Pounding The Rock - Full Coverage: San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas MavericksFor all your Manu Ginobili loving and San Antonio Spurs newshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/12497/ptr-fv.jpg2014-10-29T15:50:19-05:00http://www.poundingtherock.com/rss/stream/68511522014-10-29T15:50:19-05:002014-10-29T15:50:19-05:00GIF Breakdown: Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XiaoVLq-mAVxygDSkPta6fN26KQ=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/43051648/20141028_pjc_ai1_125.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The return of the regular season brings the return of GIF Breakdown, where we'll take a second look at some of the plays that stood out from the Spurs' victory over the Mavericks on Tuesday. </p> <p>Let's start just after after a <span>Tony Parker</span> miss where <span>Tim Duncan</span> and <span>Tyson Chandler</span> knocked the ball loose as they fought for the rebound. Timmy hustles to the corner, tosses the ball to <span>Boris Diaw</span> near halfcourt as he's falling out of bounds and gives the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Spurs</a> a second chance. The Spurs swing the ball around the arc while <span>Monta Ellis</span> appears to be mesmerized by the movement as Tyson Chandler and <span>Jameer Nelson</span> try to get Ellis to take Parker in the corner. It's far too late once Ellis trots in Tony's direction -- Manu's pass is pure and Tony cans the less-than-common right corner three.</p>
<p>One more note: By my estimate, the Spurs moved the ball 93 feet from Tim to Tony at a leisurely 16 mph. Monta was very good offensively, he had his midrange jumper working and led all scorers, but this is pretty awful awareness on his part.</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="tony corner" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/z1vN7zxlYQxCwgKyytOj9mFD9go=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2404106/tony_corner.0.gif">
</figure>
</p>
<p>After a remarkably poor preseason performance, <span>Manu Ginobili</span> needed just three minutes of time on the court before he faked a three and made a one-dribble Euro Step drive into the lane that he ended with a little lefty layup off the glass. That's pretty much vintage Ginobili if you ask me.</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="manu first bucket" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H5F0kOwrI2uOvnZUB_N6KcE6UOc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2404112/manu_first_bucket.0.gif">
</figure>
</p>
<p>Tony Parker looks like he's in great shape after taking the summer off for the first time in three years to 'give back to the Spurs.' I expect this to be a great season for Parker and he was very good in the opener. As we see from this overhead camera, he's still deadly in space and can finish with the best.</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="tony penetration" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HGdtQT0YLS02eOd3RGmlyJ24A0U=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2404116/tony_penetration.0.gif">
</figure>
</p>
<p>The Spurs have a three-guard lineup on the floor with both of the Spurs point guards spotting up in the corners while Ginobili works a couple of screens to try to shake <span>Chandler Parsons</span>. Parsons goes over Duncan as Manu receives the ball, but Gino is able to turn the corner and draw the defense in as he makes his journey behind the backboard. Somehow the airborne Manu is able to wrap a pass around Tyson Chandler and over Dirk out to Boris. Boris threatens <span>Devin Harris</span> enough to cause him to leave <span>Cory Joseph</span> open in the corner.</p>
<p>CoJo knocked down the short three, which isn't something that he's done much of previously, and hopefully the summer of working with the Spurs' virtuoso shooting coach, <span>Chip Engelland</span>, will pay dividends and fill in some of the shooting that the Spurs will miss while <span>Patty Mills</span> mends his shoulder.</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="cojo corner" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KOCo3HPglVQNhqGysG0bNjY56h4=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2404188/cojo_corner.0.gif">
</figure>
</p>
<p>Chandler Parsons does a nice job of denying Tony the ball in the corner which forces <span>Matt Bonner</span> to pass it out to Danny at the top of the arc. Green uses a Bonner screen to get into the paint while <span>Marco Belinelli</span> works his way around the arc to give Danny a passing angle as he drives. Monta Ellis' job is to stick with Beli, who just happens to have been the league's fifth deadliest three-point shooter last season, but he's caught in no-mans land and the Spurs add three more points.</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="danny to marco" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/s_zsyGwONlSFmrnhMlS6JuL-i2g=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2404202/danny_to_marco.0.gif">
</figure>
</p>
<p>The Wee Frenchman gets Jameer Nelson off balance with a fake spin move, then shows great footwork to keep his pivot while going into a modified up-and-under that left the whole crowd buzzing. [<i>Editor's note: In a night with much to celebrate, and after all the cheering during the ring ceremony and banner unveiling, this was the weirdest sound the crowd made all night. In real time, watching from the arena, it sure looked like Tony was operating outside the laws of physics for a second and a half. Pretty cool new move for Parker. -</i> J.R. Wilco]</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="tony move" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Xmn3mtbQzm_qov6lQMh9l8pMr1E=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2404220/tony_move.0.gif">
</figure>
</p>
<p>You may have heard that Manu shot 8.7% from deep during the preseason (2-for-23,) and he missed his first three attempts on opening night, but when the pressure was really on, he somehow hit this ridiculous fadeaway, shot clock-beating 25-footer.</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="manu b" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F8szCsp4-1PXrb5HXJxFclthpe8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2404256/manu_buzzer_.0.gif">
</figure>
</p>
<p>Ladies and gentleman,I present the ultra-deferring, hot potato-playing, facilitating and fist pumping Boris Diaw.</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="bobo" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uHJVTE-THPE4cqrjZmIBmmYDD34=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2404336/bobo_hot_potato.0.gif">
</figure>
</p>
<p>Here's Dirk being all Dirk about it and knocking down a crunch time fadeaway to give his team a two-point lead after they had trailed the good guys by nine earlier in the quarter. That shot is so good. But then...</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="dirky dirk" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BgUEfCQm0pPxRJTQSaYbHoawnTc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2404274/dirky_dirk.0.gif">
</figure>
</p>
