Playoff Thread

[Zoli]

Do you guys know something about an interview when Dirk said we wanted the Hornets? I can't find it, but as i read somewhere else (not the interview) that really pissed them off. I hope we'll be extra competitive tonight, now we have a true leader in Kidd, if he can play like the way he did last year's playoff, we have a good chance. Go Mavs!

[arkuo]

Dirk Nowitzki came right out and said it: The Dallas Mavericks did not want to open the playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers.

They'd much rather take their chances against the New Orleans Hornets - especially after the way things went Wednesday night.

Jason Kidd and Jason Terry outplayed Hornets star Chris Paul, with Kidd racking up the 100th triple-double of his career and Terry scoring 13 of his 30 points during a 32-8 stretch that took Dallas from down by 11 to leading by 13. The Mavericks wound up winning 111-98 to set up a first-round series between these teams.

"This was definitely a win we wanted to get," Nowitzki said. "The Lakers are probably the hottest team in the West. We definitely didn't want to face them in the first round. ... (New Orleans) had a great year, but I think we match up pretty well."

here you go zoli... found it on my local sports forums... the poster didnt post a link so i guess you could just take it for what its worth... hope this helps...

[Zoli]

Thanks arkuo. It's not that serious, he is talking about matchups, i don't think it's disrespecting at all. Of course we wanted to avoid the Lakers, they have too many weapons, and we can't guard Bryant. Can we guard Paul? I hope we can. Better be ready cuz they will be pumped at home. Go Mavs!

[HMFFL]

After past experiences, Mavs happy as underdog

Being the favorite didn't work out so well for the Dallas Mavericks last season in the playoffs. So it's no wonder that they're perfectly happy to accept an underdog role against the New Orleans Hornets.

"We're flying under the radar," Josh Howard said Thursday after a film session to prepare for Saturday's Game 1. "Guys are more loose and looking to have more fun out there. The pressure's off."

One year after a historic regular season, an MVP performance by Dirk Nowitzki and a stunning first-round loss to the No. 8 seed Golden State Warriors, the roles are reversed for the Mavericks.

They squeaked into the playoffs as the seventh seed -- a position they've never been in under coach Avery Johnson -- and they're facing a New Orleans team that set a club record with 56 victories, won its first division title and has an MVP candidate in point guard Chris Paul.

Coach Avery Johnson has taken every opportunity this week to build up the Hornets, but he also likes what he's seen from his own team in the past two weeks. After struggling early, the Mavs have won four of their last five games against teams with winning records.

But Johnson wouldn't go so far as to call the Mavs dangerous. He'd rather take the underdog label and run with it.

"It's just a different hat, and how we manage wearing this particular hat remains to be seen," he said. "It's a situation where we're not the team that's being talked about. Hopefully, down the road we'll give somebody something to talk about."

Stack ready for more

Mavs swingman Jerry Stackhouse, who missed the previous nine games because of a strained groin, said he felt no ill effects after playing 16 minutes in his return Wednesday night. He believes those minutes will continue to increase during the playoffs.

"I don't think I'll play 35 minutes, but I do think, hopefully, I can get to what I averaged during the season -- around 24, 25 minutes -- to help the team," he said.

Chess match

Hornets coach Byron Scott has a pretty good scouting report on Mavs point guard Jason Kidd. Scott was coaching in New Jersey when Kidd led the Nets to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.

Scott doesn't believe the familiarity will have much of an impact on the series, but he might know a few areas where Kidd might be vulnerable.

"We'll try to exploit him as much as possible. Then again, he's still one of the smartest guys in this league as well," Scott said. "He's going to try to make all the things that we think are negatives work against us. It's going to be a little bit of a chess match."

Travel itinerary

With two days between Games 1 and 2, the Mavs will return to Dallas after Saturday's opener and head back to New Orleans following Monday practice.

Link

[your_dallas_mavericks]

Anyone know when we get to the second round (and yes we will despite the naysayers) is there re-seeding? If so, we would have to play the Fakers (if they win) in round 2, not the winner of San Antone/Phoenix.

[mavsfoty]

Anyone know when we get to the second round (and yes we will despite the naysayers) is there re-seeding? If so, we would have to play the Fakers (if they win) in round 2, not the winner of San Antone/Phoenix.

No reseeding. We get Spurs or Suns after the Hornets.

[catalyst]

This thread may not have a long life if the mavs play like that again.

[your_dallas_mavericks]

No reseeding. We get Spurs or Suns after the Hornets.

That'll teach me to believe idiots like Andy Gresh on ESPN Radio! Damn near p*ssed me off when I heard that crap! I know they do that in hockey but hoops? Thank goodness they don't...

Mavs will win game 2, believe it!

[sosafan70]

This thread may not have a long life if the mavs play like that again.

Cat man knocking on wood for the entire team.

[your_dallas_mavericks]

Like I said, we win game 2. Dirk goes Blitzkreig on the Hornets!

[JES12]

No reseeding. We get Spurs or Suns after the Hornets.

That's why I wanted to be in the 1/8 bracket.

[your_dallas_mavericks]

1/8 would have been good if the Hornets, not the Fakers would have been at #1.

We're in the best shot to advance that we could have.

[JES12]

1/8 would have been good if the Hornets, not the Fakers would have been at #1.

We're in the best shot to advance that we could have.

We are going to have to face the Lakers (1st vs 3rd team does not matter). Jazz/Rockets is much more favotrable than Suns/Spurs. If we were in the 1/8 bracket, our 3rd team would be the Hornets, Nuggets, Suns or Spurs. No easy win in the 2/7 bracket unlike the 2nd round in the 1/8.

[your_dallas_mavericks]

I like an either Suns or Spurs matchup...

[JES12]

I like an either Suns or Spurs matchup...

Both of those teams would knock us out with much more ease than Utah or Houston.

But regardless, we are conversing about a null point that can't be changed.

[your_dallas_mavericks]

Both of those teams would knock us out with much more ease than Utah or Houston.

But regardless, we are conversing about a null point that can't be changed.

True,

Game tomorrow at 6pm Central/4pm Pacific Time.

Dirk will carry this team tomorrow night!

[HMFFL]

-= original quote snipped =-

Both of those teams would knock us out with much more ease than Utah or Houston.

But regardless, we are conversing about a null point that can't be changed.

Your probably right JES12. On the other hand, Los Angeles most likely would have knocked us out of the playoffs, and the best matchup appeared to be New Orleans. I originally was looking at the situation one-sided because I was strongly focused on our Mavs just getting out of the first round. So, I originally didn't think about the second round, but it's not like any of us had control of the placement of the team, so it's rather pointless to even discuss it.

My problem with Phoenix is dealing with Shaq and finding away to contain Amare due to Shaq opening him up. We just don't have the size to take on a team like Phoenix and I don't see how any Maverick fans can think positive about our bench.

[JES12]

Yeah, because we (without Harris) match up so much better with the Hornets than we do the Lakers.

[catalyst]

Well, the trade has made no difference, and made the mavs long term be a much worse team. Will Cuban trade dirk? That is the question now. Would dirk re-sign here