Be afraid Malluas. We are coming for you.

[vonkaar]

I'm predicting that the Mavs will go 4-0 against Sacramento this year. You know why?

Because...


Marquis Daniels is going to score at will!



Josh Howard will dunk all over your diminished defensive middle!



Jason Terry is going to fast break you in half!!!



Michael Finley is going to terrorize your paltry perimeter defense!



Dirk is going to have a field day with your team!
and...


The Mighty Erick Dampier will DOMINATE!!!

[The Kizzy]

Holy Snikees look at Erick's ummm package

[Malluas]

lol

well if the Kings defense is like last year during the season of course you will..

but i tell you to look back at the last 3 PLAYOFF series

Kings Win 4-1 (hurt Christie no Peja)
Mavs 3-1

Mavs 4-3 (no Chris Mavs couldn't put away kings till last game)
Kingss 3-1 in regular season

Kings 4-1 (no bobby jackson and hurt Webber)
Mavs i think won the series i can't remember now

12-5 against mavs in the playoffs.

I will say this... don't win more than 2 games against Sac or you will lose in the playoffs.

Wonder how was our defense in the middle any worse than it was last year. Brad Miller can at least jump 5 inches Vlade couldn't. Brad can at least block shots, Vlade couldn't.

And I think dampier will get owned by Chris like always even with a bum knee.

Finley fold's

Dirk is dirk, he will get his points and rebounds. Like against any other team.

Terry can't run that offense like Nash could. Granted you will get a tad of defense outta terry, who can't stop bibby or bobby.

Again another year with only ONE good defender, and he isn't even great. Dampier.

But i wouldn't be surprised if mavs go 4-0 in the regular season. If peja gets himself together no chance the mavs will beat the kings in the playoffs, if he doesn't... big probs.

TRADE HIM FOR RAY ALLEN OR ARTEST DAMNIT!

[Ganzo]

you know Pistons gonna repeat this year, so sorry Vonk

[Tacks]

Shaq and the Heat=you lose

[Mop]

that is 't his package, that is a midget hiding in his shorts trying to sneak into america.

[Zanchief]

you know Pistons gonna repeat this year, so sorry Vonk

Toronto will win this year.

Yea fine so we suck.

[Ganzo]

Totonto has a team?

[vonkaar]

Wonder how was our defense in the middle any worse than it was last year. Brad Miller can at least jump 5 inches Vlade couldn't. Brad can at least block shots, Vlade couldn't.

And I think dampier will get owned by Chris like always even with a bum knee.

Finley fold's

Dirk is dirk, he will get his points and rebounds. Like against any other team.

Terry can't run that offense like Nash could. Granted you will get a tad of defense outta terry, who can't stop bibby or bobby.

Again another year with only ONE good defender, and he isn't even great. Dampier.

The Mavs vs Kings playoff series is only 'really' 3 years old. 4 years ago, we were just happy to GET to the playoffs... beating anyone, let alone a strong, young team like Sacramento was wishful thinking. Three years ago, we felt that we had a legitimate shot but we lost in a strong series. Two years ago, we had a great run and made it to the conf championships after defeating Sacramento. That was a good team, but then Mark and Donnie fucked it up by making stupid trades. Enter last year... honestly, we were lucky to be in the playoffs... coming into it, any of the top 4 would have beaten us. Ya'll were lucky in the fact that you got us in the first round because Houston, Denver or Memphis probably would have given you more trouble =p.

This year is totally different.

Ya'll lost Divac (leadership) and Peeler (outside shooting) with basically nothing to show for improvement. You were a 2nd round knockout team and your morale is basically shot... read the SacBee Webber interview where he basically blasted his entire team if you need proof... Peja's trade demand for more of the same =p.

We've done almost everything right. Sure, we'd prefer having Nash with us, but Terry+Damp is *far* better than Nash+???. If you compare the off-seasons of Sac and Dallas, we clearly had the better Summer.

As for your comments...

Webber is a shadow of his former self. You know this better than I. Dampier is suddenly surrounded by a bunch of players instead of a bunch of scrubs. He *will* be the most dominating center in the West. Miller is going to be his bitch, Webber will just sit down and whine about Peja's athleticism.

Finley folds?? What? I don't even understand this... Finley is an amazing athlete... nothing really needs to be said about him, his numbers speak for themselves.

Dirk will have the best year of his life. Even without Nash. Dampier's BIGGEST contribution to the team is what he is going to do for Dirk. He will EXPLODE this year.

