Game BLog: Spurs @ Mavs - March 4, 2009

[dirk4mvp]

As good as Duncan is, he'd be that much better if he's stop ing about every single time there's a call against him or a non call on his opponent.

[DubMcDub]

It's disappointing but I'm not too concerned about it.

The Mavs played their hearts out and the Spurs struggled on both ends and still the Mavs barely won.

I don't mean to take away from the Mavs because they won but they played their A game and the Spurs didn't.

The Spurs shot 60% in the first half. Their star PG dropped 37 points on over 60% shooting. If you wanna say they "struggled" because that makes you feel better, fine by me. All I know is that the Spurs played a pretty good game and the Mavs beat them. I don't think the Mavs win a 7-game series, but to write this one off is sort of ridiculous.

[DubMcDub]

That's who you want shooting that shot.

No qualms with the defense there.

HAHA what the ...did kidd just made a 3??? them mavs r on fire tonigt

Kidd is a 40% 3-point shooter on the year. He's 43rd in the NBA. He's no Kapono (or Mason, for that matter), but I have to question whether you watch much NBA if you think it's a fluke when he hits a wide open 3.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Wasn't Terry out of bounds when he got that last rebound?

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I wouldn't say the Spurs struggled but their D was beyond atrocious.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

This was a legit Mavs win, they wanted it more today. Big deal.
I like it actually, it's been a while since the last time there's really been some Mavs fan Spurs fan smacktalk.
I'm glad Mark Cuban lit a fire under them. When i saw him celebrating like a bag, I was like "...oh yeah I forgot about that guy."

[crc21209]

I hope Houston and Denver lose a couple games so they get off the Spurs' ass.

EDIT: Meant Portland instead of Houston. At least Denver is on a losing streak, maybe they can keep it up. And Portland won their last 3, hope they crash back down.

Don't worry the Spurs will be just fine. All the teams from 3-9 play each other in the next couple days or weeks and that will balance out the wins and losses out some more.

3/5- Den vs. Por
3/5- Dal vs. NO
3/6- Den vs. Utah
3/6- Phx vs. Hou
3/9- Den vs. Hou
3/9- Por vs. LAL
3/10- Phx vs. Dal
3/11- Dal vs. Por

[crc21209]

Western Conference Standings

1 LA Lakers 49 12
2 San Antonio 40 20
3 Denver 39 22
4 Portland 38 22
5 Houston 39 23
6 New Orleans 37 22
7 Utah 38 23
8 Dallas 37 24
---------------
Phoenix 34 27

[crc21209]

So, the Spurs are up in the loss column on Denver, Portland, and New Orleans by 2 games. And up 3 in the loss column on Houston and Utah. Gonna be a tough stretch, but I think the Spurs can hang on to the #2 seed.

[Yorae]

It seems that BLog is the same as bloag......

[Bruno]

I haven't watch the game against Mavs but what strikes me is how far Pop is from having his rotation set while we are in March.

Right now, Pop seems to hesitate between Hill and Mason for the backup PG spot. The wing rotation is a quite a mess : Manu is out, Pop flip-flop between Hairston and Udoka, Bowen role isn't well defined. The big men rotation were set but now Gooden is added to the team.

There are 22 games left in the regular season and Pop has so much things to figure before that.

[Ice009]

Good for him.

I'd still let him shoot that ing shot.

You tell people to learn the game and you don't even know what percentage the guy is shooting that is being left open.

[Brazil]

The Spurs shot 60% in the first half. Their star PG dropped 37 points on over 60% shooting. If you wanna say they "struggled" because that makes you feel better, fine by me. All I know is that the Spurs played a pretty good game and the Mavs beat them. I don't think the Mavs win a 7-game series, but to write this one off is sort of ridiculous.

I agree 100% with that, it's a well deserved W for the mavs, the spurs w/o manu have played a good game, they were just better than the spurs tonite.

[Brazil]

I haven't watch the game against Mavs but what strikes me is how far Pop is from having his rotation set while we are in March.

Right now, Pop seems to hesitate between Hill and Mason for the backup PG spot. The wing rotation is a quite a mess : Manu is out, Pop flip-flop between Hairston and Udoka, Bowen role isn't well defined. The big men rotation were set but now Gooden is added to the team.

There are 22 games left in the regular season and Pop has so much things to figure before that.

Same here it's quite worisome in particular the mason back up PG story. Georgie seems to go right on the doghouse, the kid has been placed in the roster to play back up PG not to get 9 mn of garbage time, he si struggling on O but his D is very good, he gets rebounds, he is passing the ball correctly. I hate see Mason PG.

For the wings not an issue if Manu comes back. Bruce is another ?
Pop seems to privilege scoring hability vs. D and we never won a le based on our O.

[Slippy]

Spurs team defense looked like it was back in December mode. Too many mix-ups and breakdowns resulting in open looks for Dallas. Not sure why they having this problem considering how good their defense has been of late. All the Gooden talk might have their minds elswhere. Pop tinkering with the rotations wont be helping their cohesiveness either. Then you got 2 more guys to come in. POP has a few unknown factors to deal with and only about 6 weeks to go.

[MarHill]

Obviously marhill, you and I definitely have a different set of standards. I am into winning and you seem to think playing halfass is A-OK. If the way they played in Portland got you all excited then so be it. If you think us losing to the Cavs the other night got you all excited then so be it. And if you think us beating up on the lowly Clippers was showing the league that we are the big badasses on the block then you obviously have never been involved in anything that calls for being compe ive.

Sorry kid, but you are wasting my time.

Ummm. I'm into winning as well.

I think there needs to be a little bit of perspective here.

First of all, the Cavs are a top 4 team in the league and the Spurs were not going to beat them without Tim and Manu. That's like the Lakers playing without Kobe and Pau and the Cavs would have won that game going away.

Sheesh....

I'm not excited about how they played in Portland...they got their butts kicked. Don't forget the Spurs blasted Portland and Dallas a week ago.

And if you look back at their record...it is right in line with their records for the past several years after 60 games.

Yes, I'm disappointed they lost last night's game and even TD admitted publicly he had a bad game.

But...here's the key! They are human and it will happen!! Nobody's goes 82-0 and in fact they only 1 team in the history of the NBA that has won over 70 games. You guessed it...the Bulls! And that's as close to perfect you are going to get in the NBA.

Hmmmmm.....back to this perspective thing. I can understand you are venting and you have every right to as a fan. But when you say....this team needs to do some soul searching....that's overboard!

I could see if the Spurs had an 8 game losing streak like the Pistons did recently....then I would agree with your assessment.

Also, you the Spurs haven't lost more than three games in a row this season. Hmmm....

To finish....sometimes you have to get credit to the other team. The Mavs are pro basketball players as well and pretty good. Not a great team. But on their home floor against a rival and their owner chewed their butts 2 nights before...we all knew they would play better and they did.

But it still came down to the last 2 possessions and they barely won. Oh...the Spurs were w/o Manu and they have already beaten Dallas in their gym already this season.

So...don't post I'm not for winning. Because I am....but being unrealistic I can't do!!

[LEONARD]

Tonight's loss is not a big deal. The Mavs just got a couple of shots here, a couple of shots there....no big deal...We are 2-2 on the season series with them. The Mavs actually played like they gave a tonight...

[LEONARD]

Mavs - Spurs 1st rd matchup would be great...

[alexinstereo]

i hate the mavs