Spurs vs. Mavs - Game 2 Adjustments

[SpuronyourFace]

I love how we are already written off by everyone.

[Fabbs]

1) Play George Hill
It seriously makes too much sense not to play Hill.
4)
Speaking of Parker, Barea owned him, especially in the second half. Let's be honest about the situation. On defense, Barea was either drawing offensive fouls or Parker was worried about picking up an offensive foul and got discombobulated. Defensively, Barea was getting past Parker every time. Barea didn't always score but it did always break down the defense and set the team rotation into motion. The result was either an open lane for someone else to drive to the basket or a Mavs bigman camped in front of the rim waiting to tip in a miss. Barea's impact on Game 1 can't be seen simply by the stat sheet. Barea got Parker in Game 1. Bottomline.

Bavetta & Crew having Bareas organ in their mouths with the flop awards certainly helped make Bareas game possible. Certainly a key call was Spurs down 83-80 with Tony doing a very nice drive to the paint, stop, short jumper. rea flopped 100% yet was rewarded and the shot called off. I thought Tony was the driving force to put the Spurs up by 11 after one as he was owning Barea. Carlisle made an ad-just-ment to Pops doubling Dirk and fed the ball to Barea and Howard, and there is that three syllable word that Popped has so much trouble with.

So while I agree timvp that Parker could have played better, i do not agree that Barea "owned" him and that Parker just sucked. Lack of adjustments by Sir Cementhead certainly helped destroy the 11 point lead Tony helped build.

But concur Tony can and will play better. That i believe and thanks for the 2003 etc reminders.

[TwinTowers]

From the Dallas perspective:

I expect to see more of Kidd in the post against Parker, as they figured this out as the game went on. Guys like Cassell and Peyton also used to do it against TP successfully.

There is a big different between guys like Payton/Cassell and Kidd. Payton used to post up smaller guys as a way to get easy baskets; whereas Kidd at this point in his career is not often looking to score (he has never been much of a scorer anyway). if he posts against Parker, the Spurs should not overreact by double-teaming him since it would just create open shots for the other Mavs.

[Obstructed_View]

If the Mavs are going to win with JKidd posting up, then good luck in the semifinals. If the Spurs are going to put Michael Finley in the post instead of letting Hill play defense, then good luck to the Mavs in the semifinals.

[BigVee]

Of all the things I will take away from this season the most amazing is the coaching staff's insistance on forcing the PG position on Mason. How it can be so painfully obvious to most that he cannot play that position in the NBA, yet they continue to trot him out there to fumble the ball, turn it over, get himself trapped, not get to the rim on a pick and roll, not get to the foul line, run down the shot clock, etc., etc., is simply beyond comprehension. I respect the fact that Pop knows more about BB than all the detractors, but in this particular case I remain baffled and disappointed. Hill with all the inexperience is a better option....yet....

[tp2021]

JJ Barea, Erick Dampier and Bass playing great in the same game was an anomaly.

believe

Reminds me of how Andre Miller went off in Game 1 for the Nuggets. I'm not saying it will be a 5-game sweep for the Spurs; it just won't be a 4-game sweep for the Mavs. And it starts tonight.

[DPG21920]

I hope I get to yell "Spurs are just too big" multiple times tonight.

[tp2021]

There's an Eva joke there but I don't feel like doing it.

[tp2021]

That's what she said.

I couldn't help myself.

[rayone]

happy 4/20 josh hope u hit some befor the game

[Agloco]

JJ Barea, Erick Dampier and Bass playing great in the same game was an anomaly.

believe

Thank you. I'm surprised no one else pointed this out. They shot a combined 18-31 from the field. Add in Antoine Wright and you have 21-34 from the field. They made just as many field goals as Dirk, J Ho, J Kidd and Jet: AND outshot them.......

Odds of that happening again during this series? Very remote.

I do agree that we should see more Gooden and Duncan together. Bonner needs to be coming in off the bench for spot duty. He's clearly in over his head.

[G-Nob]

Flop alert!!

JJ has already said he intends to make it a priority in this series. I hope Tony can adjust to that.

[DPG21920]

I think some Spurs fans are undervaluing Bass/Barea. Bass is a very solid shooter from 18 feet and in. He can and will knock down that shot consistently if you leave him wide open. Barea has had a solid year and has provided a boost to the Mavs all year whether starting or coming off the bench.

