Ballgame. Game 6: Miami 95, Dallas 92 (4-2)

Well, 105 games later and 59 days into the playoff run of 2006, it all ends without a payoff. It all ends with a thud that has everyone in the metroplex walking around like zombies today.

I heard Craig and George this morning assure me that before long I will be pleased about what the Mavericks accomplished this season, but right about now, I am anything but pleased.

The Heat came back and won 4 straight games. They are the NBA Champions, and despite the exciting and exhausting run of the 2006 NBA Playoffs, the Mavericks have a silver medal. One that I am guessing that they don’t care to display it.

I wish I could say this a better way, but I can’t. The Mavericks choked. They were the best team in the NBA this post-season (a highly debatable point now), and they demonstrated it several times. The most recent time they demonstrated it was when they beat the Heat senseless in games 1 and 2. Then, they fell in love with their press clippings, parade routes, and past accomplishments and let it all slip away with 6 minutes left in Game 3.

And the cold hard reality in sports is this: Once you let it slip away, there is no promise you will get another chance to grab it again. The Mavericks never recovered from their Game 3 meltdown. Oh, they tried. They left it all on the court. They should not be blamed for effort. But the ability to close the ultimate deal eluded them, and now they have a summer of wondering where it all went wrong.

Choked is a tough way to describe guys you really love. There is no question that we would like to say it a different way, but given how rare it is for a team to take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals only to lose the series in 6, I see no other alternative.

Game Notes:

• Dwyane Wade is amazing. Yes, he does get every call, and yes, he does get treated as if he already in the Hall of Fame, but please don’t lose sight of what we are looking at. To put that display on for four games in a row with almost nobody having a chance to get in his way is very impressive. You have to wonder how that “window of opportunity” in Dallas is effected by young Wade, young Lebron, young Amare, and even young Yao and Carmelo. The rest of the league will not rest.

• Why, Why, Why did the Mavericks take several 3 pointers in a row in the most crucial moments of the game? At 7:21 to go in the 4th Quarter, Alonzo and Shaq both were on the bench. The Game was tied a few seconds later when Josh Howard hit 2 free throws, 79-79. Then, Jason Terry missed a quick 3, Dirk missed a quick 3, and Marquis missed a 3. Only on the 4th possession did anyone take it near the rim as Stackhouse got a baseline hoop to make it 83-81, Miami. At 4:25, Wade hit a free throw to up the lead to 84-81. and Shaq returned. Soon after Posey hit a 3 which was basically the kill shot, 87-81. That is right: No shot blocker in the game for 3 minutes in the 4th Quarter, and the Mavs jacked 3 3’s, and the game left them. For some reason, they went back to the perimeter game at exactly the wrong time. Is it Avery’s fault? Partially, but Dirk and JET have to recognize who is on the floor.

• Alonzo Mourning killed the Mavs last night. You know it is weird when you would rather see Shaq on the floor than Zo, but where did all of that defense come from? Holy cow, talk about a man on a mission.

• Jason Terry had the worst night he could possibly have when the Mavs needed him most. I believe he was 4-4 in the first quarter, and then went 3-21 the rest of the night. I would never have believed it. And, if you go back to that 1st Quarter, you may recall the amazing rolls he got off the top of the backboard on two of his shots.

• I am not sure how to summarize Dirk’s series. I guess it is similar to how I felt about the team. Moments of brilliance, but overall not enough. It surely wasn’t from a lack of trying, but he could never get rolling like we would like. I am certainly proud of the big fella, but it wasn’t enough. He is much improved, but he was not close to being the best player in this series.

• Yes, I am still annoyed at the City of Dallas. Yes, I am still annoyed at those who declared our parade plans. And yes, I think it is partially to blame for this debacle. Combine it with letting the Cowboys move to Arlington, and I have had enough of this anti-sports local government. Link ...

• If you would have told me that Shaq would average 13 points per game and the Mavs would still lose, I would have laughed at you. I am not laughing this morning.

• Was that the end of Keith Van Horn in Dallas? Yes. Darrell Armstrong? Yes. Marquis Daniels? Possibly. Who else? I will tell you I have already received 3 “how do we get Kevin Garnett” emails.

• I was truly amazed that Mavericks fans left so early last night. There were still 2 minutes left and the fans were leaving. I am sure those fans have seen lots NBA Finals decided on a shot with 8 seconds to go, but I kind of wanted to see how it ended. I guess traffic was bad, but come on.

• Not sure if any of this made much sense this morning, but it was the best I could come up with. Training camp begins in a few weeks, I guess.

• This sucks.

Game 5: Miami 101, Dallas 100 (Miami 3-2)

Well, I considered no game notes today, which, of course, win or lose has not happened the entire playoffs. But, instead, I am writing today’s notes under protest. Just like many of you are going to work or class under protest today. When Jim McKay opened Wide World of Sports for decades telling us of the “Thrill of Victory, and the Agony of Defeat”, we might have thought it was just good writing. But, no. Today, we have way too much invested in the Dallas Mavericks all know the true meaning of the “Agony of Defeat”.

Dwyane Wade is willing his team to victory. And there appears to be almost nothing Dallas can do about it. Incidentally, if there is something you can do about it, Dallas, please feel free to do whatever that is immediately!

The guy had 43 points last night, including 21 in the 4th Quarter and Overtime. After 3 quarters of relative normal play, the dude just went off. There were attempts to stop him, but it reminded us all too much of those teams back in the 1990’s trying to stop MJ. They could try anything, they could blame the refs, they could double team, they could not double team; but at the end of the night, they were cursing themselves for not keeping 1 guy from beating them.

More Game Notes from Game 5’s heart breaker:

• The Mavericks were guilty of many unforced errors last night. The most obvious is Josh Howard calling the timeout at just the wrong time, but let’s not forget the others: Erick Dampier throwing an outlet pass to Terry, despite Wade sitting on it. Wade then takes the ball right at Dampier which drew a 3rd foul on Damp before halftime, and stopped the momentum on the run. Also, The Mavericks get Shaq to miss two free throws, then Mbenga and Dirk both assume the other guy is getting the board, meanwhile Posey grabs it and hits Shaq for a dunk and a foul. And Diop fouls out because Avery wanted Devin Harris to foul Shaq, Devin did not, so Diop oddly takes the 6th foul on the most unnecessary foul in NBA history. This is not even mentioning Dirk missing a Free Throw with 1:26 left in regulation, and Josh missing two free throws with :54 left in Overtime and holding a 1 point lead that should have been 3. All I am saying is that these are things that get you beat that you do control. You cannot control what the refs do on the final play, but you can control all of these…

• Jason Terry appears to be the only person who regularly takes the ball right at Miami in the paint. I think the Mavs played courageously, and therefore I am not here to point too many fingers, but you are only going to get fouled if you play with courage in the lane, and the Mavs are taking many jump shots. Terry played with a venom that got him a huge night. It is a shame to waste that performance.

• That camera on the wire that ABC and TNT insist on showing us is the most annoying camera angle in camera angle history. Lose it!

• Seriously, at what point do you spend a moment considering trying something other than Devin Harris on Dwyane Wade? I love Devin’s effort, but don’t you get the idea that no one person is going to stop Wade right now? Shouldn’t you consider playing two guys on him at any point of crunch time until he proves he can beat that, too? Don’t you want James Posey taking clutch shots more? Leave Posey unguarded. Leave Payton open (except on a layup). Leave any human being open if it means Dwyane Wade will not beat you. I am bitter right now about that. But I am also reminded that a guard like Wade is the single toughest guy to stop because unlike a post player, you cannot keep Wade from getting the ball.

• I am getting a lot of Dirk emails this morning, and trust me, I am happy to ask “where is Dirk?” when it is necessary, but he had two monster hoops last night on very difficult shots, and he also had a huge assist on the pass to Dampier with :09 in regulation. Three world class plays that will all be forgotten since they lost the game, but nevertheless, Dirk was clutch at clutch moments last night. And then he destroyed plenty of furniture in the tunnel.

• I love Adrian Griffin, but dude, why are you trying to take a charge when you should be guarding Wade with 3 seconds left in regulation? Did you really think the refs were going to call a charge on him? Play straight up defense and maybe you could at least make him miss the shot.

• To the topic of the refs: I know around the water cooler, the blame rests with the officials this morning, but aside from being annoyed that the final call on Wade’s drive seemed very generous, I still come down where I always do. The Mavericks put themselves in a bad position by making way too many unforced errors. I see it like this: The NBA Refs are always going to favor the superstar, and usually always going to favor the home team. So, to act surprised when Wade gets a call in overtime in a game in Miami is evidence that you aren’t paying attention. He is always going to get that call, so you have to either, A) figure out how to guard him without any contact at all, or B) have a lead that can sustain 1 basket from Wade with a few seconds to go. I know this is not a popular stance, but it is mine. Refs do not control the outcome of games, you do. So, make your free throws, and get 1 freaking stop at crunch time, and you win the game.

• I still think this series has changed to Miami’s advantage because of the physical nature of these games. Miami has gone old school NBA, and turned the lane into a meat grinder. The officials have seemed to allow this, and therefore Miami has been smart to do it. The Mavericks have been competing hard, but it still appears that the more physical the game gets, the less the Mavericks succeed.

• Josh Howard was really, really good last night. Those two free throws didn’t help, but I thought he really played like a star last night, and his hustle is really admirable.

• That Hack-a-Shaq seemed about as half-arsed as I have ever seen. They did it once, then didn’t do it for a while, then did it again. Then, in overtime, they fouled him twice, despite Miami not having the bonus. So, all it seemed to do is get Harris cheap fouls, and give Miami back the ball at mid-court. Between that and the timeout situation, it really looked like Avery and his staff made some poor decisions late.

• Well, in the history of the NBA Finals, no series has been 2-3-2 format and had all 7 games won by the home team. If this is going to end right, this will be the first time. The Mavericks have lost 3 straight games, and now must dig deeper than they ever have. This is their first elimination game, except for the mutual elimination of that Game 7 in San Antonio, and finally, the backs are squarely against the wall. Is this where the fairy tale ends?

