tmac is the best option to guard Dirk....he has the length and athleticism to do it. If he stepped up and took on that assignment from tip off of game 1...man, that would be some inspirational ish....everyone else would have to go balls out
I imagine T-Mac would take some of the defensive assignment on Dirk as well, not the whole game but when needed. Other than that, it'll probably be up to Bowen to contain Dirk...I do think we are underestimating Padgett a bit though. He's not going to shut him down, but as long as we play good defense overall Dirk is not going to beat us by himself. I'm just really not that scared of Dallas. We can handle them at every other position, and they're not a great defensive team. Also, they really don't have much of an answer for Yao if he can be consistent.
You sir, are very very cold saying it that way. Sir, you are also very very accurate. Spoon will start unless/until Dirk destroys him too much. Spoon won't make that jumper in the playoffs. The playoffs will magnify the huge liability he is. If Padgett has a good shooting series, that could be a major key to us pulling this thing out. Maybe he can do to the Mavs what Matt Maloney did to the Sonics a few years ago.
I think the Spoon vs Dirk matchup hurts us alot more on the offensive end than it does on the defensive end. Its not like Juwan Howard was playing even decent defense on Dirk (remember Dirk scored 50+ pts on Howard not on Spoon). On defense i think that Padgett and Bowen (even Spoon for a few minutes) can guard Dirk about as well as Howard did. However, on offense we are going to need Spoon to hit the mid-range jumper and for Padgett to keep the defense honest by hitting those 3s. His shot seems to have been coming back and he has played great the past 2 or 3 games so hopefully he can keep it up. If we get 10-14 pts and 8-10 rebs out of the PF spot against the Mavs then i see the Rockets winning in 6 games.
No one could stop Shaq last year. So, let Shaq to play one on one. If Dirk is unstoppable, stop others from scoring. Moreover, use all PF to wear him down.
I think that's the idea. Play him tight, make him drive to the paint, and if you are going to foul him, foul him hard. This is the NBA playoffs, not a church league. Let's see if Dirk is willing to grit it out for a whole series. * not normally a fan of thuggery, but our defense against Brand last night scared me.
Dirk has been the kind of player that if he starts hot he can dominate. He must struggle at the start of the game. He tends to disappear in the second half if he misses shots. He is one of the very best rythmn shooters in the league. Not streak shooter. Rythmn. If he starts stroking he will hit it from all over the place. And my deal is he can definately get over the top of Spoon. The hand in the face will not work here. We must deny him the ball and then quickly double. Whoever is guarding has to be able to fight through picks (over) mostly and quickly.
Duely noted, but I think Padgett and Bowen do have something to contribute on opposite sides of the court. Simply, we cant stop the BIG GERMAN without Juwan, so let's just foul the hell out of him or pull a Rick Fox and try to get his head out of the game...Either way if he doesn't score 30+ i will be shocked. About Spoon( well i just wish something good happens when he is on the court becuz he sucks)
Problem is that it would probably hurt his offensive game in return since he'd be expending so much energy guarding Dirk.
I get the feeling that spoon's gonna exceed all our expectations and show something during this series. Do us proud, Spoon.
Let's forget about points. I believe Spoon will hold Dirk under 45% shooting overall from the field in this series. There
I think the Padgett should start or come off as 6th man but that being Deke and mike james job i think Padgett although he cant gaurd Dirk he can open up the 3 point shot and he spreads the floor.
The Rockets have to find some kind of a way to put a lot of pressure and harass Dirk. Then again, we don't have the personnel to do that. Attention on the Deck!!! The next bright idea please come forward.
Sacrifice our best Power Dancer. Send her to train under the CIA/FBI/KGB, then send her to Dirk the night before the game... She will eat Dirk alive!... Com'on! Be a team player!