<p>On the very next possession a Dallas switch left Devin Harris against Boris in the post and Nowitzki on Parker. Tony decided to let Bobo go to work in the post which forced Dirk to leave Tony to help on Diaw. Cue the pretty kick-out from Diaw and Parker's fourth three in four tries. That's cold blooded.</p>
<p>Watch <a target="_blank" href="https://s2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/ygL.uqQRECgitn0yDF3GXA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusnbaexperts/Descriptive.-Screencap-via-@trevorhale.jpg">FirstName LastName</a> on the Mavs bench. He knows it's going in.</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="tony gw" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fw327ooReqtCXHc2pcgXqW-BMBY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2404312/tony_gw.0.gif">
</figure>
</p>
<p><i>This team is so easy to root for. </i></p>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/10/29/7068379/gif-breakdown-spurs-vs-dallas-mavericksChris Itz2014-10-29T08:00:07-05:002014-10-29T08:00:07-05:00Morning Rehash: Ring Night
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/btpA671KNDCOcSNNa-5ofeqWBRI=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42953044/20141028_pjc_ai1_140.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Spurs get their 5th ring, a little bit of luck, and a 101-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.</p> <p><span>A championship ring ceremony is a spectacle to behold. </span>At the beginning of the 1999-2000 season, when I was 6, I attended the first of the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Spurs</a>' five such ceremonies. My mother was lucky enough to secure two seats a few rows behind the Philidelphia <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">76ers</a>' bench, right next to the tunnel entrance next to their locker room.</p>
<p>
<link href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3608425/mustreads.css" rel="stylesheet">
</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Because I was so young, I don't remember much of that game, but I recall two things with perfect clarity. The first thing was how close up I saw the Sixers team, and how cool <span>Allen Iverson</span> looked. (I'm still upset that I didn't ask for his autograph when he was coming back to the tunnel for halftime.) The second was the banner being raised. I remember turning around, looking at the back wall of the Alamodome, and wondering why so many people were going so crazy about raising a banner. I didn't understand it at the time, but that was a moment where a city that had never experienced a sports championship, and was deemed too small of a market, could cheer for something their guys had done. That championship was for the city of San Antonio, and the Spurs had finally reached the promised land.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Fast-forward 14 years, and a lot has changed. I'm now in college, watching on television from 5 states away. The city of San Antonio has grown at a rapid rate and is constantly entertaining the possibility of adding a 2nd major professional sports team. Most notably, the Spurs no longer have to announce themselves. Gone are the days of the underdog, as for 14 straight years they have been recognized as contenders for the NBA crown, and have won it five times.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">That doesn't make the championship they celebrated on Tuesday night any less special, though. After losing the 2013 Finals to the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a> by way of <span>LeBron James</span> and a dagger to the heart from <span>Ray Allen</span>, beating that same Heat team in the next year's Finals series was cathartic for everyone who suffered through that loss: from the players, to the coaches, to the fans. In fact, in <i>Champions Revealed: 2014 San Antonio Spurs</i>, an NBATV special that ran the night before the opening game, <span>Gregg Popovich</span>, <span>Tim Duncan</span>, <span>Tony Parker</span> and Manu Ginobili all referred to this championship as the sweetest one for them.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">On Tuesday night, the Spurs put that season to bed and began their new campaign against the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Mavericks</a>. San Antonio came into the game short-handed, with Finals MVP <span>Kawhi Leonard</span> out with an eye infection, <span>Tiago Splitter</span> out with a back ailment and <span>Patty Mills</span> recovering from shoulder surgery. Conversely, the Mavericks came into the night after a great offseason, improving their roster with the additions of <span>Chandler Parsons</span>, <span>Tyson Chandler</span>, and <span>Jameer Nelson</span>.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The game played out great. It was fairly even all the way through with both teams making runs. The result came down to the final Dallas possession. The Spurs defense forced Dallas to move the ball and the Mavericks whipped the ball around the court, ending up with Parsons taking a wide-open three from the right wing. Fortunately for the silver-and-black, the ball clanked off the rim, and the Spurs went home with a win.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">One thing that is always questioned for a team coming off of a title win is how motivated they will be to try and repeat. "Will they come out hungry for more, or rest on their laurels?" " Did they work out as hard as they should have over the offseason?" For the Spurs, there has never been a need to worry about motivation. The things that have gotten in the way of repeat titles for San Antonio are as follows: A Tim Duncan injury that knocked him out of the 2000 playoffs, Derek Fisher's "0.4" in the 2004 Western Conference Semis, <span>Manu Ginobili's</span> foul on <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span> in Game 7 of the 2006 Western Conference Finals, and Ginobili's ankle injury in 2008. The question of whether the Spurs can repeat or not has never come down to motivation, but to injury, other teams making more plays, and a little bit of luck.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">In the first game of this possible repeat season, I saw that the motivation to win is there. Tony Parker canned some threes. <span>Cory Joseph</span> and <span>Marco Belinelli</span> stepped up and made plays in place of their injured teammates and Manu, who struggled all preseason, found his groove. Even then, with the Spurs playing well, the other team had an opportunity to make a play to win. Lady Luck was on the Spurs' side in their opening matchup. For them to get a 6th ring night, she'll have to stay a little longer.</p>
<h3>QUOTE OF THE NIGHT</h3>
<blockquote>
<p><span>"It's the first game of the season. You get your rings, you get beat by 30, you go get a glass of wine."</span></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><span>--Gregg Popovich, </span></p>
<a href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/10/28/7086771/gregg-popovich-reflects-on-the-past-sounding-ominous-about-the-present" target="_blank">pregame</a>
