Buck Harvey: Fortunate Finley: How the karma switched for one

[whottt]

Dallas 103, San Antonio 91
Miracle Mavs Pull Off Stunning Victory

With nothing to lose, the Dallas Mavericks figured they would try some defense.

Using constantly changing defensive schemes and an inspirational performance from Michael Finley, the Mavericks somehow stayed alive in the Western Conference Finals with a 103-91 Game 5 victory over the stunned San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs-Nets rhetoric will have to wait at least two more days. Dallas closed to 3-2 with the fourth road win in the series and has Game 6 on its home floor Thursday.

Perhaps Mavs All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki will be ready by then. Nowitzki went down with a sprained left knee late in Game 3 and was expected to miss at least 10 days.

"I would say we should call him doubtful," Mavs coach Don Nelson said. "The longer the series goes, the better chance he could play."

"If you have half a brain, you realize how important a game like this is," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose team will be looking for its third straight Game 6 road win.

Finley, who has become somewhat obscured by the star power of Nowitzki and All-Star guard Steve Nash, scored 15 of his 31 points in the third quarter, when the Mavs began their march back from a 17-point deficit.

"That's my role on this team," Finley said. "My stats might not be as good as they were a couple years ago (but) I still feel that I'm the leader of this team. Vocally, I may not be as expressive as some leaders are, but by example I think I can lead this team and they feed off of that."

In a terrific all-around game, Finley made 9-of-14 shots and 12-of-12 free throws. He also set a tone of toughness that his fellow Mavs followed with eight rebounds and five steals, both team highs.

But the key was Nelson's defense. Hiding his team's shortcomings -- height-wise and otherwise -- Nelson used an array of zones and switching man-to-man schemes that smothered Tim Duncan and put the pressure on his teammates to makes shots. They didn't.

"We couldn't seem to stop them man-to-man, so we went to zone and looked more effective," Nelson said. "In the fourth quarter, we stayed with it instead of going back to man-to-man."

"We've zoned them in previous games, but not as successfully," Finley said. "We weren't aggressive enough and seemed to relax a little. You can't do that against the league MVP. Tonight, we were more aggressive in our traps and our rotation."

The Spurs scored just one basket -- a dunk by Duncan off a great save by David Robinson -- in the first 9½ minutes of the fourth quarter. During that stretch, they watched an 81-74 advantage evaporate and become a 97-86 deficit.

"It sorta looked like we thought somebody was going to give us something," Popovich said. "That lack of maturity hurt us."

Duncan had 23 points, 15 rebounds and six assists but got very little help in the second half. The Spurs scored just 10 points in the fourth quarter.

"They dropped back into that zone," Duncan said. "You miss a couple of shots and they start to come back. You try to make it up in hurry."

"We see everything that you can see on Tim," Spurs forward Malik Rose said. "Maybe the timing and how hard they did it was a bit different. They really came at him hard in the fourth quarter and were not going to let him beat them."

Nick Van Exel scored 21 points and Nash added 14 for the Mavs, who made all 23 of their free throws and actually held a 42-38 edge on the boards, where they have been pounded all series.

"They never really put us away," Van Exel said. "They had lots of chances to put the nail in the coffin, but they never did."

In the first half, the Mavs looked as if they were holding the nail steady for the Spurs. They trailed 30-23 after one period and 44-25 early in the second quarter after the San Antonio put together a 12-0 run.

Dallas was so desperate it again began intentionally fouling Bruce Bowen, who again made them pay by sinking 4-of-6 free throws. In the series, the Mavs have hacked Bowen 10 times. The 40 percent foul shooter has made 14-of-20 free throws, while Dallas has scored on just one of the ensuing possessions.

"It's a ploy," Nelson said. "I thought he was shooting well -- even the two he missed, he shot well. It was a ploy I thought was useful at the time, because anything was better than what was happening."

But the change in tempo seemed to get the Spurs off their game. They made just one basket in the last six minutes of the first half, settling for a 58-47 lead -- which they rebuilt to 66-49 on consecutive baskets by Duncan early in the third period.

That's when Finley got going, and soon after his teammates got into the act. His 3-pointer made it 72-64 with 4:47 left, and two free throws by Eduardo Najera inched the Mavs within 78-72 with 1:12 to go.

