mavs vs. knicks gameday

[TheBaron]

14 above .500 isnt so bad

We are 33-19 going into the break.

[MavsFanFinley]

4th quarter stats:

Howard (9) 1-2, 2pts, 4rbs, 1stl
Walker (12) 3-6, 0-1, 6pts, 2rbs, 2as, 1blk
Dirk (9) 3-4, 2-3, 8pts, 4rbs
Finley (12) 1-2, 1-2, 3pts, 1rb
Nash (9) 3-4, 1-1, 1-2, 8pts, 1as
Jamison (3) 1rb
Best (3) 0-1
Daniels (3) 1-2, 2pts, 1stl

[Murphy3]

Well, MFF, it definitely looks like multiple players stepped up.

I hate seeing fin logging so many minutes. I really don't see a reason for it.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: TheBaron
14 above .500 isnt so bad

We are 33-19 going into the break.

33-19 looks WAAAAAAAY better than 32-20....

Great to still not be the 1st TOP TEAM(that's us) to lose 20 yet....


GO MAVS!


And Note to Walker : Use this break to do one of two things.

1.) Re-Dedicate yourself to Passing and not shooting

and

2.) WORK ON THOSE FREE-THROWS!

[albasuna]

yah having all 5 starters with doubles doubles would be crazy... i wonder if any team has accomplished that but i bet one team did.

[MightyToine]

Could've happened by in the 70's or 80's, albasuna.

[MavsFanFinley]

I agree Murph. There is no reason for Fin to play the whole game. I can only assume Nelson thought the next week off would make up for it??

Daniels could have given him a breather instead of waiting for Howard to be in foul trouble.

[XERXES]

Guys (& Gals)- sorry to contribute after the game. i'm just wondering if anyone knows why none of the 5's (Bradley, Williams, Fortson) got any PT?

[PubaNWO]

Was Walkman playing Center down the stretch??

[MavsFanFinley]

[ddh33]

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the game. Luckily, the Mavs won. Now, I am a happy man for the night.

Looking at the boxscore, this seems like a strange game.

First of all, the defense looks much better on paper. The Knicks were held to 42% shooting. I'll take that. We were also +3 on rebounds, +7 steals, and +4 blocks. That's great!
I'm a little surprised that none of our three headed center rotation guys got any play. Did that idea already get tossed? My suspicion is this is just one of those games where Nellie wanted to dictate the matchups.
Josh looked like he had a great game. I've come to expect it...
Walker didn't look like he shot well, but he seemed to contribute in several other ways. I'll take it.
Dirk was great again.
Finley put up great numbers tonight - including the minutes. When Josh is playing as well as he is, is it necessary for Finley to get no rest? Maybe the thought is that Mike will have plenty of time to recover. I don't like that habit though.
Steve Nash played pretty well also, it seems.
Jamison had his third quiet game in a row. I still can't help but wonder if he's not feeling very well right now, but I haven't heard anymore. Maybe the break will do him some good.
Best didn't do much in 13 minutes. I would like him to get about 3 more of Steve's minutes.
There's been another Daniels sighting.

All in all, it's good to go into the break after a win.

[MavsFanFinley]

NY didn't have a center so that's probably one of the reasons Nelson didn't use one. Thomas was ejected early (14 minutes) and Doleac only logged 14 minutes as well.

[superheadcat]

hmm, winning seems able to keep a lot of questions from being asked, a lot of claims being made, a lot of rhetorics being offered, and a thread being locked.

ok, as for the game:
1. mavs definitely "turn it on" tonite. but i can't help pointing out the ejection of kurt thomas in the 1st half, and the 25-28 overall record of knicks.
2. jho's line: 17pts, 8 rbs, 4 stls, 3 blks in 8-11 shooting. quite ak47-esque.
3. op will have headache updating his 3-headed center post.
4. again, this is just one game, just like last nite's. i hope mavs remember both after the break.

[Murphy3]

MFF, that's 28 minutes more than the Mavs centers combined for. Obviously, the Mavs won so it's not a huge deal. However, I don't want to see this become a trend again..and again..and again

[MavsFanFinley]

Murph, I'm not letting Nelson off for not playing a center. I can't believe Bradley didn't log around 20 minutes for some inside presence. That would have limited Walker and Finley's playing time. Howard or Jamison in for Walker and Howard or Daniels in for Finley.

