2013 NBA Playoffs

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by purplefrog

Must win for the Spurs imo. A loss tonight and they might not win another game.

Wha? They stole home court advantage away from the Heat. They are in VERY good position to win this. The team that wins game 1, wins the series about 60% of the time.

[dude1394]

Looks like a very good experienced defensive team with a great coach and good three point shooting can beat the heat. Too bad there wasn't one of those teams available to play them last year.

[dude1394]

Man that's an ass-whupping of epic porportions.

[EricaLubarsky]

Spurs by 40 for the 2-1 lead. Certainly doesnt look like the Heat will get their not1, not 2,not 3,but 4,5,6--maybe 7" championships.

[dirt_dobber]

From Elias: 30 players in NBA history have appeared in the NBA Finals in the season in which they won the MVP award. LeBron James is shooting just 38.9 percent from the field through 3 games. You have to go all the way back to the '50s to find an MVP who shot worse in the NBA Finals in a season he won the MVP award.


The Spurs scored 20 fastbreak points, their most in a game this postseason, and tied for the most allowed by the Heat this postseason. Fifteen of those points came in the second half.


Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili combined to score 25 points, the fewest the trio has totaled in a playoff game that all 3 played in.

Kind of how the Mavs forced him to play - dare LeBrick to shoot outside.
LeBron James is shooting less than 30 percent in isolation in the NBA Finals, and has been relying more on that play type than in the Heat's first three series this postseason. James was 0-for-6 in isolation in Game 3

LeBron James was 0-of-4 from the field on drives in Game 3 and failed to draw a foul on those plays for the second straight game. James' inability to hit a shot from outside has allowed the Spurs to play off him which limited his drives. James has driven 6.7 times per game in the NBA Finals after doing so 10.3 times per game in the East Finals against the Pacers.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Looks like a very good experienced defensive team with a great coach and good three point shooting can beat the heat.

Yeah, I keep hearing that a Spurs victory would cheapen our run in 2011, but if anything, we wrote the blueprint on how to beat the Heat - the Spurs are just following our example.

[dirt_dobber]

IT'S BECAUSE LeBRON CAN'T SHOOT!! (YEAH I'M YELLING)

LeBron James went 2-of-14 (14.3%) on field goals outside the paint in Game 3 and has gone 7-of-30 (23.3%) on such shots in the NBA Finals. James has hit a third of his shots outside the paint in only 4 of his 18 career NBA Finals games.

[dirt_dobber]

Originally Posted by Underdog

the Spurs are just following our example.

Originally Posted by Underdog

the Spurs are just following our example.

Originally Posted by Underdog

the Spurs are just following our example.

Originally Posted by Underdog

the Spurs are just following our example.

EXACTLY!

[Dirkadirkastan]

Some douchebag at work is talking trash and bragging about his Spurs. He can't even name the three teams they beat to reach the finals this year.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

Some douchebag at work is talking trash and bragging about his Spurs. He can't even name the three teams they beat to reach the finals this year.

Sounds like your typical, fairweather sports fan... Eff 'em.

[Ninkobei]

Originally Posted by dirt_dobber

LeBron James was 0-of-4 from the field on drives in Game 3 and failed to draw a foul on those plays for the second straight game. James' inability to hit a shot from outside has allowed the Spurs to play off him which limited his drives. James has driven 6.7 times per game in the NBA Finals after doing so 10.3 times per game in the East Finals against the Pacers.

This made me wonder how Dirk has played vs San Antonio. They use the same strategy vs all top offensive players. I found this interesting fluff article - but it has stats so that's okay.

http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/6/...n-the-playoffs

May 2001:

Dirk Nowitzki's first playoff series ever came in May of 2001 against the Utah Jazz. I remember it pretty clearly, since it was the last time I ever felt good watching a playoff game-the win against the Jazz was so much more than I expected, even if Dirk's line of 23.8 and 7.6 was not what we would come to expect.