• 24 Hour Rule applies today. Everyone feel sorry for themselves today, but at dawn Tuesday, it is time to focus on getting out of this mess. This is not over. You have invested 9 months, do not give in now!

Uh-Oh. Game 4: Miami 98, Dallas 74

Without much hesitation, I think we can all see now that we most definitely have a series on our hands. Game 4 was putrid on many levels, and now the Dallas Mavericks must question themselves in the biggest of fashions after being crushed in a game that we all agreed was crucial.

Usually, up top in my game notes, I focus on one particular item in the game that was noteworthy and spend a little time elaborating on the story of the night.

Well, I just am so dumbfounded at finding a particular reason for last night’s embarrassing meltdown that I may just skip it.

They were horrible. Dirk could not play worse. Josh Howard was missing.

I have no interest in telling anyone “I told you so” when I issued the most serious “tap your breaks” warning upon our arrival in Miami. I think everyone knows now that we have a serious problem in front of us here in Dallas.

Again, the Mavericks are a mentally tough bunch who responds very well to adversity. And now they can sit and ponder their adversity until Sunday. Are they letting the chance of a lifetime slip away? Are they on the verge of the biggest choke in Dallas Sports History? Are they about to lose to Freaking Finland after beating the Russians in Lake Placid? Are they about to make Spurs fans and Suns fans very happy for the rest of the summer?

Adversity, welcome to the Dallas Mavericks locker-room.

Notes from Game 4:

• Dwyane Wade is amazing. He also should be forbidden from claiming any sort of injury or illness for the rest of his career. Who plays possum better than Wade who has sucked the media into believing his limps, and then drops 78 points in 2 games? Perhaps, the Mavericks are put in the odd position of having to leave Shaquille to more straight up coverage, and send the double teams at Wade. Something tells me that Shaquille would then explode and begin to dominate from the inside, but I am not sure I see much other choice. You cannot let Wade get 40 and just demoralize you like he has. I have no idea what you try in Game 5 defensively, but what you did in Game 4 is laughable.

• This morning, the Sportcenter boys are convinced that Stackhouse will be suspended for his hit on Shaq. Make no mistake; it was an overly physical play that appeared to offer no play on the ball. But, it would seem that a suspension might be a bit strong. I guess we shall see, but I thought a flagrant was proper, and we shall see what the league office decides today. In other news, it is nice to see someone push back at the Heat physically, because it sure appears that some of the Mavs shrink when the pushing gets going.

• Basketball is a very simple game. You cannot win when you cannot shoot. The Mavericks cannot shoot right now, and I have no real explanation for the reason. Are the Heat playing great defense? Or, are the Mavericks just missing shots they normally knock down? It would seem to me that the poor shooting is more the product of the touch being a bit off, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter “why”. It just matters if it is going in the hoop or not. And for the better part of 4 games, the Mavericks are not shooting the ball well. This better change in a hurry.

• And what about the German? I refuse to knee-jerk like many emailers are; Here is one example from my email box: Flopping Dirk is no MVP! MVP's don't disappear in the Finals. But let’s all be honest: He has to find another dominating performance in a hurry, or this thing may slip away. He is getting out performed by a mile when you compare him to Wade, and he also is looking uncomfortable with Haslem and Posey in his jock. He has built up too much credibility with me in this post season for all of that to be forgotten because of a few rough games in Miami, but this isn’t about credibility. This is about what could be his only chance to win a title in his career. He has to rise above the bumps, bruises, and critics. He has to find at least one more signature effort to close the deal. And it needs to happen quickly.

• 7 points in the 4th Quarter.

• Given that he was one of the few players to get to a loose ball last night, I may consider a bigger dose of Adrian Griffin going forward.

• Lest we give Dirk all of the blame, would someone please remind Josh Howard that he can get to the rim anytime he wants? This Antoine Walker impression which seems to include a steady diet of 20-foot jump shots is not what the Mavs need right now, Josh. Be aggressive with the ball and stop launching shots that are not nearly as high a percentage. In fact, the whole team needs to stop launching jumpers. 22 three point attempts? C’mon!

• What really stinks about this outcome is that there was a period of the game where the Mavericks had cut the lead to 10, at 80-70, and they had 3 shots at getting it closer, but nothing would fall. During this same time, they received many calls. The Mavericks were actually getting all of the calls, and could do nothing with it. I am not saying the refs were trying to keep it close, but…

• Nothing is more irrelevant than pointing out Marquis Daniels looked absurd during garbage time with a few air-balls and a goofy turnover, but I really can’t help it. I have never seen anyone look like they have never played before every time he steps on the floor, quite like Marquis.

• The Heat deserve a lot of credit. What a response to two horrible performances in Dallas which had them left for dead. They have showed a ton of emotion and resolve and have taken over the role of getting to every loose ball and every rebound that is up for grabs. Pat Riley has kept them together, and now the players are starting to rise up. Wade and Shaq are playing like a title is right there to be had. That should scare us all.

• DJ MBenga returns Sunday. Secret Weapon???

• It appears someone explained to Antoine Walker what they needed from him. He took almost no stupid shots until garbage time.

• Well, they only needed to get one in Miami, right? It seemed like an easy task when they had 3 shots at it, and a reasonable assignment when they had 2 cracks left. Now, with only Sunday left, they know what they must do. But can they?

• Do we need to start researching whether the home team has ever won all 7 games in a NBA Finals? Don’t assume the Heat cannot win a road game.

Game 3: Miami 98, Dallas 96 (Dal 2-1)

It all seemed to be going perfectly. The game was not necessarily in the bag, but up 13 points with just over 6 minutes to play is certainly a spot you love to be in. You have outscored Miami in the first 17:45 of the 2nd half by an absurd collective score of 46-24. And then, bad things started to happen.

Wade scores a bunch. James Posey hit his only basket of the game, which was a huge 3. Wade scores a bunch more. Shaquille hits 2 free throws in a row. Wade scores a bunch more. Gary Payton scores his first hoop of the season. Dirk misses a key free throw when he can’t. Wade scores again. Game over. Trophy taken back. Collars tighten in the Metroplex.

They finish you on a 22-7 run, and Game 1 vs. Phoenix is back in your head as another game that you had, and then gave back because of poor execution on both ends of the court. Its one thing to not be able to stop Dwyane Wade. Very few people can stop him when he gets in his groove, and he flat out willed his team to victory. But how can you not get better shots on offense? Why are the Mavericks in the equivalent of the prevent when they insist on shooting with :02 left on the shot clock?

Now the Mavericks can ponder that question, as they wait for Thursday; a night in which Miami can square this series at 2-2. Ouch.

Quick hits from Game 3 in Miami:

• Through 3 games, I would like to now make the bold claim that Udonis Haslem is guarding Dirk as well as anyone has in these playoffs. Not that Dirk has been stopped, but he has been thrown off his rhythm, and frankly, has not gone off for any extended spurts in this series thus far. He is best defended by making him uncomfortable, and if I am not mistaken, he has been made uncomfortable by Haslem, who honestly was a huge hero last night with his remarkable work on the offensive glass. Funny to remember before the series started that many (including me) thought Miami had no one to guard Dirk. I would like to change my thoughts on that one.

• Speaking of Dirk, that free throw he missed did not help his “national respect” score. I think we all know it, so it doesn’t need to be said, but your superstar really needs to make two free throws with 3 seconds left in a NBA Finals game when you are down 2. It would be nice if he would take one of these next two games by the neck at crunch time. Last night they kept going to him, and with help from Jason Terry, the Mavs best players did not get it done.

• Shaq is still quiet. Not as quiet last night, but still very quiet by Shaq terms. I believe that should now scare us even more knowing that if he erupts, this series will be tied. Whatever Erick Dampier is doing, he needs to keep doing it. Let sleeping dogs lie.

• It is official: After attending playoff games in San Antonio and Miami, I am now ready to say that EVERY NBA team has an over-the-top, annoying, worthy-of-a-Saturday-Night-Live-skit PA Announcer who screams at you. Not just Dallas. They are everywhere.

• One obvious goal by Miami was to take the ball to the basket over and over again. Dwyane Wade gets calls and baskets every time he goes, so why not? That is smart basketball, because nobody on the Mavs can stop him. In fact, it is starting to look like Devin Harris might be the best defensive option against him, but that isn’t saying much. Harris can’t stop him either.

• One good thing to come out of last night’s loss was this: We can stop hearing about that stupid stat of when Josh Howard scores 20 points or more, the Mavericks are undefeated. I will not name names, but I was sitting next to a media member who told me this game is in the bag at 71-66 because Josh just got his 20th point. And he was dead serious. Stats are for losers.

• One way to look at the game is this: If James Posey, Gary Payton, and Jason Williams are all going to hit shots that they normally would miss, and if Haslem and O’Neal are going to hit all of their free throws in that final 6 minutes then you just tip your hat to them and know inside that they were fortunate to beat you. You move on to Thursday and you execute them in front of their fans. But if you don’t….

• A typical game for Marquis Daniels: 1) Check into the game because the Mavericks really need a spark from you. 2) Contribute very little. 3) Throw an incredibly silly pass that will be recorded as your only stat of the night – a turnover. 4) Go back to the bench and enjoy the rest of the game with your warm-ups on

• So Dwyane Wade gets his 5th foul with almost 11 minutes to play, and you cannot get #6 on him? Easier said then done, partly because short of maiming someone to death, the refs weren’t going to get rid of him, but you would have liked to see the Mavericks expose him more on defense. He had to be guarding someone, but aside from Devin Harris’ drive to the hoop in the final minute, Wade stayed out of trouble very well.

• I swear, collectively, the Heat make too many stupid mistakes to win. 20 more turnovers last night and even in loss, you have to believe that it just delays the inevitable. I will maintain my stance that any team with Jason Williams and Antoine Walker consistently making poor choices cannot win a Title.

• Since I was quick to honor Jerry Stackhouse last game, let’s be fair. He was 1-9 last night, missed a dunk, and down the stretch committed a charge and missed an open jumper. Basically, when you needed help for Dirk and Terry, he offered very, very little. Score one for his critics.

