It's Good to be 4th

[xcoriate]

Sheesh no kidding

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Does that 12-3 figure include pickup games, or games played on xBox?

For the Mavericks to be 12-3 vs. Indiana with Artest, Ron would have to have played at least 7 full years in Indiana (which he didn't) and never missed a game against the Mavs. Since Artest was drafted in 1999 and is only in his 7th season, since he didn't end up in Indiana until February 19, 2002, and since Artest only played in 7 games in 04-05 (none against Dallas), your number cannot possibly be correct.

So, I did some checking.

Since February 19, 2002, the Dallas Mavericks are actually 4-4 against the Indiana Pacers; and they're actually 2-3 (not 12-3) in games that Ron Artest has actually played in.

Good try, though.

Now THAT ladies and gentlemen, is how you OWN someone on a message board!








Simply beautiful man! *sniff*

[TOP-CHERRY]

Does that 12-3 figure include pickup games, or games played on xBox?

For the Mavericks to be 12-3 vs. Indiana with Artest, Ron would have to have played at least 7 full years in Indiana (which he didn't) and never missed a game against the Mavs. Since Artest was drafted in 1999 and is only in his 7th season, since he didn't end up in Indiana until February 19, 2002, and since Artest only played in 7 games in 04-05 (none against Dallas), your number cannot possibly be correct.

So, I did some checking.

Since February 19, 2002, the Dallas Mavericks are actually 4-4 against the Indiana Pacers; and they're actually 2-3 (not 12-3) in games that Ron Artest has actually played in.

Good try, though.

Damn!
If that isn't ownage, I don't know what is.

[WayDowntownBang]

(And we all know, having "homecourt" advantage during the Finals is kinda a joke. Thanks to the 2-3-2 format, if the visitors win one game on the road, they can easily sweep back home).

Good OP, but I've got to argue the lack of importance of Homecourt advantage. You play all year to get Game 7 at your house. Yes, the 2-3-2 lessens the advantage if you're planning on a 5 or 6 game series, but that 7th game means everything. If you need game 7, you want it at your house. Spurs fans know this first hand.

[mavsfan1000]

It's good to be first.

[boutons_]

If the Spurs get to the Finals (Tim's PF is the biggest obstacle), they won't have HCA, so their only hope would be to split the first 2 @Auburn Hills, then go 2-1 in the middle 3 @ATT, then go back to Auburn Hills up 3-2, needing only 1 of the last 2.

If Tim's PF keeps him playing the way he is now, not bad, but way below his capabilities, then Spurs can kiss repeat goodbye.

[Pandaemonaeon]

Artest never guards Dirk - he's usually on Finley which is hard to tell because Fin is prone to playing like crap even if it's Marty Conlon on him. Ronnie did get his chance during the 2nd game this season but Dirk just posted him up repeatedly or beat him off the dribble on every match-up. I don't think one game is indicative of a defenders' effectiveness at guarding a certain player, that's why I don't put too much stock on Bowen's D on Dirk last time. Maybe he did, but I'd still want to see him do it 3 or more times consistently (much like with Kobe, Carter, et. al.) before I buy into it.

[Kori Ellis]

It's not good to be 4th.

Everyone wants to be number 1.

[T Park]

I just love, how the Mavericks fans, they are 1 game up, and think they have the right to talk .

I just find it hilarious.

[mavsfan1000]

I just love how some spurs fans think you can throw any guard at Dirk and be successful.

[leemajors]

maybe we could pull a nellie and put tp on him the whole game

[FromWayDowntown]

Ronnie did get his chance during the 2nd game this season but Dirk just posted him up repeatedly or beat him off the dribble on every match-up. I don't think one game is indicative of a defenders' effectiveness at guarding a certain player, that's why I don't put too much stock on Bowen's D on Dirk last time. Maybe he did, but I'd still want to see him do it 3 or more times consistently (much like with Kobe, Carter, et. al.) before I buy into it.

Ronnie didn't play in that 2nd game this season -- link. By December 26, he had long since asked to be traded. So, short of imagination, I have no idea where you come up with the notion that he defended Dirk and that Dirk torched him.

With regard to the other issue, you'll note that I premised my post on the idea that I don't know how often Artest defended Dirk. My point, however, is that there appears to be some clear and direct correlation between Artest's presence and a decline in Dirk's numbers -- after all, Dirk shoots almost 50% from the floor and gets to the line with ease when Artest isn't there, but barely shoots 40% and rarely gets to the line when Artest has played. And it's not as if the bad numbers are badly skewed by one bad game. Are you suggesting that is just a mere coincidence?

[SoCalSpursFan]

Come playoff time, the Spurs will be unbeatable, and I don't mind the 4th seed, but I also don't mind another Midwest Div Banner hanging in the ATT Center.

[Pandaemonaeon]

Ronnie didn't play in that 2nd game this season -- link. By December 26, he had long since asked to be traded. So, short of imagination, I have no idea where you come up with the notion that he defended Dirk and that Dirk torched him.

Oops my bad. I was talking about the FIRST game of this season. I watched that game twice.

My point, however, is that there appears to be some clear and direct correlation between Artest's presence and a decline in Dirk's numbers -- after all, Dirk shoots almost 50% from the floor and gets to the line with ease when Artest isn't there, but barely shoots 40% and rarely gets to the line when Artest has played. And it's not as if the bad numbers are badly skewed by one bad game. Are you suggesting that is just a mere coincidence?

I would probably equate it to Indiana's team defense (which used to be great) rather than the "supreme" presence of Artest who has his eyes glued on Fin his entire career against the Mavs.