Rick Carlisle, you ----face

[exstatic]

memo to Kidd: you are allowed to take shots that are not 3's or foot on the line 2's.

He's shooting lights out from 3, but only if you follow the old book and leave him open. His form is deliberate and slow. He also won't shoot if he's contested. Combine that with the Spurs guards ballhawking him 3/4 court every possession, and Carlisle playing him 40+ minutes every game, and you have a recipe for very few three pointers from Jason.

[badfish22]

I do think that Carlisle has commited some mistakes (like starting Dampier over Haywood or not playing Roddy) but I don't think they would have made a huge difference in the grand scheme of things.

Considering how close some of the games have been, I disagree. It damn well could have.

The teams are very even. Excluding the first game every other game could have gone either way. The Spurs have just been fortunate to make timely shots. Credit that to our vets having championship experience. Any of the big 3 are apt to making big shots when it matters. Where as Dallas only has Dirk for that and on occasion Terry shows glimpses. I do Agree Rick is being out coached by Pop. The last game he looked defeated like he had no answers for what was going on...

agreed

[Findog]

I'd like to see Haywood/Dirk/Marion/Butler/Kidd more. Why did Carlisle bench Marion after he played really well in helping us establish a 15-pt lead in the first half?

[badfish22]

Why did Carlisle

who the knows.

[mogrovejo]

But it has to do with the comment I quoted from you.

The difference isn't much but it's obvious imho, the Spurs play better defense and have more options on offense. Look at the rotation Popovich is using at the moment: TP, Hill, Manu, RJ, Dice, Tim, Blair and Bonner. With the exception of Matt they are all very well rounded players that contribute at both ends of the floor and produce no liabities to the team, you can't say the same from pretty much anybody on the Mavericks roster. Add to that that the Spurs are playing with great confidence at the moment and there's your 3-1 series.

I do think that Carlisle has commited some mistakes (like starting Dampier over Haywood or not playing Roddy) but I don't think they would have made a huge difference in the grand scheme of things.

If all that was true, the games wouldn't come down to a couple of shots made/missed in the final moments of the game, they would have been blowouts.

[MavDynasty]

Mavs need to ing show motherucking up in the first quarter. It pisses me off seeing this team start 3-18 or 2-10 and like that. Wake the up. Kidd needs to shoot the 3 when given the chance instead of do that pumpfake leading to a contested jumper from Terry or a shot clock violation. Butler needs to ing drive the damn ball and get to the line instead of settling for that contested 18 footer after 3 pumpfakes.

/rant

[phxspurfan]

Everything positive he does on offense he gives right back on defense. At this point you can't count on him for anything. He made a big 3 the other night, but he also missed every shot in the first half and was terrible until the game was basically over.

Yeah but he's also the heart of your team. Mavs were up by about 15 and had some swagger when Terry went down with that ankle. Then Mavs lost their edge and spent the rest of the game trying to get it back.

[DAF86]

If all that was true, the games wouldn't come down to a couple of shots made/missed in the final moments of the game, they would have been blowouts.

Today I read an article that said something to the effect that "the Mavs Spurs games have been a lot less even than what the scores indicate" and I kind of agree, I don't know what is (maybe the fact that, with the exception of game 1 and the second Q of game 4, the Spurs have been in the lead for the majority of the time) but I've been watching this series with a great sense of confidence that I didn't have in prior years, even while beign down 15 in the last game I still had the bealive that the Spurs would came up with the win. San Antonio right now is playing with the confidence of the team that knows is better and that's have been the difference, that's why they always came up with the right plays at the right moments. If they can mantain this confidence, they have the talent to go very far.

[DPG21920]

Spurs have Manu. That is huge at the end of games.

[mogrovejo]

Today I read an article that said something to the effect that "the Mavs Spurs games have been a lot less even than what the scores indicate" and I kind of agree, I don't know what is (maybe the fact that, with the exception of game 1 and the second Q of game 4, the Spurs have been in the lead for the majority of the time) but I've been watching this series with a great sense of confidence that I didn't have in prior years, even while beign down 15 in the last game I still had the bealive that the Spurs would came up with the win. San Antonio right now is playing with the confidence of the team that knows is better and that's have been the difference, that's why they always came up with the right plays at the right moments. If they can mantain this confidence, they have the talent to go very far.

You sound exactly like Mavs fans used to sound when their team was collecting close wins and they were putting out the bravado about the "confidence" and the "ability to make the right plays when they need them" and were all mad with Hollinger because he was saying close wins are no big deal.

Most teams who win close games look like they're in control. They aren't.

[picc84]

If Dirk could play center it would help the mavs out a lot.

[mavsfan1000]

Why did Carlisle...

Basically this could be said 100 times over with Carlisle. The hardcore fans are like

[badfish22]

Today I read an article that said something to the effect that "the Mavs Spurs games have been a lot less even than what the scores indicate" and I kind of agree, I don't know what is (maybe the fact that, with the exception of game 1 and the second Q of game 4, the Spurs have been in the lead for the majority of the time) but I've been watching this series with a great sense of confidence that I didn't have in prior years, even while beign down 15 in the last game I still had the bealive that the Spurs would came up with the win. San Antonio right now is playing with the confidence of the team that knows is better and that's have been the difference, that's why they always came up with the right plays at the right moments. If they can mantain this confidence, they have the talent to go very far.

