Agreed -- Chuck does a great job on Dirk. The problem is that Dirk is a flopper extraordinaire and Chuck is pretty foul prone, so even if Chuck does get that assignment I don't expect it to be for lengthy periods. Also, if Dirk's shot is on, he'll just shoot right over him and there's nothing Chuck can do to stop that.
Chuck's individual defense has dissapointed me lately. Maybe it's because he's had to play more center recently and he's just so undersized. I hope he's focused for the Mavs game. He's played pretty poorly the last couple games.
Rockets will have to play a mix of zone and one on one against Dallas. Right now, there is no one on Rockets team can guard Dirk one on one and totally take away his game. Dirk now added the dimension of attacking the rim, while in the play off series with Rockets, he is mainly a very good jump shooter. What's worse is that now he is literally "untouchable" --ref would give him free throw left and right. So I say play zone, take away the inside game. Mixed with some one on one against Dirk by Shane just to confuse him a bit...
I'd box-and-one against the Mavs, using Battier as the "one" manning-up against Dirk. That said, any zone we play against Dal is asking for Josh Howard to get 20 offensive rebounds.
Battier on Dirk is key. His pesky defense of chasing, harrassing and staying in front of him will likely frustrate him. Granted, Dirk has scorched Battier in the past during the 05/06 Playoffs but that was at Dirk's peak when he was absolutely unstoppable -- in their USA vs. Germany matchup this summer it was a different story. If Battier can stay in front of him and limit his ability to drive all the while contesting shots, we should be alright in regards to that matchup. Dirk can be contained and takes his trademark fadeaway jumpers when frustrated -- let's hope that happens.
I think only Bat Man can try to stop Dirk, and it must be, you never know, this guy can do more than expected. really like Bat now, a lot.
yao would make things a hell of alot eaiser for us, but he is not here...I don't think we can beast this team without yao..I think he is our answer for dallas and san antonio.
Our best matchup: Deke - Dampier. (pretty self explainatory) Dirk - JHo (Who cares who guards dirk, dont run around tmac all night and get him tired for no reason. Let dirk get his he will anyways). Josh Howard - Battier (Ya Battier will take Josh Howard cuz Battier can shut him down). Harris - TMac (ughh.. don't like this matchup but we clearly have an advantage over them on offense. Very likely AND I MEAN VERY LIKELY, we will see greg buckner starting. There is no reason for Avery to get killed on offensive end with no one to guard Mac, Harris has no business starting here, who can he really guard? He would get killed by Battier or Mac). Terry - Alston (Terry will get his. Whatever no big deal). I think thats best matchup mostly because I believe buckner will start and I figure let Mac get a crappy player like that we need his legs for offense not D.
personally, I think terry and dirk are the keys to win the game against them. We only have one shane and he can't guard both of them. this is the game where vspan can shine and help us with terry. I think JVG will first put shane on dirk and see how shane matchup with dirk. if all fails than JVG will place shane on whoever is hot after dirk. Dirk is Dirk, JVG may try a heck a dirk with our PFs. I think rockets need to limit and eliminate the rest of the mavs beside dirk. one dirk will not win the game. if we can eliminate teh rest fo teh mavs we got a chance to win.
Buckner will/would get owned just as badly as Harris. I think we'll see a lot of Josh Howard on TMac and Devean George getting big minutes along side him.
nowitzki doesn't scare me, it's terry that does. That cat beasted on us in 04. Terry is the true balla on that team.
Interesting. All the different opinions about who should guard Dirk just tell me that he is a difficult matchup for any of our defenders. I have to laugh at anyone who thinks Juwan can defend Dirk and even slow him down. I think Dallas would love for Juwan to lock up on Dirk all night.
Do what we did last time against them. Crowd Dirk, cause havoc on the defensive end for them and make their heads spin. We had success with jump shooting team in the last 10 game. If we can limit Dallas to take jumpers, we have a chance. But then Dirk does drive to the basket a lot now, and Howard is pain in the azz. We need Deke patrol the paint like he is the king.
Battier and Tmac are excellent guys to cover Dirk. Quickness, length and ability to get around the perimeter had been shown as more important than size or strength versus Dirk (just see last years playoffs). Hayes and Howard can help here and thre, but they are not as good 1 on 1 match-ups than Tmac or Battier (longer, quicker). It will be interesting to see if Dallas goes small (Dirk at the 5) or keeps Damp/Diop in the line-up all game. Against Yao they can't go small, but they could without him. Either way, we can go small, our Howard more at the 5 than the 4. I predict to CLOSE the game (if close) we see Howard, Battier, Tmac, Head and Alston. If Wells or Snyder is playing really well than Head or Alston plays opposite in the 1 spot--but Battier and Tmac handle forward duties. Battier and Tmac get the Dirk cover, the other one gets the easier Josh "I am good but a total butthead punk" Howard cover.
Doesn't it make sense for the Rockets to go small to match the quickness of their guards? I don't think JVG wants McGrady guarding Terry or Harris. I think we'll start Alston, Head, McGrady, Battier, and Mutombo.
Just had to bump this so I could apologize for jinxing us. Devean George played more minutes tonight than in all but 3 other games this season, and basically had his best all-around game of the season. Sorry
