Comments on: Mavs Make It Look Easy In Game 1

By: DirkDominates

DirkDominates — Thu, 19 May 2011 02:19:29 +0000

Dont kid urself saying Dallas played their absolute best and only won by 9. Dirk played at his near best. The Dallas team was only avg. And we still won by 9. Wait till ur dealing with 5-6 Mavs in Double digits and see how ur doing. Ask Kobe and the Lakers what this team can do when its really rolling. Dirk wasn’t “given” any foul shots! He earned them baby. The thunder was fouling him on the block trying to poke the ball away because if he turned around it was over. Swish!! He owned every player OKC threw at him. Including KD. Dallas is deeper, simple as that. We had our 6th man outscored ur whole bench. Yea the thunder stayed close, they still lost by 9. Wait until the Mavs of game 4 vs. The lakers show up and Terry and Peja start raining 3′s down while Dirk continues to own u guys while he sends player after player to the bench in foul trouble. What happens when u can’t get the group on the floor u need because guys have too many fouls to risk it. Your outmatched right now. But I do respect OKC and I love KD’s game. He’s no Dirk but hey, who is!? OKC is done yet, its only game 1, still a long way to go. Just think theyll need alot of luck to beat Dallas in this series. Mavs in 6, and that’s being nice.

By: Small wonder: J.J. Barea keeps finding and exploiting the seams (Yahoo! Sports) « Top Sports Hub

Wed, 18 May 2011 22:07:12 +0000

[...] Outside of figuring out how to coax Nowitzki into missing a shot, OKC beat reporter Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman termed finding an answer for Barea “the biggest thing the Thunder needs to do”: [...]

By: The Point Forward » Posts Court Vision: The latest around the league «

The Point Forward » Posts Court Vision: The latest around the league « — Wed, 18 May 2011 21:16:05 +0000

[...] The first line in Darnell Mayberry’s notebook column at The Oklahoman: “Serge Ibaka has to man [...]

By: David in Seattle

David in Seattle — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:38:17 +0000

@Grolgar, since when did NBA refs allow defenders to reach in and grab without getting called? Even your coach and star admitted the Thunder were too aggressive.

Too many fans around this league look at Dirk 5 – 6 years ago and assume he’s not grown at all as a player. Why is he the most unstoppable player left in these playoffs? Because he’s seen every kind of defense over the years and developed a way to counter it. Because his game has never been based on raw athleticism, so that experience has made his game stronger without a corresponding drop off in skill level. Because his will and desire is probably the highest among any superstars left in this playoffs. Try and stop it.

By the way, ask the string of superstars he’s left in his wake this season how they stopped him.

By: Small wonder: J.J. Barea keeps finding and exploiting the seams | theLoafter

Wed, 18 May 2011 18:24:33 +0000

[...] Outside of figuring out how to coax Nowitzki into missing a shot, OKC beat reporter Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman termed finding an answer for Barea "the biggest thing the Thunder needs to do": [...]

By: J-Rod

J-Rod — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:05:04 +0000

Sorry – I don’t think Ibaka could have played defense any better or smarter. He could have played more aggressive, but that would have only resulted in fouling out and sending Dirk to the line even more for freebies. Dirk was going to go off last night regardless of whether or not Serge got his hands up the first couple of possessions. You want Serge to crowd Dirk? Dirk is going to get EVERY call on the young Ibaka, especially the way the game was called last night. If he crowds, Dirk will draw a foul, whether its much of a foul or not.

By: jack0fspeed

jack0fspeed — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:53:38 +0000

Mavs fan here.

I disagree that Ibaka can have a big impact on Dirk. After watching Dirk dismantle all the capable defenders on the Blazers and Lakers, I don’t think anyone in the league can do much against him.

As far as the officiating goes, I think the Thunder would like to see every game in this series called the same as last night. Memphis pretty much showed that if you are allowed to be physical with Durant, he’s going to be a lot less effective. Meanwhile Dirk has learned the hard way how to handle that kind of defense (see vs GSW in 2007).

Anyway, I’m going to enjoy this series as it features 2 of my favorite players in the NBA (Durant and Nowitzki). Good luck Thunder fans.

By: Landon

Landon — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:54:59 +0000

Excellent analysis, Mayberry. Maybe you can teach Tramel how to write without the juvenile undertones and constant NCAA references.

By: Wednesday Bolts – 5.18.11 | Daily Thunder.com

Wednesday Bolts – 5.18.11 | Daily Thunder.com — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:33:20 +0000

[...] Darnell Mayberry: “Serge Ibaka has to man up. That’s what needs to happen if the Thunder wants to go to the NBA Finals. Getting past these Dallas Mavericks is far more complex than that. But, believe me, it starts there. Ibaka’s defense on Dirk Nowitzki from the opening tip sets the tone for the entire game. It’s a tremendous amount of responsibility, and one that Ibaka’s teammates and coaches will never publicly put on his 21-year-old shoulders. But if Ibaka lets Nowitzki get going early each night like he did in this first game the Thunder will never be able to contain him.” [...]

By: The Dirkanator

The Dirkanator — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:02:31 +0000

“OKC was attacking the rim aggressively. That’s why they got foul calls. Dirk got calls when guys were just standing behind him playing regular post defense. Get real, Dallasite. You guys played as well as you can and won by 9. Get ready for a long series.”

@ Grolgar, Obviously you’ve never actually played basketball. Ever heard of Reaching In? Or a Contact Foul? Do your research. The OKC defenders were having to practically hug and hang off of Dirk to try to stop him. Dirk was smart and knew he could draw a foul because he’s pretty much unstoppable as a shooter. It’s the same idea for someone who draws the foul by charging a lane and attacking the basket with defenders slapping your hands, arms or wrists. Dirk has his own method. And obviously it works. The OKC boys need to figure out how to stop Dirk without hugging him from behind.

And BTW, it’s a fact that OKC went to the free throw line more than Dallas last night.

Good luck in Game 2.

Go Mavs!!!