2014 NBA Playoffs
Western Conference Quarterfinals – Game #2
#8 Dallas Mavericks at #1 San Antonio Spurs
Spurs lead Best of Seven Series 1-0
AT&T Center – San Antonio, Texas
Wednesday, April 23, 2014, 8:05 pm Eastern, TV: NBA TV
Opening Line: San Antonio -7 1/2
Current Line: San Antonio -8
Opening Total: 198
Current Total: 199 1/2
Opening Money Line: Spurs -360 / Mavericks +295
Current Money Line: Spurs -405 / Mavericks +325
The San Antonio Spurs are looking for their fifth NBA champi0nship in the last 15 years and first since 2007. They opened up the playoffs Sunday with a 90-85 win over the Dallas Mavericks. It was the 10th straight win against their Northern in-state rivals for the Spurs. San Antonio had the NBA’s best record during the regular season and have home court throughout the playoffs. Game Two between the Spurs and Mavericks is Wednesday in San Antonio before the series shifts to Dallas for games three and four starting Saturday
In Sunday’s game #1, Dallas led 81-71 in the fourth quarter. However, San Antonio then went on a 14-0 run to take a lead they would never relinquish. The Spurs would go on to win by five to protect home court in game one. Mavericks’ forward Dirk Nowitzki had one of the worst playoff games of his career with only 11 points on 4 of 14 shooting from the field. He must play better if Dallas has any shot in game 2 or the series. Tiago Splitter and Boris Diaw split the defensive coverage on Dirk and harassed him all day into taking bad shots.
Dallas is coached by Rick Carlisle. The Mavericks lost 2 of the last 3 games to end the season, including a 106-105 overtime loss at the Memphis Grizzlies to close out the regular season. Dallas and Memphis were tied for the #7 spot going into that game. Dallas had won 6 straight road games before the current two game losing streak. The Mavericks are 45-38 ATS and the total is 45-38 this season.
Dallas is outscoring teams 105-102 this season. The Mavericks are #8 in scoring and #20 in points allowed. Dallas is shooting 47.4% from the field and 38.4% from 3 point range. The Mavericks are #4 in field goal shooting and #2 in 3 point shooting. Dallas is #3 in free throw shooting at 79.5% from the line. Opponents are shooting 46.4% from the field and 35.9% from 3 point range. Dallas averages 40.9 rebounds per game and opponents average 42.8 per game. The Mavericks are #26 in rebounds. Dallas averages 23.6 assists, 13.5 turnovers, 8.6 steals and 4.4 blocks per game. Opponents average 22 assists, 16 turnovers, 7.8 steals and 3.5 blocks per game.
Forward Dirk Nowitzki averages 21.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The first-ballot Hall-of-Famer passed Oscar Robertson to become the 10th leading scorer in NBA history recently. Guard Monta Ellis averages 19 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Guard Vince Carter averages 11.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Guard Jose Calderon averages 11.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Forward Shawn Marion averages 10.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Brandan Wright, Devin Harris, Samuel Dalembert, DeJuan Blair and Jae Crowder will also get significant minutes.
San Antonio is coached by Gregg Popovich. The Spurs have gone 5-3 in their last 8 games after a 19 game winning streak. San Antonio lost 2 straight games to close out the regular season including 113-100 at home to the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday. The Sours rested their starters in the last two games because they had already clinched the #1 seed and home court. San Antonio is 45-38 ATS and the total is 44-38-1 this season.
San Antonio is outscoring teams 105-97. The Spurs are #6 in scoring and #6 in points allowed. San Antonio is shooting 48.6% from the field and 39.7% from 3 point range. The Spurs are #2 in field goal percentage and #1 in 3 point shooting. San Antonio is #4 in free throw shooting at 78.5% from the line. Opponents are shooting 44.4% from the field and 35.3% from 3 point range. The Spurs are in the top 10 in both categories. San Antonio is averaging 43.3 rebounds per game and opponents average 42.2 per game. The Spurs average 25.2 assists, 14.6 turnovers, 7.5 steals and 5.2 blocks per game. Opponents average 20.3 assists, 14 turnovers, 7.8 steals and 4.7 blocks per game.
Point guard Tony Parker averages 16.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game. Forward Tim Duncan averages 15.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game. Forward Kawhi Leonard averages 12.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Guard Manu Ginobli averages 12.3 points, 3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1 steal per game. Guard Marco Belinelli averages 11.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Guard Patty Mills averages 10.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Boris Diaw, Danny Green, Tiago Splitter, Cory Joseph, Jeff Ayres, and Matt Bonner will also get significant minutes.
Dallas is 5-1 ATS against Southwest Division teams, 8-2-1 in first round playoff games, 40-14 after a straight up loss, and against teams with winning home records, 48-19 in road games, 5-2 in Wednesday games, 4-11 after a cover, and 1-5 on two days rest. The road team is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 games in this series. The underdog is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings between the Mavericks and Spurs.
San Antonio is 5-1 ATS against teams with winning road records, 4-1 in first round playoff games, 13-4 after a straight up win, 6-2 after failing to cover, 8-3 at home, 15-6 overall, 9-4 against teams with winning records, and 21-10 on two days rest. The under is 9-3 in the last 12 games in San Antonio between the teams. The Spurs are 12-4 ATS in the last 16 against the Mavericks.
Duncan had 27 points and 7 rebounds Sunday Parker had 21 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, a steal and a block. You can criticize Popovich for resting his aging stars at sometimes inopportune moments for the TV networks, but he certainly produces results. Popovich won his third NBA coach of the year award earlier this week. As mentioned Dirk Nowitzki needs to play much better for the mavericks or this will be a short series. I think Dallas might take a game at home, but the Spurs win tonight to take a 2-0 series lead.