• Avery is a genius. Except when his team has to draw up a play with less than 5 seconds to play. Those efforts in Game 1 vs Phoenix and last night left a bit to be desired. So, Dirk inbounds the ball which effectively takes him out of the play with 1 second to play? Very nice defensive move, but since he coaches Dallas and not Miami, I must wonder what the thinking was there.

• Pretty funny bit on the scoreboard last night as they had a parody of the Godfather. Mark Cuban woke up in his bed and pulled the covers back to find the Mavericks horse head under the sheets. He screamed, and the place when nuts. I giggled.

• The first road team to win a game is going to win this series. Will it be Dallas?

Game 2: Dallas 99, Miami 85 (2-0)

I am not here to knee-jerk or anything, but it sure seems like we can now begin to use the word “when” instead of “if” the Mavericks win a World Title this year. That total and utter domination of the Eastern Conference Champions was amazing on so many levels that you actually had to say to the human next to you last night, “Are the Mavericks really ahead by 27 in an NBA Finals game?” Is this all some sick dream that when we wake up in the morning we are going to be really pissed? Or are the Mavericks this good?

We almost don’t have any other choice.

But, what do we make of Mr. Shaquille O’Neal? I spent part of the pre-game show with Ben and Skin, and during that part, I boldly proclaimed that I expected nothing short of 30 and 20 from the big man. Why? Because, HE IS SHAQ!!! Shaq does this. Shaq does not get punked. Especially two games in a row! But there it was for all to see. Shaq was 2-5 for 5 points. I felt a little sad. Kinda like When Darth Vader was laying on his back asking Luke to help him remove his helmet at the end of Return of the Jedi. We surely have not seen the very end of Shaq yet. But, we have seen the end of the part of his career where he decides to dominate, and then does just that.

Also, do we start to admit that Dampier is worth the money in games involving his Royal Shaqness? There is no question that Erick is giving him big trouble. Whether Dampier is really affecting Shaq or just the right guy in the right place at the right time is a source for discussion. But through two games, we are left to assume that Dampier rested well during the Phoenix series, and is now fully serving his purpose.

And now, other notes from a Game 2 Domination:

• The Mavericks ability to dominate on defense, dominate the boards, and dominate all elements of hustle just shows how good the Mavericks are as a team. They did not shoot very well, and they certainly did not take good care of the ball (18 turnovers), but it was obvious that they were not going to lose the game. They were going to outwork the Heat, and the margin was amazing.

• Antoine Walker is so much fun to watch. He does virtually nothing for the first 2 ½ quarters. Then, Shaq is out of the game, and the Heat are down 27 and then Toine wants the rock. He starts raining shots from all over the court on his way to 20 points. Proving once again that scoring points in the NBA doesn’t mean you are a good player. Nobody fills up a boxscore without impacting a game quite like Toine.

• Flip Saunders and the Detroit Pistons have to be sick to their stomach that they are not in this series.

• There was a game in the Phoenix series when Jerry Stackhouse did not play real well, and the critics of Stackhouse emerged, even comparing him to Keith Van Horn. I said that is absurd, and that there will come a time when Jerry Stackhouse will demonstrate why you need him. I suggest it has happened many times during these playoffs. Last night’s display late in the 2nd Quarter was the most amazing. He nailed 4 three’s including the 4 point play and the 3 right before the half which blew the game wide open from 39-34 to 50-34. Just like Game 6 at Phoenix and Game 7 at San Antonio, Stackhouse emerges at the big moments and makes big plays. Sure, his shot selection is suspect, and his judgement comes and goes, but please do not compare him to KVH. Stack does his share of heavy lifting in this run, and to ignore his great nights is flat unfair.

• Udanis Haslem looks hurt after that hard foul on Jason Terry. The Heat have done well in defending Dirk so far, but if Haslem is lost for a few games, their primary defender will be gone. Think about it, they return home down 0-2, and Dirk still hasn’t played to his playoff level. Dirk had 26 and 16 last night, but in this season, it is pretty much routine.

• During the relative boredom of the 4th quarter last night I noticed that D-Wade spells his first name “D-W-Y-A-N-E”. I would like to apologize to his family for incorrectly spelling his name every time I have ever typed it in his career. My bad. I always assumed Dwyane spelled his name “D-W-A-Y-N-E” like the rest of the world. Sorry.

• Watching Shaq shoot free throws is excruciating. It feels a lot like watching Chuck Knoblauch try to throw the ball to first base a few years back. It should be routine, and yet it brings a star player to his knees. To suggest that his free throws are not even close is kind.

• In the 2nd round, we marveled at how weak the Spurs bench looked. Then in the 3rd round, we marveled at how weak the Suns bench looked. Now, we are amazed at how little the Heat have on their bench. Is it possible that all three teams have normal benches and Dallas just has an extraordinary one that many of us overlook because we see it all the time?

• In the first quarter, when neither team was playing well, didn’t you feel pretty good because Jason Williams was the Heat’s best player? I have watched him play for almost a decade, and I have never seen him win a game, so I wasn’t too worried about him going off.

• Devin Harris, in his youthful exuberance, has a confidence issue. Sometimes, he looks extremely confident, and other times, he looks horrible. Last night, he knew he could expose Payton or Williams, and he did. I hope he develops confidence on a more consistent basis soon.

• Pat Riley has no idea what to do.

• And just think, in 2 more games, D.J. Mbenga returns!

• 2 More to Go! Now, you have 3 chances to win one in Miami. And if you do, you will have 2 chances to win 1 back in Dallas. So now, merely must win 2 of the next 5 games.

NBA Finals Game 1: Dallas 90, Miami 80

The Mavericks have now won every game in franchise history that they have played in the NBA Finals! Doesn’t it feel good? Game 1 was deposited in the Win Bank with a stifling effort on the defensive end for the better part of the final 3 quarters, as the Mavericks allowed just 49 points in 36 minutes of basketball. If the Dallas offense looked sloppy and out of sync, it is because it was. The Mavericks were never fully comfortable with the ball, but the saving grace continues to be the theme of the 2005-06 championship run – DEFENSE.

This game was a meat grinder. This game required you to go strong to the rim or not to bother going at all. It was played with desperation on both sides, and sets up for a very competitive series, albeit one that might not be pleasing to the eye.

And there to save the day for the Mavericks on a night when Dirk and Josh Howard needed to be saved was Jason Terry. Terry who admitted to having a very rough experience in the Western Finals against Phoenix just absolutely torched the Heat. He looked like he was insulted with Jason Williams trying to guard him early, and then as the night went on must have been shocked that they decided to not guard him at all so he stuck another 3. What a performance for JET, and without him you could make the claim that there is no chance that Dallas wins Game 1.

Various other quick hits from Game 1, the NBA Finals:

• Dwayne Wade is amazing. I really enjoyed watching him at Marquette (Well…) and I thought there that he was easily the best player I had ever seen play there, but the way he has actually improved as he has entered the NBA is tough to believe. Usually, a player dominates far less at the pro level than he does at the college level, but I think Wade is much better now than he was. It appears he can get to the rim anytime he wants, and the big man trying to protect the rim has almost no effect on him. If I am the Mavs, I instruct his defender to play off him and hope that he settles for jump shots, but I really don’t think you will stop him from driving no matter how you defend that kid. Wow.

• OK, Dirk had 0 points in the 4th Quarter. And went 4-14 in the game. Lucky they won, or everyone would be ready to jump on him. I must admit it is weird to see Shaq and Dirk as supporting cast members last night. I am sure that will not continue for 7 games, but last night you could make the case that Antoine Walker made as much an impact as Shaquille. That is crazy even to type.

• It does look like Dirk was given plenty of trouble by Udanis Haslem. His physical style of defense and James Posey’s Bruce Bowen impression are going to make the Mavericks work for their points, and Dirk needs to adjust and figure out how to score against this new look. I am pretty sure I still like his chances to really torch Miami in this series, but Haslem certainly deserves credit for never allowing Dirk to be comfortable in the game.

• 1-9? I am pretty sure of the 20,000+ in attendance, at least 19,000 of them could nail 1-9 from the free throw line as Shaq accomplished. If you would have told me in 2002 that Shaq would actually get worse from the line, I might not have believed you. But it is official, he is worse. Also, the Heat go 7-19 from the line, which you could say helped the Mavericks enjoy good fortune and that if the Heat may have hit some free throws they would have won, but that is the Heat, kids. They do this all the time. In Game 5 at Detroit, the Heat hit 6-20 free throws. They just can’t hit them.

• Have you ever missed a player less than you miss Antoine Walker? Now he did hit a few huge shots last night including that 3 off a Dirk bad pass at the end of the 1Q, but his 6 turnovers were killers, and if he is going to shoot 19 times, there are no worries for Dallas. You got to almost love Walker hitting a few early shots because that will get him thinking that he is a scored. Advantage Mavericks.

• Erick Dampier did a great job last night. 27 minutes of causing Shaq some resistance. Nothing earth shattering, but just imagine Raef Lafrentz or Shawn Bradley doing what Damp and Diop are doing.

• Have you ever seen one play change the game like Jason Terry’s airball breakaway layup? It would have put the Mavs up 84-72, instead the Heat came right back to score the next 7 points and cut it to 82-79. Terry missed that layup at 7:37, and get this: The Mavericks next Field Goal was scored with 1:02 when Stackhouse hit a hoop. AND THEY WON! That is right, somehow, Dirk gets 0, and the Mavericks get one hoop in the final 8 minutes and still win by 10. That is crazy.

• I swear all through the years that great musical acts occupy halftime in the NBA Finals. At least in the last decade it has been U2, Destiny’s Child, Mariah, Jay-Z all playing at halftime of these games. So, what did we have at halftime? That’s right. Trampoline dunking. The most tired bit in basketball history. Wow.

• I think you know what I am going to say next. Game 2 is crucial. It is nice to get a win when you play poorly, but don’t give it back on Sunday. If they win both games here, the Mavericks are going to be in great shape. But, if they lose the game on Sunday, Miami will rate their trip here as a huge success.

• Jason Williams looks really weird in those black tights. I don’t think I would go with that look.

• Terrell Owens in a Shaq jersey. Worse than standing on the Star? Just kidding.

