Initial Reactions: Spurs vs. Mavs - Game 2

[HarlemHeat37]

I jumped out of my seat when Finley blocked Dirk, but I wasn't sure if it wasn't a foul..it looked clean on that picture that was just posted by loveforthegame though, so I can definitely feel better about it..

Finley dunked soon after that too..

it's like he had an athletic flashback..

[Obstructed_View]

That call to end the first half.

My god.

The no call on Bass ripping Duncan to the floor.

The foul in the first quarter when Gooden played Nowitzki perfect on the baseline.

Just pathetic.

Actually, they should have given the foul to Bruce and it would have been fine. Since they charged it to Mason it wasn't in the act of shooting, but neither was Dampier's layup. Speaking of that, the inconsistency of the continuation rule from one side to the other was surprising.

[DPG21920]

It was beautiful but of course it'll be overlooked.

Nice! Then he got the dunk on the other end. It was a great sequence but will never top when he mashed the ball then head butted it in the playoffs against the Mavs. Straight G.

[Obstructed_View]

I thought the refs have been great so far this series.

I thought the Spurs' play tonight means that they can pretty much play through anything short of FIBA officiating.

[EricB]

Actually, they should have given the foul to Bruce and it would have been fine. Since they charged it to Mason it wasn't in the act of shooting, but neither was Dampier's layup. Speaking of that, the inconsistency of the continuation rule from one side to the other was surprising.

I sense copius amounts of drippings of sarcasm.

[Mugen]

i hope to god the refs let us play D in Dallas like we did in the third qtr

[EricB]

I thought the Spurs' play tonight means that they can pretty much play through anything short of FIBA officiating.

Maybe even Joey Crawford.

Oh well.

Hopefully its the other crawford thats the lead in game 3.

[timvp]

From my angle, it looked like Mason fouled Terry by putting a hand on his back during his shot. That's an automatic call. And yeah, Bowen fouled him too.

[timvp]

And yeah, that was a nice block by Finley on Dirk and then a vintage fadeaway dunk on the other end. Hopefully Finley realized that his offense doesn't matter nearly as much as his defense. Sticking within 15 feet of Howard and rotating physically >>>> 5-for-5 three-point shooting and trash defense.

But Dirk gets that call in Dallas no doubt.

[EricB]

BTW props to Drew Gooden on that unreal first half.

His defense was fantastic. He bothered Dirk well, he rotated VERY well, and on offense he was smart and agressive with a beautifull up and under to get by Bass.

Hope hes ok and can produce like that in Dallas

[whottt]

Finley must hate the +/- stat. He gets a high negative it's because he was destroyed by his player but he gets a high positive it's because he plays with Duncan and Parker.

That's because Parker, Bonnner and Duncan had nearly the same +/- as Finley did tonight...


While no one else had even half of his negative +/- in game 1...in fact his negative +/- in game 1 was nearly equal to that of every other player on the team...

COMBINED.


So no...his positive doesn't mean much when it is a number shared by those he started with...


His negative +/- from game 1 being 4/5ths more than any starter not named Matt Bonner(and over double Bonner's) not to mention being at least more than twice that of any other player on the bench...means everything.


Finley was an absolute whirlpool of suck in game 1...tonight he merely went along for the ride in a strong team performance....and his numbers are typical of the other starters...not standout, as they were in game 1, standout from the entire rest of the team, unless you add all the others together.

[Obstructed_View]

That's because Parker, Bonnner and Duncan had nearly the same +/- as Finley did tonight...


While no one else had even half of his negative +/- in game 1...in fact his negative +/- in game 1 was nearly equal to that of every other player on the team...

COMBINED.


So no...his positive doesn't mean much when it is a number shared by those he started with...


His negative +/- from game 1 being 4/5ths more than any starter not named Matt Bonner(and over double Bonner's) not to mention being at least more than twice that of any other player on the bench...means everything.


Finley was an absolute whirlpool of suck in game 1...tonight he merely went along for the ride in a strong team performance....and his numbers are typical of the other starters...not standout, as they were in game 1, standout from the entire rest of the team, unless you add all the others together.

Funny how a dose of Bruce rights so many wrongs.

[whottt]

-Pop made a lot of good decisions in Game 2. I liked that he gave Bonner another shot and it really paid off.

He told Bonner that he was going to get pulled from the game if he didn't take the shot when he was open...

That seems to be what works best with Bonner...it's takes the thinking about it(and the responsibility for missing the shot) out of his hands thereby decreasing the choke that will happen the second he has to think about taking the shot.

Pop also gave Bowen a chance to shine and Bowen didn't disappoint.

This is like propping someone for realizing that shooting themself in the foot is stupid after doing it 83 games in a row.

Was that it hard to see that Bowen could help?

Personally...I prefer to think of it as being Pop's plan all along to save Bowen. The idea that Pop legitimately didn't think Bowen could contribute and only now realized it is frankly a terrifying one...since the Spurs are in his hands.

His adjustments on the defensive end worked to perfection and put the Spurs in a position to win. Additionally, Pop did a better job of finding the needed rest for Parker and Duncan without losing too much momentum.

This is now a series. Time to gear up for Game 3.

Believe.

My favorite adjustment was limiting Finley's minutes to less than any other starter....


