Who will guard Dirk?

[TD 21]

You just changed it from Duncan to anyone, because you noticed you were wrong?

Career stats:

Duncan:
FT's per game: 7.1
FT's per 36 minutes: 7.0

Nowitzki:
FT's per game: 6.6
FT's per 36 minutes: 6.4

Nice one, try again.

Not at all. Duncan just didn't make much sense there, because then it would have been like saying he's the standard for stars who get calls, which obviously isn't the case.

You try again.

Duncan is a post guy, who plays the game where fouls are generally drawn. Nowitzki does everything you're not supposed to do to get calls, yet still mysteriously ends up with oodles of them. Besides, Duncan's lead on that was built up early-mid career. The last few years, Nowitzki get's to the line more. To be fair, him playing significantly more minutes contributes to this too.

[ZB 512]

Not at all. Duncan just didn't make much sense there, because then it would have been like saying he's the standard for stars who get calls, which obviously isn't the case.

You try again.

Duncan is a post guy, who plays the game where fouls are generally drawn. Nowitzki does everything you're not supposed to do to get calls, yet still mysteriously ends up with oodles of them. Besides, Duncan's lead on that was built up early-mid career. The last few years, Nowitzki get's to the line more. To be fair, him playing significantly more minutes contributes to this too.

Dirk also takes quite a few more shots than Duncan

what is the strategy of many teams in defending Dirk?....to get physical with him

[ZB 512]

Bonner had a huge part in holding Dirk down last playoffs. It was obviously a team effort with lots of help and doubles, but truth be told, Bonner played Dirk just about perfectly for long stretches.

lol did you even watch the series last season? Bonner didnt "hold down" crap. I remember Spurs fans on this very board and on AM sports talk complaining about Bonner during that series. Talk about revisionist memory.

They swarmed Dirk a majority of the time and that opened up the court for the rest of the Mavs. It wasnt all about scoring. Dirk was very efficient in making the right play out of the double teams.

[Sportstudi]

Not at all. Duncan just didn't make much sense there, because then it would have been like saying he's the standard for stars who get calls, which obviously isn't the case.

You try again.

Duncan is a post guy, who plays the game where fouls are generally drawn. Nowitzki does everything you're not supposed to do to get calls, yet still mysteriously ends up with oodles of them. Besides, Duncan's lead on that was built up early-mid career. The last few years, Nowitzki get's to the line more. To be fair, him playing significantly more minutes contributes to this too.

I just checked the stats since Duncan's minutes dropped and started at the 04-05 season. During the 6 following seasons (including the current one) he averaged 6.75 per 36 minutes. Dirk got 7.15 per 36 minutes. That's not much of a difference.

And concerning fouls: Duncan gets banged up in the post a lot, I'll give you that. But it's not Nowitzki's fault that defenders fall for his pump fakes and hit his arms while shooting or try to defend him with double hand checking (which is an automatic foul).

[jdev82]

The Spurs didn't "stop" Dirk last year. They basically pulled out the same defensive scheme that Houston, Golden State and Miami have used before them. His numbers weren't impressive (19/8) if I recall, but he played a great floor game. The book on Dirk has been to double team him, trap him, send the double from odd angles and from his blind side, force him to put the ball on the floor and drive instead of spotting up, etc. The Rockets, Warriors and Heat had great success with this approach. Dirk has gotten a lot better at dealing with it. He shredded the Spurs last year with his passing and playing the facillitator role. It remains to be seen if Butler, Haywood, Beaubois can match what Bass, Howard and Barea did last year playing off the looks they got from the attention paid to Dirk.

The game in Dallas earlier this year that saw Dirk go off for 41, the Spurs played him straight up mainly with Bonner on him in crunchtime and Dirk destroyed him. That won't work in the playoffs. Even though it didn't work last year, the "Golden State" defense is San Antonio's best chance. We'll find out if that does the job. The Warriors and Heat won with this approach, San Antonio and Houston ultimately failed with it. It's the best chance San Antonio has.

he always seemed to bust out when you guys needed him, but he wasnt dominating the entire game. i credit good d for that.
oh and spurs fans, look out for roddy boubois. hes the next jj berrea

[scottspurs]

Who will guard Ginobili?

[ZB 512]

Who will guard Ginobili?

ha very good question. Im worried about that one. I dont know if anyone can contain Manu right now

..but it will probably be Marion, Butler, and Stevenson with that assignment

[Tp9gospursgo]

Who will guard Ginobili?

No one.

[DPG21920]

Butler/Marion are better equipped to guard Manu than anyone on the Spurs is to guard Dirk.

[Findog]

Who will guard Ginobili?

Kidd, Marion, Butler and Stevenson will all take turns.