<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> November 24, 2006 - 8:00 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on ESPN</span></div><span style="color:#000099">Dallas Mavericks</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">(7-4)</span><span style="color:#3333FF">PG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Devin Harris</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jerry Stackhouse</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">PF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">C</span> <span style="color:#000099">Erick Dampier</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard, DeSagana Diop, Anthony Johnson, Greg Buckner, Austin Croshere</span><span style="color:#000000">San Antonio Spurs</span> <span style="color:#999999">(10-2)</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, Brent Barry, Francisco Elson, Robert Horry, Beno Udrih</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Deaven George is questionable (right knee)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 26.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.0 bpg</span><span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 17.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.0 spg</span><span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 22.7 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 bpg</span><span style="color:#000000">Tony Parker</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 19.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 51% FG</span><span style="color:#000000">Manu Ginobili</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 14.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.3 spg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Maurice Ager</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 28</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">0.8 ppg, 0.3 rpg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jose Barea</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">0.5 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.5 apg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Pops Mensah-Bonsu</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">1.0 rpg (1 game)</span> <span style="color:#999999">SA:</span> <span style="color:#000000">James White</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 31</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Has not played.</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dallas's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000099">Erick Dampier</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 8.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.4 bpg</span><span style="color:#000099">Damp has really showed up these last few games. He's going to have to bring it again tonight if Dallas is going to win the rebound battle with San Antonio.</span> <span style="color:#000000">San Antonio's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000000">Fabricio Oberto</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 6.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, 67% FG</span><span style="color:#000000">Oberto is going to have to be tough down low and grab rebounds. Dampier, Diop, and Dirk will be all over the glass as usual, so Oberto really has to help Duncan and Elson on the glass. Stepping back to about 15-17 feet and taking that jumper he likes offensively would help spread the big men out (giving San Antonio better position on the offensive glass).</span> Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span><span style="color:#000000">It was pretty obvious what the key matchup would be, huh? You could argue that these are the two best big men in the NBA and both of them are incredible players. These two always have excellent matchups, I expect tonight to be no different.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesI will be flipping back and forth between this game and the Celtics/Knicks game, but I will definitely watch the full 4th quarter (barring overtime in the other game, I'd still be flipping back and forth). I wish I didn't have to do that, I really want to watch this game. But at the same time, I want to watch the C's too. God damn I need Tivo! CelticBalla's PredictionI think Dallas will take this one. San Antonio won the season opener, and these two teams always go at it nicely. Both teams want to kill each other on the scoreboard, and both of these teams are the two best teams in the NBA, IMO. It will be a great game as usual, but I see Dallas winning this one on the road, making the winning streak 8.
I am thinking the red hot San Antonio Spurs will prevail again. I am going with Manu as the top scorer for the game as well.
IMO this is how a break down the match-up...For the lineup breakdown, the Spurs start off with the advantage at point guard. Yes Terry is a good guard but the way Parker has played this year gives him an edge. As the shooting guard I of course give it to Ginobli, IMO he is an all around better player hes numbers havent really reflected that this year, but I dont think Devan Harris is going to be able to stop him. At the small forward I give it to Josh Howard, despite the defensive ablitity of Bowen, but this matchup could easily go the other way. For the power forward it was almost a split decision, I would go with Duncan with a slight edge because I think he is better defensively and his shooting ability is nice, I think he can keep Nowitski away from the hoop and make him take the longer shoots. But we all know Nowitzki can nail those to. At the center I would take Dampier over Oberto, Damp has stepped it up and is playing well.For the bench, the better one is the Spurs I think they have some good depth off the bench with Barry, Finley and Horry. So I gave the Spurs the edge here. Mind Game's Prediction:The Spurs win a nailbitter 92-87
If the spurs put Duncan on Nowitzki than the mavs have a chance. Otherwise with Bowen on Dirk it will be real tough for him. I had no idea Howard had a chance to play this game. Buckner would take the defensive assignment of guarding Manu if Howard wasn't playing. Makes it a tough decision whether to go with a rusty Howard or Buckner.
As of right now the Mavs are up big. They are really trying to run the Spurs out of the gym. EVERY defensive rebound they get they are outleting it to a gaurd and pushing it down court. Also, Mavs have hit like 5 threes. They have only missed a total of 8 shots or so as well. Spurs are playing lackluster defense. Also, Mavsfan, I actaully like the Bowen on Dirk matchup. Dirk can take him downlow to the blocks and get baskets and fouls because he elavates and shoots over Bowen. This also makes Manu gaurd Stack or Howard. Which, both in my opinion have the advantage on offense over Manu's defense.
