Saturday Night Lights

The french open Roland-Garros, just started here in France. During two weeks, the best tennis players will compete for the final victory. In the year of 2006, the defending champ Rafa Nadal recovered from a horror start against World No. 1 Roger Federer to clinch his second consecutive Roland-Garros.

And in 2006, Dallas blew a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals. Are we up to a re-match ? Let's see that:

Dallas and OKC were ballin' on saturday night, from 3 to 6 am. 18,306 fans, dressed with blue shirts saying: the Thunder pride. First thought: why would you want your fans to wear the away color, and furthermore the opponent team's color ?

And we're up to a great defensive start by the Mavs, playing in this side of the court for the first time this series. Shawn Marion and Jason Kidd are running as it is 1997 again. Dirk blew up his first two possessions, but apparently it does not matter: 9-2 in the first 4 minutes. And here it comes, the +10 level. What is happening ? I think Kendrick Perkins is still recovering. Or maybe he is overrated after all. But seeing what Nick Collison provides off the bench, you have to sit the ex-Celtic. And Russell Westbrook is still badly-choosing his shots.

Ok, end of the first period. In 12 minutes, Dallas has managed to take the lead and now is up 27-10. DeShawn Three-venson scored more than the German. And I can't believe what I saw: he drove to the rim. Shocking ! If we continue this game, it will finish at 108-40.

And the beginning of the 2nd quarter is not different. Durant does not want the ball, he does not ask for it. And Westbrook lose it badly. James Harden is not in the game-2 efficiency. So Dallas continues its work inside (Dallas !) and take command with 35-12 and 9' left before half-time. 

But we all know the Mavericks and their well-known collapses. With the  2006 Finals or the Game 4 against Portland one month ago, Dallas has shown over the years that they could lose no matter what is the lead. Bingo, the Thunder is coming back. Slowly, but surely. The crowd is getting back in the game, but hey guys, the Mavs are still up 16.

Perk and Ibaka are not efficient offensively. But Durant has arrived at the arena just in time. And it's a HUGE poster on Brendan Haywood. Gosh ! With Peja defending on him, it seems Dallas is giving up easy baskets. And Haywood to say "he went up to floor 20. I stayed in floor 10. That's a great play. But we can't put Peja on Durant. We can call that a coaching error. We have to play team zone instead." Thanks for your share dude. But you just get posterized.

In the 4th quarter, OKC managed to close in by 10 points. Time out Mavericks. Nowitzki is not in the game. Durant is taking control of it. And Westbrook is on the court. Good choice by Scotty Brooks trusting his point guard, who is definitely a shooting guard. Because the guy is dominating Kidd, this time too slow to defend. And Durant is hitting big shot. Fortunately if you're a Mavs fan, on the other side of the court, Dirk came back from nowhere - 10 points in the 4th quarter. Driving on his weak side, taking advantage of the pock and roll situations. And you can't count him off: he certainly is the best clutch shooter in the league, and in the Playoffs. With Bron-Bron okay.

So, Durant is hitting, but not from long range. The first 3-pointer comes frome Russell Westbrook: the Thunder missed his 16 first. And now, the toll is 1/17. Durant is 0/8 from downtown. That is clearly bad shots selections. And we have to remember two quick shots taken without any opposition by D.Cook (why did he play this 4th quarter by the way ?) and Westbrook during the 4th. It was to close in by one possession and 3 points.

Because Dallas misses, yes, but the Texans wait the last second of the 24 second-shotclock. On the other side, the whole team defends at its best, with Chandler showing up as soon as Westbrook takes advantage on Kidd. Boom, Terry hits a pull-up jump shot, and Dallas is up 88-80. They won't worried after this one, OKC fouling as soon as they can. And the Mavs are barely missing from the free-throw line. 

Final score: 93-87

Westbrook: 30 points (8/20), 4 assists, 5 fouls and 7 turnovers

Durant: 24 points (7/22), 12 boards

Nowitzki: 18 points (7/21), 4 boards and 7 turnovers

Marion: 18 points (9/13), 4 boards.

After 2 hours and 27 minutes of playing time, Dallas takes back the court-advantage lost in Game 2. 

Next game on monday night. 

Jb - Posterdunk