Spurs @ Mavs 2/26/04

[MightyToine]

I'll agree with Barkley on one thing :


Come playoff-time, the Mavs have got to get Finley more touches than he got last year....


(and It has nothing to do with the fact that he's black either....Barkley would tell you. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] ]

[OutletPass]

Wondering what the other Spur starters have done ?

Bowen 0 pts., 1 rb.
Rasho 2 pts., 2 rb
Parker 9 points, 1 assist
Hedo 16 points, 4 rb.

Ugly !

[Bayliss]

Since Duncan did not play most of the 2nd half, this game will be consideren nonexistent. But oh well, I'll take a 3-0 lead over a Divisional rival anyday of the week.

But media cannot deny that we played defense tonight. Real good defense.

[OutletPass]

Mavs were up by 10 when Duncan went out...

it's been 41-21 since.

[TwoDeep3]

I don't think the Spurts would have beaten Dallas even with Duncan. The Mavs were just too focused and playing well.

[MavsFanFinley]

It's not about getting Finley more shot attempts, it's about running a couple plays for him if his shot isn't falling. Get him involved other than shooting 3's.

[bcrav4]

duncan left the game with 7:15 left in the 3rd quater and the score was 57-66!!

[seelenjaeger]

Well, looks like I am not following the Spurs close enough, but since when isn´t Ginobili a key part to their team, i.e. not starting, not beeing a key player, and so on?

[#41]

i'll go to bed now, good night! Have fun with the last few minutes!

[MavsFanFinley]

Mavs win 115-91:

Walker (29) 4-9, 1-2, 2-2, 11pts, 6rbs, 3as, 1to, 1stl

Dirk (35) 8-15, 3-5, 4-4, 23pts, 6rbs, 5as, 1stl

Williams (15) 1-2, 2pts, 2rbs, 2to's, 1stl, 1blk

Finley (34) 10-14, 5-7, 5-6, 30pts, 6rbs, 4as, 1stl, 2blks

Nash (30) 4-7, 1-2, 6-6, 15pts, 3rbs, 9as, 6to's

Jamison (30) 6-11, 1-2, 13pts, 8rbs, 2to's

Howard (32) 2-9, 0-1, 2-2, 6pts, 7rbs, 1as, 1to, 1blk

Bradley (11) 2-2, 3-4, 7pts, 4rbs, 1blk

Najera (9) 1-1, 2pts, 3rbs, 1as, 1to, 2stls

Daniels (9) 3-5, 6pts, 1rb, 2to's, 1stl

Delk (6) 0-3, 0-2, 1as

[grndmstr_c]

Yeehaw! Sorry to see Duncan get hurt, but the Mavs handled it like they should and blew them out. I don't think that would have happened earlier in the year. Freaking great game by Mike. As usual JHo just gives me no choice other than to love him and thank providence for delivering him to us as the 29th pick. Go Mavs. This team is starting to look like a real team.

[Cybertx]

mavs still need to show the same kind of team on the road or against lesser teams to get a got spot in the playoffs.

[PepperTheMavsFan41]

On a positive side JoHo had a lot of energy, but wasnt that effictive. He can only play better in the future.

[Psychedelic Fuzz]

Watched most of the game, and a few questions come to mind:

1. Will the talking heads write this one off as well?
2. Wasn't that Finley shot absolutely sick?
3. Why didn't Bowen and Ginobili show up?
4. Wasn't tha Finley shot absolutely sick?
5. Can Dick Bavetta get his pants up any higher?

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: Psychedelic Fuzz
Watched most of the game, and a few questions come to mind:

1. Will the talking heads write this one off as well?
2. Wasn't that Finley shot absolutely sick?
3. Why didn't Bowen and Ginobili show up?
4. Wasn't tha Finley shot absolutely sick?
5. Can Dick Bavetta get his pants up any higher?

