Small-ball lineup rewards rookies

[MavsFanFinley]

Small-ball lineup rewards rookies

By Art Garcia
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

ORLANDO, Fla. - Mavericks coach Don Nelson had several reasons for the sudden, but not unprecedented, change to a small-ball starting lineup for Sunday's 118-88 victory over the Orlando Magic.

It's a reward for rookies Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels, who have been active and effective at both ends of the court. The four usual centers, Scott Williams in particular, weren't cutting it in the starting lineup. Nelson is also trying to light a fire under some players, most notably new center Antoine Walker.

"If [Walker] is clicking offensively, he can have more fun playing this position," Nelson said. "He'll be more involved. He's got to play well, of course, to do it. I hope it will all work out."

Walker contributed 10 points and nine boards in 33 minutes Sunday. That may appear promising, but the Magic started 6-foot-9 Juwan Howard in the pivot. Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Yao Ming and Brad Miller are different animals.

"It's going to put me in a better situation," said Walker, also 6-9. "As far as pick-and-rolls, it's going to make us a dangerous team. If I can be able to penetrate and get other guys shots, and, obviously, get a few extra shots for myself around the basket, it's good. It's going to make us a more versatile team.

"The major problem is going to be on the defensive end, where we're going to have to work. And, obviously, it's a big test to guard a true center who gets the ball a lot in the post. It will be a good challenge for us."

Walker said he's up for it, before adding with a laugh, "As long as I get a little help every now and then down there."

The general consensus is that small ball is an attempt to ease the Mavericks' struggles on the offensive end. The NBA's second-worst defensive team, in terms of points allowed, is hoping a smaller lineup leads to more activity on the defensive end.

"You've got Josh Howard, you've got Marquis out there; we're a scrappy team defensively," Antawn Jamison said. "Pick-and-roll situations, we can just switch it. I can guard some of the [point guards], Walk can guard some of the [point guards], rather than have Danny [Fortson] or [Shawn] Bradley come through the turn."

New-look Mavs rout Magic

By Art Garcia
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

ORLANDO, Fla. - The experiment began in earnest Sunday afternoon. Mavericks coach Don Nelson returned to his small-ball roots against a squad small on talent, and the result was one small step.

The Mavs routed hapless Orlando 118-88 to finish a disappointing five-game road excursion on a somewhat positive note, even if most dressed in blue didn't feel too enthusiastic. The blowout of the worst team in the NBA -- one without league-leading scorer Tracy McGrady -- snapped a three-game losing streak heading into a five-game homestand that starts Tuesday against Cleveland.

"We wanted all five on this trip," said Dirk Nowitzki, who scored a game-high 25 points. "That's how we approached the road trip. It's been a disaster."

The Mavs (45-28) lost ground on their 2-3 tour through the Eastern Conference, and sit sixth in the West with nine games remaining. Six are at American Airlines Center, a welcome sight for a team that is 30-5 at home.

"We really have to make up some ground at home," said Antawn Jamison, who had 21 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

Scrapping the use of a traditional center, Nelson hopes the Mavs' new look will result in offensive flexibility, defensive hustle and headaches for foes. Despite the quality of competition Sunday, Nelson saw reason for tempered optimism in the lopsided outcome.

"At this point, we're looking for anything positive, to be quite honest," he said. "We've really struggled lately, and to have a good defensive effort and a good offensive effort on the same night makes it nice."

Nelson debuted the framework of a lineup he promises to use for the rest of the regular season. The starting five consisted of Steve Nash (point guard), Nowitzki (power forward), Antoine Walker (center) and rookies Marquis Daniels (shooting guard) and Josh Howard (small forward). When Michael Finley returns -- he's out with a sprained right calf -- he'll replace Howard.

Nelson has used small ball throughout his career, with the most famous incarnation the Golden State Warriors of Run-TMC fame (Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin) in the early 1990s. The Mavs used it often last season when Nick Van Exel joined Nash in the backcourt, pushing Finley into a forward slot.

"I've coached small ball a long time, and I know how to do it, and I know what the tough matchups can be on the other side," Nelson said. "I can definitely put them in more binds now than I could have with my other centers offensively.

"It's just ... can we be decent on rebounding and on the defensive end? Can we be better because we're a little quicker with our rookies playing and when Mike will come back? We'll have to see."

Nelson is also honest about the limitations of the new setup, especially long-term.