</blockquote>
<p style="text-align: left;">But the Spurs won. So that means that...Pop was wrong? I don't know. I'm not sure I can live in a world where I know Pop was wrong. Let's move on.</p>
<h3>MVP OF THE GAME</h3>
<h5>Manu Ginobili - 20 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals</h5>
<p>Perhaps the biggest storyline of the preseason was how badly Manu Ginobili had looked. Coach Popovich had said that he was well physically, but had not played basketball or gotten shots up for a long time, so he was going to look a little shaky for a while. But Ginobili surprised me, and took over the game in the 2nd half. He got inside the lane, made a couple stepbacks, and was able to get the ball to his teammates.</p>
<p>He was still a little rusty on the night, as he had 3 turnovers and shot 2-6 from deep; but overall, it was an impressive game from Ginobili. Because this is the first game of the year conclusions cannot be drawn from it, but it's certainly an encouraging performance.</p>
<h3>NUMBERS ON THE BOARD</h3>
<ul>
<li><span><b>50: </b>The Spurs' 3PT FG% on the night, going 14-28 from deep. Some things never change; San Antonio's reliance on threes, and the ability to hit them is one of those things.</span></li>
<li><span><b>28:</b> The number of feet away from the basket that Chandler Parsons' final three was attempted from. Maybe that didn't effect the shot much, but it could have been enough for him to miss.</span></li>
<li><span><b>17: </b>The number of season openers the Spurs have won under Coach Pop. They have 1 loss.</span></li>
<li> <b style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">5: </b><span>The number of rings the San Antonio Spurs franchise has won. Count 'em up.</span> </li>
</ul>
<h3>GAME NOTES</h3>
<ul>
<li><span>It'll be great for the Spurs when Tiago Splitter comes back to play. San Antonio's second-unit suffered with <span>Aron Baynes</span> anchoring the defense instead of Splitter. His rotations just weren't as sharp, and on multiple plays he was a couple beats late helping out, which resulted in buckets for Dallas. It wasn't a total catastrophe, but Splitter is a luxury to have as a second-unit rim-protector, and will be an immense upgrade.</span></li>
<li><span>Tony Parker has been a legitimate corner three threat for a couple of seasons, and in Tuesday's opener he went 4-4 from three, with three of his shots coming from that corner. He doesn't take a large amount of threes, but he shot 40% from the corners last year, and 41.6% from the corners the year before. He's proved that he's capable of hitting from there.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3>TWEET GAME</h3>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Cool thing about this ring ceremony is everyone is there to get theirs because the Spurs brought everyone back.</p>
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) <a href="https://twitter.com/highkin/status/527242847964381184">October 28, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Hey, <span>Jeff Ayres</span> didn't drop the ring on the hand-off. Progress!</p>
— Ian Dougherty (@IanDougherty) <a href="https://twitter.com/IanDougherty/status/527243702671269888">October 28, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>This Vine seems relevant, given the last time these teams played against each other. <a href="https://t.co/ricJ9qXzH9">https://t.co/ricJ9qXzH9</a></p>
— Caleb Saenz (@calebjsaenz) <a href="https://twitter.com/calebjsaenz/status/527245289552609280">October 28, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Tim Duncan immediately added his championship ring to his home owners insurance plan</p>
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) <a href="https://twitter.com/desusnice/status/527252897097351168">October 29, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>KING BORIS: RT <a href="https://twitter.com/BenGolliver">@BenGolliver</a>: GIF: <span>Boris Diaw</span> breaks Dirk Nowitzki's ankles <a href="http://t.co/ziUFePayKo">http://t.co/ziUFePayKo</a></p>
— Holly MacKenzie (@stackmack) <a href="https://twitter.com/stackmack/status/527256687141335040">October 29, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Kawhi Leonard’s 1st grade hand turkey. <a href="http://t.co/42n0Da6c6I">pic.twitter.com/42n0Da6c6I</a></p>
— Ben Hunt (@benhunted) <a href="https://twitter.com/benhunted/status/527259298003697664">October 29, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Jeez Tony. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAonSTC">@NBAonSTC</a>: BEAUTIFUL footwork by Parker. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Spurs?src=hash">#Spurs</a> <a href="https://t.co/VqSK1yUmOi">https://t.co/VqSK1yUmOi</a></p>
— John Ledesma (@JohnnyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnnyNBA/status/527270900593221632">October 29, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>It’s almost as if <a href="https://twitter.com/daldridgetnt">@daldridgetnt</a> knew he stepped into the bear trap as soon as he asked that second question.</p>
— josh ✈ (@jortle) <a href="https://twitter.com/jortle/status/527277480697020416">October 29, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>The best and the worst of basketball - a breathtaking sequence of brilliant possessions, followed by realization that lakers still exist</p>
— Alex Dewey (@DewNO) <a href="https://twitter.com/DewNO/status/527286798192762880">October 29, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/10/29/7088305/morning-rehash-ring-nightIan Dougherty2014-10-29T06:00:06-05:002014-10-29T06:00:06-05:00Spurs Infographic: Mavericks at Spurs
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/X4nK_LMEJQUAPEEPdpaVYoJzY90=/0x39:4000x2706/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42948686/20141028_pjc_ai1_273.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Spurs relied on their grizzled veterans to pull out a shorthanded win as they hosted the Mavericks on Opening Night. </p> <p>The Spur of the Night could easily have been <span>Tony Parker</span>, but he looked pretty good in the preseason so I gave it to the Argentine. Manu Ginobili played quite the second half in this contest and in honor of him breaking out of his preseason shooting funk as well as not actually getting injured after banging knees with a Mav, he gets the nod.</p>
<p>
<link href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3608425/mustreads.css" rel="stylesheet">
</p>
<p>For his part, Tony was great on Tuesday night and even canned the game-winning shot. <span>Tim Duncan</span>, who during the preseason put up his customary per-36 numbers of 18.3 and 11.2, went Groundhog day on the new look <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mavericks</a> with 14 points and a game high 13 rebounds.</p>
<p><span>Marco Belinelli</span> also played a good game, albeit with a couple of defensive lapses, and his preseason shooting struggles seem to be over as he scored 15 points on just eight shots.</p>
