Rockets/Mavs: The Previews, Breakdowns and Picks Thread

Perhaps we should create a "hit-list" listing analysts and others who look down upon the Rocks...

Steve Kerr is the first one to be on this list... then we can add the Dallas columnists later

 

The more I think about it the more I like our changes.

My pick, Rox in 5.

If Mavs win, it'll be in game 7.

If the Rox catch fire, they'll kill the Mavs. And the Rox have been playing really really well. Confidence is up accross the board.

Witherspoon hitting 15 fters.
Padget hitting 3s.
Mike James busting out for 20+ last night.
Sura hitting some 3s now.
Wesley hitting his 3s now.
Yao playing better w/ room for improvement.
Barry hitting 3s and driving the lane.
Bowen hitting 15 fters.
Deke playing like a defensive beast.
TMac is TMac.

Everybody is playing their role 100% right now. If that continues, it's over! Rox in 5.

 

He's just a guy making a prediction. He could be right. Hopefully, he's wrong.

 

I think our bench has some firepower too.

 

I truly think the Rockets are at a greater advantage, strictly because of coaching.

If we lose game 1, look for JVG to make adjustments to steal game 2.

Then watch the dominos fall.

Rockets in 6 at home no less.

 

wow..i'm really surprised they're giving McGrady run as a "big game player." not sure he's earned that yet...though he's quickly become my favorite player!!

 

I think your definition and t_js definition of unanimous must be the same.

 

At least he didn't call anyone a Chinaman.

 

T-Mac has been playing the small forward spot for most of the seaon. How could there still be people who thinks he's a guard? Even JVG said that T-Mac is more suited to guarding opposing SF rather than SG.

Also the playoff-experience thing is stupid. The Rockets players haven't had much playoff experience either. Especially the stars.

 

Calm down people. He picked the Mavs in 7. Hell, I've reluctantly picked them to win in 6, so that must make me an even bigger douche than Kerr.

Besides, I want the media going with Dallas. The Rockets are at their best when everyone(including the posters on this board) doubt them.

 

What is the big deal with that? Frenchman, dutchman, etc.....I don't get it

Anyways, Steve Kerr is cut out of the same mold as steven ass smith.

 

While Kerr is crappy, his prediction isn't that far off.

He picked a team with 7 more wins and home court advantage to win in 7. That really doesn't seem like that much of a stretch.

Sounds like he's basically saying it could be anybody's series with that close of a prediction.

 

SATURDAY, PLEASE HURRY AND GET HERE!!!!

 

The Sports Network: NBA Playoff Preview - Dallas vs. Houston

The Sports Network: Dallas vs. Houston - Pick: Mavericks in 7

<a href="http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=nba/news/acn3857876.htm"><b><font size="+1">NBA Playoff Preview - Dallas vs. Houston</font></b></a>
From The Sports Network
By Warren Blatt, NBA Editor

Dallas Mavericks: 4th Seed, West (58-24)
Houston Rockets: 5th Seed, West (51-31)

(Sports Network) - Southwest Division rivals will square off in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, as the fourth-seeded Dallas Mavericks will lock up with No. 5 Houston.

This is the second time that Dallas and Houston have met in the postseason. In 1988, the Mavericks eliminated the Rockets, 3-1, in the first round.

During the regular season, the teams split four games as each club picked up win at home and on the road. In last year's playoffs, Dallas fell in five games to Sacramento in the first round, while the Rockets were also eliminated in five in the opening round by the Lakers.

The Mavericks had a fantastic regular season as they were 58-24, which is the second-best record in franchise history. They won a franchise-best 60 games in the 2002-03 campaign.

Dallas enters the postseason as the hottest team in the NBA. The Mavericks won their final nine games of the regular season and scored more than 100 points in seven of those contests.

Avery Johnson, who became the eighth head coach of the Dallas franchise after Don Nelson resigned on March 19th, has had a huge impact on the Mavericks' success, while All-Star Dirk Nowitzki is once again the go-to guy. Johnson has the respect and confidence of his team and knows what it takes to win the league from his experience as a player.

Nowitzki had an MVP-type season, as he averaged 26.1 points and 9.7 rebounds, which were both team-highs. He is an all-around great player who is not afraid to carry the team on his back.

Even though the team lost star point guard Steve Nash to Phoenix through free agency last offseason, the Mavericks were once again able to put together a deep roster. Center Erick Dampier, who was acquired from Golden State in a sign-and-trade deal prior to the season, is the man in the middle that Dallas has always been missing. The 29-year-old Dampier contributed 9.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in 59 games this season.

Jason Terry and Michael Finley are a solid backcourt for the Mavs. They both can drain the outside jumper and move well in transition. Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Van Horn highlight a deep bench for Dallas.

