Kirobaito
04-21-2005, 04:36 AM
OK, yay. We've got our matchups done and stuff. Now comes the fun part.
<b><u>My Official Mavs Rant</u></b> (Skip if needed :))
Never have I felt better about our chances. Not even after 60 wins. Never. This is a team made for the playoffs. If ANYBODY is going to beat the Spurs, it will be us. The Rockets' two wins against us came when we were decimated by injuries, and one of them shouldn't even be considered a game (minus Dirk, Fin, Damp). We have this team. We are too deep, and too athletic to possibly lose this series. I will be disappointed with anything less than a sweep. It's that simple. Our backcourt with Jet, Finley, Howard, Daniels, and Stack is just too physical for their soft backcourt of Sura, Wesley, and Barry to stop. That will put pressure on Van Gundy to leave McGrady and Yao into the game. Yao should not even be a factor against Damp, who is healthy as can be and has shut Yao down in the past. Come fourth quarter, McGrady's 5th 40-foot hoist will hit front rim, and Yao will be panting for air. And I haven't even covered Dirk yet. :) The Rockets couldn't guard him with Juwan Howard - I can't imagine what they'll do without him.
That said, this Mavs team has the ability to win everything for a number of reasons. They're peaking at the right time. They've won 9 straight, The Little General is 16-2 as a head coach (which, btw, is a .889 winning percentage), and we have just been superb as of late. Futhermore, this Mavs team is as tough as you'll find in the Western Conference. Since Johnson took over, we have been lean and mean. I tell ya, I've never felt better than when I heard that Jerry Stackhouse kicked Kirk Snyder's ass in the parking lot a few games ago. Dirk has completely changed, too. He's gotten sick and tired of urban stars getting protected by referees, while he has shots taken at him with no protection. Finally, he's taking matters into his own hands, and has become the defensive force he should be - in addition to his superb offensive talent.
The Mavs have two newcomers in the playoffs in Jason Terry and Erick Dampier, and they've never felt better. Obviously, Grant Hill is the comeback player of the year (IMO), but Jet should receive votes for it, too. In Atlanta, he got the wrap as being a "me-first" player. Selfish. He's been anything but. He loves where he is, and what he's doing. He's hit big shot after big shot for us this year, including back-to-back game winners against Sacramento and Seattle in February. He's one of many X-factors in the playoffs. Dampier has never been in the playoffs before, in addition, but he's peaking now, which is key. He's healthy and playing well. He's always been able to stop Yao, and contain Shaq, and hopefully he'll get extra hyped to do so in the postseason.
However, the ultimate X-factors in what makes this Mavs team so built for the playoffs are Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Van Horn. Stackhouse has got the Nick Van Exel swagger goin' on, and is completely healthy and ready. Van Horn has been through it with New Jersey, and is quite competent. It's ridiculous how deep this team is. I've been complaining all season how this Mavericks team has never shown its true colors because they've been so injured. Now that they're healthy, they've done nothing but dominate. Handle these stats:
Last 18 games since Avery Johnson took over:
Opponents PPG: 92.5 PPG
Opponents Field Goals: 569-1335 (42.6%)
Mavs' PPG: 103.1
Mavs 3-point %: 40.1
I will take that.
This Mavs team is ready and willing to go all the way.
---------------------------------
<b>Phoenix vs. Memphis</b>
This is an intriguing matchup. I'd be inclined to pick Memphis because of the way that they've played the Suns this year, but they've really stumbled down the stretch, so I pick Phoenix in 5.
<b>San Antonio vs. Denver</b>
Another quite intriguing matchup. Denver's been playing well, but it's against clearly inferior opposition and mostly at home, so I think their play of late is quite overrated. Spurs in 6.
<b>Seattle vs. Sacramento</b>
Sacto started to get things in line close to the end of the season as Seattle melted away. Another close series, but I pick the Kings in 7. The Sonics are not quite back yet from their injuries, and certainly don't have the chemistry needed.
<b>Dallas vs. Houston</b>
By all regards, the Mavs will dominate, and I will take nothing less, as a fan. Our guards are too athletic. T-Mac will have to win this series by himself, because he will not have any help from other players. I think that Josh Howard, with the help of the help defense employed by Avery Johnson, will be able to contain T-Mac enough. Mavs in 5.
<b>Miami vs. New Jersey</b>
The Eastern Conference playoffs don't even matter, really, but I suppose I have to go into them. New Jersey sucks. Miami is aight. Miam in 4.
<b>Detroit vs. Philadelphia</b>
Philly sucks. Detroit is aight. Pistons in 5.
<b>Boston vs. Indiana</b>
Both teams suck. Pacers in 6.
<b>Chicago vs. Washington</b>
The only good matchup in the East. Chicago has struggled so much with injuries to Curry and Deng, so I think the Wiz will take it in 7.
