Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs preview7 p.m. today, AT&T Center, Ch. 21, ESPN; ESPN-FM (103.3), KFLC-AM (1270, Spanish)08:08 PM CDT on Thursday, April 6, 2006By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning NewsSeason series: Spurs lead 2-1 this season, 76-51 all timeKEY MATCHUPDIRK NOWITZKI VS. TIM DUNCANHe hasn't had the best of seasons, but Duncan remains the most fundamentally scary player in the league. He almost never makes a mental mistake, which is why the Spurs are so efficient at the offensive end. And he is such a good help defender that teammates can take chances on the perimeter. He's averaged only 15.3 points against Dallas this season, yet the Spurs are 2-1. He's also been fighting flu-like symptoms the last few days. Nowitzki had a 34-point showing in the Mavericks' win in Game No. 3. Since then, he's averaged 18.5.Inside the MavericksNo new player: For now, the Mavericks are standing pat. Avery Johnson could not hook up with Shawn Kemp in Houston on Wednesday, and a workout may not take place at all. If the Mavs don't get a roster exception, which is looking unlikely, they won't add any player. "It's becoming more and more gloomy," Johnson said. "And it's going to start raining soon." But it won't be Reign Man, Kemp's nickname during his playing days.Briefly: Dirk Nowitzki on the importance of tonight's game: "If we're still looking to get the home-court advantage, we can't drop this one. It would be pretty much over." ... Neither Adrian Griffin nor Devin Harris will travel. Griffin is expected to be in uniform Saturday against New Orleans. Harris will play in one of the last games of next week's three-game road trip.Inside the SpursLearning from the master: Coach Gregg Popovich couldn't help poking a little fun at Avery Johnson ? and himself ? when he heard that Johnson had exploded in the locker room after a loss last week at Orlando. "Avery wouldn't do that," Popovich said. "He's never seen me do that. Where would he learn something like that?" Popovich has a notorious temper that he's learned to control somewhat.Briefly: The Spurs are 7-0 when Michael Finley scores 20 or more and 25-5 when he reaches double figures. ... Tony Parker got a gash on his head against Sacramento on Wednesday but will play. ... Their 17-5 record in games decided by six points or fewer is best in the NBA (the Mavs are 18-7). ... Manu Ginobili had 48 points in two games before he had eight Wednesday.PROBABLE STARTERSMavericks Pos. SpursDirk Nowitzki F Tim DuncanJosh Howard F Bruce BowenDeSagana Diop C N. MohammedMarquis Daniels G Manu GinobiliJason Terry G Tony Parker http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...re.daa7e8a.html
I dont think this game means as much as it used to like a week ago - If the Mavs hadn't have lost those couple of let down games, that might be a differnent scenario. Should be a good game regardless.
The spurs should win this game because.1. They are at home2. Mavs are without Harris3. The spurs are upset that they lost to the kings and will take it out on the mavs. The mavs could prove me wrong but I feel the spurs are the best team this year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I dont think this game means as much as it used to like a week ago</div>This game is as important as the past one, we basically can tie Spurs overall and can take the tie-breaker(since we will be 2-2 in series) with a win over Hornets, and a Spurs loss to Grizz since the next tie-breaker in based on division records.The question is do we want Kings first round or Clippers. I wouldn't mind Kings playing Spurs first round. If you saw how Kings played against the Spurs, they gave them some fits and that series could go 6-7 games.
I think we need Harris in a 7 game series, but we still have a good chance without him. I think not having both him and Griffin, who can guard Manu, is a bigger reason for a loss tomorrow.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Apr 6 2006, 10:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The spurs should win this game because.1. They are at home2. Mavs are without Harris3. The spurs are upset that they lost to the kings and will take it out on the mavs. The mavs could prove me wrong but I feel the spurs are the best team this year.</div>throwing in the towel already???? oh well......... anyway, this is gonna be a good game, it don't mean all that much to the spurs cause if we lose we'll still have the game over them and have the tie breaker cause of the better record against the west.....but i'm sure they'll play hard.....hopefully. to bad the injuries piled up on the mavs at the wrong part of the season
Actually I think Rok is right, and the tie breaker would then be the best division record, their the Mavs might take it provided they beat Hornets, and a Spurs loss to the Grizz would help too.But this game is important...a split is a big sign of how the playoffs could go for both teams.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>anyway, this is gonna be a good game, it don't mean all that much to the spurs cause if we lose we'll still have the game over them and have the tie breaker cause of the better record against the west</div>Tie-breaker is by division records, not conference anymore. They changed it two years ago. This game and the Grizz/Spurs game are important as if Spurs lose both, Mavs can take the 1st seed with a win over Spurs and Hornets. If Spurs beat Mavs or Grizz then it's basically over with.
