Marc Stein: First off, congratulations to Chicago. The Bulls finished off Miami so fast that it's almost like they didn't get enough time in the spotlight. Quite an achievement, even though the Heat were obviously way more broken than anyone knew.
Justin (Chicago): Marc, may as well enjoy your crow early this morning. The analysts gave far too much respect to Miami and disregarded the Bulls in that first series. Now that your dog has been eliminated, any one in the East you are going to pick instead?
Marc Stein: Yup. In my playoff preview, I think I even mentioned that a couple scouts I spoke to advised me to pick the Bulls and I didn't listen. Perhaps I'm guilty of giving the Heat too much respect this season after not enough last season.
Marc Stein: Whether I did or I didn't, Chicago is now my East favorite. Sweeping Miami is still a major achievement no matter how banged up or overmatched the Heat was.
Jim (Ft. Wayne, IN): Why is virtually everyone in the media (except for Reggie Miller) unable to give Stephen Jackson even a modicum of credit for his defense on Dirk Nowitzki? It seems that if they can't use the phrases "off-court troubles" or "bad attitude" in a sentence about SJax, they don't mention him at all. Yet he's been the number one reason Dirk has performed below par, and a large part of why Golden State is up 3-1.
Marc Stein: You're exaggerating. Jack has been getting a lot of praise and not just for his defense. He's the emotional leader of that team. He gives them an edge/fearlessness that every Warrior feeds of. Credit goes as well to Don Nelson for allowing Jack that freedom when a lot of coaches wouldn't.
Jeff Prescott AZ: Marion gets no respect. How could he not get named to the all-defensive team?
Marc Stein: You've got to ask the coaches that one. I'm just as surprised as you. But I'd say they did the Suns a huge favor. Whether or not he realizes it, Marion is at his best when he has a chip on his shoulder. This snub will infuriate him.
Steve (Dallas TX): Hey Marc, What will happen to Mavs this offseason if the Warriors win tonight?
Marc Stein: I'm learning toward "significant alterations" even if the Mavs come back to win this season. You can rationalize some of the problems they've had X-and-O wise because the Warriors have multiple matchup advantages and obviously aren't your typical No. 8 seed with the way they finished the season and the way they're rolling now. However . . .
Marc Stein: The way the Mavs have carried themselves as a team -- no confidence or fight until Game 4 -- is far more distressing. It suggests that the scars from last June's Finals are deeper than many of us thought.
Chris (Dubuque, IA): Has the NBA lost interest in LeBron James? The Cavs seem to get the least TV exposure in the playoffs, and they just swept a team for the first time in team history and there's barely a ripple in the press. Is it because the Wiz were so beat up, or because there's just better stories now (GS-Dallas and Chicago-Miami)?
Marc Stein: C'mon Chris. You'll get no shortage of LeBron from here on out.
Rob (Stow, OH): Can you explain why there is so much hating on the Cavs? Everyone is saying that they gave "uninspiring" performances against Washington. Beating a team 4 times in a row is difficult no matter who the opponent is. Detroit didn't exactly demolish Orlando in their games, but nobody seems to be mentioning that.
Marc Stein: Cavs-Wiz was the bigger mismatch. Cleveland also flirted with danger in a couple of those games more than Detroit did.
Paul (Portland, OR): Lots of "disrespect" whining this morning, Marc.
Marc Stein: It happens on a Tuesday, whether we're reacting to the playoffs or a Power Rankings. I've learned to live with it.
Shai (Israel): All year you have been praising the Mavs and their excellence, saying what a special team they are. I think that what this first-round debacle shows us is that MATCHUPS are everything. That's what winning it all comes down to -- being able to overcome different types of matchups. The Mavs (although not yet dead) obviously aren't built for that.
Marc Stein: Agree to a degree. But the Mavs' specialty is supposed to be their versatility . . . their ability to beat running teams and grind-it-out teams. After three regular-season meetings and four games in this series, I'd have expected them to come up with better counters to Golden State. But they haven't.
Marc Stein: Dallas can't keep Baron out of the paint and now the Warriors are making all their big shots, too. On offense, because Dirk is their best playmaker, they have no one else to loosen up the Warriors' double-teams on Nowitzki and create some easy shot opportunities for him.
Ryan (Miami): Marc, I am watching your chat instead of studying for my constitutional law final which is in 2 hours... thank you.
Marc Stein: It's your life, kid. You won't find any help here because we don't even know what constitutional law is.
Daniel (Arlington VA): Pistons vs. Bulls, is there a schedule for this series yet? Any chance Bulls don't get swept?
