Sports Thread #2 For 4/21/10: Spurs Even Up Series On Rival Mavs

Photo from NBA.com

They certainly didn't play like dogs tonight, especially Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.


Meanwhile, the Magic handled the Bobcats again to go up 2-0.








Western Conference Quarterfinals

#2 Dallas Mavericks vs. #7 San Antonio Spurs

#1 Dallas Mavericks, 57-25, Southwest Division Champions, Head Coach- Rick Carlisle

The Dallas Mavericks underwent some pretty significant refurbishing last offseason which continued through the middle of this year. Dallas picked up diverse four time all-star composite forward Shawn Marion last summer. While Marion has certainly been a key contributor the Mavs were still a middle of the pack team, sitting at 31-18 in mid February, with no one really perceiving them to be a real contendor in the Western Conference playoff picture. But that all changed with the acquisition of Caron Butler and Brendan Hayward from the Washington Wizards. Since the trade deadline transaction Dallas owns the NBA's best post all-star break record at 24-7. Rick Carlisle's Mavs are now irrefutably legit championship challengers. They enter the playoffs hot and set to wreck shop.

Dirk Nowitzki had another All-NBA caliber campaign. The 2007 NBA MVP ranked sixth in the league in scoring, dropping 25 points a night while snatching 8 boards a game, shot 50 percent from the floor and connected on 24 percent of his threeball attempts. Earlier this week Dirk acknowledged the fact that this is probably the most complete team's he's played on and his best chance of winning a title. With that in mind, Nowitzki will ball with great determination. Dirk has a history of murking the Spurs. Neither Antonio McDyess nor Matt Bonner is capable of defending him, as evidenced as Dirk blazing them like a Newport cigarette for 36 points on a blistering 10-12 shooting. Nowitzki's arsenal from his sewer deep fallaways from any area on the floor, triple shooting and drives to the cup are just too plenteous. Dirk will play a critical role with the ball in his hands down the stretch of close games.

The two players that will probably make the biggest difference for the Mavs in this series will be former Washington Wizards Caron Butler (16.3 ppg, 6.2 bounds, 1.6 steals, 84% ft) and Brendan Hayward (9.1 ppg, 9.3 boards, 2.1 blocks, 56% fg). Togther they've infused the once soft as a moist buttermilk biscuit Mavs with a physicality, guttaness and mental toughness they never had. The duo has improved Dallas defense exponentially Butler's is capable guarding Manu Ginobili of Richard Jefferson. The all-star swingman will need to offset Ginobili's offensive production and keep and physically inhibit his frequent lefthanded forays into the lane. Butler's presence also alleviates the scoring burden off Nowitzki and frees him up for more single coverage.

Brendan Hayward along with Eric Dampier will need to play solid defense on Tim Duncan. Duncan's a phenomenal player so he'll be able to get his but they must play him physical, not allowing Duncan to establish deep post position. Hayward, Dampier and Marion (12 ppg, 6.4 boards, 51% fg) will need to hit the boards hard to create traisition opportunities. Although the the Spurs only score one less point a game than Dallas (Mavs 102, Spurs 101) they want a more controlled, half court game. If Dallas wins the battle on the boards they can make it more frenetic and get easy open court scoring chances for ageless maestro wonder Jason Kidd (10.1 ppg, 5.6 boards, 9.1 dimes) can set up Marion, Butler and Nowitzki for dunks and trifectas.

Pyromaniac Jason 'The Jet' Terry (17 ppg, 4 asst, 37% 3's, 86% ft), Jose Juan Barea (7.6 ppg, 3.3 asst), Rodrique Beaubois (7.1 ppg, 59% fg, 41% 3's) along with Hayward will need to supply solid minutes and point production to combat San Antonio's reserves who lead the league in bench scoring at 40 points a game. Dallas also needs to be cognizant and get a hand up on the Spurs who rely heavily on the three point line.

#7 San Antonio Spurs, 50-32, Head Coach- Greg Poppovich

The San Antonio Spurs had a sub-par season by their illiustrious standards. After trading for the services of Richard Jefferson from the Milwaukee Bucks they were labeled one of the preeminent championship contendors entering the 2009-2010 season. However, the Spurs were beset by a litany of injuries, including dynamic backcourt duo Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. The year was uncharacteristically sporadic the four time NBA champions but San Antonio started to synchronize and played better down the stretch.

