FtWorth Star Telegram: Rockets Notes

FtWorth Star Telegram: Rockets / Mavericks Notes

<a href="http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/11450595.htm"><b><font size="+1">Rockets Notes</font></b></a>
Posted on Thu, Apr. 21, 2005

<b>Van Gundy has distinct memory of Mavs coach</b>
By Dwain Price / Star-Telegram Staff Writer

HOUSTON - Jeff Van Gundy has a vivid memory of Mavericks coach Avery Johnson.

Van Gundy, now the coach of the Houston Rockets, coached the New York Knicks to the 1999 NBA Finals against San Antonio and Johnson, who was the Spurs' starting point guard. In fact, it was Johnson who nailed the winning jumper that closed out the series in five games.

"My memory of Avery Johnson is left corner, 18-footer, 35 seconds left," Van Gundy said before Wednesday's 106-78 victory against Seattle.

Van Gundy scoffed at critics who have suggested that he'll coach the pants off Johnson when the Rockets face the Mavs in a best-of-seven playoff series that begins Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center. Van Gundy is in his ninth season as a head coach, while Johnson took over for Don Nelson on March 19.

"He's a great coach, and this has nothing to do with coaching experience," Van Gundy said of Johnson. "I read those [comments] and I laughed.

"Nellie did a great job, then he turned it over to Avery, who is doing a great job. The best team is going to win," Van Gundy said.

<b>Rockets take off</b>

In preparation for their first-round playoff series against the Mavericks, the Rockets will resume practice Friday after taking today off.

The Rockets enter the playoffs on a roll, having won their past seven games after defeating Seattle. That includes consecutive victories in Phoenix (98-97) and in Seattle (90-78).

In fact, at 25-16, the Rockets posted their second-best road record ever and are one of only seven teams to post a winning record on the road this season. That's a carrot they can certainly dangle in front of their fans, since they'll need to win at least one game against the Mavericks at AAC in order to win the series.

"We've been playing good basketball and we have to just keep it up," Rockets reserve guard Mike James said. "We can't stop playing good basketball now.

"It's only going to get better now. We just have to continue to stay focused for 48 minutes and go out there and try to play the game the right way."

<b>Playoff history</b>

The last time the Rockets won a playoff series was in 1997, when they defeated Seattle in seven games in the Western Conference semifinals. However, the Rockets lost the following series -- the Western Conference Finals -- to the Utah Jazz in six games.

Since, the Rockets have dropped three first-round playoff series. When the NBA still had a best-of-five series in the opening round, the Rockets lost to the Jazz in five games in 1998, and to the Los Angeles Lakers in four games in 1999.

In a best-of-seven opening-round series last season, the Lakers tripped up the Rockets in five games.

<b>McGrady will be ready</b>

Rockets guard Tracy McGrady is listed as day-to-day after not dressing for Wednesday's regular-season finale against Seattle because of back spasms. However, team officials said McGrady will be back at practice Friday.

Seattle All-Stars Ray Allen (sprained right ankle) and Rashard Lewis (left knee tendinitis) also did not dress Wednesday, but will be ready when the Sonics open their best-of-seven series at home Saturday at 9:30 p.m. against Sacramento.

 

<a href="http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/11450601.htm"><font size="+1">Mavericks Notes</font></a>
Posted on Thu, Apr. 21, 2005

<b>Mavs, Rockets peak at playoffs</b>
By Art Garcia / Star-Telegram Staff Writer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Texas is, and always will be, a football state. That's not going to change.

But basketball in the Lone Star State is pretty darn good, too.

The Mavericks expand their Texas Triangle playoff rivalry Saturday with the first-round best-of-seven opener against Houston at American Airlines Center. The Mavs have faced San Antonio in the postseason twice in the past four years.

The Dallas and Houston franchises have met only once in the playoffs, with the Mavs winning a first-round series in 1988. What this series lacks in history, it makes up for in sizzle with Dirk Nowitzki, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming as headliners.

"The ratings in Texas are going to be high," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said. "The interest is going to be high. The tensions will be high, and that should make for some exciting NBA playoff basketball.

"And it's probably the good start of a rivalry. We've really started to have something going with the Spurs, and this will expand things with the Rockets."

The Mavs put the finishing touches on the regular season with Wednesday night's 108-88 victory at Memphis. The victory was their ninth in row, including four consecutive on the road, and 16th in 18 games under coach Avery Johnson.

"Our confidence is at an all-time high," Michael Finley said. "Winning does that."

The Mavs (58-24) and Houston split four regular-season meetings, with the Rockets winning the last two. The I-45 rivals combined to win 109 games, the most ever in a matchup of No. 4-5 seeds, and are peaking going into the playoffs. Houston (51-31) won its last seven.

"For the first time, we're all healthy, and we're looking good right now," Nowitzki said.

A bevy of 3-point shooters complement Houston's one-two punch of McGrady and Yao, while Nowitzki has perhaps the league's deepest supporting cast. Neither side will be surprised by the other.

"There's nothing now to hide," Nowitzki said. "They saw us for 80 games. It's not like they're going to watch [the Memphis game] and say, 'Oh, they're doing this and that.' They know what we're doing, and we're going to get prepared for what they're doing.

"And then, it comes down to being tough in the playoffs and executing plays. Even though we know their plays and they know ours, it comes down to who comes out on top and who is going to execute the plays the right way. We'll see what happens."

That's not to say the Mavs are selling themselves short.

"Before the season even started, a lot of people were writing us off," Finley said. "Houston is a hot team as well, but, if we play the way we have been playing these last couple of weeks, I think we'll still come out on top."

<b>Internal fortitude</b>

Somehow, a cast of new players, a host of injuries and a new coach added up to a 58-24 record for the Mavs, good for second best in franchise history and fourth best in the league this season.

"For us to be sitting where we are right now is testimony to the character we have and the fiber we have on this team," Avery Johnson said. "These guys don't blink at stuff like that. Their expectations are really high. Mine are [too]. They hate losing."

<b>Briefly</b>

• The injury bug struck in the last game as Mavs equipment manager Al Whitley sliced open his left hand opening a Gatorade bottle before the game. Whitely required three stitches, but he's expected to be available for Game 1.

• Mavs point guard Jason Terry was back in the starting lineup against Memphis after sitting out Tuesday's game with a sore ankle. He scored five points and added six assists.