MAVS SINK FREETHROWS, SPURS IN 4TH - (MAVS WIN 113-110, SINK 49 STRAIGHT FREETHROWS)

Sacramento Bee ^ | May 19, 2003 | Associated Press

[Mister Magoo]

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - The Dallas Mavericks missed their first free throw and made their final 49. Yep, 49 in a row.

That superb free throw shooting - along with a few defensive gimmicks from Don Nelson's book of tricks - was how the Mavericks pulled off a stunning comeback and beat the San Antonio Spurs 113-110 Monday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

[texas booster]

From Mike McAlister's column in the DMN ....

If the Western Conference playoffs are decided at the free throw line, then the Mavericks have a big advantage.

Not only is Dallas the league's most accurate free throw shooting team, but none of the other playoff teams in the West comes close. Minnesota is ninth, Utah is 17th and Sacramento is 19th.

While the Mavericks' Big Three each ranks in the top 20 in free throw percentage, the league's hottest shooter at the line is in Sacramento.

Point guard Mike Bibby has connected on a franchise-record 51 consecutive free throws and hasn't missed from the line since March 20. Should he remain perfect in the Kings' regular-season finale Wednesday against Utah, he will enter next season still chasing Micheal Williams' NBA record of 97.

? Williams, a Baylor product, was perfect from the line starting with 18 games left in the 1992-93 season, then carried over his streak to the first three games of the next season.

I must admit to being surprised at the outcome.

[des]

nice job--spelling losing...noone, no one, nobody, seems not a single soul spells it that way.

[TheOtherOne]

The best part of the offseason will be watching Shaquille "All this basketball is really interfering with my rap and movie acreer" O'Neal and Kobe "The Universe revolves around me me me!!!' Bryant make excuses about losing.

What a sad statement about your life.

[TheBigB]

You're right. It's really not that important. Thanks for set...

Oh wait. Your opinion means nothing to me. Never mind.

[TheBigB]

Just depends on which one you like best, I suppose.

[TheBigB]

Your right about that. ;)

[dfwgator]

If your in Texas, how do you decide which team you want to win?

Dallas is more Republican than San Antonio.

[MattAMiller]

Wow. I gave up on it and flipped over to the first of the 9 billion hours of American Idol Fox is going to run this week. Sorry I missed it.

[TheOtherOne]

Oh wait. Your opinion means nothing to me. Never mind.

So then you will reply to me how many more times?

Thought so

[Mister Magoo]

Here's the breakdown of ROAD teams that won Game 1 of the Conference Finals:

2002 - Western Conference Finals, LAL wins Game 1, wins series.
2001 - Western Conference Finals, LAL wins Game 1, wins series.
1999 - Eastern Conference Finals, NYK wins Game 1, wins series.
1995 - Western Conference Finals, HOU wins Game 1, wins series.
1991 - Western Conference Finals, LAL wins Game 1, wins series.
1989 - Eastern Conference Finals, CHI wins Game 1, loses series.
1988 - Eastern Conference Finals, DET wins Game 1, wins series.

In the same time period, from 1984-present, in the Conference Finals, if the ROAD TEAM wins Game 1, it goes on to win the series 85.7% of the time.

[TheBigB]

What a sad statement about your life.

[TheOtherOne]

Awe shucks, are you still waiting for your team to win?

Goodnight kid

[TheBigB]

Goodnight child, don't forget to let Mommy know you're off the 'puter. Now go make poopy and put your jammies on.

[Michael.SF.]

Now that the L.A Fakers are gone

And the Bulls were also fakers?

I always think the game can be enjoyed more when people forget their petty jealousies.

I bet you would settle for three rings, in four years, which ever team you are rooting for.

[JustPiper]

Dallas is more Republican than San Antonio.

But Steve Kerr is a Spur ;(

[Ben Chad]

UNBELIEVABLE

Go Mavs

[NittanyLion]

I don't care who the team is, you don't "fake" 3 consecutive World Championships.

They certainly faked one last year, courtesy of the refs of course. But that's nothing new...

[NittanyLion]

I always think the game can be enjoyed more when people forget their petty jealousies.

I think rivalries are what makes great sports entertainment. Playing your hated rival always makes for a more intense and fun-filled atmosphere.

In most areas of life I'd agree with you wholeheartedly. Not sports, though.

[Charliehorse]

Bradley blocked a couple of shots and intimidated the Spurs inside game including Duncan. Bradley is well over 7 ft tall andis a good shot blocker.

[TheBigB]

I don't hate the Lakers, really. Well, not the current ones anyway. Growing up in the 80s as a rabid Larry Bird fan, I naturally developed a keen hatred for both the Lakers and Sixers. And since Nowitzki reminds me a good bit of LB (I especially love the cheesy goatee--he looks like a DIE HARD villain), my allegiance is now with the Mavs. Paul Pierce has, however, rekindled my interest in the Celts, although the Vin Baker trade was a disaster of epic proportions. The Mavs are my favorite team now, although Duncan and Robinson are class acts; so I wouldn't be outraged if the Spurs took the series. Regardless, I think it'll be a fun series to watch, although it probably won't be as fast-paced as the Kings/Mavs series (that 141-137 Double OT game should be played on ESPN Classic constatntly.)