Unless they've re-signed Juwan Howard, no.
With a hurt Tiago any of these 3 teams can give us big trouble:
Mavs, Grizz, Clips
Unless they've re-signed Juwan Howard, no.
Vince Carter, Jose Calderon, Dejuan Blair, and at time Samuel Dalembert kicked our ass last year and they're not there anymore. Parson is a much better player than Carter at this point of their career, but Carter is much better shooter imo. Calderon made every mid range jumper he shot in the playoffs, I'm not worried about that with Rondo but he is a much better defender than Calderon. Blair kicked our ass in game 4 and 6. Marion and Dalembert two very good defenders against us. Stoudemire doesn't scare me anymore. Chandler has been a non factor against us in the past because of Tim. Dirk is inconsistent at this point of his career, and could be a non factor if Tiago isn't rusty the first few games. Aminu can be a wild card, but has no post season experience. If we keep Monta in check with Danny Green the series shouldn't go more than 5. Carlisle is a good coach, but he gets too much credit than he deserves imo.
Parker, Joseph, Kawhi, Manu...Anyone who drives to the basket basically and asks for PnR should exploit Dirk's D.. can't move.
If you're scared, buy a dog, tbh... I think the Spurs can take them, and with HCA even more so. Has Dallas won in SA any time recently?
Yes, I have a healthy "fear"/respect for the Mavs given the history of the rivalry and the fact that Monte Ellis goes into Michael Jordan mode seemingly every time he plays the Spurs.
But considering the alternatives, playing the Mavs is a better draw than LAC or HOU.
I'm still holding out hope for the #3 seed and another shot at Memphis. More payback for 2011 and an easier matchup than DAL.
I'm surprised everyone sees the Spurs as a lock to get the #2 seed. They don't control their own fate.
Any improvement Dallas may have achieved is completely destroyed by the mere presence of Rondo. They look stacked but are in fact completely dysfunctional...
Still any team coached by Carlisle has to be respected. Much as last year, Dallas is a perfect team for a good warm-up round, and the travel will be minimal, which is perfect.
Danny on Monta, for the love of God. Kawhi on him doesn't work. Pop has ed with that strategy, and I hope he was just ing around.
Let's hope so. As good as our wing defenders are, he happens to be a tough cover for whatever reason.
Not locked for 2 seed and not scared of Dallas.![]()
Dallas always plays the Spurs tough.
Rondo has hurt their offense but may improve their defense in the playoffs. Overall he's probably a downgrade over Calderon.
Chandler is a big upgrade over Dalembert, who played pretty well against us. Chandler has given Duncan problems, I'm not expecting Duncan to have a great series shooting the ball.
Their bench isn't very good. Barea, Harris, Jefferson, Aminu, & Stoudimire The Spurs should have an advantage there.
Rondo's lack of shooting makes it easier to have Parker guard him with out getting burned. Pop should go with Green and KL on Ellis and Parsons. Let Leonard slow down Parson and hope Green can keep Ellis from going off. Splitter and Diaw did a good job on Dirk last season, I'm expecting the same result. I would like the Spurs to go at Dirk more with Splitter and Diaw posting him up.
Overall this team probably isn't as good as last season. Blair and Wright had good series Jefferson is probably a downgrade over Crowder.
No. But we'll talk about them when the Spurs lock up the 2 seed.
Mavs
Clippers
Rockets
Grizz
Blazers
All about the same to me. Clips probably least desirable, assuming Paul is on fire and Tony plays on par with his increasing age and balky hamstring.
A memphis loss tonight and they will.
Logged in to say this: f uuuuuuuuu cccc kkk nooooooooo.
Yeah, big fan of Carlisle.
Last year's playoff series would've been over in 5 if not for VC's utter bull traveling buzzer beater, and he's not even there anymore.
The only team that concerns me is the Warriors. They are really, really good and will have HCA.
Mavs were the second best team in the playoffs last year.
And they barely snuck into the playoffs.
Im not one bit scared of Regular season Mavs, but im scared of playoff mavs.
Teams i think have best chance of beating us
1. Cavs - so much firepower.
2. Clippers
3. Houston
4. Blazers
5. GSW
Last year mavs got to game 7 by staying home on the shooters and not doubling parker / duncan. Kawhi was not yet a big offensive factor
It killed the beautiful ball mouvment
If they do that this year with parker regressing, it will be to kawhi and duncan to prove they can score at will 1 on 1 like parker did in game 7 to have an easy series
Mavs will want some revenge...
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