Mavericks-Spurs Game 3 Recap

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs go down, but they're not out
No. 2 Dallas Mavericks 90 at No. 7 San Antonio Spurs 94

There's no doubt that the Dallas Mavericks were able to put out of their minds the haunting memories of a 102-88 home loss in Game 2 of their first round matchup with the San Antonio Spurs. Game 3 will not be so easily erased from the Mavericks' memory bank.

With the series knotted at one win apiece as the schedule switched to two games in the AT&T Center, the Mavericks looked to regain the home-court advantage with a win in Game 3. But in a hard-fought contest, the game came down to the team that made the plays in the final minutes. The Mavericks weren't that team, falling 94-90 in a 48-minute war.

"It was a battle tonight," Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki said after the loss. "We knew they were going to be tough to beat at home and they have been a tough home team over the year. Both teams were there at the end and they just made some tough plays."

The third meeting didn't start much better than Game 2 for the Mavericks. After the Mavs began the opening quarter by scoring the first four points of the night, the Spurs quickly seized control with a 12-0 run. Not even rookie Rodrigue Beaubois' first appearance in the series was enough to boost the stagnant Dallas squad, as a cold-shooting first quarter by the Mavericks left them down 23-16 after one.

A 7-for-19 shooting quarter and six turnovers definitely contributed to Dallas' early deficit. Meanwhile, the Spurs swished in 10 of 18 shots.

"Some of the shots we got were difficult. Some of the shots they got were difficult," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.

"It's not great always having to battle back...I thought when we were down seven points early we battled," Nowitzki said. "But we still would like to start better. We came out of the gate with three or four turnovers."

Though Spurs guard Tony Parker terrorized the Dallas defense, the Mavericks rallied in the second quarter with an attacking offense led by Nowitzki. But after a brief spurt by the Mavs, Tim Duncan and the Spurs responded with a flurry of their own. Still, with a late surge by Mav reserve guards J.J. Barea and Jason Terry, the Mavericks entered the halftime break down just 47-44.

Duncan's 16 first-half points and Parker's 12 on a combined 12-of-21 shooting, helped the Spurs connect on 48 percent on their shots at the midway point. Nowitzki led Dallas with 13 points, as the Mavs shot 46 percent through the half.

"For the most part, you're not going to keep Dirk from scoring. But we made it tough on him," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

Barea's offensive execution earned the 6-foot spark plug a start to begin the third quarter, as starting swingman Caron Butler began the second half on the bench.

"Just going with a group that was going good. We needed penetration," Carlisle said when explaining the decision. "(Barea) made good things happen. Offensively and defensively, he was active. He helped us when he was out there."

"He can penetrate, score or get the ball to someone for a three. He was really good tonight," Popovich said of Barea's play.

Meanwhile, an accidental elbow from Nowitzki connected with Manu Ginobili's face, sending the versatile star to the locker room with a bloody nose.

"It's a very physical series, there's a lot of contact going on," Carlisle said.

As Barea locked up Parker on the defensive end, Nowitzki handled the scoring duties. But the Mavs still couldn't find an answer for Duncan, as the future Hall of Famer dominated the paint. That is until the trio of Nowitzki, Barea and Terry sparked a 19-2 run. Led by Nowitzki's 16-point quarter, the Mavs outscored the Spurs 26-17 in the period to take a 70-66 lead into the final 12 minutes of play.

"I think we showed in the third quarter that we need to speed the game up, and our zone defense was effective," Nowitzki said. "We got some stops, and then we were able to speed the game up. J.J. got to the basket and Jason and I had some good looks."

The fourth quarter began with Ginobili back on the floor, leading a scoring burst against Dallas' zone defense, all despite a nasal fracture. But Nowitzki didn't slow down a bit, as the two teams exchanged baskets like championship fighters throwing haymaker after haymaker. That's when Parker began to take over the game with his offensive arsenal.

"We were in zone on a couple of those possessions," Carlisle explained. "And (Parker) just ended up late-clock, you take the guy nearest where you're at and you've got to defend him. He hit a couple of tough, basically one-on-one shots.

"They weren't easy shots and they were contested. But he's the kind of player that can make those plays."

After the Mavericks cut a seven-point Spurs' lead down to just four, Parker's three-point play with just 18.7 seconds on the clock closed the door on a Mavericks' comeback attempt.

"Parker made three jump shots in a row to seal the game. You just have to give them credit, they made big shots down the stretch," Nowitzki said. "We gave it away. Down the stretch, we had too many empty possessions."

The Spurs then sunk clutch free throws to put a cap on the win, taking a 2-1 advantage in the series before hosting Game 4 on Sunday.