Terry is a fast point-guard with great court vision. That's ALL we need. That's all we needed out of Nash.

Our rookies of last year are going to continue to kick your ass =p.

And, we have more than 1 defender... Damp, Finley and Howard are all great defenders. That's THREE!

Ganzo... Detroit very well might win the championship again, but it won't be as easy. San Antonio / Detroit will be an awesome series.

Taxx... you are smoking crack. Miami will finish 42/40 .

[Tacks]

REMEMBER THIS DAY!

[vonkaar]

Alright... since you are quoting me and all... I'll retract that...

It's not a 'real' prediction, simply because they are in the East. Miami will probably grab 55 wins but they won't be able to beat Indiana or Detroit. Hell, Thomas is hardly done with New York and he 'might' end up with a decent team, so... The Heat might even have problems with them.

However, if you were to swap the rosters of The Heat and Lakers, "Shaq's Team" would finish 42-40, -in the West-. Dwayne Wade is the future of your team, not Shaq.

[Zanchief]

Totonto has a team?

Nope, that's not even a city.

San Antonio is pick to win this year.

Terry is a fast point-guard with great court vision.

I'll hold you to that great court vision comment midseason when your turnovers double.

Taxx... you are smoking crack. Miami will finish 42/40 .

Oh I'll give Shaq 50 wins in the east. That puts em just behind Indiana and Detroit.

A healthy Shaq in the eastern conference playoffs is like throwing a hand grenade in the middle of a lawn bowling tournament.

[Malluas]

just look at finley's stats in the playoffs the last 3 years compared to regular season. Amazing athelete means jack shit with pressure. Barkley wasn't a GREAT athelete but he was able to get it done. Shaq's only good thing is he can move his feet fast thats it and he got it done.

houston give the kings a prob LOL. kings would have swept or won 4-1 against them. Vlade owned Yao eventho he was like 45000 years old.

Not saying i disagree with you the kings will lose the regular season series. But i doubt they will loose a playoff series against the mavs again. Now if they get rid of peja or he goes into his shell... then the mavs have a chance. Seeing the peja never showed up except one game in the playoffs i could have said the kings were without out jackson and peja.

[vonkaar]

M Finley: MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
Career: 39.5 .451 .365 .806 1.40 3.80 5.20 3.8 1.20 .37 1.97 1.90 19.3
Playoff: 42.4 .416 .379 .847 1.30 4.10 5.40 3.1 1.26 .49 1.84 2.30 19.2

That took me 10 minutes to make... I hate you now.

Anyway... Malluas, I like poking fun at you because of the Mavs / Kings rivalry, but... every single time you've ever tried to mention stats, you've ended up putting your foot in your mouth. Let's look at the 'real' stats here...

Finley's career numbers are slightly better in the playoffs than in the regular season. Similar rebounds, points, assists, steals... he's as solid as they come. The post-season clearly doesn't phase him. And, remember... he's been in the top 10 minutes-per-game players for 9 of his 11 years. So... athlete, yes =p.

Peja chokes... he puts up less points, less assists, less steals... fouls more often, turns it over more often... he's probably the second-best European player in the league right now, but he's like... the 10th in the playoffs. Dirk on the other hand, is a fucking God in the playoffs. Even though he only played 5 games, he had the best playoff numbers of ANY SINGLE player last year in the running. That includes the Eastern Conf too.

Who else...

Webber puts up less points, assists, blocks, rebounds, steals and blocks... turns it over more often and fouls more regularly. EVERY single stat he has is lower is the playoffs, besides minutes, fouls and turnovers =p.

Christie...
Less points and steals, but he's stronger on every other side. But then, I like him a lot - he's one of your strongest players.

Bobby Jackson...
less points, assists, steals, o-rebounds... he's slightly worse in the post-season than he is regular. /yawn

Bibby is really the only guy on the Kings that regularly turns it on in the post-season, although one could say that he takes far too many shots for a point-guard. Still, he's probably the best pressure-player in recent Kings history.

Brad Miller? His best years are clearly outside of California... his playoff numbers are a joke.

If I go over every single member of the Mavs starting lineup (and bench) you'll see a completely contrasting team. If you were a Lakers fan, maybe you could call us pressure-sensetive... but... there's no way in hell a Kings fan is going to talk to me about cracking under pressure. Your whole team is full of weak-backs.

[Rotj]

Hater.