The Mavericks are ready to try and earn their first berth in the NBA Finals. Dallas did make it to the conference finals in 1988 and 2003.

Houston is the second hottest team in the league coming into the playoffs, as it finished the campaign with seven straight wins. The Rockets allowed 100 points just once in their final seven outings.

Tracy McGrady will appear in the playoffs for the first time as a Rocket. He had an excellent first campaign with Houston, as he led the team in scoring (25.7 ppg) and assists (5.7 apg). He scored in double-digits in 77 of the 78 games he played in this season.

Yao Ming teams with McGrady to give the Rockets a deadly inside-outside combination. Yao averaged 18.4 points and a team-high 8.4 boards in 80 games this season, which was his third in the league.

McGrady and Yao are the key ingredients to the Rockets' success. With two All- Stars on its roster, Houston management needed to fill out its roster with veterans and role players who understand the scheme.

The Rockets have been playing winning basketball as they won 18 of their final 24 regular-season games. However, Houston has not won a playoff series since 1997.

<b>FRONTCOURT:</b> Three All-Stars are included in this frontcourt matchup. The Rockets have Yao and McGrady, while the Mavericks counter with Nowitzki.

Nowitzki teams with Dampier and Josh Howard to give Dallas a solid frontcourt. The 7-0 All-Star forward can play inside or outside. His game is complete and because of his versatility and size he creates major matchup problems. Howard is athletic and is a perfect complement to his frontcourt partners. He can get out in the open court for some east hoops and is also a decent defender.

The Mavericks are finally entering the postseason with a center that will get them the presence down low that they have lacked in past playoff runs. Dampier is a strong rebounder and will be able to hold his own in the paint and on the blocks against the other strong centers in the West. A series like this one is the reason why Dallas acquired a player like Dampier last offseason.

Yao and McGrady will work with veteran Clarence Weatherspoon, who will be asked to concentrate on his rebounding and defense, as Houston's starting frontcourt. Yao, who has averaged 15 points and 7.4 rebounds in his five-career playoff games, will need to come up big on both ends of the court if the Rockets hope to beat Dallas.

McGrady will also need to bring his best game each game for Houston to win this series. He needs to put up big numbers in the scoring column and must be able to get the ball to Yao inside when he is being double and triple teamed.

EDGE: EVEN


<b>BACKCOURT:</b> Terry and Finley give Dallas an advantage over Houston's Bob Sura and David Wesley in this matchup.

Terry and Finley are more athletic and should be able to use their quickness and skill to breakdown Sura and Wesley. Terry can play either guard spot, while the high-flying Finley can work at shooting guard or small forward.

Sura and Wesley are both veterans and are not afraid to take the big shot in crunch time. They are not flashy, but they can both handle the ball, hit the outside jumper and play solid defense.

EDGE: MAVERICKS


<b>BENCH:</b> The Mavericks are as deep as any team in the league. They have depth up front and in the backcourt. Stackhouse, who can play shooting guard or small forward, is a candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, and forward Keith Van Horn are the first two players to come off the pine for Dallas. They are not strong defensively, but both can light it up from the outside and are capable of scoring in bunches.

Guards Marquis Daniels, Devin Harris and Darrell Armstrong are also solid reserves. Daniels can play shooting guard or small forward, while the rookie Harris will see his minutes at the point and the 36-year-old Armstrong has plenty of experience. Veterans Shawn Bradley and Alan Henderson will eat up some minutes up front when needed.

Veterans Jon Barry, Mike James, Dikembe Mutombo and Scott Padgett will take up the minutes when the Houston starters need a rest. James, who won a title with the Pistons last season, and Barry can both hit the outside jumper and are able to handle the duties at the point as well. Mutombo will be used to give Yao some minutes to rest, while the 6-9 Padgett can add some offense if he can hit his outside jumper.

EDGE: MAVERICKS


<b>COACH:</b> Johnson has convinced the Mavericks that they have to play defense in order beat the best teams in the league. He has Dallas playing with more energy, enthusiasm and intensity. Johnson won a title during his playing days as a member of the 1999 San Antonio Spurs NBA Championship team.

Jeff Van Gundy finished his second season as the head coach of the Rockets. Prior to landing in Houston, Van Gundy led the New York Knicks to six straight postseason appearances to go along with a berth in the 1998-99 NBA Finals.

Johnson and Van Gundy both stress defense and they know what it takes to win in the postseason.

EDGE: EVEN


<b>PREDICTION:</b> The Mavericks and Rockets played great basketball at the end of the season. Confidence is at an all-time high for both clubs, but there can only be one winner.

<b>MAVERICKS IN SEVEN</b>


04/21 14:49:56 ET

 

for the most part i agree. I think we get the advantage at coaching though. That sways the prediction of mavs in 7 to houston in 7 IMO.

