Buck Harvey: It's not over, and neither is the West le
Web Posted: 05/03/2006 01:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
The Dallas Mavericks watched, with feet up, and they had one pressing concern. Who has the bag of Cheetos?
Dirk Nowitzki licked the yellow-orange off his fingers, which is about how he treated the Grizzlies. The Mavericks swept Memphis with only one tight game, so they could sit back Tuesday night for some late-night enjoyment.
Another pressing concern developed as they watched. The Spurs are the ones Dallas has targeted — but do the Mavericks want these Kings, either?
Mostly the Mavericks rested, which is why everyone thinks they are clearly in the best position in the West. As the Spurs and Kings beat up each other, the Mavericks get to wait.
Something else happened Tuesday, however, as Bonzi Wells earned a few more million on his next contract. The Spurs, pressed as if these were the conference finals, had to jam all their pieces together to survive.
How bad is this?
Bruce Bowen had his own question. "Remember when we swept Memphis?"
Before this discussion begins, something should be noted: No Spur is looking ahead to the next round.
Not after the previous week in Sacramento, not after Tuesday. The Kings proved yet again they are closer to a first seed than an eighth. Don't be surprised if the Spurs have to play a Game 7 in consecutive playoff series.
But that's also what Bowen is talking about. This isn't easy. This is, well, the way a Dallas series would be.
Gregg Popovich concurs. He joked Tuesday night that, if he'd had any smarts, he would have dumped games and secured the No. 4 seed in the West. At least he appeared to be joking.
But there's another side to these tests, and that is Bowen's point. Two years ago the Spurs swept Memphis, looking efficient and powerful in doing so. Then they won the first two games against the Lakers in the next round before running into a few things that didn't go their way.
"We didn't react well then," Bowen said, "because we weren't ready. This is making us dig deep. And these dig-down games can help you."
They can help you realize how crazy any one night can be, and Tuesday was another. The Spurs' strategy was to keep Mike Bibby and Brad Miller off the 3-point line, then back off of Wells and Ron Artest.
The numbers said they should. Wells shot 22 percent from the 3-point line this season, and Artest 30 percent. Then Wells threw in all three of his on the way to 38 points, and Artest made four.
The Spurs responded as they did a year ago. Manu Ginobili recovered his Manu-ness, crossing over past Artest, dunking. Tony Parker found his jumper. Bowen countered Wells by putting up 16 points of his own. And Tim Duncan played as he has to play for the Spurs to win another championship.
That said, it was still tied at 93 with three minutes left. One burp here, and the defending champs would face elimination in Sacramento.
That's when Duncan backed in Miller for a score, and Artest missed a baseline jumper. Bowen followed with a lefty runner, but Wells kept matching the Spurs. Only when Ginobili made a Ginobilian drive — hard with his left — did the Spurs stretch their lead to five.
By doing so, the Spurs earned something. And this means more than sweeping a bad team, doesn't it?
"I think so," Brent Barry said. "These kinds of games are preparatory. You can learn from losses, and how you react means a lot."
The Spurs might get the chance to learn from another loss in this series. But going to a Game 7 has other advantages for the Spurs. Close out Friday, and the Spurs have to travel halfway across the country to host Dallas as early as Sunday. Win at home against Sacramento on Sunday, and they will wait for the Mavericks.
The disadvantage, naturally, is that the Kings could eliminate them. But if the Spurs play as they did Tuesday — if Wells can't find yet another level — then there's reason to see this first round as scary and tough and beneficial.
What the Spurs won't get?
Only Cheetos.
This is what I have been saying. I said it last year when the Spurs struggled to beat Detroit. The Spurs had toughened up in the previous series against Denver and Seattle, and learned how to win close games, and close out a tough series.
The Mavs have not had any pressure on them yet. If SA does meet Dallas, then, the first time Dallas is pushed, they might fold down the stretch, and SA might excel, as they did last night.
Good article. SPurs always play better when their backs are against the wall, or when they're the underdogs. This team doesn't like anything to come too easy. In that way, they're like Detroit.
That's also why Detroit is so tough to beat. They went through more game 7's than we have.
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
FUNNY !!!
This exact team was down 0-2 last year in the 1st round yet came back and won it in 7. No pressure, that's laughable.........
Me, too. Not only are the Kings tough, but they're killing the Spurs at what have been their weakest points all year. If the Spurs can win this series, they should be better prepared for what other teams are going to throw at them.
Dirk is a great player, probably the MVP, but we have a lot better options for dealing with him than we do for dealing with Bonzi and Artest.
Mavs definition of pressure = down 0-2 in the first round
Spurs definition of pressure = down 2 with 5.8 sec left in Game 5 of the Finals
No other word to describe this but owned.
Is that a lot of pressure? I don't see it either way you cut it you have another game coming. The Mavs had to go on the road down 2, in the 1st round. Last second shots are a lot less pressure than being down in a series, it's short term, you either make the shot or you don't. Being down in a series weighs on you far more than a being down 2 points with a few seconds left regardless of the game.
Mavtek was so OWNED he's now busily writing his own version of ROOTS.
Spoken like someone's who's a fan of a team that's never been to the Finals.
20 years from now, how many people are going to remember that the Mavs came back from 0-2 in the first round?
And how many are going to remember Horry's shot?
Which is also the case if you're down 0-2...Is that a lot of pressure? I don't see it either way you cut it you have another game coming.
Every Mavs fan and every Houston fan will remember that, but I couldn't have told you it was Horry that took that shot. Thanks for reminding me.Spoken like someone's who's a fan of a team that's never been to the Finals.
20 years from now, how many people are going to remember that the Mavs came back from 0-2 in the first round?
And how many are going to remember Horry's shot?
Hey the Mavs have been under pressure. Like when Steve Nash lit them up for 40 and 15 throughout a series. That was pressure.
Shows how much of a basketball fan you are. Come back next year and we'll tell you what happened in the 2006 Finals.
Single digit.
Case closed.
Yeah but do you have league pass?
I think even mavsfan1000 must be embarrassed.
Yeah, but not the Horry-free version.
You're either lying, seriously out of touch with basketball, or you didn't watch the series.
Must be for Sacramento residents.
No more? Geez, and I was saving the good stuff.
I half heartedly watched the series, again not a Detroit or Spurs fans. I watched the shot, but I didn't remember it.
God damn you Spurs fans act as if the earth revolves around your team or some .
You're confusing us with Phoenix. . .or one of them.
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