Game 6: Mavs 102, Suns 93 (Mavs win 4-2)

Going boldly where no Mavs team has gone before! Ladies and Gentlemen, prepare because the NBA Finals are coming to your town. For years, you have been bold enough to even dream about this happening, well, the Dallas Mavericks are the Best in the West. They cannot take that away from you after a stunning Game 6 performance that is also worthy of “Do Not Delete” status on your Tivo. Gritty, Gutty, and determined to get a win: The Avery Johnson Mavericks are not the Mavericks of old.

Please, for a day at least, soak this one in. You have the Mavericks winning their 3rd round of the NBA Playoffs, with only 1 game this entire run that was “do or die”. I am not saying this has been easy, because my blood pressure says otherwise, but it has been done without the aid of miracles. This is just a real freaking good basketball team. So, before you look ahead to a daunting task of taking on the Miami Heat, please remember to enjoy the trip. I understand that “it don’t mean a thing if you don’t have that ring”, but we can talk about that in a few days. For now, enjoy the journey!

Enjoy the fact that many of you thought their goose was cooked last night at 60-45 with 6:30 left in the 3rd Quarter. That of course, was when the Suns looked to be running away, and the Mavs still looked a bit clueless on offense. But guess who was there to take over after a real poor first half? Let me help you: Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry, who combined for 5 points in the first half (all for Dirk), scored 21 points in a row to put the Mavs down 66-64. Everyone played Defense, but those two did the heavy lifting during that run. Thanks for the help boys, because Josh Howard was tired of covering for you.

Here are some Quick Hits to round up the Western Conference Finals:

• Ok, Steve Nash is a great player. I don’t doubt that. What I do doubt is that his body can handle the meat grinder that is the playoffs. It is too much. We saw it spring after spring, and when I saw him make brain dead plays in the 4th quarter last night when his team could least afford it, including two drives to the basket where it looks like he just dropped the ball along the way, it again occurred to me why the Mavericks would not be where they are if he was still their point guard. He was exhausted again. Those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it, right? Well, Mark Cuban must have learned. Nash can’t play this time of year any better than a goalie in hockey who doesn’t win in the playoffs, and as much as you love him, it is hard seeing this problem get better as he looks ahead to the twilight of his career. It happens every spring.

• Jerry Stackhouse has taken his share of abuse. I hope those of you in the Stack-haters club would at least give him your best today. Dude was great last night on both ends of the court. In the 3rd when the Mavericks made their run, his hands were causing steals on defense which is a rarity. Understand that this is a guy finding new depths to dig because he never thought he would get a ring. He can now smell it.

• I am only going to say this one last time: When I originally claimed that Josh Howard was the 2nd best player on this team, I was widely ridiculed. I received email that suggested I go get tests done by a physician. I just am not receiving those emails anymore and I wondered if something was wrong on my end. What a stud. What a player that you can always count on in the toughest situations (provided he is not in foul trouble). I promised not to look ahead, right? Well, I think he is your best option against Wade.

• Mark Cuban, the master of comedy, scored high again as he conducted an interview with a trophy on his head. Well done, Cubes. Seriously, be as goofy as you want because this franchise is nowhere close to this if you are not the owner. I hope everyone understands that.

• Shawn Marion: Not half the player I thought he was. I am sure he will be better next year when Amare and Diaw are getting guarded by the 2 best front court players and Marion gets whoever is left, but I am amazed at how spare he seemed in these games.

• I must agree with Barkley on something: I thought the refs were out of their minds last night for calling that game as close as they did. I understand wanting to get the attention of the players, but at some point, let’s not let this turn into the Bernie Fryer show. Geez, bro, the foul trouble on both sides was absurd.

• Did Devin Harris not play in the 2nd half or did my eyes deceive me? Also, did Marquis Daniels play exactly as much as Devin Harris did? And the Mavericks won?

• I hope Erick Dampier is well rested and well focused.

• I thought TNT was a bit Pro-Suns last night. Of course, I think this blog has been pretty Pro-Mavs most of the way, too.

• This morning, the Phoenix paper was quick to point out that everything went perfectly in these playoffs until Raja got hurt. I swear, this guy doesn’t need an agent anymore.

• This is stolen from Bill Simmons, but I want to use it anyway: The Closer and Saved both start June 12 on TNT, in case you didn’t know.

• Dallas scored 14 points in the 1st Quarter. Seriously. Isn’t it awesome that this team can win like this on the road without shooting well? It is just like the Bulls and the Spurs do it. Grind it out with great defensive efforts. Wear the home team and their crowd right out with getting stops. I love it.

• KVH = 4 minutes. Perfect.

• This won’t go down as one of Dirk’s greatest games, but I thought he was driving this bus in the 2nd half. What great drives to the hoop and what killer jumpers when it mattered most.

• 4 More to go. Seriously. You are not being pranked. The little, cute Mavericks, the team in Dallas that you dared to never dream could win it all are now just 4 wins away. With home court advantage in the NBA Finals. Remember, it goes 2-3-2 now. So, win both of the first two, please.

Game 5: Mavs 117, Suns 101, Dirk 50 (3-2)

Taking control of a game. That is what we have wanted Dirk to do for years, and now that he is doing it routinely here in the playoffs, it is still hard to believe. I have already said he is “all growns up” and I have already said he is a superstar now. What do you say when he gets 50 and just invites the Mavericks to hop on his back in the 4th Quarter of a most crucial game in the Western Conference Finals? You just enjoy it. And move it to the sacred “Do not Delete” status on your Tivo. Wow.

So, now we must ask the question once again: Can this team deal with prosperity and close this thing out in 6 on Saturday Night? Or, will they let down their guard, and invite the Suns right back into the series for a 1 game showdown on Monday Night. Surely, they have learned their lesson and will go for this kill in 36 hours. Right?

And now, the exclusive blog quick hits from the dramatic Game 6:

• Let me stop everyone before they make the statements that “the Mavs have figured out the Suns” and that “the Suns are tired”. You cannot fall into that trap again of declaring this series over until you put that stake right through their heart. It is not the first team to 3, it is the first to 4. Finish Them!

• At 77-70, I must admit: My head was pounding, my pulse was racing, and I was beginning to ponder what window I was about to jump out of. At 77-70 Suns, I momentarily began to wonder if the Mavs dream was about to end. Never have I been more pleased to be so wrong.

• At 77-70, Dirk had 21 points. In the final 15:15, Dirk scored 29 points! The Mavericks scored 47 to the Suns 24. And Dirk had 29! Are you kidding me? That, my fellow basketball supporters, is a timeless classic. Down 7, your superstar outscored the opposition 29-24 over the final 15 minutes. HE IS ALL GROWNS UP!

• I get plenty of emails about Tim Thomas and my role in calling him a spare which would then reverse his mojo and make him a star. I take none of it back. He scored the basket that put the Suns up 77-70…and never scored another point. That is clutch. And let’s not forget what happened after he got cocky, blew Dirk a kiss, and called him a “P”. Hey, Tim, act like you have done it before since you have been in the NBA 9 years and have enjoyed a Max-out contract. Oh, wait. That was the best night of his career. Sorry, Tim. You haven’t been there before have you. Spare.

• Certainly, Josh Howard had another great performance. Despite battling foul trouble all night, he made many key plays and kept his 20 point record alive. Evidently, it wasn’t the braces that were making him great.

• Dave in Carrolton writes: bobsturmshow, can we get a new powerdown song...HERE HE IS THE POWERDOWN...KEITH VAN HORN! each lead blown as soon as van horn hit the floor. what a spare! please have ty walker dub his voice in for the "keith van horn" part of the powerdown ...radio gold!? I think I might steal that, Dave.

• To make the claim that Steve Nash is tired is dangerous. But, he looks like he could use a day off. There are none upcoming, Steve, until you lose a 4th game. Then, you shall enjoy many days off. Not a bad trade off, right?

• In the first Quarter, the Mavericks took pretty good control of the game, and once again, it was that new player from Cleveland leading the charge. Diop does it again. I really think you have to set the tone with him, and play him plenty. You have to keep him out of foul trouble, but with Steve Nash and Barbosa, and Diow all driving to the rim when he is on the bench, he has to play. The game changes when he is out there.

• This series needs to end. The stress level of playing the Suns is really uncomfortable. I have no idea why playing the Spurs seemed so much easier than this, but I will admit the Suns have the ability to make you scramble and when you scramble you leave something open. I like watching their scheme, but I refuse to believe you can beat good teams in a 7 game series with that style. The Mavericks are that good team. Finish Them.

• Did Raja Bell play? Yes. His technical foul certainly had affected the game. Somewhere, Willis Reed is proud.

• Jason Terry is still strug-gel-ling…When the rest of the team picks him up, it doesn’t look so bad, but he has picked a pretty poor time for a slump. But, how about 9 assists?

• Did you see the Suns owner mock Dirk last night? Go back to 7:09 in the 4th Quarter, and watch Dirk drive the lane and get fouled. Then, watch the first row under the basket as the guy in the Orange suit gets up and mocks the Big German. I am pretty sure if Mark Cuban did something like that the cameras might have caught it, but you have to look closely to see their guy. I guess there is a good reason for that, but you will enjoy seeing his display if you go look for it. Thank me later.

• Finish those clowns. Let’s knock the Magic Number down to 4 on Saturday Night.

Game 4: Suns 106, Mavs 86 (2-2)

Not so Fast...

The Game that was played last night almost serves everyone (including me) right. How dare anyone think a series is wrapped up after 3 games, and a mere 2-1 series lead? This is the Western Conference Finals, folks. It is not the first team to 2. And after last night’s big win by Phoenix in which the Mavericks DID go quietly into the night, this series is easily just as loseable as it is winnable.

The one simple question that we have not been able to answer yet is, “Are the Mavericks a good favorite?” They have never been the underdog for so long that when they suddenly become the team that everyone is picking to win the whole thing before this round began, it put them in a very odd spot. They would now have to be the ruthless killer that shows no mercy. Could they? Well, if Game 5 and Game 6 of the San Antonio series are any indication, no. If last night is any indication, not even close. You cannot let your opponent back up off the mat when you are the ruthless killer, and for now, the Mavericks do not know how to deal with being the favorite.

