Will the San Antonio Spurs come back with a vengeance? Can the Mavericks stand their ground? Today's game will not be easy for the Dallas Mavericks. At least we all know it won't be as easy as the last game. This is a San Antonio team that has a lot of pride and a lot of championships. Four to be exact, in the last 10 years. This is not a team that is going to go quietly as they still see themselves as championship contenders. It's not like the Spurs played terribly at Dallas on Thursday night, the Mavericks just played a phenomenal game from start to finish. Dallas came out with an intensity on the offensive and defensive end that enabled them to take control of the game from the very beginning. If they come out with the same intensity today, I don't know if anybody can beat the Mavs, much less an old and injured Spurs team.
There is good news and bad news about today's game. Bad news first:
The bad news is I expect this San Antonio team to hit the Mavs with their best game of not only this series but the season. The Spurs were thoroughly embarrassed Thursday in Dallas. They set numerous franchise record lows for the playoffs both individually and as a team. I think they will come into this game angry and it will show as their play will become more aggressive. The good news is Dallas is still at home and that will make it much easier to take the Spurs best shot and maybe even get in a huge counter-punch. The Mavs have been the aggressors at home all season long, I don't see that changing today.
3 keys to a TKO of the 4-time champs:
- Starting Little JJB: Barrea was like the energizer bunny in game 3: he just kept going and going and going into the paint at will against the Spurs. He is the Mavericks only player who consistently gets to the basket, no matter the situation. What has been so great about JJB's play recently is if he gets bottled up in the lane he has the ability to dish the ball out to the open man (see his 7 assists in game 3) and he keeps his dribble alive so well (homeless man's Steve Nash?) that if his penetration is turned away he can dribble back out and reset the play. JJ Barrea is a game changer because (like an energizer battery), Dallas feeds off of his energy and intensity. If he starts out well again, this might be another long night for the Spurs.
- Dallas Must Not Rest On It's Laurels After a Big Win: Unfortunately for Mavs fans, Dallas has not been the most consistent team in the league this year to say the least. But this is not Memphis coming to town this afternoon, its the hated rival Spurs. I don't see any way the Mavericks can let up this game, they want this game bad and they especially want a defining game for them to be against San Antonio. J-Kidd, J-Ho, Damp, Dirk, Barrea, Bass: all played game 3 like it was their last and it led to their best defensive performance ever in the playoffs. There may be somewhat of a slow start compared to the last game, but overall I see the Mavs playing this game hard to the end.
- Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard Must Continue to be a Problem for the Spurs on Offense: Both Dirk and J-Ho had very efficient offensive performances in game 3. They combined to shoot 14-24 from the floor for 37 points combined in 3 quarters of play. Dirk was not settling for contested jump shots as he manuevered his way closer to the basket and away from defenders for open looks. Howard was the slasher every Mavs fan wants him to be, relentlessly attacking the rim. Even with Jason Terry still in somewhat of a funk, the Mavericks can win this game on Nowitzki and Howard's offensive capablities alone. I expect Dirk to have a huge game tonight with at least 30 points (the Mavs will need every single one) and J-Ho will do his normal Robin thing with 15-20 points and 5-8 boards.
Clutch defense and clutch shooting in the 4th quarter lead to a 2nd Mavs win in a row.
Mavs win, lead series 3-1.
No comments:
Post a Comment