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Keep rotating to shooters and pick them up in transition.
Win the rebounding margin by hitting the defensive glass with guards included, and don't commit stupid fouls giving up free throws.
Technically, the Spurs will be at home tonight for Game 3. But against these Mavs, there really isn't any homecourt advantage. Since the 2006 playoffs, the Mavs have been extremely comfortable in the AT&T Center. In fact, the Mavs seem to execute better against the Spurs in San Antonio than in Dallas.
This season, the Mavs have been great on the road. Their 27-14 road record in the regular season was the best in the entire NBA. If the Spurs don't bring the same type of intensity and attention to detail they had in Game 2, the Mavs could easily jump on the Spurs early.
Why are the Mavs so good on the road? A lot of it has to do with Jason Terry. At home, Terry averaged 15.8 points on 41.7% shooting from the field and 31.9% on three-pointers. On the road, Terry was much better: 17.5 points on 46% from the field and 40.8% on threes. It'd be wise if the Spurs paid extra attention to Terry tonight.
Here are some other concerns for Game 3:
Don't forcefeed RJ. Richard Jeferson had a really good Game 2 but with as uneven as his play has been this season, there should be no expectations of a repeat performance in Game 3. I especially don't like it when the coaching staff calls post-ups for RJ. He's never been good on the post, he wasn't good posting up during the regular season and won't suddenly be good at it in the playoffs. Let him score on the break and in the halfcourt when he can penetrate against a rotating defense.
Manu Ginobili needs to drive to score. When Ginobili runs pick-and-rolls, a lot of times scoring for himself isn't a priority. However, against the Mavs, that is a mistake. The Mavs are very long and active on defense and they can make a passing lane disappear in an instant. What the Mavs don't do as well is protect the paint on pick-and-rolls. For that reason, Ginobili needs to try to score each and every time he quarterbacks a pick-and-roll. If the Mavs overplay pick-and-rolls to keep Ginobili out of the lane, that's when the Argentine star can create open looks for others.
Matt Bonner has to hit shots. The Mavs have been leaving Bonner open most of the time. Bonner has been a better shooter at home (45% on threes at home, 32.4% on the road) so he needs to take advantage of the open looks. If the Spurs are going to blow open the game, they'll need Bonner to spread the defense by draining shots from deep.
Keep the pressure on Dallas' starting guards. With Jason Kidd, the Spurs need to pressure his dribble as much as possible. If you give him too much freedom, he's smart and talented enough to beat the Spurs by himself. As for Caron Butler, the Spurs need make him feel playoff pressure. In Game 2, he was hesitant and past up a number of open looks. Keep Butler second-guessing and the Spurs have a great chance in this series.
Keep rotating to shooters and pick them up in transition.
Win the rebounding margin by hitting the defensive glass with guards included, and don't commit stupid fouls giving up free throws.
Random Thought: F*cking win two in a row and let a little doubt creep into the Mavs' minds.
LJ- IMO most important think of which you mentioned is Ginos drives and Bonner 3pointers.
Dallas are doing a good job of pushing Gino outside while on pick and rolls. Hopefully manus creativity will let him split the defenders and score. Not an easy task cause Dallas have big frontine.
Also let's not forget that Tim needs some help. Bonne hitting shots can buy Duncan some rest on the bench and on the court [does not need to battle all by himself all the time inside].
Blair! We need him bcause I do not know if Dyess can keep that high intensity as in previous meeting all game long
Is it pretty much a foregone conclusion to expect NOTHING from Blair this postseason?
Seeing him gather himself to try to back a player down w/ his dribble makes me cringe, but his occasional cuts to the basket or knack for put-backs have been his bread-and-butter all season. Where'd it go? Simply playoff pressure getting to the rook?
Agreed. All season long when they did this he just couldn't deliver. He is who he is and you nailed it with being the guy on open breaks and penetrating against a rotating D.
I hope that Matt comes through tonight and hits those shots. It would be a God send for him and the Spurs. He stuggles under pressure so this is a hit and miss situation. If previous performances are a good indicator then most likely a miss. But things could change and I hope they do.
I've been an advocate of putting a man on Kidd and not letting him get open, even if it means not doubling wings or Dirk. I believe that Kidd is the head of the snake and we need to cut it off. Limit his open shots, especially from beyond the arc, and force him to either shoot moving Js or give up the rock. Limiting his ability to create off the dribble limits the Mavs ability to score. He is that improtant to getting the Mavs in an offensive flow. From what happened in game 2 I think the Spurs should continue to focus on Kiddd and give him little room to operate.
I may have misinterpreted game 2 but it seemed like Matt hit some big shots and maybe he can start building on that..
Maybe but at this point I think we shouldn't give up on him. Not saying that you are but Dallas's length is really is bothering him and being a rookie and playing in the POs for the first time doesn't help either. Hopefully we get past the Mavs and he gets more comfortable in his role and plays against players of lesser length.
