Slam Online: Spurs/Mavs Game 4 Recap

[nikeball]

Slam Magazine usually has pretty good recaps for every single playoff game. I really liked this one so I am posting it. I would add slamonline to your RSS/Google Reader feeds.

http://slamonline.com/online/blogs/g...-game-4-recap/

Spurs/Mavs Game 4 Recap
A study in youth league hoops

by Joey Whelan

Chances are many of you spent some part of your childhood’s playing rec league basketball at your local (choose one: YMCA, JCC, Church, youth center, outdoor courts, middle school gymnasium) and in a short amount of time picked up on many of the fundamental nuances of the game. For those who continued beyond their pre and early adolescent years onto the high school, college or pro levels, many aspects of the game changed or developed to higher levels of play and sophistication. Still, many of the basic principles and observations from the earliest stages of rec hoops can be applied even to the pro game. Sitting and watching the Spurs and Mavericks do battle for the fourth time in this 2009 playoffs, I couldn’t help but reminded of so many of the lessons I learned during my earliest years on the hardwood.

Give the good kid the ball…

There are two types of youth league teams: the collection of solid players who work as a unit to achieve victory and the collection of indoor kids who were blessed with the presence of one or two star attractions. What the laws of basketball usually tend to dictate, as was the case today, is that five is usually better than two, but not always by a large margin.

Tony Parker, if he hasn’t already, is quickly moving towards eclipsing Tim Duncan as “the man” in San Antonio. Sure the franchise record 31 first half points is nice, yea the playoff high 43 points is grand, but Mr. Longoria yesterday proved to be the kid coach is always instructing the other players to “give the damn ball to!” Duncan is still the second option, but then…nothing. You all remember playing those teams; it’s seemingly two-on-five every time down the floor with a trio of stiffs watching as the dynamic duo who reached puberty first drain basket after basket. Parker and Duncan were responsible for 21 of the Spurs 29 shot attempts in the first half; there were points where even Duncan would just stand by and watch while the point guard extraordinaire dribbled through everyone Dallas had on the floor. Making matters even scarier for Mavs fans was the emergence of Parker’s mid-range game, which once again when on, makes him nearly unstoppable.

All looked right with the world going into the half with Dallas missing their last seven field goals and the Spurs making their last seven straight. Then Parker cooled off. It was bound to happen sooner or later. The Mavericks didn’t so much change or step up their defense as much as TP just wasn’t hitting the shots he had in the first half. After attempting just eight field goals in the first half, everyone not named Duncan or Parker got to put up twenty shots after the break. It becomes a lot easier when the people who are placed on the court to feed daddy’s little star are suddenly the ones who face the pressure to put the ball in the basket and struggle to a paltry 6 of 28 from the floor.

Always follow your shot…

One of the first things coaches always teach their kids, because you know everyone of you wanted to chuck the rock as soon as it landed in your little hands back in the day. If you’re going to throw it up as quickly as you got it, at least chase it down so you can get another shot when it lands off the mark.

Dallas finished with a +15 advantage on the glass, but most importantly carried a +8 edge on the offensive boards. In a game decided by single digits, you better believe this was one of the deciding factors. Erick Dampier owes the bulk of his 10 points to his second effort inside and Ryan Hollins likely made the statement of the game with his put back over Duncan and his subsequent primal scream/fist pump. The Spurs are starting to show their age and the wear and tear they have been suffering, particularly in the way that Dallas is out working them on the offensive boards. Four different Maverick players had multiple offensive rebounds in the ballgame.

Practice your free throws, those are easy points…

You think Tony Parker isn’t going to be thinking that after this game? With the Spurs charging late in the game, Parker had a chance to get the deficit down to three before clanging a pair of freebies. Granted, George Hill’s trey a few plays later got it to a three point game anyway, but in a game in which the momentum was teetering on the edge of swinging the Spurs way, those free throws were monumental. Especially coming from Parker who had been unstoppable for the majority of the contest. Dallas however, heeded the wise words of rec coaches everywhere, going 33 of 39 from the line. Josh Howard gets the gold star for the evening, converting four of five in the final 2:49.

