One Dallas Sportwriter's View on our Team

[SenorSpur]

I came across this in the Sunday edition of our local Dallas Morning News. David Moore is a long-time, respected sports columnist for the paper. Here is his take on the outlook for our Spurs. Nothing that we didn't already know.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...re.ef3e60.html


It's over for Spurs, but all is not lost

It's too early for a concession speech.

William B. Travis never got around to one. Why would Gregg Popovich?

Still, it's got to be a strange feeling. A San Antonio team that picks up division les the way most people pick up loose change on the sidewalk enters the stretch run 8½ games behind the Mavericks.

We want to warn our South Texas neighbors of the graphic, somewhat shocking nature of our next comment. Here it goes: The Spurs will not win the Southwest Division. The Mavericks are too good and the Spurs are too far behind to close the gap.

If we're wrong, we'll gladly jump in the muddy-watered Riverwalk with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

"We'll be fine," point guard Tony Parker assured. "You can't be first place every year. We just have to keep improving and make sure we stay healthy."

You would expect Parker to say everything is fine. He's engaged to Eva Longoria. But what do the rest of the Spurs think about their largest division deficit in the Tim Duncan era?

"It's not disappointment." Duncan said. "It's our own fault. We've put ourselves in that position. We started the year pretty solid and we went through a really bumpy stretch there.

"With Dallas and Phoenix playing so well and Utah playing so well, we put ourselves in a tough situation. But we're still in the running for everything, so we're fine with where we are."

Don't believe it. The Spurs accept where they are in the standings, but they're not fine with it. A team doesn't win three les in a seven-year span by being indifferent to its place in the standings.

We know what San Antonio hasn't been this season. But in the last few weeks, the players believe they have shown signs of the team they intend to become.

The Spurs have a five-game winning streak, allowing just 82 points in those games. San Antonio got an impressive road win in Detroit and blasted Denver in its first game after the All-Star break, prompting Duncan to say his team is "turning the corner."

The next night, the Spurs beat Atlanta when Manu Ginobili scored 24 consecutive points in less than five minutes. Ginobili averaged 22 points, five rebounds and shot 56 percent from the field during those four games.

All of that is positive. But nagging concerns remain.

Bruce Bowen is in decline. Blame a bad back or advancing age – or both – but the forward isn't the lock-down defender he has been in recent years and his shot is off. Bowen was 9-of-43 from 3-point range in the 14 games leading to the break.

Parker has tendinitis in his right knee.

Robert Horry doesn't have much left.

Francisco Elson will go for 12 points and 18 rebounds against Detroit, then come out and pick up five fouls in 12 minutes against Atlanta.

Michael Finley and Brent Barry are nice offensive players who have softened San Antonio's defensive edge on the perimeter.

None of this means the Spurs should be dismissed. They should be a top-four seed and remain capable of winning a le if things break their way.

"We'll be ready when the playoffs come," Parker said.

The thing is, that's all the Spurs have to play for at this stage.

The division is lost.

[FromWayDowntown]

I wonder if Dallas City Council will revive those parade plans when the Mavericks clinch the Southwest Division. I also wonder if Cuban will wait to hang his Southwest Division Champions banner until the third home game of 2007-08.

[rayray2k8]

Screw it, lets just give the rings to the mavs.
They're doubting the spurs again.. Which is a good thing.

[SenorSpur]

I wonder if Dallas City Council will revive those parade plans when the Mavericks clinch the Southwest Division. I also wonder if Cuban will wait to hang his Southwest Division Champions banner until the third home game of 2007-08.

Ouch! That's a TOUCHDOWN!

[objective]

Michael Finley and Brent Barry are nice offensive players who have softened San Antonio's defensive edge on the perimeter.

lol, Finley was a nice offensive player. Was.

