Mavs-Kings Playoff Thread

PerryG2480 · April 27, 2004

We've got Kings fans coming out of the woodworks...funny.

Well, that's two heart-breaking losses in the series. A couple different bounces, different calls, etc. and this would have been a different series.

The Kings are not themselves...Webber looks sluggish, Miller looks overrated, and Bibby and Stojakovic are inconsistent. Don't even get me started on Doug Christie.

HOWEVER, they found a way to win last night. I haven't seen Steve Nash make a good play to win a game in forever. They got the play they wanted, and Peja overplayed Steve to the right...had we had 2 or 3 more seconds Nash could have hit one of the guys on the perimeter for a game winning shot. The shot he took was not a good one. People say that the Mavs are lucky to catch the Kings when they're kinda beat up. But it was obvious that Jamison was hurting...and Nash and Finley are not playing up to their usual par. Oh, and Dirk missing so many free throws??? You're welcome Sacramento...that won't happen again.

Anyway, the game hurt, and I don't want to start the off-season thread too early...but I think it's safe to say the Walker experiment failed, and this team needs to be restructured in the off-season. Newy said it's going to come down to Don Nelson and whether or not he's willing to bring in some actual defensive presence that he will allow to be on the floor for more than 20 minutes a game. Otherwise, it's going to be nice 50 win seasons with exits in the playoffs for a long time. The team as it stands has hit its ceiling in my opinion.

April 27, 2004

We've got Kings fans coming out of the woodworks...funny.

Indeed. They were probably Mavs fans against the Kings last playoffs, and probably Spurs fans in the series after that too. And we wonder why we can't get a decent fan following at UNT.

Gakusei · April 27, 2004

I'm pretty sure about 5 years ago, there was no such thing as a "Mavs fan."

eagle60 · April 27, 2004

Y'all forget that there are NT alums and fans who live all over the country, including in California! I'm just 60 miles from the Arco Arena in Sacramento, a straight shot up I-5.

The NT alumni base is huge. I'll bet you can't go to any area of the country and not find NT alums. That's why we don't see the Mean Green as just a little Sun Belt team, but a team who can go anywhere, play anybody, and hold their own.

Greenblood94 · April 27, 2004

The Kings are overdue to take the Mavericks out of the playoffs by Game Five. The Mavs aren't ready yet to move up the scale with both the Kings and the Lakers ahead of them (oh, and don't forget the T'Wolves!) There's always "Next Year."

You forgot one other Western Conference team ON TOP of the scale, eagle60...the San Antonio Spurs...maybe you've heard of the DEFENDING NBA CHAMPS???????

And stick a fork in the Mavs...this ain't Utah in 2002...they're done.

KPFC Sports Dept. · April 27, 2004

I'm pretty sure about 5 years ago, there was no such thing as a "Mavs fan."

Nope, even the season they turned things around (2000-2001), we would go to games buying 5 dollar seats and sit on the front row. Then they won a playoff series and things haven't been the same since. Those of us who were there before, and have been through the bad, BAD, times are with me here. But I was at Reunion then and trust me, there aren't many of us who can say that. It's "cool" to be a Mavs fan now and I have seen an empty Reunion turn into a full AAC. Everyone loves a winner I guess.

P.S. The Ranger hating that was thick and heavy last season seems to be missing....wait for a losing streak and we will hear from them though.

LadyGreen · April 27, 2004

We've got Kings fans coming out of the woodworks...funny.

I agree with eagle60, I'm from California, and lived in Sac for 2 years, onces a kings fan, always a kings fan.

Kings in 5

April 27, 2004

I'm pretty sure about 5 years ago, there was no such thing as a "Mavs fan."

The only real Mavs fans are the ones who have been around since before they first made the playoffs. If someone can show me their ticket stub from 1999 and sing the "And I am, and I am, I'm a Dallas Mavericks fan" song, then they are a real Mavs fan.

