Hot Tickets!

College Football Tickets Bowl Game Tickets College Basketball Tickets Final Four Tickets

Sunday Mavs Donuts: 12 Secrets To A Game 4 Win

Mike Fisher -- DB.com

We preview tonight's Mavs-at-Spurs Game 4 with what we’ll term “The 12 Things That The Mavs Should Do That, If They Do And Lose Anyway, We Can Live With’’ … and we’ll do it in the form of DallasBasketball.com’s world-famous Sunday Morning Mavs Donuts:

 

 

 

 

 

    DONUT 1: Stop Tim Duncan.

    No, not “slow’’ him or “contain’’ him or “endure’’ him.

    Stop him.

    The Mavs’ pre-series plan was justifiable: Let Erick Dampier try to handle the hobbled Hall-of-Famer one-on-one. Make a virtual concession that Timmy is going to get his 18 points. Make sure the other Spurs don’t beat you.

     Well, the plan hasn’t worked. As it stands, Timmy isn’t getting his 18 – he’s getting his 27, 25 and 25.  However “hobbled’’ he is hasn’t been exposed because Dallas has been unable to run, because SA has been allowed to set up in the half-court, and because Duncan’s offense has been just terrific. He’s

    The Mavs were not counting on that. They need to move “do something about it’’ to the top of their “Things To Do’’ list. Double-team Duncan? Assign a true defender onto him? (If Carlisle can’t find anything else for Shawn Marion to do …) Deny him the ball and plan for backside help? Use the 2-3 zone more extensively? (But for God’s sake, you cannot let Manu dribble freely inside the zone!)

     You want “adjustments’’? You want “a brilliant and daring coaching move’’? You want to win the game?

     This is the way: Quit assuming Duncan will miss. Quit conceding anything to him.

     Stop Tim Duncan.

 

     DONUT 2: Find some Robins.

    The Mavs entered this series believing that Manu would play a starring role, but one not in excess of what Dirk (31.7 ppg so far) would do. After that, they believed that Kidd would be as effective at his job as Duncan would be (thus in a sense offsetting each other), and that Terry would do the same with Parker.

     And after that?

     Caron Butler would be as good as the Spurs’ second-best player and certainly better than their fourth-best player.

    Shawn Marion would also be as good as the Spurs’ second-best player and certainly better than their fourth-best player.

    And maybe the center combo of Dampier/Haywood would be the same.

   Of course, it hasn’t worked out that way. All the candidates to be “Second Bananas’’ have instead slipped on their peels.

    It is exhaustion? (Terry is up to around 40 minutes per game and shot a combined 3-of-14 in the fourth quarters of the last two games.) Is it mismanagement? (Who knew Caron Butler would spend Game 3 being allowed to do as much for his team as the Spurs’ Garrett Temple did for his?) Is it an overall overrating of Dirk’s supporting cast? (You know, “We love our ‘Boys in Blue’ and all that.)

    All I know is that it’s as Chuck Cooperstein said to me on Saturday on ESPN: “There are a lot of guys who need to come up a whole lot bigger.’’

      The team that wins a title – or for that matter, a series – generally has the good fortune of having as many as six players performing at a very high level at the same time.

     Dallas has pretty much been five guys short of that.

 

     DONUT 3: Rediscover the running game.

     Kidd centering the break, Marion and Butler on the wings, Jet setting up as a 3-point receiver, Beaubois catching a Roddy-Oop, Dirk as the 3-point trailer …

     We hardly knew ye.

     It was the pre-series of no less an authority than Dirk Nowitzki that this Mavs team was his best ever in terms of being able to play half-court basketball.

     “We’re built for the playoffs,’’ he said.

     But the evidence is not there. In Game 3 alone, the Mavs committed an astounding total of four shot-clock violations, the half-court offense getting bogged down in bad big-man decisions, over-dribbling, waiting on Dirk and Clogged-Up Caron’s odd need for a can of Drano.

     Meanwhile, the Mavs managed just 14 points on the break.

