The uncertainty of time has calmed itself. We're almost positive now that the parallel between the 2003 Dallas Portland playoff series and the 2011 Dallas Portland playoff series isn't as blurred as earlier thought, and in fact, sits quite perpendicular. With a respect and admiration for the NBA past and present, we reflect on two Game 4s, each won by Portland, each resulting in different vibes in two different series' in two different years of the Dallas and Portland first round playoff rivalry.
If there was one form of time altering during the Trailblazer's 84-82 Game 4 win, it was Brandon Roy playing like a healthy superstar again (maybe for the last time?). Roy's 4th quarter play should go down in first round history as one of the most heroic of all time. Hardly getting off the bench in game 3, Brandon was entirely unstoppable on Saturday evening, scoring a point per minute on the floor (24 in 24). His hesitation moves put scared thoughts in Dallas's defense, as Shawn Marion, Jason Kidd, and Jason Terry each found themselves eating Roy's bad-knee dust. The home-team Blazers outscored Dallas by 20 in the final frame, taking hard control of the series with back to back wins.
Perhaps 2003 injuries to Scottie Pippen, Derek Anderson, and Arvydas Sabonis were blessings in street clothes, as it gave new chances to both future and former NBA stars. Zach Randolph, inserted into the starting unit, played 41 minutes, finishing with 25 points and 15 rebounds. Damon Stoudamire, a troubled young man for years and years, was able to put it all behind him for one special night, starting and dishing it out 11 times to go with 17 points. It was a valiant effort by the whole squad, both healthy and hurt. Pippen was out, but he used his knowledge to assist suspect coach Mo Cheeks, and during the crucial 3rd quarter run, Pippen handed out pep talks as a motivational prince. Portland destroyed the Mavericks in Game 4 of the 2003 first round series.
Perhaps Bonzi Wells' 45 point explosion in Game 2 of the 2003 series was a poison in disguise, as he stunk up the joints in games 3 and 4. In Game 4, one that Dallas was trying to win to sweep the series, Wells shot just 6 of 21. His volume shooting hurt our eyes, but playoff basketball is a team oriented theology that takes place on two ends, and Bonzi's defense helped seal the first win of the series for old Portland. Wells recorded 5 steals in the game, and Portland as a unit forced 15 Dallas turnovers, a very uncharacteristic total for the 2003 Mavs.
As for 2011 Dallas, they played with the stuff of horrible choke artists, something they've become pretty accustomed to over the Dirk Nowitzki years. Being up by 24 points late in the 3rd quarter, Dallas stopped playing aggressive basketball. The blame can't be pointed to any one player, however, as Dallas's star, we expect more from Germany's favorite son. As the game clock ticked, Dirk found himself with the ball numerous times in the 4th quarter, only to pass it out of single coverage like a hot potato. Twice, with point guard Andre Miller guarding him in transition, Nowitzki was, for some strange reason, reluctant to do work with the mismatch. Jason Terry is always capable of hitting shots in bunches down the stretch, and he made good on a few important jumpers, but Dallas lacked any and all predatory instincts. Without the spark of toughness, Dallas flailed to one of their worst collapses of all time (actually, if this were another team it would be easier to call it one of the worst collapses, but as it is Dallas, it's hard to fit this example in with the large mass of Maverick playoff failures).
Perhaps the 2011 Game 4 loss can be chalked up to old age, or bad coaching, or both. With Jason Kidd obviously approaching menopause, his decision making down the stretch resembled that of a paunchy, drunk frat girl. He bobbled, overshot, slipped, and spilled. As a result, Dallas lost the game in sad sad fashion, giving the poor Dallas faithful a taste of the awful medicine that they've grown to hate over the years. Where can Coach Carlisle look to fix things? Portland has the momentum, yet Dallas has the home-court advantage. Misery is a powerful emotion, and the NBA brings buckets of it. For once though, Mavs fans wish it were headed to the other city.
With Game 5 approaching fast, both then and now, Dallas is in two very different scenarios. Although it's dangerous, 2003 Dallas doesn't feel the sense of urgency, and as a result, they're bound to find themselves back in Portland for a Game 6. 2011 Dallas limps home losers of a game they should have won. In the past, the Mavericks have been unable to overcome mental defeats such as Game 4's collapse. Kidd needs to stop this junk and play basketball. Stop playing the clock, Kidd, and play ball. If only the time portal could somehow affect Kidd, but he was too busy playing MVP level point guard for the Eastern Conference Nets back in 2003, and the history between Dallas and Portland just a mystery to what the Kidd did .
As for the Blazers, they'll ride into Dallas all knotted up and loving it. They still have a first team caliber superstar in LaMarcus Aldridge, and if the glue guys can play like they normally do, it's not looking so hot for Dallas's boys in blue. As time moves forward, games become finalized, and as of today, we sit and think, "will we find ourselves at the American Airlines Center for Game 7?" It happened in 2003, and it sure looks like it could happen again in 2011. Two games need to be split to finalize the time parallelogram. It begins Monday night in Texas.
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