6. Why can't Walker DUNK on Every Shot attempt?? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif[/img]

[raefformvp]

Just got back from the game and it was awesome! Wish I would have taped it so I could see what the TNT guys were saying. Were they giving us any credit? The place erupted and went nuts with Fin's 3rd quarter buzzer beater. Wow, I'm wired. Don't know when or if I'll be able to fall asleep and I have to get up at 5:00. I'd do it again in a heartbeat though! On our way in we saw some Spurs fans carrying a huge Spurs flag yelling, "Mavs suck" and running in and out of traffic with their stupid flag. Wish I would have seen 'em on the way out. Bet they weren't waving their flag proudly!

[Simon2]

I think the mental block on the Spurs is officially gone.

[Mavs Rule]

We are definately starting to roll now. I said earlier in the year that when I see the Mavs starting to blowout other teams often, that when we will start to show this team coming together. Well, the last three out of four games have been Mavs blowouts. We are starting to look the part of a championship contender now. If we hold up well on the road in March, I like our chances in the playoffs.

Fin had an unbelievable game tonight. I can't remember this year a game that he has played a better ALL AROUND game. He was rebounding, forcing turnovers, assisting well (how about that fast break bounce pass), and even blocking! Kudos to Mike! Its really nice to see him show up this big in a big game against a contender like the spurs.

[dude1394]

Report from the arena...


WOW!!! This was an a**-whooping of epic porpotions. Finely was absolutely sick. But the mavs had this game from the middle of the second on. They were the better team than the spurs tonight.

A WHOLEL lotta' fun at the arena tonight....

1/2 game behind the spurs and ON THE MOVE DUDES!!!!!

[dude1394]

Raefformvp... Wasn't that a hoot!!! The mavs outplayed the spurs offensively for sure, but defensively as well.

[dude1394]

Michael Finley was an absolute stud, unconscious...

[DubOverdose]

Originally posted by: LoveMyMavs14
DubOverdose, do me a favor......

If you can get Nash's attention, tell him (or yell to him) you know of girl who wants to have his babies.

That is all.

I got his attention, but I didn't read this until I got home. Sorry. I got the attention of Daniels, Fortson, Williams, Nash, Fin, Bradley, Eddie, and Mark. Dirk wouldn't turn around no matter how much we yelled at him. The seats were awesome. 117 row C

[DubOverdose]

I'm watching TNT now that I'm home and all they say is that the Spurs lost big, but never give any credit to the Mavs. Why aren't they mentioning the lights-out shooting? Ahh. I don't know if they gave the Mavs credit earlier, but it just seems like they are stressing the fact that the Spurs lost and not about what effort the team that beat them brought.

[OutletPass]

Interesting notes:

The Spurs refused to have TD looked at by any of the Docs here...may mean something (or it may mean nothing) but we get them again on the 5th of March...and it's sounding like he may be out from the courtside reporters...they keep saying it's his knee and NOT his thigh. Could this help us to a 4-0 sweep over the Spurs ?

In the last 2 games, Fin is averaging 25 points and 5.5 boards...on 58.6% shooting and 66.6% from 3...Mrs. Fin must be giving him some jelly...donuts !

Who are the top 5 Mavs in scoring per minute (for the season) ?

1) Dirk
2) Jamison
3) Fin
4) Daniels
5) Nash

The best guys for steals per minute ?

1) Daniels
2) Bradley
3) Delk
4) J Ho
5) Best

The best shot blockers per minute ?
1) Bradley
2) Scottie
3) J Ho
4) Dirk
5) Najera

The most technicals per minute ?
1) Bradley
2) Walker
3) Fortson
4) Dirk
5) Nash

[raefformvp]

Originally posted by: dude1394
Raefformvp... Wasn't that a hoot!!! The mavs outplayed the spurs offensively for sure, but defensively as well.

yes, dude, that was absolute greatness! this game ranks up there with both game 7's last year as far as crowd electricity and excitement goes.

Duboverdose, how jealous am I? our season tickets are in section 317 second row. not great seats but at least we're in the building. I sat in section 117 once (row P) and was in heaven.

