Full-Court Press

Is Cuban laughing?

We've all heard Nellie's "better chance to get struck by lightning" comment and all the other comical stuff the laid-back coach has thrown out since arriving in the Metroplex. The Game 1 victory combined with two days off to talk about it has only provided more Nellie-isms.

It seems most around here still like or admire Nellie for what he did for the organization. Even find him pretty funny. Most, however, doesn't necessarily mean everybody.

Someone asked Nellie if Mark Cuban thinks it's all fun-and-games:

"He's probably one who's not enjoying it too much," Nellie said. "There's nothing I can do about that."

-- Jeff

Lighter side of Avery

Is there such a thing as a lighter side to the intense, jaw-clenched coach the Mavs call the General?

"It's the playoffs -- you know how that goes," Devin Harris said. "He's full, ready-to-go, probably on one or two hours of sleep. It's the opportunity to get us better and he knows how important this game is."

Greg Buckner took a more diplomatic approach, saying Avery laughs just like they do outside the lines.

-- Jeff

Nellie sticks with same 5

Who knows what the Mavs' starting lineup will be come tonight's Game 2. Maybe Diop starts, maybe Damp does or maybe neither.

One thing is for sure, and Nellie's been preaching it this entire time:

"I'm going to start the same team no matter what so it doesn't matter really," Nellie said.

When asked if he expects Avery to come with a different starting lineup, Nellie said: "Yeah, probably."

-- Jeff

Back at the Bay

When the Mavs head to Oakland for Friday's Game 3, they can expect a crazy scene. In the city that spawned freakish RaiderNation, Warriors fans are pumped up for the first playoff game back in the Bay Area in 13 years. Think about that, a lot of these guys playing today weren't even in high school then.

"No matter what happens tonight we're going to be fired up," Nellie said. "I mean our fans will be fired up, there's no question. They're pretty excited about what we're doing. I think they love our team. I think that was obvious toward the end of the season. We had great fan support and they helped us get where we are."

-- Jeff

Mavs not so loose?

The Mavs are typically a loose bunch of guys. But, they've admitted that just maybe they entered Game 1 too intense, too geared up for a postseason that they've determined can only end with one outcome: the NBA title.

They've had two days to sit on the surprising Game 1 loss. That's meant plenty of film study, practice, more film study and talks with the General.

After Wednesday morning's shootaround in preparation for tonight's Game 2, Greg Buckner said these two days have had the team singularly focused.

"We understand that this is a game that we've got to win," he said. "We can't go down 0-2 and back out to Oakland after loosing the first two games at home, that's kind of tough to regroup. We're more focused, more determined. We're normally loose, but right now you can't be too loose because that can get you in trouble."

-- Jeff

Dirk is the MVP … according to GMs

NBA general managers voted Dirk Nowitzki as this season’s MVP, edging out former teammate and reigning two-time MVP Steve Nash, according to respondents of the 2007 NBA.com GM Awards Survey. This may be a good omen for Dirk. The official MVP award will be announced sometime during the playoffs.

In the exclusive survey of league GMs, Nowitzki received 17 first-place votes and 8 second-place votes for a total of 109 points.  Nash finished second in the voting with 82 points and the LA Lakers guard Kobe Bryant finished third with 21 points. Five points were awarded for first-place votes, three for second-place and one for third-place.

NBA GMs also picked Avery Johnson as Coach of the Year. Toronto’s Sam Mitchell won the real coach award yesterday. Complete results of the survey are posted here on NBA.com. Additional results of the survey include:

·        Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets - Defensive Player of the Year
·        Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns - Sixth Man Award
·        Kevin Martin, Sacramento Kings - Most Improved Player Award
·        Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers - Rookie of the Year
·        Bryan Colangelo, Toronto Raptors - Executive of the Year

-- Art

Game 5 tickets

These are the ticket scenarios for a potential Game 5 on Tuesday at American Airlines Center...

If Mavs win Game 2: Tickets for Game 5 will go on sale starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday. 

If Mavs lose Game 2, but win Game 3: Tickets will go on sale starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

If Mavs lose Games 2 and 3, but win Game 4: Tickets will go on sale starting at 10 a.m. on Monday.

INFO: If Game 5 is necessary, tickets priced $12 and up will be available and purchase is limited to four tickets per person. There will be approximately 1,000 tickets available. Tickets will be available simultaneously at mavs.com, via phone at 214.747.MAVS and at the AAC South Box Office.

-- Art

Nellie knows Dirk

Al Harrington said G-State's success in holding Dirk to 4 of 16 shooting in Game 1 came about because they worked hard to prevent Dirk from catching the ball in his comfort zone, at or near the elbow of the free throw line, where Dirk's nearly automatic. Nellie provided the strategy.

"He (Nellie) knows his comfort spots," Harrington said. "We know that if he catches it on the elbow or he catches it right there at the free-throw line, you're done. We watched him all last year in the playoffs get 40-a-game on that one play. That's the biggest thing, we've got to make him catch it in other areas."

Can it really be that simple? Surely other teams have all tried this approach on the impending MVP.

"I don't think other teams have done it because every time I watch him on TV, he's catching it in the same spot," Harrington said. "We sat and watched the highlight films on him, he's catching it in those same areas no matter what teams we're doing.

"By us fronting him, that's going to make him push himself a little bit further than where he wants to catch it. He wants to catch it on the free-throw line. We're making him catch at the 3-point line, it's a big difference. And for him to get to the free-throw line, he has to take three dribbles."

And if Dirk has to dribble, the quick, active Warriors defenders feel like that plays right into their strength -- getting steals and running the court for easy layups.

-- Jeff

Do the Mavs go small or tall?

Which way do the Mavs go in Game 2 tonight at the AAC? Who knows. Avery and the boys certainly aren’t tipping their hands.

“Our fives are a big part of what we do offensively and defensively, so we definitely need them to play in the game,” Jet Terry said. “I’m not the coach. I don’t do the rotations, but hopefully so.”

Fair enough. So what about it, Coach? “We’ll continue to try to make the best decisions that are in the best interests of our team that gives us the best chance to win,” General said diplomatically.

This much is true: Erick Dampier played only 2 minutes Sunday. Gana Diop, the more agile and effective of the two against G-State, logged 16 minutes, but got into foul trouble.

“I know if I wasn’t in foul trouble, I probably would have played more minutes than I did,” Gana said. “I can’t worry about my minutes right now. Every time I get in there I just have to be active against their smaller guys.”

Diop and roll

It's always more fun to play than sit, so Gana Diop, the Mavs' 25-year-old 7-foot center is hoping he gets the call more often than the 16 minutes he played in Game 1. Of course, he's got stay out of foul trouble. If he doesn't, that's big trouble for the Mavs, who apparently feel like Dampier won't be able to keep up with the breakneck pace. Plus, no one's really exactly sure how healthy Damp's strained right shoulder is. Before Game 1, Damp said he's pain-free and ready to go. He played 2 minutes in Game 1 as Avery went to his own small-ball lineup.

Diop said he thinks he can be effective against the Warriors and especially against 6-9 Al Harrington who plays center.

"I feel like I can move my feet, keep him in front of me," Diop said. "I felt I did a pretty good job of that. I have to keep doing that so I can help the team throughout the series."

If Diop gets the start in Game 2 or even plays the dominant role at center off the bench, Diop knows what he has to do:

"Rebound, block shots and set picks, that's my job," Diop said. "Get offensive rebounds, set the screens, roll hard, catch the ball inside, finish and be aggressive on the offensive glass."

-- Jeff