SA210
05-22-2006, 10:39 AM
San Antonio cranks up championship-caliber Defense to revive bid for repeat
01:00 AM CDT on Monday, May 22, 2006
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/dmoore/stories/052106dnspomoore.79d691f.html
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_dmoore.jpg (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/dmoore/vitindex.html)Jason Terry's gift – I doubt Michael Finley views it in those terms – is not the sole reason San Antonio has forced a seventh game in this series.
There is more to the Spurs' survival than the decision of Gregg Popovich to go small or the return of playoff Timmy, a needed upgrade over the plantar fasciitis Timmy who creaked around the court during the regular season.
The Spurs have overcome a 3-1 deficit and given themselves a chance to advance to the Western Conference finals because they have regained their defensive equilibrium.
San Antonio allowed 39 points in the second half of its win over Dallas in Game 6. The Spurs neutralized the speed of Devin Harris by keeping him out of the lane, frustrated veteran Jerry Stackhouse and held Dirk Nowitzki to four points in the final quarter.
"I thought that they clogged it up pretty good in there," Nowitzki said. "They were playing Devin's drive all night and waited for him at the rim. We just couldn't get anything to go."
Terry's suspension for punching Finley in the groin area aided the Spurs' defensive stand. But Terry was around for two losses earlier in the series.
The Mavericks bolted to a 3-1 lead because they scrambled the Spurs' perimeter defense with their speed, spread the court and attacked the basket. The Mavericks had the defending champions on their heels, with Popovich saying three games deep into the series that it was imperative for the individual and team defense to improve.
Well, San Antonio has won the last two games by holding the Mavericks under 100 points each time. The Mavericks are averaging 24 fewer points in their three losses than their three victories.
"It's about making stops," said San Antonio's Bruce Bowen, who makes more than his share.
One of those stops came near the end of the Spurs' win in Game 5, and that highlights another trend. The Mavericks have averaged 29 points and 1.3 turnovers in the fourth quarter of their three victories. Those averages dip to 17 points and 4.7 turnovers in the fourth quarter of their three losses.
The Mavericks had a chance to tie or win all three of those games at the end of regulation. But Stackhouse was trapped in the corner and shot an air ball at the end of Game 1. Terry shot an air ball from 15 feet and Nowitzki was unable to make the tip in the final 1.9 seconds of Game 5. Nowitzki found nothing but air from 25 feet with 6.9 seconds left and a chance to tie the score Friday.
"It always seems like they play better defense in those situations," Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said.
It seems so.
Late in the regular season, when it was clear the Mavericks and Spurs were on a second-round collision course, I asked players and coaches in the conference which team had an edge. All talked about how close the two teams were and gave politically correct responses that insulated them from choosing a winner.
That's when I knew I needed to turn to Los Angeles Clippers guard Sam Cassell.
"They're playing good basketball," Cassell said of the Mavericks. "But who is going to make shots late in the game besides Dirk? That's the question Dallas has to answer.
"A team is not going to allow you your first option with two minutes to go in the game. The Spurs have Tony Parker. Robert Horry. Nick Van Exel. Manu Ginobili. They have guys more than willing to take that shot."
The Mavericks still have a shot to win this series. Now, they know the Spurs will be there to contest that shot.
That wasn't always the case earlier in the series.
E-mail [email protected] ([email protected])
DEFENSIVE FOOTING (http://defensive%20footing/)
San Antonio has won every game this series when holding the Mavericks to fewer than 100 points.
3 wins Points allowed 89.3------3 losses 113.3
3 wins Defensive FG pct. 43.4 --3 losses 48.3
3 wins Blocked shots 5.3 -------3 losses 4
01:00 AM CDT on Monday, May 22, 2006
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/dmoore/stories/052106dnspomoore.79d691f.html
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_dmoore.jpg (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/dmoore/vitindex.html)Jason Terry's gift – I doubt Michael Finley views it in those terms – is not the sole reason San Antonio has forced a seventh game in this series.
There is more to the Spurs' survival than the decision of Gregg Popovich to go small or the return of playoff Timmy, a needed upgrade over the plantar fasciitis Timmy who creaked around the court during the regular season.
The Spurs have overcome a 3-1 deficit and given themselves a chance to advance to the Western Conference finals because they have regained their defensive equilibrium.
San Antonio allowed 39 points in the second half of its win over Dallas in Game 6. The Spurs neutralized the speed of Devin Harris by keeping him out of the lane, frustrated veteran Jerry Stackhouse and held Dirk Nowitzki to four points in the final quarter.
"I thought that they clogged it up pretty good in there," Nowitzki said. "They were playing Devin's drive all night and waited for him at the rim. We just couldn't get anything to go."
Terry's suspension for punching Finley in the groin area aided the Spurs' defensive stand. But Terry was around for two losses earlier in the series.
The Mavericks bolted to a 3-1 lead because they scrambled the Spurs' perimeter defense with their speed, spread the court and attacked the basket. The Mavericks had the defending champions on their heels, with Popovich saying three games deep into the series that it was imperative for the individual and team defense to improve.
Well, San Antonio has won the last two games by holding the Mavericks under 100 points each time. The Mavericks are averaging 24 fewer points in their three losses than their three victories.
"It's about making stops," said San Antonio's Bruce Bowen, who makes more than his share.
One of those stops came near the end of the Spurs' win in Game 5, and that highlights another trend. The Mavericks have averaged 29 points and 1.3 turnovers in the fourth quarter of their three victories. Those averages dip to 17 points and 4.7 turnovers in the fourth quarter of their three losses.
The Mavericks had a chance to tie or win all three of those games at the end of regulation. But Stackhouse was trapped in the corner and shot an air ball at the end of Game 1. Terry shot an air ball from 15 feet and Nowitzki was unable to make the tip in the final 1.9 seconds of Game 5. Nowitzki found nothing but air from 25 feet with 6.9 seconds left and a chance to tie the score Friday.
"It always seems like they play better defense in those situations," Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said.
It seems so.
Late in the regular season, when it was clear the Mavericks and Spurs were on a second-round collision course, I asked players and coaches in the conference which team had an edge. All talked about how close the two teams were and gave politically correct responses that insulated them from choosing a winner.
That's when I knew I needed to turn to Los Angeles Clippers guard Sam Cassell.
"They're playing good basketball," Cassell said of the Mavericks. "But who is going to make shots late in the game besides Dirk? That's the question Dallas has to answer.
"A team is not going to allow you your first option with two minutes to go in the game. The Spurs have Tony Parker. Robert Horry. Nick Van Exel. Manu Ginobili. They have guys more than willing to take that shot."
The Mavericks still have a shot to win this series. Now, they know the Spurs will be there to contest that shot.
That wasn't always the case earlier in the series.
E-mail [email protected] ([email protected])
DEFENSIVE FOOTING (http://defensive%20footing/)
San Antonio has won every game this series when holding the Mavericks to fewer than 100 points.
3 wins Points allowed 89.3------3 losses 113.3
3 wins Defensive FG pct. 43.4 --3 losses 48.3
3 wins Blocked shots 5.3 -------3 losses 4