     We’ll assume that this phenomenon is the result of San Antonio playing defense and making baskets. But we also wonder if we aren’t seeing some over-management (say it ain’t so, Ivory Johnson) and some general caution on the part of the Mavs runners. (Not to mention the possibility that maybe the fresh-legged tandem of Caron and Marion might’ve helped get up and down the floor in the fourth quarter of G3.)

     Even if you believe that Dallas can match SA in a half-court game (and in Dirk-vs.-Duncan alone, you might have some evidence), there is one place SA cannot match Dallas … and that’s in a running game.

     Dallas’ hopes here threaten to go up in smoke because that potential advantage is not being exploited.

 

    DONUT 4: First, fix the firsts.

    The Mavs have been so awful in these first quarters (averging just 19 points per) that I almost wish they could Rent-A-Josh … just for 12 minutes a night.

     Kidding.

    But in these first quarters, the Mavs are coughing the ball up four times on average, are failing to establish their desired fast tempo, and are finding themselves playing from behind -- . The Mavs have averaged 19.6 points and 4.0 turnovers in the opening quarter of the first three games and in the last two games has fallen behind by scores of 9-0 and 12-4, respectively.

  Dirk, your thoughts?

   “We need to start with a little more sense of urgency on the defensive end,’’ Dirk says. “We need to run some plays that run to our strengths. We're a big starting lineup with Caron and with Marion at the 3. We’ve got to run some stuff to get them involved. Defensively we need to run and not give up easy baskets in transition, don't turn ball over. If we do do that we'll get a good start. I'm not worried about it.’’

    Remember: If Dallas gets a lead, it generally keeps a lead. Not since Jan. 28 have the Mavs lost a game in which they led going into the fourth quarter; they had it up to 21 straight games until Friday.

 

     DONUT 5: Get Kidd to make two more baskets. Just two more!

     You think I’m being sarcastic?

     In Game 2, the Mavs cut what had been a 20-point deficit down to five … in a game in which Jason Kidd made one basket. Had he somehow managed just two more buckets … somewhere … anywhere …

    In Game 3, the Mavs had a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter but ended up losing by four …. In a game in which Jason Kidd made one basket. Had he somehow managed just two more buckets … somewhere … anywhere …

     Replace Kidd’s pair of one-fer’s – he was 2-of-13 overall -- with two games in which he manages a modest three baskets … and the Mavs probably aren’t down 2-1 in this series.

     SA is actually guarding Kidd respectfully, unlike most of the rest of the league, which dared him to knock down 3’s – which he did, at a 42-percent clip that put him among the NBA leaders. At this point, Dallas doesn’t necessarily need Kidd to shoot at an NBA-leading clip.

    Dallas just needs two more baskets.

    Let me repeat, though, the Spurs’ defense against Kidd is part of this equation. This season against SA, Jason is shooting 18-of-56. Eliminate his pair of 5-of-12 efforts (in the last game of the regular season and Game 1 of the playoffs) and that leaves him five other meetings in which he’s 8-of-32.

    He needs to make two more baskets.

    

   DONUT 6: Don’t lose ‘The Rag Dolls.’

    “I’m in and out of the (of the lineup) like a rag doll," said Shawn Marion.

    At this point, it’s all about Game 4 – and Carlisle must do everything he can to win this game. But let’s not leave the coach out there hanging alone; Marion and Butler must do everything they can to win this game, too.

   “Raggedy Ann & Andy,’’ what do you have to say for yourselves?

    “The vibe is good,’’ said Butler following Saturday’s team meeting and practice.

     For the record, I understand the benching (of Butler, at least). But I do not understand the non-un-benching.

     And, for the record, I do not understand in any way why Manu-stopper Marion was also shelved.

     Anyway … Does anybody dare argue with Nowitzki’s words?

     “Coach went with the smaller lineup and it worked for a while and it is what it is,'' Nowitzki said. "I know Caron and Matrix are going to be ready from the jump ball and we'll go from there. Those guys have to get that game out of their heads and start fresh.''

     That’s all about Game 4. But it’s also about Game 5. … and this summer … and next season. Once upon a time, Marion has a reputation as someone who pouted when he felt disrespected. Earlier this season, Wizards management groused when it felt Butler was going outside the playbook to take his shots.

