[Dallas Morning News]Here's why the Mavs can make the NBA Finals

this alone tells me this guy has total homer lenses on. cowlishaw has always been against the rockets whenever i've seen him on around the horn, mainly because he is a hardcore mavs guy.

but to say that they havent changed as significantly is ridiculous. last year dallas finished with 52 wins and if they win their last game they'll have 58, a 6 game improvement. the rockets if they win tomorrow night against seattle will have 51, also a 6 game improvement from last year. but this rocket team started out horribly barely hovering around .500 at the start of january and has turned it around. houston has had much more roster turnover then the mavs have had since last season, he'll since the beginning of this season.

i dont care that he feels that the mavericks will can get to the finals, that his opinion, but at least be fair in assessing the opposition

 

I pretty much agree. I think he's actually refering to the style of play, specifically how the Mavs have improved on defense, but the Rockets have had more players on their roster than any team in the league this season. We've had something ridiculous like 18 different starting line ups. ( I can't remember the exact number but it was kind of amazing ) and our style of play has actually changed. Sure, we were a good defensive team last year too, but our ball handling has improved tremendously. We turned over the ball way too much last year. This year, we take care of the ball. That's every bit as huge as the improvements the Mav's have made on defense.

 

rockets have improved their offense more than the mavs have improved their defense.

 

I agree with him on most of the article, I think he is making a sound argument as to why the Mavs have a good chance in the playoffs this year. I think they have a good chance too, I just think that a healthy Spurs would be too much to handle.

The only part I disagree about is this not being a "different team", this tells me the Cowlishaw hasn't watched the Rockets much this year. The Rockets are NOTHING like the team of last season. They are a much more cohesive unit, and enjoy a veteran presence and a high b-ball IQ that slightly lacked last season. I think that Yao has also made strides and improved since last season, especially with his toughness/interior positioning, and we will need more of that from Yao if we are to succeed in the playoffs.

Now whether or not you think this year's team is better/worse than last year's team is a different question. I am just contending Cowlishaw's point that the Rockets are "no different", that is just flat out false.

 

On the radio in Dallas, people are saying this is the most talented Mavs team ever. I don't blame them for being confident. They have more offensive talent than ever, a defensive mindset and a legitimate center. All 5 of his reasons they can make the NBA Finals are valid IMO.

Objectively, Dallas should be a strong favorite. But the coaching matchup could be a critical edge for us. I've gained respect for how Avery has changed their team but how he will do in the playoffs is a huge question mark.

 

Had an ex- who lived in the Dallas area a few years back and had the pleasure of reading their papers and listening to their sports radio. I just couldn't believe the homerism and obssession w/ the Lakers displayed by their local media. Looks like nothing's changed.

I hope the Rockets beat the pulp out of them so that come next year, it will be a "monster Rockets team lurking down the road."

 

Oh, it's "Homer City" up here all right. To a man, all of the talking sports heads consider TMac to be the only Rocket they'll need to stop. EVERYONE feels that the Rockets are a "one horse" team and that Yao can be "contained" by a collapsing zone defense. Oh and that the Rockets have no power forward to counter against Dirk. Far too many folks are dismissive of the Rockets because all they remember is how bad the Rockets looked when the season started.

What they don't understand (or care to know) is that as good as Tmac has been (and he's been VERY good), it has been the play of the Rockets guards that has propelled the Rockets forward. As the level of their guard play has improved, so has their scoring and consequently, their winning. When our guards play well, they free up TMac and they help Yao stay involved and impact the game. That's why I consider guard play to be the deciding factor for the Rockets in this series. This may make me sound like a homer as well but Dallas can be had and is ripe for the taking. It won't be easy but it can be done. More importantly, these Rockets CAN do it.

 

Here's why the Mavs won't make the NBA Finals:

1. Houston Rockets.

 

I, personally, think it is absolutely sickening to see/hear the level of disrespect for Yao and his abilities.

I REALLY think that THIS series will be the one in which Yao will solidify himself as not just a "very good" big man, but a "dominant" big man in this league for years to come. I just hope someone in the Rockets lockerroom keeps reminding Yao of how everyone is dismissing him as a factor.

I think IF we are to have a prayer at staying competitive in this series, it will be with Yao playing at a dominant level.

Then, what would put us over the top to win games is for our guards combo to show up by making shots, playing D.

 

I sense similarity to 95 when everyone in Utah was shouting "it's our year". We all know what happened to them.

History will repeat itself.

 

The war of words is largely meaningless; it all happens on the floor. Roll out the ball and let's see who is ready to play "playoff" basketball, it is a whole other game. I think our Rockets are a team made for the playoff style of game. I wish they had a solid PF, but they have beaten the best of the West without one. Let the Mavs talk on, but they better be ready for a battle. The Mavs are better on paper, but the floor is made of wood.

 

i don't think you guys are giving any respect to these Mavs...


They have the biggest mismatch in Nowitzski on whoever we start... i think Bradley will cause some problems... him and Dampier are two different style of games that they can throw out at Yao.... plus their team is deeper on the bench.


though if McGrady steps his game up another notch...then and only then will we have a series IMHO.

 

A major determining factor as to who will win this series is going to come down to how much the officials allow Dampier to mug Yao. If they call even half the fouls, Yao will eat his lunch.

 

Exactly. Some Mavs fans are so out they don't even know about Mike James. They are now still in the babbling stage about Sura's bad back LOL. They are taking talent on paper over chemistry and toughness. They don't realize that Sura, Wesley, James and Barry are four tough mother****ers who changed the season. As long as the Rockets maintain their current level - TMac being TMac, Yao doing his thing, Deke taking over the paint and boards, guards taking care of the ball and hitting their shots - and adopt the right gameplan they'll be tough to beat.