great article by JL i do remember reading somewhere else that JJ didnt not want to move to the 2 to accomodate Tracy at the 3 spot which is more of a natural position for tracy because he is taller at 6-8. while JJ is a more natural 2 guard who got comfortable playing the 3. oh well its wonderful to see where this team is now
They had a right to be nervous....They ran into THE MACHINE. And so who will guard T-Mac in game 2 because no one was guarding him in game 1. (There were a few Mavericks jerseys in front of him a few times, but that's about the same as saying no one was guarding him LOL)
i dont think you guys understand how good Dirk is... bigballerj ... T-mac did not shut down Dirk... just like nobody could stop T-MAc..."the machine"... Dirk can do the same.... T-mac also has off nights... you think Dirk can not go off like that? remember his 50point game against the Rocks???....seem to forget real quick.....hes done it to plenty of teams... just saying you guys think the Mavs will be a cake walk.... i'm actually a rockets fan....though i am more realistic about their chances than most on this board..
wizardball, Is the fact that we UNDERSTAND how good Dirk is that we will prepare to slow him down -- and his team. We are not being unrealistic about this. We do not think it's a cake-walk. We know that we will have to bring our A-Game every night. That's not a cake-walk. That's being focused and knowing what we have to do to win! The Rockets and coaching staff are not taking anything for granted.
Dirk is good but he isnt GREAT. He is close to a one dimensional player/scorer. If his shots arent falling, he becomes ineffective for the most part. And yes, Tmac did shut down Dirk in game 1. I just went thru the replays and each time Dirk tried to make a move on Tmac, his shot was way off. There is a reason for that. Even when Dirk throws the fake and goes for a counter move, Tmac recovers quickly to bother his shot. If you dont believe me go back and look at the tapes. Fact is, Dirk is not in the same league as Tmac. Mcgrady can score, create for his teammates and play rock solid defense. Game 1 showed that. Not only did he carrhe Rockets while playing practically the entire game, but he also took turn in shutting down the other team's best player. "Plenty of teams" are not going to play the kind of defense that Rockets will play in the playoffs. Only a handful of teams like Spurs, Detroit and Miami play similar defense. No one is saying its going to be a cakewalk. But at this point I like Rockets chances over mavs.
DavidS from reading your previous posts i guess you have analyzed the match-up to death.... just wondering..what is your prediction for the series? the other thing is on this board they get really excited after a win...and then when the Rocks lose its like Yao this Tao that.... its just funny to see that people are actually talkin about a sweep
Zboy i'd like you to post what you have writtin after game two.... i don't think you'll be singing the same tune. anyway i got to go to bed...exams are a B*tch....can;t watch game 2.... will miss "the retern of the Dirk"
I'm not even going to bother putting a poll...as it would bigtime biased in here, but if the question was asked who would you take at this point of their careers (as they are in the prime of their careers right now) between Dirk and T-Mac to build your team around...the answer is so obvious to at least me. T-Mac has a chance to become one of the alltime greats, Dirk is just going to be known as just another good scoring forward when it's all said and done. BTW, I hate this George Gervin comparison they keep using on T-Mac. They both maybe smooth and effortless on the court but that's where the similarity ends. Gervin can't hold T-Mac's jock talentwise and I'd like to think when it's all said and done T-Mac will be light years above Gervin in NBA alltime greats talk. Plus Gervin was a Sper.
You expect me to change my tune and proclaim Dirk better than Mcgrady after game 2? After just one game? Which part of my post do you not agree with? The part that Mcgrady is an overall better player than Dirk? Or the part that Rockets defense is one of the best in the league and Mavericks did not have to face it over and over in the regular season? Or perhaps the part that I said that I do not expect it to be a cakewalk? Why not point out which part of my post you do not agree with and why not, instead of expecting me to reverse my opinion based on just one game, game 2? Now if you were to say, "after the series" it would make much more sense.
Simply put, the Mavs will miss Nash in the playoffs. I agree with the main point everyone is talking. Our two stars are unselfish team players. Our role players may not be the most talented guys in the league but they are all smart, except maybe James. Somehow I have a feeling that James is not very bright. He doesn't make good decisions on the court. But he is a heck of a scorer. That's why he is great as an offensive spark plug off the bench but not a very good floor general for long stretches. This is not a dig for James. I'm just comparing him with the other role players we have. Sura, Wesley, Barry, Padgett, Bowen, Mutombo, and even Spoon are all smart and know what it takes to win. That's why this is such a fun team to watch. I don't think we are a championship team yet because Yao is still not up to his potential. But boy, I haven't loved a team so much since the championship years.
I need to eat a little crow here as I was one who believed Jeff underestimated the Dallas bench. After game 1 and his further explanation of why he valued the Houston bench more, I gladly bow to his expertise. Crow actually taist really good with a game 1 win.
Zboy.... well i don't know if you know...but T-Mac going into this season was considered selfish and a one dimensional player as well.....though both Dirk and T-mac stepped up their games... and they are both MVP type players.... i don't think you watched any Mavs games other than those against the Rocks... which probably tells mw why you think the way you think.... anyway we will see after game 2 if Dirk is going to get shut down for a second time in a row..... i don't believe superstar players get shut down though.... the have off nights.... just look at T-Mac ...he scorers at will in some games.. no matter what D is sent out at him.... its the same for Dirk....
Tmac has never had even half the supporting cast Dirk has had all these years. You think Dirk on that Magic team would have gotten them anywhere? Switch Tmac with Dirk on the 2 teams and Houston would be in deep trouble to make the playoffs. Tmac has to score and create for everyone. While Dirk just has to score while flopping/wailing his way to the free throw line 20 times a game. Let's not even go near defense. Even right now Dirk has more support on his team when it comes to scoring points. Isnt that what everyone was/is saying while picking Dallas? Its a matter of fact that Tmac is the more complete player. And yes I have seen plenty of Mavs game, not just this year but previous years too. I have had league passes so try not to assume what I have/have not done. And judging from what I have seen, Dirk is a great scorer maybe, but great overall player, I hardly think so.
Yao Ming has proven you right on this point. Well, then I guess Dirk's willpower has thus far proven to be vastly inferior.
What? *puts hand to ear* What?! I'm sorry, wizardball... I can't heeaarr you. Oh well, I guess Yao was the only superstar to prove your theory right.
I am here and the tune has not changed. I am going to ask you 2 questions and I want an honest answer. 1) Do you still think Dirk is an overall better player than Tmac? 2) You claimed to be a Rockets fan. Why the hate for Rockets and such a defensive attitude for Dirk? For the record, I never said Dirk sucks. Dirk is a very good player and maybe a great scorer. But he is just not a complete player. Its very possible that he can go for 30+ in next games but that is all you can expect from him. You cannot expect great defense and superb playmaking. Also, he needs to stop flailing and flopping on every play. Its emabarassing. PS. To be fair, I do not expect you to change your opinion after just 1 or 2 games. But some of the things that I mentioned earlier in this thread should start making more sense now.