<p>One down and eighty-one to go and the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Spurs</a> are 1-0 to start their title-defense campaign.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZoB-ffbJ8RmWkqtdkyKCckCo9BA=/600x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2402658/MAVS_ig.0.png"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="mavs ig" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EMSxYxUa0Cd7j1D7TLFGsVYSxzw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2402658/MAVS_ig.0.png">
</figure>
</a></p>
<p>Some links about the game:</p>
<p>Hal Brown of Mavs Moneyball takes an optimistic stance on the game in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2014/10/28/7087175/recap-mavericks-fall-to-reigning-champs-in-ring-ceremony-opener">their game recap</a>, saying that,<i> "</i>the Mavericks lost 101-100, but this game was a glowing example of what the 2014-2015 NBA season might be."</p>
<p>SBNation's Mike Prada says that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/10/28/7087783/chandler-parsons-shot-monta-ellis-mavericks-spurs/in/6850630">you shouldn't blame Chandler Parsons for taking the last shot for the Mavericks</a>.</p>
<p>Prada also gave us this photoshop of Gregg Popovich's<i> Last Crusade</i>:</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="indy duncan" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/55Zqy7PuvKHqpD_7eSe2pInlJVQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2402824/indyduncan.0.0.0.jpg">
</figure>
</p>
<p>Seth Rosenthal provided <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/10/28/7087353/boris-diaw-breaks-dirk-nowitzkis-ankles-somehow/in/6850630">a couple of vines of Boris Diaw breaking Dirk Nowitzki's ankles</a>, or maybe it was a wet spot. Either way it's pretty funny, and I say that as a pretty big Dirk fan.</p>
<p>Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas reports that <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4703465/chandler-parsons-dallas-debut-a-dud?ex_cid=espnapi_public">Chandler Parsons knows he has to be better</a> and the Mavs' 46 million dollar man said, "I can't have too many more nights like that. I'm more than confident in myself. I'll bounce back."</p>
<p>48 Minutes of Hell <a target="_blank" href="http://www.48minutesofhell.com/el-conclusion-san-antonio-spurs-101-dallas-mavericks-100">gave out their first report card of the year</a> and Tony and Manu each received an A for their efforts. Extraneous G received an A+ for fronting the Spurs' 'gangster' coaching staff.</p>
<p>Finally, the NBA gave us "<a target="_blank" href="http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2014/10/29/20141029-allaccess-duncan.nba/">Rare access with Tim Duncan on the night he receives his 5th Championship Ring</a>." Definitely check it out.</p>
<p>They also<a target="_blank" href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nba.com%2Fvideo%2Fchannels%2Fnba_tv%2F2014%2F10%2F29%2F20141029-phantom-spurs-ring-ceremony.nba%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNE79SHgtEQI9En6O5De_VvtVIaThw"> </a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nba.com%2Fvideo%2Fchannels%2Fnba_tv%2F2014%2F10%2F29%2F20141029-phantom-spurs-ring-ceremony.nba%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNE79SHgtEQI9En6O5De_VvtVIaThw">provided phantom cam</a> ( super slo-mo) video which lets us know that Holt's ring may need a little resizing plus features some cool plays from the game.</p>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/10/29/7088085/spurs-infographic-mavericks-at-spursChris Itz2014-10-29T00:52:51-05:002014-10-29T00:52:51-05:00"1-0" has a nice ring to it for defending champs
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ee_FvWn2jkyPKlR3TNLhr9r_5d4=/0x40:4000x2707/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42950296/20141028_pjc_ai1_076.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>On a night where the ring ceremony was supposed to be the only highlight and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich figured that his guys would lose by 30 points, he wound up being off by 31 on the final margin.</p> <p><b>Game 1: Vs. Dallas: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">Spurs</a> 101, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavericks</a> 100 Rec: 1-0 1st in Southwest 1st in West</b></p>
<p>
<link href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3608425/mustreads.css" rel="stylesheet">
</p>
<p><span>Tony Parker</span> was asked the other day about how as a one-seed just how close the Spurs were from being bounced in the first round by the Mavericks, being forced to play an elimination winner-take-all Game 7. Immediately, the memories --good and bad-- came flooding back for the future Hall-of-Famer.</p>
<p>"We all know our history," he explained. "In 2004, <span>Derek Fisher</span> hit that shot and every time we won and every time we lost it's a fine line."</p>
<p>Sure, there have been plenty of close calls that broke up repeat efforts in the past, from Fisher's infamous 0.4 turnaround miracle to <span>Manu Ginobili's</span> ill-timed foul on <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span> in 2006 to nemesis referee Joey Crawford ignoring an obvious foul on a wayward <span>Brent Barry</span> three-pointer in 2008. Of course, the Spurs had their share of bounces that went their way in title runs too, from trailing in the fourth quarter in Game 6 of the Finals against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Nets</a> in 2003, to Robert Horry's huge clutch three in overtime against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Pistons</a> in Game 5 in 2005 and to Amar'e Stoudemire's boneheaded suspension in 2007.</p>
<p>As the old saying goes, "it's a make-or-miss league," so it was entirely fitting in the season opener of their latest title defense that the Spurs managed to get off to a winning start only by the slimmest of margins with a 101-100 victory as <span>Chandler Parsons</span>, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's high-priced addition to a Dallas squad that pushed the Spurs to the limit last spring, missed an open wing three with less than two seconds to go.</p>
<p>"It felt great," Parsons said afterward of his fateful miss. "It was kind of a broken play where I got a good look, but looking back, I may need to make an extra pass to Monta (Ellis), but I didn't know exactly how much time was left."</p>
<p>Parsons had a miserable debut in Mavericks colors --fans of <i>Arrested Development </i>might say that he blue himself-- hitting just 2-of-10 shots and finishing with five points. He probably would've been better off indeed to toss it over to Ellis who sank 11-of-21 and scored a game-high 26.</p>
<p>The hero for the Spurs, meanwhile, just happened to be the same wee Frenchman who spoke of the fine line between winning and losing, and he delivered the winning points, after the Spurs had blown a nine-point fourth quarter lead and found themselves trailing 100-98 on a classic Nowitzki one-legged dagger from the baseline, by burying a long-range bayonet to the gut of his own, a three from the left wing with 1:07 to go, with countryman <span>Boris Diaw</span> providing the assist.</p>
