Random Thoughts on Game 1

[Mark in Austin]

If Dirk even dreams about scoring, he better wake up and apologize to Bruce.

[SequSpur]

the Mavs.

[LB7]

Looking back, Terry was terrible. He doesn't take (and miss) those twelve shots, and the Mavs probably win this game. Some of it was the Spurs' D, but again, blown layups, etc. More importantly, the Dallas guards didn't distribute the ball well over the course of the game. As Shoogar Bear pointed out, (Mora voice on) "TWO ASSISTS... IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!" (Mora voice off). AJ may be able to kick some booty and correct this, but Stackhouse has been making bad decisions for a long time now.

All that said, Dallas looked pretty @#$% good while they were winning. It was only after the fact that some of these problems really stood out. The last possession was the real meltdown. Great team D by the Spurs, but several bad decisions in a row by Dallas didn't hurt.

Agreed. Terry was terrible. He had a few nice finishes (the one over everyone where Damp almost took him out), but thats it. He missed a lot of open shots he normally makes. Floaters, 8 footers, etc. There was some good D, but he got to the hole and couldn't finish. Parker didn't stop him, and he didn't stop Parker. Overall, Spurs D good when it counted.

[samikeyp]

And yet the Spurs only won by 2. You talk like it was a blowout.

Margin of victory is irrelevant...all that matters is the final score.

Personally I expect a motivated and tougher Mavs team in Game 2. Still a great game by two great teams.

[Obstructed_View]

Margin of victory is irrelevant...all that matters is the final score.

Personally I expect a motivated and tougher Mavs team in Game 2. Still a great game by two great teams.

Personally, I expect a prepared and rested Spurs team in game 2. Dallas sounds like they are completely psyched out.

[Deb]

Thats fine. Terry and Dirk both had off nights shooting. They can take up the slack.

[LB7]

So, by spurs fans standards...Manu was owned as well.

[J.T.]

You're not owned if you win the game.

[LB7]

LOL ok

[J.T.]

I'd rather have 15 from Manu and a W than 38 and a L.

[Deb]

So, by spurs fans standards...Manu was owned as well.

Only if we had lost

[LB7]

I'd rather have 15 from Manu and a W than 38 and a L.

You will get no argument from me on that issue. My point was made on individual efforts alone. Yes, the W is more important. I wasn't talking more important, just stating facts.

[FromWayDowntown]

Parker and Ginobili were obviously tired as but still had decent/good games.

What was most impressive to me about Parker today was that the vaunted Devin Harris difference wasn't any sort of difference at all.

Parker was able to blow by Harris regularly and didn't score only because he was met at the rim by a big. It's a small step from that to finding the open big -- they did it once, I think -- and getting an easier bucket still.

Harris may pick it up as things go along, but for today at least, with a banged up and weary Parker and a rested and recovered Harris, Parker seemed to me to be relatively unaffected by Harris' presence on the floor.

That, along with Parker's efforts to demonstrate to the Mavericks that the 18 foot jumper is very much a weapon in his arsenal, as it has been since about late February.

[Obstructed_View]

What was most impressive to me about Parker today was that the vaunted Devin Harris difference wasn't any sort of difference at all.

Parker was able to blow by Harris regularly and didn't score only because he was met at the rim by a big. It's a small step from that to finding the open big -- they did it once, I think -- and getting an easier bucket still.

Harris may pick it up as things go along, but for today at least, with a banged up and weary Parker and a rested and recovered Harris, Parker seemed to me to be relatively unaffected by Harris' presence on the floor.

That, along with Parker's efforts to demonstrate to the Mavericks that the 18 foot jumper is very much a weapon in his arsenal, as it has been since about late February.

Haven't you heard? Devin Harris is hurt. Otherwise he would have held Duncan and Parker to single digits.

[T Park]

If Devin Harris had played 20 mins,

good lord, the 3rd world war would've started....

[????????]

