<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>One thing the Spurs can think about is seeing Dirk Nowitzki in Game 4. The Mavericks forward said Sunday that he expects to play Monday despite swelling on the right ankle that he twisted in the closing moments of Saturday's thrilling 104-103 victory.Nowitzki only shot free throws during practice on Sunday and said he's put ice on the ankle every two hours. He said the feeling remains stiff and that the pain is "up there" with other ankle injuries he's endured.But asked if there was any way he would miss Game 4, Nowitzki said, "If I lose a leg."Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said the team will know more Monday about his star's status. Johnson said he's confident in others picking up the slack even if Nowitzki -- who's averaging 27.6 points and nearly 10 rebounds in the playoffs -- isn't at full strength."We have other guys on this team who we think we can get a lot of production out of," Johnson said. "We've done it before, we've had to make those sort of adjustments, and we're prepared to do it again."</div>LinkI think we all knew that Dirk wouldnt miss this game for the world. But it makes me wonder how many minutes Dirk is going to get and if there is going to be a change in game plan for both teams. I think the Spurs SHOULD attack Dirk on the defensive side and see if he is able to gaurd anyone adequately. They will need to change thier lineup to do that though. Less of Horry and Bowen and more of Finley, Barry, and Ginobli. If i was the Mavs, i wouldnt change anything on the offensive end, excpet maybe go to Dirk more when he has the small guy on him, the ankle really wont effect his shooting when its over a small guy. I wonder if the Spurs will try to put Rasho and Nazr in more to clog up the lane and stop Harris, Terry, Howard, and Daniels from driving the lane and to keep Dirk, Damp, and Diop off the offensive boards. In the 3 games played, the Mavs have 35 offensive rebounds. Well i see the Mavericks coming out strong and winning this game.I expect either Howard or Dirk to carry the offensive load tonight with Harris and Terry contributing about 15-20 points each as well. I think Duncan will once again have a huge offensive game, but once again without help. Look for the Mavs to set the temp early. If they do, i think its a win.
Another great game from the Mavericks and Spurs,unfortunately the Spurs lost in a close game 123-118.MAJOR credit to Terry,huge game by him hitting clutch shot after clutch shot.Stackhouse with another great game himself and Dirk and TD with there usual games.Great win bt the Mavericks in ot and I don't think the Spurs will be able to overcome this 3-1 record.Spurs might take the next one but I'm positive the Mavs will take the series and the Western Conference on there way to the finals.Great game all around but I think the Spurs reign has just ended.
Yeah, I expect the Spurs to win the next game...but Dallas should take the series.But man, Harris had another good game, Terry played better.But Harris almost lost us the game too, if the Mavs didn't play defense late in the game, those 2-3 strait TO's he had when pushing the ball, all three coming from pressure from behind.Good win, and now the Mavs have proven they can beat the Spurs in 2 close games...I'm so siked right now!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah, I expect the Spurs to win the next game...but Dallas should take the series.</div> You should know that these Mavericks will not let Spurs win the next one, if we let them take that one, Spurs have a good shot at coming back. It's stupid to think we can just win it back in Dallas, there's no guarantee. Plus Spurs should be tired then us after this game, and with only a day's rest, we should just end it in 5. Get some rest as I think the Clips/Suns is going to 7. But on the game, great win by Mavs, I honestly though we had some kind of curse watching Fin light us up. I'm tired of these close games though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ May 15 2006, 11:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You should know that these Mavericks will not let Spurs win the next one, if we let them take that one, Spurs have a good shot at coming back. It's stupid to think we can just win it back in Dallas, there's no guarantee. Plus Spurs should be tired then us after this game, and with only a day's rest, we should just end it in 5. Get some rest as I think the Clips/Suns is going to 7. But on the game, great win by Mavs, I honestly though we had some kind of curse watching Fin light us up. I'm tired of these close games though.</div>Yeah, I agree with have to close this series out. I really think we can. Does anyone else think Tony Parker is a big time choker in situations that are close. I wouldnt be suprised if NVE plays a little more down the stretch. Also, I dont know how if your Coach Pop you can play Manu only 27 minutes and not even start him. I know he fouled out, but even at that, he could of only played a maximum of 35 minutes. I really think he has to play more minutes for the Spurs to have a chance of winning this next game. Once again, Harris and Terry came threw in the clutch. And i dont want to here any Stackhouse bashing. He played a superb game. 26 points on 10-19 shooting. I dont think anyone can say the Mavs won this because of bad calls, the Spurs turned the ball over a lot during the final minutes and missed plenty of layups.One more thing, Are you guys worried about Howard's slump these last few games? I'm not really because he has Bowen on him the majority of the time he is out there which consiquently makes Finley or Manu gaurd Dirk. Even though Howard isnt dominating the game like he did in Game 2, I think he is still constributing big time. If you notice, he scores when Bowen is off him, so i'm not really worried about them trying to take Howard out of the game because they still have no answer to Harris and Terry.
My only problem from Howard in this game, is he still picks up ticky tack fouls and plays too much one on one. I wouldn't call it a slump either but I wish he would play smarter then he has.
