Thoughts on Game Two

[ddh33]

First of all, a heartbreaking loss for the Mavs. I know we're all hurting right now. Now, for my thoughts...

Good effort on defense. Sometimes it felt like the effort was in vain. Man, this team has some fundamental problems on defense. But at least the effort was there tonight. There were many games during the season that I wanted just a little of what we saw tonight. In fact, if we had seen more of it then, we would probably have been getting a win in Dallas tonight.

I love what Najera brought the team tonight. I think fans have to understand that Najera is only going to bring certain things to the table since he is so limited. But tonight, he brought his lunchpail. I thought he kept us in the game. In contrast, in Game One, I thought Nellie left him in way too long. If he isn't helping, he needs to be sitting. Tonight he helped a lot.

I keep wondering where Shawn Bradley is? He is still on this team, isn't he? In fact, he does a pretty good job of stopping layups, doesn't he? Won't he give a hard foul or two when it's needed? I only ask because his lack of time may be sealing this team and this coaches fate.

Why did Scott Williams ever see the floor tonight? Better yet, why did he shoot it twice within 30 seconds?

This team relies too much on rookies. I love our young kids. I think they are pretty special, and they should only get better. At the same time, they've probably been put under too much pressure, and it shows occasionally an inopportune times.

This team also relies too much on jumpshots. I know we are an offensive team. Believe it or not, I am completely fine with that. But why don't more guys go to the rim? The problem, as I see it, is a serious lack of creativity. Nash was the only guy to consistently drive through the season. Finally, Daniels was put in. We know that kid will take it to the hoop. I believe that is why he has been so effective. But one of my keys to the offseason (win or lose) is to get more people who can create on the perimeter and get into the lane. That's where we miss Nick the most.

Walker sucks. Let me rephrase, he is the worst fit imaginable for this team.

I hope Jamison is ok. We could have used some of those easy bunnies he makes tonight. Don't be fooled into thinking he doesn't have a place on this team. We need those easy buckets.

If this is the best we'll see of Nash this series, then we should probably get to work on trade ideas for the offseason. I think Bibby has dominated him - whether the stats show it or not.

Why do we constantly bail out the Kings defense (that is every bit as bad as the Mavs) with contested jumpers. They are more patient. They drive, they cut, they get easy buckets. We either make or miss 20 footers. Maybe this is connected to the lack of creativity on the perimter. I think it's due to a lack of patience.

I don't like Brad Miller. I'm glad he isn't a Mav. But I really can't stand Bibby and Christie. Those guys are two of my least favorites in the league.

Speaking of Christie, how does he go through the legs with his dribble in the lane over and over. I mean, shouldn't that be about the most difficult thing in the world to do. I swear, the Mavs make that guy look the second coming.

Can the Mavs end quarters any worse than they do?

How many layups can one team miss?

And finally, why is Mike Finley taking that last shot? I thought that was a horrible decision by somebody. I know Finley is the leader, and there are probably times when I want him to take the last shot. Tongiht was not one of them. Why put the ball in the hands of a struggling third option? Why put him in position to fail? Why go away from your superstar who absolutely can't be guarded by the one-legged, slower guy? I wonder is that question is going to haunt this team for a while? It could be that it has a strong bearing on what happens to this team and this coaching staff?

[mavsfanforever]

When two teams are shooting poorly from perimeter and from 15-20 feet, in the end the layups you gave come back and bite you. A healthy dose of Shawn Bradley would have prevented them in the first half. Mavs would have been up by atleast 10.

[LordOfTheMavs]

Beautiful DDh33. You saved me a lot of typing.

I'll just sum things up and add a little insight by saying...

DITTO

[dude1394]

Beauty ddh... I like what najera brought as well. It looks like his hops are back (he may have had some mental stuff). I think you are also correct that shawn bradley not being on the floor is insane.

Really stupid-ass by nellie. Finley looked absolutely miserable out there. He may be losing it, man.

[MightyToine]

Walker = the worst fit imaginable for this team.

Unfortunately, that statement is DEAD ON, ddh33. Walker's style of play is more suited for a team that :


A.) has a Real Head Coach

B.) is an Eastern Conference Team(or Houston...lol)




Say....Since Walker's old coach O'Brien is Head Coach of Philly, perhaps we could work out a sign-and-trade in order to bring AI here?? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

[MavKikiNYC]

If this is the best we'll see of Nash this series, then we should probably get to work on trade ideas for the offseason. I think Bibby has dominated him - whether the stats show it or not.

Interesting. As bad as Nelson's coaching was, as big a cypher as Walker was, as bad as Finley played, as frustrating as it was seeing Dirk neither demand OR get the ball, as absurd as it was for Bradley not to see the floor, the thing that surprised me most and the idea that concerned me most was that Nash is on the decline.

Yes, it looked to me like he was being dominated by Bibby. And that in and of itself isn't so bad, because even though Mavs fans don't respect Bibby, he seems to've returned his game to the level we saw a couple of years ago. He's elbowing his way back into the Top 5 PGs. So for Nash to be off or unproductive against Bibby shouldn't be that big a deal.