Future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan is the prototypical big man. Duncan enjoyed another fabulous campaign avergaing 18 points, 10.1 boards, 3.2 helpers and 1.6 swats in reduced burn to minimize wear and tear on his legs. The man Shaq dubbed 'The Big Fundamental is the epicenter of the Spurs offensively and defensively. They depend on him to draw double teams which is leads to him delegating the pill back to the perimeter for minimally contested jumpers. The two-time MVP has a distinct advantage over Dampier and Heyward with his expansive array of low post moves, from half hooks, turnarounds and his patented smooch off the glass from the left block. The docile legend will need to score more in this series, rip alot boards, impede drives and occassionally cover Nowitzki, probably in the fourth quarter.

Ginobili and Parker have long been one of the NBA's dopest combos. Ginobili (16.5 ppg, 4 rebounds, 5 dimes, 51.4% fg, 37% 3's, 1.4 thefts) has often been the barometer for the Spurs as the sole baller who's game is contingent on emotion, energy and hypeness. The 'Argentinian Assassain' could bust 25 points a night if he was on another team. During the month of March Ginobili averaged 23 points a game, and not coincidentally the Spurs began to make a run. The former Sixth Man of the Year will need to use his unorthodox, yet disgusting herky jerk European game to aggressively attack the tin, hit mid range jumpers and allocate hot plates for Richard Jefferson, Matt Bonner (7.3 ppg, 3.1 bounds, 39% 3's) and Antonio McDyess (5.8 ppg, 6 boards)

Parker (16 ppg, 6 dimes, 49.4% fg) is coming off a broken carporal in his shooting hand which sidelined him for 6 weeks. But after returning for the last two weeks of the slate Mr Longoria looks to have regained most of his vitality. Parker's ability to slice the defense like carrot cake will be ginormous because it will drain the juice out Kidd's battery which could weaken the Mavs ability to get out in transition. If Dallas elects to back off the all-star guard on pick and rolls Parker will need to consistently drain intermediate jumpers.

The Spurs reserves paced the league in scoring, averaging over 40 points a game as well assists and boardwork. Leading San Antonio's bench George Hill. The second year guard had a breakout season (12 ppg, 3 asst, 53% fg, 40% 3's) and is an explosive scorer, both going to the tin on the perimeter. DaJuan Blair (7.8 ppg, 6.4 boards, 56% fg) is a manchild that eats devours rebounds like bananas. He's extraordinarily active, ravenous and scores alot off offensive boards. Roger Mason and Bonner will also be called upon to rip the cords on triples, which is a pivotal part of San Antonio's offensive attack.

Bonner and McDyess will need to try their best to violate and limit Nowitzki's space on offense. They'll need to play him close and be all in his chicklets steering him away from where he wants to go. Bonner and McDyess will also need to be strong on the glass so the Spurs can dictate the tempo and make it more of a bump and grinf affair.

The x-factor for the Spurs is Richard Jefferson. The former Arizona Wildcat has been a monumental disappointment. Jefferson (12.3 ppg, 4.4 boards, 50% fg) averaged 23 points a game for Milwaukee last year and was expected to supply San Antonio with the youth, athleticism and scoring from the small forward position they were devoid of. However, Jefferson has looked pensive, fickel and hasn't been fully integrated, or seemed comfortable in the Spurs system all year. For the Spurs to win this series Jefferson has to dead the reticence and play like he's a free agent after a bushel of dead presidents. Jefferson must use his nice jumper, exorbitant, ill bounce, attack the rim and get it in!

Prediction

This is the fifth time since 2001 that the Mavs and Spurs have locked horns. The intrastae rivals have split the previous four playoff showdowns. Dallas owner Mark Cuban added some hostility saying "he hates the Spurs" this week to an otherwise amiacable rivalry. Both teams are as evenly matches as could possibly be. This series is destined be one of if not the best, most intense 1st round playoff matchup and go 7 games as their epic 2006 double OT West Semis Game 7 battle in 2006. Ultimately Shawn Marion will be the determinant in the duel of x-factors with Jefferson and outperform him. Dallas and San Antonio will alternate wins, but the Mavs will ultimately triumph in the battle of the Lone Star State.