TROUBLE IN BIG "D" - dfw.com

[Male30Dan]

Trouble in Big “D”

By Jeff Spicoli

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Regardless of the regular season success over Sacramento, the Dallas Mavericks suffered their second straight playoff defeat late Tuesday night at the hands of the Kings.

“We are really trying to get over that road hump,” said Mavericks point guard Steve Nash. “We keep fighting and clawing but we find that for some reason, at the end of games on the road, we can’t get it done.”

The Mavericks, despite terrific road records the past couple of years, finished the season 16-25 away from the American Airlines Center. It doesn’t take a genius to confirm that the rims at the AAC are a bit wider for the big three.

“No one understands it,” said Mavericks coach Don Nelson. “We know we can win big games on the road. The games we won over Sacramento and Los Angeles earlier this year prove that we can. The problem is staying consistent. When you can’t depend on quality defense late in the game it makes it difficult to pull these tough ones out.”

When asked why Dallas didn’t bring in center Shawn Bradley to stop the only thing that was working offensively for the Kings, inside scoring, Nelson was quick to point out the not so obvious. “Bradley, despite his ability to actually get stops, simply cannot offer enough on the offensive side of the ball to keep up with the front court players for the Kings. I really would like to play him more, but for every bucket he stops, he allows three more without scoring one. How can we expect to win like that?”

Despite Bradley’s absence, defense wasn’t the problem Tuesday night. The final score, 83-79, was the lowest total that the Mavericks had been held to since the sixth game of the season, a 77-71 loss to the Raptors. With the defensive woes the Mavericks have been facing this season, poor shooting is not something that is welcomed in the playoffs.

“Obviously scoring is rarely a problem for us,” said Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki. “We do pretty well generally when it comes to knocking down shots. You look at game 2 as a wakeup call. If we would have made a few more layups or bunnies that we missed, I think we go home tied 1-1.”

“I think at the end of games, I need to be a good bit more involved in willing our team to victory,” continued Nowitzki. “Despite what the play callers think, I am the leader of this team, and I should be knocking shots down when it matters most.”

Nowitzki was said to have deferred to Finley on the shot that was stripped by Kings forward Peja Stojakovic in the waning seconds of the game. “The play was called for Finley and that’s all I have to say about that,” said a frustrated Nowitzki.

Mavericks guard Michael Finley was in the same mindset when asked about the play call. “Without a doubt,” said Finley. “The call was for me to drive around and try to get to the line, but when Sacramento double teamed me, I just tried to knock down a shot. Unfortunately, Peja got away with a late foul on me. We really have to do a better job in clutch situations with the game on the line if we plan on advancing to the 2nd round.”

Despite some of the misunderstandings in Dallas, the Mavericks are still in a good situation to come out of this home stand even to force a game 5 in Arco.

“I think we will win this series ultimately,” said oft-maligned forward Antoine Walker. “We are just too talented in Dallas, and with home court advantage, all we have to do is win out there.”

Again, despite the misunderstandings in Dallas, the Mavericks are still, well, in trouble.

[Male30Dan]

Good article... Hopefully Dallas can win out at home and close this series out in 7!!!

[Blonde Bomber]

“I think at the end of games, I need to be a good bit more involved in willing our team to victory,” continued Nowitzki. “Despite what the play callers think, I am the leader of this team, and I should be knocking shots down when it matters most.”

Nowitzki was said to have deferred to Finley on the shot that was stripped by Kings forward Peja Stojakovic in the waning seconds of the game. “The play was called for Finley and that’s all I have to say about that,” said a frustrated Nowitzki.


Whooo...when did Dirk grow a pair? I love these comments coming from him.

[Male30Dan]

Originally posted by: Blonde Bomber
“I think at the end of games, I need to be a good bit more involved in willing our team to victory,” continued Nowitzki. “Despite what the play callers think, I am the leader of this team, and I should be knocking shots down when it matters most.”

Nowitzki was said to have deferred to Finley on the shot that was stripped by Kings forward Peja Stojakovic in the waning seconds of the game. “The play was called for Finley and that’s all I have to say about that,” said a frustrated Nowitzki.


Whooo...when did Dirk grow a pair? I love these comments coming from him.

Yeah man...

I know what you mean!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[dirno2000]

My sentiments exactly BB. Dirk should be pissed and this further confirms that Nellie's ass used Dirk as a scapegoat this morning...I wonder if Dirk knows that.

[Male30Dan]

I bet he does dirno...

I bet he does!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[irontoad]

Originally posted by: Blonde Bomber
“I think at the end of games, I need to be a good bit more involved in willing our team to victory,” continued Nowitzki. “Despite what the play callers think, I am the leader of this team, and I should be knocking shots down when it matters most.”