I'd wish for him to try to get the shots off quicker and not try to post up too much in this series. The matchups just aren't that favorable towards him. I'd like to see him play a little futher away from the rim on O and get some of those cuts to the basket for dunks like in game 1. He would be more effective on the move rather than trying to post up down low.IMHO
Let's get game 3 and put some doubt in the Mavs.
Three good points. The team to win the rebounding margin is 7-0 the last two postseasons. With regards to rotating to shooters, that is especially true for Jason Kidd. If you stop Kidd from shooting set-shot three-pointers, that pretty much mutes his scoring potential. Inside the arc he struggles to score, especially against the Spurs.
Blair was pretty good in Game 1, not so hot in Game 2. When it comes to rookies in the playoffs, especially those who come off the bench for spot minutes, you have to expect inconsistent play. It's just the nature of the beast. Some games Blair will play well, some games he'll struggle. Honestly, he'll probably struggle more often than not.
What Spurs fans should hope for is Blair has one game in this playoff run where he plays out of his mind and is responsible for a victory. If he does that, his rookie postseason will be a success.
The most important thing is going to be taking care of the ball. There's no way the Spurs can run with Kidd, Butler, and Nowitzki, and if the tempo gets out of hand again from TOs, the Spurs will drop this game.
We need more then one good game for blair
Yup, pretty much Dallas are feed with Spurs turnovers. To tell you worse truth - mavs are setting the pace of it and takes control of the game.
Good point, during the regular season his best stats were at home and as a sub. Even his rebounding is better. Hopefully, this is the case tonight.Matt Bonner has to hit shots. The Mavs have been leaving Bonner open most of the time. Bonner has been a better shooter at home (45% on threes at home, 32.4% on the road) so he needs to take advantage of the open looks. If the Spurs are going to blow open the game, they'll need Bonner to spread the defense by draining shots from deep.
I didn't mean one good game. I meant one spectacular game where he leads the Spurs to victory. I expect him to have a number of good games, bad games and indifferent games in the meantime.
The first 3 are notable points and are very appropriate pieces of advice given what we've seen in games 1 and 2.
The last piece of advice: "Keep the pressure on Dallas' starting guards" honestly is kind of generic and "duh". Of course you want to do this, you want to do this every game.
I foresee ginobili going to the line a good deal more in this game.
He was 3-3 FT in game 1, and 3-3 FT in game 2. 3 free throws for manu ginobili is a ****ing joke, his style of play easily deserves 6 to 8 FTA per game.
I knew you will point that out ...
1 spectacular
2 fantastic
1 great
3 nice
4 pretty good
and all of sudden spurs will be the champs
Pressuring Jason Kidd used to be suicide. Back when he was quick, he'd blow by a pressure defense and either score or find an open player.
Now that Kidd has played 50,000 career minutes or whatever it is, he's not as quick so pressuring his dribble is doable. If the Spurs can do to Kidd what the Lakers did to Terry Porter in 2001, they could really gain an advantage in this series.
McDyess will once again be a big part of whether or not the Spurs win or lose tonight. He defense of Dirk, rebounding and flat out hustle played a huge part in maintaining momentum in game 2. I'm also hoping that Hill continues to show more and more confidence on that ankle and looks more like the Hill from the regular season.
I don't think it's possible to make anyone look as bad as Porter in 01. I don't even think they could make Barea look that bad, much less Kidd.
ahh i see that makes sense. I suppose kidd is more of a 3 point threat these days than a driving threat.
I guess I was looking to him to be our "energy guy" in the postseason. I know he doesn't have a particularly refined skill-set, but you'd hope he could give you a spark off the bench simply bred from pure hustle.Maybe but at this point I think we shouldn't give up on him. Not saying that you are but Dallas's length is really is bothering him and being a rookie and playing in the POs for the first time doesn't help either. Hopefully we get past the Mavs and he gets more comfortable in his role and plays against players of lesser length.
I'd wish for him to try to get the shots off quicker and not try to post up too much in this series. The matchups just aren't that favorable towards him. I'd like to see him play a little futher away from the rim on O and get some of those cuts to the basket for dunks like in game 1. He would be more effective on the move rather than trying to post up down low.IMHO
Let's get game 3 and put some doubt in the Mavs.
I'd love for him to have a spectacular game (preferably one with one of those surprisingly athletic, soaring in outta nowhere dunks), but the way he's performed thus far, I won't be holding my breath.
And as many have said already, I'd love to see Matt FINALLY heat up...take some of the focus OUTTA the paint for a stretch.
Limit turnovers to 10-12 and hit 75% from the line and we'll be ok.
pressuring Kidd into driving the ball instead of letting him take stand still 3 pointers seemed a good idea back in Game 2.
If the Spurs win rebounding and keep the 3 point line close, they will have a great shot.
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