The Mavs are a team that’s rolling in hot and heavy and streaking. This Mavs team is possibly the best playoff-built team Cuban has ever put together…and it will be tough for the Spurs to get past them. But it is smack-dab in the middle of the realm of possibility to do so for San Antonio.
Provided certain keys to the matchup be kept by Popovich and crew:
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1. Exploit Jason Kidd’s Defense
There is no better facilitator in the NBA outside of Steve Nash than this man right here. You can’t give him the open three anymore, you can’t afford to let him post up your smaller guard, and you can’t forget to box him out, always.
But (Steve Nash comparison still relevant), there is no slower, poorer defender at the guard position (outside of Aaron Brooks. Shout-out to my boy, George Hill! M.I.P., baby!) uhh anyway, yeah, Kidd sucks at defense now. He never was Payton-level in his prime anyway. (Gary Payton was the best point guard of the past 20 years. Hands down. No competition. Payton was Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, Tyreke Evans, and George Hill’s defense all rolled into one super point guard. Ridonkulous.)
Exploit. Exploit. Exploit. Make Kidd not want to play offense ‘cos of how badly he’s getting straight-up BURNED on defense.
2. Contain Caron Butler/Shawn Marion
Bruce Bowen made Shawn Marion comparable stat-wise to Matt Bonner for the years that the Spurs dominated the Suns in the past. Those Suns should have made it to at least one Finals. But they didn’t. Why? Because Bruce Bowen contained Shawn Marion. That’s why. And this time, neither Caron Butler nor Shawn Marion can be allowed to dominate.
This job will go to committee, largely led by Richard Jefferson. (The real committee defense will be reserved solely for Mr. Dirk Nowitzki.) Dick best play his ass off here. It’s our best shot at stealing this series. (Yes, over-confident Spurs fans, I said “steal.”)
Help me, Richard Jefferson Kenobi. You’re my only hope.
3. Tim Duncan…uhh…yeah…sorry to ask you to do this again…at your age…but hey…man…dude, can you like…ummm…dominate the other teams this playoffs? One more time? For old time’s sake?? Pleeeeeassse?
Yes.
4. Manu…uhhh…yeah… (ditto)
Si.
5. Popovich…uhh…yeahhhh….can you use more common sense and…yeah, we can forget about your mental-block you’ve shown against Dallas in the past. But this is a new time, man. You can do this. Say it with me now…COACH TO WIN. Not, not to lose. We’re the San Antonio Muthafuckin’ Spurs. You are a Badass. Duncan is a badass. Tony, too. And Manu is the epitome and the alpha and the omega of Baddassery.
Do it.
(Jason Terry is a loser, I heard. On the streets. Of Compton. Where Dre is from. AND South Central LA. Where Jurassic Five are from. AND the LBC. Where Snoop is from. Yeah. A LOSER. Terry. Jason Terry-cloth. HA!)
Song of the Day:
Hopping Into Puddles 