There are other ways to help the team win besides scoring…

This was generally a coach’s way of saying as nice as possible, “Johnny, stop shooting the ball, you suck.” For the better part of this series, that’s been Dirk’s problem. Not so much that he sucks, because he doesn’t, but that Spurs have been doing their damndest to make it look that way. After dealing with physical defenders, double teams and just generally poor shooting, Dirk had likely his best game of the series despite only netting 12 points. He hit the glass hard, hauling in 13 boards, but just played smarter basketball. Rather than trying to force his mid-range game, he looked to make the smart pass more often. He read oncoming double-teams better, he made the extra pass, he did all the little things that don’t make the box score. Is it cliche? Sure. But did it help Dallas win and take a strangle hold on this series? Absolutely.

Most importantly…have fun!

The Mavericks sure looked like they were. Everyone got in on the action, there was ball movement, players weren’t standing around on offense, and it was fun to watch. Josh Howard got his game one mojo back and all is right in the big D right now. The Spurs continue to make the games interesting because, well, they’re the Spurs. But right now that doesn’t seem to be enough. Dallas has too many weapons, and Duncan and Parker are proving that despite their absolute greatest efforts, they need at least a little help to pull out a win. San Antonio didn’t look like they were having fun tonight, they looked like they were standing around waiting for Tony to save the day. Maybe going home to a familiar setting is what they need right now, maybe that’s the ice cream sunday after the tough loss that makes everything better. As for now though, Dallas is on a sugar high and these kids want to keep playing as long as they can before Mom says it’s time for bed.

[dirt_dobber]

Great article.....
Thanks for posting!

[tcat075]

thanks. I liked it.

[TheMaverick]

down goes Mr. Longoria

[monty55555]

Great article. Thanks!

[ShaggyDirk]

Let's not forget this was the exact situation in 2006.. We still have 3!! possible games to play these guys! This is far from over. Stop acting like a bunch of 2 year olds who can't see past your next jar of apple sauce.

[CadBane]

"
This was generally a coach’s way of saying as nice as possible, “Johnny, stop shooting the ball, you suck.” For the better part of this series, that’s been Dirk’s problem. Not so much that he sucks, because he doesn’t, but that Spurs have been doing their damndest to make it look that way. After dealing with physical defenders, double teams and just generally poor shooting, Dirk had likely his best game of the series despite only netting 12 points. He hit the glass hard, hauling in 13 boards, but just played smarter basketball. Rather than trying to force his mid-range game, he looked to make the smart pass more often. He read oncoming double-teams better, he made the extra pass, he did all the little things that don’t make the box score. Is it cliche? Sure. But did it help Dallas win and take a strangle hold on this series? Absolutely."

But, according to basketball experts on this board, Dirk was pathetic and not aggressive enough. Who do I believe?

[mary]

But, according to basketball experts on this board, Dirk was pathetic and not aggressive enough.

Yeah, because that's what every single post about the game says.



I think the "Dirk is pathetic" contingent is in the minority on this board.

[CadBane]

Originally Posted by mary

Yeah, because that's what every single post about the game says.

A very large number here have. I don't recall saying everyone did.

[ShaggyDirk]

how is that sarcasm? can you explain?

[nikeball]

With all the new threads popping up..I didn't want to create another one.

Game 5 recap--

http://slamonline.com/online/blogs/g...-game-5-recap/

Spurs/Mavs Game 5 Recap

San Anton sacked and a history lesson.

by Joey Whelan

Does anyone else feel weird about the fact that it’s late April and the Spurs are done? Even having predicted the Mavericks to take this series, I didn’t expect it to be done in such convincing fashion. In many ways the Western Conference playoffs, now lacking a traditional power somewhat resembles how much of Western Europe looked in the latter part of the 5th Century when the Roman Empire fell. The continued rule of the Roman Emperor’s until the very end allowed the Empire to save face when the walls were crumbling from within, much as the continued play of Tony Parker and Tim Duncan made it seem as though the Spurs would find a way. Ultimately, we look to history once again to find the answers for today.

