Spurs-Mavs Series Has Deteriorated Into Riverwalk Rout

Until further notice, the rivalry is over. At this point, Spurs-Mavs is a Riverwalk rout.

The Mavs aren’t as good as the Spurs. No crime. San Antonio was a miracle Ray Allen 3-pointer from winning the championship last year and has the West’s best record again this year. The Spurs are elite. The Mavs are a work in progress.

The chasm between the I-35 rivals was on ugly display again last night in Spurs’ 112-90 victory. Make it seven in a row for San Antonio over Dallas, by a gaudy average margin of 17 points. The Mavs haven’t beaten the Spurs since March 2012, and really haven’t gotten close.

The Spurs rolled to 37 points in the third quarter, turning a decent game into a scrimmage between their Harlem Globetrotters and Dallas' Washington Generals. It was such a lopsided game in the second half that I swear even Gregg Popovich smiled.

And to think, once upon a time Dirk Nowitzki made a dramatic, driving three-point play in San Antonio in a Game 7 triumph that propelled Dallas to "The Finals."

This Dallas is hapless against the Spurs.

With Shawn Marion’s injured shoulder in a sling, the Mavs were without their leading rebounder and best defender. Dirk continued his trend of hobbling up and down the floor, then refusing to dribble more than a couple times before launching a shot. Without the danger of him dribble-driving all the way to the hoop, defenders are finding it easier to get in his grill and defend the Flamingo Fadeaway. He missed 11 of 14 shots against the Spurs.

And then there’s Jae Crowder, who has completely fizzled. He started the season with 15-plus points in three of the first four games, but has scored 10-plus just once in the Mavs’ last 20. Last night, he somehow played 28 minutes and came up with one rebound.

The Spurs pounded the Mavs on the glass, 55-32. Which is about as lopsided as this once intense series has been the last two years.

A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently writes a sports/guy stuff blog at DFWSportatorium.com and lives in McKinney with his fiancee, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.

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