Time for everyone to eat crow?

Not yet. No one who said the Mavericks were screwed has been proven wrong, yet. How many times in a game is a team down 15 or 20 points, then they come back to tie or take the lead, and then lose? It happens all the time, and in the end, everyone says it is because they used up so much energy coming back, that they have no energy left to close the deal.

So, did the Mavericks burn all of their energy coming back from 0-2? Or, are they just hitting their playoff stride? We are about to find out.

Did they dig too deep of a hole?

I am pretty sure that the Mavericks will do their job tonight, and make Houston win Game 6 and 7 or concede the series. Dirk Nowitzki will again be a key. Somehow, he has not shown his star ability for much of the series, and for the Mavericks to close this deal, I think their best player will ultimately have to be their best player. Let’s hope he finds his elusive shot.

But don’t expect Tracy McGrady just to mail it in. He is a budding star, and I expect we will see a huge game from him tonight. This will be fun.

Links:

Lebreton offers to eat a plate of crow …but it isn’t time yet…

Mavericks aim to win a home game …






Jeff Gordon wins another race … Junior causes another wreck …By the way, does anyone have the announcers on his side more than Junior? No one was willing to say he caused it on Fox yesterday. D.W., with a obvious DEI conflict of interest, suggests that it was just a coincidence that Dale had bumped Wallace at the same time 60% of the field was knocked silly…

TALLADEGA, ALA. -- It started with a little push by Dale Earnhardt Jr., really nothing more than a love tap at 305 kilometres an hour to the rear bumper of Mike Wallace's car.

But that high-speed shove -- called bump drafting -- triggered a 25-car accident that wiped out more than half the field at Talladega Superspeedway yesterday in NASCAR's Aaron's 499.

Anyway, what a great race! I know the drivers hate it, but I couldn’t stop watching…

OU Coach uses incredibly poor judgement …. And then resigns …Talk about career suicide…

Selig strikes back …



USA wins first game at Worlds …

The Bob and Dan Show???…

This never, ever gets old: Downey’s 1-punch Knockout …



This is Principal Ed Rooney of Ferris Bueller



This is A.W. Merrick of Deadwood



And this is the actor that plays them both, Jeffery Jones , when he was arrested for this:

In November 2002, after having been accused of hiring a 14-year-old boy to pose for sexually explicit photographs, Jones was charged with one felony count of employing a minor for purposes of taking sexually explicit photos and a misdemeanor count of possessing child pornography and released on $20,000 bail. In July 2003, after pleading no contest He was placed on a sex offender register, given five years probation and ordered to undergo counseling. The misdemeanor charge of possession or control of child pornography was dropped.

Perhaps proving that in Hollywood, everyone gets 2nd chance...

And now, some email:

Bob,

why is everyone being so tough on Jason Terry about his assists to turnovers? Yes he had a sloppy game last night, and committed far too many turnovers, but if you look at his stats throughout the whole year, he wasn’t that bad.

He actually was #20 in the league in assist-turnover ratio. Obviously he isn’t Steve Nash, but no one is. Just thought I'd bring this stat to your attention.

Love the show,
Will

And this one, which says the same thing, but a bit harsher:

I guess you are either doing a bit, or you are in a hideous mood there in Houston. How in God's name can the first part of your too-long blog include negative comments about J. Terry? I was getting sick of Dan trying to make you claim a definitive stance on this series, but now I can't take how much you are just trying to grab on to anything that might stir people up. Why don't you just refuse to participate in any conversations regarding this series? It is clear that you are beaten down by it.

I respect your opinions, enjoy your comments, and am obviously a fan. But, this is just annoying.

By the way: I have such an incredible social life that I am reading your blog and writing e-mails to you shortly before 1:00a.m. on a Saturday. Screw me and every opinion I have ever held, much less written.

I love you, and I never listen!

Brandee

I realize that after a guy like Jason Terry plays a game like he did in Game 4, we should probably do nothing but praise him. But, many in the media (including me), praised Terry and targeted him for his below-average Point Guard play.

But he agrees. He said it. His coach said it. He has to play better in the areas of ball distribution and play making. He knows it.

And maybe this is a fine example of what you can learn in a 7-game series that you cannot learn in an 82-game season. When you play the same team for 2 straight weeks, they game plan to stop you. They scout you, and learn your tendencies. And if you have a weakness, they can expose you. I would say that Houston has done a pretty good job at forcing Terry into turnovers, while limiting his assists. They certainly have not stopped his shot, but you could make the case that the Mavericks have had 2 shooting guards an 0 point guards in this series.

So, in conclusion, the Mavericks are not tied at 2 in this series without the fine play of Jason Terry. At the same time, they could use more effective play from their point guard. Confusing?