Nowitzki was said to have deferred to Finley on the shot that was stripped by Kings forward Peja Stojakovic in the waning seconds of the game. “The play was called for Finley and that’s all I have to say about that,” said a frustrated Nowitzki.


Whooo...when did Dirk grow a pair? I love these comments coming from him.

I have a hard time believing Dirk reallly said this... If he did, though, that's just too cool for words. Maybe he's finally starting to see the light.

[Male30Dan]

I definitely think he has officially grew a pair... Guess your right irontoad... He has finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!

[Max Power]

Originally posted by: Blonde Bomber
“I think at the end of games, I need to be a good bit more involved in willing our team to victory,” continued Nowitzki. “Despite what the play callers think, I am the leader of this team, and I should be knocking shots down when it matters most.”

Nowitzki was said to have deferred to Finley on the shot that was stripped by Kings forward Peja Stojakovic in the waning seconds of the game. “The play was called for Finley and that’s all I have to say about that,” said a frustrated Nowitzki.


Whooo...when did Dirk grow a pair? I love these comments coming from him.

Now the interaction with Nellie becomes the key.

[Male30Dan]

Yeah Max... The interaction with Nellie is definately key... If Nellie flips his lid from these quotes and causes an uproar, it could be one EARLY exit from the playoffs for us!!!

[sike]

dirk is the only one of the "big three" who deserves praise....get the ball to him more often last night and the end is a different story.....forget Nellie.

[Male30Dan]

I cant believe Nellie's quote about Bradley!!!

[mary]

Last time Dirk got pissed, the Mavs started playing damn good basketball.

Here's hoping.

[irontoad]

Now the interaction with Nellie becomes the key.

Dirk needs to pull a sprewell/carlesimo on Nellie...


just kidding, just kidding. I can just picture that, though, "Give me the damn ball, you fata#%!!!!" [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[Male30Dan]

Amen Mary!

[dirno2000]

Despite what the play callers think, I am the leader of this team, and I should be knocking shots down when it matters most

Our boy is growing up.

Max, I don't think he's as deferential to Nellie as he used to be. I say this because he never backed down from his Miami comments, even after being fined and probably scolded.

[Male30Dan]

It looks like there is definately a feud going on...

Whoever said that this could be a first for a coach to be fired in the playoffs might just be right...

I guess we will have to wait and see!!!

[dirno2000]

Mavericks guard Michael Finley was in the same mindset when asked about the play call. “Without a doubt,” said Finley. “The call was for me to drive around and try to get to the line, but when Sacramento double teamed me, I just tried to knock down a shot. Unfortunately, Peja got away with a late foul on me. We really have to do a better job in clutch situations with the game on the line if we plan on advancing to the 2nd round.”

1) Why would Nellie call a play for Fin to drive and get to the line...he hasn't done that this whole series. We have 11 coaches, why doesn't Nellie know this?

2) Fin didn't get doubled

3) He didn't get fouled

[Male30Dan]

I know... I was also thinking about this... Finley said that WE thing again too... WE really have to do a better job in clutch situations...

Hmm... YOU choked big boy!

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: Male22Dan

“I think we will win this series ultimately,” said oft-maligned forward Antoine Walker. “We are just too talented in Dallas, and with home court advantage, all we have to do is win out there.”

Confident to the BITTER END, isn't he? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[Male30Dan]

Originally posted by: MightyToine

Confident to the BITTER END, isn't he? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

A little confused too I'd say!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[sike]

Originally posted by: dirno2000

1) Why would Nellie call a play for Fin to drive and get to the line...he hasn't done that this whole series. We have 11 coaches, why doesn't Nellie know this?

2) Fin didn't get doubled

3) He didn't get fouled

I have only one change to this post 2000, "he hasn't done that this whole series".....should be season for the whole season....

[Richard]

Originally posted by: irontoad

Dirk needs to pull a sprewell/carlesimo on Nellie...

Ha. best line all day Irontoad. Of course, its only funny since we know our guys won't do it. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[Male30Dan]

I dont know Richard... Did you ever think Dirk would say what he did to the public today... If he got fined before, he will definately get fined for this...

[Male30Dan]

Who knows... Maybe that fine pushes our German friend over the top...

[irontoad]

Maybe Dirk's just trying to shed his 'soft' image a little.

He's moving from 'charmin' to 'brawny'!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[Dirkenstien]

“I think at the end of games, I need to be a good bit more involved in willing our team to victory,” continued Nowitzki. “Despite what the play callers think, I am the leader of this team, and I should be knocking shots down when it matters most.”