 

SI: Mavs-Rockets Breakdown

SI's Marty Burns picks the Mavericks in 7

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...ug=cnnsi-mavericksrocket&prov=cnnsi&type=lgns

The Mavericks will win if ...

Erick Dampier stays aggressive at both ends, and they don't abandon their newfound defensive identity. Dampier (9.2 points, 8.5 rebounds) has the size and bulk to defend Yao Ming, but he has to play smart and avoid foul trouble. Thanks in large part to his presence in the middle, the Mavs' D is no longer a sieve. They ranked in the top 10 in field-goal percentage allowed (43.8 percent) and were first in 3-point field-goal defense (32.7). With the long-armed Josh Howard to defend Tracy McGrady, the Mavs won't be easy for Houston. Offensively, Dallas has ample scorers in the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Van Horn. But keep a close eye on Terry. He shot 50 percent from the floor (42.2 from downtown) and is excited about making his first playoff appearance.

The Rockets will win if ...

They can find a way to slow Nowitzki, and McGrady's supporting cast can knock down shots from the perimeter. Houston's defense ranks 2nd in the NBA in field-goal percentage allowed (42.4 percent) and is fourth in points allowed (91.4). With coach Jeff Van Gundy at the helm, they no doubt will be well-prepared. But the Rockets will be hard-pressed to counter all of Dallas' weapons, especially with Juwan Howard (heart virus) out for the season. They're going to need more offense in this series to make up for it, and McGrady won't be able to do it alone. Yao needs to attack in the post, and T-Mac's wing men need to hit shots to keep Dallas from collapsing on him. Bob Sura, David Wesley, Mike James and Jon Barry are all capable shooters, but they have been streaky all season.

Key matchup

Nowitzki vs. The Three-Headed Monster

Nowitzki pumped in 53 points to outduel McGrady (48) in the Mavs' 113-106 OT victory on Dec. 2. For the season series Nowitzki averaged 26.3 points and 9.8 rebounds in three games (he sat out the final matchup, a 90-69 Rockets victory on March 6). With Howard out, Clarence Weatherspoon, Scott Padgett and Ryan Bowen will rotate against the 7-foot German. But Weatherspoon is short (6-7), while Padgett and Bowen are career role players. Weatherspoon must use his bulk on offense to bull in and create fouls on Nowitzki when he gets a chance. On defense the Rockets must stay out on Nowitzki and force him to drive into the lane, where Yao and Dikembe Mutombo do a great job protecting the rim.

Interesting fact

These two Texas rivals have met just once in the postseason, back in 1988. The Mavs won the first-round series 3-1 on their way to the Western Conference finals.

The pick

Van Gundy is going to make this "I-45" series more painful to watch than a traffic jam. Both teams come in red hot, with solid defenses and clear-cut go-to guys. But Dallas has more offensive firepower, and home-court advantage. Mavs in 7.

 

agreed. decent assestment, but we should definitely get the nod in coaching. AJ may have the mavs playing (exrememly) well, but he is still an unproven coach with absolutely NO playoff coaching experience.

 

For Yahoo's top 10 sports searches, basketball isn't listed. I'm guessing people search other places for basketball..or they just click the links to NBA news..instead of searching for it.

I have to agree. Mavs are better. We are underdogs. If we play our best though, we can beat them. I believe and I have hope!!!!! JVG!!!!! Tmac and Yao! ROCKETS!!!!!! A lot of people said Rockets are gonna upset though.

 

Most everyone has picked the Mavs to win except for David Dupree, Ric Bucher, Tim Legler, Michael Wilbon, and the MSNBC guy (Ventre?)

Its sad that I can name all the sportswriters who think we can beat the Mavs, but I'd rather be the underdog too...

 

I am telling you guys, what will determine who wins the series is the backcourt play. If the Rocket's four-guard combo just matches (not necessarily outplays) the Mavs' backcourt (a daunting task indeed), then the Rockets will, no question, defeat the Mavs.

The second factor, IMO, is Yao Ming's play: whether he is passive and lets himself be pushed around (because refs will allow more physical play), or whether he punishes them and dominates the interior. IMO, the only real advantage we have over the Mavs is our inside players (Yao and Deke combined). Mac and Dirk cancel each other pretty much (Dirk plays similar to Garnett; they are not real inside players, they are allergic to playing inside).

If it is true that teams with inside presence perform better in the playoffs (the only other team with serious inside presence in the Western Conf is the Spurs IMO), then we will prevail over the Mavs as far as Yao takes us, based on that theory.

So to me this is how things rank:

1) Our guards play
2) Yao's play
3) Rocket's perimeter defense