Friday Quick Hits Before Mavericks/Spurs
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by user UNT66
Before the Spurs and Mavericks get at it in the Alamo City, Here's some thoughts on what happened Thursday:
Mavericks: Here's the Game I worked at the AAC as the Mavericks ran their current win streak to 12 games, matching their previous season high, beating the Pacers 100-91.
Yes, this game will be known for the bench picking up the slack when the starters struggled for the first three quarters as the Mavericks Bench Out Scored the Pacers Bench 30 to 19.
Also, Devin Harris scored a career high 24 points on a night where his other backcourt mate, Jason Terry scored only one point.
Yet, this game will be remembered for how the Mavericks came out in the first three quarters and allowed the Pacers to take the lead and nearly saw the visitors win the game. If there was a buzz word for this contest, "Trap Game" would have been appropriate. Here's why:
a. Big Game vs. San Antonio was on Friday and you can throw out the records when these two teams square off, as they bring out the best in each other.... Although, if you want to look at records, the Mavericks have won the last three games at the AT&T Center, including Game 7 of the 2006 Western Conference Semifinals..... Thus, the Mavericks probably looked ahead to this matchup, instead of focusing on their opponents that were on the court on Thursday for the first three quarters of the game
b. Indiana was 17-15 before meeting the Mavs and looked like a team that shouldn't give the hosts any problems. Yet, Indiana went on a 1st quarter run and nearly held on to their advantage for the rest of the game....
c. Dallas played down to the level of the Pacers, as they should have blown out the Pacers on Thursday. The Mavericks are the NBA's hottest team, but looked like a lottery team early on.....
Only when the bench chipped in points and Devin Harris and Josh Howard stepped up in the 4th quarter did the Mavericks finally finish off the visiting Pacers.....
Oh Well, tonight should be awesome.... I can't wait....
Stars: This is the game I wished I could have seen live, as I've seen the same highlight of Patrik Stefan over and over again......
You know the highlight (http://youtube.com./watch?v=RCWpE_cqnuU ), the one where Stefan has a empty net and is about to score his second goal of the night, giving the Stars the insurance goal that would have sealed a 6-4 victory.
Yet, the puck skips over his stick, he loses control and the unthinkable happened where Stefan fails to score on an empty et and then the Oilers send the puck to their offensive zone, scoring the game tying goal.
Now, Stefan was redeemed as his teammates picked him up, winning the game in a shootout. Yet, the play continues to be shown on Sportscenter (I'm watching it right now on the dinner time edition of Sportscenter) and was shown in the 1st segment of Sportscenter last night, on the night when the play happened.
Remember, ESPN shows only a minimal amount of highlights from the NHL, so getting any coverage in the first segment in Huge..... Yet, the play that was shown was a mistake, not the 10-2 beating of the Bruins by the visiting Maple Leafs or the San Jose Sharks scoring 9 goals versus the visiting Red Wings in a league where goal scoring has been an issue this season.....
For Stefan, this has to be a mentally draining time, as the play was embarrassing. Also, the Rexall Place in Edmonton has been dubbed one of the best ice sheets in the NHL, so you can't blame the ice.....
Yet, Stefan shown be fine, as he has been one of the players for the Stars in recent play, as he now has a 4 game point scoring streak with the goal he scored earlier in the game in Edmonton.
Unfortunately, Stefan's play will be shown over and over again until the Stars next game on Saturday Night where the opportunity to create another highlight comes and the ability to create another play that will help ease the pressure of the non-goal that occurred on Thursday Night......
JG
As someone who actually knows a little about this rivalry, it would not be a shock if the Spurs and Mavs met again in the playoffs and the winner went on the play your Suns in this year's Western Conference Finals......
As for your claim that your Suns will beat either team, tap the brake on that thought. You might want to go through an entire season with Stoudemire on the active roster before making a comment like that.....
Fact is, if Amare Stoudemire plays in that Western Conference Finals, your team probably wins the series.....
So, let's ease up on the cheerleader esque bashing of anyone until April.....
Last time I checked, the playoffs start in April, not January.....
Is that too much too ask?
I don't think so.....
JG