The Spurs are upseting me, playing horrible they just dont have that aggresivness they winna dn they are letting up to many easy shoots. But props to the Mavs they are playing real well so far tonight.
Just from the few minutes I've watched, during Celtics commercials and halftime and what not, it looks like Oberto is playing very well so far tonight.
I don't know if I've seen a big man with a better fade away jump shot than Dirk. He's so good. We got a game going on right now. Spurs down 4 with a minute and a half left.
Duncan in the clutch! 3 free throws made because he was fouled while shooting a 3 (well, he felt contact and threw it up)!Awesome game, these 2 teams go at each other hard every time they face.
That was an unbelievably smart play by Duncan to heave that one up. I love games between these teams, everyone steps it up to a higher level. Dirk needs 2 big ones here.
WOW. Duncan, what an unbelievably smart play to throw that 3 up when he was touched. Then.. he makes all 3 free throws!!! HUGE! I'm pumped, I love games like this.Also: Dirk never dragged his foot before that play. It was not a travel. It almost was, but it wasn't.Last 12 seconds: big free throws for Dirk. Finley did get hit before the shot, you could argue that he could have gotten a 2 shot foul, but it really wasn't much contact IMO. Finley is lucky he didn't get called for a travel before he shot it too.Awesome game, it felt like a playoff game.
Borderline foul at best. It could have gone either way and the refs would have been right. Great game to watch.
Gosh, I knew if we won then people would start with all this "Dirk fouled Finely" stuff. He might of fouled him, but it would of been called before the shot. Also, Duncan got the call on that 3. Of course it was a smart play by him, but still it was very questionable foul. The Mavs came threw with a big win in November. Not many big games this early, but this really is. Series tied 1-1 now. Dirk has 8th straight 20-10 game. Damp and Diop played Duncan fairly well even thought Duncan's numbers were still great. I thought Howard played great off the bench. Terry had a double double as well. Harris played great. Not many players can keep up with Parker, but he plays him great. He got 2 offensive fouls called on Parker. Might not sound like a lot, but how many charges has Parker gotton called on? Not many. Very impressed with Oberto's numbers. He backdoored Dirk on numberous plays. Dirk kept looking to double Duncan and Oberto would cut him backdoor and got like 4 layups out of it. Also, don't know if anyone noticed, but when Manu got injured, his shorts went up, and you could see his tights, did anyone notice that he had thigh pads in them? That to me is very intersting.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Where was that foul call on the last 3 point attempt? </div> It went to Duncan duh. The refs only can use one of those per game. Anyways, it would have been a 2 free throw attempt as Dirk fouled him before the shot. 8 in a row!! Overall, not a bad game by Dallas. Don't like the fact they keep settling for outside jumpers then driving. It's good and dandy if your hitting(1st half), but won't last the whole game as seen by our 2nd half dip. I want to see more free throw attempts.
Good game. Im not going to complain about the non call on the last play with Finley because Duncan got away with the one the previous possession. It was obvious that he got fouled before the shot...well at least in my opinion. Dirk came up huge for the Mavs with a monster 4th quarter. Damnit it is frustrating to watch Dirk make every shot he takes. Aside from that though...Tim played great in the 4th as well, and Fabricio had a monster game. I guess I cant complain too much...
Mavs found a way to win this game. Big credit to Stackhouse. I wish he would play with that kind of energy every night. Harris seems to thrive playing against Tony Parker or anyone in a spurs uniform. The only thing I'm upset about is despite how well the mavs played they only won by 3. The spurs always find ways to get back in games.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Nov 25 2006, 12:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Mavs found a way to win this game. Big credit to Stackhouse. I wish he would play with that kind of energy every night. Harris seems to thrive playing against Tony Parker or anyone in a spurs uniform. The only thing I'm upset about is despite how well the mavs played they only won by 3. The spurs always find ways to get back in games.</div>Devin Harris from what I saw didnt play that well. He had at least 3 turnovers in the second half that I noticed and he didnt score either...Maybe he played good in the first half.
That was a pretty good finish of a good game. The Mavericks really played well and now with Howard back they will really be scary. Finley was fouled there at the end but I'm glad they didn't call it since the foul that Duncan drew was some BS...good acting by him.
