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The Spurs have great transition D, I don't know what this guy is talking about.
Mavs' success spurs talk of San Antonio
Second-round matchup appears imminent with Spurs, Mavs up 2-0
12:12 PM CDT on Friday, April 28, 2006
MEMPHIS – There are legitimate reasons why sportswriters exasperate the athletes and coaches we cover.
This is one of them.
I know the Mavericks must win two more games to advance to the second round. I know the games in Memphis should present more of a challenge. But I can't help but let my mind drift to what lies ahead.
The Mavericks are up 2-0. The San Antonio Spurs are up 2-0. You know these teams are sizing each other up as they dispose of the opponents at hand.
Neither the Mavericks nor Spurs want to expend more energy than necessary on these warm-up acts. A sweep and the six to seven days of rest that go with it is the preferred course. If either team lets its first-round series extend beyond five games, it could put itself at a disadvantage heading into their imminent showdown.
Avery Johnson is likely to hurl his coach of the year trophy at anyone who broaches the subject. I hate to think what San Antonio's Gregg Popovich would do, but I do know there is special forces training in his background.
The problem with talking about the Mavericks vs. the Spurs is that it disrespects the Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings. Johnson and Popovich won't allow that to happen. The Spurs know they are one unfavorable bounce away from being tied with the Kings.
How did that Brent Barry three-pointer go down, anyway?
Still, it's impossible to watch what has transpired the first two games of both series and envision a scenario in which the Mavericks and Spurs won't advance. The question then becomes which team is challenged in a way that best prepares them for the second round.
The Mavericks earn the edge there.
The statistics from the regular season series are telling. The Grizzlies averaged 90.5 points in four games against the Mavericks; the Spurs averaged 90. Memphis took 294 shots in those games, while the Spurs had 303. Three-point field goals made, turnovers and blocks were nearly identical.
BRAD LOPER/DMN
Memphis uses Pau Gasol in the same area of the court that the Spurs use Tim Duncan, but how well the Grizzlies are preparing the Mavs to face the Spurs remains to be seen.
Memphis uses Pau Gasol in the same area of the court that San Antonio uses Tim Duncan. Shane Battier is the sort of athletic, defensive-minded small forward that has given Dirk Nowitzki difficulty in the past. He's something of a Bruce Bowen Lite.
That gives the 31 points Nowitzki has averaged against the Grizzlies added significance.
What Memphis doesn't have is a point guard that penetrates, such as Tony Parker. It doesn't have an interior defense as tough as the Spurs'. But San Antonio can be hurt in transition, which is what the Mavericks have done to Memphis in the first two games.
The Kings? They would have prepared the Spurs for a matchup against the Mavericks two years ago, but not now. San Antonio is meeting no resistance on its way to the basket, averaging 125 points in the first two games of the series. The offense the Kings run in no way resembles the Mavericks' offense.
STEPHEN DUNN/AP
Don't read too much into this. The Spurs can adapt. Remember, this is a team that won the championship last season because it went from Phoenix in one series to Detroit in the next without missing a beat.
The issue of style is much more important to the Mavericks. The burden of proof is always with the challenger. Beating a carbon copy of the Spurs, albeit an inferior copy, builds confidence for when the Mavericks face the original.
The first game of that series should be on the afternoon of May 7. Until then, there's this little matter of the Grizzlies and Kings, a matter both teams will dispose of in the next few days.
Then, Johnson and Popovich will be free to enter the discussion everyone else already has started – Mavericks vs. Spurs.
i'm doubting the bolded text.
The Spurs have great transition D, I don't know what this guy is talking about.
He is talking about Game 2 versus Sacramento...
Uh-huh. Right. Batty is renowed for his defensive prowessShane Battier is the sort of athletic, defensive-minded small forward that has given Dirk Nowitzki difficulty in the past. He's something of a Bruce Bowen Lite.
battier is a solid defender.
lol
Battier is too slow to guard Dirk. He is physical but slow while Bowen is both physical and quick.
W4TeHJinkXZKa4L.
If spurs take rebounding a bit seriously we'll be ok with _allas!@
I agree that Battier is a solid defender. Better than solid, in fact. He has ways of working around his difficiencies.
mavs are getting ahead of their sleves they will lose game 3
No, you're thinking of the Spurs dude, the Mavs aren't the ones that needed a lucky shot and OT with the 2 hottest players off the court.
The spurs got a game tonight to worry about but I think both teams go up 3-0.
Memphis will win game 3 but Mavs series.
Duncan is not aggressive.
Salvatore sucks.
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