So yeah.
<b><u>My Official Mavs Rant</u></b> (Skip if needed :))
Never have I felt better about our chances. Not even after 60 wins. Never. This is a team made for the playoffs. If ANYBODY is going to beat the Spurs, it will be us. The Rockets' two wins against us came when we were decimated by injuries, and one of them shouldn't even be considered a game (minus Dirk, Fin, Damp). We have this team. We are too deep, and too athletic to possibly lose this series. I will be disappointed with anything less than a sweep. It's that simple. Our backcourt with Jet, Finley, Howard, Daniels, and Stack is just too physical for their soft backcourt of Sura, Wesley, and Barry to stop. That will put pressure on Van Gundy to leave McGrady and Yao into the game. Yao should not even be a factor against Damp, who is healthy as can be and has shut Yao down in the past. Come fourth quarter, McGrady's 5th 40-foot hoist will hit front rim, and Yao will be panting for air. And I haven't even covered Dirk yet. :) The Rockets couldn't guard him with Juwan Howard - I can't imagine what they'll do without him.
That said, this Mavs team has the ability to win everything for a number of reasons. They're peaking at the right time. They've won 9 straight, The Little General is 16-2 as a head coach (which, btw, is a .889 winning percentage), and we have just been superb as of late. Futhermore, this Mavs team is as tough as you'll find in the Western Conference. Since Johnson took over, we have been lean and mean. I tell ya, I've never felt better than when I heard that Jerry Stackhouse kicked Kirk Snyder's ass in the parking lot a few games ago. Dirk has completely changed, too. He's gotten sick and tired of urban stars getting protected by referees, while he has shots taken at him with no protection. Finally, he's taking matters into his own hands, and has become the defensive force he should be - in addition to his superb offensive talent.
The Mavs have two newcomers in the playoffs in Jason Terry and Erick Dampier, and they've never felt better. Obviously, Grant Hill is the comeback player of the year (IMO), but Jet should receive votes for it, too. In Atlanta, he got the wrap as being a "me-first" player. Selfish. He's been anything but. He loves where he is, and what he's doing. He's hit big shot after big shot for us this year, including back-to-back game winners against Sacramento and Seattle in February. He's one of many X-factors in the playoffs. Dampier has never been in the playoffs before, in addition, but he's peaking now, which is key. He's healthy and playing well. He's always been able to stop Yao, and contain Shaq, and hopefully he'll get extra hyped to do so in the postseason.
However, the ultimate X-factors in what makes this Mavs team so built for the playoffs are Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Van Horn. Stackhouse has got the Nick Van Exel swagger goin' on, and is completely healthy and ready. Van Horn has been through it with New Jersey, and is quite competent. It's ridiculous how deep this team is. I've been complaining all season how this Mavericks team has never shown its true colors because they've been so injured. Now that they're healthy, they've done nothing but dominate. Handle these stats:
Last 18 games since Avery Johnson took over:
Opponents PPG: 92.5 PPG
Opponents Field Goals: 569-1335 (42.6%)
Mavs' PPG: 103.1
Mavs 3-point %: 40.1
I will take that.
This Mavs team is ready and willing to go all the way.
---------------------------------
<b>Phoenix vs. Memphis</b>
This is an intriguing matchup. I'd be inclined to pick Memphis because of the way that they've played the Suns this year, but they've really stumbled down the stretch, so I pick Phoenix in 5.
<b>San Antonio vs. Denver</b>
Another quite intriguing matchup. Denver's been playing well, but it's against clearly inferior opposition and mostly at home, so I think their play of late is quite overrated. Spurs in 6.
<b>Seattle vs. Sacramento</b>
Sacto started to get things in line close to the end of the season as Seattle melted away. Another close series, but I pick the Kings in 7. The Sonics are not quite back yet from their injuries, and certainly don't have the chemistry needed.
<b>Dallas vs. Houston</b>
By all regards, the Mavs will dominate, and I will take nothing less, as a fan. Our guards are too athletic. T-Mac will have to win this series by himself, because he will not have any help from other players. I think that Josh Howard, with the help of the help defense employed by Avery Johnson, will be able to contain T-Mac enough. Mavs in 5.
<b>Miami vs. New Jersey</b>
The Eastern Conference playoffs don't even matter, really, but I suppose I have to go into them. New Jersey sucks. Miami is aight. Miam in 4.
<b>Detroit vs. Philadelphia</b>
Philly sucks. Detroit is aight. Pistons in 5.
<b>Boston vs. Indiana</b>
Both teams suck. Pacers in 6.
<b>Chicago vs. Washington</b>
The only good matchup in the East. Chicago has struggled so much with injuries to Curry and Deng, so I think the Wiz will take it in 7.
So yeah.