Why do we worry about Dirk go to post? Isn't that what we want, to slow the game down, to make Mavs' a half court team? You cannot stop all your opponents options, but you can try to take away their best option, which is Dallas' transition game in this case. Let them post, they won't score over 90pt without transition game.
daoshi, you are right. We want him in the post. We have options to defend it. Our main goal is to guard the basket, limit the fast-break, limit the PnR, and then Dirks post plays. We can't let Dirk get comforable. I think what will happen is that Dirk will try to find his outside players -- if we double -- and they still start hitting those outside shots. It could make it hard for us to win the next game. Dallas will be depending on this. I actually think this is an acceptable risk over the long run.
Oh SNAP! TheFreak, stop sniping. Rudy is gone. Live in the now or go join Old Man Rock in the corner.
Keys to game two: Mavs- 1. The Mavs are going to attack the paint with a vengence, going right at the big men. 2. They will post Dirk, he must be doubled quicker. 3. They will use a smaller player to double Tracy quicker. Some triple teams on Tracy also. They will not let Tracy beat them this game. They will be more physical with Tracy. Rockets- 1. They must guard the paint. A loose zone may be needed to clog the paint. 2. They must double Dirk quicker. He was tentative game 1, he will shoot quicker and more often and he can get it going if we don't double quicker. He was off game 1, don't expect that game2. 3. They must rebound and avoid turnovers. Dallas will push their transition game more. 4. They must avoid foul trouble. Expect Dallas to go right at players and look for calls, beware the flop and the fall on the drive. 5. Rockets must weather the first half, expect Dallas to try to get out ahead early and run, run, run. Try to tire the Rockets. If the game is within 5 pts in the middle of the 4th qtr. I think the Rockets will win.
More often than not, not just Tmac, Yao but when just about anyone else has the ball on the strong side, the guys on the weak side has the responsibility to go to 3 spots: baseline, ft extended (45 degree angle like where Jon was), and top of the key. In fact no matter what the plays are, there are 5 spots on the court that you want the 3 or 4 guys who do not have the ball to get to: the 2 corners, the 2 ft extended and top of the key. This is why you sometimes see the player with the ball blindly throws the ball to these spots and expects someone to be there.
The Mavs can only beat the Rockets if they make their outside shots. That includes Finley, Stackhouse, Terry and Dirk. As for Dirk, he won't score a bunch posting up even if we put Bowen or Tmac on him. Our interior defense with Yao and Mutombo will prevent most of it. If I know Jeff, he will take the lesser of the 2 evils and let Dirk shoot outside and take away other things. We won't play a slow defender on Dirk (Spoon, Padgett, more than likely not Yao, Deke). You don't want to give up outside shots to him, then play up close and give up points on his drive as well. We don't want to double team (unless he comes inside), and give up open shots for others. If Dirk scores 30+ but noone else goes off big, we will be ok.
With them doubling on McGrady and still an eye on Yao, Scott Padgett must play more. Padgett at the 3 point line will prevent Dirk from leaving him to help double on our 2 best players. This game, they will play 5 on 4 and Ryan Bowen will be exposed.
Well, there's something that will completely shock the Mavs in Game 2. After a made basket by the Rockets when the Mavs put in their back-up PG, we full-court press the hell out of them. Dallas is not known for their superior ball handling and it could lead to a ton of easy transistion buckets.
I think this too. Avery apparently is unable to make quick adjustments. If Padge gets in there and goes bombs away, we could just shell shock them. I think RyBo has done a better job of hitting the midrange J, though, which is just a bonus. He did have a couple of layups that just got flicked back by the defense. Everything in the quotes thinks the Rockets D has the advantage. The Rockets have basically forced the Mavs to turn Dirk into a playmaker- against Garnett or Webber and probably Duncan, we'd be toasted with this defense. Dirk just isn't a very good playmaker compared to other elite 4s. My call: Get a big game from Wesley or Sura. I have a feeling this could be a big game for Sura.
Nice post. Every once in awhile, as we all know, Sura can go off, as can Wesley. Tonight would be a great time for Sura to go nuts. He's due. Man, I'm looking forward to tonight's game. The first win was huge, but considering how the Mavs play on the road, and how we tend to play at home (which should change with the crowd we'll have for this series, along with the ClutchFans who'll be insane... wish I could be there!), a win tonight is pivotal. We win tonight, and the Mavs will self-destruct.
All you guys pretty much summarized all the key points for us to win tonight's game. One thing I want to add is to defend Dirk in the post. We know what they'll do going into tonight's game, regardless whoever we put on Dirk. So, it's important for our 4s to front him in the post, move Yao/Deke over to stop the over head pass. We may not be able to stop him, but will make it hard for him to catch the ball, which in turns will disrupt his shooting rhythm.
