<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> November 2, 2006 - 8:00 pm ETGame aired on TNT</div> <span style="color:#000000">San Antonio Spurs</span> <span style="color:#999999">(0-0)</span><span style="color:#999999">PG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tony Parker</span> <span style="color:#999999">SG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Manu Ginobili</span> <span style="color:#999999">SF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Bruce Bowen</span> <span style="color:#999999">PF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span> <span style="color:#999999">C</span> <span style="color:#000000">Fabricio Oberto</span> <span style="color:#999999">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Michael Finley, Francisco Elson, Robert Horry, Brent Barry, Beno Udrih, Matt Bonner, Eric Williams</span> <span style="color:#000099FF">Dallas Mavericks</span> <span style="color:#006600">(0-0)</span><span style="color:#006600">PG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span> <span style="color:#006600">SG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Greg Buckner</span> <span style="color:#006600">SF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span> <span style="color:#006600">PF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span> <span style="color:#006600">C</span> <span style="color:#000099">DeSagana Diop</span> <span style="color:#006600">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jerry Stackhouse, Devin Harris, Erick Dampier, Anthony Johnson, Austin Croshere</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#006600">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Deaven George will not play (recovering from a severe stomach illness)</span><span style="color:#006600">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">DJ Mbenga will not play (strained foot)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span><span style="color:#999999">Last Season's Stats: 18.6 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.0 bpg</span><span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan is the best big man in the NBA, and the best PF to ever play this game. He struggled with plantar fasciiitis last year, but he worked very hard this summer and got into great shape. I think he's going to bounce back to his form from 2-3 years ago. It's always a treat to watch The Big Fundamental.</span><span style="color:#000000">Tony Parker</span><span style="color:#999999">Last Season's Stats: 18.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.8 apg, 55% FG</span><span style="color:#000000">Last season Tony Parker really separated himself as one of the top PG's in the NBA. He had an outstanding year in all departments and improved his game. His reward was his first All-Star appearance, and a well-deserved one.</span><span style="color:#000000">Manu Ginobili</span><span style="color:#999999">Last Season's Stats: 15.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.6 spg</span><span style="color:#000000">Ginobili would put up 20/5/5 on a lot of teams, he's that good. He can do a lot of things on the court. He can shoot, pass, play solid defense (even though he flops like crazy), and he can hit big shots. He is an All-Star caliber player, and a great 3rd option in this league.</span><span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span><span style="color:#006600">Last Season's Stats: 26.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.8 apg</span><span style="color:#000099">Coming off an MVP caliber season, Dirk Nowitzki is on a mission to accomplish his unfinished business from last season: winning the NBA championship. This man elevates his game to new heights every season, and he's a one-of-a-kind talent.</span><span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span><span style="color:#006600">Last Season's Stats: 15.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.2 spg</span><span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard has come a long way so far in his young career, and he's established himself as one of the best young SF's in the NBA. He can score, he can rebound, he can defend, he's very athletic, and he's a great intangibles guy. The way he's improved his outside shot from his sophomore season to his 3rd year was incredible. He's going to be an All-Star in the future, and no doubt he is going to improve this year.</span><span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span><span style="color:#006600">Last Season's Stats: 17.1 ppg, 3.8 apg, 171 3PM</span><span style="color:#000099">The Jet has really been great for Dallas. He's played his game as opposed to trying to be a true PG like in his first year in Dallas. Avery Johnson has really allowed Terry to open up his game, and he's flourished. He's become a fan favorite, and he was HUGE for the Mavs in the playoffs last year.</span>Rookie Watch <span style="color:#006600">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Maurice Ager</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 28</span><span style="color:#006600">The Scoop:</span> <span style="color:#006600">Ager is an excellent offensive player, and he can really stroke it. He needs to learn the defensive schemes and learn to stay in front of his man, but when Avery gets the defensive concepts through his head, he's going to be a big help to the Mavs in the future.</span> <span style="color:#000000">San Antonio's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000000">Francisco Elson</span><span style="color:#999999">Last Season's Stats: 4.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.6 bpg (with Denver)</span><span style="color:#000000">Elson has to be a presence in the paint. He's very athletic, he's long, and he's a good rebounder. If he can rebound and be a presence in the paint vs. Dallas, that will be key, especially consiering how think San Antonio is at center (and how good Dallas is).</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dallas' X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000099">Devin Harris</span><span style="color:#006600">Last Season's Stats: 9.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.0 spg</span><span style="color:#000099">Harris needs to bring great energy off the bench, something that he usually does. He needs to use his speed to hang with Tony Parker and he needs to use his penetration to create easy oppertunities for Dallas around the basket (whether Harris scores or dishes).</span> Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span><span style="color:#000000">This is obviously the key matchup. Both of these guys are top 3 big men in the NBA, and these two teams have a nice rivalry going.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesI love watching these two go at it. Not only are they great teams, but they have a nice rivalry going on and both of these guys are dissapointed with their outcome last year and both are very hungry for that title. These two teams are definitely the favorites to be competing for the Western Conference title this year. CelticBalla's PredictionI'm going to pick San Antonio for the W. They are extremely unhappy with the outcome in game 7 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals last year, in which Dallas beat them in on their own floor. They will be extra motivated to beat Dallas tonight, and I think they'll take care of business on the road. It's going to be a close, tough matchup though, and it could easily go either way. But I'm picking the Spurs to take this one.