"Small ball can only take you so far when you play with the big boys," he said. "The downside is that my teams in Golden State -- they were good teams, but they didn't fare well in the playoffs. When you play against really big front lines, they can hurt you.

"When you play somebody seven games, the bigger, better teams usually win. But the one-game deal -- I mean if this was the NCAA, if you're going to win or lose with one game, you're going to give somebody trouble."

Nowitzki, thinking back to last season, was ready for the change.

"Every time we tried to win the game, we always played small ball," he said. "It was Nick and Mike and Steve and myself and Raef [LaFrentz]. Small ball has usually been good for us.

"We've just got to be good in the rebounding game. That's the key. If Josh and Marquis come back there, and Mike's back there, they all have to get five or six rebounds for us if we want to make it work."

With a team in need of some kind of lift, Nelson is hoping small ball can be the catalyst. To be fair, one game is hardly a representative sample.

"The jury has to still be out," said Nash, who had 12 points and 11 assists. "I think it's nice to give ourselves another look and mix things up. You've got to change when things aren't going well. You can't just continue to do what you've been doing. So far, that's been a recipe that hasn't paid off for us."

[Simon2]

"notably new center Antoine Walker"

That statement in itself is flawed. What the heck is he thinking? It is good to see though that Nellie sees the limitation of small ball. Actually, the Mavs are a balanced team. They have a good mix of players right now. The only flaw will probably be at pg. I hope Daniels can be the backup that everyone is looking for. The guy is a good player. Pretty long too. Nellie will have a ball posting up Daniels on the other teams small guard. I can't wait for the Mavs to get into the playoffs. I just have a feeling that they will somehow get it together when the time comes.

[PubaNWO]

Walker playing at center.....be aware of more blocked shots for the other team.

If Walker should shoot the 3 more playing at center, would that make him more or less effective??

[Chiwas]

Small-ball lineup rewards rookies

Rookies reward small-ball.

[Murphy3]

Why does small ball reward rookies? another bogus statement
Hell, more normal lineups can reward rookies as well..

PG Nash
SG Daniels
SF Howard
PF Dirk
C Bradley

I suppose a lineup like that would reward both the rookies and the centers for their good play. Nellie sure as hell can't reward both the rookies and the centers.

[#41]

Strange statement. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

[chumdawg]

Could it be that this is Nellie's way of moving Walker to the bench? He said in the article above that in the playoffs you need to be bigger. So he plays Walker at the center these next nine games, and then in the playoffs he makes one little change: Bradley for Walker. Makes sense to me.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: chumdawg
Could it be that this is Nellie's way of moving Walker to the bench? He said in the article above that in the playoffs you need to be bigger. So he plays Walker at the center these next nine games, and then in the playoffs he makes one little change: Bradley for Walker. Makes sense to me.

Wishful thinking, chumdawg. Walker is playing (starting) no matter what.

but I think it's a sound strategy to "START" Walker at Center and *when* he gets into foul trouble(picks up a couple), sub him for Bradley/Fortson/Williams... That way, you don't hurt his Ego by NOT starting him PLUS you get to use the 3-headed Center more.....



Heck....If Walker can give us ANYTHING by playing Center(whether it being offensively or defensively), it would be worth it when we trade him this offseason....

[SeriousSummer]

I think this might be a step towards benching Walker. Four positions are set now:

PG -- Nash (with Daniels as back up)
SG & SF -- Howard, Daniels & Finley (Four guys share three positions)
PF -- Dirk

Jamison plays Sixth Man.

The only position open is Center. If (as I think very likely) Walker can't handle it, then he gets benched in favor of Bradley/Forson/Williams/Najera.

That leaves Walker only to fill for the 8 to 10 minutes you need to rest Dirk each night (assuming Jamison doesn't get those minutes).

Best thing about it is that you don't disturb much of your line up or rotation by benching one Center (Walker) in favor of the others.

[mavsman55]

"The four usual centers, Scott Williams in particular, weren't cutting it in the starting lineup. Nelson is also trying to light a fire under some players, most notably new center Antoine Walker."

Nelson is a stupid fool. We get consistent play from all of our centers, especially Shawn Bradley, and they get rewarded by having to watch their most inefficient player start in their position. Out of all the players on this team, Walker deserves a starting spot the least. And out of all the players on this team, Shawn Bradley deserves a starting spot the most. And Don Nelson is a fool for not realizing this. We got completely screwed with the Boston trade. Personally, I'd rather have an injured Raef than Walker on this team. Walker's presence on the court makes this team worse. Plus, we lost our draft pick. Nelson deserves to be fired, and Walker deserves nothing less than to be traded.