Despite a 35-point performance from Nowitzki, in which the 7-footer nailed 13 of 23 shots, the Mavericks still shot just 45 percent compared to the Spurs' 49 percent. Those numbers in no way reflect Dallas' 8-of-20 shooting from three-point range, even after San Antonio missed all seven of their shots from behind the arch.

"I thought our shots were very good. There's going to be a few that you wish were a little bit better. But it's a very intense game, and contested shots are one of the realities of playoff basketball," Carlisle said.

Off the bench, Terry posted 17 points and Barea added 14, giving the Mavs three double-figure scorers.

Meanwhile, Duncan's 25 points to lead the Spurs was followed closely behind by Parker's 23. Despite the injury, Ginobili finished with 15 points, while George Hill posted 17 while continuing to get the start at the point guard spot over Parker.

Though the two teams each snatched down 36 rebounds, the Mavs couldn't overcome 16 total turnovers. San Antonio's 56-38 domination in points in the paint also proved to be too much for the Mavs to withstand.

Now, the Mavericks find themselves down in the best-of-seven series, with an all-important fourth matchup on deck. Game 4 will air nationally on TNT and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 6 p.m. CT Sunday evening.

"We battled the whole way. We had some tough calls and turnovers, but we will play again on Sunday and see what happens," Nowitzki concluded.

Then the series swings back up to Dallas for Game 5, which will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at a time not yet announced. Reserve your tickets by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

The Mavs-Spurs First Round series schedule is as follows:
Game 3 – Fri April 23 Dallas at San Antonio 8:30PM TXA21/ ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 25 Dallas at San Antonio 6:00PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 27 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 29 Dallas at San Antonio TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 1 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TNT

Mavs.com has introduces a new, interactive webcast entitled "Technical Foul," hosted by Mavs television broadcasters Mark Followill and Bob Ortegel. The second live-streamed broadcast will be Monday, April 26 at 12:30 p.m. CT, recapping Game 1 and previewing Game 2 of the series. Earl K. Sneed will also talk with fans and answer questions via a live chat during the show. Tune in for exclusive Mavs talk with the people that know the team the best.

Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks-Spurs Game 3 Preview

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Remember the Alamo, no remember Game 2
No. 2 Dallas Mavericks (1-1) at No. 7 San Antonio Spurs (1-1)

Friday night, you're sure to hear chants of, "Remember Game 2!" At least that's what will be coming from the Dallas Mavericks' sideline, as they travel to match up with the San Antonio Spurs in the third meeting of an all-Texas opening round playoff series.

The Mavericks enter the Alamo City not focused on touring the site of one of the great battles in the Lone Star State's quest for independence. Instead, the squad will walk into the AT&T Center focus on retribution, after fighting a losing battle of their own just two nights before.

After claiming a 100-94 win on their home floor in Game 1, the Mavs looked for a controlling 2-0 advantage in the series on Wednesday night. But the Tim Duncan-led Spurs popped Dallas' bubble, handing the hometown Mavericks a 102-88 defeat on the American Airlines Center floor and knotting the series at 1-1. The loss is what fuels the Southwest Division champion Mavs now, as the schedule swings to San Antonio's turf. Revenge is a cold dish the Mavericks would like to greet the Spurs with Friday night.

"We wanted to win (Game 2) and it didn't happen. And now we've got to put all of our energy and our focus into Game 3," Mavs sixth man Jason Terry said.

If the Mavericks want to be victorious in the third game of the best-of-seven series, then a better start would certainly help. The team from Big D surrendered the first nine points of the night to the Spurs, while the Mavs also shot just 6-of-22 from the field in the first quarter. Making matters worse, leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki took an unexpected early trip to the bench after picking up two fouls from the onset.

"They scored, Dirk had two fouls and we were digging ourselves out of a hole from there going forward," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "In the playoffs, you have to be very precise. You are going to make mistakes, but to start the game was a really tough situation for us."

"We knew we had our hands full from the get-go," Nowitzki said.

That situation only got tougher as the night progressed, as the Spurs' versatile forward, Richard Jefferson, gave the Dallas defense fits. Jefferson's 19 points (17 in the first half) was a perfect compliment to San Antonio's "Big Three" of Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

"Jefferson is a hell of a player. He has had some big games against a lot of teams, including us, this year. I am not shocked, he is very capable," Carlisle said.

But it was Duncan's 25-point, 17-rebound night that may have impacted the game most. The perennial All-Star and future Hall of Famer helped his team dominate the glass to the tune of a 51-42 rebounding edge and a 23-9 advantage in second-chance points. Those are two categories Carlisle says the Mavs must win if they hope to eventually capture the series.

"To me, the stat that sticks out to me the most is rebounding, 51-42," the coach said. "The second-chance points, 23-9. That is a huge discrepancy. And look, when the ball is in the air, it is anybody's ball, and they came up with all of those plays. They got the loose balls and they were more opportunistic."