I think you throw motavational advantage out of the window considering the way the Mavericks lost in the finals last year. Both teams will obviously be hungry and give it 100%.
I don't think the hangover of last years disappointment is over for the mavs. I think they'll be a second half type of team this year.
Oh yeah, no way was I taking anything away from Dallas' motivation. They will obviously give their all as well. But San Antonio has even more of a chip on their shoulder against Dallas. Dallas beat them in San Antonio to go to the WCF. The fact of the matter is, that whoever won that Dallas/San Antonio series was going to come out of the west, IMO. San Antonio is going to really want to kill Dallas though.
Regarding lineups. I thought Anthony Johnson would be starting alongside Terry and Franciso Elson at center after his strong preseason outings for the Spurs. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think the hangover of last years disappointment is over for the mavs. I think they'll be a second half type of team this year.</div> Agree, especially seeing as Avery felt preseason was unneeded and basically never gave much time for the new guys to gel with the core. I could see an adjustment period into the first month or two. I hope we at least win this first game though. There's a lot on this one imo just for the sake it's the first game and against our rivals. Any word on Tony Parker, I think yesterday I saw he could be doubtful. I know Benga and George will miss the game from the Mavericks side.
Rok, about the lineups, I put Buck in there because he started 5 games in preseason, and I put Oberto over Elson becaue he also started 5 or 6 games in preseason. Regardless, I always edit them once I find out the deal.Why is Benga out by the way?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Why is Benga out by the way?</div> Strained foot. Good job on the rosters though. I was surprized Buck started, DMN and Avery hinted the past week AJ could start. Especially considering the games when our key players played, the starting line was AJ/Terry/Howard/Dirk/Diop. Don't mind Buck starting, fits the formula when Griff started most of last year.
Thank Rok, I added Mbenga to the injury report. And hey, I told you Buck and Oberto would start. :winkglasses: So far, Dallas is shooting the ball very well and passing very well in the paint. San Antonio is turning the ball over, and Duncan didn't get off to a great start.EDIT: WOW! How was Howard not ejected for that? He's VERY lucky.EDIT: Are you kidding me? That was a technical foul on Elson? He dunked and yelled on the way down, without even directly looking at anybody, and that's taunting? Give me a fu*kin break.
That tech. on Elson was ridiculous, the NBA officials are taking this "sheed" rule way too far. First I see the ridiculous tech called on Nocioni in the Heat vs. Bulls game, now this! Give me a break!
This was a great game. San Antonio didn't start off very good, and Duncan didn't have a good first half. But Elson was HUGE off the bench, and Duncan started to pick up in the 2nd half while Bowen knocked down all his open shots. But back to Elson, he was great. He scored a little, provided energy, blocked shots, played good defense on Dirk, and he rebounded. I think he will/should start on this team over Oberto very soon.Excellent game.
<span style="font-family:Book Antiqua">Eh... Good game. I got bored of Marve Albert and Steve Kerr talking about how great of a pair of freethrow shooters Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are. When Steve said, "I think Tony will be the guy the Spurs will look for in the last seconds of games to make freethrows...", Parker missed a freethrow. That made me giggle a bit.</span>
lol at Steve Kerr. Spurs aren't all washed up like everyone was making out in the off season. lol at them.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Spurs aren't all washed up like everyone was making out in the off season. lol at them.</div> Plus no one even bothered to look at the offseason moves Spurs did. I mean their management is great. Elson is paying dividends. Jackie Butler I feel is going to be another key player down the line. Like I said in a previous thread, I didn't like how certain fans wrote off the Spurs after their loss to Dallas. It wasn't like Dallas had control the entire series.
Spurs played a great game. Harris is disappointing me right now. Hopefully he gets his act together. Buckner should've been in at the end of the game. Dallas needed some stops. Elson seems to be the spurs missing piece. A 7 footer with extreme speed.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JRICH23 @ Nov 2 2006, 11:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That tech. on Elson was ridiculous, the NBA officials are taking this "sheed" rule way too far. First I see the ridiculous tech called on Nocioni in the Heat vs. Bulls game, now this! Give me a break!</div> Stop blaming referee's for following the rules set by the NBA. My lord.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Nov 3 2006, 08:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Stop blaming referee's for following the rules set by the NBA. My lord.</div>No... that shouldn't have been a technical foul at all. Basketball is an emotional game, and players scream when they make a ferocious dunk all the time... if they are going to call technicals on that every single time, they are just taking the emotional factor out of the game...
