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I love watching Parker & Hill guard him - mostly because they frustrate the crap out of him. Granted he has a head difference on them, but he still has to be careful putting the ball down. Unfortunately this leaves Barea or Kidd open.
If Bonner fronted Dirk more, he'd be one of the most solid dirkstoppers we've had in ages. I love Bonner's Don Dirk, but he's got to do more ball denial. Dirk always catching it in his sweet spots and no one can stop him there.
I love watching Parker & Hill guard him - mostly because they frustrate the crap out of him. Granted he has a head difference on them, but he still has to be careful putting the ball down. Unfortunately this leaves Barea or Kidd open.
Again, Timvp....I have to disagree with you.
Duncan has abused the Mavs over the years...Dampier is no match Duncan and Diop is decent as the best. You can go back to the 2006 WC Semi Finals....Duncan dominated their frontline even though the Spurs lost the series in 7 games.
Look at last night..Dampier was in foul trouble and Diop didn't do much at all. Also, I agree that Dirk is a tough cover. He is one of the top 10 offensive players in the league. But in a 7 game series..you can make where he gets his shots from difficult and pressure him.
I will grant you that the Mavs do play the Spurs well....probably more than any other team in the last 5 years except the Pistons.
But you are forgetting the championship-level compe iveness and intangibles that the Spurs have. This is such an underrated part of their success. Last night showed a glimpse of it.....the Spurs were determined to win that game. Just like they did against Houston and Minnesota (and Denver last week) earlier in the season. Just like they did with the Hornets last year in Game 7 on the road...when many experts though they were going to lose.
They have that "it" quality that most championship squads have and the Mavs don't.
I look at the Spurs/Mavs rivary like the Bulls/Knicks and Bulls/Pacers of the 90's. While, the Knicks and Pacers could matchup with the Bulls and played them very well....they didn't have the "it" factor (Yes....MJ had a lot to do with that) and couldn't beat the Bulls in a playoff series.
I feel the same way about the Spurs and Mavs. And that's where the distinct difference between the two teams!!
A good debate!!
In 2006, do you think the Spurs lacked it?
Duncan may abuse Dampier and Diop but it's not like they are pushovers. They make him work and Duncan just scores anyway.
All I know is that Finley on Dirk isn't an option but of course Pop would come to that conclusion after he decided Finley is a powerforward.
I think Ginobili lacked brains in 2006.
No...but you are going to lose some playoff series and win some.
The Lakers lost to the Spurs in 2003.
It happens!!
Amen. I too would switch Mason into the starting lineup; if not, then start Bowen and bring Finley off the bench. When you start the Big 3, why do you need an extra SG who a) is not a forward, b) is not a great defender, and c) needs lots of shots to be effective?
Mostly because Dirk is going to hit his shot, one way or another. The objective is to frustrate him when he puts the ball down to drive, or coming off setting a screen - but Finley isn't fast enough in the hand department for that. Big reason why Parker is on Dirk coming off a screen ... Either force the pass or to pull up before the big rolls back over. It's effective, and can put him in quite a slump.
There are a lot of players that can make Duncan work for his points.
But they can't stop him..period! And that's the big disadvantage the Mavs have against the Spurs.
Plus Manu & Tony..as well!!
That's funny!!!
[Tim Duncan] he played 50 minutes without turning the ball over.
impressive.
well, more like awesome.
Manu did "it"
thanks timvp was really looking forward to reading this
I think the Mavs make the playoffs. Too much talent not to.
I'm just hoping it's not Spurs vs. Mavs in the first round.
Yes he was a big reason...unfortunately in Game 7. I'm a huge Manu fan..though.
It happens...you win some and you lose some.
Bowen is a better clutch three-point shooter than Finley. Period.
Yes, Finley has hit a couple of big shots for us, but that's because he takes a ton of them. He takes far too many of them for a guy who is the 4th option. Now he should be the fifth option behind Mason, or perhaps even behind Bonner.
So I see no reason that Finley should play crunch time minutes against Dallas, especially since 1) Bowen can guard Nowitzki much better than Finley, 2) Bowen is a better clutch three-point shooter, and 3) Bowen doesn't turn the ball over as much as Finley.
Finley is a guy we should roll out there for a stretch or two during the first three quarters to see if he has it or not. If he does, give him minutes. If he's not hitting his shots, we all know he's worthless on the court.
At least the Hawks are playing the 2nd of a b-2-b (against the Rockets) as well. Perhaps that will put this game on a more even playing field.
I don't care if Spurs lose the game against Hawks. A win would be great, a lose would be quite logical.
And as long as Dirk plays great, Dallas will be a bad matchup for this current Spurs team. Even if Oberto or Bonner defends him a s hard as they can, they are just to slow against him. Mahinmi and Tolliver are both quite fast players and I hope one will emerge as a decent Dirk defender. If not, this lack of players to stick on quick bigs could really hurt Spurs.
And yes, I'm saying the same thing for the 68357th time...
Great read timvp
I slept only 3 hours last night but it was worthy. It was a fantastic game
Bruce is playing great. I'd like to see him back in the starting unit
Exactly. Tolliver is an interesting option. The Toros playing him out on the perimeter defensively could help down the line if they have to put him on players like Dirk, West and Odom.
The good thing about Tolliver is that not only is he slightly quicker than Oberto and Bonner, he has longer arms and could actually contest a Dirk jumper. I don't think the Spurs have contested a Dirk jumper since they traded away Rose in 2005.
But yeah, it's amazing that even after the Mavs loss in 2006 and Don Nelson teaching the world how to guard Dirk in 2007 that the Spurs have never made a move to fix that glaring weakness on their roster.
Mind boggling.
Good points. I don't see the Spurs matching up well with the Mavs, but they CAN beat them. Dirk is a problem for any team that doesn't have a long mobile SF with some heft who can both muscle and play the perimeter. And not many teams have that player.
Unfortunately, the Mavs have a better team this year. Barrea is proving to be a great addition as a role player for a rookie, averaging about 20 points over the past few games.
If you want to play the "If" game....
Yes he was a big reason...unfortunately in Game 7. I'm a huge Manu fan..though.
It happens...you win some and you lose some.
If JET weren't so gay for Finley's junk, that series ends in 6.
minor nitpick: Barea isn't a rookie.
Manu's foul was stupid but no one seems to remember the Spurs going down 3-1 and having to fight back the entire series.
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