"When their turns came, they were anxious to make something happen," Finley said. "They brought it home in the fourth quarter."

Nash made a clock-beating, running floater in the lane over Duncan and a 3-pointer in a 9-2 spurt that opened the final period and tied the game. A dunk by Najera at the 7:33 mark gave the Mavs their first lead at 85-84, and they never gave it back.

Van Exel made a runner and 3-pointer around Duncan's dunk, and Nash made another improbable shot, this time stepping back for a rainbow jumper and a 92-86 lead with 4:26 left.

Van Exel made two free throws, then dove to steal the inbounds pass and drew a foul while shooting an alleged 3-pointer. Three more from the line made it 97-86 with 2:32 to go and sent most of the SBC Center crowd of 18,797 heading for the exits.

Walt Williams had 12 points and eight boards and Najera added 11 and eight for Dallas, which shot 43 percent (36-of-83).

Stephen Jackson scored 20 points, Rose added 14 and Bowen 12 for the Spurs, who shot 44 percent (31-of-70). Tony Parker, who had been averaging nearly 23 points per game in the series, managed just seven.

"Coming into the second half, I took it upon myself defending Parker when he tries to be more aggressive," Finley said. "I wanted to pick him up full court and make him go against me more 1-on-1 and take them out of their flow."


Come now, he's had good AND bad performances in the playoffs. Did the Spurs and Manu specifically not "choke" up a 3 point lead in Game 7 last year?

Labeling guys like Kobe as "clutch" when he takes Game 7 off and Dirk and Finley "chokes" while ignoring their entire body of work is just stupid.

Eat a findog...


BRB...I just printed up some copies of this av and have some business to go conduct.

[Kamnik]

Whottt, now you're just being a .

agreed

annoying to him wish for Finley to choke

i mean wtf

[Findog]

Eat a findog...

I have to say I'm not terribly familiar with what exactly you're trying to articulate. Do you take any medicine to control your Tourette's verbal tics?

[GrandeDavid]

Hedo was a class guy...didn't get him any slack.
Ditto Smitty



Were you even reading the forum earlier in the season when Finley was sucking, like, last month? Half these guys I am arguing with now were ripping him worse than I am.

You will see my username perhaps a dozen times here or on any sports forum from around June - March. I'm just too busy most of the time.

I do, however, make time and enjoy posting in sports forums during such moments as the playoffs, and this site is a blast. So I wasn't around earlier in the season when guys were ripping Finley, so I'm not really interested in what others were saying. I'm merely responding to your comments.
And no, its not surprising that there are some seriously hot/cold fans who take out their life frustrations on their sports figures. The what have you done for me lately affair.

In any event, Finley is much more of a contributor to this team than Hedon't ever was. That guy was the ultimate piece of nothing during that 04 Lakers series.

I'm not saying Finley the freaking second coming, I just think he's a fantastic guy and has contributed to this championship run. I'd like to see him win a ring.

[jaespur21]

Finley was huge in the postseason last year for us....he s tepped up his game. I got your back finley.....every spurs' back......... except for mayb beno who has yet to show me he has any heart

whottt ur a freakin trip dog......how can u hate on the man. he plays tough everynight and even if he chokes chucker whatever u wanna call it. we still will win. book it

[fuckespn]

whott is a ing got

[leemajors]

I have to say I'm not terribly familiar with what exactly you're trying to articulate. Do you take any medicine to control your Tourette's verbal tics?

open mouth, insert penis.

[whottt]

You will see my username perhaps a dozen times here or on any sports forum from around June - March. I'm just too busy most of the time.

I do, however, make time and enjoy posting in sports forums during such moments as the playoffs, and this site is a blast. So I wasn't around earlier in the season when guys were ripping Finley, so I'm not really interested in what others were saying. I'm merely responding to your comments.
And no, its not surprising that there are some seriously hot/cold fans who take out their life frustrations on their sports figures. The what have you done for me lately affair.

In any event, Finley is much more of a contributor to this team than Hedon't ever was. That guy was the ultimate piece of nothing during that 04 Lakers series.

I'm not saying Finley the freaking second coming, I just think he's a fantastic guy and has contributed to this championship run. I'd like to see him win a ring.

LMAO Grande Dave... I know who you are man, you've only been here, as long as I have or so..and at SC. I've actually looked into opening an import export business because of some of your posts...Brazil, Europe, my kind of life...


