Show-Stopper

Dirk Nowitzki scored 36 points as the Mavericks took game one at home, 100-94. (AP Photo/The Dallas Morning News,Louis DeLuca)

In last season's postseason against the San Antonio Spurs, Dirk Nowitzki was unable to get into a scoring groove thanks largely to Spurs' Coach Gregg Popovich's relentless double-teams. This time around, Pop elected to go mano-a-mano with the Dallas Mavericks' superstar and he made them pay to the tune of 12-14 shooting and a game-high 36 points.

"We're going to need him to keep delivering big-time for us," Coach Rick Carlisle said.

Nowitzki consistently put the ball on the floor against a Spurs' defense that played tight on him, almost daring him to drive. The former MVP went to the line 12 times for the game (making all 12) as he refused to settle for the jump-shots San Antonio offered. Antonio McDyess, Matt Bonner, and Tim Duncan all took turns on Nowitzki, playing him aggressively for the jump shot. Late in the game Popovich finally began to send an extra man to contest Nowitzki, but it was too late as he had already found his groove. Nowitzki was absolutely dominant on the night - as he is so often in the playoffs.

The Mavericks took their largest lead at 100-88 with 1:54 left in the fourth quarter on a Jason Terry 3-pointer. It was only Terry's second made basket of the game, but it was a big one, and his ice cold start (1-8) was negated by the huge baseline 3.

Although, as the final score indicates, the Mavericks were never fully-able to put the Spurs away for the majority of the game. San Antonio consistently battled back every time it seemed Dallas was about to go on a game-breaking run. Tim Duncan - a familiar foe for Dallas in postseason's past - led the Spurs with 27 points and eight rebounds, as he proved he still has a lot left in the tank. Manu Ginobili, who missed last year's playoff series due to injury, scored 27 points on 10-17 shooting and was a constant thorn in the Mavs side throughout the game.

The Spurs went on an 11-2 run to start the second-half, taking a 56-54 lead - their first lead of the game since an 8-7 lead early in the first quarter - and it seemed they were poised to show the Mavericks that it wasn't going to be that easy. But Dallas battled back, gradually increasing their lead until it was seven at the end of the third quarter and San Antonio never got closer than five the rest of the way.

Before we get too excited about the victory, realize that the Mavericks did what they were supposed to do: win game one at home. In my opinion, a playoff series doesn't really begin until someone wins a game on the road. But that is one of the major factors in the Mavericks' favor, they are the best road team in the NBA. Also, the Spurs shot 50 percent from the field compared to 47.3 percent for the Mavericks so they can't expect to allow a team to make one of every two shots and win this series. Dallas definitely has some work to be done on the defensive end. (There's a line from Pulp Fiction that I want to put in here but likely should not. Something from Winston Wolf about the journey not being completed yet...)

Game two is Wednesday night, expect a full-preview in the days leading up to the game.

Mavs' Newcomers Make Their Mark

Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood showed tonight just why the Mavericks made a blockbuster trade to acquire them just before the All-Star game.

Butler showed he is capable of being the second-option on offense, scoring 22 points while slashing toward the basket on a consistent basis all-game long. On the defensive end he also showed the quick hands Dallas has been clamoring for at the shooting guard position. Butler had three steals for the game and the ability to switch between him and Shawn Marion on an opposing team's top scorer - and not losing anything during the exchange - is a huge positive for the Mavericks.

Even though he didn't fare well against Duncan on the defensive end (finally a good reason for Erick Dampier's spot on the Mavs' roster)Haywood proved that he can be an inside scorer when the Mavericks need one. Haywood scored 10 points on 4-5 shooting and grabbed six rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench. His inside scoring and penchant for the and-one play paid dividends in his stretches on the floor for Dallas.

Hack-A-Damp

Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich employed his version of the famous hack-a-Shaq Don Nelson experiment, intentionally fouling Mavericks center Erick Dampier away from the ball in the third quarter. Dampier made 4-6 free-throws during this stretch (he made only 1-6 total for the game) as Pop's plan backfired.

It seems as though the "genius" coach pushed the wrong buttons in this situation.

News and Notes:

• The Spurs committed 17 turnovers on the night that led to 20 points for the Mavericks. Tim Duncan led the way with six. This was a huge reason Dallas was able to win despite being out-shot from the field.
• Jason Kidd scored 13 points, dished out 11 assists, grabbed eight rebounds and had four steals in a monster game. While he seemed a little overeager at times (four turnovers on the night) Kidd did everything within his power to lead Dallas to a win.
• George Hill started at point guard and scored zero points and had two turnovers in 18 minutes. Look for Tony Parker (18 points, four assists) to start game two.
  

(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)