[grndmstr_c]

Nellie, it's apparent, really doesn't want to bench Walker. Despite what Garcia says about the rookies and the centers(and bear in mind he wasn't quoting anybody, he's just editorializing), I think this move is more about a last ditch effort to avoid benching Walker. The rooks playing well makes it possible, but I sort of doubt the primary motivation is to reward them because they're supposedly outplaying the centers.

[Murphy3]

But, the centers are out playing Walker. How are the centers rewarded? Be Nellie deciding to go a different direction.

[grndmstr_c]

I think pretty much everybody on the team outside of the guys on the IL are outplaying Walker, so I really can't argue that point with you. My impression is simply that Nellie doesn't want to bench Walker (and I think it has very little to do with any current fascination he has with Walker or the point forward idea) unless he clearly has no other option. This is an option, and while I don't think it's as good an option as starting AJ/JHo and Bradley alongside the Big 3, I think it may very well be a positive change relatively speaking.

[Chiwas]

The only position open is Center.

A permanent truth ever since the big three are with the Mavs.

[Murphy3]

Originally posted by: grndmstr_c
I think pretty much everybody on the team outside of the guys on the IL are outplaying Walker, so I really can't argue that point with you. My impression is simply that Nellie doesn't want to bench Walker (and I think it has very little to do with any current fascination he has with Walker or the point forward idea) unless he clearly has no other option. This is an option, and while I don't think it's as good an option as starting AJ/JHo and Bradley alongside the Big 3, I think it may very well be a positive change relatively speaking.

When Fin comes back, the only thing that has changed about the lineup is that Dirk will be playing the 4 and Walker will be playing the 5.

Dirk's a better 4 defensively than Walker. So, that is an upgrade.
It's yet to be seen what Walker can do at the 5. However, he cannot contest shots and he by no means has any lateral quickness. I cannot imagine that him at the 5 will be an upgrade.

[grndmstr_c]

I don't think Walker at the 5 will be any kind of an ugrade over any other 5 on the team. I'll be happy if he can pull it off as well as Eddie, but look at it this way. On offense, Dirk will now be covered by PF's (that's good), Walker will now be covered by C's (that's good). On defense, like you said, Dirk will be the PF (good), but most importantly, Walker will NOT be the SF (fan-freakin-tastic). Overall, even with Walker playing the 5 defensively, I'd say that's an improvement.

[chumdawg]

GM_C, I don't agree that everyone on the roster is outplaying Walker. I think the guy is contributing certain very good things. And I think he would be a major asset, though admittedly grossly overpaid, in a role coming off the bench. Now that he's a center, apparently he can play anywhere on the floor. That's a nice asset to have on your bench.

[ames7]

Damn. I was tuning in & out of the Magic game & heard "...w/Walker at center" & was really hoping maybe I heard wrong. That is so unfortunate. I like the rookies a lot & I want them to get time, but surely there is a better way.

[grndmstr_c]

Please tell me who isn't outplaying him? Best? Only because he hasn't been given the minutes. Best has made a more positive impact with his time on the floor pretty much the entire season (first month excepted). No way you can say the rookies aren't outplaying him. The three-headed center, when given minutes, all help out more than Walker. Najera? I'll at least listen to an argument there.

[chumdawg]

Najera, Williams, Fortson, and Best for sure. Finley has been pretty inconsistent himself.

[raefformvp]

I am so confused. I thought that the last 10 or so games of the regular season the coach was supposed to be testing out lineups to be used in the playoffs. He himself said that small ball doesn't work against the Duncans and the Shaqs of the league, so what good does it do to use that lineup for the rest of the regular season? Nellie baffles me. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

[Chiwas]

What's the problem with Nelson? He has not to play Walker at all. Before you have to get a rebound, you have to guard. Nelson should start thinking on guarding before doing it on rebounding. It is easier to get a rebound if the other team is well guarded. If the Mavs would get focused on defense prior to shooting, rather than in rebounding, which according with the third law of thermodynamics ([img]i/expressions/rolleye.gif[/img] ), always happens after shooting, we wouldn't need Walker at all. Without Walker, the zone defense would mean something, and best of all, we wouldn't need to end playing an irrational small ball with two rookies - a 29th pick and an undrafted-, and a 6-9 crying "center".