That said...Finley is a ing Mav to me...that is a taint that does not come off easily...

I don't like what he did to the Mavs.

I was never impressed with him as a post season performer(especially against the Spurs)...

I do think he chokes...

He melted down as bad as Ray Allen and Vince Carter over Bruce...bad mouthed him...Bruce is my guy, Fin.

And I don't think he's a team player...I think he does good job of convincing people he is...but IMO, he isn't. He's a selfish player...and his game proves this to me...not a bad thing in and of itself Jordan was too...difference is that Jordan was money when it mattered.


This is a guy that has to prove he is a Spur to me...and he has yet to do that.

And the only thing I see Finley doing consistently hard...is jacking up shots and not passing the ball. It's great when he's hot...it'll put us down by 10 in the blink of an eye when he isn't...

And he's probably the last guy on this team I want to see taking a game winning shot...



And it's not just that he takes minutes from Barry...

He takes them from Horry. There is absolutely no contest between the two as to which is more of a championship player. And Finley has played with talent, MVP talent...he takes their shots.

[whottt]

I have to say I'm not terribly familiar with what exactly you're trying to articulate. Do you take any medicine to control your Tourette's verbal tics?

No...and I've had it since your mom refused to abort you. Stress...

[whottt]

Finley was huge in the postseason last year for us....he s tepped up his game. I got your back finley.....every spurs' back......... except for mayb beno who has yet to show me he has any heart

whottt ur a freakin trip dog......how can u hate on the man. he plays tough everynight and even if he chokes chucker whatever u wanna call it. we still will win. book it

I am ting a gold brick that the Cavs are going to beat the Pistons and we are going to wind up with Finley taking minutes from Horry and Barry in that godforsaken small ball lineup.

We won't beat them if that happens...we'll lose.

Edit: Unless he makes me eat my words...like Barry made all of his haters eat theirs.

[timvp]

I don't like what he did to the Mavs.

Then why the do you deny being a Mav fan? Just come clean. You are a Dallas Cowboys and Rangers fan. You grew up in Dallas and loved the Harper/Blackman backcourt. You can't just change to being a Spurs fan because they started winning championships.

And regarding Devin Brown, do you want me to bump the thread where you advocated starting Devin Brown?

[whottt]

Then why the do you deny being a Mav fan? Just come clean. You are a Dallas Cowboys and Rangers fan. You grew up in Dallas and loved the Harper/Blackman backcourt. You can't just change to being a Spurs fan because they started winning championships.

LMAO...I didn't grow up in Dallas. I was born there...just like the Spurs.

That's silliest thing I have ever heard...

Ok...will you feel better if I root for San Antonio's football and baseball teams?

And regarding Devin Brown, do you want me to bump the thread where you advocated starting Devin Brown?

Sure...since it was well before I started ripping him...when he needed PT to improve...

My advice would be to bump the thread where I ed about us not resigning him since it was going to leave us old...

I like Devin better than Finley....

[whottt]

Then why the do you deny being a Mav fan? Just come clean. You are a Dallas Cowboys and Rangers fan. You grew up in Dallas and loved the Harper/Blackman backcourt. You can't just change to being a Spurs fan because they started winning championships.

And regarding Devin Brown, do you want me to bump the thread where you advocated starting Devin Brown?

Oh and furthermore...


It's highly hypocritical to cheer what he did to the Mavs knowing full well his guts would be hated worse than Rodman if he did that to the Spurs.

It's a move...

At least Karl Malone went to a team that wasn't a defending champ...

[Leetonidas]

God dammit whottt, shut the up already.

[timvp]

Finley and Barry both took less money to come to the Spurs. They both came to the Spurs because the Spurs have the habit of winning championships.

Horry signed with the Spurs in an even "worse" cir stance. He was on the Lakers in 2003 and missed the wide open shot against the Spurs. The Spurs go on to win the championship. Horry leaves the Lakers to sign with the Spurs after the season is over.

I don't see you whining about that. You think Horry signed here without knowing the Spurs were going to be good for a while. And then the next year, Horry choked hardcore against the Lakers in 2004. If he would have played 5% as well as he played in 2005, the Spurs would be aiming for their fifth championship.

