[Murphy3]

Originally posted by: Poindexter Einstein
I see all these posts about how the Mavs went to a zone and it did well. Then it ran out of steam, or Nellie lost faith, or blah blah blah...Bradley did well, then wasnt so good, etc ...

NONSENSE.

There is one factor that no one seems to notice, that allowed the zone (and Bradley) to do well. And when it changed, it was over. And it had nothing to do with Mavs rotations, fatigue, lineup, or whatnot.

Here is the main reason why the zone stopped working, why Bradley wasnt as effective after the 8:30 mark in the 4th, and why the Mavs lost the lead ....

...drumroll, please ....

...and the answer is ...

...Stoudemire came back into the game!

That's it. They couldnt stop Stoudemire with a zone, a man, anything. He went out for a rest about the time Bradley came in and the Mavs went to a zone, and it looked real effective. But when he came back in, whoosh the Mavs got killed no matter what defense they tried on him.

Let's examine what PE has said.

He went out for a rest about the time Bradley came in and the Mavs went to a zone, and it looked real effective.

Take a look at the play by play from the time that Bradley came into the game until the time he left. Also, take note of the time that Amare was on the court. I'll bold when Amare left the game and when he came back in the game to make this easier for some. Bradley came in at the beginning of the 3rd quarter and left with 6:22 left in the 4th.