"We just have to look at (Game 2), see what we did wrong and go from there," point guard Jason Kidd said. "We didn't rebound the ball well and we gave up second opportunities."

Now the Mavericks will try to match the Spurs' energy level on the glass, while also drawing from their regular season success on the road, when the Mavs captured the most road wins in the NBA with 27.

"They're not going to give us anything. We're going to have to battle and take it...The good thing is we won big road games all season long," Nowitzki said.

The Mavs try to claim their first road victory of the postseason Friday night. Game 3 will air nationally on ESPN and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 8:30 p.m. CT.

NOTE: Game 4 will air nationally on TNT and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 6 p.m. CT Sunday evening.

Then the series swings back up to Dallas for Game 5, which will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at a time not yet announced. Reserve your tickets by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

The Mavs-Spurs First Round series schedule is as follows:
Game 3 – Fri April 23 Dallas at San Antonio 8:30PM TXA21/ ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 25 Dallas at San Antonio 6:00PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 27 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 29 Dallas at San Antonio TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 1 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TNT

Mavs.com has introduces a new, interactive webcast entitled "Technical Foul," hosted by Mavs television broadcasters Mark Followill and Bob Ortegel. The second live-streamed broadcast will be Monday, April 26 at 12:30 p.m. CT, recapping Game 1 and previewing Game 2 of the series. Earl K. Sneed will also talk with fans and answer questions via a live chat during the show. Tune in for exclusive Mavs talk with the people that know the team the best.

Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Spurs-Mavericks Game 2 Recap

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Home-court heartbreak
No. 7 San Antonio Spurs 102 at No. 2 Dallas Mavericks 88

Teams work all season long to get home-court advantage in the playoffs. Wednesday night, the Dallas Mavericks lost what they worked 82 games to earn.

Entering Game 2 of their opening round series with the San Antonio Spurs, the Mavericks not only hoped to take a 2-0 advantage, they also tried to hold serve on the American Airlines Center floor before the series migrates south.

The Spurs had something else in mind. After suffering a 100-94 loss on Sunday, San Antonio returned the favor, downing the Mavericks 102-88 on Dallas' home floor and stealing the momentum of what figures to be yet another epic series between the two rivals.

"When you are down 0-1, you come out and play a desperate game, which (the Spurs) did," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.

"We didn't play well tonight and they did," point guard Jason Kidd said. "They were better from the tip."

The second go-round definitely didn't start so well for the hometown squad. Beginning the game by missing on their first seven shots, the Mavericks quickly found themselves in a 9-0 hole.

"We started out and blew three coverages on the first three plays of the game and those are mental mistakes," Carlisle said.

"We knew we had our hands full from the get-go," forward Dirk Nowitzki said.

Then things got interesting for both teams, as both Nowitzki and his counterpart Tim Duncan picked up two quick fouls in the opening quarter. Without No. 41, the Mavs attempted to rally, closing to within 24-20 at the end of one. Neither team set the nets on fire in the first quarter, as Dallas hit just 6-of-22 from the field while San Antonio connected on 9-of-24 at the other end.

"They scored, Dirk had two fouls and we were digging ourselves out of a hole from there going forward," the coach continued. "In the playoffs, you have to be very precise. You are going to make mistakes, but to start the game was a really tough situation for us."

Behind Spurs guard Tony Parker, the visitors continued to keep a slight edge on the scoreboard in the early stage of the second stanza. But a renewed commitment to attacking the rim proved beneficial for the Mavericks, along with Nowitzki's reemergence on the court after the early foul trouble. Though Nowitzki's consecutive free throw streak came to an end at 88, the Mavs did climb to within one thanks to Jason Terry's assassin-like sharpshooting. That's when Richard Jefferson and Manu Ginobili gave the Spurs some breathing room with an array of athletic moves, sinking Dallas back into a double-digit ditch. With a 34-26 scoring advantage in the period, the Spurs took a 58-46 lead into the halftime intermission.

"They came out and set the tempo tonight. They were aggressive early, and that's what got them out to a good start," Terry said.

Terry led the Mavericks at the half with his 13 points off the bench. Jefferson's 17 first-half points on 7-of-9 shooting not only led all scorers at the midway point, it also helped the Spurs out-shot the Mavs, 52 percent to 37 percent.

"Jefferson is a hell of a player. He has had some big games against a lot of teams, including us, this year. I am not shocked, he is very capable," Carlisle said.

As Nowitzki struggled through an off-shooting night while facing multiple defenders, the Dallas offense continued to look Terry's way in the third quarter. But not even last season's Sixth Man of the Year was enough to combat the Spurs' balanced attack. With an inside-outside assault, the Spurs led by as much as 20 in the quarter. That is until a 12-2 Dallas run trimmed it to an 82-72 margin in San Antonio's favor headed into the final period.