It seemed obvious early when suddenly the loose balls all landed in the arms of the Suns. Many long rebounds went right to the Suns. Did the Suns want the balls more? Yes. Therefore they got them all. If the Mavericks aren’t comfortable being ruthless, then we should all gear up for a Game 7. I still feel good about moving on to the NBA Finals, but since the Mavericks appear very impressed with themselves when they get ahead in a series and let their guard down, we should not be shocked that the Mavs lose a game like last night.

Game Notes:

• Raja Bell is a guy I have genuinely liked. He has worked hard and basically be a self-made man in this league where most players are handed everything. But, c’mon, TNT. Let’s not get too carried away about his contribution to mankind. Do we really have to reference Willis Reed every time any player shakes off a nosebleed and plays? He played well last night, but I thought the lovefest was a bit much. Further, if you know he is trying to sell flops everytime down the floor, how do the refs fall for it so often? It almost seems to encourage that behaviour. That last charge call on Stackhouse before Bell left the game for the night was a joke.

• Will Jason Terry please, please, please resemble the player he was in the last series? He shot 44% in that series, including 39% from 3 point range. Through 4 games in this series, he is at 39% from the field, and 23% from behind the arc. I thought the defense in that last series was so awesome and the Suns don’t defend, but it sure looks like Terry is not half as impressive as he was in that round. His assists are also way down and so is his overall impact on the game. He needs to get involved or this could get away from the Mavs.

• D’Antoni: “If they (Dallas) shoot 41%, they ain’t beating us”. Uh, coach, the Mavs shot 41% in Game 3 and won.

• I think the only Mavericks player who was able to do anything on offense was Josh Howard. Not the most impressive night for him, but he aggressive nature was in stark contrast to his teammates. Except maybe Adrian Griffin. Wow.

• By the way, to this issue that Phoenix plays no defense, let’s discuss that. It sure looked to me like they were playing some pretty decent defense last night. Running double teams at anyone who got the ball on the baseline, forcing passes that were difficult and forcing the Mavericks into shots that were low percentage constitutes defense to me. The Mavs settled for some pretty poor shots, and that conviction to make sure they get to the rim was lost. It was jump shot city for the Mavs last night, which once again points to this idea that the Mavs got a little too impressed with themselves. It doesn’t take long, evidently, to get a big head in this league.

• Leo Barbosa has a weird shot. But, boy, what a player when you can bring him off the bench. He is a good example of a fine bench player that when he starts he gets a bit ineffective if over-exposed with big minutes. If he is going to drain 3’s like that, the Suns are going to keep winning.

• I don’t know who Pat Burke is, but when he entered the game it took him exactly 4 seconds to complain to the refs that he thought he was fouled. What a shock. A player thinks he was fouled.

• Avery’s wife got into a fight? Sometimes you cannot write fiction this good.

• I am still waiting for Keith Van Horn to make any play of substance in any game of the Western Finals. I know he is coming off an injury, but isn’t this his 7th game back? At what point should he start resembling a player who is familiar with the NBA?

• I have avoided the Dirk topic for long enough. It does go without saying that he is entitled to a night that is not “all world” somewhere along the way. But, bro, do you need a sign in front of you that says “do not settle for fadeaways” if they are not falling? What happened to New Dirk? What happened to the German realizing that he can score any way he wants? I really think he needs to force the issue into the paint and score and when he doesn’t he reverts to the guy who was taken out of a tough series like this. There are nights when you will not shoot well, but you can still score the ball if you take it to the rim.

• Boris Diaw is no Amare, but when he finishes around the rim it is pretty darn impressive. This kid is 23 years old, and points to a pretty nice future in Phoenix if the can keep Nash from old age.

• Well, shake it off. 2 of 3 wins the series, and 2 of 3 are in Dallas. Game 5 is tomorrow, and this series is still in a good spot. But let’s not make the mistake again of thinking this series is in the bag before they get to 4 wins. That letdown last night was a reality check of the highest order.

Game 3: Mavs 95, Suns 88 (2-1 Mavs)

After Game 2, I was describing the current status of this series to a fisherman trying to pick up a fish in his boat: The fish almost stood no chance of getting back in the water, but he wasn’t going to be easy to get a handle on until he was utterly exhausted.

It is quite possible the fish ran out of gas last night.

The Mavericks played one of their most impressive games of the postseason with a demoralizing pounding of the Suns in Phoenix. And now, they are on the brink of turning the screws Tuesday night.

This team is a championship capable team that now sits 6 games from that title that most Mavericks fans never believed possible.

Game Notes from me:

• That 2nd half was amazing, and I submit to you that the most impressive effort was put in by Gana Diop. What a difference he makes to this team. He competes at the rim. He changes shots. He pulls rebounds. And, you know what? He can even finish off plays on offense when they find him near the goal. Diop played 25 huge minutes last night and while people may point to Josh Howard’s return or Raja Bell’s injury as reasons this series turned so quickly, I happen to believe Diop’s ability to take the paint away from Steve Nash is as big a factor as any.

• This from Elias Sports Bureau: The Mavericks played the final 17:01 of their Game 3 win in Phoenix without a turnover -- the second-longest stretch without a turnover to close a game during the 2006 NBA playoffs. Back on April 26, Phoenix played turnover-free ball over the last 18:52 in a loss to the Lakers.

• I hate to agree with Barry Horn on anything, but geez, TNT, don’t be afraid to show us the game. I cannot think of anything I care less about than what Cheryl Miller, Craig Sager, or Tony Parker have to say about the game. If you can work that nonsense into a timeout, I don’t care. But, when you shrink the game to about 25% of your screen, so that you can interview a French guy about another French guy then watch the blood pressure of your viewers rise.

• Did Tim Thomas barging into the Mavericks impromptu huddle after the flagrant foul turn the entire game? From those free throws until the game ended, the final score was Mavericks 53, Suns 36. That dude is a spare. Sorry, but I don’t care what he does, no one has stolen more money in their career than he has. Do you realize since 2001 he has made more than $70 million? Makes Finley look properly compensated.

• Things are just different when you watch this team. At no point of last night’s game did it look bad for the Mavericks in my opinion. Sure, when the Suns get hot, they will go on a run. But, they could not play better and Dallas could not play worst in that first half. Yet, the Suns clung to a 5 point lead at home.

• Dirk since Game 3 of the San Antonio series has put up some pretty fair points/rebounds: 27/15, 28/9, 31/10, 26/21, 37/15, 25/19, 30/14, and 28/17 last night. I think he may be a star in this league.

• It is highly possible that Dirk’s desperation 3 did not hit the rim. I am not sure video evidence was conclusive either way. But, don’t be afraid to get a rebound, Phoenix. Jerry Stackhouse is taking on your entire team on the glass in the final few minutes and beating you. Jerry Stackhouse; hardly Barkley in his prime on the glass.

• This is only 2 wins. The game Tuesday is pivotal. But let’s not count chickens yet. I agree it surely looks great, and to hear Phoenix talk fatigue is wonderful given that there shall be no extra off days. But, do not let them breath on Tuesday.

• Marquis Daniels and Erick Dampier have wonderful seats for this series. So much for my theory that the style of this series suits Daniels. I think a trade this summer most likely suits Daniels.

• We would like to thank Jason Terry for joining the party in the 2nd half. If he is going to start playing like he did against the Spurs, then this thing looks even better.

• Remember when Shawn Marion looked like he rolled his ankle in Game 1? That was the last time he looked like anything more than a defensive rebounder. I have always feared the Matrix, so I am relieved that he has been a non-factor in these last two games. He just doesn’t look right.

• How did I get this far down the list without a Josh Howard paragraph? What a player. And what a steal to lock the game up with help from Dirk as they took the ball from Tim Thomas. And poor Nash, thought about trying to catch Josh Howard and then realized he has nothing left in the tank.

• It is Memorial Day, and not only do the Mavericks still have games left, but they actually look great in their series. Things have changed around here.

• 6 More.

Game 2: Mavs 105, Suns 98 (1-1)

A solid enough 4th Quarter helped the Mavericks do something in Game 2 that they let get away in Game 1. Their MVP was the best player on the floor, and if you don’t think the big German is a million miles from where he was just 1 year ago, then you aren’t watching very carefully.

The rhetoric from each side is pretty interesting at this point of the series. You hear the Phoenix guys talk with confidence and with real strong chin that this series is going perfectly and they consider their trip in here a success, and are already talking about winning at home and sealing the series.. Meanwhile, The Dallas side seems real confident, too, and after their win last night they will suggest to you that they have figured out what they need to figure out and this series is going in just the right direction.

I think they are both full of it. I don’t think either team would pass a lie detector right now if they were to be tested on if they really believe what they are saying.

Let’s focus on the Mavericks here: I think they are just a bit shocked that they have played 2 home games against this team and only seemed to have the game in their control for very small doses of each game. Sure, in Game 2, they controlled the pace, but can you imagine how freaked out they were to do that and still be down 5 at the half? I know I was frustrated, and I don’t play.

But, the bottom line is that we have solved nothing through 2 games. Phoenix will have more jump at their place, and they will also have the crowd. They cannot be allowed to sweep those 2 or the Mavericks will be in a real mess.

Here are some various Game 2 Quick Hits:

• We never know just how bad injuries really are. Many times, players act really hurt and then are not, or it looks like nothing but ends up being something huge. But, in the case of Josh Howard, it sure looks like everyone was fooled. His teammates had no idea he was playing until 7:00 Friday night, and he wasn’t around for practice on Thursday. When he was seen between Games 1 and 2 he was on crutches, but Friday night he was awesome. We will never know what might have happened had he not played, but for that guy to be doing what he did on Friday bought him a ton of credibility with anyone following this thing. I have been saying that he is the 2nd best player on this team for a long time, and that is the type of performance that will get other people realizing that.

