If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

[Chewingthehardfacts]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

At least with not a healthy Duncan

[Freelance]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

Nobody is beating the Spurs, sorry.

I'd argue with you, but I like your tag line too much.

[jujuhound]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

Yao and TMac played their best game.

The Mavericks played their best game.

The loser of this game is at a severe disadvantage. They know they played their best ball, and they still lost, which is a huge demoralizer.

What? You must not have seen many Mavs games. The Mavs haven't even played close to their best yet. Dirk and Stack (the go-to guys on the team) have both been off. Actually, Dirk has been beyond off, more like terrible.

[noa999]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

The Suns will have a harder time playing fast against the Rockets, especially since both teams have problems with the boards. The Rockets, on offense, don't send much players to rebound. The Suns do something similar, but on the defensive end. The result will be a slower tempo game than most of you are willing to admit.

[Brankles]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

What? You must not have seen many Mavs games. The Mavs haven't even played close to their best yet. Dirk and Stack (the go-to guys on the team) have both been off. Actually, Dirk has been beyond off, more like terrible.

They had six people in double figures... shot 50% from the field and 10 of 15 from behind the arc.

As a team, this was one of the best games the Mavs have played all season. Sure, Dirk was off, but he still managed to score 26, and other players (Terry and Howard) stepped up.

The only game I've seen that was better from the Mavs this year was against the Rockets... when Dirk had 53 and TMac had 48.


Game 2 may not have been the best games the Mavs have ever played, but it's the best game they could play against the Rockets and their smothering defense.

I'm sure you've seen them destroy the Bobcats before. But this is the Rockets, and this is the playoffs.


Holla

[jujuhound]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

They had six people in double figures... shot 50% from the field and 10 of 15 from behind the arc.

As a team, this was one of the best games the Mavs have played all season. Sure, Dirk was off, but he still managed to score 26, and other players (Terry and Howard) stepped up.

The only game I've seen that was better from the Mavs this year was against the Rockets... when Dirk had 53 and TMac had 48.


Game 2 may not have been the best games the Mavs have ever played, but it's the best game they could play against the Rockets and their smothering defense.

I'm sure you've seen them destroy the Bobcats before. But this is the Rockets, and this is the playoffs.


Holla

Sounds like you've been studying the stat books pretty hard. Actually watching the game, I can say that in comparison to the way the Mavs played the Suns, Spurs, Rockets and several other great teams during the year, this was no where near their best performance. I know things are different in the playoffs, but most of the guys have plenty of playoff experience and should be playing better. The Mavs can most certainly play better and I think they probably will before the series is over.

Since you're a stats boy, against Houston this year Dirk averaged 34.3 and 11 while shooting 49%, Terry 15 ppg 5 assists, Finley 20 ppg 5 reb, Stack 13 ppg 5 assists. These guys are off. I'm not saying they are better than Houston when Yao and T-mac are playing the way they are right now, but they are most definitely not playing their best basketball.

[Streets]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

A couple things I'd like to say.

I love how everyone keeps doubting the Suns because theyre a run and gun team.

Noone is doubting the Suns man. I've said it before, The Pistons and Heat in the East, and that Spurs and Suns in the west is who just about everyone has going to the WC and EC finals respectively. You guys are getting respect.

The Rockets on the other hand have been disrespected all year. The Mavs board on ESPN was already talking about the second round. Alot of people said Dirk was off and it's nothing we did defensively (even though we held opponents to the second lowest fg% all year), and he WON'T have two off-nights.

Now based on only two playoff games, people are singing the rockets and tmac's praises. I've been telling people all year that tmac has stepped his game up, and noone would listen. I said he's an amazing passer, unselfish, a great defender, etc. I'm just glad that people finally see what I've been saying all year. It's not like this Rox team is suddenly winning. We've been winning all year. Despite the 6-11 start we still ended up winning 51 games!

As far as the suns out running the Rockets, I don't wanna comment on them because I'm not arrogant enough to think we're gonna see round two, but if we happen to match up, I wouldnt count on small ball/ run and gun guarenteeing a phoenix victory. The #2 small ball team is the Mavs. In game 1, we limited their run and gun style and kept it in half court, and in game 2 we beat them at their own game.

That said I definately think that phoenix is the favorite to win that (potential) series. Although they have a similar style of play to the Mavs, they are better at it and have MUCH more chemistry. Their best record in the NBA is no fluke and I have the utmost respect for them.

Back to Mavs mode, I think that Game 3 is a must win for the Rockets, if they somehow beat us at home, that could give them the confidence (and lower ours) to take another, and just like that we're tied and theyre on a 2 game winning streak. We play better w/ our backs against the walls, and right now we have a nice two game cushion. I know JVG will have the troops ready, but AJ will as well.

[KillRoy]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

Sounds like you've been studying the stat books pretty hard. Actually watching the game, I can say that in comparison to the way the Mavs played the Suns, Spurs, Rockets and several other great teams during the year, this was no where near their best performance. I know things are different in the playoffs, but most of the guys have plenty of playoff experience and should be playing better. The Mavs can most certainly play better and I think they probably will before the series is over.

Since you're a stats boy, against Houston this year Dirk averaged 34.3 and 11 while shooting 49%, Terry 15 ppg 5 assists, Finley 20 ppg 5 reb, Stack 13 ppg 5 assists. These guys are off. I'm not saying they are better than Houston when Yao and T-mac are playing the way they are right now, but they are most definitely not playing their best basketball.

I think Brankles is right... as a "TEAM" they played about as good as they can play in game 2 and still couldn`t win. Think about it.... They scored 111 points and lost the game.

