McDonald: Spurs vs. Mavs Matchups

[duncan228]

Spurs vs. Mavs matchups
Express-News

Express-News Spurs beat writer Jeff McDonald profiles the key players and matchups in the Western Conference first-round series between the No. 3 seed Spurs and No. 6 seed Dallas Mavericks:

POINT GUARD

Spurs: (9) Tony Parker 6-2, 8th yr - Spurs’ healthiest and most consistent star this season, set career highs in scoring (22.2 ppg) and assists (6.9) and turned in 13 30-point outings. Averaged 31.3 ppg in four games vs. Mavs.

Mavericks: (2) Jason Kidd 6-4, 15th yr - Isn’t same point guard he was at career zenith but still remains one of game’s best all-around trigger men. Had three triple-doubles this season, including in season-closing win over Houston.

Edge: Spurs

SHOOTING GUARD

Spurs: (8) Roger Mason Jr. 6-5, 5th yr - Has cooled after sizzling start to season, but still ranked 15th in 3-point percentage (42.1) and 10th in makes (166). Regained stroke and confidence since replacing injured Manu Ginobili as starter.

Mavericks: (21) Antoine Wright 6-7, 4th yr - Former A&M standout, doesn’t provide much in way of offense. Most profound effect on series could come on defense — he’s sure to find himself assigned to Parker at some point.

Edge: Spurs

SMALL FORWARD

Spurs: (4) Michael Finley 6-7, 14th yr - Enjoyed most accurate season since joining Spurs (43.7 percent from field; 41.1 from 3-point range). Enters series on clutch streak, sinking buzzer-beating 3-pointers in two of final three games.

Mavericks: (5) Josh Howard$6-7, 6th yrBothered by a sore ankle for most of the season, the dynamic player still managed 18 points per game. His health will go a long way toward determining the Mavericks’ fate in series.

Edge: Mavericks

POWER FORWARD

Spurs: (21) Tim Duncan 6-11, 12th yr - Was on pace for best season in four years before knees began stiffening in February. If healthy and rested, still one of top playoff performers — 32.3 ppg and 11.7 rpg vs. Mavs in 2006 playoffs.

Mavericks: (41) Dirk Nowitzki 7-0, 11th yr- Always a tough cover for the Spurs, he ended the regular season on a roll. Scored 20-plus points in final 25 games to help Mavericks secure postseason berth and move up to sixth seed.

Edge: Spurs

CENTER

Spurs: (15) Matt Bonner 6-10, 5th yr - Perhaps the surprise of the season for the Spurs, emerging as a starter and 3-point ace. Has never been a key part of a playoff rotation, so how he responds to pressure will be critical.

Mavericks: (25) Erick Dampier 6-11, 13th yr - Hardly a flashy player, but he did lead Mavericks in field-goal percentage (64.9) and blocks per game (1.2). A rugged defender, but will likely have his hands full with Duncan.

Edge: Mavericks

BENCH

Spurs: Manu Ginobili is out, leaving relative newcomer Drew Gooden to provide scoring spark off bench. Ime Udoka surfaced as key sub down stretch, and defensive pest Bruce Bowen ought to get shot at guarding Nowitzki.

Mavericks: Player most likely to steal Ginobili’s sixth-man crown resides on Dallas bench — Jason Terry. Brandon Bass is one of the league’s more unheralded front-court players, while little J.J. Barea can get to double figures when he heats up.

Edge: Mavericks

COACH

Spurs: Gregg Popovich - Few coaches boast his playoff know-how. Ranks fourth in playoff winning percentage (.631) and third in wins (101). In preseason poll of league GMs, finished at top in most coaching categories.

Mavericks: Rick Carlisle - No stranger to postseason himself, made six appearances with Detroit and Indiana, taking Pistons to the Eastern finals in 2003. Generally regarded as one of NBA’s top offensive minds.

