Is Pop planning to Pop a surprise?

[GhostofAlfrederickHughes]

Does anyone think Pop may suddenly throw a 7-footer (Rasho or Nazr) into the mix, either tonight or in Game 6? Those guys have been sitting and stewing, wanting to prove Pop wrong. Avery's troops have been suckered into easy trips to the basket...seems like a perfect storm brewing. Not saying that was Pop's initial "plan", letting Dallas into the lane, but it sure seems like he's got a big ace up his sleeve he hasn't shown yet.

I dunno. Just a thought.

[johnut32]

On the radio yesterday, Pop certainly didn't sound as though he was heading in that direction.

Of course, if he were planning a surprise this is certainly the way to go about it.

[Jimcs50]

I think it is too late to do that. That would be admitting he was wrong, and we all know that pop is incapable of doing that, right?
That is the one thing that I hate about Pop, he is stubborn and inflexable, why else would he continue to play NVE over Beno?

[pache100]

Does anyone think Pop may suddenly throw a 7-footer (Rasho or Nazr) into the mix, either tonight or in Game 6? Those guys have been sitting and stewing, wanting to prove Pop wrong. Avery's troops have been suckered into easy trips to the basket...seems like a perfect storm brewing. Not saying that was Pop's initial "plan", letting Dallas into the lane, but it sure seems like he's got a big ace up his sleeve he hasn't shown yet.

I dunno. Just a thought.

If he's got that in his head (http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/pache100/please.gif)...I am praying (http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/pache100/praying.gif) with everything I've got...that it's Rasho and not Nazr.

[ctpsb]

OK tell me where I'm wrong here (seriously). Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.

Start the other 7 footer (Nazr/Rasho, your choice). Have Duncan guard Howard. He hasn't been as offensively killing as other Mavs. And when Duncan guards Dirk, so be it. Tim is a how many time All-Star, 3 time Finals MVP, All-Defense, etc. At some point he has to be a big boy too. We can't be protecting him all the time. He is a top player in the league and should be able to defend Dirk at least some of the time.

And besides what good has been keeping him from guarding Dirk done? He still has 4-6 fouls at the end of every game anyway.

It was fine to experiment with small ball to see if it would work (Phoenix last year) and if it did, fine stick with it. Nothing wrong with trying. It's obvious it's not working this series. Some one else in this thread mentioned Nazr's/Rasho's stats in two wins over Mavs this season.

Finally Horry is just flat better off the bench.

IT'S TIME TO PLAY SPURS BALL!!!

[1Parker1]

I expect the same starting lineup as in Game 4, except with Manu starting.

Tim
Finley
Bruce
Manu
Parker

I also expect Horry to get a lot more playing time than he did in Game 4, and I expect him to play smarter and better than he has been. I also expect huge games from a pissed of Duncan and Ginobili. However, the big question is will it be enough?

Hopefully Pop's surprise is a Spurs win for a change. :lol

[DarrinS]

I know that in the regular season, when we've beaten the Mavs, either Nesterovich or Nazr has played, but, then again, the Mavs didn't start Devin Harris in those games.

In one of those reg season games, that we won 92-90, Rasho had 7 boards and 6 points. Nazr had 5 boards and 10 points. Mavs shot 40.3% in that game.

In the other win (98-89), Nazr had 5 boards and 10 points. The Mavs only shot 40.5% in that game and the Spurs bench outplayed the Mavs bench.


So, does this prove a big lineup will lower the Mavs shooting percentage? Not really. Also, Nazr and Rasho haven't played much (if at all?) in the last four games. I'll will be interesting to see what Pop decides.

[Vashner]

I wish Pop would use the new 13th man rule.. argh...

Get us a real center next year would ya? Nazr good but he's bench quality IMO.

[sakpase]

What scare me with Pop remarks that Nazr/Rasho loss all confidents on their Game.
These two Center theirs not all starts but neither Dallas Center also

[ctpsb]

I think centers aren't going to wow everyone their first and only two minutes in game. They have to start and get into a flow when the game is not yet on the line.

[ata]

I hope, there will be no more small ball surprises. Just start with standard Spurs ball, please!

On the other hand, nothing surprises me anymore. We can expect TP, Beno, Manu, Bruce and Fin starting. Pop is in experimental mode.

[ploto]

I also expect Horry to get a lot more playing time than he did in Game 4, and I expect him to play smarter and better than he has been.
If you play small and Tim plays most of the game- there are few minutes for Horry, and none for any other big.

[GhostofAlfrederickHughes]

I know that in the regular season, when we've beaten the Mavs, either Nesterovich or Nazr has played, but, then again, the Mavs didn't start Devin Harris in those games.


But it shouldn't really matter who the starting PG is for Dallas. The Spurs whole defensive scheme is predicated around tough perimeter defending, followed by help defense from the bigs if the perimeter breaks down. Now when Duncan is on the floor, he can be a one man anchor for perimeter guys to funnel to (which is why he doesn't guard Nowitzki by the way---it would keep him away from the basket). But when Duncan goes out, or when the perimeter breaks down in more than one area, you need additional bigs to help out.

I wasn't necessarily suggesting that Rasho or Nazr get major minutes---I understand they provide a matchup problem, and Nazr's constant mishandling of the ball in the paint will lead to fastbreaks for Dallas. But I think there's a balance between using them in spots to help contain Dallas' drives to the hoop (esp. when Tim's on the bench for a rest, fouls, etc.) and not using them AT ALL.

[austinfan]

I wasn't necessarily suggesting that Rasho or Nazr get major minutes---I understand they provide a matchup problem, and Nazr's constant mishandling of the ball in the paint will lead to fastbreaks for Dallas. But I think there's a balance between using them in spots to help contain Dallas' drives to the hoop (esp. when Tim's on the bench for a rest, fouls, etc.) and not using them AT ALL.

Exactly! If Pop is so enamored of the small ball, he doesn't have to stop using it completely, just mix it up a little out there, since the Mavs have pretty thoroughly figured out our all-small-ball-all-the-time approach.