[pking]

If you listened to Dallas Sports radio, you'd know that most of the sports people down here don't feel that way. Brian Esteridge is Randy Galloways 'sidekick' and he seems to think the Spurs aren't to be feared, but Galloway is sure to tell him how stupid he is. Mark Followill, Chuck Cooperstein, Jen Engle -- they all know that the Spurs are still to be feared and they let the people who say otherwise know that they're stupid...lol

Most Mavs fans who say they aren't scared of the Spurs are either lying and trying to talk big or they're just plain stupid and don't know jack about the NBA.

[boutons_]

But nobody can deny that Mavs' current season win rate is 70-12, in what was supposed to be a very tough WC.

Mavs even have a shot at the MJ Bulls' record of 72-10.

Who is counting on the Mavs, on a mission after collapsing last June, stepping DOWN in the playoffs?

The Spurs, who have also recently folded after being 2-0 in a playoff series, will have a huge step UP in the playoffs just to be compe ive.

"The division is lost."

So this kicker is the point of the article?

The Mavs have won a scheduling artifice championship with 2 months left in the season? BFD.

[SenorSpur]

lol, Finley was a nice offensive player. Was.

Moore does make salient points as to one of the reasons the Spurs once-vaunted perimeter defense has diminished - rule changes notwithstanding.

[objective]

i agree that Finley and Barry play a big part in the diminished perimeter defense, I'm just saying that Moore is looking too much on the brightside for the Spurs.

Finley is no longer a good offensive player. He has one thing he can do on offense, and that's brick jumpshots.

So by making that mistake I think Moore is overrating the Spurs.

[GrandeDavid]

I came across this in the Sunday edition of our local Dallas Morning News. David Moore is a long-time, respected sports columnist for the paper. Here is his take on the outlook for our Spurs. Nothing that we didn't already know.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...re.ef3e60.html


It's over for Spurs, but all is not lost

It's too early for a concession speech.

William B. Travis never got around to one. Why would Gregg Popovich?

Still, it's got to be a strange feeling. A San Antonio team that picks up division les the way most people pick up loose change on the sidewalk enters the stretch run 8½ games behind the Mavericks.

We want to warn our South Texas neighbors of the graphic, somewhat shocking nature of our next comment. Here it goes: The Spurs will not win the Southwest Division. The Mavericks are too good and the Spurs are too far behind to close the gap.

If we're wrong, we'll gladly jump in the muddy-watered Riverwalk with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

"We'll be fine," point guard Tony Parker assured. "You can't be first place every year. We just have to keep improving and make sure we stay healthy."

You would expect Parker to say everything is fine. He's engaged to Eva Longoria. But what do the rest of the Spurs think about their largest division deficit in the Tim Duncan era?

"It's not disappointment." Duncan said. "It's our own fault. We've put ourselves in that position. We started the year pretty solid and we went through a really bumpy stretch there.

"With Dallas and Phoenix playing so well and Utah playing so well, we put ourselves in a tough situation. But we're still in the running for everything, so we're fine with where we are."

Don't believe it. The Spurs accept where they are in the standings, but they're not fine with it. A team doesn't win three les in a seven-year span by being indifferent to its place in the standings.

We know what San Antonio hasn't been this season. But in the last few weeks, the players believe they have shown signs of the team they intend to become.

The Spurs have a five-game winning streak, allowing just 82 points in those games. San Antonio got an impressive road win in Detroit and blasted Denver in its first game after the All-Star break, prompting Duncan to say his team is "turning the corner."

The next night, the Spurs beat Atlanta when Manu Ginobili scored 24 consecutive points in less than five minutes. Ginobili averaged 22 points, five rebounds and shot 56 percent from the field during those four games.

All of that is positive. But nagging concerns remain.

Bruce Bowen is in decline. Blame a bad back or advancing age – or both – but the forward isn't the lock-down defender he has been in recent years and his shot is off. Bowen was 9-of-43 from 3-point range in the 14 games leading to the break.

Parker has tendinitis in his right knee.

Robert Horry doesn't have much left.