Wow...these quotes are too good to be true. Admittedly at first I thought M22D was trying to pull a fast one on us. Dirk is indeed growing before our eyes.

and im loving it.

[Richard]

A real can of worms getting opened here. I'm all for Dirk being a leader... but, Best Player and head coach getting in a hosing contest in the middle of an 0-2 series doesn't sound helpful.

I will say though, if he called the play for Fin, as BOTH Dirk and Fin say and then he goes on radio today and tries to cool the heat on his own buns by insinuating Dirk ducked the pressure of the last shot - whooeey. Low, bad and no way for a coach to treat any player, much less the franchise player. Worse, by making Dirk look bad in that critical area of his developement, he might get him labled unfairly as a guy who ducks pressure or is soft and hurt his development and career.

[Male30Dan]

Originally posted by: Dirkenstien

Wow...these quotes are too good to be true. Admittedly at first I thought M22D was trying to pull a fast one on us. Dirk is indeed growing before our eyes.

and im loving it.

Nope dude... I know what you mean though... He really stepped up today!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[jayC]

Look this team needs some urgency. This his team, is the message to the coach, the media, and the fans. That's the point of these comments. Why is finley ever on an isolation play, it shouldn't happen. The mavs should either create something off the dribble via nash to finley or give the damn ball to Dirk.

[Male30Dan]

Originally posted by: jayC
Look this team needs some urgency. This his team, is the message to the coach, the media, and the fans. That's the point of these comments. Why is finley ever on an isolation play, it shouldn't happen. The mavs should either create something off the dribble via nash to finley or give the damn ball to Dirk.

EXACTLY!!!

I couldnt have said it better myself... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[Male30Dan]

This has me now on the edge of my seat until game 3...

[dude1394]

Originally posted by: Male22Dan
I cant believe Nellie's quote about Bradley!!!

Me either what a bunch of crud!!!! So bradley doesn't play because he can't keep up offensively. He's done he's been passed by.

[Male30Dan]

I know man... I know...

Can you believe that... Just horseshit if you ask me!!!

[dirno2000]

Marc Stien adds to the dogpile

You can be sure, though, that you haven't heard the last about Nelson's decision to run a play for an ailing Michael Finley with the Mavericks down by a bucket and less than 10 seconds to go in regulation. Finley, to this day, remains one of Dallas' deadliest catch-and-shoot threats, but asking him to dribble and penetrate against the underrated defense of Peja Stojakovic -- not his best move even when healthy -- was a curious choice at best. Even Nelson acknowledged in his postgame remarks that you could question the decision.

It makes even less sense that Dirk Nowitzki gets the ball so rarely in these situations for Dallas, especially considering his pick-and-roll prowess alongside Steve Nash. Maybe Nowitzki wouldn't have done any better than Finley, who got stripped before he could squeeze off a shot, but it's far better for Nowitzki's development (and the franchise's future) to make him win or lose it.

Now, unless the Mavericks can rally to beat the Kings four times in the next five games -- far from a good bet given Dallas' recurring inability to win close games on the road -- the talk will inevitably start to get louder about whether this is the last series Nelson will be deciding who takes Dallas' last shot.

[Male30Dan]

Originally posted by: dirno2000
Marc Stien adds to the dogpile

OUCH!!!

Talk about a flame burning now!!!

[Nicky31]

Originally posted by: dude1394

Me either what a bunch of crud!!!! So bradley doesn't play because he can't keep up offensively. He's done he's been passed by.

This is crap..Look at one of the previous regular season games we played in Arco when Bradley came in and are zone defense shut everything down out to 20 ft...


I didn't watch the full game did Bradley get any PT last night?

[dude1394]

IMHO this has been brewing for quite a while.
1. I still think dirk was PO'd when raef was traded. The only guy he has ever had that played behind him.
2. He's been sort of a non-factor most of this year. Something hasn't been right, probably that all of a sudden he has to deal with a point-forward.
3. Play all year 82 games and knucklehead nelson decides on game 70 that it's just not working, let's go somewhere else like.......Dirk is the man again.

[dude1394]

Not a minute that I know. And what's the deal anyway, Brad Miller/Divac were some sort of scoring machines. It's crapola.

[Male30Dan]

Originally posted by: Nicky31

This is crap..Look at one of the previous regular season games we played in Arco when Bradley came in and are zone defense shut everything down out to 20 ft...


I didn't watch the full game did Bradley get any PT last night?

I watched the WHOLE game, and not one minute was logged by the tall timber!