| 18 April 2009
The Spurs looked good in the first half but were out of sync in the second half. The Mavericks played nearly flawless basketball in the second half, giving up one turnover. Yeah, one. That doesn't happen very often in the playoffs, especially from the Mavericks on the road. They hadn't won a road playoff game in 9 tries, so this win means even more than usual for the Mavs than it would to another team. Plus, they won Game 1. Mike Tirico said playoff teams win 80% of series if they get the first one. So there you go.
Dirk Nowitzki had an average night, well for Dirk anyways. Josh Howard was impressive, getting 25 points on the night. There were worries about the chronic ankle injury he is fighting, but he looked like he is just fine tonight.
It was a tale of two benches basically. The Spurs got no offensive production and the Mavs got more than they could have hoped for. Jason Terry, Brandon Bass and J.J. Barea were all over the court, making the plays that the Spurs role players couldn't.
Brandon Bass was 7-9 from the field, and if you haven't heard of him, well get ready. This past week I've had the opportunity to focus on him in games, and he does everything you want from a bench player. He doesn't make mistakes when controlling the ball, he takes smart shots and he will D up anybody you want him to.
Tony Parker looked like he was going to have a career night the way he was playing in the first half. He got to the basket whenever he wanted and nabbed 13 points and 7 assists in the . But he slowed down in the second half, seemingly worn out by Barea, who is just as quick as the Frenchman. The officials also were hip to Parker's little shove-off, and he was called for offensive fouls multiple times.
Jason Kidd may be the starting point guard for the Mavericks, but it might be just a matter of time before J.J. Barea takes the reins. The Spurs had no answer for him, and his penetration into the heart of the Spurs' defense stunned them. When he missed the lay-ups, Erick Dampier, who I was extremely critical of in the series preview, was there for the tip-in.
Neither team is going to win with their stars alone. Originally I was of the opinion that the Spurs had the advantage because their bench had experienced playoff players like Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas. Now I'm not so sure. Drew Gooden was the only member of San Antonio's bench that shot more than 2 shots. Can Greg Popovich ride his starters all the way this series? If he does, they can't be expected to go much farther in the playoffs. Tim Duncan is worn out as it is.
Why the Mavericks Won
The Mavericks won because they did the unexpected. Ball protection and bench contribution were the keys to Dallas stealing a win in San Antonio. Maybe there should be shirts printed by Mark Cuban that say "Life is a Bench." For Dallas, their playoff hopes will rest on it. They can't win games with just Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard. I love Jason Kidd, but he isn't a premiere scorer. But Rick Carlisle may have found the Spurs' achilles heel. Parker is going to have to expend energy on the defensive end of the floor if Barea can heat up.
Why the Spurs Lost
The Spurs lost because they had to ask Tim Duncan and Tony Parker to do it all by themselves. 1 bench point in the second half. That is how much the Spurs second-stringers brought to the game. You think they miss Manu Ginobili? The Spurs looked confused in the second half. Maybe it was not being given the benefit of the calls at home. Maybe the team is not capable of getting the boost at home they're used to now that Ginobili is absent. The Texas two-some of Tim Duncan and Parker were good, scoring 27 and 24 points respectively. But there just wasn't the effort or dominance that we're used to from San Antonio teams of the past late in the game.
Heading into Next Game
The Spurs have to find a way to get scoring off the bench. It is also imperative that they get the next game. Heading to Dallas down 0-2 would be devastating to the team's morale. The younger and more athletic Mavericks bench gave the Spurs headaches tonight. Imagine what Dallas could be like if Dirk gets hot to go with the bench's support. Scary. Dallas can't be content to just win one on the road. Their history tells us that much. They have the chance to put their foot on the Spurs' throats if they take the first two.
Prediction for Game 2- Spurs win a close game
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