Spurs vs. Mavs -- Current State

[Dalhoop]

They stand to lose the same thing that the Mavs could lose, team chemistry.

[AFBlue]

They stand to lose the same thing that the Mavs could lose, team chemistry.

If K-Mart is starting, he's not affecting team chemistry. I think he'll be gone eventually, but the Nuggets will want to get max value for him in return...no matter how bad his relationship w/ George Karl.

He's a classic "bad contract" for "bad contract" trade for two players looking for a change of scenery. Warriors Troy Murphy + cheap young guy comes to mind.

But like I said, they're not making any moves until his trade value climbs, even just a little bit...no matter how it affects chemistry.

[Extra Stout]

1. Phoenix
2. Dallas
3. San Antonio

[my2sons]

Mavs
great, with a small upgrade

SpurS
- lost defensive center, rebounder
- who will rebound
- who will guard Nowitzki
- who will guard Shaq

I would think a healthy duncan can cover most of these scenarious, and albeit, nowitzki would pressure duncan defensively a healthy duncan will cause all kinds of problems at the other end. Duncan is taking the summer off is nowtizki working this summer, that could definitely add to the equation.

[AFBlue]

Mavs
great, with a small upgrade

SpurS
- lost defensive center, rebounder
- who will rebound
- who will guard Nowitzki
- who will guard Shaq

Heeeeeyyyyyyy. Got to address your concerns real quick. You're worried about our defense and rebounding? If there's anything the Spurs do best it's teach the fundamentals of Defense and Rebounding.

And I wouldn't totally agree that we lost defense...just "half-court" defense. We had two slow centers that clogged the lane in the half court, but how many points got scored on us in transition? Elson will help w/ that, Butler will be the clogger, and both of them will improve defensively when standing next to Tim Duncan...I mean who wouldn't?

As far as rebounding is concerned, I agree with you about replacing Nazr's Offensive Rebounding, but the guy was uncanny. We'll miss that for sure, but I got to think that Butler will be parked under the basket enough to get some Rebounds. His "per 40 minute" numbers are solid (10 RPG).

The one thing that both MUST come with is "hustle". Nazr always gave his best and I expect nothing less from these two.

Defensively, Butler has the mass to handle Shaq, but honestly who really "guards" Shaq besides Yao Ming. We'll front him and double etc. As far as Nowitzki is concerned, my personal opinion is to focus on other components of the Mavs (Howard, Terry, Stack) and "let" Nowitzki get his 35 or 40....worked w/ Amare and Kobe.

[mabber]

I would think a healthy duncan can cover most of these scenarious, and albeit, nowitzki would pressure duncan defensively a healthy duncan will cause all kinds of problems at the other end. Duncan is taking the summer off is nowtizki working this summer, that could definitely add to the equation.

It should help Duncan but it won't hurt Dirk. Dirk is a big time gym rat. If he's not playing, he's shooting all year around. Plus, he has his own personal coach/trainer that he works with most of the offseason. He's very used to playing and/or practicing year around. Now if he gets hurt playing for Germany...that's another story.

[leemajors]

duncan took last summer off too.

[Big Dee Chi-Born]

I would think a healthy duncan can cover most of these scenarious, and albeit, nowitzki would pressure duncan defensively a healthy duncan will cause all kinds of problems at the other end. Duncan is taking the summer off is nowtizki working this summer, that could definitely add to the equation.

Tim Duncan not playing in Adidas would be invaluable to his health. Have you noticed how Tim started getting all these nagging foot and knee injuries once he started wearing Adidas? It's not just him either it's T-Mac, KG, and Kobe's knee troubles started back when he was wearing Adidas. It's a bad look for Timmy.

[clambake]

Are you serious Big Dee? DEATH TO ADIDAS!!!!!!!

Everyone burn your shoes now!!!!!

DEATH TO ANY STORE THAT SELLS ADIDAS.

[mabber]

Do ya'll think Duncan's foot injury had any effect on the outcome of the Spur's season? They still got the best record even though they weren't playing him as many minutes and he looked as good as ever in the playoffs to me (he was easily the best player on the court in the Spurs/Mavs series). He was kinda gassed in the OT of game 7 but I think that was more a product of the Spurs having to play so hard to come back from the big, early game, deficit.

[Nikos]

If the Spurs rebound reasonably against Dallas they can beat them. A healthy Phoenix to me is potentially a more dangerous team. Obvious Dallas is a huge threat, but I don't even see them as the better team, nor worse really. They are about even, and I actually think the Spurs have more POWER at the Top (Spurs Big Three is greater than Dallas).

[mabber]

If the Spurs rebound reasonably against Dallas they can beat them. A healthy Phoenix to me is potentially a more dangerous team. Obvious Dallas is a huge threat, but I don't even see them as the better team, nor worse really. They are about even, and I actually think the Spurs have more POWER at the Top (Spurs Big Three is greater than Dallas).

