Spurs vs. Mavs - First Round Series Preview - Part 1

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Originally Posted by timvp

I agree that knocking Dirk down a few times would be a good idea. But the problem is that Pop is very unlikely to put a hit out on him and the Spurs don't really have any goons willing to do it. Thomas is the closest thing the Spurs have but he doesn't really lay people out.

How many flagrant fouls did the Spurs have this whole season? I can't even remember one off the top of my head.

Counting on the Spurs suddenly deciding to play rough is a longshot at best. In 2006, emotions were running high, Horry was still playing and the Spurs fouled Dirk about 500 times ... but they were all of the touch foul variety.

I don't see that changing this year ... as much as I agree with the sentiment.

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Fabio is a thug. good way to use his few minutes.

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Originally Posted by Ice009

Good post Whott. The more physical the better. The Spurs have never punished Dirk like they should have.

I really think the Spurs need to exploit Dirk on the defensive end. Play Gooden and Duncan together and make Dirk work on that end of the floor. I think Pop is smart enough to do it and he will do it.

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Originally Posted by kace

with Tim and Gooden on the court together, who will Dirk defend ?
i'm confident that both of them can expose him on one on one

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Originally Posted by kace

with Tim and Gooden together, we have two post threats and i just can't see two bigs able to defend them in the mavs lineup. surely not Dirk.

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i keep saying that. Expose him on this side. Make him feel uncomfortable by being owned on defense one on one. Why not foul trouble ? Make him work. and score on him. Run the PnR against him with Tony and whoever Dirk is guarding.

i see only positive aspects about attacking him on defense.

There has been a lot of talk about how the Mavs finished the season strong. Is anybody even going to mention that in their last 8 road games they went 2-6, beating only Minnesota and Indiana? (And they barely escaped the Pacers with a 94-92 margin, on a last-second shot.)

Go back 12 road games, they are 4-8. Go back 16 road games, they are 5-11. Bottom line - they better hope those home wins at the end of the season mean a hell of a lot, because while they sucked on the road all season (18-23), they really sucked on the road at the end of the season.

The Spurs need to come out with a mission in this first game. They need to be the ones bringing more energy, getting to loose balls, etc. If they do, this series could be over by the third quarter of the first game. It's not the Mavs talent I question, it's their heads. A mentally tough, playoff caliber team doesn't pile up that kind of road record. And nobody knows that better than Dirk and Company.

[Edit: Let me save you Mavs fans some trouble. Over the Spurs' last 9 road games, they went 6-3. That's good enough to go all the way.]

Ya know what? F*ck it. I'm not scared of this series or this steadily declining Mavericks team at all. We beat big D in '03 with Manu getting very limited minutes and Tony still developing. I say we've added enough role players to compensate for (certainly not replace) lack of Manu, and Parker's having his most dominating season to date. Against a Mavs team that is getting accustomed to losing? I'm not sweating it. Now after this series...

good take timvp. but don't deny that in the end. Like Hollinger and most analysts, you are calling this series for the mavs.

I am calling this series for SPurs. Due to mavs choking. they will for sure choke on game 7 or game 6 in this series.

TP in a recent interview sumed up well the thing.

will fight »

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Tony Parker : « It is complicated, we have a few problems to manage between Manu’s season ending injury and Tim little’s troubles. The fact that Gino is gone only makes things harder but it is now up to us to choose. Whether we take the challenge ahead and fight to the end or we let go and will likely be soon on vacation. When we know the character of this team we will choose the first option. We will fight. »

I know Gooden had at least one flagrant in his short time as a Spur. If someone's going to hit Dirk hard, my money's on him.

If anybody is likely to flare up on Nitwitzki, my money would be on Kurt Thomas. He's a hard-ass, and not inclined to take shit from anyone. He's one of the few guys I've seen square up on Shaq, and not look like he wished someone would break it up. I still think a lot of people underestimate KT.