Parker can get into the lane. He just needs to realize when the bigs rotate and then find the nice little dish to TIMMY for the dunk. Once he does that a couple of times, the bigs wont be as quick to help and parker will be able to finish once again.

Great Game. Didnt play well but played well enought to win. I expect Manu and Tony to bring more consistency for the rest of the series. I expect Dirk and Terry to step up and take on more of the offensive responsibilities. Looks like a good series, but I think the deciding factor will be the fact that the Mavs still rely far, far, far too much on jump shots and especially fade away jump shots. They don't attack the rim like the Kings, and all of those fade aways will kill you in the 4th, like today. Plus, the Mavs dont have a big with scoring chops. That will be hard for them to overcome. This was the first Spurs game in a long time that I went in thinking it was 50/50. The lack of rest and the rested Mavs concerned me for this one game, and the fact that we could beat a rested Mavs team at approx. 80% due to fatigue is very Nice.

[spurster]

My random thought is that both teams better execute their offense better in crunch if they expect to win this series.

[Deb]

So, by spurs fans standards...Manu was owned as well.

God, that must be the gayest pic of all time

[Tres_Till_it_MHz]

Random Thoughts...

Spurs really looked tired and somewhat unprepared, unfortunately for Mavs fans this was probably the best and only opportunity for ya'll to win a game in SA. X's and O's with a little rest and some home cooking for game two is not good for Mavs.

Bowen is one bad mutha, Dirk is gonna have nightmares.

Avery is a little and so is his owner.

Game two, Fat Tire or Shiner Bock?

[katyon6th]

Manny, your random thoughts on Game 1 are ing superb.

My random thoughts have been covered so I won't be redundant but...

GO SPURS GO! Damn I love them!!

[T Park]

Spurs really looked tired and somewhat unprepared

Thatll happen on a 36 hour turnaround.

[5ToolMan]

Keep it coming. Its truly humorous. Not arguing, just want to see what other things you will come up with.

I thought it was a great game today. We didn't execute at the end and that was the difference. I still feel that it will be a long series and it is not over by any stretch of the imagination. I felt like the Mavs were the best team til the end. Yes, thats when it matters most and props to the Spurs for finishing strong. However, yes I take a positive in the fact that we were the better team for the better part of 4 quarters. Just have to finish it next time. Props to the Spurs tho, good game.

If you saw the Mavs as the best team until the end it might be time to get the eyes checked. LOL!

When you learn to see the game clearly you whould know Duncan owned the middle on both ends of the floor the entire first half and all of the 4th quarter. Without the Stackhouse anomoly this game is over by the half. Once the Spurs picked up the defense, and Timmy got just very a little help from his freinds, the writing was on the wall for anyone who knows how to read NBA hoops.

[Obstructed_View]

Thatll happen on a 36 hour turnaround.

No doubt. The Mavs missed a golden opportunity.

[LB7]

If you saw the Mavs as the best team until the end it might be time to get the eyes checked. LOL!

When you learn to see the game clearly you whould know Duncan owned the middle on both ends of the floor the entire first half and all of the 4th quarter. Without the Stackhouse anomoly this game is over by the half. Once the Spurs picked up the defense, and Timmy got just very a little help from his freinds, the writing was on the wall for anyone who knows how to read NBA hoops.

Sorry Duncan does not equal team. I still feel like the Mavs played the better game up until the end. Yes this is the time that counts most and the Mavs blew it. Good game by Duncan but I stand by what I have already said.

Saying Duncan killed us does not disprove to me that the Mavs didn't still play the better game. Sorry, don't really see your point there. He single handedly kept the Spurs in the game til the final quarter and we crumbled. I agree, he was awesome.

[duncan2k5]

i agree with LB7...the mavs played better for the whole game barring the last 4 minutes...and thats the good thing for us. remeber when timmy was the only one scoring, and the rest of the team was like 5-20 or something like that? we still won. so imagine what will happen once we get the ball rolling...