"We never were going to give up and there was plenty of ball game left," Terry said of the late run to end the quarter.


The spurt to end the third woke up both Nowitzki and Caron Butler. The duo then tried to become the Spurs' worst nightmare in the fourth. Butler's penetration and Nowitzki's sweet stroke from the outside quickly cut the deficit to single digits, as Terry continued his hot shooting from the perimeter to help dwindled the disadvantage to as little as five.

"We were right there in the fourth quarter. We had the crowd involved. We just couldn't make the plays to win it...We just got cold there at the wrong time," Nowitzki said.

Meanwhile, Duncan's timely scoring and tough rebounding inside helped the Spurs recollect themselves. Duncan and Nowitzki then exchanged baskets, one trying to even the series, the other trying to will his team to a commanding lead. Nowitzki's effort was all for not, as Ginobili put the game out of reach with a driving score in the final minutes to put the Spurs ahead 12. The game was never in doubt the remainder of the way.

"We just have to look at this game, see what we did wrong and go from there," Kidd said.

Kidd will be the first to tell you that the Mavs' inability to rebound tops the list of what they did wrong in Game 2.

"We didn't rebound the ball well, and we gave up second opportunities," the veteran lead guard said.

Thanks to a 51-42 rebounding edge, the Spurs racked up 23 second-chance points compared to Dallas' nine second-effort points. According to Carlisle, that summarizes the night.

"To me, the stat that sticks out to me the most is rebounding, 51-42," the coach said. "The second-chance points, 23-9. That is a huge discrepancy. And look, when the ball is in the air, it is anybody's ball, and they came up with all of those plays. They got the loose balls and they were more opportunistic."

Which all equaled into a losing equation for Dallas, voiding out Terry's game-high 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting. Nowitzki battled through his early deficiencies to score 24 points, hitting nine of 24 shots. Butler finished with 17 points.

Duncan followed up his 27-point performance in Game 1 with 25 points and 17 rebounds. Ginobili (23), Jefferson (19) and Parker made it four Spurs to score in double figures.

Behind their four potent scorers, the Spurs finished the game out-shooting Dallas, 48 percent to 37 percent. San Antonio also swished in 8-of-15 from behind the three-point arch, while the Mavericks nailed seven of their 19 shots from deep. A 40-30 advantage in points in the paint also helped the visiting team's cause.

Now, the Mavericks look to get back on track as the series travels to San Antonio. Dallas is hoping the experience of owning the league's most road wins during the regular season helps now, with the stakes much higher.

"They're not going to give us anything. We're going to have to battle and take it...The good thing is we won big road games all season long," Nowitzki said.

First, the Mavs venture on the road on Friday night. Game 3 will air nationally on ESPN and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 8:30 p.m. CT.

"We wanted to win this one and it didn't happen. And now we've got to put all of our energy and our focus into Game 3," Terry said.

Game 4 will then air nationally on TNT and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 6 p.m. CT Sunday evening.

Then the series swings back up to Dallas for Game 5, which will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at a time not yet announced. Reserve your tickets by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

"This is a tough series. These are two teams that are very good and you have to play your best," Carlisle concluded.

The Mavs-Spurs First Round series schedule is as follows:
Game 3 – Fri April 23 Dallas at San Antonio 8:30PM TXA21/ ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 25 Dallas at San Antonio 6:00PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 27 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 29 Dallas at San Antonio TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 1 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TNT

Mavs.com has introduces a new, interactive webcast entitled "Technical Foul," hosted by Mavs television broadcasters Mark Followill and Bob Ortegel. The second live-streamed broadcast will be Monday, April 26 at 12:30 p.m. CT, recapping Game 1 and previewing Game 2 of the series. Earl K. Sneed will also talk with fans and answer questions via a live chat during the show. Tune in for exclusive Mavs talk with the people that know the team the best.

Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Spurs-Mavericks Game 2 Preview

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Anticipation builds for Game 2 at the AAC
No. 7 San Antonio Spurs (0-1) at No. 2 Dallas Mavericks (1-0)

Game 2. To Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, it's perhaps the most pivotal game of a best-of-seven playoff series. The coach is hopeful that the pendulum slides his team's way Wednesday night.

After a 100-94 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Sunday's Game 1, the Mavericks know they will get their opposition's best effort the second time around. So, the Mavs are putting extra value on Wednesday night's matchup, well aware that they can take a 2-0 edge before the series travels to San Antonio for Games 3 and 4.

"(Game 2) is the most difficult of the series," Carlisle said. "One team has lost and one team has won. If you're the team that's won, you better get your energy up because you know they're going to bring it."