I was taking a guess at why Nelson didn't go with one of them.

[OutletPass]

That's why Walker Blocks shots From BEHIND the opponent.

-- Please...let's not compare Walker to Kobe...

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: OutletPass

-- Please...let's not compare Walker to Kobe...

ROFLMAO!!!! You're right.

My bad. *chuckle*

[MavsFanFinley]

I caught the highlights on Sportscenter and what was up with that dumb play in the 3rd quarter? The one where 3 of the Mavs started for the bench thinking NY was calling a timeout. It was quick, but I know it was Fin, and I think either Walker or Howard and maybe Dirk? Marbury noticed and threw it to someone under the basket. Dirk tried to get back, but it was too late.

[OutletPass]

In Support of Erica Lubarsky.

[MavKikiNYC]

Howard continues to impress not only with his production, but with a Michael Cooper-esque feistiness.

KURT COSTS KNICKS

By MARC BERMAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 11, 2004 --
Mavericks 105 - Knicks 90

DALLAS - The Mavericks' most important shot all night came when Kurt Thomas' head knocked into rookie Josh Howard's.

The Knicks can only wonder what might have been if Thomas didn't receive a ridiculous head-butt ejection in the second quarter in his hometown Dallas.

They lost their five-game winning streak despite staying nip-and-tuck with the Mavericks until midway through the fourth quarter at AmericanAirlines Center before collapsing, 105-90.

"I think it would've went right down to the wire," Knick coach Lenny Wilkens said.

Marbury said referee Bennie Adams "overreacted" when Thomas' head collided into Howard's.
[Wonder if Marbury will get fined for criticizing an official.]

Said Thomas, "I barely touched him. He didn't even react. I think I could've just got one technical and they could've moved on. I don't think I should've been thrown out. I felt he was using his hands too much on me and talking trash."

Marbury carried the Knicks as long as he could but Howard proved too brilliant on his career night, even outplaying Marbury (24 points, 11 assists).

Howard, an athletic slasher, not only baited Thomas into the devastating dismissal, he wreaked havoc everywhere, igniting fastbreaks, scoring a season-high 17 points (8 of 11), snaring eight boards, making four steals and blocking three shots. Dirk Nowitzki, who Thomas would've guarded, finished with 27 points.

Thomas got the heave-ho with 6:07 left in the half for the head-butt. The Knicks had the ball when Thomas was called for an offensive foul after setting a pick, slapping away Howard's hand that clutched him. After the whistle, Thomas leaned his head sideways, connecting with Howard's.

Thomas claimed he was leaning into Howard to talk trash. "We were both out there talking," Thomas said.

"I said a few cuss words, he said a few cuss words," said Howard, chosen with the last pick of the first round.

The ref instantly shimmied his index finger, pointing for Thomas to leave, without first issuing a T. A scrum ensued with Howard and Antoine Walker looking to get at Thomas.

Thomas, the Dallas native and former Maverick, argued with the officials before leaving the court. He had bought tickets for more than 100 family and friends, spending $6,000.

Thomas' last ejection came in January 2001, also in Texas, against the Rockets, for cussing a referee.

"I'm just [ticked] off at myself for letting my teammates down and coaches by being thrown out of the game," Thomas said.

A punch is an automatic suspension, but even if the league reviews it today, it's highly unlikely Thomas will be suspended for tonight's pre-All-Star finale in New Orleans - the last without Allan Houston.

The Knicks held a 27-21 lead in the first quarter when Thomas hit a jumper off a pick-and-roll with Marbury, and the power forward preened downcourt. It was 33-33 when Thomas got booted.

"He's one of our top players," Marbury said. "He's a big part to our team - rebounding, mental toughness, shooting. It was tough asking guys to come in and fill that role."

Marbury's left-wing jumper made it 78-76 with 8:01 left before the Mavs pulled away. A Howard tip-in gave the Mavs a 87-80 lead with 6:10 left, and Steve Nash drilled in the final dagger, banking in a right-wing 3-pointer with 1:48 left (100-88).

[MightyToine]

A scrum ensued with Howard and Antoine Walker looking to get at Thomas.

I saw the game and it looked only like Walker was just standing in Josh Howard's way to help Jamison keep Kurt away from the rook.