Francisco Elson will go for 12 points and 18 rebounds against Detroit, then come out and pick up five fouls in 12 minutes against Atlanta.

Michael Finley and Brent Barry are nice offensive players who have softened San Antonio's defensive edge on the perimeter.

None of this means the Spurs should be dismissed. They should be a top-four seed and remain capable of winning a le if things break their way.

"We'll be ready when the playoffs come," Parker said.

The thing is, that's all the Spurs have to play for at this stage.

The division is lost.

I could care less about division les. This guy harks on meaningless division les cuz its the only le, next to the WCF last year, that Dallas has won. I could care less about it, honestly, and the Spurs actually DON'T care about it either, columnist. They've won many championships and God knows how many of those Midwest and Southwest division les, which are worth squat.

[BUMP]

Screw it, lets just give the rings to the mavs.

ok

[mavs>spurs2]

He's right. The spurs hope for the division le is gone but they could still potentially win it all.

[JsnSA]

We'll be ready when the playoffs come," Parker said.

The thing is, that's all the Spurs have to play for at this stage.

The division is lost.

This part actually made me laugh.

He says it like its an insult..."thats all the Spurs have to play for at this stage."

The fact of the matter is that for a team like the Spurs the Playoffs are all that really matters. Seeding helps but its the best team at the end of the season that will win it all.

The Spurs are playing for a Championship...not a division le.

But I guess I can understand how Mav's fans would get excited about one since they have rarely ever had one.

[FromWayDowntown]

He's right. The spurs hope for the division le is gone but they could still potentially win it all.

Which is all that matters.

[mavs>spurs2]

Which is all that matters.

Exactly. My point is that no one is counting the spurs out just yet.

[jack0fspeed]

The bad part of losing the division is that you have to go through both the Suns and the Mavs. That's a tough road no matter how you slice it.

[Russ]

If they meet, the Spurs will beat Dallas in the playoffs this year for three reasons.

1. The revenge factor (Dallas, given their history, has never seen this before)

2. Elson

3. It will be in the WCF (not early enough to catch the Spurs looking ahead)

[mavsfan1000]

The bad part of losing the division is that you have to go through both the Suns and the Mavs. That's a tough road no matter how you slice it.

Yeah true. The rockets/jazz and suns/spurs isn't that easy either though.

[mavsfan1000]

If they meet, the Spurs will beat Dallas in the playoffs this year for three reasons.

1. The revenge factor (Dallas, given their history, has never seen this before)

2. Elson

3. It will be in the WCF (not early enough to catch the Spurs looking ahead)

[J.T.]

Like I've said before, Mavfans love their consolation prizes. That's all a division le is.

[RussN]

I could care less about division les. This guy harks on meaningless division les cuz its the only le, next to the WCF last year, that Dallas has won. I could care less about it, honestly, and the Spurs actually DON'T care about it either, columnist. They've won many championships and God knows how many of those Midwest and Southwest division les, which are worth squat.

DALLAS MAVERICKS FRANCHISE FACTS:
Founded: 1980
Location: Dallas, Texas
Stadium: American Airlines Center
Conference: Western Conference
Division: Southwest Division
Rivals: San Antonio Spurs
Owners: Mark Cuban
Coach: Avery Johnson
Mascot: Mavs Man
Dancers: Mavs Dancers
Notable Players: Alex English, Steve Nash
Dallas Mavericks Championship les: 0
Dallas Mavericks Conference les: 1
Dallas Mavericks Division les: 1


Hey Mavs fans and writers...Enjoy that ONE conference and ONE Division le(in all of mavs history). I think the city of Dallas should give the Mavs a championship parade for winning their Second division le this year since it is so RARE. The Spurs have so many division les they have to put them all in small print on a banner hanging in the AT&T center, oh wait, now we have started on our second banner with division les on it...the first one is full.

