I am more excited for these playoffs than I have been in a long time.

[Hitman]

Probably since 2006.

I think we have a shot to catch fire and go all the way. I think Dirk is due. I think he would look really good on prime time ABC going mano e mano with the Cavs in the finals.

Mavs vs. Cavs.

Dirk vs. LeBron.

2010 NBA Finals.

It's April! It's the NBA f'ing playoffs!

Lets do this!

[left texas]

All I know is I haven't been this excited since last year.

[LonghornDub]

I was this excited in 2006-2007 as well, but certainly haven't been so since then.

[AngieO41]

I'm pretty excited this year as well. Although at the beginning of the season I predicted a Dallas-Orlando final. We'll see!!

[sefant77]

Honestly the finals against James scares me the most. I almost feel "whats the point to win the west to play the Cleveland Sterns"

He gonna get a free ride for the finals, headlines that the chosen one himself brings the title with 35/9/9 stats etc. Same time he isnt anymore sticked in Cleveland and can go without hard feelings.

There is nothing more Stern wants this year than James with the title. Its a lot more headlines and $$$ for the NBA.

[ShaggyDirk]

The Mavs are doomed!!

[chumdawg]

I'm right there with you, brutha. This NBA action is going to be fantastic!! It's great to be playing such a big role in it.

I admit it, though, my excitement is tinged by a great deal of nervousness.

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

I'm right there with you, brutha. This NBA action is going to be fantastic!! It's great to be playing such a big role in it.

I admit it, though, my excitement is tinged by a great deal of nervousness.

That is what makes it so great. If we weren't nervous as all hell over it (completely irrationally, of course. If they win or lose, it doesn't effect our real lives.) than it wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

I am excited and nervous as hell too. I mean, it is not out of the realm of possibility that they get beat by the Spurs. It could happen.

But like the Black Eyed Peas, I've got a feeling about this whole thing.

And I think it is going to be a good ride.

[JCmasta]

If it's Mavs vs Cavs then you might as well book it for Lebron.

As a Mavs fan i can't get excited for the playoffs, the refs are shady and the commish has something against Cuban. I'll have to sweat my way through the entire thing and expect the worst.

[Kidd Karma]

I don't know, you'd think the Cleveland Stern's would have fouled out Howard in last year's finals to get his Lebron-Kobe show. I think Lebron's Ace in Stern's back pocket.......ummm, not just yet. Lets find other SUPER stars....Howard, Wade.....

[Blackspider972]

I was more excited to begin the 06-07 playoffs than the 05-06 playoffs because i still did not think we could beat the Spurs in a 7 game series, especially not having home court. I really thought no one could touch us in the 06-07 playoffs before going in and our road was set up perfect to get a ring.

[twelli]

I try to keep my expectations really low, every other playoff team in the West is tough to beat. It can go either way in every game. So we only have a 1/8 chance to be the Western team going to the finals.

[sike]

From top to bottom this has been the Closest race I can remember in the West...

[Fidel]

I´d be excited if the NBA was actually a sports league. You know with referees that are strictly enforcing the rules as written and stuff like that.

[chumdawg]

Originally Posted by Fidel

I´d be excited if the NBA was actually a sports league. You know with referees that are strictly enforcing the rules as written and stuff like that.

They usually don't call the offensive player for a foul. In fact, it is very rare.

[Fidel]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

They usually don't call the offensive player for a foul. In fact, it is very rare.

If that was the only inconsistency I´d be ecstatic. Besides the usual stuff (hand check on Dirk anyone? I had to laugh when in the Suns-Nuggets game one of the commentators applauded Amare for "playing face up" to K-Mart all the time. The commentator said "when you do that as soon as the defender touches you it´s a foul" with me thinking "yeah except when your name is Dirk then it´s not")
...I mostly fear special LeBron rules in full effect. Like being allowed to take five steps without dribbling, or just running full steam into the pile under the basket and allmost always getting the call.

[chumdawg]

Originally Posted by Fidel

..I mostly fear special LeBron rules in full effect. Like being allowed to take five steps without dribbling, or just running full steam into the pile under the basket and allmost always getting the call.

Yeah, me too. Five steps would pretty well get you from midcourt to the basket. I freakin' fear that.

I can't tell you how much more valuable that is going to make those guys who have that long wingspan--well, I call it wingspan, but of course I am talking about something more like what you would call "legspan"--where they can like REALLY eat up a lot of ground, and get close to the basket and quite likely score, on their fourth step before their fifth, because let's be honest, even when they suck they aren't going to be allowed all five steps.

It's...yeah, I know man...it sucks...don't even get me started on the rugby scrimmages. That's bull!

[Fidel]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Yeah, me too. Five steps would pretty well get you from midcourt to the basket. I freakin' fear that.

I can't tell you how much more valuable that is going to make those guys who have that long wingspan--well, I call it wingspan, but of course I am talking about something more like what you would call "legspan"--where they can like REALLY eat up a lot of ground, and get close to the basket and quite likely score, on their fourth step before their fifth, because let's be honest, even when they suck they aren't going to be allowed all five steps.

It's...yeah, I know man...it sucks...don't even get me started on the rugby scrimmages. That's bull!

First things first:

If you´d belittle me like that in real life I´d smash your face pretty good.