<p>It was Parker's only bucket of the fourth quarter, but it gave him a team-leading 23 for the night and, more spectacularly, it was his fourth three-pointer of the game, matching a career-high set six times previously, all of them coming before Fisher ruined their season in May of 2004. In the decade since the three was decidedly de-emphasized in Parker's arsenal, but he has gotten back to shooting them in recent campaigns, though primarily from the corners. He canned his first three shots from downtown from the right corner, which has historically been his less-preferred side of the court and the final one from the left wing, which is rarer still. Parker usually makes only a handful of wing threes all year long.</p>
<p>"(Spurs shooting coach) <span>Chip Engelland</span> works with him every day on it," said an admiring <span>Gregg Popovich</span> afterward. "He shoots those all the time. The corners are a place where he has gotten confident. I don't want him being Chris Mullin, coming down in transition and shooting threes all night, but when the ball swings and he's open like that we have confidence when he gets his feet set and shoots it. That's Chip's work."</p>
<p>Credit must go to Parker not just for knocking the shot down but being so open from the beginning about working with Engelland when many of the guys he's shared the locker room with over the years have seemed loathe to have the shooting guru tinker with their wonky jumpers.</p>
<p>Speaking of which, Ginobili broke a string of 21 consecutive missed threes overlapping the preseason and the real one by finally making, of all shots, a desperation fadeaway three with the shot clock expiring late in the third quarter. He said it felt like the first shot he'd made in two weeks, while Popovich helpfully estimated that the 37-year-old Argentine "was like zero for 50 in the preseason, and had like 19 turnovers per game."</p>
<p>Ginobili wasn't quite that bad (though it wasn't far off) and once more he defied all expectations once the bell rung for real, scoring 14 of his 20 in the second half while adding six assists and "only" three turnovers to help turn an eight-point halftime deficit into a 96-89 lead after <span>Danny Green</span> coolly hit a corner three off Ginobili's short pass with 3:27 to go.</p>
<p>The legendary sixth man admitted he was bothered by his poor preseason form. "It's not that I was so down or worried, but I didn't like it," he said. "I was feeling good before that. I was shooting well in practice, but in the games I wasn't doing my thing and I wasn't confident, so yes, it worried me."</p>
<p>Then, summing up the importance of the preseason in 12 short words, Ginobili finished with "But at the same time I knew that the beginning was today."</p>
<p>Ginobili was hardly the only Spur who pleasantly surprised after some lackluster exhibition showings, and the result was 31 points better than what Popovich had predicted pregame, but it didn't mean that the grizzled old coach was a ray of sunshine after, grumbling about the fashion in which his guys allowed an 11-2 run to surrender the lead, necessitating Parker's big shot. What particularly galled him were two open threes <span>Marco Belinelli</span> --who scored 15 points starting in place of the recovering Kawhi Leonard-- conceded to a notorious Spurs-killer.</p>
<p>"We gave up six points to <span>Devin Harris</span>," Pop said. "We didn't pick him up and he made two threes in a row, which could have cost us the game. We turned it over twice on calls, so I thought we were pretty poor down the stretch in execution."</p>
<p>The Spurs struggled to care of the ball throughout the preseason and had 21 giveaways tonight compared to Dallas' 10 and allowed the Mavericks to shoot 48.7 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from downtown. Their saving grace even better marksmanship in their own right, 52.9 percent overall and a scorching 50 percent --14-of-28-- from three. Parker made all four of his attempts and Belinelli and Green, two fellows used to taking and making them, each hit 3-of-6. Five Spurs finished in double-figures overall, with <span>Tim Duncan</span> recording the 14th opening-night double-double of his career, scoring 14 points and hauling in a game-high 13 rebounds.</p>
<p>It was by no means a perfect game but the Mavericks are an opponent that's going to win over 50 games and the Spurs were lacking not only their Finals MVP in Leonard but also <span>Tiago Splitter</span> and Patty Mills. Popovich said Leonard has been cleared by their medical staff to practice and play and that he expected him to be available Friday night at Phoenix. Splitter, however continues to be a mystery, as what was originally a strained calf has now turned into some sort of back ailment. There's no telling when he'll return but it doesn't appear it will be anytime soon and until he does the Spurs interior defense and rebounding will be compromised.</p>
<p>To put it bluntly, I was shocked that they won and I suspect most of them were as well.</p>
<p>In the end what worked in their favor was the "corporate knowledge," that comes from a team having years of experience playing with one another. If there's anything the Spurs excel at, it's adapting on the fly to guys being out of the lineup and adjusting to circumstances within games. The opponent may have been more talented on this night, but many of their pieces were unfamiliar with one another and that lack of cohesion hurt them just enough. The Spurs didn't win their five rings by not knowing how to scramble and claw their way to an ugly win, but a 1-0 record is a fine line any way you slice it.</p>
<p><b>Your Three Stars: </b></p>
<p><b>3) Tim Duncan (1 pt)</b></p>
<p><b>2) Manu Ginobili (3 pts)</b></p>
<p><b>1) Tony Parker (5 pts)</b></p>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/10/29/7087883/1-0-has-a-nice-ring-to-it-for-defending-champion-spursMichael Erler2014-10-28T21:46:49-05:002014-10-28T21:46:49-05:00Final Score: Spurs beat Mavericks, 101-100
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6BsPWlIvVuFF4bFUCkQNFQk4NKo=/30x0:3975x2630/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42941074/20141028_pjc_ai1_070.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Spurs are now 5-0 on ring nights and have won their last six season openers after they brought just enough to edge the Mavericks in this one. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Spurs</a> trailed by nine at one point in this game and then opened up a double digit lead in a surprisingly good game. The Spurs turned the ball over 21 times to the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mavericks</a> 10, so it wasn't the prettiest of games, but the good guys did shoot the ball well. The Spurs connected on 52.8% from the field and 50% from deep on a night where <span>Gregg Popovich</span> wondered where his offense was going to come from.</p>
<p>
<link href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3608425/mustreads.css" rel="stylesheet">
</p>