But I've perceived more times than not this year that Nash (as good as he is, and as many good performances as he's had this year) is on the decline, and is physically overmatched more often than not. I won't say that the Mavs necessarily need to trade him or let him go in free agency, but the thought is growing in my mind that the Mavs need a bigger, younger, more physically talented player at PG, and that Nash's best role with the team in the future will come as a reserve.

[Murphy3]

I'm really tired of people saying that Dirk didn't demand the ball. In game one, he repeatedly called for the ball but didn't get it. In game two, he didn't have time to demand the ball late with the Mavs jacking up shots so quickly late in the game. It's difficult to demand the ball if a shot's going up with 18 seconds left on the shot clock.

As for Nash, he was nothing more than a mental midget out there. He consistently forced poor shots and made poor decisions. It's getting a bit old.

[MavKikiNYC]

I will admit that if Dirk was calling for the ball in G1, I didn't see it--i.e., I missed it.

But calling for the ball oncourt during the game is not necessarily the same thing as DEMANDING the ball--i.e., talking to coaches and teammates and asserting his role as best scorer/shooter/offensive player. And I have to say that I haven't seen any evience of that either.

I've been and remain a big admirer of Dirk's physical skills (offensively, that is), but beyond that, I see him as too passive, and that is beginning to be a concern--a serious concern.

Dirk needs a break from Nellie--a separation, not a rest. He seems too psychologically deferential. He needs a coach who will give him the keys to the car and send him out to drive it.

[Murphy3]

Originally posted by: MavKikiNYC
I will admit that if Dirk was calling for the ball in G1, I didn't see it--i.e., I missed it.

But calling for the ball oncourt during the game is not necessarily the same thing as DEMANDING the ball--i.e., talking to coaches and teammates and asserting his role as best scorer/shooter/offensive player. And I have to say that I haven't seen any evience of that either.

I've been and remain a big admirer of Dirk's physical skills (offensively, that is), but beyond that, I see him as too passive, and that is beginning to be a concern--a serious concern.

Dirk needs a break from Nellie--a separation, not a rest. He seems too psychologically deferential. He needs a coach who will give him the keys to the car and send him out to drive it.

Mavskiki, he had peja posted up 2-3 times in the fourth begging for the ball but couldn't get it. Another couple of times, he was basically doing jumping jacks from 15 feet on the wing and then out beyond the three point line only to see Nash throw the ball away trying to get it to Najera.

Perhaps he does need to demand the ball when in the huddle. But, I do not question him calling for the ball during the games.

[kg_veteran]

Dirk does need to be freed from Nellie. Nellie doesn't seem to trust him or want to give him the opportunity to be "the man" on this team. Nellie's system is built around having multiple offensive "weapons", taking advantage of the "matchup" even if it means freezing out your top player.

Dirk Nowitzki may turn out to be nothing more than a great scorer. Maybe he's really not the type of guy that can lead a team to the promised land. But who knows? You just can't know until you put the guy in position to win or lose games and see what happens.

And Nellie doesn't do that.

[Stitch Jones]

Originally posted by: MavKikiNYC

Interesting. As bad as Nelson's coaching was, as big a cypher as Walker was, as bad as Finley played, as frustrating as it was seeing Dirk neither demand OR get the ball, as absurd as it was for Bradley not to see the floor, the thing that surprised me most and the idea that concerned me most was that Nash is on the decline.

Yes, it looked to me like he was being dominated by Bibby. And that in and of itself isn't so bad, because even though Mavs fans don't respect Bibby, he seems to've returned his game to the level we saw a couple of years ago. He's elbowing his way back into the Top 5 PGs. So for Nash to be off or unproductive against Bibby shouldn't be that big a deal.

But I've perceived more times than not this year that Nash (as good as he is, and as many good performances as he's had this year) is on the decline, and is physically overmatched more often than not. I won't say that the Mavs necessarily need to trade him or let him go in free agency, but the thought is growing in my mind that the Mavs need a bigger, younger, more physically talented player at PG, and that Nash's best role with the team in the future will come as a reserve.

[Stitch Jones]

Originally posted by: MavKikiNYC
I will admit that if Dirk was calling for the ball in G1, I didn't see it--i.e., I missed it.

But calling for the ball oncourt during the game is not necessarily the same thing as DEMANDING the ball--i.e., talking to coaches and teammates and asserting his role as best scorer/shooter/offensive player. And I have to say that I haven't seen any evience of that either.

I've been and remain a big admirer of Dirk's physical skills (offensively, that is), but beyond that, I see him as too passive, and that is beginning to be a concern--a serious concern.

Dirk needs a break from Nellie--a separation, not a rest. He seems too psychologically deferential. He needs a coach who will give him the keys to the car and send him out to drive it.

I agree totally on Nash. With all of the other "problems" we've exhibited in this series, Nash's play has disturbed me the most. And it doesn't seem to be that he's unhealthy or not "fresh". It seems as if his lack of physicality is really showing up at this level ( playoffs). I know his assist numbers are great for the season and he's a helluva shooter but overall it's just a feeling I get about his game. Don't want to lose him this off season, but I think it's high time to groom a younger, more physical replacement (Daniels?).