Yesterday, I wrote a blog talking about how this was a different Maverick team, and how I expected to see some fight from the 2009 version. Well, obviously that didn't happen. Also, I wrote about some keys to the game last night, and let's see how those worked out for the little Mavericks.

First, I said the Mavs would have to survive the first blow from the Spurs in the first and 3rd quarters. Well, San Antonio took an early 11 point lead after 1. After cutting it down to 9 early in the 3rd, the Spurs went on an immediate 8-0 run that put the Mavs out of it. The Mavs tried to counterpunch, but San Antonio was the team delivering the knockouts.

Also, I mentioned while Howard and Barea may not go for 25 and 13 again, Dirk and Jet would score more than 31 comibined in game 2. Well, somehow Dirk and Jet trumped my expectations and scored below 31, combining for 30. This WILL not work. Dirk and Jet have to show up at some point for the Mavs to have any chance.

Now to the Key stats:
1. San Antonio's 3-pt % - while the Spurs didn't go 11/14, they were 7/18 including timely 3 pointers from Matt Bonner in the 2nd qtr.
2. 2nd chance points - The Mavs had 21 of these in game 1 on 10 offensive rebounds. Well, Dallas had only 5 offensive rebounds and their first didn't come until 4:33 left in the 2nd quarter. This led to a grand total of 2 second chance points.
3. Free throws - they kept the Mavs somewhat in the game early, but there still seems to be a lack of free throws on both sides. San Antonio 0 - 14/17, Dallas - 20/23
4. Josh Howard - 25 points in game 1 to 7 in game 2. Howard was a non-factor in game 2. Some the credit goes to the Spurs and their defense, but it was a tale of 2 different Howards.
5. The +/- factor - this stat had the biggest swing game 1 to 2. Game 1 hero J.J. Barea was (+20); for game 2, he just happened to be (-21). That's a 41 point swing. Do you think the Spurs figured something out?? Also, I listed Michael Finley who was (-20) in game 1 but that skyrocketed to (+28) in game 2. That's a 48 point swing for the Spurs.

To me, the +/- factor just shows how different games 1 and 2 were which also gives me no idea how this series will shake out going forward.

The good thing for Dallas and their fans, the Mavs still got the split. It's still tied 1-1 and Dallas holds home-court advantage for now. Mavs fans need to be on their "A" game come Thursday night, but so do the Mavs.

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