<p>The Spurs got big contributions from their Big Three as well as Marco Beliinelli, who started for <span>Kawhi Leonard</span>, and <span>Danny Green</span> combined to score 28 for San Antonio. Tim Duncan finished with 14 and 13 while <span>Manu Ginobili</span> pitched in 20 points on 13 shots, including a shot-clock-beating desperation triple that seemed to get him going after shooting terribly in the preseason. <span>Tony Parker</span> also had several plays where he looked to be back in his 2013 form. The Wee Frenchman finished with 23-3-3.</p>
<p><span>Boris Diaw</span>, who had a nice night on the boards (9) and found his teammates for six assists, looked a little out of sync for much of the game and finished 2-of-6 from the floor.</p>
<p>The Spurs held a nine point lead with nine minutes left to play in the game, but the Mavs charged back with a couple of <span>Devin Harris</span> triples and four Spurs turnovers. The Mavs took a two point lead after <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span> hit a tough jumper with a minute and a half to play before Tony Parker responded with a late-in-the-shot-clock above-the-break triple that gave the Spurs their 101-100 victory. Chandler Parsons, who was the highest paid player on either team's roster, missed a potential game-winning triple and finished 2-for-10 on the night.</p>
<p>This was honestly a game I kind of expected the Spurs to lose, so I'm pretty happy that they found a way to pull out a victory to start the season. And the game was pretty exciting to top it off.</p>
<p>For the Mavericks' fans perspective check out <a target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mavsmoneyball.com%2F&ei=AFRQVMb3F9aSsQS404KQDA&usg=AFQjCNEYLO1i_GILG4jkJobHOYATMUBHOA&sig2=-sUDufZwkh3mabMZ9eE2tA&bvm=bv.78597519,d.eXY">Mavs Moneyball</a>.</p>
<p>Next up the Spurs travel to Phoenix to take on the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Suns</a> on Halloween night at 9:00 p.m. Central.</p>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/10/28/7087455/final-scoreChris Itz2014-10-28T17:40:31-05:002014-10-28T17:40:31-05:00Pop reflective about past, ominous about present
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/V4nb9qQJ1q1zIqaSM6x7vBkKxK8=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42932838/20141022_mta_ai1_130.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>You won't believe this but Pop didn't watch the TV special about him last night. </p>
<p>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3608425/mustreads.css">
</p>
<p><a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Spurs</a> coach was in a reflective, expansive mood tonight before the regular season opener against Dallas. He fielded questions on a number of topics from the health of <a href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/10/28/7083911/kawhi-leonard-eye-injury-update-shootaround-notes">injured starters Kawhi Leonard and Tiago Splitter</a>, to the challenges the new-look <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mavericks</a> pose, to the distraction of playing after a ring ceremony to his thoughts on the doing that special on NBATV where he and <span>Tim Duncan</span>, <span>Manu Ginobili</span> and <span>Tony Parker</span> all sat down and reflected on their experiences and interviewed one another.</p>
<p>Enjoy the read...</p>
<p><b>Q: Who are you starting?</b></p>
<p>A: Tony Parker... <span>Danny Green</span>, <span>Marco Belinelli</span>, <span>Matt Bonner</span> and Tim Duncan.</p>
<p><b>Q: What's the latest on Kawhi (Leonard)?</b></p>
<p>A: He's cleared to start practicing and playing.</p>
<p><b>Q: Is it conditioning that's keeping him out (tonight)?</b></p>
<p>A: Whatever you want to say, I don't care. Make something up. Make it good so it sounds good. Who cares?</p>
<p><b>Q: What about Tiago's status?</b></p>
<p>A: No he's just out until they tell us he's okay to play but... they keep talking about his back instead of his calf so I'm just a coach, I'm confused. When they tell me he can play, then he'll start playing. And Patty (Mills) is out because of the shoulder. I don't know when that is. Probably when I'm retired.</p>
<p><b>Q: What do you make of the moves Dallas has made in the offseason?</b></p>
<p>A: I think they've done a great job. (GM) Donnie (Nelson) has added some really good pieces and I think they're going to be a contender in the West. Without a doubt they're going to be one of the top teams if not the top team.</p>
<p><b>Q: How difficult is it to prepare for a team like that when they have all new pieces and you haven't played them before?</b></p>
<p>A: It's not difficult because you don't prepare. No, I'm serious. What are you gonna do? You just go play. It's the first game of the season. You get your rings, you get beat by 30, you get a glass of wine and then the season starts.</p>
<p><b>Q: Is it hard after a ring ceremony to get your team (focused to win)?</b></p>
<p>A: We've done both (win and lose) I think, I'm not positive. I don't know, somebody that's been here... [He is informed that they've won them all and are 4-0 in "ring ceremony games"] Oh really, we're 4-0? Really? Wow.</p>
<p><b>Q: That wasn't something you checked first thing in the morning?</b></p>
<p>A: No. It seems like that would be something that's hard to do right? But I don't know. I think we're a little offensively challenged right now in that we're having problems scoring. As has been noticed in the preseason. It's a long year, it's a long year.</p>
<p><b>Q: Tim (Duncan) says he really wants to soak this up, enjoy it, not be thinking about that first quarter until after the ceremony. Is he built for that?</b></p>
<p>A: I think so. You know, the older you get the more you try to appreciate what you've accomplished because as you all know, winning a championship, we're still trying to figure out how we did it. And it's difficult. People like Timmy who've been there before realize how hard it is. And he's probably thinking that he's not going to be around for five more. So he wants to make sure he appreciates this. He's mentally capable to do that.</p>
<p><b>Q: Did you watch that special (where Pop and "The Big Three" were all interviewing one another)?</b></p>
<p>A: No.</p>
<p><b>Q: Looking back on doing it, you guys were pretty emotional. What was that experience like?</b></p>
<p>A: It went for a while. I don't know what they edited or what they showed, but it was, you know we've never done anything like that before the four of us, so it was... with the championship and everything it seemed appropriate and guys at the end of their deal who most likely are not going to play too much longer I don't think, or coach too much longer probably, you never know what's going to happen, but it seemed appropriate to talk about things in kind of a reflective mood. I don't know how it came out.</p>
<p><b>Q: You said it was like the greatest thing that you've ever felt in athletics to win that particular title. Why was that?</b></p>
<p>A: Well you know, I felt so badly for the group the year before, for all the obvious reasons that we all know in that game, and for that group to come back and do what they did, that display of fortitude really moved me and was a great lesson in stick-to-it-iveness and doing your work and not crying about things, just moving forward and trying to get back to that spot is almost impossible to do, and they did it. To be a part of that and have the privilege of being with them and watching them do that, made it one of the most special athletic experiences of my life...</p>
