Thought #1

Greg Popovich may go down in history as the most over looked NBA coach ever. For the past decade the guy has not only built a franchise which consistently wins, he's done it by pulling talent from some of the dark corners of the world.

Yeah, everyone goes giddy over the Phil Jacksons of the basketball world, his Zen masterness and his rings. Do you know what the difference is between Phil and Pop? The same difference there is between the guy who goes out and buys the hot rod and the guy who hunts through the local junk yards and builds one from the ground up. It's the difference between watching some kid from the OC zip around in a Camaro just off the lot and watching Chip Foose rock out one he restored from the ground up.

One of those guys really knows the beast, because he put it together piece by piece while the other just jumped in and started steering. Unfortunately the first of the two, has rarely gotten the appreciation he deserves. Maybe making one last run with a banged up Manu, old Timmy, and a handful of guys no one knows will earn him some cred, but it's doubtful.

Thought #2

Speaking of the Spurs - Mavs series, despite their being down 3 games to 1, Shawn Marion claims he sees "no fat lady."  Of course I guess if anyone had time to look for one Sunday it was Shawn, after only playing for 25 minutes and spending much of the 4th quarter on the bench.

Listen Matrix, you might want to spend less time worrying about finding overweight women singing and more time paying attention to Popovich's new underground talent in George Hill, who dropped 29 on you Sunday. Might want to do a little less talking up the team to the media and spend a little more time worrying about what to do when Tim and Manu actually show up for a game.

With all the talk of this being the year Dallas could finally get over the hump, finally break out and make a run at the Lakers, it seems this is just another typical Mavs team. Yeah, they have some different faces, but they also have the same kooky owner and lukewarm playoff presence.
 
They are like a roadside flare. They are burning hot while their on and everyone takes notice of them, but try lighting your path with one for the long haul and, just like the Mavs, you'll just be sitting at home sooner than later.

Yeah, sorry Matrix, I think I do see Rosie O'Donnell on the horizon and she appears to be holding sheet music.