Down, But Not Out.

[ohmwrecker]

Just a few thoughts.
Defensively, the Spurs have a decent strategy, but the execution is flawed. The Spurs can't let the free throw discrepancy keep them from being aggressive.
Fouls and free throws aside, the defensive strategy on Nowitzki is a good plan. The problem is execution. McDyess is doing a good job staying on Nowitzki, but he needs to hold position and not commit to the pump fake. Bonner is doing as well as expected defending Dirk, but he should stay aggressive and not be concerned with fouling. If the refs are going to blow the whistle, there is not much you can do about that. The most important thing is to front Dirk when he gets the ball, get him off balance, make him drive to the hoop and don't give him easy looks. If he hits them, so be it. I don't think we should double him.
I would send more doubles to Kidd. Take away his passing lanes and make him shoot the ball more. If the Spurs can make Kidd less effective, the Mavs will struggle. He is their only real play maker.
The Spurs have to do better on the boards. Blair needs more minutes. There is no reason that he should play less than Bonner. That should be obvious.
Offensively, priority one is to take care of the damn ball, but more importantly, be aggressive. The offense is stagnating. The Spurs need motion. The Spurs need to penetrate the paint relentlessly. If Ginobili goes to the line as much as Dirk, the advantage is even. Penetrate and score, kick out or get to the foul line. When the Mavs start collapsing in the paint, then the three point shot oppourtunities will appear and the passing lanes will open, resulting in less turnovers. If the ball gets poked out driving in the paint, a foul is more likely to be called than if a pass is picked off in a clogged passing lane.
Game 2 is a totally winnable game and the series is a still the Spurs' to lose.

[DesignatedT]

Believe

[NewJerSpur]

I like the assessment overall, but I don't like doubling Kidd that much....if anyone will find a seam to make a pass into any area the double team has left exposed, it's Kidd. I think he, Damp, and Marion (the latter two for reasons relating to offensive ineptitude) are the only guys you never send a double team at.

I too like Manu to penetrate more in Game 2 and get to the hole....he settled way to often for passes into conjested areas on screen & roles. When he drove to the basket, he got all the way there at will, even when Haywood and Damp were in.

[Zammers]

Just a few thoughts.
Defensively, the Spurs have a decent strategy, but the execution is flawed. The Spurs can't let the free throw discrepancy keep them from being aggressive.
Fouls and free throws aside, the defensive strategy on Nowitzki is a good plan. The problem is execution. McDyess is doing a good job staying on Nowitzki, but he needs to hold position and not commit to the pump fake. Bonner is doing as well as expected defending Dirk, but he should stay aggressive and not be concerned with fouling. If the refs are going to blow the whistle, there is not much you can do about that. The most important thing is to front Dirk when he gets the ball, get him off balance, make him drive to the hoop and don't give him easy looks. If he hits them, so be it. I don't think we should double him.
I would send more doubles to Kidd. Take away his passing lanes and make him shoot the ball more. If the Spurs can make Kidd less effective, the Mavs will struggle. He is their only real play maker.
The Spurs have to do better on the boards. Blair needs more minutes. There is no reason that he should play less than Bonner. That should be obvious.
Offensively, priority one is to take care of the damn ball, but more importantly, be aggressive. The offense is stagnating. The Spurs need motion. The Spurs need to penetrate the paint relentlessly. If Ginobili goes to the line as much as Dirk, the advantage is even. Pentrate and score, kick out or get to the foul line. When the Mavs start collapsing in the paint, then the three point shot oppourtunities will appear and the passing lanes will open, resulting in less turnovers. If the ball gets poked out driving in the paint, a foul is more likely to be called than if a pass is picked off in a clogged passing lane.
Game 2 is a totally winnable game and the series is a still the Spurs' to lose.

I would agree with the Kidd assessment if this was last year, but Kidd has been arguably the biggest reason for the Mavs success this year. I think he knows that his window is closing and he has raised his game.

[ohmwrecker]

As far as doubling Kidd goes, I am talking about a quick double off screens and picks to take away his options. Maybe a little backcourt pressure to close out quarters and force bad passes.

[NewJerSpur]

Although the Spurs have been rotating well defensively in the 2nd half of the season off of doubles, Kidd is not likely to make the mistakes many guards are prone to when you throw a hard defense at them. He knows how to milk a double to put someone in position to score or make one more pass for an easy basket. Pressuring him up the court every once in a while might be a good idea though.

[jjktkk]

Good points. Another thing that needs to happen, is for a 4th scoring option to emerge. Be that RJ, Hill, whoever, someone other than the big 3 needs to step up.

[ohmwrecker]

Absolutely. I wanted to bring that up, but I got distracted with my train of thought. RJ just needs to attack more. Good things happen when he drives to the hoop. He can't just park his ass on the perimeter and watch. He has to move.