Seagoville's own It shouldn't. It's not their fault. It's mine. I choose to watch them. I choose to keep the volume up.
However, it seems there is a real change between this year and past years. There even seems to be a decided difference between the way they called regular season games versus playoff games.
The team of Mark Followill, former Dallas Maverick (Derek Harper, Brad Davis) and Jeff "Skin" Wade are such over-the-top homers that even I, a fan of the Dallas Mavericks, can't take it.
Again, this is my fault.
Maybe they've always been this way. However, I don't think so. The way they react to the most minor of Mavericks success compared to a Trailblazer success (or mistake) is overwhelmingly a lot like cheering.
Case in point: In the second half, the Blazers had a shot and Marcus Camby gets the tip-in, mainly by going over Jason Kidd's back. This was a missed call. The Mavericks telecast just goes crazy, indignant that it was made.
Within a minute, the Mavericks have the ball, Jason Kidd fakes a three and gets the defender in the air. Trying to make contact, Kidd leans forward but misses the defender. In a semi-panic of not getting the call, his pivot foot moves in an obvious travel. The Mavericks telecast giggles at the missed call.
Granted, Mark Cuban's probably threatened to fire them if they don't root openly. I would even suggest this is why Bob Ortegal is not around anymore even though he drove me crazier with the pro-Mavericks rhetoric than anybody, although he'd also stand back and called it as he saw it.
This is no indictment on Followill or Wade. I think both are fine to often really good. I could live with out the barrage of hip-hop/pop culture razzamatazz and off-beat metaphors from Wade. Otherwise, just commenting on a game, they're fine.
As for the game, what a difference 3-0 makes than 2-1. At 3-0, the Mavericks have killed any hope the Blazers had and the series is effectively over. At 2-1, there's the glimmer of hope. The Blazers finally got that win under the belt. They kind of know what it takes.
Remember, it's only a series when the home team loses a game.
And where there's still hope, there's always doubt.
Notes:
1. The Mavericks were not serious about winning that game with J.J. Barea getting significant fourth-quarter minutes. He is a liability no matter what he's doing.
2. Eventually, friends, the outside shooting's going to dry up. See: Last night. Portland's close out was much better. Thus, Peja Stojakovic and Jason Kidd when 3-12 from the three-point line. If you've watched the Mavericks the last 10 years, you know how this will end if they don't drive to the basket.
3. Kidd and Tyson Chandler had miserable games. Chandler's failed to really establish himself in this series. At times, he's been fine. But never great. Kidd has to becoming a facilitator if his shot's not going down.
4. Dirk Nowitzki this series: 26-63 FGs.
5. Mavericks missed 10 free throws. Ridiculous.
6. Jason Terry was great. His technical was not great even if Portland missed the free throw. He threw Nic Batum.
7. Referees are on to Barea's flopping. Won't come as easy otherwise.
8. Makes me vomit: According to Twitter, Mark Cuban got into a verbal fight with Portland fans. Then he was bailed out with extra security. Pussy.