<p>I did knock down a shot against East Gary to win a high school game and that was pretty cool.</p>
<p><b>Q: Can you tell us about the kindergarten years?</b></p>
<p>A: You... (shakes finger)... This last week I feel like I've been running for office or something I mean geez Louise.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A few notes about his answers...</p>
<p>This was the second or third time I've read/heard Pop mention that he expects the team to be absolutely thrashed tonight and I don't think he's doing it out of false modesty or humility but because it's his genuine, honest (but perhaps naturally pragmatic) opinion. Not only are his guys shorthanded, but they're playing against an opponent that everyone expects to be really good. Literally the only thing the Spurs have going for them tonight is that maybe with so many new pieces it will take Dallas a while to find their chemistry.</p>
<p>He contradicted Parker's report from yesterday that they spent all of Monday's practice specifically preparing for the Mavs (Parker added that he expected that to be the case for Tuesday's shootaround as well), but that is to be expected. Pop always downplays things like motivational gimmicks and how much they game plan for teams in the regular season.</p>
<p>The injury updates on Leonard and Splitter corraborates my observations and the information I've gathered from a couple of people. I fully expect Leonard to play the third game next Wednesday if not the second one Friday night at Phoenix. In Splitter's case it sure seemed odd for a simple calf strain to keep him over a month and now we know it's not a simple calf strain. Pop mentioned a back issue and things I've heard are even more ominous than that. All I saw him do this morning was jog slowly and stiffly on a treadmill, so it may indeed be quite a while before we see Splitter on the court.</p>
<p>Okay, well enough of the negative stuff. Let's go enjoy the ring ceremony!</p>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/10/28/7086771/gregg-popovich-reflects-on-the-past-sounding-ominous-about-the-presentMichael Erler2014-10-28T02:00:02-05:002014-10-28T02:00:02-05:00Game Preview: Spurs vs. Mavs
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/v3xqcXlI4gt7HSLFKPt4IxUIORc=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42537498/20140504_mta_ai1_211.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The defending champs return to the AT&T Center to raise up banner numero cinco. They'll be short-handed, with Leonard, Mills and Splitter out, and taking on a Mavericks squad that could be ready to contend in the West. No one ever said winning back-to-back titles was easy. </p> <div id="preview-wrapper" style="height: 300px; border-top-left-radius: 15px; border-top-right-radius: 15px; border-bottom-right-radius: 15px; border-bottom-left-radius: 15px; background-image: url(http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/836193/spurs-background.jpg); background-position: 50% -40px;">
<div id="preview-ptr-logo" style="position: relative; top: 30px; margin: 0px auto; width: 308px; height: 39px;"><a href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/836197/pounding-the-rock-logo.png"></a></div>
<div id="preview-game-preview" style="position: relative; top: 36px; margin: 0px auto; width: 448px; height: 47px;"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/836201/game-preview.png"></div>
<div id="preview-vs" style="font-size: 16px; padding-top: 50px; padding-bottom: 45px; width: 631px; color: white; text-align: center;">
<h4><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> @ San Antonio Spurs</b></h4>
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX<br>October 28, 2014, 7:00 PM Spurs Time<br>TV: TNT, RADIO: 1200 AM WOAI</div>
</div>
<p>Run it back!</p>
<p>
<link href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3608425/mustreads.css" rel="stylesheet">
</p>
<p>Whether you spent your summer intently following an eventful NBA offseason, catching some of the FIBA World Cup from your desk, or doing something, um, not-basketball-related, seeing the familiar faces of your San Antonio Spurs receive their championship rings tonight should get you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside again. Everyone returns from last year's team (plus promising rookie <span>Kyle Anderson</span>), poised to accomplish what many of us know they've yet to do in their history: win back-to-back titles.</p>
<p>
<link href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3608425/mustreads.css" rel="stylesheet">
</p>
<p>If the preseason is any indicator (note: it usually isn't), the team might need a bit of work if they're to begin their Chase for Seis. San Antonio went just 2-5 in its exhibition games, including a loss to Alba Berlin during their European road trip.</p>
<p>What should be more of a concern to start the 2014-15 season is, and you may have heard this before, <i>health</i>. Finals MVP <span>Kawhi Leonard</span> is, of this writing, expected to be back in the starting lineup (update: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/10/27/7080543/tiago-splitter-and-kawhi-leonard-out-for-opening-night">he won't be</a>) after missing the whole preseason with pink eye, while <span>Patty Mills</span> continues his recovery from shoulder surgery. <span>Tiago Splitter</span> is also likely to sit with a calf injury. It's nothing new for Pop to deal with, but surely not the conditions he'd want to begin a title defense under.</p>
<p>Those maladies will add to the challenge of playing against a Mavs team that not only pushed the Spurs to the brink in last year's playoffs, but comes back with an upgraded, deeper roster. <span>Chandler Parsons</span> was the splashy move over the summer, but they've also re-integrated <span>Tyson Chandler</span> (bringing <span>Raymond Felton</span>'s <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/_/id/11767992/dallas-mavericks-raymond-felton-start-suspension-healthy">gun-related suspension</a> in tow), signed <span>Jameer Nelson</span> to replace <span>Jose Calderon</span>, reminded people that <span>Charlie Villanueva</span> is still in the league, and had <span>Richard Jefferson</span> supplant <span>DeJuan Blair</span> -- now in Washington -- as the team's token disgruntled ex-Spur.</p>
<p>And, of course, there's still the ageless <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span>, who supposedly worked on a quicker shot release over the summer, along with <span>Monta Ellis</span>, continuing to enjoy life in Dallas as a slightly more efficient version of his former self. The two will be the team's main offensive options and make for a killer pick-and-pop combination whenever they share the court. The bench also returns <span>Devin Harris</span> and <span>Brandan Wright</span>, two guys who are able to make their mark, even in limited minutes. Veterans Vince Carter and <span>Shawn Marion</span> are now absent on the wings, but in their place are interesting young players like Parsons, <span>Jae Crowder</span> and <span>Al-Farouq Aminu</span>, who can all run the floor and play multiple positions.</p>
