Will the Mavericks be favored in the second round?
Don't get carried away. Enjoy this, but know the Mavericks will face a more difficult test. Let's say it's Denver, a safe assumption given the Nuggets are up 3-1 and are coming off a 58-point win. Denver swept the Mavericks this season. They are more athletic and deeper than San Antonio. It will be a much different series. Is there an unsung hero in this series for Dallas?
This sounds strange to say, but it's Jason Kidd. A future Hall of Famer not getting enough credit? In this series, yes. This series was about tempo on offense. It was about patience. It was about making the Spurs pay with timely outside shots. Kidd did all of that and more.
Why did San Antonio change its defense on Dirk Nowitzki?
It's one thing to say you're going to make role players beat you. When they do and you're down 3-1, you adjust. The second defender didn't come nearly as hard or as often this night. The Mavericks also did a good job of pushing the ball and getting Nowitzki shots in transition.
David Moore