I really don't understand why some of you feel that Phoenix is a bigger threat than Dallas. The Suns don't even try to play defense. I'd think that very point would turn you off to the Suns (in the playoffs). ESPECIALLY, Spurs fans since your team is built around playing solid D. Not a big deal, but It's just strange to me that a Spurs fan would be more concerned about an offensive team that doesn't play defense.

[Nikos]

I really don't understand why some of you feel that Phoenix is a bigger threat than Dallas. The Suns don't even try to play defense. I'd think that very point would turn you off to the Suns (in the playoffs). ESPECIALLY, Spurs fans since your team is built around playing solid D. Not a big deal, but It's just strange to me that a Spurs fan would be more concerned about an offensive team that doesn't play defense.

They have the tools to play solid defense. Not great, but good enough considering they could be a historically elite offensive team if Amare is healthy (and Nash/Marion of course). Dallas wasn't exactly an awesome team on D either, just very good, but not quite elite. Phoenix can get close to that IMO, with better offense.

[AFBlue]

Do ya'll think Duncan's foot injury had any effect on the outcome of the Spur's season? They still got the best record even though they weren't playing him as many minutes and he looked as good as ever in the playoffs to me (he was easily the best player on the court in the Spurs/Mavs series). He was kinda gassed in the OT of game 7 but I think that was more a product of the Spurs having to play so hard to come back from the big, early game, deficit.

Honestly, I think that Duncan's health problems all season long did affect the Spurs in the playoffs. I think it has to do w/ the way a team plays. Tony took the team over offensively during the regular season, but when Duncan came alive in the playoffs Tony never seemed to get into his groove. With Duncan healthy all season and Tony figuring out when to use his speed, quickness I think the Spurs could've been even better offensively last season. Makes me excited about next season...a healthy Tim, healthy Manu, and improving Tony. Gotta love it. Go Spurs!

[John McEnroe]

If the Spurs rebound reasonably against Dallas they can beat them. A healthy Phoenix to me is potentially a more dangerous team. Obvious Dallas is a huge threat, but I don't even see them as the better team, nor worse really. They are about even, and I actually think the Spurs have more POWER at the Top (Spurs Big Three is greater than Dallas).

YOU CANNNOT BE SERIOUS!!!!!!!! MAVS ALREADY BEAT PHOENIX YOU IDIOT!!!!!!!!!! MAVS ARE BETTER THAN THE SPURS DESPITE GETTING SCREWED BY THE REFS!!!!!!!!!

THE REFS WERE WORSE THAN THE ONES DOING MY MATCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGHHHHHHH!!!!!

[my2sons]

Do ya'll think Duncan's foot injury had any effect on the outcome of the Spur's season? They still got the best record even though they weren't playing him as many minutes and he looked as good as ever in the playoffs to me (he was easily the best player on the court in the Spurs/Mavs series). He was kinda gassed in the OT of game 7 but I think that was more a product of the Spurs having to play so hard to come back from the big, early game, deficit.

makes you wonder how many more games would have been won

[ponky]

makes you wonder how many more games would have been won

I wonder the same thing had the Mavs hadn't had 3-4 players with injuries the last couple of weeks of the season. Anyway, I think both teams are still about even and I think the Suns hype is overrated. Sure, they CAN become a bit better defensively, but will they? Someone above pointed out how the Mavs became a bit better defensively while still not great at it, they are better than the run and gun style under Nelly but that only happened with AJ's arrival...D'Antoni is still D'Antoni, hyper and crazy as ever about run and gun ball. The Suns had some crazy leads for awhile in the Mavs/Suns series but they can't play that way the entire game, just like the Mavs couldn't back in the days of Nelly. The Suns will still be a great team but Nash's prediction that they can win a championship with their offensive style of play will never come true.

[furry_spurry]

makes you wonder how many more games would have been won

And how many games might the Suns have won with a healthy Amare? Every team has injuries.

The Spurs started the season 40-10, even with Tim's foot problems. I don't think they would have won many more games early on even with a healthy Tim. Ironically, when Tim's foot got better was when the Spurs were losing games late in the season. I agree with the person who said the team never quite meshed. Between injuries and playing musical chairs with the line-up from the all-star break all the way through the play-offs, the team and several of the players never got into a proper rhythm.

[confined]

as long as D'antoni is the coach....the suns spell the alphabet A...B...C...E

[George Gervin's Afro]

I am so tired of talkng about the mavericks..

[Dalhoop]

It seems as though both teams still have a move to make, though I will admit that it is more likely that the Mavs make a move then the Spurs do.

Williams contact is for 4.6M and I know Barrys goes for two more year at 5.1M and 5.5M

I would think that the Spurs could get rid of the Williams contract, but with another year on the Barry contract I think that is a non-moveable contract (until the end of next year.