• The story in the press room appeared to be Steve Nash attempting his only shot of the 2nd half with 3 seconds left in the game. What was he doing? He says he was making the right play and not forcing a shot. Did the Mavericks do something different? After 2 years of allowing Nash to shoot and score anytime he wants, have the Mavericks decided to make him pass? This is a radical departure to Avery’s philosophy, but it makes sense when Leo Barbosa is 3-15 and Shawn Marion is 9-20. Make them beat you. They don’t have Amare this year. Take your chances on them, not Nash. But still, 1 shot?

• Speaking of radical departures from Avery: Dampier DNP. Diop 32 minutes? I love it and all, as Diop really deserves credit for changing this game, but where did this come from? Diop got the DNP in Game 1 and Dampier played plenty. Also, Marquis went from big minutes to 1 minute in Game 2. We know Josh’s return made that happen to some extent, but I would suggest Avery still doesn’t care for Daniels’ playoff composure.

• David Hasselhoff – Drunk? Not sure, but he had his routine memorized for Craig Sager, eh?

• If Jerry Stackhouse is going to make bad decisions and not score, what purpose does he serve? Also, If Keith Van Horn is going to make bad decisions and not score, what purpose does he serve?

• To win last night without Jason Terry’s shot falling is pretty impressive. This team usually wins when he plays well and loses when he does not. He did make a few huge baskets in the 4th, but we may have to investigate how the Suns defend him because I don’t think he shot real well last year, either against them. Actually, I think they just leave him wide open.

• You want to say Shawn Marion had a bag in game 2, but he did have 19 points and 19 rebounds.

• Mike D’Antoni is weird. He reminds me of Nellie quite a bit, as he never seems to change his mood in a press conference. You can’t tell if he won or lost, and when he lost he just explains to you that if they would have hit more shots they would have won. Never refers to defense for a second. Doesn’t care at all. I realize the Mavericks are not that far removed from that style of basketball, but there is no way someone can win a title with such indifference to one end of the court, right?

• How is Boris Diaw doing this? And who is Boris Diaw? A throw-in to the Joe Johnson trade? And Tim Thomas was a waiver pick up? Tell me players don’t like playing in a system that asks them to launch shots until their arms hurt.

• I still don’t feel good about things. I assume the Mavericks find another gear in this series as Phoenix should continue to wear down, but those guys do hit enough shots just to hang around when it appears they have no business doing so.

• During a commercial, I flipped over to the Rangers game. Rangers up 3-2 going to the 8th. Coco time. He walks the lead off man (I kid you not), gives up the lead (blown save) and then gets the win when the Rangers score in the bottom of the 8th. Worst rule in baseball that you can enter a game, spare everyone to death, hurt your team and still get a win for doing nothing positive. I don’t care what his numbers are, I wouldn’t let him near the closer role again.

• Does Humble Billy ever look in the mirror and start crying at what he has become? Just curious. Also, curious if TNT has to pay him to be the 4th man in their booth or if he does it for free. I love you, Billy, but, c'mon.

• Is Diop the key to this whole series? Did the Mavericks find the way to stop Nash? Will Van Horn see the court again? Tune in Sunday as the plot thickens, and the gorilla finally has a chance to make an impact.

Game 1: Suns 121, Mavs 118 (1-0)

Game 1 is very similar to Game 1 of the San Antonio series: The Mavericks let one get away. Except this was way worse because when you are ahead 114-105 with less than 4 minutes to play and you can not bring it home, that, kids, is a full fledged choke job. There is no nice way to say that. You can’t get a stop, as Phoenix goes scores on 6 of their 8 trips down the court, and you can’t get a hoop: The Mavericks over that same stretch get 2 scores in 8 trips. So, when you can’t stop them and you can’t score when the game is on the line, you lose. Don’t know if they all started congratulated themselves too early or it they just got ambushed at the finish line by Steve Nash, but either way, the Suns have to feel they stole one, and the Mavs have to feel like they gift-wrapped one.

Bob’s Blog exclusive Quick Hits:

• Last two seasons, the Mavericks have played 5 series, and in the last two seasons, the Mavericks have won game 1 just once. Against Memphis. Otherwise, when there is a Game 1 to be played, the Mavericks are losing it.

• Before we get into what the Mavs did and didn’t do, we should probably recognize an absolutely superb performance by Nash. Wow. You almost forget how he can dominate a game when you don’t play him for a while. I assume he ramps it up in Dallas to his top effort, but whatever the circumstances, that was awesome. What he does on offense is just amazing. Whether it is the momentum killer pass down court to get Marion a free hoop with the shot clock at 21 right after the Mavs score, or whether it is him deciding to will his team to a win in the final minutes with 3’s, he is just amazing. Is he the MVP? I may argue that, but there is no doubt he is the most unique point guard in the sport right now. And there is also no doubt that he wasn’t anything close to this in Dallas. This is absurd.

• For the Mavericks to win this series, they will need to do plenty of what they did last night; offensive rebound, take the ball to the rim, and stop the 3. They did all of those pretty well, so there is no confidence shaken here. But, you have to play 48 minutes. The Mavericks played about 30.

• Josh Howard = out. Raja Bell = out. That is a pretty close trade, really. If they both miss extended games in this series, the Mavs depth should be the winner again.

• Why do people wear sunglasses inside? I counted at least 3 fans last night with them on. My sunglasses exemption is this: If you have ever played Col. Nathan R. Jessep in a movie, you are allowed to wear (edit 9:38am) sunglasses at an NBA game. If you have not played Col Jessep, then you look like someone who is the president of your own fan club.

• With Josh Howard on the bench, more Marquis Daniels. This series should play into his strengths, but to me, his basketball judgment is just so suspect that I think I likely would have had someone else inbounding the ball with .5 seconds left in the game. Dude was nowhere close in his pass to Dirk, and had 4 very confused teammates looking at him when the play and the game were over.

• I know Skin told me that Dirk is far better against Shawn Marion than he has been in the past, but I still saw Shawn block and change many Dirk chances last night. Dirk told us himself that nobody guards him better than Marion. The man is so freakish athletically that Dirk isn’t comfortable against him. Dirk had nice numbers, but he got almost every point from 3 feet and in.

• The Mavericks also got sucked into the “hurry and hoist” offense of the Suns. Stackhouse and Terry especially have to control themselves from being lured into that run and gun game that suites the Suns so well. Play your game and you will be fine. Play their game and this is going to be a bear.

• Doesn’t it make you nervous when everyone is picking Dallas?

• When is Devin Harris going to start getting calls? For the third consecutive game, he gets called for an offensive foul that almost nobody in the league would get called for. The wipe away on Bowen in Game 6, the dead ball foul in OT of Game 7, and now I have no idea the call inside a minute of Game 1 on the pick and roll last night. But that call was huge. All the Mavericks needed was a hoop, but they gave it all back.

• Of course, Devin Harris made huge shots down the stretch all last night, and continued to dazzle all who watch. I cannot believe that the Mavericks really look like they have found their Tony Parker. Nash is one of a kind, but he also could not stick with Mike Bibby or Tony Parker in the playoffs over two weeks. I am banking that Devin Harris will do the same thing to him now.

• It is going to be almost impossible to get DeSagana Diop on the floor in this series. Darn shame, since he has a new face mask to show off for us all.

• How can I go this far into the notes without a Boris Diaw mention? No idea. Talk about a quiet 34 for most of the night. But, I must hand it to him. I expected him to front rim his shot at the buzzer last night, and he buried it. He may be the man the Mavs choose not to guard as tightly, and that may be a bad choice.

• Hey, you didn’t think this was going to be easy, did you? This is the Western Conference Finals. If you thought you scaled your toughest mountain, you were wrong. Prepare for 7 games of tense playoff basketball in this round, too. And, by the way, Game 2 moves up the list to a “must win” game. Ouch. That was quick.

Game 7: Dallas 119, San Antonio 111 (OT)

You are going to have people remind you today that this is only a chance to advance to the Western Conference Finals. You are going to have people (especially Spurs fans) remind you that you haven’t won anything yet. This is only the Final 4, and only 1 of these 4 teams is going to end the season with a smile and celebration.

They are right. But ignore them for today.

That win was not for a championship. I contend that it may be for something more valuable than that in many respects. This win was for anyone who has called the Mavericks soft. This win was for anyone that said to wait for the playoffs and we will see the Mavericks exposed yet again. This win was for anyone who said that Mavericks would have to beat the Spurs in the playoffs. This win was for those who thought that Dirk was never going to be able to rise up and be the superstar that they needed. This win was for Jason Terry’s career. This win was for all those who wish failure on Mark Cuban. This win was for those who hung in there.

Now, there is still 2 rounds to go. And there is still a very realistic chance at a NBA Title hanging out there for the Mavericks to win. But that is something to worry about tomorrow. Today, is a day to finally enjoy the toppling of a very worthy champ. You have sent the Spurs fishing. Very few teams ever have the chance to say that. In fact, aside from Kobe and Shaq, nobody in the West can say they have taken down the mighty Spurs. And you can not undersell that.

Phoenix awaits, and you wonder if by 7:30 tomorrow night the Mavericks could be focused on a dramatically different opponent so that they do not squander away home court advantage in the first game. But that can wait. Soak in the journey today. Soak in what you just saw for the past 16 days.

Magical basketball. Amazingly close. If only it was the NBA Finals.

Exclusive Bob’s Blog Game 7 Quickhits:

• Dirk Nowitzki had two moments last night that seemed to demonstrate his growth in the NBA. One was in the first half when everything was going great and the Mavericks were already ahead by an absurd 55-38 margin. Dirk took the ball right in front of the Mavs bench, and after the ball started squirting away and the play looked like complete chaos, Dirk did what few of us have grown to expect. He put his head down and headed for the hoop. He then exploded to the rim and got the dunk and the foul. That was a strong move that he has added as he has grown. And of course, that set up the play you see at the top of this page. Perhaps the strongest, most important basket ever scored in Dallas: down 104-101, Dirk does not settle for a weak 3 pointer. He decides to not fade away. He drives the lane, gets to the rim, and of course, the basket and the foul. He made two incredibly strong moves to the goal that punctuated two distinct halves of basketball. This, friends, is a superstar. 37 points, 15 rebounds at San Antonio in Game 7.

