I'm wary of facing Dallas in the 1st round, and here's why:
The past two years, to say the Mavs haven't handled the pressure well in the postseason is an understatement. Made the finals in '06 and blew it; had the best record with 67 wins last year and crumbled.
Now they're likely a 7th seed. It would be interesting to see how they fare when the spotlight (and more importantly, the pressure) is off them. I think you'll see a totally different animal, and I think a guy like Nowitzki could thrive in that type of setting.
I'm not saying we can't or won't beat them - I'm just not beating my chest and hoping to draw them in the 1st round.
Out of anyone, I'd rather a team like the Nuggets. We're familiar with them, I wouldn't say they're improved over the team we faced last year. We can handle them.
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Blame Rasho
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Donald Kaufman
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Looking back, yeah maybe there is a sense that there was some luck involved on their part. But that's true for most title runs - there's always a degree of chance involved. Personally, I don't think it was a fluke. It's hard to fluke a 7 game series. There were some injuries and questionable calls that worked against us - but they did what they had to do and as far as I'm concerned the better team that year won the series. I find it hard to argue with the results.
The Mavs problem in '06 was that they celebrated the championship when they beat us - and paid for it in the matchup with the Heat.
When you're forced to play Michael Finley at the 4, you're in trouble in a 7 game series.
We're better equipped to handle them this time around. TD doesn't have that Plantar thingy anymore. Kurt will be a big help.
Of course, this is all moot if we don't face them in the opening round.
The Mavs problem in '06 was that they celebrated the championship when they beat us - and paid for it in the matchup with the Heat.
When you're forced to play Michael Finley at the 4, you're in trouble in a 7 game series.
We're better equipped to handle them this time around. TD doesn't have that Plantar thingy anymore. Kurt will be a big help.
Of course, this is all moot if we don't face them in the opening round.
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Ballings7
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Also we have an additional, different kind of wing-defender in Udoka, and significantly improved point guard defense and toughness with JV. Rather than old NVE. Also, an improvement in mobility at center with Oberto over Nazr.
Manu and Tony are both better players than then
I think we would of had the edge on them by a bit last playoffs, and think the edge has only increased since then. Diop/Harris gone makes them less athletic and less deep.
Manu and Tony are both better players than then
I think we would of had the edge on them by a bit last playoffs, and think the edge has only increased since then. Diop/Harris gone makes them less athletic and less deep.
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mudyez
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Ballings7 wrote:Also we have an additional, different kind of wing-defender in Udoka, and significantly improved point guard defense and toughness with JV. Rather than old NVE. Also, an improvement in mobility at center with Oberto over Nazr.
Manu and Tony are both better players than then
I think we would of had the edge on them by a bit last playoffs, and think the edge has only increased since then. Diop/Harris gone makes them less athletic and less deep.
those two names should be the key...parker will kill kidd (I love him but he isnt the player he once was) and damp is the only guy to go against timmy...if they go small, we have the centers that dont force us to sit them (kurt, oberto) and teams know how to get dirk into trouble by now...
...they pretty much went from "Spurs-killers" to one of the easiest matchups a team can present us...I have more fear of GS or Denver...could live with Houston[/b]
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pro2020
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this Dallas team seems more dangerous than the Dallas team prior to Dirks injury, it's like they have the "wounded animal" feeling to them that makes them dangerous, I would try to avoid them in the 1st round but if the Spurs do end up facing them, oh well, you have to face somebody tough sooner or later in the playoffs.
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Ballings7
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But since, they haven't faced and won't face, a team with our capabilities... specifically and especially on defense.
Also with their schedule, they may well move up in the standings. Have tie-breaker vs. Houston and Phoenix. Houston would of course be a tough out, but ultimately they won't have enough offense, size, and partial experience to win. I think 5 games, and an average possibility of 6.
Also with their schedule, they may well move up in the standings. Have tie-breaker vs. Houston and Phoenix. Houston would of course be a tough out, but ultimately they won't have enough offense, size, and partial experience to win. I think 5 games, and an average possibility of 6.
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the southern dandy
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As it stands it looks as if we have Dallas in the first round. I feel that this year this would be a good way to start a playoff run, as we now matchup well with them.
If we do play Dallas Ime will be one of the keys to that series. I think he could do a good job of guarding Dirk without giving away the rebounds that Bowen has in the past.
If we do play Dallas Ime will be one of the keys to that series. I think he could do a good job of guarding Dirk without giving away the rebounds that Bowen has in the past.
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Which teams do you all think are the sleeper in each conference?
My vote would go to the Jazz in the West (no one's talking about them, but they're a solid team and they did well last year) and the Magic in the East. People are talking more about the Cavs than the Magic, and I think the Magic have got the better team.
My vote would go to the Jazz in the West (no one's talking about them, but they're a solid team and they did well last year) and the Magic in the East. People are talking more about the Cavs than the Magic, and I think the Magic have got the better team.