I had planned on getting this out a little earlier today, but then these little things called life and work intervened. I hate when inconsequential stuff like that gets in the way of my blogging. Here are my post-Game 4 thoughts on the Dallas Mavericks-San Antonio Spurs second-round series...

San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks

Top Gun

Watching the game Monday night I thought of the movie Top Gun. Maybe it was the way Devin Harris was soaring down the court? Perhaps it was Michael Finley fearlessly flying in for a dunk? It possibly could've been that Tim Duncan's cool, calm demeanor and three rings reminded me of Iceman. Or Avery Johnson's Viper-like instruction? Or Greg Popovich ending up with egg on his face like Jester. Regardless, can't you see Duncan as Iceman rolling up on Dirk Nowitzki (who, as the greatest Dallas Maverick ever, has to be Maverick) and Jason Terry (Goose) with Manu Ginobli by his side (he's obviously Slider, he even has the nose)...

Iceman: You two really are cowboys.

Maverick: That's right! Ice... man. I am dangerous.

Everyone credits Phoenix for bringing back high-octane offense, but it was really the Dallas Mavericks. Where do you think Steve Nash developed his style of play? Nowitzki, Terry, and the rest of the Mavs are indeed dangerous now that they are have added solid team defense to their attack. The Mavericks' speedy brand of small ball is giving the plodding, methodical Spurs fits. It almost seems like the Spurs didn't take the Mavs seriously until now, which is too late. The Spurs messed around with the Sacramento Kings and let that first-round series go to six games. Meanwhile, the Mavs swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games. Dallas was well rested and ready to run San Antonio's old and tired legs out of the playoffs. That is exactly what they are doing. Right now, the Mavs are playing the best basketball of any team in the playoffs.

You have to give credit to both Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban and Head Coach Avery Johnson. First off, Cuban and management made the unpopular decisions to let Nash and Finley walk. These moves paved the way for the success they are now enjoying against the defending NBA Champions. Nash and Finley leaving town alleviated a roster logjam and allowed younger and more athletic players like Jason Terry, Devin Harris, Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels to get plenty of burn. Also, the acquisition of DeSagana Diop has paid dividends. Duncan still put up big numbers, but Diop really did an excellent job against Big Fundamentals. Diop's defense during the overtime period, where he blocked Duncan at least once, was especially impressive. This younger, more athletic version of the Mavs also possesses both grit and toughness, something that Finley and Nash seem to lack at times. Veterans Nowitzki and Jerry Stackhouse are partially responsible for this, but I look at this team's toughness more as a reflection of its coach.

The Little General

At first I was unsure how Johnson would fare as a Head Coach in the NBA. He is relatively young, lacking in stature, and has a cartoonish voice that is hard to take serious. I wondered at first if his players would write him off. That hasn't happened at all. Johnson has put his foot down and commanded that his players adopt the hard-nosed style that he was known for as a player. The Mavs have responded and are playing the smart, scrappy ball that Johnson used to while remaining potent offensively.

Johnson's in-game coaching has also been rather impressive. His Game 2 decision to insert speed demon PG Devin Harris into the starting line-up-a move that forced the Spurs to also go small--was a masterstroke. San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Greg Popovich hasn't yet found a way to counter Johnson's bold move.

Pop has let Johnson dictate the style of play in this series, which has effectively eliminated the size advantage that the Spurs should have. In Game 4, Spurs big men Nazr Mohammed, Rasho Nesterovic, and Fabricio Oberto combined to play one measly second. Spurs F Robert Horry played less than 10 minutes in the contest. That means that for nearly 40 minutes Pop left Duncan on an island, forced to fend off the cutting and slashing Mavs' offensive bombardment by his lonesome. Bad move, Slick. You can't beat the Mavs by utilizing the Mavs' own style of play. I'm shocked that Pop hasn't used Mohammed more. Mohammed has the offensive repertoire to eat Mavs C Erick Dampier's lunch offensively. For now, Johnson is eating Pop's lunch.

For instance, what was Pop telling his guys when they were down 5 with 30 seconds left? The Spurs refused to foul. What were the Spurs thinking? That Dallas was going to simply give them the ball back? (By the way, I am shocked at how poorly teams have handled late-game situations during these playoffs. It's just embarrassing.) Mostly, veteran G/F and shutdown defender Bruce Bowen is to blame for this. He selfishly refused to foul because he didn't want to pick up his sixth foul and foul out. Pop and his boys seem unstoppable when they are up and everything is clicking, but not when things get tough. Don't believe me? Then why have Pop and Duncan together never recovered from a 2-1 series deficit? Obviously, after winning two of the last three NBA Championships the Spurs think that maintaining the status-quo will be good enough for another championship banner in the rafters. It isn't.

While Pop is staying put and employing the same tired Spurs formula, Johnson has been aggressive. Johnson has allowed Terry to shoot at will, a decision that has given J.T. supreme confidence. Terry hit one big shot after another in Game 4, the sickest being that rainbow jumper he drilled over Duncan. Another bold move is Johnson having Harris push the ball at a frantic pace. Sure, this resulted in some bad turnovers, but this bit of strategy accomplished way more good than it did bad. Not only did the Mavs get a ton of transition buckets, but also the pace Harris set seemed to wear down the Spurs. I could go on and on about the genius of Johnson in this series, but I won't. This is all you need to know-the guy is a lights-out coach. He's one of the best in the business. Easy.

My Forecast

Mavericks in 6... Although the Spurs could be eliminated in Game 5 if Popovich doesn't make the necessary adjustments. Honestly, I think the Mavs have a chance to win it all. It's a pity that the Mavs don't have Keith Van Horn healthy right now. Maybe he will be healthy by the NBA Finals (That's right, I'm already predicting a NBA Finals birth for the Dallas Mavericks... Taylor Hicks, whoops, Mark Cuban can finally rejoice!).