That's the position the Mavericks are in now.

With both teams likely to make several adjustments in the second matchup, Game 2 could take on a much different feel, though the postseason intensity will still be in the American Airlines Center atmosphere.

For starters, the Mavericks will be looking to do a much better job of defending the Spurs' pick-and-roll offense. Still, the Mavericks don't want to fall into the loll of concentrating so much on the screen-and-roll game while allowing the Spurs to torch the Dallas defense from behind the three-point arch.

"It's very tough, because such a high percentage of their plays are pick-and-roll plays. And they've got really great facilitators, good screeners and rollers and a bunch of three-point shooters out there. It's going to be challenging. The important thing is five guys are engaged in it defensively, even though it's a two-man game. Everybody's got to be involved, because so many different things happen on their screen-and-roll," Carlisle said.

Dallas will also try to contain the trio of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. The three-headed monster that powers San Antonio's attack combined for 71 points in the first meeting. The Mavs believe that can't happen throughout the series if they are going to be successful.

"We can't let them get off, even if we are stopping the role players," the coach explained.

Sixth man Jason Terry echoed his coach's sentiments, but he believes that the key to the series lies in how well the Mavericks defend on the perimeter and in the interior.

"(Defending the 3-pointer shooters) is the key to the series. We have to win the battle of three-point shooting and points in the paint," Terry said.

On the offensive end, the Mavericks expect to see plenty of adjustments in Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's defensive schemes. Popovich decided to cover Dirk Nowitzki with a single defender for most of Game 1. He probably regrets that decision.

Nowitzki's 36 points on 12-of-14 from the field and 12-for-12 at the foul line made Popovich pay. The 7-footer expects the Spurs to employ a different strategy Wednesday night.

"I'm going to take whatever they give me. But they'll make changes and we'll be ready for them," Nowitzki said.

If a multitude of defenders do fly Nowitzki's way, that means that others will have to be ready. Point guard Jason Kidd says in anticipation of a heavy dose of double teams coming at No. 41, the Mavericks will have to attack the rim with more assertiveness and aggression.

"We want to be aggressive on the offensive end. I think the scouting report on us probably says that we rely on the jump shot, but I thought (Sunday night) was a great example of us not doing that and coming out and being aggressive, driving the ball to the basket and getting to the free throw line. That got us off to a good start and from there we just started driving the ball," Kidd said.

The Mavs' rim-attacking play translated into 20 more free throw attempts than the Spurs in the Game 1. Dallas would like that trend to continue.

Looking for a two-game advantage in the series, the Mavericks host the Spurs in the second matchup of the best-of-seven series. Game 2 will air nationally on TNT and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 8:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

The Mavs-Spurs First Round series schedule is as follows:
Game 2 – Wed April 21 San Antonio at Dallas 8:30PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 3 – Fri April 23 Dallas at San Antonio 8:30PM TXA21/ ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 25 Dallas at San Antonio 6:00PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 27 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 29 Dallas at San Antonio TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 1 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TNT

Mavs.com has introduces a new, interactive webcast entitled "Technical Foul," hosted by Mavs television broadcasters Mark Followill and Bob Ortegel. The second live-streamed broadcast will be Monday, April 26 at 12:30 p.m. CT, recapping Game 1 and previewing Game 2 of the series. Earl K. Sneed will also talk with fans and answer questions via a live chat during the show. Tune in for exclusive Mavs talk with the people that know the team the best.

Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks Playoff Practice Report (04/19/10)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs preparing for Spurs' Game 2 adjustments
Mavericks Playoff Practice Report (04/19/10)

Over the course of a best-of-seven playoff series, two teams are sure to make plenty of adjustments. The alterations tailor-made for Game 2 between the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs could prove pivotal for the final results of the first round series.

With that said, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle is anticipating his counterpart Gregg Popovich's next step, before the veteran San Antonio signal-caller even makes his next move.

After the Mavericks exploited the Spurs' single coverage on Dirk Nowitzki in Game 1 on Sunday, leading to No. 41 ripping into the San Antonio defense for 36 points en route to a 100-94 Dallas win, Popovich figures to make some changes the second go-round. Carlisle's crew will be ready.

"(The Spurs) are going to give you different looks and we're going to give them different looks, too," Carlisle said in anticipation for Game 2. "We'll have to adjust when those things happen, and we'll have to be ready to make plays."

Whether or not the Spurs change their defensive strategy against Nowitzki remains to be seen. Either way, the 7-footer will once again look to take advantage of scoring opportunities when they present themselves.

"I'm going to take whatever they give me. But they'll make changes and we'll be ready for them," Nowitzki said.