This alone should worry Dallas fans and Suns` fans too! The thing is, the Rockets can play different styles of ball or they can match up against different styles of ball. They can match up against small ball and/or they can grind it out in a half court battle. They have a rather diverse team. But until they can atleast get passed the 2nd round they really haven`t done anything.

[jujuhound]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

I think Brankles is right... as a "TEAM" they played about as good as they can play in game 2 and still couldn`t win. Think about it.... They scored 111 points and lost the game.

I disagree with that statement. The Mavs scored 110 or more in 24 games this year. They are a high-scoring team. Not all of those 24 games were the top Mavericks games of the year. Three of their top guys, Dirk, Stack and Finley did not play well. the other guys didn't have world-beating games or go above and beyond what they do quite often. They played up to their potential while the key guys did not. Hence, not their best team game yet. Maybe the Rockets D will keep the Mavs out of rhythm all series and that will be the best the Mavs can do, but right now, I don't think we've seen their best.

[Brankles]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

I disagree with that statement. The Mavs scored 110 or more in 24 games this year. They are a high-scoring team. Not all of those 24 games were the top Mavericks games of the year. Three of their top guys, Dirk, Stack and Finley did not play well. the other guys didn't have world-beating games or go above and beyond what they do quite often. They played up to their potential while the key guys did not. Hence, not their best team game yet. Maybe the Rockets D will keep the Mavs out of rhythm all series and that will be the best the Mavs can do, but right now, I don't think we've seen their best.

That's good, they scored 110 in the regular season 24 times... but, like I said before, they're playing the Rockets, and it's in the playoffs. We're not talking about the Bobcats, Bucks and Hornets of the league here, in some meaningless game.

I also did say that TMac and Yao played some of their best ball. Besides Wesley going 1-10, the role players also played very good basketball on the Rockets side.

So don't take offense at me saying the Mavs at their best lost to the Rockets at their best. Next game, the Rockets could go into a horrible shooting slump, and easily lose.

I just don't see the Mavericks playing much better than that. Sure, Finley was a non-factor, but he only took 8 shots, and made 3 of them. It's not like he was 7-44 (ahemIversonahem). Josh Howard easily made up for Finley's lack of productivity. Dirk could also have made a few more shots... but the Mavericks freakin' shot 50% from the field. I don't see them going above that, especially against the Rockets. That's an incredible number.

The thing is, you're not going to see Finley, Dirk and Stackhouse all have 20+ point games. Don't expect that at all. The Rockets are one of the top defensive teams in the league, and the Mavericks just played to their full potential against the Rockets squad on Monday night.


Holla

[jujuhound]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

That's good, they scored 110 in the regular season 24 times... but, like I said before, they're playing the Rockets, and it's in the playoffs. We're not talking about the Bobcats, Bucks and Hornets of the league here, in some meaningless game.

They scored 100+ 3 out of 4 against Houston and 110+ 2 of 4. They can put up big numbers like that and not be playing at their best. I was responding to Killroy's implication that they played great simply because they put up 110 points.

I also did say that TMac and Yao played some of their best ball. Besides Wesley going 1-10, the role players also played very good basketball on the Rockets side.

Wesley did suck.

So don't take offense at me saying the Mavs at their best lost to the Rockets at their best. Next game, the Rockets could go into a horrible shooting slump, and easily lose.

No offense taken. I have just watched a lot of Mavs games and happen to think we haven't seen their best ball yet - against anyone Spurs, Pistons, whoever. I'm just disagreeing with you.

I just don't see the Mavericks playing much better than that. Sure, Finley was a non-factor, but he only took 8 shots, and made 3 of them. It's not like he was 7-44 (ahemIversonahem). Josh Howard easily made up for Finley's lack of productivity. Dirk could also have made a few more shots... but the Mavericks freakin' shot 50% from the field. I don't see them going above that, especially against the Rockets. That's an incredible number.

The thing is, you're not going to see Finley, Dirk and Stackhouse all have 20+ point games. Don't expect that at all. The Rockets are one of the top defensive teams in the league, and the Mavericks just played to their full potential against the Rockets squad on Monday night.

I don't expect a certain point production or shooting percentage. The Mavs may shoot 45% next game and still have what I consider a better game. Terry, Howard and Dampier all played good games on Monday. They don't play like that every night, but they are all very capable on any given night. None of them went above and beyond and played like I had never seen them play before. That, combined with Dirk, Finley and Stack underperforming and disappearing at the crucial moments, is the reason I think they can play better against...Houston or any other team. You need your leaders coming through at the big moments so you don't have Van Horn passing up wide open jumpers or failing to step out and defend the shot at the end. I would prefer that some of the other guys were playing better so that there would actually be no need for player like Van Horn in crunch time.

[Lebron 4 MVP]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

The Rockets may win the title.

[Tmacattack]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

The Rockets may win the title.

lets not get ahead of ourselves, they still havent gone past the first round...

[nkhera1]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

A huge question in the Phoenix vs Houston series (if it comes true) is who will guard T-Mac and who will guard Amare. Fortunately most of Toronto's power forwards are injured or not that good so we may have to put shawn marion on t-mac but then that may hurt our rebounding which is already pretty bad (I'm not saying Shawn can shut down t-mac but shawn is a pretty good defender). I don't know who houston is going to put on Amare becuase he will be too fast or too strong for most players.

[Slymm]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

No team that gives 110+ points can say that they played their best ball and anyone who says they did is an idiot. (This in fact makes the rockets even scarier but no the Mavs did not play "their best ball")