Official Game 6 thread: Dallas @ Houston - Page 15 - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

RocketsRule · 05-06-2005, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: kingrex
Only those who underestimated this Rockets team should be disappointed that this has gone to a 7th game. Dallas played well up until the middle of the 4th quarter. So, Rockets fans shouldn't get too cocky either. The Rockets did what any good team does which is fight elimination on their home court, and now Dallas will do the same at home.

As for Dirk, he is an awesome player who has had a bad offensive series. I wouldn't have believed that he would shoot this badly for six games either until I analyzed this series more closely. Dirk is a coach-pleaser. When Nellie was coach, he emphasized offense, and you could see that in Dirk's play. Now that Avery is coach, defense is stressed, and Dirk puts his emphasis on that part of the floor as well. The result is what you get in this game; 5 blocks and doube-digit rebounds. Dirk is playing defense, and subsequently his offense has suffered.

In Game 7, Dirk needs to exert more effort offensively. He needs to play like the superstar he is at the offensive end. Dampier and the others need to be the ones who step up defensively. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to say that Dirk needs to stop playing defense, but I think he really needs to concentrate most of his energy on scoring.

So, kudos to the Rockets for game 6, but Dallas will win game 7.

I'm sorry but when has Dirk been playing defense? Please tell me the players he has shut down.

ocelot_ark · 05-06-2005, 03:20 PM

Okay. You tell me the players Ryan Bowen has shut down.

dude1394 · 05-06-2005, 05:35 PM

[quote]
Originally posted by: nuggien
Tracy lets Finley know how many games the mavs will win in this series.

Official Seal of Houston Rockets

RocketsRule · 05-06-2005, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: ocelot_ark
Okay. You tell me the players Ryan Bowen has shut down.

He's been giving your Dirk, who is a tremendous offensive threat, fits the entire series. Dirk has not even had one great game. A couple solid ones, but nothing Dirk-like.

u2sarajevo · 05-06-2005, 10:48 PM

The Ryan Bowen on Dirk worked for about a game and a half RR. Nice try though. And Dirk isn't a "shutdown" defender, but he is more than adequate. Just ask Mutombo where his ball went last night (if you don't have a direct line to him I'll tell you myself.... it was rejected by Dirk out of bounds).

Thespiralgoeson · 05-06-2005, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: RocketsRule

I'm sorry but when has Dirk been playing defense? Please tell me the players he has shut down.

Dirk has been playing solid defense throughout the entire series, smart guy. Players he has shut down? Actually I seem to remember him blocking and stealing from Yao several times throughout the series.

Mavs4Life · 05-07-2005, 12:12 AM

blocking someone a few times in 6 games constitutes as shutting him down?

Thespiralgoeson · 05-07-2005, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by: Mavs4Life
blocking someone a few times in 6 games constitutes as shutting him down?

I didn't say a few, I said several. And I never said that Dirk shut down Yao, merely that he has been playing solid defense throughout the whole series.

ocelot_ark · 05-07-2005, 12:34 AM

How many of Dirk's shots have been blocked? If that's the qualification for being shut down....

I don't really assign any of Dirk's struggles to Bowen. I'll give TMac a LITTLE more credit, but not much. Dirk is getting his shot off...as he can do on anyone. We're just so spoiled. We're used to seeing him dropping 30+ on the likes of KG and CWebb. He's struggling huge this series offensively. I'm not saying that we're "okay," but the man has earned a little leeway.

RocketsRule · 05-07-2005, 01:28 PM

According to 82games.com

His opponent PER is 23.9 for SF, 15.8 for PF, and 19 for C. The league average is 15. Dirk doesn't play defense, face it...

Misfit Mav · 05-07-2005, 01:38 PM

RocketsRule are the suck

ocelot_ark · 05-07-2005, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: RocketsRule
According to 82games.com

His opponent PER is 23.9 for SF, 15.8 for PF, and 19 for C. The league average is 15. Dirk doesn't play defense, face it...