Sunday night, Caron Butler showed he is ready if the Spurs' attention is locked in on Nowitzki. The newcomer's Mav playoff debut was a successful one, hitting on eight of 19 shots and scoring 22 points.

"We definitely needed some scoring from somewhere else," Nowitzki said. "I thought Caron was big."

"My teammates just told me to be myself," Butler explained. "Don't try to do too much, just be myself."

Monday, the swingman worked on being in the proper position if the double team comes Nowitzki's way.

"That's what we worked on all today, knowing where the shots and double teams are coming from...We just have to be prepared," Butler said.

Defensively, the Mavs hope they are more prepared to deal with the Spurs' "Big Three" of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. The trio combined to score 71 points in the series opener, as the Dallas defense took away San Antonio's role players. In Game 2 on Wednesday night, Carlisle is hopeful that his team can continue to quiet the Spurs' supporting cast while also limiting the trifecta's impact on the game.

"Stop the role players or not, we still have to stop those three and they scored a ton. We can't let them get off, even if we are stopping the role players," the coach explained.

For Carlisle, stopping the three stars begins with defending the pick-and-roll. If the entire five-man defense can focus on stopping the Spurs' lethal pick-and-roll sets, then the Dallas squad likes its chances.

"It's very tough, because such a high percentage of their plays are pick-and-roll plays. And they've got really great facilitators, good screeners and rollers and a bunch of three-point shooters out there. It's going to be challenging. The important thing is five guys are engaged in it defensively, even though it's a two-man game. Everybody's got to be involved, because so many different things happen on their screen-and-roll," Carlisle said.

Both the Mavs and Spurs will try to implement their adjustments Wednesday night in Game 2, when Dallas goes for a 2-0 series edge before the schedule swings to San Antonio. The second matchup in the best-of-seven series will air nationally on TNT and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 8:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

"(Sunday night) was a positive step, but we've got to get better as the series goes along," Carlisle said.

The Mavs-Spurs First Round series schedule is as follows:
Game 2 – Wed April 21 San Antonio at Dallas 8:30PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 3 – Fri April 23 Dallas at San Antonio 8:30PM TXA21/ ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 25 Dallas at San Antonio 6:00PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 27 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 29 Dallas at San Antonio TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 1 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TNT

Mavs.com has introduces a new, interactive webcast entitled "Technical Foul," hosted by Mavs television broadcasters Mark Followill and Bob Ortegel. The second live-streamed broadcast will be Tuesday, April 20 at 12:30 p.m. CT, recapping Game 1 and previewing Game 2 of the series. Earl K. Sneed will also talk with fans and answer questions via a live chat during the show. Tune in for exclusive Mavs talk with the people that know the team the best.




For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Spurs-Mavericks Game 1 Recap

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs outshine Spurs' Big Three in Lone Star State Game 1 shootout
(No. 7) San Antonio Spurs 94 at (No. 2) Dallas Mavericks 100

Unlike the regular season, the playoffs are a sprint, not a marathon. The first hurdle in the Dallas Mavericks' way are the San Antonio Spurs, a familiar obstacle in the championship chase. That hurdle became a shorter leap on Sunday night.

Thanks to a vintage playoff performance from Dirk Nowitzki and a stellar Dallas postseason debut for Caron Butler, the Mavericks overcame 71 combined points from San Antonio's "Big Three" of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. The end result was a 100-94 win on the American Airlines Center floor in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. The victory not only gave the Mavs the early edge in the series, it also allowed the team to maintain the home-court advantage.

"That was the way we wanted to start the series," Nowitzki said of the win. "We didn't want to give up the home-court advantage."

"This time of year brings out the best in everybody," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.

Game 1 definitely brought out the best in Carlisle's crew.

With Ginobili aggressively attacking the rim, the Spurs struck first. But Butler and the Mavs were also on the attack, as No. 4 quickly drew two fouls on Richard Jefferson with dribble penetration in the opening quarter.

"(Butler) got it going in the first half, and a lot of his early points were not necessarily out of plays we were running for him but out of just playing basketball," Carlisle said. "Then we started to run some stuff for him and he delivered."

Then Nowitzki began to assert himself, swishing in an array of one-legged, fadeaway jumpers. The Dallas defense also elevated its play, making up for a cold-shooting first quarter. With an offensive surge at the end of the period led by Jason Kidd, the Mavs opened up a 23-18 edge after one.

Dallas escaped with the lead despite an 8-for-22 shooting quarter, compared to San Antonio's 9-of-20 at the other end.

The Spurs went back to Ginobili in the second quarter, as the veteran swingman got his club back into the game. But the quarter was a battle of the big men, as Mavs center Brendan Haywood and DeJuan Blair exchanged powerful finishes above the rim. Nowitzki and Duncan also got into the mix. But the advantage on the scoreboard went the Mavs' way, taking a 50-45 lead at the midway point after Nowitzki's three-point play with .8 on the clock.