[MavsFanFinley]

The pass...



The dunk...



The celebration...

[dude1394]

I think i could hear you up there!!

[DubOverdose]

[quote]
Originally posted by: raefformvp

Originally posted by: dude1394


Duboverdose, how jealous am I? our season tickets are in section 317 second row. not great seats but at least we're in the building. I sat in section 117 once (row P) and was in heaven.

I have the 6 game set of tickets in section 327 row M. I already had tickets to this game, but gave them away when I found out I had the 117 C seats. What I need to do is sit at the scorers table with the perot's. The grandkids go to my school and sit at the scorers table!

[jayC]

Three quick things:
Finley had his most complete game of the season. He dominated on both ends of the floor.
Dirk was solid.
Duncan had 16 points and 15 boards at the half, and he went out the mavs completely took control.

[MavsFanFinley]

By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer

February 26, 2004

DALLAS (AP) -- Even with Tim Duncan, the San Antonio Spurs were having trouble stopping the Dallas Mavericks.

Then Duncan went out with a bruised thigh early in the second half, and the Mavericks were able to put on a show.

Michael Finley opened the third quarter with a dunk and closed it with a swish from behind the halfcourt stripe, perfect bookends for a 46-point period that sent Dallas past San Antonio 115-91 Thursday night.

``I told the team before the game it was going to be a playoff atmosphere, so let's have a playoff attitude,'' said Finley, who had 30 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-7 on 3-pointers.

Duncan went out with 7:15 left in the third, having already produced 22 points and 17 rebounds in 25 minutes. Although he appeared to be rubbing his left knee, and teammates said that's what he was complaining about, the team announced that the problem was just above it.

``He's got some sort of thigh contusion,'' coach Gregg Popovich said. ``He's probably going to miss a little bit of time.''

Duncan spent about 20 minutes in the trainer's room, then limped out of the locker room and was taken to the team bus on a golf cart. His only comment was, ``I don't know what happened.''

San Antonio already was down by nine when Duncan went out. The Spurs never got any closer and wound up with their most lopsided loss of the season, ending their run of seven wins in their last eight games.

Dallas won its fourth straight and improved its league-best home record to 26-4.

The Mavs also improved to 3-0 against San Antonio this season, clinching the season series. That would matter if the teams end the season with identical records. Both were 60-22 last season, but the Spurs won the division by virtue of a better head-to-head record.

The impressive part of this victory, though, was how it happened.

``They like to play a halfcourt game, so we wanted to make it a fast-paced game,'' said Dirk Nowitzki, who had 23 points.

Dallas torched the NBA's stingiest defense for the most points it has allowed in regulation all season, closing in on the season-worst of 120 that came in double overtime. And, the Mavs shot 52.6 percent against a unit that was holding foes to 40.3 percent, second-best in the league.

The 46 points in the third quarter was the most Dallas had ever scored in that period. It also was more than the Spurs allow in most halves. They'd only given up 100 points four times, none since Jan. 14. Dallas had that with eight minutes left.

San Antonio was able to keep pace for the first half, but everything changed after guard Tony Parker opened the third quarter with an airball on a 3-pointer.

Nowitzki caught the shot and heaved it downcourt to Finley, who had taken off when Parker put it up. His dunk was followed by a steal on the inbounds pass, prompting the first of three timeouts Popovich called in the first five minutes of the quarter.

Antoine Walker, who badly missed his first five shots of the game, kept the crowd of 20,458 roaring with a big dunk in traffic. Then came a 3-pointer by Steve Nash, a nifty move by Nowitzki to free himself for a jumper and another stolen inbounds pass, which led to a 3 by Finley.

The excitement peaked right after Duncan went out, with Nowitzki turning a diving save and inbounds flick by Manu Ginobili into a layup. Finley then threw a long bounce pass to Walker for another dunk and Walker drained a 3-pointer.

The Spurs let the deficit grow by missing 12 straight shots from 32.4 seconds left in the third until 6:34 of the fourth.

