Forty points is more, but is it the worst way to loose? As we are painfully aware, the Rockets were "blown out" in game seven by the Mavs. However, last night the Mavs were eliminated by the Suns on Dallas' home court by four points. I say that is probably a more painful way to go. The game reminded me of game three in Houston. The Mavs like the Rockets blew a sizable lead. That has got to hurt. And I am not ashamed to say that I somewhat enjoyed seeing the Mavs get beat. I am still miffed about the way they ran up the score on the Rockets. I consider their elimination as a down payment on a lifetime of payback they are going to receive from the soon to be new and improved Rockets. Dallas fans, get ready for a series of ugly whoupings.
The Mavs loss is worse by a landslide. I mean a loss to end a series is a loss, but emotionally .... you're comparing a 40-point loss on the road in Game 7, to an overtime home loss caused entirely by an opponent who you let walk away from your team for nothing. This is the equivalent of the Rockets-Mavs series, but Jason Terry having been a Rocket for a number of years and us having let him walk the year before because we thought we were "too smart" to give him that many years on a contract. Or Steve Francis hitting the John Stockton shot. A first round loss for the Mavs would have been bad, but if I was not a Rocket fan and just did not like the Mavericks, I can't think of a worse fate than that one. Mark Cuban -- who capitalizes on every contract and asset he has -- looks like a complete fool right about now. I'm sure some of the Mavs players' faith in him may be a little bit shaken.
I don't think either loss is worse either way. The mavericks gave themselves a chance to win their elimination game, the rockets didn't. As far as Nash goes, not a single person who follows basketball thought Steve Nash was capable of playing at the level he did this year. So of course, it's easy to look in hindsight and say the Mavericks made a mistake. Had Steve Nash played this way the last few years, the Mavs would have advanced farther in the playoffs. Again, nobody could have forcasted him playing this way, not even the suns. I live in Dallas, and not a single person is crying that they didn't match the contract. It's easy to say that when it's not our money. And there was gonna be serious luxury tax issues for the mavericks if they matched the contract offer for Nash. I don't recall the exact contract details, but if the luxury tax rules are correct, then you pay dollar for dollar for the amount you're over the luxury tax. So whatever they paid Nash, you might as well double it up and that's how much you're really paying. So 8 million/year really turns into 16 mil/year for a 30 year old point guard for 5 years.
Man, I love this! You give away the league MVP for nothing, and then he sends your "new and improved" team home. Karma is a beotch Cuby. Much much worse for the Mavs to lose this series especially the way Nash just did whatever he wanted to do, and crapped all over them the whole series. I hate that Amare moved on, but everyone saw that he wasn't needed to close out this series, maybe his ego will deflate a little, probably not. Dallas is okay. Everybody is questioning Cuban now, but JVG really exposed Dirk big time weaknesses so teams should pick up on that. They are a good team, but they have built themselves a routine second round team. Defense is still a big problem for them. Shawn Marion grabbed a defensive rebound, and walked the ball up the court and layed the ball in, with NO resistance at all. Houston is in an all around better position for the future though. We have two unguardable stars on our team that just needs more experience and younger/athletic help. The smarts is there I think. We need to get a little younger, but not dumber.
I agree, I hadn't thought of the Nash issue which has certainly got to erk Cuban and the Dallas fans even more. I think it explains why Dirk "lost it" near the end of the game, when Nash made the "dagger" three. I am sure his "subpar" playoffs performance added to his frustration. Dallas may have more offseason "issues" than the Rockets do.
A 4 point loss would have been far worse, because then you might be tempted to think you can sit relatively pat. With a 40 point loss, you know you need to make some changes and no one can blame the refs or make excuses. You know you got beat.
In addition to getting beat by Nash, they should have won. Had they fouled Nash with 5 seconds left, there is a 95% chance they would have gone to game 7. I feel bad for Dallas that Dirk isn't capable of taking over games, and he doesn't appear likely to get better. His defense is poor, and despite his regular season versatility he doesn't seem good enough on the perimeter or post to be a great playoff performer.
Dallas blew a 16 point lead at home. Blew a 3-point lead with only 10 seconds left in the game. Lost to a team with no depth playing without it's 2nd and 4th best players. Now they're going to go through all this turmoil in the summer between Dirk and the treatment of his teammates. I would say their loss sucked a lot more.
we lost game 7, they lost game 6.. we gave ourselves a chance to game 7 by winning at home and they didn't.. we lost by 40 on the road and we were blown out as early as the first quarter.. they were up most of the game at home but lost in the end.. we basically overachieved by even getting to game 7.. but the 40 pt loss reinforced the fact that the talent level, youth, athleticism of the players around tmac and yao is simply not enough.. and hopefully the team will learn from that loss and never let it happen again.. also, we lost with tmac being a true leader - dominating, not flopping and, not balaming other people.. while dirk didn't really dominate, flopped at every play, and called and blamed his teammates publicly..
I agree. Losing at home after blowing a 16 point lead and a last second 3-pointer when all you had to do was foul has to hurt tremendously. The pain from our loss is nearly gone for me...but this one for Dallas will linger all summer.
How about watching Jim Jackson celebrate? Robert Horry hitting threes against us? Watching Horry play against Jackson? ahhh, you're right, that's not so bad actually....but you know that poor kid has no idea what you're talking about.
I say a 40-point loss is worse. I guess it revolves around what you mean by "worse": harder to get over or more convincing. I'd rather lose by 4 anyday-- yes, harder to get over but more gamely fought.
from Clutch: As a fan I understand, but I'd hate to be a fan who said that in earshot of JVG. Actually I worry for you saying it here.
Of course that line of thinking didn't prevent Cuban from signing Dampier to a ridiculous deal. Ouch. Depending on how long Nash can sustain this level of play, that might end up as one of the worst moves of all time. Hell, it probably already is.
If the Rockets had to lose, I am glad the didnt wait til the last seconds...of course, I could have done without the 40 pt. humiliation...But I think if they had lost in overtime, I would have spent weeks pondering - if only they had done this...or if only this guy had done this...or... what if???.... Instead, I began immediately looking toward the future...thinking 'how can we build next year's team to be even better?'... The main pieces are clear - TMac, Yao...so are our needs.. I thought the rocks did an admirable job considering they didnt have all the tools...we know where we need to go and what we need to improve... Dallas' loss I think is actually more destructive - to their fans and to their team...they will have those lingering what-if questions....They believed they were capable of going all the way... Now where do they go? Their future moves are cloudy...they must wonder about leadership...about guts...IF you get rid of some folks, who will you replace them with? Will the team be any better? I think the rockets' future looks better... and clearer...now the mavs can eat themselves up from within...
To a certain extent, that sounds like the Rockets. Can T-Mac advance past the first round? Does Yao Ming have another level? Can JVG instill half the "heart" that RT did? A forty-point loss may be easier on the fans, but losing by the largest amount ever in a game seven is a BIG black mark on the organization.
"Of course that line of thinking didn't prevent Cuban from signing Dampier to a ridiculous deal. Ouch. " Dampier was part of a sign and trade, thus salaries were exchanged and not added on for the first few years of the contract. Nash was due a significant increase. I don't think it's a coincidence that he's a far better player this year than the last years now that he has teammates that complement his style of play alot better. Guys like Marion and Stoudemire are lucky to have Nash, and Nash is lucky to have finishers like them as well. It's just a great fit.
