Mavs vs Spurs Game Thread - Page 12 - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

MavsFanFinley · 03-22-2002, 01:59 AM

<< I don't have a problem that Finley took a last second shot. I was more upset with the shot he chose to take. He had David Robinson guarding him with plenty of room for penetration. There's one guy on the Mavs team who I want shooting an 18 footer with the game on the line, Nash. Dirk and Fin, they need to take a split second, realize who's guarding them and then make their move. Smaller defender, post up. Bigger defender, drive. It's that easy, IMO. >>

And that makes sense. I think it had to do with reaction, from what I understand, he had a really good open look and he took it. It wasn't till after that he thought of taking it back out and setting something else up. Or like you point out, that he should have faked and drove to the basket.

Who knows what went through his mind. Just imagine if he did fake and took it to the basket and had it stripped. We all would be on his ass for his ball handling...or if he dribbled out the clock and took a really bad shot or passed it off too late and Dirk or Nash didn't have the kind of look he intially had.

I think Im happy he took the 'open' shot cause he was shooting the ball well and it's a shot he's drilled before, it just didn't fall tonight.

Kat · 03-22-2002, 02:04 AM

So true. But, we expect to much of this team this year I think.They are not accustomed to being a contender. They are not "clutch" yet. I have seen Fin hit that same shot before, and hopefully will again. Dang it people, three years ago they couldn't give the tickets away. Now it's a sell out every game! And Cubes didn't "buy" this team. It is developing, still. They've come along way. If we win our division, which I beleive we will. They deserve the patience of the fans to support their growth. Next year, champs! This year champs? I'd love it, but doubt it. They just went to the playoffs last year, come on!

ocelot_ark · 03-22-2002, 02:15 AM

My only worry: When and how does a team become clutch? I think we have some clutch players in Nash, Fin, Dirk, and NVE. What will truly make this team clutch, IMO, will be when it realizes the ORDER of those clutch players. There should probably be a understood strategy with this team, every night, every game.

Nash, to me, has the best chacne to get a Maverick win. He needs to realize that IF he can't blow by his man for a basket, there should be a voice in his head, like that of a quarterback. Check Dirk, check Fin, check NVE. NOT check first available player. Utah was pretty good in late game situations in the 90's, not because they always got the open man the shot, but because they went to their best player.

Kat · 03-22-2002, 02:31 AM

Half-right. I think time, and experience is a major thing here. They need time to play together. Experience of being a contender. When every team paints a bulls-eye on your chest everytime they come to play. Consistency is key. You can not have an "off" game. It takes time and experience to be consistent as a contender. And only a contender can experience that kind of requirement. Kind of a catch 20-20. Nellie has been building for so long I think he has forgotten how to be a contender. He can't help himself but to juggle, create, struggle. He needs to remember what it is like to be a coach of a contender. It's a learning process that only time and experience can teach you. It doesn't come in a can, bottle, or book.

Murphy3 · 03-22-2002, 11:41 AM

never thought about fin driving to the basket on that shot he took. He had an open look and took what is normally a pretty easy jumper for him. I don't think that corner is one of his best places for him to shoot from but..he had an open look and you want fin to take that shot. Now, he probably could have driven to the basket and got an even better look..but i'm not disappointed with the shot he took.

I'm more upset with buck choking and missing the free throw.

I know alot of people are knocking nellie. I have one huge knock on nellie.. he kept going to NVE when dirk and nash were red hot..and fin was hot as well. What in the hell is that about? NVE isn't a good shooter to begin with and when he's off as bad as he was, don't force the ball to him. Dirk was posting up Rose..he was driving by and through robinson and duncan..nash was scoring almost at will..

nellie, what were you thinking? you're a great coach, but this is one instance that i've talked about on a regular basis. this happens alot. There's a hot mavs player and instead of going with what works, he tries to develop a mismatch and goes with that. why not keep going with what works? aren't nash, dirk and sometimes fin just natural mismatches because they can shoot well and go to the basket?

it really makes no sense.

and on the boards..at first, dirk was the only one on the boards. Lafrentz picked it up...but when the mavs go small like they did to open the game, they must get more out of their guards and small forward on the boards...

grbh · 03-22-2002, 11:46 AM

I agree Murphy, assuming Finley is having at least an average game, if he gets a good look at the basket late take it. To me it is a no brainer. Same applies to Dirk and Nash.

I have no problem with any of them taking open shots late. None at all.

