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Posted on Fri, Apr. 18, 2008

Verdict on Dallas Mavericks split from two TV judges

By RAY BUCK

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

NBA analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy are divided on their views of Mavericks vs. Hornets, a first-round Game 1 matchup (6 p.m. Saturday) carried on ESPN.

Van Gundy prefers the herky-jerky Mavs to the upstart Hornets, who have the superior seeding (No. 2) and the series' only MVP candidate, Chris Paul.

"Dallas will beat New Orleans in the first round," Van Gundy said during an ESPN conference call, then added. "[But] I just don't think the Mavs are as good as they were two years ago."

Van Gundy's list of reasons: lack of depth, lack of young legs, lack of defense, lack of rebounding, lack of a half-court offense. Still... he's got Mavs over Hornets.

Said Jackson: "[The Mavs] are nowhere near as good as they were during their [2006 NBA Finals] run. So I pick New Orleans to beat Dallas in the first round because of the problems the Hornets present offensively."

So, we can wipe that "whew" off our lips just because the Mavs avoided Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

"I think you have to be careful what you ask for in the playoffs," Jackson warned. "The Hornets are a talented group... a dangerous team... [and] I think inexperience can be an advantage. They don't know just how big the moment is."

Meanwhile, the Mavs have lost eight of their last 10 playoff games and need to feel good about themselves again.

"The Mavs don't play with the same vigor at the defensive end... [and] they're very predictable offensively," said Jackson, adding one more damning thought.

"The only real way the Mavericks have of scoring the ball consistently is pushing it in transition. But come playoff time, the game slows down."

Don't forget the East: "I actually think the two best [NBA] teams could be in the East this year. I wouldn't be surprised if either Detroit or Boston won the championship." -- another Van Gundy opinion.

Spurred on: "I'd be a season-ticket holder in San Antonio as long as Gregg Popovich runs that organization," said Van Gundy, whose favorite Spurs players to watch are Manu Ginobili ("I can even watch Ginobili on the bench") and defensive whiz Bruce Bowen.

"But I think it's critical for Tim Duncan to elevate his level of play. He's had more inefficient scoring nights than I can remember ... [and] he's a below 50 percent shooter right now."

If Duncan fails to draw serious double-teams, the Spurs' spot-up shooters can't set their feet to launch 3-pointers -- and that's not good, Van Gundy explained.

Don't-miss TV: KERA/Ch. 13 will broadcast Through a Cat's Eyes, a 60-minute documentary on the storied history of the Fort Worth minor-league team (Monday 8 p.m.; re-aired May 5 at 10 p.m.). Included are rare photos and footage of past baseball greats, as well as aftermath video of the famous '49 fire at LaGrave Field.