Finley put up a +28 in only 25 minutes

If we needed any other proof that less Finley is more, there it is....

[EricB]

Funny how a dose of Bruce rights so many wrongs.

Agreed.

I loved the rotations in that third quarter.

Would've been perfect if it was Mase, Gooden, Hill coming straight off the bench first but, baby steps.

[timvp]

He told Bonner that he was going to get pulled from the game if he didn't take the shot when he was open...

That's what he always tells him. Running a couple plays for him to get him open looks was a bigger difference. He didn't really pass up any shots in Game 1 ... they just weren't there.

Was that it hard to see that Bowen could help?

Personally...I prefer to think of it as being Pop's plan all along to save Bowen.

I would believe that but Bowen only got time in Game 1 after Udoka got benched. And Pop admitted that Manu being out is the only reason Bowen got back into the rotation at the end of the season.

The idea that Pop legitimately didn't think Bowen could contribute and only now realized it is frankly a terrifying one...since the Spurs are in his hands.

Unless he pulled the ultimate CIA Pop and told Manu to get injured and Udoka to screw up in Game 1, I think it's correct to be terrified.

[whottt]

I would also like to give Pop props for the brilliant decision to actully use bigmen to defend the Mavs bigmen with....

I mean wow, we guard them with bigmen and all of a sudden we stopp getting murdered on the glass and slapped off the court in the 4th quarter...what a stroke of genius that was.


I think everyone is saying the Mavs wanted it less tonight...amazing how their desire decreases when they are being guarded by guys 6'10 and 240 instead of 220lb 2 guards.

Sheer genius I say.

[EricB]

I would also like to give Pop props for the brilliant decision to actully use bigmen to defend the Mavs bigmen with....

I mean wow, we guard them with bigmen and all of a sudden we stopp getting murdered on the glass and slapped off the court in the 4th quarter...what a stroke of genius that was.


I think everyone is saying the Mavs wanted it less tonight...amazing how their desire decreases when they are being guarded by guys 6'10 and 240 instead of 220lb 2 guards.

Sheer genius I say.

Except that stretch in the third where both teams went small, but the Spurs outsmall balled the Mavericks.

[papashango]

Playing most of your minutes with both Duncan and Parker on the court does wonders for the ol' +/-.

It didn't last game when he was -20 on 7-9 shooting with 5/5 from 3 lol.

[tp2021]

Except that stretch in the third where both teams went small, but the Spurs outsmall balled the Mavericks.

As much as that is awesome, I wouldn't plan on winning a game in Dallas that way.

[EricB]

As much as that is awesome, I wouldn't plan on winning a game in Dallas that way.

Neither would I, but it forced the Mavericks to go back big.

I'm hoping tonight's ass whoopin gives the Mavericks pause. Although I'm sure it won't.

[whottt]

It didn't last game when he was -20 on 7-9 shooting with 5/5 from 3 lol.

Just out of curiosity...what was your usernic at Spurs Report?

[Obstructed_View]

He told Bonner that he was going to get pulled from the game if he didn't take the shot when he was open...

That seems to be what works best with Bonner...it's takes the thinking about it(and the responsibility for missing the shot) out of his hands thereby decreasing the choke that will happen the second he has to think about taking the shot.

Bonner had essentially zero open opportunities in game one. Blame that on him if you'd like, but being tentative about shooting has not been his problem at any time this season, which is why he leads the team in three point percentage. If Bonner defended, rebounded, and hustled like tonight in game 1 without making a shot it would probably have been enough to change the outcome.

[EricB]

Bonner had essentially zero open opportunities in game one. Blame that on him if you'd like, but being tentative about shooting has not been his problem at any time this season, which is why he leads the team in three point percentage. If Bonner defended, rebounded, and hustled like tonight in game 1 without making a shot it would probably have been enough to change the outcome.

Agreed.

His rotations on the perimiter and his fantastic defense on Dirk were enough for a standing O.


Unfortunately he probobly won't play but 5 minutes combined up in Dallas due to the refs will whistle him for breathing on Dirk too much.

[whottt]

Except that stretch in the third where both teams went small, but the Spurs outsmall balled the Mavericks.

They also gave him a healthy dose of Gooden...plus they took it at his ass in the paint all night.

Dirk was ready to go home and listen to some Hasselhoff records by halftime....that is the Dirk that just about every other team in the NBA knows. He's only Wilt against us...and it's because we make it easy for him to be Wilt.

[whottt]

That's what he always tells him. Running a couple plays for him to get him open looks was a bigger difference. He didn't really pass up any shots in Game 1 ... they just weren't there.

They said Pop told him that before the game tonight...a reiteration never hurts.

I would believe that but Bowen only got time in Game 1 after Udoka got benched. And Pop admitted that Manu being out is the only reason Bowen got back into the rotation at the end of the season.

Unless he pulled the ultimate CIA Pop and told Manu to get injured and Udoka to screw up in Game 1, I think it's correct to be terrified.

Or wanted a to light a big fire under Bowen...you may very well be right, I just hope you aren't.

I just have a hard time buying that Pop totally fell out of love with Bowen this season, Bowen's been his favorite Spur(or at least one of them) for too long.

Then again...Finley.