The Beginning of the End

Many historians point to the death of Theodosius I (also known as Theodosius the Great) in 395 A.D. as the event that set the ball in motion for the downfall of Rome. As ruler of the Empire for nearly twenty years, Theodosius was able to politically unify the eastern and western ends of Rome; the last individual who was able to do so. With his death, the bond that held the Roman states together began to drift and break, creating a rift within. With the untimely injury to Manu the Great, the Spurs lost their great unifier. Not only was Ginobli the necessary third option San Antonio desperately need in their offense, he was the one player capable of merging that widening gap between the starters and dwindling bench. With the loss of their star forward, the Spurs had to rely almost solely on the production of Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, with minimal help coming from a supporting cast that was either too old, or not ready to step up yet. This fact was painfully obvious in game four where the three players on the floor not named TP or TD simply watched in awe of their own teammates, and the closer wasn’t any different. Parker and Duncan took more than half of San Antonio’s shots and scored 56 of the 93 points in their final effort of the season.

The Crossing of the Rhine

In 406 the Germanic tribes led by Alaric I crossed the Rhine river into Italy and sacked the city of Rome. The Romans had long feared the Germanic tribes who made their camps along the northern shores of the river that served as a boundary between the edge of their civilization and the unknown wilds beyond. With his invasion, Alaric was the first Germanic King to take the city, an event that ultimately began the decline of the greatest traditional power in the west (hmm sound familiar?)

Dallas proved they were up to the challenge of crossing the Rhine in taking down the Spurs in five games. For the better part of the last decade, San Antonio’s defense has served as their boundary against Western Conference foes looking to knock off the top dog. The Mavs were able to forge the river by shooting 47.8 percent from the floor in their four wins in the series, nearly three full points higher that the Spurs allowed opponents to shoot during the regular season. If three percentage points doesn’t sound like that much, consider this. Dallas took just a hair shy of 300 shots in their four wins, three percent of that being nine field goals, or anywhere from 18 to 27 points depending on the kind of shots made. The Spurs lost games one, four and five by a total of 30 points; you do the math and tell me this series wouldn’t still be going on.

Of course, the Mavericks were led by their own Germanic King in their sack of San Antonio. Dirk Nowitzki shot a superb 30-56 from the floor in four wins, allowing Dallas to become the first team to knock the Spurs out of the first round in eight years. Down goes the western power. Ironically enough, sticking with the theme of eight, Rome’s fall at the hands of Alaric was the first time in 800 years that the city had fallen to a foreign enemy.

Lines of Succession

There is much debate over when the fall of Rome actually occurred, due in large part to the individuals take took control in the wake of the collapse. The Ostrogoths, an Eastern Germanic tribe, were seen to have many of the same ideals and practices as the Romans and therefore were seen as somewhat of a continuance of an otherwise failing rule. This group took over power for only a short time within the heart of Italy, ultimately falling as well only some 80 years after taking power.

The Mavericks in some sense maintain the ideal of consistency that has made the Spurs such a dominant force in recent memory. Having compiled nine straight seasons with at least 50 wins, Dallas is eclipsed only by the team they just defeated, the Spurs having reached that total for a decade straight. Much like the Ostrogoths, Dirk and co. could see their reign over a conquered foe end rather abruptly with a rolling Denver Nuggets team likely awaiting them in the semi-finals.

Lessons and Aftermath

After the downfall of the western part of the Roman Empire, the structure of Europe began to change. The Eastern Empire continued to exist and for brief periods was able to flourish culturally; the massive size of the original Roman Empire would never again be achieved however.

Perhaps this is what the Spurs begin to move towards now; not necessarily a complete dissension towards the pack in the Western Conference, but a more limited scope of success. It was painfully apparent in this series what an injury to any of the big three does to the dynamic of the Spurs offense; it also showed just how lacking the bench is compared to years past. Bruce Bowen is no longer the player he once was, nor is Michael Finley. Big Shot Rob has moved on and while some of the youngsters show promise, they appear to still be a ways off from being the kind of producers that previous subs were.

Dallas simply had more weapons than San Antonio could handle. Shut down Dirk and Josh Howard and Jason Kidd get you. Take out Howard and the bench led by Mr. Sixth Man goes to work. And then there are nights like this finale where Dirk, Terry and Howard all bring their A game and the aging empire is left in the dust. The Spurs will have their time to recuperate and lick their wounds. For Dallas the satisfaction of a job well done will be short lived with Denver looking like they will be the next peoples ready to be conquered.

[TheMaverick]

I didn't like that recap. Trying too hard.