(11:47) [PHX 57-43] Nash Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Johnson (4 AST)
(11:32) [DAL 45-57] D. Harris Driving Layup: Made (4 PTS)
(11:17) [PHX 59-45] Nash Fade Away: Made (10 PTS)
(11:02) [DAL] Nowitzki Turnover: Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal: Richardson (2 ST)
(10:51) [PHX] Stoudemire Jump Shot: Missed
(10:48) [PHX] Stoudemire Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)
(10:47) [DAL] Bradley Foul: Shooting (1 PF)
(10:47) [PHX] Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(10:47) [PHX] Team Rebound
(10:47) [PHX] Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 missed
(10:46) [DAL] Nowitzki Rebound (Off:1 Def:7)
(10:34) [DAL] Bradley Jump Shot: Missed
(10:32) [PHX] Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
(10:26) [PHX] Nash Turnover: Bad Pass (5 TO) Steal: D. Harris (4 ST)
(10:26) [DAL] Team Timeout: Short
(10:14) [DAL 47-59] D. Harris Driving Layup: Made (6 PTS)
(9:56) [PHX] Nash Jump Shot: Missed
(9:54) [PHX] Marion Rebound (Off:5 Def:3)
(9:50) [DAL] Daniels Foul: Shooting (3 PF)
(9:50) [PHX] Richardson Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(9:50) [PHX] Team Rebound
(9:50) [PHX] Richardson Free Throw 2 of 2 missed
(9:49) [DAL] D. Harris Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
(9:36) [DAL] D. Harris Jump Shot: Missed
(9:34) [PHX] Richardson Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)
(9:30) [PHX 61-47] Marion Driving Layup: Made (12 PTS)
(9:14) [DAL] Howard Jump Shot: Missed
(9:13) [DAL] Nowitzki Layup Shot: Missed
(9:13) [DAL] Nowitzki Rebound (Off:2 Def:7)
(9:13) [DAL] Nowitzki Rebound (Off:3 Def:7)
(9:13) [PHX] Richardson Foul: Shooting (1 PF)
(9:13) [DAL] Nowitzki Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(9:13) [DAL] Team Rebound
(9:13) [DAL] Nowitzki Free Throw 2 of 2 missed
(9:11) [PHX] Marion Rebound (Off:5 Def:4)
(8:58) [PHX] Nash Turnover: Traveling (6 TO)
(8:46) [DAL] D. Harris Jump Shot: Missed
(8:44) [DAL] Team Rebound
(8:35) [DAL 49-61] Daniels Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: D. Harris (3 AST)
(8:16) [PHX 64-49] Richardson Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Johnson (5 AST)
(8:08) [PHX] Marion Foul: Shooting (3 PF)
(8:08) [DAL 50-64] Nowitzki Free Throw 1 of 2 (13 PTS)
(8:08) [DAL 51-64] Nowitzki Free Throw 2 of 2 (14 PTS)
(7:57) [PHX] Richardson Turnover: Stepped out of Bounds (2 TO)
(7:47) [DAL 53-64] D. Harris Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS)
(7:35) [PHX] Johnson Foul: Offensive (2 PF)
(7:35) [PHX] Johnson Turnover: Foul (2 TO)
(7:35) [PHX] Team Timeout: Regular
(7:27) [DAL 55-64] D. Harris Jump Shot: Made (10 PTS)
(7:10) [PHX] Nash Jump Shot: Missed
(7:09) [PHX] Team Rebound
(7:09) [DAL] Bradley Foul: Loose Ball (2 PF)
(6:56) [PHX] Stoudemire Layup Shot: Missed
(6:54) [PHX 66-55] Stoudemire Tip Shot: Made (17 PTS)
(6:54) [PHX] Stoudemire Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)
(6:35) [DAL] Nowitzki Fade Away: Missed
(6:32) [DAL] Howard Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
(6:30) [DAL] Howard Jump Shot: Missed
(6:30) [PHX] Marion Rebound (Off:5 Def:5)
(6:30) [DAL] Nowitzki Foul: Loose Ball (4 PF)
(6:13) [PHX] Richardson Jump Shot: Missed
(6:12) [PHX] Marion Rebound (Off:6 Def:5)
(5:59) [PHX] Marion Jump Shot: Missed
(5:57) [PHX] Richardson Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)
(5:56) [PHX] Richardson Layup Shot: Missed Block: Nowitzki (2 BLK)
(5:56) [DAL] Howard Substitution replaced by Stackhouse
(5:56) [DAL] Nowitzki Rebound (Off:4 Def:8)
(5:56) Nowitzki Jump Ball Nowitzki vs Richardson
(5:42) [DAL 57-66] Bradley Hook Shot: Made (2 PTS)
(5:25) [PHX] Nash Turnover: Bad Pass (7 TO) Steal: Bradley (1 ST)
(5:18) [DAL] Daniels Jump Shot: Missed
(5:18) [DAL] Nowitzki Rebound (Off:4 Def:8)
(5:18) [PHX] Richardson Foul: Loose Ball (2 PF)
(5:08) [DAL 59-66] Bradley Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Stackhouse (2 AST)
(5:01) [PHX] Nash Turnover: Bad Pass (8 TO) Steal: Bradley (2 ST)
(4:56) [DAL 61-66] Nowitzki Slam Dunk Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: D. Harris (4
(4:54) [PHX] Team Timeout: Regular
(4:34) [PHX] Johnson Jump Shot: Missed
(4:32) [DAL] Daniels Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
(4:25) [DAL] Stackhouse Turnover: Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal: Stoudemire (2 ST)
(4:19) [PHX 68-61] Johnson Slam Dunk Shot: Made (7 PTS)
(4:04) [DAL 63-68] Bradley Dunk Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Daniels (2 AST)
(3:42) [PHX] Johnson Jump Shot: Missed
(3:40) [PHX] Stoudemire Rebound (Off:4 Def:3)
(3:39) [DAL] Nowitzki Foul: Personal (5 PF)
(3:39) [PHX] Johnson Substitution replaced by Jacobsen
(3:39) [DAL] Nowitzki Substitution replaced by Howard
(3:39) [PHX 69-63] Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 (18 PTS)
(3:39) [PHX 70-63] Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 (19 PTS)
(3:26) [DAL] D. Harris Layup Shot: Missed
(3:25) [PHX] Stoudemire Rebound (Off:4 Def:4)
(3:21) [DAL] Bradley Foul: Shooting (3 PF)
(3:21) [PHX] Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 2 missed
(3:21) [PHX] Team Rebound
(3:21) [PHX] Stoudemire Free Throw 2 of 2 missed
(3:20) [DAL] Bradley Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
(3:13) [DAL 65-70] Howard Reverse Layup: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Daniels (3 AST)
(2:56) [PHX] Nash Jump Shot: Missed
(2:54) [DAL] Daniels Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
(2:47) [DAL 67-70] Daniels Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS)
(2:22) [PHX] Marion Turnover: Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal: Stackhouse (1 ST)
(2:17) [DAL 69-70] Stackhouse Reverse Layup: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Daniels (4 A
(2:17) [PHX] Stoudemire Foul: Shooting (1 PF)
(2:17) [DAL 70-70] Stackhouse Free Throw 1 of 1 (13 PTS)
(2:05) [PHX 73-70] Richardson Jump Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Jacobsen (2 AST)
(1:54) [PHX] Stoudemire Foul: Shooting (2 PF)
(1:54) [PHX] Stoudemire Substitution replaced by Hunter
(1:54) [DAL 71-73] Daniels Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
(1:54) [DAL 72-73] Daniels Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
(1:39) [PHX] Nash Jump Shot: Missed
(1:39) [PHX] Team Rebound
(1:36) [PHX] Marion Layup Shot: Missed Block: Bradley (1 BLK)
(1:36) [PHX] Team Rebound
(1:26) [PHX 75-72] Marion Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Jacobsen (3 AST)
(1:13) [DAL] D. Harris Jump Shot: Missed
(1:11) [PHX] Marion Rebound (Off:6 Def:6)
(1:03) [PHX 77-72] Hunter Jump Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Nash (12 AST)
(0:51) [DAL] Daniels Jump Shot: Missed
(0:49) [PHX] Richardson Rebound (Off:1 Def:7)
(0:44) [PHX] Jacobsen Jump Shot: Missed
(0:42) [PHX] Marion Rebound (Off:7 Def:6)
(0:40) [PHX] Marion Layup Shot: Missed Block: Howard (1 BLK)
(0:38) [DAL] Bradley Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
(0:33) [DAL 74-77] Stackhouse Reverse Layup: Made (15 PTS) Assist: D. Harris (5
(0:13) [PHX] Richardson Jump Shot: Missed
(0:10) [DAL] D. Harris Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
(0:00) [DAL 76-77] Stackhouse Jump Shot: Made (17 PTS)
(0:00) End Period

