Spurs Brazil
04-24-2009, 10:02 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs-Mavs_Game_4_keys_to_victory.html
Spurs-Mavs Game 4 keys to victory
New attitude: Going into Game 3, the Spurs said they were prepared for the surge of emotion the Mavericks would have playing at home. Then, before they could blink, the Spurs were behind by 12 points.
Dallas played harder, played tougher, and played with more passion. If the Spurs are to have any shot at evening the series again, they will have to match the Mavericks’ energy in Game 4. That is the starting place.
All Tony, all the time: The Spurs’ fortunes in this series have risen and fallen with Tony Parker. When Parker has been at his best (the first half of Game 1, all of Game 2), so have the Spurs. And when Parker has not been good (the second half of Game 1, all of Game 3), neither have the Spurs.
Parker must continue to attack the basket and force the issue on the Mavericks’ defense. He can’t get complacent, or defer to other players. Not even Tim Duncan.
Keep the Puerto Rican from the paint: The Mavericks made a lineup switch for Game 3, starting little J.J. Barea in place of Antoine Wright. That put a lot of pressure on the Spurs’ defense from the outset.
Barea had nine of his 13 points in the opening frame, and his penetration is what opened up scoring opportunities for other players. In a sense, Barea provides for Dallas what Parker provides for the Spurs.
If the Spurs can’t keep Barea from running amok, it will be even more difficult for them to contain the Mavericks’ scoring standouts (Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Josh Howard).
- Jeff McDonald
Spurs-Mavs Game 4 keys to victory
New attitude: Going into Game 3, the Spurs said they were prepared for the surge of emotion the Mavericks would have playing at home. Then, before they could blink, the Spurs were behind by 12 points.
Dallas played harder, played tougher, and played with more passion. If the Spurs are to have any shot at evening the series again, they will have to match the Mavericks’ energy in Game 4. That is the starting place.
All Tony, all the time: The Spurs’ fortunes in this series have risen and fallen with Tony Parker. When Parker has been at his best (the first half of Game 1, all of Game 2), so have the Spurs. And when Parker has not been good (the second half of Game 1, all of Game 3), neither have the Spurs.
Parker must continue to attack the basket and force the issue on the Mavericks’ defense. He can’t get complacent, or defer to other players. Not even Tim Duncan.
Keep the Puerto Rican from the paint: The Mavericks made a lineup switch for Game 3, starting little J.J. Barea in place of Antoine Wright. That put a lot of pressure on the Spurs’ defense from the outset.
Barea had nine of his 13 points in the opening frame, and his penetration is what opened up scoring opportunities for other players. In a sense, Barea provides for Dallas what Parker provides for the Spurs.
If the Spurs can’t keep Barea from running amok, it will be even more difficult for them to contain the Mavericks’ scoring standouts (Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Josh Howard).
- Jeff McDonald