While in the next series, against the Spurs, he struggled considerably in the first three games, they would prove to be vital ones. The Mavericks would lose in five to Those San Antonio Spurs in the first ever Tim-Dirk playoff clash but in game 4, a light went on that has never gone off. Dirk threw up 30 and 9 in game 4, shooting 61% from the field, leading the Mavericks to a four point win. Although the Spurs would demolish the Mavs in the fifth game eliminator it certainly wasn't Dirk's fault.

Dirk's introduction to being the lone star in the Dallas sky, Tim's introduction to a decade of Dirk, and Dirk's Hello There to the playoff stage was that 105-87 loss to the Spurs. He scored 42 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, dished 2 assists, got 1 block and somehow swiped six steals.

All told, Tim, who'd already won a championship in 1999 and would win his second that year, bested the neophyte Dirk to the tune of 27-17.4 with 2 blocks, 3.6 assists and a steal to Dirk's 23-8.6 with 1 block, 1.8 steals and 1.2 assists, but it wasn't a fair fight yet. Those days, however, weren't very far in the future.

May 2003

In 2002-2003, the Mavericks got their shot at the team that taught them what playoff basketball is all about, the San Antonio Spurs. And then, of course, they didn't. After torching the Timberwolves, with 30 points, 9 rebounds, including a 46-10 game, a 42-10 game and a 31-11 game to cap it off, then fighting his way through the Kings, averaging 21 points and 14 rebounds, including 30-19 in the finisher, you'll remember that Dirk suffered a knee injury in game 3, and missed the next 3 games. And he may have made it back on the court for Game 7, he may not have, and he may have been effective, and he may not have, but Steve Kerr made sure he didn't get a chance. Somehow.

The great Duncan-Dirk matchups would have to wait-but in the three games he DID play, even with the measly 15-9 he managed in the game he got injured, he threw up 25-11, including 38-15 to get the series started with a win.

May 2006

The next series would be the greatest playoff series I've ever watched, a series so good it made the NBA change its seeding rules so something that good wouldn't be wasted in the conference semifinals. Over seven games, and that famous seventh game over time, Tim Duncan averaged an immense 32-11.7 with 2.6 blocks and 3.7 steals. Dirk could not quite match him, with 27.1-13.3 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals. Even in that Game 7, Timmy was just a little bit better than Dirk, throwing up 41-15 with 6 assists, 3 blocks and a steal to Dirk's 37-15 3 assists, a block and a steal.

But it was Dirk who made the most important shot, a rim-rattling dunk with Manu's hand on his wrist and the following free throw to tie the game with 21 seconds to go-and according to the Game Log, it was Dirk who blocked Tim Duncan's put-back attempt with zeroes on the clock to send it to overtime.

Where, incidentally, Dirk and Duncan each had two points, Jason Terry had four, DeSagana Diop had three and Jerry Stackhouse had four. That's how basketball go, I guess.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Sounds like your typical, fairweather sports fan... Eff 'em.

They're all like that. Remember when the Spurs failed to sell out a conference finals game?

They're the most undeserving fan base of all time. More than the Lakers, more than the Heat. I can only hope it'll catch up to them one day when the big names are all retired, the team sucks, no one goes to any of the games or even remembers the team exists, and the franchise hits financial ruin.

[GhostFace]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Man that's an ass-whupping of epic porportions.

Indeed.

@ UD - Agreed, we were the first and looks like won't be the last and that' alright with me because f*ck Wade and the Heat.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

Some douchebag at work is talking trash and bragging about his Spurs. He can't even name the three teams they beat to reach the finals this year.

It's Suns, Nuggets and Thunder, right?

[dirt_dobber]

Tracy McGrady is a +15 in 14 minutes so far in the Finals.

never will forget the shootout that he and Dirk had years ago - Epic performance by both with, of course, Dirk coming out on top.

.

[Underdog]

LeBron/Wade/Bosh - 130 points
Green/Neal/Leonard - 130 points

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Underdog

LeBron/Wade/Bosh - 130 points
Green/Neal/Leonard - 130 points

That's what happens when you take the draft seriously.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

That's what happens when you have a killer system and unbelievable talent scouts

Fixed

[spreedom]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

That's what happens when you take the draft seriously.

