Save the confetti and the dogpile for when you actually win something meaningful. Not that complicated.

they do the confetti after every win. these guys are young, they get excited. remember when Dirk was young?

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The good takeaway from this game is, if I'm Dallas and I can push this series to a game 6, I feel pretty damn good about my chances.

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it could go two ways, either it goes 7, or OKC sweeps. seems whenever the lower seed just misses out on stealing game 1, those are the two options

In response to Yu Darvish

Yeah. Tell that to the 2004 Lakers after .4 happened, since they didn't win the title.

Please. Get over it.

edit--of course that was minus confetti since it happened in SA...still a lot of celebrating though

[This message has been edited by aggie_2001_2005 (edited 4/28/2012 11:40p).]

Dallas will likely get swept or win Game 3 and take it to five. I expect them to lose by 10+ next time out. Especially if Dirk shoots like that again.

There is a lot of time between games this year. There won't be a lot of carryover from one game to another. Dallas played well enough to win and just made one dumb move at the end (fouling Ibaka) and fell victim to a good touch shot .

The only reason I picked OKC to win this in 5 is because I didn't think they would play stupid for such a long stretch of game. They showed they are willing to do that though. So it could become a series if Durant and Westbrook keep taking lazy shots.

[This message has been edited by aggie_2001_2005 (edited 4/28/2012 11:46p).]

I thought Game 2 was Monday night.

it is, but then game 3 isnt' until Thursday, you know, to help the team recoup from that long road trip

3 games in the next 7 days. That's nothing compared to the regular season grind.

Great game to watch, and I look forward to the series.

It will be interesting to see how dallas responds

.

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@MFollowill: The Mavs have lost all 3 games in OKC this season despite leading at some point in final minute of each one

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it's becoming a trend. And really the Mavs have struggled to close all year. All their luck was used up last year.

All credit to the Thunder for persevering tonight. Westbrook completely locked down on Terry in the 4th - he could not any separation. Harden I believe was involved in all 3 late Dirk turnovers. Durant was locked in - they really should have doubled him on that last play.

I don't know that they needed to double him, because Marion had done a great job on him all night.

They sort of did double him right at the last second. He went up and had nowhere to go with two outstretched arms in his face.

It was as good a defensive play that I've seen on a last shot. Durant just gave it the right amount of force to drop. He probably only makes that shot 1 out of 3 or 4 tries.

The defense on the last play was perfect. Durant just made a tough shot. Gotta just take the lump and move on to game 2.

Even if it doesnt go in from what I remember I thought OKC was in a good position for the tip in at the buzzer.

Game 1 round 1 and OKC needs confetti on a last second bounce in against a bunch of old dudes

Finals contender indeed

Mavs executed the last play perfectly. That's the shot you want to force Durant to take. But the problem with a 10% shot is the guy still makes it 10% of the time.

You are right he was doubled late, and I think that's what left either perkins or ibaka open for the tip in, which would have happened like Yu said.

And again, the confetti falls in okc even if they beat the bobcats, so nothing new.

Also the difference in the game ended up being Ibaka's 3 pointer.

OKC had to win this hand with 9-4 off suit and hoping for runner runner.

I'm liking the Mavs chances more now.

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No. They played it right. You have to leave time in case you miss and have to foul. Also, if you get the clock too close to zero, Dirk might not get that foul call.

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Disagree only based on the type of shot Dirk took. He stood there and let the clock run down and then made a move to the bucket. If the foul is not called (or at least he doesn't get hacked), then he makes the lay-up. Nonetheless, the Mavs still almost pulled it off and it took a shot to bounce the right way for OKC to win.

[This message has been edited by agwin12 (edited 4/29/2012 9:21a).]

Dirk needs to quit being so damn careless with the ball. The refs are not going to bail you out on clean steals by help defenders. The Mavs spacing on offense looked bad at times there in the 4th quarter.

I agree about the spacing. I even commented on it toward the end of the 4th, when they kept running Dirk on a curl toward the elbow right next to where Kidd had the ball on the wing. It set up those turnovers. They need to put Kidd on the opposite wing to make that entry pass to Dirk.

Up 7 with 3 minutes left, we were in perfect position to steal a road game. Hope we can come back and take game 2, would be big.

I also thought, after finally breaking through, Dirk would start to get the fouls. Dude is being mauled before he catches the ball and as he has it, 20 feet out. Its ridiculous.

For those wondering why Dirk drove with so much time still remaining, see the Memphis meltdown. If Griffin gets that rebound and is immediately fouled with like 10 seconds left then they get another possession and he could easily miss the free throws

Anyone questioning dirk going when he did, does not know a damn thing about the game of basketball. You go then, so if you miss, you can foul and have 8+ seconds on the ball. Worst case scenario, you are down 3 points with time enough to run an actual play, instead of a catch, shoot, pray situation.

Well color me impressed by what the Mavs did in Game 1. Stopping short of one good play by Durantula, they took the crowd completely out of the game.

I'm a Mavs fan for Round 1 and it makes me feel bad for the team knowing how much of an impact Odom may have had.

I didn't believe it before Game 1, but I think this is going to be a long series especially if the Mavs keep playing this well.

Mavs had their chance. That game was theirs to lose, and they lost it.

Much like Memphis, but much less severe, I think the Mavs lose tonight by 10+, go down 2-0, effectively putting the series out of reach.

They almost took away OKC's momentum. Had they won game 1, they would've had a real shot at winning the series.

Mavs win tonight.

Ken Mauer
James Capers
Zach Zarba

Are the officials.

Not a big fan of Joe Mauer's cousin.

Pre-game ref complaining? Bold strategy, cotton.

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Pre-game ref complaining?

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I'm not even of fan of either team. That's what's funny. I guess it gives me license to complain about the officiating at the conclusion of the game.

Just a non-fan of Ken Mauer.

[This message has been edited by Iowaggie (edited 4/30/2012 3:06p).]

Let's go Mavs. Huge game.