If Carlisle had his rotations in order, maybe the Spurs don't look so "in control" anymore.

[DesignatedT]

its all about the spurs gaurd play this series. being able to penetrate at will and finish regularly. Tony,Manu,Hill are all doing this. If the mavs really want a chance at this thing they need to full out clog the paint and make the spurs make there outside jumpers. If they let Tony and Manu continue to make tons of layups they wont win. especially down the stretch... when the mavs turn into a jump shooting team while the spurs attack the rim every possession.

[DAF86]

You sound exactly like Mavs fans used to sound when their team was collecting close wins and they were putting out the bravado about the "confidence" and the "ability to make the right plays when they need them" and were all mad with Hollinger because he was saying close wins are no big deal.

Most teams who win close games look like they're in control. They aren't.

Well these are the playoffs, the norm is to have close games. Besides is not like the Spurs had to resort to fluke shots or buzzer beaters to get their wins, they're using great defense and good intelligent team play on offense to create 4/5 pts cushions in the last moments of games that they are able to mantain to get the W. All the champions team I've seen pull a lot more wins of this style than blowouts in the playoffs.

And I don't care how I sound like, I'm giving an opinion of how I see things at this moment. If you re-read my post you can also see that I posted a possibility where this series may still go the other way.

[DAF86]

If Carlisle had his rotations in order, maybe the Spurs don't look so "in control" anymore.

It could be, but I really don't think that Roddy B. and more minutes for Haywood would have made such big of a difference.

[dallaskd]

It could be, but I really don't think that Roddy B. and more minutes for Haywood would have made such big of a difference.

Roddy B is more important to this mavs team than george hill is to the spurs.. and you saw hill in game 4.

[mogrovejo]

Well these are the playoffs, the norm is to have close games. Besides is not like the Spurs had to resort to fluke shots or buzzer beaters to get their wins, they're using great defense and good intelligent team play on offense to create 4/5 pts cushions in the last moments of games that they are able to mantain to get the W.

Yeah, but again, that's the way the large majority of the close wins happen.

And I don't care how I sound like, I'm giving an opinion of how I see things at this moment.

Sure, I was just making a comment about your opinion.

[Ignignokt]

Roddy B is more important to this mavs team than george hill is to the spurs.. and you saw hill in game 4.

Crofl!!! Roddy B can't play defense and is lost. Put him in and the spurs will be back by 8 and he wont last.

[Findog]

its all about the spurs gaurd play this series. being able to penetrate at will and finish regularly. Tony,Manu,Hill are all doing this. If the mavs really want a chance at this thing they need to full out clog the paint and make the spurs make there outside jumpers. If they let Tony and Manu continue to make tons of layups they wont win. especially down the stretch... when the mavs turn into a jump shooting team while the spurs attack the rim every possession.

Pretty much this. The Spurs guards are getting the shots that they want, while the Mavs guards are not matching that production. Kidd became an offensive threat this season with a reliable 3-pt shot when teams sagged off of him to double Dirk. San Antonio runs him off the 3-pt line and forces him to put the ball on the floor where he refuses to shoot. Dallas hasn't been able to counter this.

Other than the fact that it was JJ Barea checking him, I had no problem with those three long jumpers Parker hit to seal the win in Game 3. I'll take my chances with him taking those shots than getting into the paint where he'll probably score and there's the chance of drawing the And One.

[Greg Oden]

Crofl!!! Roddy B can't play defense and is lost. Put him in and the spurs will be back by 8 and he wont last.

Is that what they told you in Victoria, Texas?

[Findog]

Big Men are still focal points, (there's a reason the Magic are a le contender despite their best player having a very limited offensive game) but the league is steadily becoming more guard-oriented. And for the past several years the Mavs guard play has simply not measured up.

Kidd can't shoot if you take away his set-shot three. Terry is an undersized combo guard who doesn't have the handles to play the 1, or the size to defend 2's. Barea is a scrub forced into a rotation role. Before that Devin Harris was a one-trick pony that couldn't run an offense. Marquis Daniels showed promise his rookie year, but he turned into a journeyman role player. Stackhouse was pretty good until age caught up with him.

I think Dallas gets enough points in the paint, but their main problem as they are cons uted right now is the lack of a reliable #2 scoring option, lack of perimeter defense, and a lack of athleticism in the backcourt. I'd love me some Joe Johnson or Dwyane Wade, but they're not coming here. Next year Roddy can alleviate some of those problems by continuing his development, but I'm thinking a more realistic development is the Dampier/Butler contracts for Iggy and Brand. How much game does Brand have left?

[dallaskd]

Crofl!!! Roddy B can't play defense and is lost. Put him in and the spurs will be back by 8 and he wont last.

You havnt watched the Mavs play this year. He has been lights out in every aspect. The dude blocks shots like an animal too.

[badfish22]

It could be, but I really don't think that Roddy B. and more minutes for Haywood would have made such big of a difference.

Maybe, but thats your opinion. If Bonner was getting more minutes than Mcdyess, spurfan wouldn't be too happy either.

[Findog]

You havnt watched the Mavs play this year. He has been lights out in every aspect. The dude blocks shots like an animal too.

Roddy gets lost sometimes on rotations and on knowing where to be. I agree he's got incredible skills and has made some highlight reel plays, but he is still just a rookie. I wish Carlisle had played him more, but he's not some magical cure-all.