The Dallas Mavericks made a bunch of changes to their roster and they were all for the best. They added Caron Butler, Marion and Haywood which gave them some more offense and a much needed defensive presence. The changes worked like clockwork and the Mavericks looked like one of the best teams in the NBA heading into the playoffs. The Mavs hot play earned them the second seed in the Western Conference and their reward for their efforts was a first round match-up against the San Antonio Spurs, who just might be the most dangerous seventh seed ever.
As good as Dallas has played down the stretch, they’ve run into a serious road block in the San Antonio Spurs who are playing their best basketball of the season right now. Tim Duncan is starting to look like his old dominant self and nobody had an answer for the Big Fundamental in Game 2. Dallas shot the lights out in Game 1 but the playoffs are all about adjustments and few coaches make better game to game adjustments that Greg Popovich.
My heart keeps telling me to believe in Dallas, but my brain just won’t let me bet against the Spurs. To begin with, there’s Dirk Nowitzki, who is perhaps the most unreliable superstar when it comes to the playoffs, just ask D. Wade and the Golden State Warriors of 07. Also, when you look at the rosters and the best players on the floor for either team at any given point you have to put Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili down before any Maverick with the exception of Dirk. And unless Kidd is scoring or racking up triple doubles, it’s a toss up between him and Parker. As far as coaches go, no question that Popovich gets the nod. Any other team in the playoffs would have been a better match up for Dallas. I can see why Mark Cuban hates the San Antonio Spurs. Read more.
If Mark Cuban hates the San Antonio Spurs now, he’s going to hate them even more by the end of the series unless his Mavericks can figure out a way to score on the Spur’s defense and stop Duncan and Ginobili. If Richard Jefferson continues to produce it could be a really long series for Mavs fans. The only thing I can see slowing the Spurs down is their age and health. As the series wears on, can San Antonio maintain a steady level of play? Can Duncan find the energy to dominate the entire series? Only time will tell but Mark Cuban and Mavs fans will be happy to know that Father Time is as they say, undefeated.