``We missed Tim, but that's no excuse for the way we played,'' Parker said.

Hedo Turkoglu scored 16 points and Malik Rose had 12. They were the only San Antonio players other than Duncan in double figures.

Nash had 15 points and nine assists, Antawn Jamison scored 13 points and Walker finished with 11.

The victory puts the Mavs a half-game behind San Antonio, both trailingMinnesota. They meet again next Friday in San Antonio.

Notes

Neither team led by more than five in the first half, and the lead changed hands 14 times. The Spurs trailed by at least five after the first basket of the second half. ... No Dallas player was used more than 34 minutes. ... Ten of the previous 15 games between these teams were decided by three or less. ... Duncan had 10 rebounds in the first quarter and 16 at halftime. He seemed on his way to highs for the season (21) and his career (25). ...The mostDallas ever scored in a quarter was 51 against Golden State in 1985.

[DwD]

The Mavs also improved to 3-0 against San Antonio this season, clinching the season series. That would matter if the teams end the season with identical records. Both were 60-22 last season, but the Spurs won the division by virtue of a better head-to-head record.

Hey, that is totally not true - we split the season series and the Spurs won the tie-breaker on the number of Western Conference wins.

[bernardos70]

lol, I swear kenny smith is a bastard. Excuse my language, but he is a bastard.

[grndmstr_c]

Have I ever mentioned that I love TNT? Perhaps not. And perhaps there's even a reason for that. Like, for instance, that after we blow out the Spurs all Kenny and Chuck can talk about is that we have no D and rebounding. They talk about Tim Duncan's stats without making any mention of the fact that we were up with him in the game. They completely ignore the fact that we held SA to below 40% shooting in the first half. They completely ignore the fact that, by the percentages, only SA out of all the NBA finals contenders is a superior rebounding team to the Mavs. Man, do I love TNT. Keep up the ridiculously incompetent commentary up, guys. It's nothing short of inspiring.

[ddh33]

Great game from the Mavs. For the most part, this is what I had in mind with this team - at least, the score is...

As far as the elite teams of the league, I think we match up better with San Antonio than any of them. I just don't think they can consistently score enough to beat us. They really seem ot have problems playing against the Mavs. I know that Duncan was out tonight, but I think we all agree that it didn't make much difference in the outcome - just the margin.

Don't look now, but these Mavs may finally be starting to get it. Hopefully things continue to get better because I've been fooled before this season...

[rakesh.s]

Originally posted by: grndmstr_c
Have I ever mentioned that I love TNT? Perhaps not. And perhaps there's even a reason for that. Like, for instance, that after we blow out the Spurs all Kenny and Chuck can talk about is that we have no D and rebounding. They talk about Tim Duncan's stats without making any mention of the fact that we were up with him in the game. They completely ignore the fact that we held SA to below 40% shooting in the first half. They completely ignore the fact that, by the percentages, only SA out of all the NBA finals contenders is a superior rebounding team to the Mavs. Man, do I love TNT. Keep up the ridiculously incompetent commentary up, guys. It's nothing short of inspiring.

no one really cares about tnt's analysis of the mavs these days anyway...ever since dirk called barkley a moron, he's been holding a grudge..he doesn't even mention Dirk on the telecast..just that finley is the "2nd best player"..

i especially loved the "dallas can't rebound" comment..what are the mavs..oh the 2nd best rebounding team?

[dirno2000]

I was thinking the same thing. Who cares how many points Duncan had when his team was losing by 4 at the half and 9 when he went out of the game. OTOH there was some truth to what they were saying. I wasn't happy with the effort that allowed Duncan to rape us on the boards in the 1st half. We really should have been up by more than 4. I also didn't like the way we let up on defense when TD left the game. It wasn't apparent due to our hot shooting, but they actually shot raised their fg% from the time Duncan left the game until the end of the quarter.

[MavsFanFinley]

Finley flawless, Spurs' Duncan damaged in Mavs' 115-91 win

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

Michael Finley has heard the criticism before that he blends into the background when the spotlight is brightest.

