Mavs host Spurs: Game 3 Thoughts

[Bookit]

First of all, Antoine Walker has the lowest basketball IQ. Franchise is a close second. Now that is cleared up. :P

The only thing that has me worried is Dirk's ankle. He needs to be able to rebound. If he can't the Mavs are in trouble. This games doesn't worry me too much because the Mavs outside shooting was terrible and should improve in game 4. It will be interesting to see how Avery tweeks his strategy. Can't wait!

[nashtymavsfan13]

The Mavs will win game 4 and Dirk will be fine, getting 28 and 9. Book it.

[G-Man]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

Okay, I don't wanna ride Dirk's case too much, because he was huge tonight, and bagging those free throws after tweaking the ankle was superhuman and all... But still, 3-9 from the field just ain't gonna cut it. Not against the Spurs..

Isn't the shot attempts sort of phony stat, since many times he shot and got fouled, so its not counted as a shot attempt. But he steps to the line and scores. He had 4 shots he was fouled on in the 4th. He also had 4 or 5 rebounds including a key offensive one that led to the game winning free throws in the 4th, when he scored 9 points, and had 2 beautiful assists that led to 5 more points, a Terry 3 and a Stackhouse layup. He had 4 free throws, an assist and an offensive rebound after he twisted ankle.

On the one hand it seems shallow to complain about that MVP type performance in the biggest game of the year.

On the other hand, I'll bet Dirk is more disappointed in himself than anyone on this board.

[kriD]

SPURS NOTES

Spurs try to find positives

By DWAIN PRICE
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DALLAS - There was no finger-pointing Sunday. No long faces either.

The San Antonio Spurs' mood was far from somber after Saturday's 104-103 loss to the Mavericks.

"We're still upbeat," guard Michael Finley said. "We know we had a great opportunity [Saturday] night, but we didn't really take advantage of it.

"That's why it's a seven-game series. So hopefully we can come out and build on the positives that we had [Saturday] night, and hopefully that's good enough to get us a win."

The Mavs lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is at 8:30 tonight at American Airlines Center, where the Spurs hope to finish what they couldn't in Game 3.

After trailing by 13 points in the first half, the Spurs shot 55.3 percent from the field in the second half. They made 13 of 17 shots and scored 34 fourth-quarter points, but critical turnovers and a deluge of fouls cost them the victory.

"You're disappointed from the loss, but always when you look at film, the eye in the sky doesn't lie," Spurs forward Bruce Bowen said. "You know that you can do things better, and that's what we look forward to as we come out and play [tonight.]"

Forward Robert Horry said the team has "a bunch of mixed emotions" about Game 3.

"We're content in the way we played in the second half, and then we're a little mad that we lost the game," Horry said. "So I think all of these emotions are going to make us even more focused in Game 4."

A 2-1 jinx?

Since Gregg Popovich took over as the Spurs' coach in December 1996, they're 0-2 when trailing a playoff series 2-1.

The Spurs trailed Utah 2-1 in the 1998 Western Conference semifinals and went on to lose that series 4-1.

They fell behind the Los Angeles Lakers 2-1 in the 2002 semifinals before also losing in five games.

But the defensive-minded Spurs hope the law of averages is on their side as they try to bounce back after allowing 113 points in Game 2 and 104 points in Game 3.

"There's no magic about any of this," Popovich said. "You've got to make shots, and you've got to play D. Our bottom line is that our defense has not been good enough to date. When people score 100 points or more, we're probably going to lose that game."

Harris still a thorn

Although the Spurs drew closer to beating the Mavs in Game 3 than they did in their 22-point loss in Game 2, they came no closer to figuring out how to contain Devin Harris.

The Mavs' second-year point guard used his superior quickness to torch the Spurs for 20 points in Game 2, then scored 24 in Game 3.

"He's running the middle pick-n-roll very well, and he's a tough cover," Gregg Popovich said.

"He's very quick, very athletic at the rim, he gets up in the air, he's long and it makes it tough on the big guys."

No longer a protégé

Gregg Popovich said it's time the media starts judging Mavs coach Avery Johnson on his own merits and stop calling him his protégé.

"Avery's probably so sick of hearing that," Popovich said. "The poor guy, give him a break. Avery's grown. He's been in the league 90 years; he's nobody's protégé. He's doing quite well on his own."

[MFFL]

No longer a protégé

Gregg Popovich said it's time the media starts judging Mavs coach Avery Johnson on his own merits and stop calling him his protégé.

"Avery's probably so sick of hearing that," Popovich said. "The poor guy, give him a break. Avery's grown. He's been in the league 90 years; he's nobody's protégé. He's doing quite well on his own."

I think Pop is sick of it, not Avery. To be reminded every day that your "protégé" is beating you is probably very annoying.

[Five-ofan]

The reason dirk doesnt post when he gets parker or NVE on him is that if he did he becomes MUCH easier to double or switch a big back onto him. Some of you are actually blaming dirk for the play calls? I guess they need to take avery's trophy back if you want dirk to coach too. I do agree that they didnt have nearly enough touches for dirk but a large part of that had nothing to do with him. I saw at least 10 times where he was clearly calling for the ball with a small on him and someone went 1 on 1 instead. When it was devin on duncan thats fine. When it was quis on bowen while dirk had parker on him that is ridiculously stupid.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by MFFL

I think Pop is sick of it, not Avery. To be reminded every day that your "protégé" is beating you is probably very annoying.

lol

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by G-Man

Isn't the shot attempts sort of phony stat, since many times he shot and got fouled, so its not counted as a shot attempt. But he steps to the line and scores. He had 4 shots he was fouled on in the 4th. He also had 4 or 5 rebounds including a key offensive one that led to the game winning free throws in the 4th, when he scored 9 points, and had 2 beautiful assists that led to 5 more points, a Terry 3 and a Stackhouse layup. He had 4 free throws, an assist and an offensive rebound after he twisted ankle.

On the one hand it seems shallow to complain about that MVP type performance in the biggest game of the year.

On the other hand, I'll bet Dirk is more disappointed in himself than anyone on this board.

MVP type performance, phony stat.... blah blah blah.

He didn't shoot enough, period. When he's got the ball on the perimeter and he's being guarded by Tony Parker or Nick Van Exel, he's got to shoot.

[alexamenos]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

He didn't shoot enough, period. When he's got the ball on the perimeter and he's being guarded by Tony Parker or Nick Van Exel, he's got to shoot.

metoo....

he had some shots he didn't take....he's got to take 'em.

cheers

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

MVP type performance, phony stat.... blah blah blah.

He didn't shoot enough, period. When he's got the ball on the perimeter and he's being guarded by Tony Parker or Nick Van Exel, he's got to shoot.

Ok, 27 extremely efficient points to go along with 15 boards... 8 of the points were in the last 5-6 minutes of the game... he hits the game winner.

You're making yourself sound stupid.