If Dallas wins this, we are only one game behind the Spurs - and we have a chance of catching up to them.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Apr 7 2006, 12:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Tie-breaker is by division records, not conference anymore. They changed it two years ago. This game and the Grizz/Spurs game are important as if Spurs lose both, Mavs can take the 1st seed with a win over Spurs and Hornets. If Spurs beat Mavs or Grizz then it's basically over with.</div>well if that is true do me a favor and call espn and tell them that the rules have changed, cause i'm just repeating what they kept saying on wednesday
Well its half time. Finley just hit another 3 to put them up at the end of the quarter...agian. Mavs got some breaks with the refs not calling some fouls. Howards tech was stupid, you can predict that Avery would get a tech after Howards tech. But Howard is playing great...Inside and a few mid's. Mavs cant let Spurs get up by 11 agian, their fans really get behind them. Game should be close unless Mavs let Spurs get easy 3's and get in the paint.Anyone notice Howards hair cut? Its like a fraternity hair cut, he got drunk and someone cut it while he was asleep or some David Robinson Amry hair cut
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The NBA playoffs are organized into four rounds as listed below. If every series goes to the maximum number of games, a team can play as many as 28 games. If a team has home court advantage, they may play as many as 16 home games during the four rounds. Playoff packages are sold in a 16-game book. The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs. The team with the best record in each conference is seeded No. 1, the other two division winners is will be seeded No. 2 and No. 3 based on their win-loss record. The remaining six five teams are seeded Nos. 4-8 according to their win-loss records. (Home court advantage in all playoff series is determined by better win-loss record, not higher seeding.) In the event two or more teams are tied in the standings, a series of tie-breakers are applied to determine which team receives the higher seeding. Two-Team Tie-breaker 1. Better record in head-to-head games2. Higher winning percentage within division (if teams are in the same division)3. Higher winning percentage in conference games4. Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in own conference5. Higher winning percentage against playoff teams in opposite conference6. Higher point differential between points scored and points allowedThree-Team Tie-breaker1. Best head-to-head winning percentage among all teams tied2. Highest winning percentage within division (if teams are in the same division)3. Highest winning percentage in conference games4. Highest winning percentage against playoff teams in own conference5. Highest point differential between points scored and points allowed</div>Please Koopa, bring something other what ESPN analysts say. You know their stupid.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zards @ Apr 8 2006, 11:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>LMAO at Bruce Bowen trying to guard Dirk Nowitzki. Big mismatch.</div>Lol, Bruce has had success against dirk before.Dirk is f'n Clutch tonight.
I notice no Bill Walton commentating...Does this mean he's got the Lakers/Suns game? Im glad they invented the mute button.
Wow, Impressoive win for Mavs. They played GREAT D, and didnt allow much from Parker at all. GooD Win
Pretty good win, but we need cards to fall for 1st still.What's with Tolbert talking about Horry. Not like Mavs didn't have key players out.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Apr 7 2006, 07:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Please Koopa, bring something other what ESPN analysts say. You know their stupid.</div>well since i don't read every article on the internet i don't know half the rules. but oh well ya'll can't beat us in a 7 game series.........anyway good game by the mavs kicked or asses, i hate dirk with a passion but i can't wait to see him choke in the playoffs and scream at his teammates who are actually steping up like last year<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ballorama @ Apr 7 2006, 08:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow, Impressoive win for Mavs. They played GREAT D, and didnt allow much from Parker at all. GooD Win</div>parker is a <Censored>, he's got banged up the last few games so now he's afraid to be aggressive, that's how you know eva is the man in the relationship because she probably wouldn't play ball like a <Censored> like parker does when you touch him, that's why i'm always neverous when we play the pistons cause they touch him and he lets his coward french half rear it's stinky head