"We struggled a little at the beginning of the game, and then when we finally got our bearings, we did a better job," the coach explained.

Dallas' great offensive balance helped the home team to the edge despite being out-shot 59 percent to 43 percent in the first half. Nowitzki's 19 points, Butler's 13 and Haywood's 10 overpowered Ginobili's 15 points to led the Spurs. Duncan pitched in 12 after 24 minutes of play.

Nowitzki and company got right back to work in the third quarter. But Ginobili and his crew didn't skip a beat either, helping the Spurs as they briefly went in front with an 11-2 run.

"They made a run, but we did a great job of making adjustments and getting stops on the defensive end," Shawn Marion said.

In a seesaw quarter, the two teams exchanged the lead with virtually every basket scored in the early minutes. Fortunately the Mavs reached the bonus at the 4:59-mark of the third, allowing the squad to get to the free throw line with every San Antonio foul.

"Anytime you can get into the bonus early it helps. It was a very hard-fought, aggressive game. The whistle was blown some and there was contact both ways," Carlisle said.

The Mavs also exploited Nowitzki's match up with Matt Bonner, as No. 41 took advantage of single coverage.

"I'm going to take whatever they give me," Nowitzki simply said.

Then it was center Erick Dampier's responsibility to cash in at the charity stripe, as Spurs coach Gregg Popovich implemented his "hack-a-Damp" strategy to send the 7-footer to the foul line. Dampier handled the load just fine, as Dallas entered the final period up 76-69.


With Nowitzki on the bench resting, the Mavericks' offense flowed through Butler to begin the fourth.

"My teammates just told me to be myself," Butler said. "Don't try to do too much, just be myself."

"We definitely needed some scoring from somewhere else and Caron was big," Nowitzki added.

Meanwhile, Dallas' defensive stops turned into transition scoring opportunities and a double-digit lead. When the Spurs went on a brief spurt, Marion kept the Mavs at a safe distance ahead. Then Nowitzki re-entered the game and got back to terrorizing the Spurs' defenders. But it was Jason Terry that secured the game, pouring in a 3-pointer with 1:55 left to put the Mavs in front 100-88. San Antonio's 6-0 run to end the game was too little, too late.

The Mavs held on for the win despite allowing the Spurs to shoot 50 percent on the night, compared to Dallas' 47 percent. A 45-37 rebounding advantage in Dallas' favor certainly helped. But it was the Mavs' 25-of-34 at the foul line that made the biggest difference, attempting 20 more shots at the line than San Antonio.

"(The free throw discrepancy) was a factor...Getting to the free throw line is a really important thing in the playoffs," Carlisle said.

Nowitzki's game-high 36 points came on 12-of-14 from the field and a perfect 12-for-12 at the foul line. The nine-time All-Star has now made 86 straight free throws.

Butler added 22 points, connecting on 8 of 19 shots in his first playoff game in a Dallas uniform.

"Tonight it was my turn to shine," Butler said. "It will be other guys on other nights. We have a lot of firepower."

"(Butler) is a guy that's not afraid," Carlisle said. "He wants the ball in those (clutch) situations. He's been in the playoffs multiple times and he played well for us."

Meanwhile, Kidd once again filled up the stat sheet, tallying 13 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. He also limited Ginobili's scoring opportunities late in the game on the defensive end, something that won't show up in any statistical category.

"Kidd played great," his coach said. "He was sensational in really all areas. In the second half, he gave us a spark defensively on Ginobili and when he was guarding their point guards. He's been great all year and it's no surprise that he carried it into tonight."

But looking forward in the series, the Mavericks will look for an answer for Duncan, Ginobili and Parker. Duncan's 27 points in 40 game minutes came on 12 of 20 shots. Ginobili finished with 26, while Parker came off the bench to post 18 points. Stopping the three potent scorers heads Dallas' list of adjustments for Game 2.

"They're tough. They've got Duncan on the block and Ginobili and Parker making things happen," Nowitzki said.

Still, the Mavericks enter Game 2 looking for a 2-0 edge before the series shifts to San Antonio. The second matchup in the best-of-seven series will air nationally Wednesday night on TNT and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 8:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

"It's going to be a tough, long playoff series, and we have to be ready for it," Nowitzki concluded.

