Mavs / Warriors Series

I'm pretty sure the Warriors would easily be beating the Magic right now.

How do we think the Pistons would be doing against them? The Warriors are playing great, and Detroit would clearly have little chance of stopping Baron, but I don't think they'd be slowing us down much either. No way we'd be sweeping them, but I think we could handle them in 5 or 6. I can't see the Warriors getting the consistent turnovers and crappy 4th quarter execution that have plagued the Mavs if the Warriors were going up against the Pistons instead.

Is it my imagination, or is Baron Davis slowly turning into B.A. Baracus?

When did Nelson learn to teach defense?
I bet a burning Cuban has a nice aroma.

PTI, did a bit about Biedrens FT and Chucksters golf swing. Which was more abhorant to watch. Chucksters golf swing is paraplegic looking.

A bit of controversy swirling around some of Dirk's most recent remarks:

Hey...MVP's a regular season award isn't it?

And the playoff MVP so far is in the same series as Dirk, but on the other team (Baron).

Very true and Steve Nash is the "King of the regular season." I know a lot of us in here have a "hard-on" for this guy that is accumulating an abundance of individual awards. He also has argurably the most talented team on paper. However, can he get it done in the playoffs and actually get to an NBA Finals, remains to be seen.

Two kinds of teams, the kind that make excuses and the kind that execute.

Go Pistons!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Roscoe, I think this is strictly Nelson vs. Cuban. A little bit of history here. In previous GSW games against Mavs (GSW won all) Nelson says Cuban owes him 6 million and is suing Cuban to get it. And then, at start of season, Cuban wouldnt put up the Division championship banner in first games, but waited until they played GSW. So, it's sticking it more to Cuban, not Avery. Avery, Nellie and Pop all have a good, working-type relationship, so it's easy for them to see how each coach plays, Nellie has the players that Mavs cant match, they are good and he knows how to play them.

I think the psychological effect this has on Kirk is surprising (to all but Avery and Nellie). Remember how he was in a major depression after loss to the Heat and took all summer to get over it? Anyway, if Nellie can pull this off I am sure it will feel better than the 6 million he will probably never get from Cuban

Ros you make some excellent points in regard to Steve Nash and his statistical prowess. I love Nash he is an unbelievable talent on a great team that everyone loves to watch. I dont think anyone can debate his success and his team's relative success. However, the NBA more than any other league or sport really emphasizes the attainment of a championship to really cement your legacy as a true legendary player. Steve Nash has not even been to an NBA Finals and may never be in his career. Now obviously I think we all agree that he is of a higher calibur than Williams and Parker, there is no debating that. In saying all that there is no reason why he can't at least make it to the Finals once. If he never makes it, it would be very hard for me to put him in the same breath as Isiah, Magic, or even Stockton. To me when you are an elite player what separates you from the other elite players is how well your team does ESPECIALLY in the playoffs.

Also I would have to disagree as far as you stating that our run is marginally better than the Suns. We have been to the Conf. Finals 2 more times, acquired 2 conf. titles and 1 NBA crown. That to me sounds a whole hell of a lot better as far as I'm concerned. If Nash fails again this year to make to the Finals you might as well put him in the same class as a Tracy McGrady. Great player, no real team success. In saying all that I hope he makes it this year but I have to say I doubt it.

Does Nash play defense? I haven't seen it.

He's really great at 50% of the game. So is Bruce Bowen. So was Dennis Rodman. So is Ben Wallace. Man, I'm having trouble thinking of defensive geniuses who don't have Titles...

He's not prolific. He doesn't exactly get lit up either.

Probably puts him in top 10% of the league by todays NBA standards.

Fair enough. I admit that I don't really watch him much. I just assume he is bad because of his size.

No doubt he is blowing away the guard he's playing against overall, but he really should have advanced further into the playoffs. The only reason I can think of, is that his defensive limitations are magnified in the playoff environment.

Cosigned @ TaShawn

In the '60s.

It's kind of funny that he hasn't even tried to coach defense since... what? his last few years with the Bucks? and suddenly a terrible defensive team during the regular season, and probably the worst defensive personnel he's ever coached, is completely confusing one of the best offenses in the NBA.

(That, and Avery Johnson's crush on Chokehouse, which doesn't seem to be abating no matter how many playoff games he costs them.)