[jack0fspeed]

The rockets/jazz and suns/spurs isn't that easy either though

There's no easy road in the West. But you definitely want the Jazz path. They are ranked 22 in defensive efficiency:

http://www.knickerblogger.net/stats/2007/index.htm

You also get to start with the 8 seed which is looking like Minny or NO at the moment. That's important because you want to win that first round series as quickly as possible.

[td4mvp21]

If the Spurs are to win the championship, I want them to have the tough road. I don't want them to have it easy.

[jeffdrums22]

I came across this in the Sunday edition of our local Dallas Morning News. David Moore is a long-time, respected sports columnist for the paper. Here is his take on the outlook for our Spurs. Nothing that we didn't already know.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...re.ef3e60.html


It's over for Spurs, but all is not lost

It's too early for a concession speech.

William B. Travis never got around to one. Why would Gregg Popovich?

Still, it's got to be a strange feeling. A San Antonio team that picks up division les the way most people pick up loose change on the sidewalk enters the stretch run 8½ games behind the Mavericks.

We want to warn our South Texas neighbors of the graphic, somewhat shocking nature of our next comment. Here it goes: The Spurs will not win the Southwest Division. The Mavericks are too good and the Spurs are too far behind to close the gap.

If we're wrong, we'll gladly jump in the muddy-watered Riverwalk with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

"We'll be fine," point guard Tony Parker assured. "You can't be first place every year. We just have to keep improving and make sure we stay healthy."

You would expect Parker to say everything is fine. He's engaged to Eva Longoria. But what do the rest of the Spurs think about their largest division deficit in the Tim Duncan era?

"It's not disappointment." Duncan said. "It's our own fault. We've put ourselves in that position. We started the year pretty solid and we went through a really bumpy stretch there.

"With Dallas and Phoenix playing so well and Utah playing so well, we put ourselves in a tough situation. But we're still in the running for everything, so we're fine with where we are."

Don't believe it. The Spurs accept where they are in the standings, but they're not fine with it. A team doesn't win three les in a seven-year span by being indifferent to its place in the standings.

We know what San Antonio hasn't been this season. But in the last few weeks, the players believe they have shown signs of the team they intend to become.

The Spurs have a five-game winning streak, allowing just 82 points in those games. San Antonio got an impressive road win in Detroit and blasted Denver in its first game after the All-Star break, prompting Duncan to say his team is "turning the corner."

The next night, the Spurs beat Atlanta when Manu Ginobili scored 24 consecutive points in less than five minutes. Ginobili averaged 22 points, five rebounds and shot 56 percent from the field during those four games.

All of that is positive. But nagging concerns remain.

Bruce Bowen is in decline. Blame a bad back or advancing age – or both – but the forward isn't the lock-down defender he has been in recent years and his shot is off. Bowen was 9-of-43 from 3-point range in the 14 games leading to the break.

Parker has tendinitis in his right knee.

Robert Horry doesn't have much left.

Francisco Elson will go for 12 points and 18 rebounds against Detroit, then come out and pick up five fouls in 12 minutes against Atlanta.

Michael Finley and Brent Barry are nice offensive players who have softened San Antonio's defensive edge on the perimeter.

None of this means the Spurs should be dismissed. They should be a top-four seed and remain capable of winning a le if things break their way.

"We'll be ready when the playoffs come," Parker said.

The thing is, that's all the Spurs have to play for at this stage.

The division is lost.

Oh wow, THAT'S ALL the Spurs have to play at this stage, the championship? Oh no, we lost the division le so now all we can do is play for the championship!

Another Dallas writer who thinks winning the 2nd round last year equals a championship for Dallas.

[Bruno]

Spurs need to get the 3rd seed to avoid Houston or Utah in the first round.
If Spurs can get the 3rd seed, they won't have a playoff road worse than Mavs.

Spurs will face the 6th seed in the first round who won't really be tougher than the 8th one.
Spurs will face Phoenix (if they win in the first round) in the second round while Mavs will face Houston and I'm not sure that a healthy Rockets team is easier to face than Suns.