Great Final Games

"[The Dallas Mavericks are] the deepest, most versatile team in the NBA. They have an answer to every question. They can play super big, and they can play super fast. They're always long and they always put a great shooting team on the floor."

"Right now, Phoenix is really, really good and I think San Antonio will have a great final 28, 29 games. Those three are a cut above everyone else now."
--Jeff Van Gundy, Head Coach of the Houston Rockets

I think Van Gundy is right, and the Spurs are off to a good start winning four in a row, including a big win over the Pistons right before the All-Star break.

But Van Gundy is being a bit coy, too. His Rockets are just 2.5 games behind the Spurs. The teams face each other March 3rd in Houston. By then, I expect the Spurs to have widened that gap to 3.5. Why? The Spurs play three games at home, while the Rockets play two at home and one road game in Orlando.

The big tests for the Spurs will come in the last two weeks of the season.

• 3/30 vs Utah
  
• 4/5 vs Phoenix
  
• 4/15 at Dallas

We'll know by then what the Spurs are made of, and whether this could be another championship season. It's going to be a helluva ride.