Spurs need to make sure that they stick to the game plan on Dirk/Terry, but they must put more effort into defending the role players.

[crc21209]

Great thoughts timvp . Just come out and get a W tonight damn it.

[phxspurfan]

Although I don't think the Hill thing will happen (Pop finds it impossible to trust rookies), I like the thoughts. I think we just need to play better or face being down 0-2. We didn't give the effort required in all facets to win game 1. Mavs wanted it more, and it was obvious we were just sulking and tired late.

[Dex]

I have to wholeheartedly agree that playing Hill at this point is a win/win situation.

Were this a regular playoff run, I'd be fine with Pop's decision to keep the rookie out of the action if he feels he is not prepared. However, the regular plan got thrown out the window went Manu came up lame for the season, along with the expectations that came with it.

While I think this is mostly just Pop being stubborn, hopefully it can serve to light a fire under Hill, be it intentional or unintentional. Should the rookie actually find himself on the court, there's a chance that he takes advantage and has somewhat of a coming out party. Having been buried on the bench, all of a sudden the kid would have a chance to shine, and if he can, that would have to equal positive dividends for Spurs.

On the flipside, if Hill really does wilt under the playoff lights, then he probably won't have been the only one. Udoka, Gooden, even Thomas have shown inconsistency on one side of the court or the other this season, yet they still manage to see the floor. In other words, if we get booted out of the playoffs this season, it won't be due to Pop's decision to play George Hill.

At this point, the Spurs aren't expected to win anyways. You might as well go out with all of your guns slinging. Basketball is like a game of chess, and if you aren't using all of your pieces on the board, then you are asking for checkmate.

[papashango]

I love how we are already written off by everyone.

Hopefully the good guys haven't written themselves off yet. If i were a Spur i'd be livid. Not at the media reception because that's what they do. Overreact. But they were embarassed on their own homecourt by an inferior team.

[timvp]

From the Dallas perspective:

I expect to see more of Kidd in the post against Parker, as they figured this out as the game went on. Guys like Cassell and Peyton also used to do it against TP successfully.

You do realize this is 2009, right? When is the last time that the Spurs have been beaten by the strategy to post up Parker? Cassell didn't even hurt Parker much past 2002 and Peyton Manning plays in the NFL.

It might be a decent way to get Kidd involved and get a big bucket or two but no way Dallas can rely on posting up Kidd. That didn't work in the 2003 Finals and Kidd has slowed down and Parker is much stronger.

[I Love Me Some Me]

From the Dallas perspective:

I expect to see more of Kidd in the post against Parker, as they figured this out as the game went on. Guys like Cassell and Peyton also used to do it against TP successfully.

You can probably defend Kidd with Mason, Bowen, or Finley. Let Parker guard Terry,.

[GOSPURS733]

You do realize this is 2009, right? When is the last time that the Spurs have been beaten by the strategy to post up Parker? Cassell didn't even hurt Parker much past 2002 and Peyton Manning plays in the NFL.

It might be a decent way to get Kidd involved and get a big bucket or two but no way Dallas can rely on posting up Kidd. That didn't work in the 2003 Finals and Kidd has slowed down and Parker is much stronger.

i think he ment gary peyton lol

[timvp]

do you think pop should start gooden instead of bonner?
there would be more gooden/duncan vs dirk.

I don't think Gooden starts anytime soon. He's currently the fourth big in the rotation. KT is the next in line to start with the way Pop is coaching.

I've wanted Gooden to start since he arrived in San Antonio but it now looks like it'd take a drastic situation for that to happen.

[Agloco]

i think he ment gary peyton lol

Um, that would be

Gary Payton?


Hence timvp's joke........

[mexicanjunior]

I've wanted Gooden to start since he arrived in San Antonio but it now looks like it'd take a drastic situation for that to happen.

Maybe going down 0-2, with Bonner throwing up a 2pt - 2 reb performance in 30 minutes of PT, will qualify...

[Agloco]

Maybe going down 0-2, with Bonner throwing up a 2pt - 2 reb performance in 30 minutes of PT, will qualify...

ty performances on Bonner's part don't confront Pop.

It's almost like Bonner found Pop's old stash of porn in the Spurs workout facility........

[ElNono]

ty performances on Bonner's part don't confront Pop.

It's almost like Bonner found Pop's old stash of porn in the Spurs workout facility........

More like gay porn...