Change is in the Air

by

Tony Parker was interviewed after last night’s loss and reads the writing on the wall:

I’m disappointed but I’m not angry. Dallas was stronger. You had to accept it. Their win was logical. Now, I hope that San Antonio will make good job this summer to improve the team. Maybe that this elimination will bring something positive. Spurs wanted to continue with this team until 2010. Now, if we want to stay competitive next year, we have to make big changes.

(HT: Bruno, for the find and translation.)

  • SpurredOn

    I’d like to accept Graydon’s challenge, as one last review of this series, to show why I’m not as impressed with the poise of the Mavs. This indictment is more a criticism of our play than it’s meant to take away from the Mavs, but it has an impact on strategy and letting players with a history of succumbing to pressure off the hook.

    The Mavs never trailed in this series. Critical reason? They only trailed by score in the combined 2nd halves of games 3, 4 & 5 for a total of 1:35. Yep, the first 75 seconds of game 4’s 3rd quarter. Consider that they only trailed for the first 1:33 of the 4th quarter in gm 1. That stretch of 73 seconds represents the only occasion they were ever behind in the final quarter of their four wins. Pathetic. They didn’t have to shoot under pressure, face any doubt or play desperate on defense. Everything came easy, with the exception of gm 2.
    It also kept Pop from resting Tony and TD.

    I credit the Mavs for jumping the Spurs in gm 1, and early in the last three games. Our guys never responded, thus I’m not sure what was learned about a team that could always play free and easy. I doubt the Nuggets (seems shocking to type) will suffer from the same scoring droughts.

    Thanks. Had to get that off my chest.

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  • Lukas

    In response to SpurredOn’s comment about the resolve and poise of the Mavs…they came into your house and took TWO GAMES my friend. TWO out of THREE games…the last to close the series out. I think that shows some toughness and some of the “put your foot down on their throat” finishing power that, I agree, seems to have been missing from this team in the past. I respect the Spurs franchise as a Mavericks fan…but to call the Mavs “nothing special” sounds like you being a bitter fan of the losing team. Also, I would point out (and I’m surprised…pleasantly so…that I’m writing this) that Josh Howard was probably the key to putting these games away in this series…toughing it out on an obviously injured ankle. That also shows some poise and toughness…not something usually written about Howard. Hopefully, a change in a young man who’s always shown talent, but not always the right focus or commitment.

    Here’s to renewing the rivalry next year Spurs. LETS GO MAVS!!!

  • SpurredOn

    Lukas - we disagree on a few fronts. I think Kidd was the MVP of the series. His leadership, 3pt shooting, pacing the offense and steals led his team. Timing of his baskets were critical, even when getting blown out in gm 2, as he always kept his team in the game right down to the 3rd quarter ending shot last game. Howard’s points make him a logical choice but without Kidd playing as he did, the Spurs certainly win game 4 and we’d have a different series.

    I stand by my original point. The ability to fight from behind shows me more than never having to fight. Game 1 turned this series and the Mavs deserve all the credit playing like winning it mattered, the Spurs all the blame for treating it much more casually and not awakening until gm 2. When playing a fragile team you can never give them life. My point about the Mavs goes back to their playoff loss to Golden St (never lead that series, succumbed to the pressure), Miami (once they lost their lead they could never recover) and last year (loose game 1, blown out going forward). San Antonio never put dallas in a position to respond, which is something at which the Mavs do not excel. Credit the Mavs, absolutely, but the Spurs did not play up to even their injured ability.

    You may question my take on them being fragile and unpoised, but I think the behavior of Dampier last night and Terry at various points this series proves a great deal about who and what they are.

  • ChillFAN

    Spurredon, I got to say that coming from behind is not the only way to show mental toughness. The Mavs stayed focused, and maybe as you assert, the Spurs never put up much resistance, but the Mavs played team basketball from start to finish in their four wins. I expect the Mavs to be more mentally tough than the Denver team that takes entire quarters off defensively.

    If we criticize the Mavs it’s because we are bitter or mad at how pathetic the Spurs played.