mavsfan1000
04-21-2006, 04:11 PM
Mavs-Grizzlies series could be a grind
Mavericks hope first round is a defensive tuneup for Spurs
02:59 AM CDT on Thursday, April 20, 2006
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
The Mavericks expect their first-round playoff series against Memphis to look a lot like last year's opening round against Houston – except without the two opening home losses.
The Grizzlies allow the fewest points per game in the NBA (88.4) and with the Mavericks focusing on defense, the series figures to fall into the grind-it-out variety.
That's great news for the Mavericks because it will be a better primer for a possible second-round date with San Antonio than had they faced the up-tempo Los Angeles Clippers.
"We think a lot of the things that happened in the playoffs against a tough, hard-nosed Houston Rocket defensive team, we're going to see some similar things in this playoff because Memphis is really tough-minded defensively," coach Avery Johnson said Wednesday. "The more you watch them on film, the scarier it gets.
"They sit on all your plays. You got to move the ball against them. They can shut down our offense if we don't play well offensively. It's going to be a very, very tough series."
What the Grizzlies don't have is Tracy McGrady, who confounded the Mavericks in the first round last season. But they are not without firepower. And at least one impartial observer believes the Grizzlies are on the verge of becoming playoff-savvy.
Although they have never won a playoff game, the Grizzlies will be in the playoffs for the third straight season and they are building their franchise the right way, ABC and ESPN analyst Bill Walton said.
"They're a very good team that has brilliant leadership and coaching," Walton said. "Pavel Podkolzin from Siberia was closer to the NBA than Memphis was until Jerry West got there.
"In four years, Jerry's gotten them in the playoffs three times. And [Mike] Fratello is a great basketball coach. Together, they've done what San Antonio does. Character counts. They got good guys in there, got rid of the problem guys, and it's worked."
Johnson said he's more worried about his team than the Grizzlies. Health will be an issue. Devin Harris has played just seven games since the All-Star Game because of a strained left quad. There is a chance he won't be ready to play in Game 1 on Sunday.
Neither is Marquis Daniels recovered from a left hamstring problem.
But the Mavericks are far ahead of where they were last season when they went down 0-2 to Houston last April.
"I think we're better defensively and much more physical," Johnson said. "We're a little bit more mature and a little bit more experienced and a little bit more tougher minded."
Another important factor, at least in the eyes of Jerry Stackhouse, is Memphis' proximity to Dallas. The Mavericks will not have to worry about three-hour plane flights or time differences.
"We don't have to deal with staying on the West Coast for an extra day or traveling overnight to get home," Stackhouse said. "That's big for us, I think."
Also on the Mavericks' side – at least in theory – is the schedule. Starting on Sunday instead of Saturday means an extra day of rest for the injured players.
"It could be a good thing all the way around – if we use it to our advantage," Johnson said. "A lot of things were supposed to be in our favor last year and things didn't go our way. That was a great learning experience."
And it was a lesson they hope not to repeat.
E-mail [email protected].
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...w.1814b22e.html (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/042006dnspomavsgrizzpreview.1814b22e.html)
Mavericks hope first round is a defensive tuneup for Spurs
02:59 AM CDT on Thursday, April 20, 2006
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
The Mavericks expect their first-round playoff series against Memphis to look a lot like last year's opening round against Houston – except without the two opening home losses.
The Grizzlies allow the fewest points per game in the NBA (88.4) and with the Mavericks focusing on defense, the series figures to fall into the grind-it-out variety.
That's great news for the Mavericks because it will be a better primer for a possible second-round date with San Antonio than had they faced the up-tempo Los Angeles Clippers.
"We think a lot of the things that happened in the playoffs against a tough, hard-nosed Houston Rocket defensive team, we're going to see some similar things in this playoff because Memphis is really tough-minded defensively," coach Avery Johnson said Wednesday. "The more you watch them on film, the scarier it gets.
"They sit on all your plays. You got to move the ball against them. They can shut down our offense if we don't play well offensively. It's going to be a very, very tough series."
What the Grizzlies don't have is Tracy McGrady, who confounded the Mavericks in the first round last season. But they are not without firepower. And at least one impartial observer believes the Grizzlies are on the verge of becoming playoff-savvy.
Although they have never won a playoff game, the Grizzlies will be in the playoffs for the third straight season and they are building their franchise the right way, ABC and ESPN analyst Bill Walton said.
"They're a very good team that has brilliant leadership and coaching," Walton said. "Pavel Podkolzin from Siberia was closer to the NBA than Memphis was until Jerry West got there.
"In four years, Jerry's gotten them in the playoffs three times. And [Mike] Fratello is a great basketball coach. Together, they've done what San Antonio does. Character counts. They got good guys in there, got rid of the problem guys, and it's worked."
Johnson said he's more worried about his team than the Grizzlies. Health will be an issue. Devin Harris has played just seven games since the All-Star Game because of a strained left quad. There is a chance he won't be ready to play in Game 1 on Sunday.
Neither is Marquis Daniels recovered from a left hamstring problem.
But the Mavericks are far ahead of where they were last season when they went down 0-2 to Houston last April.
"I think we're better defensively and much more physical," Johnson said. "We're a little bit more mature and a little bit more experienced and a little bit more tougher minded."
Another important factor, at least in the eyes of Jerry Stackhouse, is Memphis' proximity to Dallas. The Mavericks will not have to worry about three-hour plane flights or time differences.
"We don't have to deal with staying on the West Coast for an extra day or traveling overnight to get home," Stackhouse said. "That's big for us, I think."
Also on the Mavericks' side – at least in theory – is the schedule. Starting on Sunday instead of Saturday means an extra day of rest for the injured players.
"It could be a good thing all the way around – if we use it to our advantage," Johnson said. "A lot of things were supposed to be in our favor last year and things didn't go our way. That was a great learning experience."
And it was a lesson they hope not to repeat.
E-mail [email protected].
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...w.1814b22e.html (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/042006dnspomavsgrizzpreview.1814b22e.html)