Zeke · April 28, 2004

The only real Mavs fans are the ones who have been around since before they first made the playoffs. If someone can show me their ticket stub from 1999 and sing the "And I am, and I am, I'm a Dallas Mavericks fan" song, then they are a real Mavs fan.

I am no Mavericks fan, but I love that song.

And the type of things IronMan is talking about is something that really gets under my skin. If a supposed "fan" wants to enjoy the success' , then they need to experience the failures that can make them appreciate it.

KPFC Sports Dept. · April 28, 2004

Wow Zeke, I always thought you were a Mavs fan. That was a truly shocking moment, like when I found out that Khalil Greene is white.

Zeke · April 28, 2004

Wow Zeke, I always thought you were a Mavs fan. That was a truly shocking moment, like when I found out that Khalil Greene is white.

Yup, the only home team I am not behind. I am a bit embarassed and proud to say I have been a Bulls fan since the Bad Boys of Detroit used to ruin the league. I wanted MJ to beat them so badly I followed them avidly. Of course MJ is no longer there except for a statue, but I still follow them closely. Someday in my life they will win another championship and someone will call me a bandwagon jumper, but I stick by them even now that they need to improve just to become sucky.

I do like to see the Mavs suceed though, but I don't have as much emotionaly invested as I might in the other home teams.

I am trying to hold back my excitment for the Rangers right now................can this last?

KPFC Sports Dept. · April 28, 2004

I am trying to hold back my excitment for the Rangers right now................can this last?

Tonight's game was great, Soriano saved thier butts.

Now that I think about it, I remember that you were a Bulls fan, we had a conversation about Eddy Curry before. Perfectly understandable, I still have a MJ wall in my old room. Nobody will ever get close to his greatness.

Zeke · April 28, 2004

It may take awhile to get over some of the damage that Jerry "players don't win championships, organizations do" Krause did. I am pretty excited about Crawford though. Curry looks great some nights, others he seems lost. Fizer and Chandler both may be busts.

CMJ · April 28, 2004

I'm a Mavs fan for the most part - but they're not my #1 squad. I've followed the Celtics since Larry Bird was there. I have memorbillia from their '86 Championship when I was all of 7 years old.

But I did follow the Mavs during the lean years. I have a penant signed by the squad in 94-'95. I think that was the season they won 11 games.

eagle60 · April 28, 2004

When I was a young guy my Aunt in Kansas City, who owned a travel agency, used to get tickets for me to see the Kansas City Kings play basketball. My Aunt would even line me up with some really nice dates since I had to travel up from Dallas and didn't know anyone up there. The Kings didn't have a lot then but I started being a fan back in the 60's. My Aunt was a good judge of "good looks."

KPFC Sports Dept. · April 30, 2004

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!

We lost THREE games that went down to one possesion and the Mavs had the final shot. THREE and none went in. Ladies and gentleman, I can safely tell you it wasn't in the cards this time. THREE games like this, I tell you what, when I am coaching and I have a team like this that knocks on the door every night and never gets over the hump, I will turn gray and then go bald in a matter of weeks. Could this have possible been more frustrating? I'm gonna be seeing failed game winning shots in my sleep. Not good times. I have now adopted the Nets again (Jason Kidd is still my boy) and whoever is playing the Lakers. THREE failed game winning plays in four losses, I wish they would have gotten blown out, it would have been easier to take.

Go Rangers!

April 30, 2004

That may have been the last game we see before the team is tore down and rebuilt again. I'm hoping it doesn't happen and that only a few moves are made with Nelson coming back, but I doubt that happens.

LadyGreen · April 30, 2004

All I will say is, like i said after game 3.......

Kings will get the next one in Dallas, and finish it all off at home with a win during game 5

Edited April 30, 2004 by LadyGreen

April 30, 2004

All I will say is, like i said after game 3.......

The real question is, did you believe that enough to bet money on it?

JayDub · April 30, 2004

I'm really beginning to think that we may see Nellie "retire" over the off-season. Nash is gone...maybe Finley, too. I can see Walker traded away.

I'd hate to see that happen...but this team is about to be dismantled.