The Mavs-Spurs First Round series schedule is as follows:
Game 2 – Wed April 21 San Antonio at Dallas 8:30PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 3 – Fri April 23 Dallas at San Antonio 8:30PM TXA21/ ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 25 Dallas at San Antonio 6:00PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 27 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 29 Dallas at San Antonio TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 1 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TNT

Mavs.com has introduces a new, interactive webcast entitled "Technical Foul," hosted by Mavs television broadcasters Mark Followill and Bob Ortegel. The second live-streamed broadcast will be Tuesday, April 20 at 12:30 p.m. CT, recapping Game 1 and previewing Game 2 of the series. Earl K. Sneed will also talk with fans and answer questions via a live chat during the show. Tune in for exclusive Mavs talk with the people that know the team the best.




For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Spurs-Mavericks Game 1 Preview

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Texas' sibling rivalry showdown
No. 7 San Antonio Spurs (50-32) at No. 2 Dallas Mavericks (55-27)

With 82 games in their rearview mirror, the Dallas Mavericks are finally on the fast track for an NBA championship. At the starting line are the San Antonio Spurs. At the finish line, if the Mavs can win 16 more games, is the Larry O'Brien trophy.

The race to the hardware begins Sunday night, when the Mavs host the Spurs at the American Airlines Center in Game 1 of the opening round series.

"This is what you play for all season long and it's a familiar opponent," sixth man Jason Terry said of the matchup. "For us, it's all about us. San Antonio is a great team. They're big brother, we're little brother. They have the rings, we don't. Our focus is on 16 wins, regardless of who we have to face."

Despite Terry's humbleness, Dallas is not intimidated by San Antonio's four championship rings. The Mavs have a 3-1 season series edge and last year's 4-1 first-round series win over the Spurs to reassure the ball club from Big D. Recent history and a comfort level against a team the Mavs see four times a season definitely gives Dallas an extra sense of confidence.

"We're looking forward to a fun playoff run, so we'll see how it goes," forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "We know (the Spurs) are tough...They're going to be a tough matchup for us, but we're going to be prepared."

As with anytime you match up against the Spurs, being prepared translates into being ready to contain the "Big Three" of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. It is a challenge the Mavs are ready to face head on.

"We want to try to make it as tough as we can on all of them," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "It's difficult, though, it's challenging. We've got coverages for each one of their main guys. The thing is, we don't want to allow any of their big three to get going. But when they have three great players like that, and great balance, it's very challenging."

"They've got a Hall of Famer in Tim Duncan and two All-Stars that can take over the game at any time. We know the threat that they pose. For us, it's all about coming out consistent, offensively and defensively, and executing our game plan...It's always a hard challenge with the weapons they have over there," Terry added.

But next to the three potent players are two other threats that are sure to grab the Mavs' attention during the series.

Spurs guard George Hill stepped in and produced when Parker missed time with nagging injuries during the regular season. Now, it's Hill that is battling an ankle injury, though the cat-quick guard is still expected to play.

"George Hill has had a phenomenal season. He's played well. He's had to step up, and they wouldn't be in the position they're in without the play of George Hill," Terry said. "Him being out there gives them an added weapon that we have to pay attention to."

The Mavs will also pay close attention to the "walking double-double," DeJuan Blair, when he enters the game. In the regular season finale, Dallas' 96-89 win on Wednesday night, Blair's 27 points and 23 rebounds caused great concern for Carlisle's crew.

"Blair made a case that he should be playing a lot in this series...I would like to see us do a better job on him, but these are numbers he is capable of," the coach said.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks will look to return to the offensive explosiveness that was on display during the team's five-game win streak to end the regular season. If the Mavs can duplicate that success, they believe it will be a long postseason run.

"We want to have fun and take (the regular season) experience and use it for our run in the playoffs," Shawn Marion said in anticipation for Game 1. "I am excited for what will happen with our team."

In a two-versus-seven matchup, the Mavericks will look to take a quick advantage in the series by winning on their home court in the first two games. Game 1 of the opening round series will air nationally Sunday night on TNT and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

"This is a big battle in Texas. Two big Texas teams going head to head...The regular season is over with and the second season is about to start. That's what it's about," Marion said.

Note: The Mavs-Spurs First Round series schedule is as follows:
Game 1 – Sun April 18 San Antonio at Dallas 7:00PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 2 – Wed April 21 San Antonio at Dallas 8:30PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 3 – Fri April 23 Dallas at San Antonio 8:30PM TXA21/ ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 25 Dallas at San Antonio 6:00PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 27 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 29 Dallas at San Antonio TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 1 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TNT

Mavs.com has introduces a new, interactive webcast entitled "Technical Foul," hosted by Mavs television broadcasters Mark Followill and Bob Ortegel. The second live-streamed broadcast will be Tuesday, April 20 at 12:30 p.m. CT, recapping Game 1 and previewing Game 2 of the series. Earl K. Sneed will also talk with fans and answer questions via a live chat during the show. Tune in for exclusive Mavs talk with the people that know the team the best.




For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.