferson - this series will shock many, but not those looking carefully at the trends, stats and true talent level like Hollinger and a few other savy ones out there have.

Spurs in 5 again.

Originally Posted by Strike

Kind of like winning a series against a shorthanded team counts (see 2009) but losing a series when you're the shorthanded team doesn't. (see 2003).

Who said that? The Mavs probably would've lost in 2003 anyways had Dirk played. The Mavs probably would've won last year even with a healthy Ginobili. He doesn't swing a 4-1 result all by himself.

Originally Posted by Findog

Who said that? The Mavs probably would've lost in 2003 anyways had Dirk played. The Mavs probably would've won last year even with a healthy Ginobili. He doesn't swing a 4-1 result all by himself.

B.S. Manu when healthy and playing at a high level is better than anyone on the Mavs including Dirk and more clutch - he was the top rated clutch player in the NBA by NBA.com in 2006

"Not only is Ginobili the new Batman, he's also Mr. Clutch. His shooting percentage isn't that great, but he's at the top of the list because he gets to the line often and makes his free throws when he does. The same goes for Maggette.

You might notice that every player in the top 10 is in the Western Conference. You also might notice that there's no Bryant, James, Wade or Carmelo Anthony in the top 10. They're a little further down the list. James ranks 12th, Anthony ranks 22nd, Wade ranks 28th and Bryant ranks 38th." (Or I would add Dirk). (Marion is on the list but he never ever steps up, or at least I have never seen it - with the Suns he ran from the ball in the clutch)


http://www.nba.com/2009/news/feature...ame/index.html

Originally Posted by Rummpd

B.S. Manu when healthy and playing at a high level is better than anyone on the Mavs including Dirk

God you're a moron. You must think Devin Harris, Josh Howard, Brandon Bass and JJ Barea are Hall of Famers since the Spurs apparently have TWO franchise players.

and more clutch - he was the top rated clutch player in the NBA by NBA.com in 2006

It's 2010. I really should stop at the statement "Manu is better than Dirk," but I can't. Here are the clutch stats for 2010:

Mavs are 17-6 in games decided by 5 or less. Dirk in clutch situations: 49% FG, 6 for 6 from 3 and 30 of 31 from FT line.

More Dirk in "clutch" situations via Stats Inc: 13 of 18 from three and 62 of 64 from the FT line.

Who is most "clutch": Dirk (64-137 47%) LeBron (68-147 46%) Kobe (48-111 43%) Durant ( 43-115 37%)

3pt Shooting "Clutch" Dirk (13 of 18 72%) Lebron (17 of 54 32%) Kobe (11 of 31 35%) Durant (10 of 31 32%)

Free Throwing "Clutch": Dirk (62-64 97%) LeBron (74-91 81%) Kobe (46-55 84%) Durant (69-81 85%)

Also, it's Dirk that is hotter than Ginobili going into the playoffs:

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=317769

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/feature...ame/index.html

Good job on posting a 6 month old link that refers to Manu Ginobili as "the most clutch player in 2006."

(Or I would add Dirk). (Marion is on the list but he never ever steps up, or at least I have never seen it - with the Suns he ran from the ball in the clutch)

Nobody has out-clutched Dirk this year. As for Marion, we're not running the offense through him in crunch time. Sorry to get your hopes up. I'd rather be forced to check Manu with Marion, Stevenson, Butler and Kidd, as opposed to running out McDyess, Bonner and Jefferson at Dirk and hoping for the best.

Thanks for playing. You're welcome.

Originally Posted by Findog

8-6 versus winning teams in March/April.

7-2 against winning teams since the middle of march, excluding the spurs scrubs-mavs game