4th Period
(11:50) [DAL 79-77] D. Harris Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS)
(11:36) [PHX 79-79] Richardson Slam Dunk Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Nash (13 A
(11:17) [DAL 81-79] Howard Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS)
(11:08) [PHX] Nash Turnover: Bad Pass (9 TO) Steal: D. Harris (5 ST)
(11:07) [DAL 83-79] D. Harris Driving Layup: Made (15 PTS)
(11:07) [PHX] Jacobsen Foul: Shooting (2 PF)
(11:07) [DAL] D. Harris Free Throw 1 of 1 missed
(11:06) [PHX] Hunter Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
(10:52) [PHX] Jacobsen Jump Shot: Missed
(10:49) [DAL] Howard Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
(10:45) [PHX] Jacobsen Foul: Personal (3 PF)
(10:40) [DAL] Stackhouse Jump Shot: Missed
(10:38) [PHX] Richardson Rebound (Off:1 Def:8)
(10:31) [PHX 81-83] Nash Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS)
(10:16) [PHX] Hunter Foul: Personal (1 PF)
(10:14) [DAL] D. Harris Jump Shot: Missed
(10:12) [PHX] Richardson Rebound (Off:1 Def:9)
(10:02) [PHX] Jacobsen Jump Shot: Missed
(10:00) [DAL] Stackhouse Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
(9:46) [DAL 86-81] Daniels Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Stackhouse (3 AST)
(9:24) [PHX 83-86] Hunter Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Nash (14 AST)
(9:13) [DAL] Stackhouse Jump Shot: Missed
(9:11) [DAL] Daniels Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)
(8:59) [DAL] Stackhouse Jump Shot: Missed
(8:58) [DAL] Bradley Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
(8:58) [PHX] Nash Foul: Personal (3 PF)
(8:58) Timeout: Official
(8:58) [PHX] Richardson Substitution replaced by Marion
(8:58) [PHX] Hunter Substitution replaced by Stoudemire
(8:47) [PHX] Nash Foul: Personal (4 PF)
(8:47) [DAL 87-83] Bradley Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS)
(8:47) [DAL 88-83] Bradley Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)
(8:40) [PHX] Stoudemire Foul: Offensive (3 PF)
(8:40) [PHX] Stoudemire Turnover: Foul (2 TO)
(8:30) [DAL] D. Harris Layup Shot: Missed Block: Marion (2 BLK)
(8:27) [PHX] Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
(8:24) [PHX 85-88] Stoudemire Slam Dunk Shot: Made (21 PTS) Assist: Nash (15 AS
(8:01) [DAL] Daniels Jump Shot: Missed
(7:59) [PHX] Nash Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)
(7:45) [PHX 87-88] Nash Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS)
(7:29) [DAL] D. Harris Jump Shot: Missed
(7:27) [DAL] Daniels Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)
(7:26) [DAL] Daniels Layup Shot: Missed
(7:25) [PHX] Stoudemire Rebound (Off:4 Def:5)
(7:10) [PHX 89-88] Nash Jump Shot: Made (16 PTS)
(6:42) [DAL 90-89] Howard Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS)
(6:31) [PHX] Marion Jump Shot: Missed
(6:29) [PHX] Marion Rebound (Off:8 Def:6)
(6:22) [PHX 91-90] Stoudemire Layup Shot: Made (23 PTS) Assist: Nash (16 AST)
(6:22) [DAL] Daniels Foul: Shooting (4 PF)
(6:22) [DAL] Daniels Substitution replaced by Henderson
(6:22) [DAL] Bradley Substitution replaced by Nowitzki
(6:22) [PHX] Nash Substitution replaced by Richardson
(6:22) [PHX] Stoudemire Free Throw 1 of 1 missed
(6:22) [DAL] Team Rebound

