It’s the story of this series. The Mavericks aren’t finishing. They had a nine point lead in the third and let the Warriors back into it and ended up tied after three. Then, they couldn’t handle Golden State in the fourth… losing a lead with four minutes to go. This Maverick team looks like a team waiting to lose… and it looks like they will. Some said the Warrios were playing with “house money” in this series… if that’s true… then so far they’ve hit the jackpot.
Archive for April, 2007
The rallying cry for the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs is “We Believe.” Now, I believe. I thought the Warriors win in Game One was just an outstanding performance from Baron Davis. But after witnessing the butt kicking they gave the Mavs in Game Three, I’m convinced they can pull off the upset in this series. (I can’t believe I just typed that!) I really think they can do it. I’m not saying they will, but I’m saying they can. These Warriors are proving too quick and too hungry for the Mavericks. They matchup very well with Dallas and seem two or three steps quicker. Avery and his staff have their work cut out for them. Makes me wonder what would have happened if Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson didn’t get thrown out of Game Two.
I chatted with Peggy Nelson today at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. Peggy is the wife of the late Byron Nelson. She seemed to be doing fine, but I know tomorrow may be a little tough. She will receive Byron’s Medal of Honor and at 3 p.m. tournament play will stop for a moment of silence for Byron. It’s the first time the PGA has stopped play for such on occasion. It’s the right move and it should be moving for Peggy and all those close to Byron and this tournament.
It was nice to see Peggy doing all the things she always has done this week. She continues to work the tournament… doing whatever is necessary. I witnessed her chatting with some soldiers who were guests of the tournament. I’m sure Byron would approve. He won’t greet golfers as they finish their rounds on Sunday, but I know he’ll be watching and I’m sure he’ll be guiding Peggy’s every move.
I guess it’s true. Dallas golfer Hank Kuehne and tennis star, Venus Williams, are a couple. Wow! Venus was watching Hank play today at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. I chatted with a friend of Hank’s at the tournament today and he says they are just friends. He says they both had the same wrist injury and used the same doctor. That’s fine and dandy, but to come all this way just to watch a guy who has the same injury… I don’t buy it.
Just got out of the Mavericks’ locker room and what struck me most is how seasoned and mature this team is. They didn’t panic when the Warriors took it to them in Game One. They didn’t foolishly respond tonight when things got heated in the third period. Instead it was Golden State who got frustrated. Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson both got tossed for arguing with referees. The Mavs stayed calm, cool and collected. That’s a veteran team with playoff experience. The Warriors don’t have that experience and that could prove the difference in this series.
Where’s Tiger? Where’s Padraig Harrington, Adam Scott, Retief Goosen? Just a few of the top ten players in the world that you will not see at this week’s EDS Byron Nelson Championship… and that is a crying shame. The year after one of the greatest golfers ever passes away… these guys can’t find the time to pay tribute to the late Byron Nelson. So sad. Byron deserves better.
Too many penalties… too many mistakes for the Stars in Game Seven. Was really rooting for them. They showed some heart by coming back from a 3-1 deficit in this series. But, you can’t take anything away from Marty Turco. He set a franchise record for most scoreless minutes. If anything, Turco showed he is a bigtime goalie. I like the spunk and grit of first-year captain Brenden Morrow as well. This team will be back.
I thought the Warriors would take one game in this series, but I didn’t think it would be Game One. Wow! They came out and ran the Mavericks out of their own gym. The Mavs had no answer for Baron Davis. He torches the Mavs for 33 points.
Don Nelson stayed with his small line-up and made all the right moves in this one. Avery Johnson didn’t. He started Devean George instead of Erik Dampier. Although George played well, he couldn’t hang with Davis or anyone else. The Mavs didn’t have a spark coming off the bench. Chalk this one up to a better-coached team for one game. I’m confident Avery and staff will make adjustments. I still like the Mavs in five…. although I’m wavering!
Turco Tops Canucks Again (how about one more?)
Published April 22, 2007 Uncategorized Leave a CommentThis is the Marty Turco the Stars have wanted to see in the playoffs the last few seasons. For the third time in this first-round series, Turco has shutout the Canucks. The last two shutouts were simply masterful. Marty has brought the Stars back in this series. In Game Six on Saturday night, Turco stopped 21 shots for his third career shutout… all coming in this series!!! Regardless if the Stars lose Game Seven, Turco has finally proven he is worthy of the big contract the Stars gave him. All of a sudden, the hot goalie in this series isn’t Luongo, it’s Turco. Now Marty has a chance to make his biggest save of his career… winning Game Seven and saving the Stars from sure first round failure.
Thanks to Morrow (Brenden), the Stars live to see tomorrow. Morrow scores in the first overtime to give Dallas a Game Five win over Vancouver and now ths series shifts back to the AAC for Game Six on Saturday night. How fitting that the team’s first-year captain is the one who scores the deciding goal. A few days ago in Frisco, Morrow told us his teammates needed to stop looking for a hero and become one themselves. Morrow practiced what he preached. I had my doubts about him becoming this team’s captain, but his play and now his voice is showing he is worthy.