Yeah, Howard has played well, almost as good as harris has overall, with the exception of Harris not taking care of the ball very well late in the game.Oh, and I do think the Mavs need to close out the series next game...we don't want to let them hang around.
What a game..I was gettin hyped up just wathcing the highlights..Devin Harris showed he has the potential to be a playmaker, a slasher, and a scorer. I love his game. Jason Terry, my god..That shot over Duncan was crazy..He was on last night..Stackhouse provided that spark off the bench, but tonight he was also on fire. I can't say how exciting that game was.
Damn, the Mavs can take this series yo. I feel the passion in their game, for the past 4 years (since 2002-03) the Mavs have been defeated by the Spurs in every way. I think they can pull it off in 6 games. If not, 7 games. If not, good job by Spurs. Spurs are in the same position the Suns were in against the Lakers, but of course Dallas is better and more experianced than the Lakers so I think they can finish this series off.
Yes Devin Harris had some turnovers but you have to take the good with the bad with Devin Harris. Without him the mavs don't get an open court game and I don't think they could've beaten the spurs in the halfcourt. Devin Harris has been the X factor in this series but the spurs had to change their whole lineup because of Nowitzki. If Nowitzki played like a normal PF than this wouldn't be such a matchup problem for the spurs.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>but you have to take the good with the bad with Devin Harris</div>Then why can't you do that with regard to Stack...take the good with the bad.Now you're just being a hyprocrit.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Marvinmartian @ May 16 2006, 06:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Then why can't you do that with regard to Stack...take the good with the bad.Now you're just being a hyprocrit.</div>Because the bad outweighs the good with Stackhouse. Harris>>>Stackhouse. Harris changes the game when he's in. The spurs can't handle the speed. Stackhouse though had a great game last game but I felt it was mainly due to luck. He was making shots he usually misses. It took everyone to play out of their mind to beat the spurs and that is what has happened.
How...they guy is averaging almost 20 or more ppg during the playoffs too, and made a bad mistake by missing the rim in game 3...and like I've heard tons of guys who have talked to him and his teammates, the deal with that final shot in game one, was that he wasn't sure how much time was left on the clock.And when he has a good game it's luck, but when it's a player you like, they're having a great game, and the reason they win.And while Harris changes the game when he's in, I'd say the same for Stack.Especially when Dirk, Terry, Harris, Howard, and Stack are on the floor. That gives you 5 guys that can score on the court...and Stack is consistent and solid in EVERY game...Give the guy some credit.Harris is a big reason we are going to win this series, but Stack is about as big a reason too...Get off of Harris nutsack, and give some of the other guys some credit too.
Like I said Stackhouse has had a great series but things could easily go south on him. Usually the law of averages catch up to players. Stackhouse is not normally this good of a shooter. Right now he is playing out of his mind and I'll give him credit for this. It is great though having someone that usually doesn't shoot well play this way. I'm happy he found the right time to get hot.
And Harris isn't normally this good of a player either...this is his second year, and he's missed tons of time...I fully expect him to take a step back at some point, and hopefully it doesn't hurt us in a series, and hopefully not this year.
I could see Harris go a step back but I could also see Stackhouse go 3 steps back. It is hot and cold with Stackhouse but Harris can always rely on his speed while Stackhouse has to rely on his jumper. Harris's injuries have kept him from playing at this kind of level during the regular season. He was getting their before that major injury he had.
Stack taking a step back isn't as likely, as he's played at the same level, not great, but solid to very good, for the last year or so.Now of course he could, cause he's alot older...But this whole thing about Harris>>>>>Stack is totally unfouded...yeah, he's probably got more talent, but Stack is proven, and until the last 3 games, Stack was far and away the better player.Let's face it, we need both of them to win a championship...so we can stop all this bickering really.
You get so defensive when I mention Stackhouse or Harris. I call it like I see it and I won't let anyone change my mind. Stackhouse is a dangerous scorer but over the long term hurts you more than helps you. The Stackhouse of the Grizzlies series was hurting Dallas but in this series has helped Dallas.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Stackhouse of the Grizzlies series was hurting Dallas but in this series has helped Dallas.</div> Um no, he actually was pretty good in that series as well. The thing your not seeing is his shot selection has been better then it was in the regular season and while he still forces the bad shot, he has done better getting to the rim. And that is going against his averages in the regular season. So I don't see it coming down if he continues to do what he's doing. And that's post up when he has a small, and drive when he has a big. The mid range jumper is the one I wince out, but his 3 from the corner is something I expect him to hit. Because if you knew anything about the Mavericks, Cubes has stated in the past, that is Stack's sweet spot from the three, he shoots over 40% from there. 20% from everywhere else. Ok with that over, Marvin I think you just let it go with mavsfan/Stack, he won't credit him and calls everything he's done luck.
Your Right Rok...I just find it infuriating that he's blind to what's going on...he claims to call it as it is, but refuses to do so when Stack is helping, or when Harris is hurting...But your right, I'm just glad both are pleying well, and we are winning this series.