If you don´t think LeBron gets special treatment you must not see alot of Cavs games. And you probably don´t know how to use the youtube search function. It´s really easy to find vids on youtube where he actually does take 5 steps without a call, and alot of other crap he gets away with.

[kg_veteran]

Popovich and the Spurs obviously want the Mavs. My response?

Bring it!

[chumdawg]

Originally Posted by kg_veteran

Popovich and the Spurs obviously want the Mavs. My response?

Bring it!

I'm not sure that they want it, as much as they are resigned to it.

But wouldn't it be a sweet turn of events if we kept deflecting them on their late attempts to do something with their Duncan-led squad, just as they deflected us on our early attempts with Dirk?

Got us in '01 and '03. Even after '06, we owe them one.

[BGMaverick9]

Originally Posted by kg_veteran

Popovich and the Spurs obviously want the Mavs. My response?

Bring it!

Eh...sorta. They didn't have much incentive to put it on blast tonight. They could go full steam ahead and win, and still get 7th. He took the conservative route. Even with that, he's got a question mark with Hill now.

[AO41]

This is probably the first year since I have watched the Mavs that i feel like the have a "legit" opportunity to go all the way. Every year I give them a chance because I am a fan but there alwys that little feelin in the back of my mind like it mite not happen. This year ..that feeling is not there. SOOO GOOOOO MAVS

If the Mavs face the Cavs..and they let the teams play. I am not worried at all. We have Marion, Butler, and Stevenson....all good or above average defenders to throw at LeBron. After that we are simply better at every position besides SF. They have some tuff guys, but I really see us winning the Finals against the Cavs if they are there. My thing is I think they wont be, I think its the Magic. And the Magic are a different story and they are somewhat scarry

[mary]

One time I accidentally stepped in the toilet, which sent be flailing backwards and crashing onto the bathroom floor. THAT was exciting.

But I'd put these playoffs right up there.

[GermanDunk]

I don´t like playoffs

[xrobx]

Last year damp told parker if he drove into the paint he was going to knock him on his ass, after that they were scared to death, i hope he threatens them again

[mkat]

Originally Posted by xrobx

Last year damp told parker if he drove into the paint he was going to knock him on his ass, after that they were scared to death, i hope he threatens them again

then parker goes and looks at that video of damp trying to take a charge from a PG a few weeks ago and does it anyway.

seriously though...i'm looking forward to this. i hope it turns out well. according to sir hollinger, it isn't gonna.

[bigcat]

from tony parker's inverview (per pounding the rock):

Will you start against Dallas?
No. Pop want that I come from the bench. I will play the role of X-Factor but I will have the same playing time as others. Manu will start. He is playing great and is back at an all star level. It's logical that the coach continue to let him in the starting lineup. The team will play around him.

[mkat]

dude has lived here for how long now(?) and he can barely string together a coherent answer.

[SMC0007]

Next year is our year! It will probably be the best MAvs team ever.

[ShaggyDirk]

you know this is going to all end very very poorly...let's just get all pissed off right now and just not post when it happens..

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by ShaggyDirk

you know this is going to all end very very poorly...let's just get all pissed off right now and just not post when it happens..

Dammit, Barea!!!

Need more Roddy!!!

Fire Rick Carlisle!!!!

[DULLAH]

I am more exited about this than i was in 2006 or 2007.
This team, when committed defensively like they were for those dozen or so games post-trade, can legitimately beat any squad in the league.

And if we shoot well for 3 games against LA, Cleveland, or Orlando, we can beat all 3 of them in 7-game series.

We have the talent, the experience, and with a few well-placed good shooting nights, we will hoist up the trophy to David Stern's dismay.

[mary]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Dammit, Barea!!!

Need more Roddy!!!

Fire Rick Carlisle!!!!

Not enough F bombs, caps, and exclamation points...but yeah, it'll be like that.

[SMC0007]

Possible endings:

Justice and all that is right and good: Maybe it ends with Mark Cuban yanking the f ing trophy away from David Sterns grubby little fat rib sauce riddled hands and then dropkicks him off the little stage.

Reality: We do our best to watch and find a way to enjoy LeBron vs Kobe battling it out thru a whistle infested series where phantom fouls ensure there is 7 games worth of conspiracy.

[Zaknaf3in]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Possible endings:

Justice and all that is right and good: Maybe it ends with Mark Cuban yanking the f ing trophy away from David Sterns grubby little fat rib sauce riddled hands and then dropkicks him off the little stage.

Reality: We do our best to watch and find a way to enjoy LeBron vs Kobe battling it out thru a whistle infested series where phantom fouls ensure there is 7 games worth of conspiracy.

This is a good post full of rhetorical genius.

[fluid.forty.one]

Sunday can't get here fast enough.

[monty55555]

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

Sunday can't get here fast enough.

I know what you mean. It seems everything is going in slow motion...

I can't wait!!!

[jcm28]

I dont believe lebron will make it to the finals. I do, however, believe that we will win those finals. Dallas vs. Orlando. Dallas in 6.

[tcat075]

Originally Posted by jcm28

I dont believe lebron will make it to the finals. I do, however, believe that we will win those finals. Dallas vs. Orlando. Dallas in 6.

I'll care when/if we've won the Western Conference. Not now. It can only be bad mojo.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Getting to Round 2 would be nice.