What do we find?

Well, Bradley and Amare Stoudemire were in the game together the first time from the beginning of the third until the 1:54 mark of the 3rd. Amare left with Daniels shooting FT's.
At the beginning of the 3rd, the Mavs were down: 57-43
When Amare left at the 1:54 mark in the third the Mavs were down: 72-73
The Mavs picked up 13 points in slightly over 10 minutes with Bradley and Amare on the court at the same time in the third.

So, this obviously disproves PE's quote:

He went out for a rest about the time Bradley came in and the Mavs went to a zone, and it looked real effective.

Obviously, the Mavs shaved 13 points in 10 minutes with both Amare and Bradley on the court at the same time.


Let's look at the time that Bradley was on the court without Amare in the game:
From just after the Daniels FT's at the 1:54 point in the third until the 8:58 point in the 4th, Bradley was in the game without Amare in the game.
The score went from Phoenix being up 73-72 to the Mavs being up 86-83.
So, in the 5 minutes that Amare was out of the game, the Mavs picked up 5 points.

Obviously, the zone was effective with Bradley on the court with and without Amare in the game.

Now, let's look at when Amare came back into the game in the 4th.
Amare came back in at the 8:58 mark in the point in the 4th.
The Mavs were up 86-83
When Bradley left the game at the 6:22, the Suns were up 91-90
So yes, there was a 4 point swing when Amare came back into the game with Bradley in the game.
Perhaps much of that is due to the Mavs missing several close in shots. Yes, Amare did score 4 points to Bradley's 2 points, but he in no way dominated the game in his return.
The Mavs were down 1 point when Bradley left the game.

With both Bradley and Amare on the court, the Mavs were +9 in around 12-13 minutes. So yeah, apparently the Mavs zone was effective with Bradley and Amare in the game at the same time. And yeah, the Mavs zone was effective when Amare was out of the game but with Bradley in. The Mavs were a plus 5 in about 5 minutes.