[Malluas]

first off i like to annoy you.

go look at playoff series with the kings. I careless what he does against any other team

plus he couldn't take peja off the dribble wtf is that

[vonkaar]

You should probably know that Sacramento constitutes almost half of all the playoff experience ANYONE from the Mavs has. Think about it... we've played
Utah, San-Antonio
Minnesota, Sacramento
Portland, Sacramento, San-Antonio
Sacramento

That's every playoff series that any of us have ever played in... besides the grizzled veterens and new guys.

Outside of last year, Finley averages 20ppg and nearly 10rpg against Sac. He's still a God.

[Malluas]

still plays no D

[Jirig]

He got you with that one, Vonk. ><

[vonkaar]

Are you still talking about Fin or the Mavs in general? Finley is one of our only capable defenders over the past few years. I've been saying for months that Josh Howard and Michael Finley are our only players with defensive know-how (last years roster). Finley is a completely balanced player... great accuracy... athletic... rebounds... shoots the 3... great shot-selection... decent post-up play... amazing free-throw percentage... great game knowledge... everything you would want out of a 2/3.

No, he's not 'superstar' material, but I'm really trying to find any other 2 or 3 in the league that isn't considered a superstar that can match him on all of those points. Kobe has it all, but he's a top7 player... (ie, superstar). Shrug... damnit, I'm going to find someone...
10 minutes later...
Actually, Anthony Peeler is a good example (too bad ya'll lost him ). He's got it all but on a smaller scale on everything but the 3.
hmmm...
Allan Houston is another example. He posts more than Fin... and makes a shitload more than him... but... well, no... he doesn't rebound and steal as often as Finley.
Vince Carter is arguably a superstar, but he's the most obvious 'other' similar player... although... his interior presence is like, twice that of Fin. Still, he brings the same type of skills to the table.
Jim Jackson is probably the closest thing, stat-by-stat... Finley's a superior athlete and makes less money though.

You see what I'm doing? All of those players are 'can-do' G/Fs. Finley is the same type of guy, yet makes less money and is probably less known than any of them (besides Peeler). You are basing your entire opinion of Mike on what you've seen him do against YOUR team. I, on the other hand, watch the whole league... nearly a game a night for the whole season. I get to know these guys AND respect them, even if they aren't on my team. This is why I love Christie, Bobby Jackson and Vlade (and hell, reg-season Peja). This is why I'm such a T-Mac fan. This is why I wanted Dampier even before he announced his free-agency. You need to watch more games that have nothing to do with the Kings... you'll stop putting Bibby above Kidd ... stop calling Iverson a Point-guard (although, this year you can!)... and you'll hopefully get to know the players that just might join your team someday =p.

[Jirig]

It all comes down to Duncan, Vonk. I'm sorry. Your team, as great as they are, just can't stand up to the raw power of TD.

[vonkaar]

Yeah, but... the thing is... and you know this since you live here... no Texas basketball fan hates any of the 3 teams. When San Antonio does well, we cheer. Houston and San Antonio may have a few rivalries left over from the Robinson / Hakeem days, but that's mostly faded. We celebrate the Texas triangle... We don't mind losing in the playoffs to another Texan team.

This thread is Mavs > Kings.

[vonkaar]

Oh... and... in additional support of Finley...

I just read this from Sports Illustrated:

Finley is still the only Mav who gives defense more than a lick and a promise, evident in the fact that he's always asked to take on the opponent's best perimeter scorer. Though at age 31 he may be on the downside of what has been a brilliant career (also due in large part to having logged almost 40 minutes a night over his 10 years in the NBA), Fin still has three or four great years left in him.

[Zanchief]

Sunday February 6th.

Dallas @ Toronto

I will be rooting for Toronto at my crappy affordable seats.

[vonkaar]

With or without Vince? He's pretty clear on his trade demands recently =/.

I'll probably go to the Toronto home game... just so I can see them for myself. I already bought the cheapo pre-season tickets for the Knicks and Kings.

You should go check out the press coference on the mavs site... where our 5 new players are introduced to the fans. You can tell just how excited everyone is for the new season... the video highlights don't show it but the actual coverage really did. I've never seen Nellie so animated...

His main statement was:

I think this summer Mark and Donnie have done a great job of assembling a really great team. Our coaching staff has been excited ever since we made our last deal. We feel really good about what they have assembled. We will probably be as traditional as we have ever been. We have centers who are centers, power forwards who are power forwards, etc. We have back-ups at every position. I think the strength and depth of our team is really strong. It’s now up to the coaching staff to put them together and get them to play winning basketball. The talent and the will to win is there and now we have to put the whole package together. This is as excited as I have been in a long time as far as our team is concerned.