So far this season the Spurs have not found an answer for stopping Dirk. Bruce is too undersized, Oberto and Elson aren't quick enough and Tim can't guard anyone outside the paint.
any suggestions?
Why isn't Elson quick enough? Oberto I get, but Elson seems pretty spry for someone who just turned 30. Bruce can defend him at times, but if he does that, no one stops JHo. I think the plan is to give Dirk different looks and mix it at times to keep him off balance. Elson's added length and quickness is an element the Spurs didn't have with Mohammed or Nesterovic.
Do you think Elson can guard Dirk on the perimeter?
I thought everybody thought Elson was the key?
Elson has the quickness but is always out of position it seems. Brad Miller was taking it to the hole against Elson.
nobody, dirk sucks.
I wish the spurs would hire you
OK, I'll take him. He's not even a foot taller than me.
Given a choice, If he can keep him there and off the FT line, the distance argument bodes better for the Spurs. Unless of course, he is just spot on the whole game.
All one could ask from Elson is to challenge Dirk and keep him off his "spots" the places Nowitzki likes to shoot from.
Everyone knows the Spurs like to funnel to 2 bigs but when they played "Small Ball", the other Big after Duncan, was Finley? Having Elson, and to a very limited extent, Oberto, gives the Spurs funneling D a better shot at stopping the Mavericks.
It's the logic that says that if you live by the jump shot, you can die by it too.
Given a choice, I prefer layups and dunks to jumpshots any day. If Elson makes him work, then all will be better for SA. It will still be hard-fought, but I think this mix is better than what the team had last year.
But dont you think if Dallas starts to pick and roll with Dirk, Elson's at a disadvantage?
who are they going to put on TD?
Tony
In the game that Elson played ... He did impress me. Now can he do it all game, in the playoffs ... I don't know, I don't think that anyone knows.
Elson is their best bet, but Oberto will get his chances too. They are different types. In a way the Spurs will do to Dirk what the Mavs will do with Duncan .. Throw many bodys at him and hope that on any given day .. Someone steps up.
You mix it up: Some Bruce, when JoHo is sitting, some Elson, some Fab.
Oberto guarding Dirk? Id rather take my chances with Ely. Ely>>>>Oberto in just about every aspect including this one!
Who cares who's on Dirk? He's probably going to get his one way or another. What the Spurs need to do is focus on shutting the support players down. Make Dirk think he has to do it himself and see if he crumbles under the pressure.
Easy, Diop. The dude always plays Duncan well.
Duncan can and will put Diop and Dampier in foul trouble no matter how well they play him.
I think there's really only one player who gives the Spurs the offensive and defensive versatility at the 4 position they need to beat the Dallas Mavericks. And not only do I think that, Pop does too.
Oberto, i think. If given the chance this one could be the dirtiest player on this team who's not aftraid to harass and put his body on anybody. We saw him doing it on Duncan in the Olympics. His minutes in the last playoffs was not enough to let us see what he's capable of. And okay he used to sit on the bench all year then Pops just put him there? He was a little bit awkward at that time. But i think this time he'll be ready.
BTW, we talk and talk about how we beat the Mavs, on how to guard Dirk but how about the Mavs have they found the answer to Tim Duncan? If Tim won't be in foul trouble they'd be in trouble, IMO.
He's healthy now folks. There's no PF.
Please, oh please. Diop "guarded" him to the tune of 32.2/11.7 over 7 games.
Elson, Bruce, and Horry... Some Oberto. Dirk is a superstar like Tim. Some tend to forget how well Tim played against the Mavs last year and he is HEALTHIER now. Who's going to stop him? You don't stop superstars. As I've mentioned numerous times in previous threads, having an Elson type allows Bruce to guard Howard and the other players to guard their positions w/ out having to be reduced in size for 75% of the game thus suffering defensively and on the glass. Think of Dirk as Amare in the '05 WCF w/ a jump shot and no hops. Think of Howard as Marion w/ Bruce guarding him. While their record shows they have clearly killed it during the regular season, SA (Tim specifically) does have another notch that he can kick into for the playoffs. It remains to be seen if Dirk and co. can do the same (remember Detroit last year). It's not a knock on the Mavs, they've been incredible all year, but the most glaring disadvantages we had last year, while not completely rectified (still no perimeter player that can rebound at LEAST 6 RBG), are not all there this year. Regardless of how many games they've won, each time they play the Spurs, the games have been tight so it's still a toss up. I personally (could be wrong) think they are playing at their best right now. But make no doubt about it.... SA is getting stronger!
Beno
Elson's our only choice really. He is quick but he's just not that great of a defender unfortunately.
Sorry read your post after i typed my loooong paragraph, but your's is a nicer condensed version
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