Finley didn't choke against the Mavs last year. He was one of the Spurs better players. Horry choked badly against the Lakers in 2004 ... while stealing minutes from Malik Rose who was such a noted Lakers killer that Phil Jackson made signing him the Lakers number one priority one season.

But uh yeah, we don't see whottt mentioning any of this. Or that Oberto also signed with the Spurs after a championship.

I'll await your reply to this ownage but I can't promise a rebuttal. It gets sad owning a former Mav fan over and over.

[whottt]

God dammit whottt, shut the up already.

Ignore is your friend...you'll be stupider...but they do say ignorance is bliss.

[GrandeDavid]

Ok...will you feel better if I root for San Antonio's football and baseball teams?

Nah, just the Astros and Texans.

[T Park]

You hate FInley for signing with the Spurs.

Thats some of the stupidest and most backwards logic I've EVER heard...

[whottt]

Finley and Barry both took less money to come to the Spurs. They both came to the Spurs because the Spurs have the habit of winning championships.

Barry didn't do it after a le.

Horry signed with the Spurs in an even "worse" cir stance. He was on the Lakers in 2003 and missed the wide open shot against the Spurs. The Spurs go on to win the championship. Horry leaves the Lakers to sign with the Spurs after the season is over.

It doesn't matter because he's Horry...you can call Horry a all you want...it's still better to have him on your team than on the team you are playing.

I don't see you whining about that.

It does no good to whine about Horry...he doesn't give a ....and he'll drain a three and steal yoru ring.

It does no good to hate Horry...he still doesn't give a , he'll still drain a three and teal your ring.

Horry leaves you no choice but to be a fan....and he'll still drain a 3 and steal your ring.

You think Horry signed here without knowing the Spurs were going to be good for a while.

Horry didn't have to prove he can contribute to championship team..

He wasn't getting paid 15 million by the Lakers...

And then the next year, Horry choked hardcore against the Lakers in 2004. If he would have played 5% as well as he played in 2005, the Spurs would be aiming for their fifth championship.

Horry didn't choke...Phil Jackson had an edict that Horry wasn't going to beat them...and it shows he cared.


Playing well against your former team is probably more of an indication that you are a choker.

Sin,

Smitty.

Finley didn't choke against the Mavs last year. He was one of the Spurs better players.

Oh yes he did...at the end of game 7.

Horry choked badly against the Lakers in 2004 ... while stealing minutes from Malik Rose who was such a noted Lakers killer that Phil Jackson made signing him the Lakers number one priority one season.

Do you seriously think Phil Jackson was stupid enough to not defend Horry?

But uh yeah, we don't see whottt mentioning any of this. Or that Oberto also signed with the Spurs after a championship.

Oberto didn't go to his chief rival while still being paid 15 million...Oberto came to play in the NBA...from Europe...it's totally different.


Now if Oberto plays for Team USA in the next Olympics...we'll talk.


And since Pop's rationing of minutes = choking in yoru book...I guess Oberto was the biggest choker against the Mavs last season.

Kumbaya my AJ, Kumbaya

Who are you rooting for in the finals last season?

[GrandeDavid]

Whottt, I replied to your PM about import/export. Hope I can be of assistance, always my pleasure to help people.

[whottt]

Thanks man...

You need a hook up for some Findog jersies in Brazil? I'm your man

[GrandeDavid]

Thanks man...

You need a hook up for some Findog jersies in Brazil? I'm your man

You can leave me one at the Game 3 GTG at Kori and L.J.'s. I'll be in San Antonio then, and I'm gonna try to make that GTG.

And make it a retro!

[timvp]

It's amazing whottt is so hung up on how much Mark Cuban is paying Finley. Does he not realize Barry makes twice as much money from the Spurs than Finley?

Barry make more money than Bowen and Horry combined.

In fact, Barry is the highest paid Spur outside of the big three.

But instead of bringing any of this up, he's sad that Cuban has to pay Finley.

[T Park]

Brent Barry is the most overpaid Spur of all time.

[timvp]

And yes, Horry choked his ass off against the Lakers in 2004. Just because he's Horry doesn't mean he can't choke.

Zero points in 27 minutes in the .4 game in 0-4 shooting = choking
1-10 in the first five games of the series = choking
1-5 on threes in Game 6 = choking

Everybody has choked before. Horry choked in that series and if you asked him he'd tell you.

Chances whottt would admit the choke job?

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