San Antonio Spurs -- The Team To Beat!

[Jimmy]

The reigning champions Spurs begin yet another title defense. This time is a little different from the first two: They have not lost any of their key players, and have even upgraded their team by adding Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel, who were teammates in Dallas back in 2002-2003, and now they move across the state to San Antonio. Perhaps the third time is a charm for them to win back-to-back titles?

And this thread will not be restricted to just talking about the Spurs -- feel free to talk about anything that goes on in the new season. My team is the Houston Rockets, so I'll be talking quite a bit about them. In fact, I see them being the Spurs biggest challenge for the west of the Western Conference team.

[Colin]

Spurs got demolished. Pity.

Could the Mavs be a dark horse team this year? Maybe?

[Greenville, Texan]

The Mavs are always a dark horse team, but will never get to the championship until Dirk learns to post up more consistently. It was nice to see the Dallas do such a number on the Spurs, though (sorry Jimmy). :rolleyes: But it is just the start of a long season.

[Jimmy]

Well it's looking like Detroit is the team to beat now....they've already took both games from the Spurs this season and have the best record so far. And now they also have Dallas to worry about in the West as they have the best record in the division.

Hopefully some good will come out of this as Duncan and Ginobili gets well rested for the playoffs, from playing reduced minutes. Can't really see that with the Pistons.

[Greenville, Texan]

Mavs have won nine straight! Including a franchise record five in row on the road! Playing some solid defense too, imagine that :P .
Of course, the Bulls nearly came back to win that game Tuesday night.

Make that 10 in a row baby!

[Jimmy]

And Dirk Nowitzki is my mid-season pick for MVP so far. And Avery Johnson is now the head coach for the Western Conference All-Star team.

The Mavs have the best record in the west, and have the most road wins in the league so far.

[Jimmy]

The race for the top seed in the West is heating up again, Dallas has moved within a game of San Antonio for the best record with a big win at San Antonio last night to tie the season series. So now the tiebreaker goes to the better division record, which currently belongs to Dallas at the moment, should both teams end up in a tie for best record. Dirk Nowitzki continues to my pick for MVP along with Kobe Bryant. This could be another exciting finish in the Lone Star state, as it was a few years back.

[Greenville, Texan]

Yep, we're going rignt down to the wire! San Antonio and Dallas.

[Greenville, Texan]

OK, so San Antonio won the western conference ... again ... and Dallas ties a team record for wins (60) and ends up with the fourth seed.
I'm still proud of them and I think they are going to have a great run this year. We should get by Memphis with little problem. Avery Johnson is not going to let them slide.

[Jimmy]

Ok, the matchup the whole world has been waiting for is here! It'll be Dallas vs San Antonio in the second round, with the Spurs having the home court disadvantage. I think this is going to be a great series to watch for unbiased fans like myself. The winner of this series will have a great chance to get to the NBA Finals.

[Greenville, Texan]

That was an amazing first game, although the Mavs came up short. Dirk got shut down in the fourth quarter, which was a surprise. They have to go find a way to keep that from happening again, or else it is going to be another brief first round series.

[Greenville, Texan]

OK, I'm feeling a lot better after last night's game ...

[Jimmy]

I originally predicted the Mavs would win the series before it started, and I'll stay with that prediction in 6 or 7 games.

I think this is the Mavs' year this year.

[Greenville, Texan]

10 seconds after the final buzzer of the NBA championship, then I'll believe it is the Mav's year (but I'm hoping).

[sfft_2108]

That was only one game. The series is no way over yet. The series is tied and the Spurs won go down with out a fight.

[Greenville, Texan]

Now THAT was a game! Mavs now up 2-1, but had to fight for every point. How many lead changes were there in the last minute? 5, 6? This is an amazing series.

[sfft_2108]

Spurs got screwed. Tim didn't foul Dirk at the end. Tim fouled out and that was it.

[Greenville, Texan]

Dirk's got a sprained ankle. Might limit his minutes tonight, hopefully not for the rest of the series though.

[Greenville, Texan]

Spurs 98
Dallas 97
Mavs lead series 3-2
Has to be one of the greatest playoff series in NBA history ...

[Jimmy]

What more can you ask for? A Texas series with both teams playing their best basketball and four out of five games going down to the wire. Simply Incredible! Got to love it! :)

[Greenville, Texan]

Sorry Jimmy, but the Mavs claimed the series. Amazing series, though, got to give it up to the Spurs. We'll meet them again next year.

[Jimmy]

Why are you sorry Brad? I'm a Rockets fan. Although there are obviously quite a few Spurs fans on here.

Anyway, that was indeed one of the best series of all time; the better team won and I hope Dallas goes all the way. In fact, I still have that gut feeling (as I had even before the series even began) that this could very well be the Mavs year. I do give the Spurs a lot of credit for pushing the Mavs to a game seven and playing an inspired, tough series.

[england]

seems like the spurs can only win on odd numbered years

1999
2003
2005
2007?

maybe next year eh :P

[sfft_2108]

Thats pretty funny.

[Greenville, Texan]

Hey, at least they've won the big one more than once. Mavs are still waiting and it looks like they are going to have their hands full with Phoenix, based on game one.

[Jimmy]

You forgot to add that the Spurs made it to the conference finals in:

1979
1991
1995
2001

Seems like they can get to the conference finals in only odd number years.

[Greenville, Texan]

Mavs in the finals! Dirk vs. Shaq! Bring on the Heat!

[Jimmy]

This is going to be a great series. I like both these teams very much, and don't have a favorite one. Miami looks better on paper with several seasoned players, Shaq and Pat Riley with championship experience. Dallas has home court advantage, their roster depth, and they have more of a capability of controlling the tempo of the game.

If the series ends in 4 or 5, you have to favor Miami. But if it ends in 6 or 7, it'll go either way, as it'll be Mavs' home court against Miami's experience.

This is one finals I am really looking forward to. :)

[Greenville, Texan]

Right now, every Mavs fan is wondering, "What was Josh Howard thinking?" :rolleyes:

[Greenville, Texan]

Ah crud ... <_<
Next year ...

[sfft_2108]

I wanted the Heat to win and I'm glad they did.