PerryG2480 · April 30, 2004

All I have to say is ouch. How heart-breaking was that!?

Jeez, if one or two of those game winning shots goes in...ah what could have been.

I hate to say it, but when Antoine Walker was in at the crunch time at the fourth quarter he made three blatant mistakes that swung momentum back to the Kings. I will not miss him next year. Nash reminded me why he is my favorite player and why he is so vital to this team. I hope we find a way to keep him. That pass over his head to Dirk on the fast break was incredible. The Kings escaped this series, and the series was a lot closer than the numbers show. A couple free throws fall in game 4 and just one game winning shot goes in and we're right there. Oh well.

Now that I've calmed down, this was damn fun basketball to watch. I wish the Mavs could have pulled it out, but jeez it was fun. I'll never forget the double overtime game last year where Van Exel dropped 40 on the Queens to win it. Now we all get to watch the excitment that is the Pacers, Spurs, and Pistons. <_< I guess I'm pulling for the Timberwolves now. KG will make Webber look like an idiot even more than Dirk did.

KPFC Sports Dept. · April 30, 2004

Finley's contract is probably too big to get moved. Then again the same was said of LaFrentz...

Nash is a free agent and will probably want more than the Mavs want to give. I hate to see him go, but if he could make the max or close to it and go back to his homeland, it would be a great thing for him and the Raptors franchise. It would be like Nolan Ryan coming back to Texas (wish I could take the credit for that parallel.)

If that happens, the Mavs need to do whatever they can to keep Daniels around for a while. Teaming him and Howard up could be a great combo for years.

Walker will not be a Mav after the deadline next year, and I would be suprised if he lasts the summer. He is worth too much on the trade market with a big contract coming off the books.

The good thing is, Mark Cuban owns the team. He will do whatever he has to do to win. There is a cap in the NBA, but it is a soft one and Cuban doesn't care about the luxury tax. There is no cap on spending for coaches and staff, and other things, and Cuban has and will continue to go all out on those fronts. While this was a tough series, it may be the kick in the pants Cuban needs to go all out for the ring. I am disappointed with the present, but optimistic about the future because of the best owner in the NBA.

April 30, 2004

Cuban is indeed the best owner in the NBA, but I'm scared he will get rid of Nellie and hire Pat Riley and turn this into a slow-paced-fall-asleep-in-the-2nd-quarter-while-scoring-85-points team.

It will also be interesting to see how the Nash situation turns out.

Anyone know what players are becoming free agents this summer?

Greenblood94 · April 30, 2004

Cuban is indeed the best owner in the NBA, but I'm scared he will get rid of Nellie and hire Pat Riley and turn this into a slow-paced-fall-asleep-in-the-2nd-quarter-while-scoring-85-points team.

From David Moore's DMN article today:

"Let's talk about Pat Riley," Cuban said. "I will absolutely, positively guarantee you without any question, I'll put any amount of money on it, that Pat Riley is not going to be the coach of the Dallas Mavericks next year. I fully expect Nellie to be the coach next year. I don't see any reason to change that."

Anyone know what players are becoming free agents this summer?

We all know Steve Nash will opt-out of his contract and be an unrestricted free agent. Of the rest, I know Marquis Daniels is now a restricted free agent, but Cuban said (in the same article above), when asked if he thought it would be difficult to hold on to Daniels, "No, not at all. Unless somebody does something that is really out of whack... I think Marquis really likes it here. We like having him. I think he realizes a big part of his development is his effort, but also having the support staff we have. Having guys like Mike and Steve and Dirk that can help him grow. And having his twin (Josh Howard)."

I'm not sure about who else is free this summer, but I doubt it's anyone else vital to the Mavs.

LadyGreen · May 1, 2004

The real question is, did you believe that enough to bet money on it?

If I were not a poor college student i would have. But since I'm poor I didnt have the extra money to do so, so i just cheered them on as all my friends were going for the mavs.

Did you believe enough in the mavs to put money down for them?????