Re: Mavs' Johnson preaching patience Mavs' Johnson preaching patience03:00 PM CDT on Thursday, May 11, 2006By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning NewsThe Mavericks had just shown a mean streak wider than Charles Barkley's backside. It was a few minutes after Game 2 in San Antonio, and neither the sweat nor the emotional high had dried up.The Mavericks had out-bullied the Spurs, and coach Avery Johnson was trying to keep things in perspective while others were running rampant with enthusiasm."Hey," Johnson cautioned as he walked rapidly through the bowels of AT&T Center, "this is just a step in the right direction. That's all."Having tied the best-of-7 series at 1-1 with a stunning 113-91 victory late Tuesday night, the Mavericks have reason to be excited. They come home to American Airlines Center for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday knowing they can hit the curve that the Spurs always seem to throw them.They also are aware that they may have to win again in San Antonio to advance past this series.The Spurs haven't lost three games in a row all season. So it stands to reason they are real threats to win at least one of the next two games. They didn't have the best road record in the league in the regular season by accident.Of course, in the regular season, they didn't have to play the Mavericks three straight, either."We're not 20 points better than the Spurs," Johnson said. "They're the champions. One win by a team in the Western Conference semifinals doesn't mean anything's been taken away from them."Except maybe a little of their invincibility, a little of their swaggerand a whole lot of momentum.If the Spurs are to regain the home-court advantage, they now are the ones who will have to come out with a remarkable effort like the one the Mavericks had Tuesday night. And they are capable. This San Antonio team is not so different from the one that won all three playoff games at AAC in the 2003 Western Conference finals."I know they're not going to play like this in Game 3," Johnson said of the egg the Spurs laid Tuesday night.President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson concurred."We don't think we found the key to the matrix," he said. "This is just one game. We played really well. Now we have to go from here."Johnson gave the players the day off Wednesday. He said the Mavericks' style of play Tuesday night, when they showed more toughness than the Spurs, wasn't anything new.[Click image for a larger version] BRAD LOPER/DMNBRAD LOPER/DMNJason Terry and the Mavs took it to Tim Duncan (left), Tony Parker and the Spurs from the jump Tuesday. The 22-point victory shifted home-court advantage to Dallas."The times when our players don't show that mean streak, that's when I really get angry," Johnson said. "I think we've pretty much had one. I've tried to bring it out of them more."A guy can miss a shot. That doesn't bother me as much as not really showing that meanness and that mental toughness. That's why we got guys like Stack and Damp. Those guys are pretty tough."Johnson continues to get accolades for his decision to insert Devin Harris into the starting lineup for Game 2. But the harder edge with which the team played was every bit as crucial to the victory.However, Johnson was quick to add: "There's nothing rosy about this series from our point of view. I'm fully prepared to get back to practice, and hopefully our team will play well again."E-mail esefko@dallasnews.com[url="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/051106dnspomavslede.1bedb8fc.html"]http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...e.1bedb8fc.html[/url]
Re: Mavs' Johnson preaching patience If Avery says Mavs are in the right direction, that is very good. Avery is a man of words, and him saying this means alot. To the fans and to the players. The win and Avery's comments bring a big positive attitude to the team, Mavs can win game 3
Re: Mavs' Johnson preaching patience <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah, we NEED to.</div> Did you not read about the policy of one line posts Waqas. 2 lines.
Re: Mavs' Johnson preaching patience Yeah, but I DID make an emphasis. The slightest of words can the best of words, sometimes.