Throw out the numbers for SF and C. The sampling size is too small, as Dirk almost ALWAYS matches up with the opposing PF. 15.8 is damn decent, considering KG's 15.4.

mary · 05-07-2005, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: RocketsRule
According to 82games.com

His opponent PER is 23.9 for SF, 15.8 for PF, and 19 for C. The league average is 15. Dirk doesn't play defense, face it...

Dirk has trouble guarding small forwards. Wow, you are a genius.

RocketsRule · 05-07-2005, 03:10 PM

Even then, a defensive PER of 15.8 against PFs is nothing really worth of mentioning. That's not good defense.

PubaNWO · 05-07-2005, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: chumdawg
I'm told that defense wins championships. (We have 80 points.)

From watching the game and reading this thread....I get the impression that a lot of Mavs fans don't appreciate defense.

Well Houston is playing much better defense and it is affecting the Mavs' shots....especially Dirk.

Still don't lose hope and do not...I repeat...DO NOT give up on Dirk....he's too good of a player for you fools to bail on. Dirk's under enormous amounts of pressure being "the Man" now....without his buddy Nash to back him up in the playoffs.

Cut him some slack!

MavKikiNYC · 05-07-2005, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: PubaNWO

Quote:

Originally posted by: chumdawg
I'm told that defense wins championships. (We have 80 points.)

From watching the game and reading this thread....I get the impression that a lot of Mavs fans don't appreciate defense.

Well Houston is playing much better defense and it is affecting the Mavs' shots....especially Dirk. ...

Bingo.

Thespiralgoeson · 05-07-2005, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: RocketsRule
Even then, a defensive PER of 15.8 against PFs is nothing really worth of mentioning. That's not good defense.

Yes it is, dumbass.

chumdawg · 05-07-2005, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: MavKikiNYC

Quote:

Originally posted by: PubaNWO

Quote:

Originally posted by: chumdawg
I'm told that defense wins championships. (We have 80 points.)

From watching the game and reading this thread....I get the impression that a lot of Mavs fans don't appreciate defense.

Well Houston is playing much better defense and it is affecting the Mavs' shots....especially Dirk. ...

Bingo.

The way the Mavs are playing offense these days is readily defendable.

Thespiralgoeson · 05-07-2005, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: chumdawg

The way the Mavs are playing offense these days is readily defendable.

Exactly! The Rockets haven't been playing better defense. The Mavs have simply been playing crappier offense.

MavKikiNYC · 05-07-2005, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: Thespiralgoeson

Quote:

Originally posted by: chumdawg

The way the Mavs are playing offense these days is readily defendable.

Exactly! The Rockets haven't been playing better defense. The Mavs have simply been playing crappier offense.

LOL.

How about some specifics? What AREN'T the Mavs doing in this series that they WERE doing in the offseason that allowed them to average 102.5 ppg (3rd in the league)? What has them down to 97.7 in this series?

If your contention is going to be that the Rockets defense, which surrendered an average of 91.03 ppg (3rd best in the league) and allowed 42.3% FG (2nd to Chicago's 42.2%), is not having anything to do with the Maverick's offensive production, then it would be interesting to hear some analysis.

I'll say this--TMac is clearly a tough defensive matchup for Dirk. He's a pretty good defender, bigger than most permieter defenders, and quicker than Dirk. Also, given that he's a good leaper and a quick leaper with long arms, he can get up and bother Dirk's jumper. And when Dirk has been able to get by TMac, he's had trouble finishing over/around Yao and Dikembe.

I think the big issue is Dampier's inability to stay out of foul trouble combined with his propensity to pick up the extra bone-headed foul that's keeping him off the floor, removing an inside threat, and killing any of the offensive continuity/efficiency that they had developed over the last 20-25 games of the season.

But from what I've seen, Houston is also making it tough for them.