On Thursday night, he did more than just silence those critics. He put the muzzle on them, while at the same time coaxing some previously unthinkable talk about the Mavericks from a respected rival.

Finley spiked a huge third quarter with a buzzer-beating shot from halfcourt en route to 30 points as the Mavericks blew out the San Antonio Spurs, 115-91, at American Airlines Center, winning for the fourth time in a row and the 17th time in the last 21 outings.

It was the Mavericks' third win over San Antonio this season without a loss. That it came with reigning MVP Tim Duncan sitting out most of the second half with a leg injury mattered not.

Finley had often heard in the past that he had trouble stepping up against the best competition. In his first six games against the Western Conference elite this season, he averaged 15.3 points. In the last four meetings – one each against Minnesota, Sacramento, the LA Lakers and the Spurs – he has averaged 27 points.

"Every game right now is a crunch game for us," Finley said. "I'm telling the guys before every game that it's a playoff-type atmosphere. I'm just trying to lead by example."

He led so well Thursday that San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich was dead serious when he mentioned the Mavericks and a championship in the same conversation.

"Of course [they have a chance]," Popovich said. "Why wouldn't you [believe that]? They had a shot last year and had some bad fortune. You have to be healthy to do this. [Dirk] Nowitzki was hurt last year. Maybe they would have won it all if he was healthy, who knows?"

The Mavericks aren't ready to start chirping about such lofty aspirations. But they are dead-solid certain that Finley has done more than his share of the heavy lifting for them in the last two months.

Against the Spurs, he had two key defensive plays early in the third quarter, when the Mavericks would erupt for 46 points, the most in franchise history in a third quarter. The Spurs would score just 47 in the second half.

The Mavericks escaped from a game in which there had been 14 lead changes and 11 ties in the first half to a walkover in the second.

The Spurs were without Duncan for the final 7:15 of the third quarter and all of the fourth after he suffered a left quadriceps contusion. But the Mavericks had already taken control as they improved to 9-3 against the four teams ahead of them in the Western Conference.

"It's always nice to beat a good team, especially when it's a division rival," Steve Nash said. "I don't know how long Mike has been playing this well, but it seems like a long time."

As Antawn Jamison added: "He's in a groove. He's leading us."

Finley's capper came when he got the ball in the backcourt with 3.2 seconds left in the third quarter, dribbled to midcourt, lined up a push shot and heaved the ball just before the buzzer.

When it splashed through the net, he simply stood like a statue to commemorate the moment.

"That's not really me," Finley said. "But I felt it was a good time to do that. The fans deserved it."

[Mandyahl]

nice article, mff. put a smile on my face. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

as did the entire game for that matter....it was pure awesomeness!

hope duncan gets better soon though...as much as it would mean for us in the standings if he is out for an extended period of time, i hate to see that happen to him and the spurs.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: OutletPass
Interesting notes:

The most technicals per minute ?
1) Bradley
2) Walker
3) Fortson
4) Dirk
5) Nash

Walker, I think, is tied for 5th in the league in technicals after being #1 earlier in the season which shows how he's keeping his cool with the Refs better than he did before...


(I know you put this down for my sake, OP. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] ]

[Mavs Rule]

Originally posted by: rakesh.s

no one really cares about tnt's analysis of the mavs these days anyway...ever since dirk called barkley a moron, he's been holding a grudge..he doesn't even mention Dirk on the telecast..just that finley is the "2nd best player"..

i especially loved the "dallas can't rebound" comment..what are the mavs..oh the 2nd best rebounding team?

That show is very unprofessional in my opinion. Barkley even admitted during the telecast that they were in the "green room" watching CSI instead of the game. That's BS! Then after that, they come out and comment on a game they didn't watch with canned comments that are always the same! I don't know why I bother watching, I guess its because I wait for the day that they give the Mavs some props. Magic is the only one that seems to bother saying the Mavs played well.