Rockets/Mavs: The Previews, Breakdowns and Picks Thread

Isn't he the same guy that accredited our 13 pt comeback against the Spurs as a 'defensive breakdown,' instead of a brilliant performance by T-Mac??

Kerr is worthless

 

Feed me Seymour!!!

I bet rocks will use all this to motivate them. I love being underdogs. Makes you play harder!!

 

Excellent analysis! I could not have put it better myself. I've maintained all along that it has been the elevation in the level of play by the Rockets guards that has propelled them into the playoffs this season so they will be the key to our success or failure against Dallas. Yao's demeanor and level of play will be the second key. It's going to be fun to watch that's for sure.

 

also though mavs might have a slightly better bench i dont think ours is all that worse.

 

realgm has rox in 7

realgm has rox in 7

Mavericks vs. 5. Rockets

This clash of Texan rivals will be the best series in the first round of the playoffs.

Jeff Van Gundy will try to play low-possession basketball and Avery Johnson is stressing defense unlike the Don Nelson days, so he will be obliged to avoid shootouts, but you know McGrady and Dirk will do what they can to bring it on. Dirk and TMac have already gone toe to toe in a scoring duel.

Yao Ming will take his game up a notch that we have yet to see. He will be fiery and Dampier will be unable to match him.

Prediction: Rockets in 7

http://www.realgm.com/src_fromtherafters/53/20050421/first_round_predictions/

 

Yes, it does.

 

Funny how someone (Kerr) who constantly praises the Spurs and their system/philosophy doesnt mention anything about defense. Rockets have the coach, system and track record to be able to put together a shut down defense and the scoring to boot. I think it will be a knock out, drag out series; but I think the Rockets find a way of winning in 6. The media is overlooking them again so they will shut them up as usual.

 

I don't know who will win this series. The two are so evenly matched that it's up in the year. Only three things are etched in stone.

1. Tracy McGrady will get his and a little bit more.
2. Dirk Nowitzki will get his.
3. JVG will have these guys ready to go. Like last year, it will appear at times as if we have 8 defenders on the court.

Everything else is up in the air.

 

ESPN: Legler says Rockets in 7

From Insider:

No. 4 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets

I may be crazy. I may be in the minority on this one. Dallas is deep, talented, and playing exceptionally well. But, I like the Rockets to move on in this Texas showdown.

I don't even know if my reasoning is sound. I just like the way the Rockets are playing on both ends of the floor. Tracy McGrady has destroyed the Mavs this year to the tune of 32 ppg and Yao should be a factor against a less-than-100 percent Erick Dampier. Plus, the additions of Mike James, David Wesley and Jon Barry give Houston a balanced offensive arsenal to compliment T-Mac and Yao. But the biggest reason I like Houston is they are great at dictating tempo and play outstanding half-court defense.

Dallas has enjoyed an MVP-type season from Dirk Nowitzki and has a loaded roster, but I am just going with my gut on this one. I love McGrady in a seventh-game scenario and that's where this one is headed.

Legler's pick: Rockets in 7

 

[FOX SPORTS]- Rockets@Mavs Preview

This article is written by Charley Rosen. He is the Peter Vecsey of Fox Sports. He's a good friend of Phil Jackson and I believe he was his assistant at some point. He's not been successful getting an NBA job, so he's been critical of the NBA during his career. I don't think he particularly likes JVG. With that in mind, I think this is as close to a praise about the Rockets as you'll ever get from him. He thinks both defenses are overrated, especially Dallas's.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3553934



Rockets vs. Mavericks: Which defense is legit?



During the regular season, the teams not only split their four head-to-head games, but were also 1-1 on their respective home courts. Aside from somewhat minimizing Dallas' home-court edge, however, none of these previous battles have much significance in the money games to come.



The Mavs' two wins transpired in early December — when the Rockets were struggling to integrate Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming with a cohesive game plan — and should be disregarded. The importance of Houston's lopsided 90-69 win on March 3 should likewise be minimized since both Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley were down with injuries. Both squads were intact when the Rockets trounced Dallas 124-114 back on Jan. 2, but in the existential world of the NBA, that game is also ancient history.

The most crucial development since the two teams last played each other is Don Nelson giving way to Avery Johnson, and the Mavs' newfound emphasis on defense. Forgive me, however, if I'm dubious. For a team to play good defense they require good defensive players.

Let's take a close look at Dallas' roster:


Erick Dampier can block an occasional shot, but has been in chronic foul trouble throughout his career. He does have the strength (if not the quickness nor the athleticism) to keep Yao from going off during the 20-25 minutes he'll be able to stay on the court.

Nowitzki plays defense with his hands not his feet, and has never been able to guard his own lunch.

When Jason Terry doesn't have the ball in his hands, he's always out to lunch.

Neither Keith Van Horn, nor Jerry Stackhouse has ever shown himself capable of defending anybody at any time.

Darrell Armstrong and his nearly 37-year-old legs can pressure the ball for increasingly shorter stretches.

Shawn Bradley is an excellent shot-blocker, but any pivotman with any kind of spin move can lose him in a hurry. Also, if a notorious powder-puff like Vlade Divac can K.O. Bradley, then even a reluctant warrior like Yao should dominate the middle.

That leaves Josh Howard (a long-limbed, active defender), and Michael Finley (who has the chops to be a stopper, but has grown soft around the edges in recent years) as Dallas' only reliable defenders. Both will have a chance to face off against Tracy McGrady. Since McGrady has evolved into the Rockets go-to scorer (with Yao mostly a secondary option) their effectiveness in limiting T-Mac to mini-points and mega-shots will likely decide the series.
Of course, Howard and Finley will need considerable help to accomplish this monumental task — especially in screen/roll situations. Since Yao sets most of the (moving) screens, simply switching defensive assignments won't do the trick. Aggressive double-teaming backed by quick and precise rotations are absolutely de rigueur. Also, the Mavericks' plentiful variety of zone defenses should be effective if used judiciously. Another anti-McGrady tactic will be to bop and bang him at every turn.

Dallas' bench can send more aggressive scorers into the fray (most notably Stackhouse and Marquis Daniels), while Houston's Jon Barry and Mike James are strictly (and incredible) 3-ball specialists. Stackhouse, however, is capable of unilaterally grabbing a ball game and turning it the Mavericks' way.

The Mavs want an up-tempo pace, and will therefore have to control both boards. That's why Dampier MUST stay out of early foul trouble.

The Rockets need to slow the game down; pound the ball inside; and have Clarence Weatherspoon, Ryan Bowen, and Scott Padgett be mercilessly physical with Nowitzki (who torched them for 53 points earlier in the season).

Could the series come down to which of the team's high scorers (Nowitzki or McGrady) has the highest pain threshold?

Dallas has by far the more explosive offense — one that's mostly predicated upon quick shots and individual creativity. Houston would seem to have a superior defense, but with Juwan Howard unavailable the Rockets are incredibly vulnerable at the power forward position.

Nevertheless, even though Houston yields about five fewer points per game than Dallas, this stat is somewhat misleading because the Rockets station-to-station game plan means fewer shots for both teams.

The series will be decided by whichever proves to be more viable: Houston's overrated defense or Dallas' chimerical defense.