If I remember correctly, he was one of the main reasons the Mavericks took the Spurs to 7 games, and he's capable of going off at any time. What do you do to contain him?
ariza and brewer will take turns on Monta. I think Harden will check Parson and terry should give Rondo a hard time.
Doesn't Harden guard Ellis? Probably have to put someone else on him- I could see Carlisle having Ellis driving all day to get Harden in foul trouble. Then again, vice versa, right?
I'm concerned about Ellis's speed and the Mavs setting screens. If only Nick Johnson was good enough to be a starter, he's by far the best perimeter defender on the team.
This is one of the reasons why I'm worried, with D-Mo and Beverley out, we're gonna be pretty shorthanded defensively.
Monta is a live or die type guy. If he's making those mid-range jumpers, there's not much you can do about it. With Dwight in the paint, I'm comfortable thinking he won't be successful getting to the rim. Otherwise, you just hope Ariza can get a hand in his face. I'd much rather have to answer "how do we stop Monta?" than "how do we stop Harden?"
This would be the perfect series to whip out the (no literal PG) Harden-Brewer back court. Harden guards Rondo, Ariza on Parsons, Brewer on Monta. Brew would kill em on the break.
My instinct says let Monta go off and contain the rest of the team. He shoots a low percentage so let him shoot and stop - Tyson from getting off rebounds - Dirk from getting the ball - Parsons from driving - rest of the team from shooting - Rondo from driving Unfortunately our weakest defenders are our guards, so seems like we'll see a lot of scoring in the paint by Rondo & Monta as well as Tyson Chandler due to offensive rebounds and lobs
We also have great rotating bigs and relatively athletic wingmen in Brewer and Ariza so I think Rondo beating our PGs isn't a huge deal. Having Smith go one on one with Dirk a few times could be beneficial. No better way to tire out Dirk on offense by making him play defense.
Ariza, Brewer, Harden can checks Monta. Harden can check Parsons. Ariza, Brewer, Harden, Smith, or TJ can check Dirk. I think Pablo and JET can stay with Rondo. Even with the injuries I think the Rockets have enough to guard their best players.
inb4 Monte goes off for 50 points on us like LMA I will be so so sad if we lose the series like we did last year
I say we keep doing what we do best: force the ball handler into the teeth of our defense and traps. With Dwight back looking very good defensively, our perimeter defenders will be able to concede some drives, limiting his damage from mid range and deep.
I am tempted to throw Clint and even KJ in to make it difficult for him. He is at his best attacking the rim and then get whatever he wants. Take away the rim, let him shoot the jumper. I would guard him like how the Blazers guarded harden last year. Lock a guy on him at priemeter and have a shot blocker wait for him at the rim. We have both.
