ANY demonic thoughts that the Spurs may have left it all in Dallas following two perforated gut checks that leave them one loss away from officially being dethroned need to be instantly exorcised.

If the Mavericks think the barbed-wire barrier they cleared Monday in taking a 3-1 series advantage was razor rigid, wait until Gregg Popovich’s wounded players get a whiff of Avery Johnson’s huntsmen in Game 5.

If Dallas thinks its riddled target was a road kill in Game 4, imagine how ornery and obstinate the Spurs figure to be in Game 6.

And I think we all know whose side the percentages (and the refs) are on should a Game 7 in San Antonio be necessary.

OK, you’re right; only eight teams in NBA history have ever rebounded all the way back and then some from a 1-3 deficit. What makes me believe the Spurs have any chance to overcome those odds?

Because the past has nothing to do with what went on Monday night, what’ll happen on the court tonight, and what’s going on in the resilient minds of a championship squad secure in its superiority and whose wagons are circled in adversity. The Spurs can’t play any better than they did in Monday night’s remarkably entertaining and combative overtime loss. In fact, it’s hard, I concede, to believe they’ve played a better game all season.

Tim Duncan, Tony Parker (if you can overlook his five turnovers, five missed free throws, including two killers late in OT), Manu Ginobili and Michael Finley (out to prove he’s worth the money the Spurs are paying him) performed at an unbeatable level. Yet they got beat by the drama class of Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse and Devin Harris.

What makes me think the Spurs, knowing what a harrowing commitment it takes to win three playoff games in a row, aren’t in the mood to acquiesce?

Because, experience tells me, a team that’s seething isn’t about surrendering.

The Spurs are fuming at themselves for malfunctioning on costly late-game handoffs in the last two losses, and not swallowing up crucial rebounds.

Duncan is furious with himself for failing to hit the game-winner, a fairly uncomplicated jump hook from 12 feet out at the end of regulation in Game 4.

Popovich is outraged by numerous questionable calls, but stopped short of verbally challenging referee Dick Bavetta immediately after the 123-118 defeat, waving him off instead. He’s also probably shell-shocked he’s the one who has had to adjust (going with short people and Duncan at center to counterbalance the Mavs’ quickness) when it has been the other way around since (this is Pop’s line) the breakup of the Soviet Union – Shaq & Kobe.

Duncan feels he got stiffed when assessed his sixth foul with a few minutes left in Game 3 – sending Nowitzki to the welfare line – and there’s every reason to second his consternation.

Bruce Bowen feels he got jobbed with 8.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter of Game 4, again putting Nowitzki in perfect position to stalemate matters. Afterward, he went directly to the midcourt area where David Stern (on border patrol) was seated and shouted, “This is terrible!”

Ginobili appeared exasperated, having fouled out in only 26:42, though I’m unsure who upset him most, the refs or Popovich, who didn’t start Manu for the second straight game, ahem, loss. I can’t remember Ginobili playing better – 4-for-4 from 3-point range, four steals and at lest four other near-thefts.

An insolent Duncan offered a one word answer about his team’s missed free throws and was gone. Parker and Ginobili made themselves unavailable for comment. The talking portion of the series is over. It’s time to stop playing around or get slayed.

There are some forces that defy advice, anticipation and an alarm system. The Spurs are one of them.

No matter what acute state of readiness the Mavs are in, no matter how well Avery Johnson has primed them, no matter how much they think they know, they’re not going to appreciate how hard it to finish the job until they’ve suffered through it.