<p>The Mavs' near-upset last year was a product of many things: shrewdly switching on every Parker pick-and-roll; solid bench play from guys like Devin Harris; and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSVzjUP8dVs" target="_blank">a bonkers Carter three</a>, to name a few. With more pieces to play with on this roster, head coach <span>Rick Carlisle</span> should find new wrinkles with which to stymie the Spurs offense. Last season's Mavs were mediocre on D -- 22nd out of 30 in Def Rtg -- and Tyson Chandler, even at this stage in his career, will help shore up some of Nowitzki's shortcomings and anchor what should be an improved defense.</p>
<p>Where he won't be able to make an impact is where Dallas remains weak: on the wings. Ellis, Nelson and Parsons are not lockdown defenders, and should provide plenty of sieves for the San Antonio attack to exploit. There will be open lanes and a good amount of looks from three-point-range. If San Antonio is able to convert at their standard rate and avoid turning the ball over too much -- a big issue during the preseason -- points won't be hard to come by.</p>
<p>Whether or not Boris Diaw gets the start tonight, the Frenchman should be matched up with Dirk often in tonight's game, and should look to be aggressive against the 36-year-old. On the other end, he's done as good a job as anyone at containing the big German. There are always <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFYxLN5yvwg" target="_blank">some shots that you can simply do nothing about</a> but, as his volume has decreased with time, they're a bit easier to swallow.</p>
<p>This ought to be a close, competitive game between two rivals whose respective titles flanked the somewhat-short-lived Heatles dynasty. The cynic in me says to give Dallas the edge in this one as they look to avenge last year's loss, but I'm going to bank on the Spurs limiting their turnovers and the second unit outscoring their counterparts enough to get the Silver and Black on the right track to start the season.</p>
<p>Matchup to watch: Kawhi Leonard versus Chandler Parsons. The matchup to savor, of course, is anytime future HOF'ers Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki find themselves facing off against one another, but since they'll likely spend most of the time defending someone else, the more exciting one should be the two young wings going at it. If Leonard plays, his impact could really swing things in the Spurs' favor. If not, it's Duncan and Dirk -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWX7ZobOt3o" target="_blank">by de fault</a>!</p>
<table cellspacing="5" cellpadding="0" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
<p align="center"> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="204"><center><img style="width: 120px; height: 76px;" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/img/2.0/sect/gameinfo/teamlogos/DAL.gif"></center></td>
<td width="25">
<p align="center"><b>@</b></p>
</td>
<td width="205"><center><img style="width: 120px; height: 76px;" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/img/2.0/sect/gameinfo/teamlogos/SAS.gif"></center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="204">
<p align="center"><b>Dallas Mavericks</b></p>
</td>
<td width="25">
<p align="center"><b></b></p>
</td>
<td width="205">
<p align="center"><b><a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Antonio Spurs</a></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
<p align="center"><b>October, 28, 2014</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
<p align="center"><b>AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
<p align="center"><b>7:00 PM CDT</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
<p align="center"><b>TV: TNT</b></p>
<p align="center"><b>Radio: WOAI 1200AM</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
<p align="center"><b>Starters</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="204">
<p align="right">Jameer Nelson</p>
</td>
<td width="25">
<p align="center"><b>PG</b></p>
</td>
<td width="205">
<p><span>Tony Parker</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="204">
<p align="right">Monta Ellis</p>
</td>
<td width="25">
<p align="center"><b>SG</b></p>
</td>
<td width="205">
<p><span>Danny Green</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="204">
<p align="right">Chandler Parsons</p>
</td>
<td width="25">
<p align="center"><b>SF</b></p>
</td>
<td width="205">
<p>Marco Belinelli</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="204">
<p align="right">Dirk Nowitzki</p>
</td>
<td width="25">
<p align="center"><b>PF</b></p>
</td>
<td width="205">
<p>Matt Bonner</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="204">
<p align="right">Tyson Chandler</p>
</td>
<td width="25">
<p align="center"><b>C</b></p>
</td>
<td width="205">
<p><span>Tim Duncan</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
<p align="center"><b></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3706325/bloglinks.css">
</p>
<div class="blog-links-compact-container">
<h4>
<span class="blog-links-star"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3608771/star.png"></span> More from our team sites <span class="blog-links-star"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3608771/star.png"></span>
</h4>
<div class="blog-links-compact-link-container"><a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=bloglinks&utm_campaign=blogs">Dallas Mavericks blog Mavs Moneyball</a></div>
</div>
<p>For the Mavs' perspective, visit <a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" target="_blank">Mavs Moneyball</a>.</p>
<p><i>Update: I obviously underestimated the virulence of Kawhi's eye infection when initially writing this, and his absence will certainly influence Pop's gameplan tonight, but I'm keeping my prediction the same. GSG. </i></p>
<p>Game prediction: Spurs by 5.</p>
<p>As always <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" target="_blank" href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/pages/ptr-lexicon#tonydominatefisher" title="In a completely understandable mistake, CapHill, while creating a Game Preview, used a prior preview for a Lakers game as a template, and neglected to delete all of the previous player specific details. As a result, the preview read that one of the keys to the game was 'Tony Parker needs to dominate [Derek] Fisher' in a game against the Charlotte Bobcats. Cap has since embraced this particular gaffe, but it's original glory can no longer be seen since Tim C. gallantly edited the page. So all that remains are our references to it.">Tony must dominate Fisher</a>, and you can get your San Antonio Spurs tickets from Daniel Farias with Spurs Sports & Entertainment:</p>
<p>Tel: 210-444-5607 | dfarias@attcenter.com</p>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/10/28/7048133/game-preview-san-antonio-spurs-vs-dallas-mavericksBrunoPassos