MAVERICKS MOVE ON

Talk about a back-and-forth series.

After the Mavs took a 3-1 lead, many in Dallas thought the series was over.
– [Dallas Morning News]

After the Spurs stormed back to even the series in Game 6, people expected San Antonio to be doing the celebrating after Game 7.

But thanks to a mighty push from Dirk Nowitzki and Desagana Diop in the OT, the pendulum swung back in the Mavs direction last night as Dallas dethroned the Spurs on their homecourt 119-111. Back in the Big D, they celebrated at bars and restaurants.
– [NBA.com, Houston Chronicle]

Color Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram impressed:

"When there had finally been overtime survival, when the Spurs had finally been overcome, the flashback over the Mavs’ 26 years of existence says this: Biggest win ever. Best big game team performance ever. Most impressive playoff series win ever."

Yet, if it wasn’t for Dirk Nowitzki’s three-point play to tie the game moments after, what seemed to be a three-point dagger from Manu Ginobili, Dallas media may have been humming a different tune.

Nowitzki drove to the basket, drawing a foul while converting a lay-in. The First-Team All-NBA Forward, who says he sings David Hasselhoff classics to calm himself at the line, nailed the bonus free throw.
– [Dallas Morning News]

"I don’t know how the ball went in," Nowitzki said about the field goal in the Dallas Morning News. "Manu hit my hand. It was a lucky bounce."

Dallas Morning News columnist Eddie Sefko thinks the hoop gods had something to do with it.
– [Dallas Morning News]

GOOD TO THE LAST DIOP

When the Mavericks signed DeSagana Diop this summer, many questioned the acquisition. After all, this was a guy who was nearly invisible in Cleveland and showed no consistent progress there. He was coming off the worst season of his career in his fourth year in Cleveland, averaging 1.0 points per game on 29 percent shooting.

On Monday night, Dallas’ move proved justified, as Diop made several key plays in overtime and finished with seven points, four rebounds and two blocks in 10 minutes despite losing his starting job to Erick Dampier that night.
– [Dallas Morning News]

Writes Mike Finger in the San Antonio Express-News:

"His biggest moments came in overtime. After he took a pass from Terry and made a dunk to put Dallas ahead, he knew Duncan would be looking to respond. But this time, Diop had a surprise for him. ‘I had been bumping him, and he thought I was going to bump him again,’ Diop said. ‘But I backed up.’ The classic "pull-the-chair" move caused Duncan to commit a traveling violation, and the Spurs never tied or led again."
– [San Antonio Express-News]

WHAT’S LUCK GOT TO DO WITH IT?

To the Spurs, it certainly played a role.
– [San Antonio Express-News]

Maybe in a few years from now, they’ll be able to look back and smile about all of this. Maybe.
– [San Antonio Express-News]

SUNS ECLIPSE CLIPS

The Suns may have been favored, but it was the Clippers everyone was talking about in the other Western Conference semifinals series. The Clippers had advanced to the second round for the first time in 30 years, and were the media darling, the one that NBA fans were rooting for.

It’s not a complete surprise then that in getting past the Clippers in Game 7 with a 127-107 win, Steve Nash felt like the Suns were proving people wrong.
– [NBA.com]

"Every day is redemption for us, being an underdog team in some ways," Suns star Steve Nash said. "We take that stance every time we take the floor."
– [The Arizona Republic]

The Suns have proved people wrong all year. Nobody thought they’d return to the Western Conference Finals minus Amare Stoudemire, and now they have a chance to even go deeper in the playoffs this year than they did last season.

"We have a lot more guys who hang out together," Raja Bell told The Arizona Republic. "Last year’s chemistry was good but we’re maybe even closer this year. It’s the total package. Everyone hangs out together and we really enjoy being around each other. That’s a bonus and a fun part of our success."
– [The Arizona Republic]

Writes Paola Boivin in the The Arizona Republic

"This team continues to win games it shouldn’t, continues to make shots others wouldn’t, because of a will that is startling in an era of professional sports where individualism often trumps desire. (Steve) Nash, who finished with 29 points and 11 assists, defined the team’s effort. He entered the game with national analysts second-guessing his MVP crown. His multiple ailments, which he revealed Sunday include a congenital back condition that involves a slipping vertebra, have been the subject of much debate and raised questions about his ability to contribute in this postseason."
– [The Arizona Republic]

Three days rest helped that aching back in Game 7. Nash moved with much more energy than in recent games, and made 11-of-16 shots after going 2-for-18 from three in the previous five contests.
– [Washington Post]

Also catching fire was teammate Shawn Marion, who made only 3-of-22 three-pointers in the first five games, but knocked down five last night.
– [The Arizona Republic]

The Suns’ offensive explosion continued with Leandro Barbosa, who was 8-of-10 from the floor.
– [The Arizona Republic]

For the Clippers, sadly, it’s over.
– [L.A. Daily News]

But, even though the season is over, this team has arrived.
– [L.A. Times]