• Now, speaking of performances that were worthy of mention, I do not wish to go further than here to address the life and times of Jason Terry. On Saturday morning, I wrote the following:

…But for getting yourself suspended, everyone can keep as brave a face as they want. The fact is that Jason Terry may have cost his team a chance of a lifetime based on 1 moment of losing his head.

But, redemption has a funny way of offering itself to those who need it most.

Game 7 Monday is Jason’s chance. To save his reputation around these parts, I suggest he play pretty well.

Well, Terry did what he had to do. Be awesome in the most important game he had ever played. In the first half, the dude could not miss. What a clutch performance for a guy who was the target of the crowd. And then in the second half, after he cooled off, he still hit a few monster shots down the stretch. His career could have gone one of two ways last night, and he showed that he is one of the more underrated players in the league.

• The Mavericks are the 2nd team in the history of the NBA to win a Game 7 in overtime on the road. Let that soak in.

• Tell me that you planned to see Desagana Diop as a key player in overtime last night. Key stops on Tim Duncan and what an offensive rebound.

• In the end, how do you not respect the San Antonio Spurs players? I find it absolutely laughable that the guys on NBA TV were trying to convince me that the Spurs may be facing the end of an era. Let me tell you something: Next season, Duncan will be 30. Ginobili will be 29. And Parker will be 24. That is not old, kids. I get that they were saying their bench needs to be overhauled, but that will be easy when they you have those 3 guys in their primes. San Antonio will likely be the favorite in the West next season regardless of what happens the rest of the way this season.

• The focus on the Dirk drive that tied the game up was the Manu decision to foul. In the post game press conference, it was clear that his coach and his teammates wondered why he did not listen in the huddle and DO NOT FOUL. But, live by the Manu and die by the Manu. He is a great player, who made a poor decision. But, no player gained status in my sports brain like he did in this series.

• Let’s be honest for a moment: I felt horrible when the Mavericks weren’t missing in the first half. At first, it seemed great. But then, I started to wonder if we were all being pranked. Was it another Roadrunner-Coyote episode, where this time the Coyote gets a 20 point lead and a 3 games to 1 lead only to have the biggest meltdown ever to end it with the Roadrunner winning yet again? Nope. This time, the coyote was victorious. But, in the first half, we all knew that the Spurs were coming back, right?

• On the other hand, there was no doubt in my mind when they got the stop to end regulation that the Mavericks were going to win in overtime. Sure, they almost had no players left, but it just appeared that they got their confidence back on the Dirk drive and were not going to be denied.

• Newsflash: Mike Modano appears to be able to pick up hot blondes.

• Bill Russell was 10-0 in Game 7’s through his career. That is pretty tough to nitpick.

• Jerry Stackhouse has taken his share of abuse throughout this series, but his tough hoops in overtime gave him a strong feeling of contribution as well. Make no mistake, I believe everyone who wore the uniform and got in the game played an important role. Look no further than Keith Van Horn’s back to back 3’s to prove that.

• Was anyone else wondering what Josh Howard was thinking when Cuban would not let go of him with that warm embrace from behind? Seemed like a nice moment that quickly turned uncomfortable.

• Enjoy this. You finally Beat SA.

Game 6: Spurs 91, Mavs 86 (3-3)

In the words of the Musers drop: I'm so scared, baby.

Let’s play a quick game of connect the dots as we look back at another memorable contest in the series that we shall not soon forget:

- The Mavericks had major trouble scoring last night at very crucial moments.
- Jason Terry, one of the best scorers on the team got himself suspended.
- The Mavericks lost.
- Jason Terry is to blame more than any member of that team (Even Devin).

Sorry, but that is the way I see it. I know you are supposed to be able to go on without a player, and for purposes of injury, I agree. Even for wrongful prosecution, I agree. But for getting yourself suspended, everyone can keep as brave a face as they want. The fact is that Jason Terry may have cost his team a chance of a lifetime based on 1 moment of losing his head.

But, redemption has a funny way of offering itself to those who need it most.

Game 7 Monday is Jason’s chance. To save his reputation around these parts, I suggest he play pretty well. I am sure he knows this. I would imagine it was tough to be him on his couch as Devin Harris played like he was scared out of his mind.

The game itself had many talking points. But to cut to the chase, the Spurs responded as you would expect a champion to respond. That “other level” that they have been talking about finally made an appearance when the Mavericks needed to find a hoop. Dallas took poor shots and had no chance at the glass. The Spurs are feeling great right now because they have pulled even in a race that ends on Monday night.

And now, exclusive Bob’s Blog Quick Hits from Game 6:

• Who thought that you could hold Tony Parker to 3-15 and Tim Duncan would finally play a reasonably average game (8-21 from the field) and you would not beat them on your home court? Well, the unstoppable offenses on both sides through 5 games were not unstoppable in Game 6. With the exception of Dirk on one end and Manu on the other, this game featured a lot of offense that did not look very pretty. This is the kind of game that everyone expected before the series started and neither team would be able to stop the other.

• Since we mentioned Dirk, I really believe he has found a new level. He is on a mission. His emotions have never been higher as a leader and he is trying to pull everyone with him. I cannot believe how good he was last night, and if you want to rip him for a bad shot at the end, I can agree with you until you stop for a second and ask who he was going to go to Not saying it was a good choice, but if ever a dude seemed like he was out there by himself, it was in the final minutes of last night as Stackhouse has missed everything he has shot since the first quarter, Devin Harris needs to see Dr Melfi, and Jason Terry was on his couch. Sue him for taking one bad shot In a monster performance.

• I believe this is where generic sports commentator says this: “You know, as close and competitive as this series has been, there is no other way it should end than in a Game 7”. Phooey. But, get ready to embrace that idea.

• 85-84, Spurs. 2:00 to play, and the Mavericks get another key stop. Devin Harris takes the ball in front of Avery Johnson and hits the gas down the sideline. By the time he gets past mid-court, Bennett Salvatore decides that this is a good time for him to take the game over and call Harris for a mysterious offensive foul on Bruce Bowen. Bowen sold it well, and Salvatore bit, so as the Mavericks are going for the lead, they get stopped. And not by the Spurs. So much for the home cooking that the first 5 games seemed to offer.

• Earlier in the series I wondered what planet Manu Ginobili was on and why he wasn’t a factor in the series. I would like to take that back. You might be able to start making cases for him for series MVP if there was such an award. That dude has likely silenced me for the rest of his career. What an awesome player. But, seriously; where was he in Game 1 and Game 2?

• You might have expected Marquis Daniels and Devin Harris to play like spares last night. We have all rushed Devin to superstar status in about 10 days, so you had to see one of these games coming. But Jerry Stackhouse? He starts 3-3 and finishes 1-12. Ouch. C’mon, brother. You aren’t helping that reputation of yours that says you are better when the game is not on the line.

• Greg Popovich is a genius. I am amazed at how good a coach he is.

• Don’t tell me that Michael Finley didn’t win that battle last night. I wanted to see him fail, too, but if ever a guy stuck it up the rear end of 20,000 people, Ol’ Fin-dog did just that last night. I am pretty sure he dedicated that to Mark Cuban.

• 84% of home teams win Game 7. The Spurs are home Monday.

• 16% of road teams win Game 7. The Mavericks are on the road Monday.

• Mavericks are 2-1 in Game 7’s all-time. Lost to the Lakers in ’88 on the road, beat Portland and Sacramento at home in ’03.

• If you thought Spurs fans were insufferable before this series, just wait until they get done with this comeback. If they are successful, you may not want to see your Spurs buddy on Tuesday. This is where rivalries are made.

• Can you imagine the pressure on Jason Terry? I have called him “nails” in this series. I guess we are about to find out.

• Beat SA, please?

Game 5: Spurs 98, Mavs 97 (Mavs 3-2)

I hate to say, “what are you going to do?”. But, “what are you going to do?” Think about it. You have a night to eliminate the World Champions on their home court. They throw everything at you. Everything. Even Spurs fans were admitting that they cannot play much better than they did in Game 5. You are at their place. With their fans. And their stars playing like stars.

And you still have a shot to win it. A good one. And a rebound.

Sure, it doesn’t fall, but did we learn something in Game 5 that these two teams have been trying to explain for the last week and a half? That the Dallas Mavericks are now a good enough team that they can take the best punch the San Antonio Spurs have to offer over and over again and can still shrug it off and win? Time will tell. But, honestly, with both teams doing everything they can to beat the other, I am amazed at how good the Mavericks have become. And despite the fact that San Antonio stayed alive by the skin of their teeth, the Mavs should not fear what lies ahead.

They have every chance to win this series on Friday. And, based on the first 3 games in the Alamo city, they will have every chance to win in Game 7 on Monday if it is necessary.

All credit is due to the Spurs for gutting out a win, but I think the Mavericks earned a lot of credit from those Spurs last night, too. The Mavericks and Spurs both showed immense resolve last night. What else is new? Both of these teams have played 3 classics in a row and someone is a few days from their offseason. Nice job of seeding, David Stern.

And now, exclusive Bob’s Blog Observations for Game 5:

• It is almost impossible to explain the performances of Tim Duncan. He has always been great, but I wonder if he has ever been this good. It is almost comical, as Diop, Dampier, and Dirk do everything they can to try to complicate matters for Duncan, but he still shrugs it off and scores again. For a guy coming off a pretty poor season, he is amazing.

• Dirk was everything you want your superstar to be last night. I wonder about the tip in at the end of the game, but for 48 minutes, Dirk wanted the ball and knew what to do with it. Give credit to the Spurs and Bruce Bowen for surviving those last 10 seconds, but Dirk had to make a Mavericks fan proud last night with his two large cajones.

• How about that zone? The Spurs took an 81-71 lead late in the 3rd, and Avery called a timeout and applied a zone defense for the first time in the series. All that did is get about 4 stops in a row, and allowed the Mavericks to cut the deficit prior to the 4th Quarter. I don’t know if you were unaware of this, but Avery Johnson is a basketball genius.

• I enjoyed driving back to the hotel last night and hearing generic Spurs announcer tell me in the post game show, “finally the refs got it right”. Kinda weird, the refs are good when the Spurs win, and the refs suck when the Spurs lose.

