http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...avs/stories/041905dnspomavslede.25a92a62.html Mavs to play Houston in playoffs First-round obstacles for Dallas: experience, Ming and McGrady 03:28 AM CDT on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News Experience and the tag team of Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming will be the biggest obstacles for the Mavericks when they meet the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Mavericks found out late Monday they would be playing the Rockets, who clinched the No. 5 seed by beating the Los Angeles Clippers while Sacramento was losing at Utah. "They're really a terrific team," coach Avery Johnson said of the Rockets after Monday's practice. "[General manager] Carroll Dawson and Coach [Jeff] Van Gundy have done a good job with their team. They took a chance by trading three starters to get McGrady, and it's paid off for them." The Rockets have been on a roll late in the season, winning six in a row with one game left before the playoffs. Johnson said he feels the Rockets are dangerous because of experience. "They're as good as any team in the West," he said. "They definitely have a lot of playoff experience at key positions. Mike James just won the Finals last year [with Detroit], and Yao's been in it and Tracy's been in it. So they have a lot of experience, moreso than us in some areas. "And obviously, Jeff has been in it as a coach for a long time. So they have a lot of things going for them." Michael Finley said the Mavericks must focus on themselves, not worry about their opponent. However, the Rockets certainly are formidable. "Since they started to play this so-called great ball, I haven't really watched them that much because they weren't on our schedule" Finley said. "But they have two all-stars in McGrady and Yao Ming and a coach who's been there before. They have all the ingredients of being a tough team. "But again, we have the same thing on this side."
man, I'm really looking forward to this series, and that finley comment makes me hope he gets flushed on and finds t-macs "junk" in his grill...
Finley must think Cuttino and Steve still play here. I remember they use to get into it all the time. This current team probably doesn't Finley from Daniels or Howard. He's barking up the wrong tree if he thinks he's getting our team riled up.
I don't get what is so bad about these comments. He admits he hasn't watched us very closely and that's understandable because we haven't played them in a while and everybody expected Sacramento to get the 5th seed anyway. He then compliments our team and coach But I agree, he'll get a good look on us when Tracy takes him to school
or that finley feels that this team isnt as good as they are, benficiaries of a soft schedule etc. i just hope jvg or any of the other players catch this quote and it lits a fire in them
I could see him making that "so-called great ball" comment if they were playing the Nuggets whose post All-Star schedule was a joke. But the Rockets have recently played their best basketball of the season against the top teams in the league and mostly on the road. There's nothing "so-called" about it.
Absolutely...but that statement is indicative of the Mavs orginization under Cuban and their Fans as a whole....if it win't Mavs, it ain't good. Their fans think that they are owed something when they haven't won SQUAT except repeatedly choke.. Can you IMAGINE A Rox team member saying something like that?? Van Gundy would have a coronary..
as repeated numerous times on this board, heres all the bulletin board material yao needs: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/feigen/2888181
