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Damp and dirk were playing their little guard at the 3pt line for goodness sakes after a switch. When the didn't switch they stuck a three.
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Finally, somebody who actually saw what was happening in the game. Damp couldn't play because there was nobody he could guard--the Sonics were all draining the threes. Bradley would have been worse. The Mavs big line up got hosed. Couldn't cover the threes and couldn't control the defensive boards.
If you didn't switch the pick and roll, then they pulled up and drained a three--gives you an idea how frustrating it was to play the Mavs two years ago. At least with Dirk and the four 6'6" to 6'7" guys you could switch everything. Dirk, even with the bad ankle, did a great job when switched on Allen or Ridenour.
Neither Terry (who just yoyos the ball in one place for ten seconds) nor Armstrong (who doesn't know the plays) was much help on offense--and they had no chance when they had to switch on a bigger guy. The way the Sonics shoot, you have to honor them at the three-point line. If Lewis got a guard on him, then he just posted inside and help was too far away to get there.
The defense was great in the second half. We still don't have much offense, except for what Dirk creates, and as hurt as he was, I don't know how he did so much. Still, Finley got a clear look at a three to put the Mavs ahead and just missed it (BTW: Dirk didn't have anything on the drive, he made the right play).
When we play the Sonics again, if Dirk is well, Daniels well, Finley well, and Armstrong has had time to learn the plays, then I think we beat them. Or even if they miss just a few shots.
Some of you want to have it both ways. You want the team to play run 'n gun like '02-'03 and want Dallas to play defense and half-court offense like the Spurs. Give this team time (like this year, and next year, and if it isn't playing better look at making changes in the summer of 2006). It'll probably take until next year some time for the offense to become really effective (although we can hope it will begin to be better sooner than that).
These kinds of difficulties are what happens when you want to give up a style that has made you an elite team in order to try a different style that you believe will make you a champion.