• I do have to hand it to Spurs fan. Wow. That is a crowd that is absurd. My ears still hurt. They cheer a basket in the 1st Quarter like it is the game winner. I have no idea how they keep it up for 3 hours, but they really do. That place is loud, and those fans are as advertised. Nuts.

• Manu Ginobili is really clutch on defense. So is Bruce Bowen, obviously, but in the last three games, there have been numerous occasions when Manu sticks his hands in a play and screws up a Mavericks possession. Very underrated on defense, I think.

• The Spurs have dude cheerleaders. I am not kidding. Discuss.

• I am not positive, but I am doubting last night was one of those nights where Keith Van Horn felt he was in the zone. 4 fouls in 3 minutes is a tough way to return to action. Just a reminder to anyone who forgot: The 1997 NBA Draft’s top 3 picks was #1 Tim Duncan, #2 Keith Van Horn, and #3 Chauncey Billups. Rank them.

• I have said it before and I will say it again: I don’t think the winner of this series will have a whole lot left in the tank. Do not underestimate the meat grinder that this series has become.

• You didn’t think that this was going to be easy, did you? Those Spurs were not going quietly. Now, the Mavericks need to hit the accelerator. Game 6 will be the 4th game in 7 days, which has to benefit the Mavericks younger legs. Game 6 will be in Dallas which has to benefit the Mavericks. This is an opportunity that you really don’t want to let pass by.

• Tony Parker has got to be one of the 3 best point guards in the NBA. There is really no way you can convince me he is not.

• Barkley took a shot at the Mavericks for celebrating too much after Game 4. I did not see the Game 5 comments, but let me tell you, the Spurs were pretty freaking happy after Dirk missed that shot. I am sure he let them have it, right.

• Mavericks offensive game plan: Find Finley, Van Exel, or Barry, and whoever they are guarding gets the ball. Repeat until they are taken out of the game. Then, find Finley, Van Exel, or Barry, and whoever they are guarding gets the ball. Repeat.

• Spurs offensive game plan: Post up Duncan. Repeat.

• I cannot wait for Friday night. This should be great.

Wednesday - Game 5

Shortest Blog in sometime as I have to get to Love Field immediately. Game 5 tonight should be excellent. I look forward to the anti-Mavs, anti-Refs atmosphere. I must also concede my confidence level is reasonably low for success tonight for the Mavericks, but let’s all remember their road performance is awesome. A win tonight is advisable given the consequences of a loss. No one should take the urgency of closing these guys out lightly.

As for the Rangers, 3 Blown Saves in 1 night. Nice.


Noted Spurs Homer Buck Harvey pulls out the “I believe” column …

I believe bad calls happen to good people.

I believe Mark Cuban had nothing to do with either game in Dallas. He doesn't intimidate refs; he irritates them. If anything, the officials should want to make sure they don't have to see Cuban in another round.

I believe conspiracy talk is both fun and fiction. David Stern will celebrate the elimination of the small market that has eroded his TV ratings over the last number of years, but the sentiment doesn't seep to the game itself.

And I believe something else. I believe the Spurs, right or wrong, are seething. They think they should be coming home with the series tied, at worst, and they think others have stopped this from happening.

Unlike other teams who have faced historic deficits in the playoffs, the Spurs don't feel beaten as much as they feel abused.

---

But can the Spurs win a home game tonight? Can they then go back to Dallas, where they were within two plays of winning two games, and steal one? If that happens, how will the Mavericks feel about coming back to San Antonio for a Game 7?
I believe it can happen.

Because I've seen it before.

Chuck Carlton, who I don’t believe lived here before 2000, rates the top 10 playoff moments in Mavericks history …as a fellow transplant, I think I might have tried to find someone who was here for the 80’s runs, but that is just me….

Ramonce Taylor on my space …

And now, an email:

To the guy in the next cubicle over,

You continuously seem to mention that Tim Duncan whines about fouls and the like, but you always fail to mention that Dirk is just as bad. I know you are just being a homer, but please recognize that Duncan isn’t the only one on the court whining.
I am the rare Mavs and Spurs fan, I grew up going to Mavs games all the time and am a huge fan ever since the days of Tony Dumas, Doug Smith, and Donald Hodge, but I also grew up admiring the player and person that David Robinson was and is. So, I appreciate both teams and what their players can do, and my feelings on this series are pretty much a wash since I am ok with either team winning, but you have to admit that as bad as Duncan is about fouls, Dirk can be just as whiny and act just as surprised as well.

Just my thoughts.

Later, P1,
Brian

First off, nobody should be allowed to claim that they like both teams. Pick one. Second, the difference between Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki is that one has been thought of as a soft whiner his whole career and one is thought of as possibly the finest player of this generation. I am simply making sure people are aware of Duncan’s annoying habit that he has developed more and more since David Robinson has retired.

Got a plane to catch.

Beat SA. Party on, Garth.

Game 4: Mavs 123, Spurs 118 (OT), Mavs 3-1

It’s the first team to FOUR.
It doesn’t matter how you get to FOUR
Just get there before the other team
And you win the series. - A Wise Man


We are witnessing basketball at its highest form. Whoever calls 74-72 games “playoff basketball” can keep it. I prefer this. Both teams trying to kill eachother. Both teams with the inability to even slow down their opponents' offense. And both teams exausted when the game ends.

It is almost too good to be true: The Mavericks have taken the Spurs best efforts and have still figured out how to win both times in Games 3 and 4. Now, it is time to end them. That can happen Wednesday night in San Antonio, and I strongly suggest you finish them now. Give the defending world champions a chance to taste victory on Wednesday, and you will find that this series is far from over.

It is not the first team to three.

Bob’s Blog Exclusive Game 4 Notes:

• The beauty of this run is that it is all about the team. We constantly hear how it is a star’s league, and your star has to beat their star. The Mavericks in this series are demonstrating how depth determines this series. Game 2, it is Harris and Howard. Game 3 it is Harris and Terry. Game 4 it is Terry and Stackhouse. Two different players join the battle each game and help Dirk with the heavy lifting that he is probably not capable of doing himself. But, credit to the personnel people in this organization. The bottom line is that the Spurs top 3 may be better than the Mavs top 3. But what about 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9? No question. The Mavericks are killing them.

• Speaking of that, what a different night for the former Mavericks. While Michael Finley stood tall and made several huge shots, Nick Van Exel demonstrated he cannot even be on the court without being exposed and looking painfully old. He entered the game in the late 3rd Quarter, and quickly allowed Devin blow by him for the basket and the foul and then the next trip, Marquis did the same thing. 2 possessions, 2 three point plays because Nick cannot guard anyone anymore.

• I realize that we will wonder why Dirk did not get more clutch hoops at the end (as he watched Jason Terry do it) but we cannot forget the incredible shots he was hitting early to keep the Mavericks around. This has been a pretty solid series for the big German against huge adversity.

• I love the idea that the Mavericks lineup is really a bunch of DB’s. Terry, Daniels, Howard, Harris, and Stackhouse could likely make a pretty solid nickel. Very solid comparison.

• Here is an email I received moments after the game:

Congratulate Mark Cuban for all his incessant whining about the referees. He finally got all the calls he wanted, especially down the stretch. The referees obviously blew two calls down the stretch:

1. The blocking foul on Duncan with the Spurs up by 5 103-98. Duncan was clearly outside the inner circle and clearly had position before Nowitzki got to the area. As a result, the Spurs got a technical, Nowitzki made 2 free throws, and Spurs up by two instead of 5 with the ball.

2. The invisible foul by Bowen on Nowitki when Nowitzki was backing Bowen down at the end of the 4th quarter. Where was the foul? A tap on the wrist? Are the players supposed to decide the game?

You can say that the Spurs got some calls like Parker's shot that didn't hit the rim and they gave the ball back to the Spurs. But all the critical calls went to the Mavs. Congrats Cuban, you have molded the officials so that they can win some games for the Mavs.

Cesar Termulo

Poor guys. I feel for the Spurs fans. They just can’t buy a call. Or complete an inbounds pass.

• Ginobili was amazing. That sequence where he hit back-to-back 3’s was sick. I was very impressed with his games in Dallas. Of course, fouling out did not help matters for the Champs.

• Jason Terry loves the big shot. He did it last year in the playoffs and he did it last night. Jason Terry does not miss when it counts, it seems. The ability to hit a big shot is not something that every star player can hit. In fact, many big shot makers are not superstars. But Jason Terry is someone who calms the fans when he has the rock in clutch time.

• Here is another email from Hektor: Two words to describe the Mavericks: NO MERCY Amen, Hektor.

• Charles Barkley is a big, fat idiot.

• Let’s not forget the play of Jerry Stackhouse. His basketball IQ may be inconsistent, but he can beat anyone off the dribble. He is borderline unstoppable when he wants to score. Money.

• Do you think Tony Parker was tired of hearing about Devin Harris? Geez. What a clinic from Parker in that 1st Quarter. See, that is the odd thing about this whole series. The best players on each team have been really good. It isn’t like the Spurs have played like crap. They could have won both games in Dallas. But, history doesn’t show who “could have” won. Scoreboard.

• Booing Michael Finley is idiotic. There. I said it. I am not saying love him, but to treat him as public enemy #1 around here is stupid.

• Let me get this straight: It is the refs fault? Whatever.

• If the Mavericks are able to win anything that shines a lot this summer, it will be a miracle that you can win with someone like Diop playing big minutes at center. Let me explain: I love the guy. I really do. And his blocked shots are wonderful. But, I cannot express how clueless he appears at times. He has no judgment with foul trouble as he hacks even if he has 5 fouls and Dampier is already fouled out. Also, what is more humorous than Diop ending up with the ball in a scoring position? It borders on painful.

• I really enjoy seeing the Spurs fans unhappy. I think that has been stated time and time again here. But, most of the players are not guys I like to see fail. Except Bruce Bowen. I think I enjoy watching him fail.

• Something tells me that whoever wins this series will be pretty tired. And keep in mind, the winner will still require 8 more wins to win the NBA Title.

• Beat SA, Beat SA, Beat SA, Beat SA