MavsFanFinley · 03-22-2002, 12:33 PM

<< never thought about fin driving to the basket on that shot he took. He had an open look and took what is normally a pretty easy jumper for him. I don't think that corner is one of his best places for him to shoot from but..he had an open look and you want fin to take that shot. Now, he probably could have driven to the basket and got an even better look..but i'm not disappointed with the shot he took. >>

Wow, Murph. I really thought you would have ripped him a new one for taking that shot. It's really a hard call. He took an open shot you'd want him to take and since he shot 47% for the game, he was hitting for the most part. I'd like to seen him drive to, but if he would have picked up an offensive foul or had the ball stripped, people would still have questioned why he didn't give the ball up to Dirk or Nash or call a timeout.

It makes me laugh cause people point out that Dirk or Nash should have taken that shot, but with a minute 20 (thereabouts) left Dirk had missed a shot, then Nash missed a shot and Najera missed the tip-in. So, it's hard to argue with him taking that open shot.

I still go back to Nelson and why did he have to make something harder than it needed to be? This was not the game to try and force NVE into the game/flow. And he certainly shouldn't have had the last shot even after the Finley miss.

I just don't understand how we were supposed to rebound with a lineup he put out there. And no Bradley or Wang after Raef fouled out is just dumb, imo.

TheKid · 03-22-2002, 02:41 PM

Believe it or not, I thought he should have went to the basket too. HOWEVER, I don't blame that on his miss or even Buckner's miss. I agree 100% with what you said Murph about continuously going to Van Exel. Now I know he's trying to build confidence in him and Van Exel normally has ice running through his veins but lastnight he didn't have it. Also, why force the issue when Nash was ON FIRE, Dirk was hitting and Fin was hitting. I didn't get that at all myself.

Well you live and learn, although that was a game we LOST and we should have won, that is disappointing.

Dooby · 03-22-2002, 04:08 PM

Why did Griffen git a DNP-Coach's decision? Is he hurt? If not, how does he go from starting (and playing well) to DNP?

David · 03-22-2002, 07:51 PM

<<

<< And it's hard to have swagger if you don't know who you are going to play with or how many minutes. >>

Exactly! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

How many time have I or someone else said that Nelson MUST pick a starting lineup and STICK with it?

Is it really that hard? 4 of them are obvious (Fin, Dirk, Nash, Raef), it shouldn't be too hard to pick Griffin or Najera or Buckner. Hell, even Newman, but stick with it. >>

With the roster the Mavs have, they have the luxury of trying various lineups to play to the strengths of the players up and and down the entire 12 man roster. If you look, Dirk, Nash, Fin and LaFrentz are now constants. The others can be shuffled as needed. There was no need for a defensive specialist last night against the SA guards, unlike when they play Kobe, Carter, Pierce or someone like that. That's why Van Exel started. The lineup changing is good coaching. Most of the guys have their roles and they know them. Their roles change with the talents of the opponents. Most teams don't have the talent to change lineups except to react to injuries. Yourdallasmavericks do.

Murphy3 · 03-22-2002, 08:48 PM

fin might should have driven to the basket.. however, he took a WIDE open shot..a shot that he'll hit 60% of the time. he missed it. to be honest, if buck simply hits the free throw, it's a non issue.

it makes little sense to force feed a guy that has been cold (nve) so late in the game. let him get his shot back in a game that's not going down to the wire.

i'm a nellie fan, but that was piss poor coaching

Drbio · 03-22-2002, 08:50 PM

Nick should have been buried on the bench behind Bradley in the last few minutes of that game. I still cannot fathom why Wang got benched after the great hustle and play that he displayed in the third.

Murphy3 · 03-22-2002, 10:33 PM

to be honest, i don't know why bradley hasn't been getting any minutes recently..he had been playing pretty well..but i guess nellie's doghouse is a very, very deep doghouse

MFFL · 03-24-2002, 03:59 PM

<< Why did Griffen git a DNP-Coach's decision? Is he hurt? If not, how does he go from starting (and playing well) to DNP? >>

I just now went through this thread and this is the item that confused me the most. Why didn't Griffen play?

filthyfin · 03-24-2002, 07:55 PM

What a let down.... well maybe next time

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

Murphy3 · 03-24-2002, 08:36 PM

the only thing i can think of is that he was having back issues.. he's the best of the four player rotation of najera, buckner, griffin, and newman..

the mavs need him available

MavsFanFinley · 03-25-2002, 01:00 AM

<< the only thing i can think of is that he was having back issues.. he's the best of the four player rotation of najera, buckner, griffin, and newman. >>

Nods head. The back spasms have been lingering. But, you usually hear it mentioned before, during or after the game as being the reason he did not play. Plus, he's usually in street clothes not suited up. Maybe Nelson was just being cautious, I don't know.

It's not like he was given lots of rest or anything, he played in the game before the SA one and the one after.