[PubaNWO]

I'm sorry but why can't they play D like this alll the time?

If Nash, Walker shot a tad better and Jamison played a little more this game would be won by 35 !!!

I'm gettin sick of watching this team gettin off to slow starts.....too many bricks.....

.....no Josh Howard and this team woulda been down by 15 in the first half......

Nellie you better just go to Dirk on the box right off the bat.....or have him cut after a pick/curl.....get something going to the hoop......

Every time the Mavs used to play the C's they'd shoot like 75%.....I'm not used to all these bricks....(Walker stop shooting jumpers....just stop)

[SeriousSummer]

Guys (& Gals)- sorry to contribute after the game. i'm just wondering if anyone knows why none of the 5's (Bradley, Williams, Fortson) got any PT?

My theory, an informal gentleman's agreement between Nelson and Wilkens not to play any centers tonight. No Mutumbo, no Bradley, no Fortson and no Williams. If Thomas hadn't gotten thrown out, then no Doleac as well.

As long as both teams refrain from playing the big guys, it's even.

And it makes for a prettier game.

[DwD]

MFF, according to the commentators, Mavs had gone on a major run just before that play and Lenny Wilkens was trying to call a timeout, which our players responded to. Apparently, the refs didn't catch it, so it gave the Knicks a chance to catch up with us in the game.

[Dirkenstien]

Originally posted by: MavsFanFinley

What a tremendously beautiful sight...... im loving this kid more and more

[kingrex]

Originally posted by: Dirkenstien

What a tremendously beautiful sight...... im loving this kid more and more

Welcome to the fan club. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[ReDIRKulous]

It can't be bargained with! It can't be reasoned with! It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until every game is won!

[superheadcat]

courtesy of patricia, this is one of the funniest reports i read from ny media about thomas' rejection:

Dave D'Alessandro (Star-Ledger):
As the teams walked back up the floor, the two players were side by side, Thomas leaned into the rookie, and appeared to lay his head on Howard's shoulder.

How agressive was this gesture? It's in the eye of the beholder. Two veteran referess, Joey Crawford and Luis Grillo, let it slide. But Bennie Adams threw Thomas out of the game, ruling that he had attempted to head-butt his young opponent.

[MikeB]

The NBA office must've thought it was bad too because they suspended Thomas for tonights game.

[MavKikiNYC]

Originally posted by: superheadcat
courtesy of patricia, this is one of the funniest reports i read from ny media about thomas' rejection:

Dave D'Alessandro (Star-Ledger):
As the teams walked back up the floor, the two players were side by side, Thomas leaned into the rookie, and appeared to lay his head on Howard's shoulder.

How agressive was this gesture? It's in the eye of the beholder. Two veteran referess, Joey Crawford and Luis Grillo, let it slide. But Bennie Adams threw Thomas out of the game, ruling that he had attempted to head-butt his young opponent.

The local NBC sports broadcast by Len Berman characterized Thomas's ejection as one of the stupidest plays of his career, and the replay angle they showed didn't make it look like a benign gesture.

Ironic that Crawford was calling that game--if reports of his disciplining by the NBA office are accurate, I'm not surprised that he wouldn't make a call on that play, although to be fair, it could've been a difficult thing to pick up.

And Grillo, who hosed the Mavs royallly during the last Mavs v. NYKs contest, was probably still trying to get the new league memos on continuation straight.

Adams' call may have been somewhat aggressive, but given Thomas's history, and given the replay that must've been pretty close to what Adams saw, the call didn't really seem outrageous.

This would be the very kind of brain-fart play that Thomas logs all too regularly, and is a big reason why I've never been able to generate much enthusiasm about the Mavericks pulling a deal to bring him back to Dallas.

[sike]

Originally posted by: kingrex

Welcome to the fan club. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

I have a feeling that membership of the JHo fan club will be at a high count in no time...

[Chiwas]

NBA's page:

Knicks’ Kurt Thomas Suspended One Game

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11 – New York Knicks center Kurt Thomas has been suspended for one game without pay for headbutting Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Senior Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 6:07 remaining in the second quarter of the Knicks' 105-90 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 10 at American Airlines Center.

Thomas will serve his suspension during tonight's game against the New Orleans Hornets at New Orleans Arena.