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Sounds nice, but Pop won't do anything extraordinary and change the series. He's not big on adjustments, he'll probably keep the same lineup and we'll lose in six.
What I’ve like about the Spurs recent small-ball play is their ability to spread the floor on offense and get to the rim. If one possession had gone differently at the end of games 3 and 4 this series would be 3-1 in favor of San Antonio. Dallas isn’t crushing the Spurs by any means, and the Spurs don’t look defeated or deflated as they did against the Lakers in the .04 series a couple of years back. I can see still see the Spurs winning this series, all it will take is a few breaks to go their way, and a change in defensive philosophy.
If I’m Pop I start Rasho in game 5 and plan on rotating him, Nazr and Oberto at the 5 spot. I will expect all 18 fouls to be used to deny the Mavs anything easy, and will reiterate to my troops that the only way the Mavericks score in the paint is if they get it from the line. (Dallas is getting to the line every other possession anyway, at least force them outside a bit more.) I tell these three that I want them to play like men possessed and I do not hesitate to switch them out the second they appear even slightly winded. I switch between a man and zone with my two bigs clogging the paint. If Dirk is getting some shots from the perimeter, fine, I’ll live with that as opposed to the parade of layups and shooting fouls Dallas has been getting to this point.
On offense I continue my using my spread offense and make sure my post guys are moving as much as possible. If Duncan is hit with the double team from Rasho’s man I’m making sure Rasho and company flash to the basket. If Dallas is single covering I move Rasho et. al. out of the paint and let Timmy go to work. I attack the rim at every opportunity and try to deny the offensive glass. Dallas is inept enough in the paint that even Rasho should be able to score down low.
Bottom line is that the Spurs need to play ‘Spurs basketball’ which is to protect the paint from all invaders and force the Mavericks into more of an outside attack. My fear is that Pop won’t want to tinker with the lineup much at this point, and considering that it’s already 3-1 he may have already gambled on small-ball for too long. His coaching history tends to show that he may not be willing to mix things up enough when the Spurs are trailing late in a series to make any real impact. My other fear is that Rasho, Nazr and Oberto won’t be capable of being the enforcers we need them to be to change the face of these next three games.
I seem to remember someone saying that defense wins championships, unfortunately that mantra been forgotten here in the last 3 games.
But I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that Pop is going to change something in game 5 that will change the face of the series and the momentum will shift back to San Antonio. The Spurs have only been a basket or two away from being up 3-1 and there's no reason to think that a small tweak won't fix what's broken. The Spurs will win in 7 games and advance.
I Believe.
Sounds nice, but Pop won't do anything extraordinary and change the series. He's not big on adjustments, he'll probably keep the same lineup and we'll lose in six.
I hope you're right. Even if they win Game 5, what about Game 6 in Dallas?
yeah!
why not
Dallas doesn't have experience in pressure situations. Those jumpshots will feel like they are shooting a medicine ball. Dallas' only chance to close out is tomorrow, if they don't the spurs walk them down.
Play both our 7 footers.
Play D, make them adjust to us. Rabid fans.
Spurs in 7.
Games 3 and 4 were there for the taking with less than 24 seconds remaining. I see that as anyone's game. Momentum is a wonderous thing in sports and it's really all the Spurs need.
If we had no answers for Dallas then I'd say we're sunk, but we're still alive. . .especially if we can figure out a way to get the defense looking a little more recognizable.
Yea, because none of the 1st 4 games were "pressure situations"...
They looked experienced last night. If they have an off night, I doubt it will be from pressure-it will be from them being overdue for an off night. S
The San Antonio centers combined for, what, 1 second in game 4? Why would Pop start one or roll with one for an extended period of time?
If there is a game 7, that's the next one I'll watch.
You're right about our defense, but I'm thinking Pop's adjustments, if he does decide to make them will be too little too late.
Still, it would be one of the best comebacks in the history of the league
Because it's 3-1 Mavs and the Spurs are last in the league in defense during the playoffs.
If anything, do that at the end of the game when we need stops. We haven't been able to get stops at crucial times.
Just hope that the Spurs win Game 5 and have a chance at the end of Game 6.
If spurs win this series, I'll stop posting here forever.
Why don't you get a head start?
Great post, Ed.
That was my line of thinking a month ago. When Jason Terry nailed that rainbow over Duncan with 30 seconds left in overtime, my line of thinking was shattered. That was a pressure shot if there ever was one.
The yips would emerge if the Mavs feared the Spurs. But with small ball all the rage right now with Pop, the Spurs are about as scary as the Suns.
KINGS IN 7!!
Oops.
If Duncan had seal the shot at the end of regulation, we would all be praising POP for his offensive adjustments. Everytime the Spurs try to go big the Mavs go on a run, but the answer for some of you remains to play Rasho and Nazr. Yet, when Dirk goes to the basket and gets touched, he gets the call, but you still want to put Duncan on Dirk? That's crazy.
How badass would a game 7 in this series be?
I'm getting excited again. Just 2 wins in a row and we're there.
I'd consider trying Rasho on Dirk. I think the Spurs need someone out there to clog the lane. Right now Dallas is performing a layup drill, and when they miss they're shooting free throws. The Spurs would be better off playing there bigs, sagging into the lane a little bit and forcing Dallas to beat us from the outside. Other teams have done exactly this to us in the past with pretty good success.
If the Spurs had anyone other big waiting in the wings I'd say fire 'em up, but Rasho and Nazr is what we got. Small-ball killed us in some regular season games and is killing us in this series.
Sean Marks anyone??
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