Edge: Spurs

PREDICTION

Spurs in 7

[duncan228]

Spurs-Mavs roster, season series
Express-News

SAN ANTONIO SPURS (54-28)

No. Player Pos Ht From Yrs

15 Matt Bonner F 6-10 Florida 5th

12 Bruce Bowen G/F 6-7 Cal State Fullerton 13th

21 Tim Duncan F 6-11 Wake Forest 12th

4 Michael Finley F/G 6-7 Wisconsin 14th

20 Manu Ginobili G 6-6 Argentina 7th

90 Drew Gooden F/C 6-10 Kansas 7th

3 George Hill G 6-2 IUPUI 1st

28 Ian Mahinmi C 6-11 France 2nd

8 Roger Mason Jr. G 6-5 Virginia 5th

7 Fabricio Oberto C/F 6-10 Argentina 4th

9 Tony Parker G 6-2 France 8th

40 Kurt Thomas C/F 6-9 TCU 14th

5 Ime Udoka F/G 6-5 Portland State 5th

11 Jacque Vaughn G 6-1 Kansas 12th

2 Marcus Williams G 6-7 Arizona 2nd

Head coach: Gregg Popovich
Assistants: Mike Budenholzer, Don Newman, Brett Brown, Chip Engelland, Chad Forcier

DALLAS MAVERICKS (50-32)

No. Player Pos Ht From Yrs

11 J.J. Barea G 6-0 Northeastern 3rd

32 Brandon Bass F 6-8 LSU 4th

13 Matt Carroll G 6-6 Notre Dame 6th

25 Erick Dampier C 6-11 Mississippi State 13th

40 Devean George F 6-8 Augsburg Coll. 10th

8 Gerald Green G 6-8 Gulf Shores Acad. (TX) 4th

1 Ryan Hollins C 7-0 UCLA 3rd

5 Josh Howard F/G 6-7 Wake Forest 6th

2 Jason Kidd G 6-4 California 15th

41 Dirk Nowitzki F 7-0 Germany 11th

33 James Singleton F 6-8 Murray State 5th

42 Jerry Stackhouse G/F 6-6 North Carolina 14th

31 Jason Terry G 6-2 Arizona 10th

4 Shawne Williams F 6-9 Memphis 3rd

21 Antoine Wright G/F 6-7 Texas A&M 4th

Head coach: Rick Carlisle
Assistants: Terry Stotts, Dwane Casey, Mario Elie, Tom Sterner

SEASON SERIES (tied 2-2)

Mavericks 98, Spurs 81

Nov. 4 @AT&T Center: Jason Terry scored 29 points in his first start of the young season, and Dirk Nowitzki added 30 as the Mavs sent the Spurs to their first 0-3 start in 35 years. Tony Parker led the Spurs with 22 points, and Tim Duncan had 19.

Spurs 133, Mavericks 126 (2OT)

Dec. 9 @Dallas: Bruce Bowen nailed a 3-pointer with 1:47 left in the second overtime to put the Spurs ahead for good. Game featured 22 lead changes and 13 ties and was the first OT affair between the teams since the 2006 Western Conference semifinals. Duncan led the Spurs with 32 points.

Spurs 93, Mavericks 76

Feb. 24 @AT&T Center: Playing without Manu Ginobili and Duncan, who sat out with a sore right knee, Parker had 37 points and 12 assists to lead the Spurs. For the Mavericks, who shot just 34 percent from the floor, it would prove to be their second-worst offensive output of the season.

Mavericks 107, Spurs 102

March 4 @Dallas: After being called out by owner Mark Cuban for a shoddy performance in a loss to Oklahoma City, the Mavericks responded. Josh Howard scored 29 points, and Jason Kidd hit a 3-pointer with 31 seconds left to help seal the victory. Duncan shot just 7 of 21 from the field.

- Staff report

[raspsa]

If you take Duncan and Dirk out of the equation Spurs Bigs > Mavs Bigs IMO.

[NewJerSpur]

Antoine Wright is their STARTING SG?

[crc21209]

This major difference between 06' and this year was that Harris countered TP, and Diop defended TD well. Those two...are no longer there...