Round 1-Game 6 - Mavericks-Spurs Preview / Game Thread - 7pm CST

[Dulce]

Mavericks-Spurs Preview




Known for nailing a motivational quote from a 19th-century social reformer to the locker room wall, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich passed on giving his players a derivative, rah-rah speech about finishing off Dallas.

"They're grown men," he said. "They don't need me to tell them."

The Spurs certainly got the message now.

San Antonio was back home Wednesday after an uninspired showing in Game 5 in which the Mavericks crushed them 103-81 to fight off elimination. It was the most lopsided game in an otherwise thrilling series of wild point swings, tough words and hard fouls among the Texas rivals.

It also might have swung the momentum back to the Mavs.

Heading into Game 6 on Thursday night in San Antonio, the Mavs abruptly went from moribund to more like the No. 2 seed favored in this series all along. If they can finally cash in on being the NBA's best road team, they'll send it back home for a Game 7.

"They're up 3-2, and we did it to ourselves," Mavs center Brendan Haywood said. "Right now we have to fight and put a lot of pressure on them. If we win that game, then it becomes anybody's series."

The Spurs are still in control, and with history on their side. Only eight teams in NBA history have rallied from a 3-1 deficit, though Mavs coach Rick Carlisle (Detroit, 2003) and forward Shawn Marion (Phoenix, 2006) helped pull off the feat most recently.

Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have also made good on their last four chances to finish off a playoff opponent at home. The last time San Antonio let a team survive elimination at the AT&T Center was 2006 - against the Mavericks.

It was a Game 7 in the memorable West semifinals, in which the Spurs couldn't finish rallying from a 3-1 deficit on their home court. Four years and massive roster overhauls later, there's little to take or glean from that series, other than perhaps a reminder.

"We're not dead yet," Mavs guard Jason Terry said. "That's the motto."

Popovich, who tore into his role players after Game 1 for "playing like dogs," took aim at his starters after Tuesday's lackluster showing. He called their mental approach "disappointing" with a chance to end the series on the line.

The Spurs famously keep a framed quote in their locker room by 19th-century activist Jacob Riis about a stonecutter hammering at a rock 100 times before splitting on the 101st blow. The message is a touch more high-minded than, say, Popovich giving a cliched pep talk about ending the series.

But from the start of Game 5, the Spurs looked complacent. They fell behind 17 in the first half and by the fourth quarter, Duncan was already done for the night while Popovich emptied his bench to rest his starters.

"We're upset at the way we approached the game," Ginobili said in Dallas. "It's something we'll learn from. I hope that's how we take Game 6, because we don't want to come here for a Game 7."

Scrutiny that the Mavs endured while losing three straight - like benching Caron Butler and Marion in the second half of Game 2 - has shifted to the Spurs. Chief among the question marks are Duncan, who has drastically fallen off his monster start to the series.

Duncan scored at least 25 points in the first three games but has combined for just 15 in the last two since turning 34 on Sunday. Ginobili, meanwhile, is shooting just 26 percent since breaking his nose in Game 3 while insisting that it hasn't affected him.

The Mavs dictated the tempo while San Antonio's stars struggled, forgoing the half-court game the Spurs prefer to a quicker pace that Dallas favors.

It's an emphasis the Mavs have earmarked for their survival.

"It's easy," Marion said. "They can't guard it."

[Robofuzz]

Let's end this tonight!! GO SPURS GO!!

[Robofuzz]

A couple of images for inspiration:

[spurscrazed]

Originally Posted by Robofuzz

A couple of images for inspiration:

Niice

SPURS 92
mavs 88

SO SPURS GO

Let us end this mavs run in 10

SPURS pay back for last year's exit. We owe this to the mavs.

GO DOWN mavs GO DOWN!

[shelshor]

NBA.com - Referee Assignments
Apr 29, 2010
Dallas @ San Antonio--Eddie F. Rush, Bill Spooner, Tom Washington

[alamo]

Hey anybody seen the fat lady? Lets get her away from the taco stand cuz shes singing tonight! I cuaght amnesia from game 5 so thats in the past. Time to take care end this series. Cant let this go to a game 7. Throw down the guantlet Spurs! Let loose you inner Kracken! Spur fans are united for the cause

[Jose_TheGenius]

Eddie Rush? lol

IF we win, it'll be a hard win

[Flipmode Master]

Originally Posted by Jose_TheGenius

Eddie Rush? lol

IF we win, it'll be a hard win

Is he worst than Crawford? Is that possible? lol

[shelshor]

Originally Posted by Flipmode Master

Is he worst than Crawford? Is that possible? lol

Depends on your standards: Both are good company men--Rush is inept & sort of dumb; doesn't have to worry about being worth a d**n because he's a 2nd generation ref & for a long time his daddy was head of NBA refs--Crawford just hates Duncan & San Antonio

[Robofuzz]

Is it game time yet????

[grizzly_bexar]

Spurs 95, Mavs 86.

[Dulce]

Spurs 110
Mavs 90

[Jose_TheGenius]

i got a feeling if we win this game, we win the series for sure

[spurs_believer]

Originally Posted by Jose_TheGenius

i got a feeling if we win this game, we win the series for sure

+1

I also have a feeling that if we score more than Mav we will take this game.

[shelshor]

Hide the exercise bikes

[Robofuzz]

Spurs better come out with fire in the 3rd!

[Flipmode Master]

Spurs should be up by 30...DONT GET LAX!

[Kirby]

You knew the Mavs would make a run to get back in the game. This is where the Spurs needs to put the clamps down.

[Robofuzz]

GO SPURS GO!! Bring it in the 4th!!

[Cruzzer]

I am so nervous! I'm shaking.

GO SPURS GO! Let's close this out in the 4th!

[grizzly_bexar]

Originally Posted by Jose_TheGenius

i got a feeling if we win this game, we win the series for sure

Don't get cocky like that.

[Robofuzz]

[Sdayi1]

Bring on the sorry Suns!

[DeppS.Texas]

Woo-Hoo.
We won.
I really can't see anybody stopping us.
Go Spurs Go

[spurs_believer]

Originally Posted by DeppS.Texas

I really can't see anybody stopping us.

I dunno. You are giving Mavs too much credits.

[ATHENEA]

This. I hate Out-of-controlbili.

George Hill has gone supernova.

I'm gonna go drive my car into a concrete embankment.

[Mombear]

Originally Posted by ATHENEA

[ATHENEA]

I had to post this:

In Phoenix we called Marion the Matrix during the regular season, but due to his folding in the playoffs he was dubbed the Tortilla.

[Dulce]