Marc Stein: As soon as we see a schedule, you'll have it. Promise. And, yes, there's a fair chance that the Bulls won't get swept.
George Karl (denver): I'm getting 2005 Deja Vu
Marc Stein: Strange how, after so many people on both sides said that what happened in 2005 doesn't apply to this series, it's looking an awful lot like 2005. Spurs still know how to take that first punch and reclaim control.
Andrew (Dallas): Im very afraid that Cuban may sell the team if they lose this series, seeing as he claims he came close to selling last year. Should I be worried?
Marc Stein: I don't see it. I struggle to imagine him leaving the NBA like this.
Tyson (Portland OR): Are you a morning person?
Marc Stein: If I'm being honest, only on the mornings that City are on via satellite.
Oliver (Boston): Dirk's misses aren't even close anymore. Since when does he shoot airballs when it really matters? Is this happening because of great defense on Dirk from the Warriors? Or are they just really messing with his head?
Marc Stein: The Warriors' D has been great and their psych game has been great, too. Dirk and his teammates haven't been able to come up with an answer to the fronting and double-teams and they're on the verge of suffering the biggest first-round embarrassment of all-time as a result. I thought going in that Josh, Terry and Stackhouse would punish GSW if Dirk drew that much attention every game but it hasn't happened consistently. Terry's struggles are especially unexpected because shot-making is his thing.
James (San Antonio): What about the great free throw shooting disparity between the Spurs and the Nuggets? How can Duncan and Parker combined take 50+ shots and only get 2 stinkin' free throws? It seemed exactly the same last night..Looks like the refs are getting their revenge on SA for Crawford...
Marc Stein: Didn't Iverson shoot ZERO free throws in Game 2? Just wondering.
Christian (Philly): As a Wiz fan, I must say, they fought until the end! In watching these western conference series (you know, the ones where both teams have a chance to win), I have noticed an obscene amount of flopping (ahem, Oberto, although Ben Wallace against Shaq was pretty weak too). Do you see the league taking steps to remedy this in the offseason, a la the yellow card for diving in soccer?
Marc Stein: The Commish said Friday in Oakland that he actually wants more sanctions against floppers but, if I remember right, seemed to indicate that his concern isn't shared as strongly by the league's competition committee.
Eric S. (Saint Petersburg, FL): Why doesn't the NBA reseed after the 1st round like the NHL does? Right now San Antonio is scheduled to play Phoenix in the second round. Wouldn't the NBA rather have this as a Conference Finals matchup?
Marc Stein: I'm not a re-seeding guy. I know they do it in the NHL but I prefer it this way. That's just me.
Sach: (Austin, TX): How about TMac last night? If he plays like that what are Houston's championship chances?
Marc Stein: They're not even in Round 2 yet. I'd still favor the Suns or Spurs over Houston in a series and it's probably time to give some serious thought to how they'd match up with Golden State.
Ray (San Antonio, TX): Bowen got the most votes for All-NBA defensive team and Duncan was second. Isn't it time we turned the DPOY vote over to coaches as well as the media? Bowen has gotten hosed out of the award because the media seems too stat based.
Marc Stein: After Marion got left off the coaches' All-Defensive Team, I wouldn't be so down on the media voters.
Nellie (The City): It worked on Dirk, I'll just throw my minions at Yao, he can't chase them around.
Marc Stein: If anyone can replicate a Phoenix pace, which Yao obviously doesn't like, it's Golden State.
Bob Sacamento (GS): Is the answer for the Mavs more real playmakers? It seems like they're all one-on-one guys, hence the low assists totals, etc.
Marc Stein: At least one playmaker, yes. That has to be addressed.
Kat (Arlington, TX): Do you even see the Mavs winning tonight or the series?
Marc Stein: I'm expecting a Dallas victory tonight, forcing the inexperienced Warriors to close this out at home Thursday, but conventional wisdom hasn't gone very far in the series.
OSICK (CLEVELAND): I am so sick of hearing how bad the East is from Hollinger and yourself. I can't wait till The Cavs, Stones or Bulls win this thing and you all have to cry about how the best team(s) didn't win it. That being said, GO CAVS!!!!!!!!!!
Marc Stein: That's fine. I'm so sick of hearing that STONES stuff when people talk about Detroit. It is the most ill-fitting nickname in the NBA.
Keith (US): Which NBA city do you enjoy to go to the most to cover playoff games?
Marc Stein: In the West: Phoenix, San Antonio and Los Angeles, since I grew up in So. Cal. In the East, Toronto, New York and New Jersey (since I can stay in NYC). Thanks for asking.
Marc Stein: We'll do this again next week everyone. Thanks for all the questions.
