Dallas or San Antonio? Who will win the "Texas Two Step"?

[DragonCowboy]

Simple. Who will win the series? The Mavericks or the Spurs?

And how will they win?


Spurs in 4?
Spurs in 5?
Spurs in 6?
Spurs in 7?

Dallas in 5?
Dallas in 6?
Dallas in 7?

 

[DragonCowboy]

I'm saying the Mavericks pull it out in 7. They were in control of Game 1 for the most part. Avery should get them to hold their lead for another 5 minutes. He is the NBA Coach of the Year after all...

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

The Mavs are a lot better under the Little General. They'll prob take it to at least 6. Toughest matchup for the Spurs in the West, IMO, unless the Clippers make it to the next round. Wouldn't say the Clipps have anymore talent than the Mavs, they just give the Spurs some matchup problems. SA seemed to have some probs with them in the regular season.

 

[Danny White]

Dallas absolutely HAS to win game 2. If they don't, then I think Spurs will take one of the two in Dallas and the series will end in game 5 or 6.

All in all, I don't think the Mavs have the stones to match head to head against the Spurs. Especially if Dirk continues to come up small down the stretch like he did today. Not taking the shot at the end of the game with only single coverage was inexcusable.

 

[SoTex]

Spurs in 6. SA found a way to win yesterday with cold perimeter shooting and subpar rebounding (until crunch time). I thought a well rested Mavs team was going to steal one at the AT&T. I'm with DW, the Mavs really need to win game 2. I believe the Spurs understand this and will come out much more aggressive on defense. Hopefully, the outside shooting will pick up a little.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I still think Dallas has a chance to win the series. Dirk will have to give us more than 2 pts in the 4th Quarter, and Stackhouse and Jason Terry will have to get going late.

They only lost by 2 points and the better players had a so-so night.

- Mike G.

 

[Crown Royal]

Dallas absolutely HAS to win game 2. If they don't, then I think Spurs will take one of the two in Dallas and the series will end in game 5 or 6.

All in all, I don't think the Mavs have the stones to match head to head against the Spurs. Especially if Dirk continues to come up small down the stretch like he did today. Not taking the shot at the end of the game with only single coverage was inexcusable.

This is the first time in this years playoffs Dirk HASN'T been the clutch go to guy. Did you see the 3rd Memphis game?

Most of our players had a bad night - I would like to think it was from the time off and they were just stale. I know that we can't play the spurs with Stack as our best player.

But as far as the 'stones' to match up head to head - I have to disagree. This is a faaar grittier team than any we have fielded in the past. Last night was an exception to our play this season.

This is the first year I have confidently felt that the Mavs have the better team - they have the shooters and are now interested in Defense. The spurs remind me of where we were this time last year.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Dallas absolutely HAS to win game 2. If they don't, then I think Spurs will take one of the two in Dallas and the series will end in game 5 or 6.

All in all, I don't think the Mavs have the stones to match head to head against the Spurs. Especially if Dirk continues to come up small down the stretch like he did today. Not taking the shot at the end of the game with only single coverage was inexcusable.

Actually, Bowen was on Dirk and once Dirk got the ball, another player came running at him to get the double team, which is why Dirk gave the ball to Stackhouse.

And on the final play, when Dallas got the ball into his hands near the top of the circle, he [Dirk] stumbled so quickly in the face of an onrushing second defender that he fired the ball to Jerry Stackhouse in the corner rather than waiting for Stackhouse to cut to the basket as coach Avery Johnson had intended the play to unfold.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-060508

The Stones? The Mavericks lost to the defending World Champs on their home turf by only two points. That game could have went either way, and I dont even think the Spurs got the Maverick's best effort.

- Mike G.

 

[SA_Gunslinger]

spurs all the way baby!!! i like them in 6 games.

when tim duncan plays like that, they are virtually unbeatable.


plus, the student (a.j.) is not yet ready to out-coach his master (pop).


GO SPURS GO!!!

 

[SA_Gunslinger]

This is the first time in this years playoffs Dirk HASN'T been the clutch go to guy. Did you see the 3rd Memphis game?

this just in...you're not in memphis anymore, toto.

 

[Crown Royal]

this just in...you're not in memphis anymore, toto.

This just in - Duncan isn't who he was 3-4 years ago - don't expect that same magic. Those legs can't take it.

 

[SA_Gunslinger]

This just in - Duncan isn't who he was 3-4 years ago - don't expect that same magic. Those legs can't take it.

well, i wouldn't be so sure.

not bad for having played a road game 36 hours prior, eh?


there will be three days off between games 2 and 3.

plus, the beauty of the spurs is, they are DEEP. it seems like if one guy is off, it's always someone new stepping up.


i do expect all of the games to be close, and for D to take a couple, but i just don't see them outlasting the spurs. especially since they had everything in their favor to win game one and they didn't.

that has to be somewhat demoralizing, even if it was game 1.

 

[Danny White]

This just in - Duncan isn't who he was 3-4 years ago - don't expect that same magic. Those legs can't take it.

He won't play that well every night. But hopefully he won't have to. Most nights, Manu and Tony can help carry the load. I also expect the Spurs to do a lot better than 3-13 from behind the arc from here on out.

Quite honestly, they tend to lose this year when Tim carries the burden and they win when the big three all score in the low-to-mid 20s with Barry and Finley chipping in with about a dozen each.

 

[Crown Royal]

He won't play that well every night. But hopefully he won't have to. Most nights, Manu and Tony can help carry the load. I also expect the Spurs to do a lot better than 3-13 from behind the arc from here on out.

Quite honestly, they tend to lose this year when Tim carries the burden and they win when the big three all score in the low-to-mid 20s with Barry and Finley chipping in with about a dozen each.

I expect BOTH teams to do a better job. Stack and Duncan are the only two players who played exceptionally.

But for me, Duncan is the only spur that scares me, because we just don't have an answer for him when he plays that way.

Parker, on the other hand, has to deal with Terry on the perimeter and is going to have trouble in the paint with out beastly centers.

And I don't think any team is going to have much success against us in the arc - really and truly, our defense is too good compared to what it was in the past for that.

I expect more half-court grindouts than running and shooting from the perimeter.

 

[dougonthebench]

World Champion Spurs!

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

this just in...you're not in memphis anymore, toto.

 

[StylisticS]

We will tie the series up tonight.

 

[bobtheflob]

We will tie the series up tonight.

Your prediction is looking pretty good so far. Who'd have thought that Harris, who I think of as having the potential to be the next Parker, would outplay him in a playoff game.

 

[StylisticS]

Yep. I didn't think it would be like that, though. But that was probably the most impressive win over San Antonio since they started playing each other in the playoffs.

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

I'm thinking HeavyHitta looks like the best prediction now. All the Spurs fan voted "Spurs in 6" after their game one win. All the Mavs fans voted "Mavs in 6" after their game two win. The truth is probably somewhere inbetween. Good series, the Spurs won't let a team punk them like that again.