This game was just downright stupid

There are almost as many positives as negatives that can be drawn from this game.<br>
<br>
1. Both teams got to the line and then some, which obviously favors the Mavs.<br>
<br>
2. The Spurs blew an 18 point lead against a team not from the West Coast. <br>
<br>
3. Tim had around 26 points at the half and was toying with the Mavs and only had one foul.<br>
<br>
4. Malik got a concussion or "stinger".<br>
<br>
5. The Spurs also choaded Game 1 against Phoenix, but did they blow a huge lead in that game as well?<br>
<br>
6. The Mavs shot 98% from the free throw line (49/50), which should be normal for professionals, but in this era of poor fundamentals and pure showboating, that`s nothing short of miraculous.<br>
<br>
7. If the Spurs have ever bounced back from a bummer loss, then this should be the ultimate springboard.<br>
<br>
8. This is only Game 1 and its not like Dallas has been here before.<br>
<br>
9. Home court advantage really doesn`t exist in this particular series where both teams are coin tosses on each other`s court and in the same time zone and only a thirty-five minute plane ride apart.<br>
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10. Tim got timid down the stretch in this game, so he will presumably wake up in the next game. <br>
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11. A game like this should strike the fear of God in Tim and the Spurs. I`m certain that they will respond and take this in five or six. <br>
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<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :nuke --><img src=http://www.myezboard.com/projects/ezboard/ezboard_userimages/nuke.gif ALT=":nuke"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RwC7BM4UPN4vSzvW7PLtkWgZAuhj38V0TWfeUgTe5oMC4wVam*gsnDSWBHC8gBmc*VJHFg2ilkI*7kxgMXbp5uqYP9JIkWMH8B4h4FlPcaI/GD-final.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--> </p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub179.ezboard.com/bsanantoniospurs62937.showUserPublicProfile?gid=grandedavid>GrandeDavid</A>  <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/flags/usa.gif" BORDER=0> at: 5/20/03 12:52:15 am<br></i>

I don't know if timid is the right word David. He wasn't afraid of the ball or anything, but the aggression and determination just wern't there. Tenative might be more fitting. <p></p><i></i>

At least all this drama will make for one hell-of-a-championship video! <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RwC7BM4UPN4vSzvW7PLtkWgZAuhj38V0TWfeUgTe5oMC4wVam*gsnDSWBHC8gBmc*VJHFg2ilkI*7kxgMXbp5uqYP9JIkWMH8B4h4FlPcaI/GD-final.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--> </p><i></i>

Damn right David! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rock --><img src=http://www.myezboard.com/projects/ezboard/ezboard_userimages/spursdominion/images/rock.gif ALT=":rock"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

Ninety-eight free throws is insane. This is the playoffs, the zebras should let them play. This game simply proved something that everybody know in the first place; the Mavs are a better free-throw shooting team. <p></p><i></i>

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>. Malik got a concussion or "stinger".<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>
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then Dirk stepped on him....I would have so taken his ass out after that. <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RQDqBOQUv96Q*aAyXJvhC4PpiqY5aClJPVxG2NkCtZhZohfA18sp9cB0Mm2RXo3eDH31HP7*AzJAdc6m90L45YCEuPWDr1AM8aLtyvld1AI/SAmikeyp.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--><br>
</p><i></i>

The way Dirk ran over Malik you`d think he was trying to beat the rush to Papagaio`s ho house in Nuevo Laredo! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :wtf --><img src=http://www.myezboard.com/projects/ezboard/ezboard_userimages/wtf.gif ALT=":wtf"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RwC7BM4UPN4vSzvW7PLtkWgZAuhj38V0TWfeUgTe5oMC4wVam*gsnDSWBHC8gBmc*VJHFg2ilkI*7kxgMXbp5uqYP9JIkWMH8B4h4FlPcaI/GD-final.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--> </p><i></i>

malik:<br>
If would have been nice to have my teammates protect me. I was lying on the floor motionless. Guess they didn't want to give a foul.<br>
<br>
interviewer:<br>
The Mavs shot 50 free throws Malik.<br>
<br>
Malik:<br>
Next question.<br>
<br>
<br>
Quote of the night:<br>
<br>
That why you make your free throws!<br>
---Every coach to ever coach basketball<br>
<br>
or<br>
<br>
Don't foul them, they are making their free throws!<br>
--Pop<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>

After having time to think about this - you are 100% right GD - this was stupid - games shouldnt be decided by whos the best freeshooting team - just let em play and let the best team win. Hopefully the series will evolve to that just like the Spurs/Laker series. <p></p><i></i>

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>10. Tim got timid down the stretch in this game, so he will presumably wake up in the next game.<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>
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I can't believe he caught all air on that patent hooky in the lane late in the game. That was a sphincter-miss. <p></p><i></i>

Hey, free throw shooting is part of the game.<br>
<br>
All we had to do was shoot our season average of 72% and we win. Period. That's it.<br>
<br>
We can dismantle this team.<br>
<br>
Does anyone realize how cold our shooting went?<br>
<br>
In the first half, we were 6-9 from the 3PT line. At the end of the game we were 7-19. 1-10 in the 2nd half.<br>
<br>
All we have to do is continue to protect the ball (9 turnovers! awesome!) hit our normal percentage from the line, and stop being satisfied with jump shots.<br>
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I originally called Spurs in 5, and I think it's still possible. <p>-Brian</p><i></i>

Pitter, you gonna be at the GTG this Friday??? We`re counting on you to show up!!! <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RwC7BM4UPN4vSzvW7PLtkWgZAuhj38V0TWfeUgTe5oMC4wVam*gsnDSWBHC8gBmc*VJHFg2ilkI*7kxgMXbp5uqYP9JIkWMH8B4h4FlPcaI/GD-final.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--> </p><i></i>

Tim was timid on D because he had 5 fouls. The 5th was thanks to a Nowitzki flop. Dirty Dirk lurched forward as if he'd been hit when Tim was merely jumping up for a rebound. There was zero contact, but of course the refs blew their whistles; in this game they decided to make their mistakes on the side of excess.<br>
<br>
The only reason the Mavs were able to score late was because Tim had to let them take uncontested layups. It was too much of a risk to go for a block in a game where getting within 1 foot of a player was called a foul. Maybe Pop should have had another 7 footer in there as a shotblocker?<br>
<br>
On offense Tim pretty much choked late. Missed freethrows and a missed close in jumphook that would have given the Spurs the lead.<br>
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Really a horrible game though. I can go have a freethrow shooting contest with my neighbor. I watch the NBA to watch athletes make plays, not dribble down the court and head to the freethrow line. That's Bennett Salvatore's style of officiating but it was even extreme for him. Hopefully we don't have him as the lead ref in any of the later games. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub179.ezboard.com/bsanantoniospurs62937.showUserPublicProfile?gid=voraciouswolf>VoraciousWolf</A>  <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://members.vavo.com/schlock/10x10icons/se.gif" BORDER=0> at: 5/20/03 6:38:10 pm<br></i>

Really easy for a Mavs fan to say 'well, just don't foul them'. There were clearly many calls that shouldn't have been made either way. <p></p><i></i>

mavs played piss poor and still won....what happens when the mavs shoot 45-50%? the mavs had a lot of wide open shots and missed them, which will not happen much in this series.....<br>
<br>
the spurs played well for the majority of the game; however, the mavs only brought their c game.....this series is going to be so much fun.....good luck spurs...good luck mavs...either way the championship is coming through Texas....<br>
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