Danny Green was signed by the Spurs as a free agent... and cut from the team at least twice. Was it three times? And Neal was signed as an undrafted free agent.

[Ninkobei]

[EricaLubarsky]

Ginobli getting yanked for Neal. Interesting.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Other than a Mavs win, nothing in the NBA is more satisfying to witness than a Spurs home loss.

[Bayliss]

The move by Spo looks like the same move by Carlisle of inserting Barea into to the starting lineup. The Mavs never lost again to the Heat.

Will history repeat itself? Looking that way. (Btw the Mavs were down 2-1 as well before Carlisle made the move.)

Pop has got his work cut out for him now.

[jasonic]

I think Heat are going to win the championship after their win yesterday. Parker was clearly affected by his injury and he wasn't ready and i don't know if he 'll be 100 % for the rest of the series. Manu 's having his worst playoff appereances by far and Duncan can't carry the Spurs all by himself. So, in T-Mac we trust, lol.

[mac222b]

Duncan and Ginobli need to step it up or they're done. More Matt Bonner?

[Bayliss]

WTF? Seriously why would a man wear that?

[Ninkobei]

Clearly he lost a bet, or is doing it for charity.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Bayliss

WTF? Seriously why would a man wear that?

Power bottom.

[mac222b]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Power bottom.

Awww man UD, you beat me to it! Ever since you first dubbed Diva "Power Bottom" I've taken to referring to him that way to my friends that follow the NBA, none of whom are Mavs fans btw. They also, to a man, think that the Mavs were robbed and Wade gifted his first(and second for that matter- Riley tampered and the 3 colluded)championship. Small consolation i know... but it's something.

Im rooting for the Spurs and hoping like hell Wade doesnt get another ring.
Tangential but interesting to think that the last 3 teams other than the Mavs were assembled in a somewhat shady fashion the Heat, Lakers with the Gasol no bid/Jerry West connection and the Celtics Ainge/McHale thing. Minny didnt even get Rondo! Makes me all the more proud of what our boys accomplished!!

[rabbitproof]

Nothing wrong with his outfit... what's up with the murse though?

[spreedom]

Originally Posted by rabbitproof

Nothing wrong with his outfit... what's up with the murse though?

Um, what? Popped collar, skinny white floodies, and no socks under dress shoes with a bunch of jewels on them... at what point is there something wrong with an outfit if that doesn't qualify?

[DirkFTW]

Originally Posted by spreedom

Um, what? Popped collar, skinny white floodies, and no socks under dress shoes with a bunch of jewels on them... at what point is there something wrong with an outfit if that doesn't quality?

Well, it has a very slimming effect on his calves and ankles...

[Ninkobei]

Originally Posted by spreedom

Um, what? Popped collar, skinny white floodies, and no socks under dress shoes with a bunch of jewels on them... at what point is there something wrong with an outfit if that doesn't quality?

Dude he is dressed in drag. That's a ladies outfit. I just wish we could see the blouse underneath that coat of his.

[stoble]

Watching Wade makes me say crazy things like "Go Spurs Go!".

[stoble]

Pretty physical game until the 4th. Refs elbowed themselves in there as soon as the 4th quarter started.

[Underdog]

Battle of the blowouts? We haven't seen a final score within 10 points since Game 1...

[stoble]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Battle of the blowouts? We haven't seen a final score within 10 points since Game 1...

yeah very strange. I'd like to know what all the adjustments were. Whatever they are, they've worked every game.

[dirt_dobber]

Originally Posted by stoble

yeah very strange. I'd like to know what all the adjustments were. Whatever they are, they've worked every game.

Stern has Joey Crawford reffing tonight.

The NSA is reporting that they were listening in on Commissioner Stern’s phone and
heard the following transmission: “Joey! Get me my damn game 7!

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Parker's best season by far. They might blow it though with that Lebron three...

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by dirt_dobber

Stern has Joey Crawford reffing tonight.

The NSA is reporting that they were listening in on Commissioner Stern’s phone and
heard the following transmission: “Joey! Get me my damn game 7!

He's worked his ass off to force-feed this game to the Spurs.