    This is no time for any of that baloney. Carlisle cannot lose The Rag Dolls – and they cannot allow themselves to be lost.

 

    DONUT 7: Un-contort the numbers.

    Maybe this is an example of the dreaded “Due Theory.’’ But it’s uncanny how all of the sudden, so many statistical trends have gone all Pretzel Logic on Dallas.

    Consider: Going into Friday, Dallas had won eight of the last nine Game 3’s it’d played in Round 1’s. Now, make it eight of the last 10.

     So here we go: The Mavs win games when they lead going into the third. They always do! Rick Carlisle is 5-1 in first-round series as a head coach. He almost always wins! The Spurs were 0-of-7 from the arc in Game 3; as they are just the fourth team since '01 to win with no 3’s in a postseason game, a 3-less team always loses!

    One more: Only once all season have the Mavs lost three straight games.

    So let’s see if the Mavs can rely on one more number and get it un-contorted.

 

     DONUT 8: FREE RODDY B!

     Here’s a fun “we’ll-never-know’’ regarding FREE RODDY B: While Barea put up 14 points and four assists and four rebounds in his 31 minutes in Game 3 (leaving defense out of it for a moment) … I wonder what Roddy Beaubois’ numbers might’ve been in 31 minutes of play?

  If you want a piece of the fun, order your shirt. I will ship your FREE RODDY B! t-shirt today, priority mail … and while supplies last, you will also receive (in a separate mailing) your Roddy Beaubois Collectors Card.

   Oh, and via random selection, two of those Roddy Beaubois Collectors Cards will be personally autographed for you … by Roddy Beaubois himself. So you get the high-quality shirt, you get the free Panini Adrenalyn Roddy Collectors Card, you are in the Movement and you might just get your Collectors Card autographed.

   Wear the shirt. Root for all the Mavs. And let’s see if we can’t get it up to six minutes in Game 4.

   Listen, I’m not pretending this is THE priority tonight. But if Rick is searching for somebody on his roster who might be able to prevent 16-point first quarters, who might be able to provide quicks as a perimeter defender, who might be able to get some easy baskets as a finisher, who might be able to help pick up the pace, who might be able to ignite his sluggish team …

    All the mights are sitting just a few chairs down from him.

    So it’s not THE priority. But it deserves mention in the top 12.

    One more thing here: I don’t mean to be a dick, but anybody who is writing that Roddy B’s playoff debut was “forgettable’’ or whatever is, I think, playing CCA. (Covering Carlisle’s Ass.) Beaubois’ work in his brief stint in Game 3 was a POSITIVE in the sense that he did not – as some predicted – look out of place, overwhelmed or “not yet ready.’’ He missed a shot, had a turnover and contributed a couple of assists.

    In other words, he was no more “forgettable’’ than any other Mav not named Dirk.

 

    DONUT 9: Turn the pick-and-roll into a wrasslin’ match.

    We all know about SA’s reliance on its offensive bread-and-butter. Here’s the one reaction we haven’t seen to it from Dallas: Muscle up. Knock people over in an attempt to get to the shooter. Clutch-and-grab the screener. Get Timmy riled. Get rough with Tony Longoria. Lean on Manu (he’s the guy with the Lombard Street nose). Challenge the officials.

     One of the reasons the Spurs are winning the loose-ball battle is because they have been the aggressors. On that very first Spurs pick-and-roll – and it’ll come in the first 30 seconds of the game – Dallas should set the tone. Clog it up with quick feet and broad shoulders. And if the ball should somehow slip inside? Attack the ball.

 

    DONUT 10: Drive.  Penetrate. Slash. Finish.

    "It was a coach's decision," Carlisle said repeatedly on Friday night of his handling of Kidd and Marion and Caron.

     Specificially of Caron (The Rag Doll), Rick said, "I was going with the group that was going good. We needed penetration (from Barea) and that was it."

     It is true that JJB provided that.

     It is disturbing that the view of Caron Butler is that at present he cannot provide that. Caron Butler is not a driver, a penetrator, a slasher and a finisher? Since when? All that went away between today and Game 1 – when he was every bit all of those things?  

     Given that driving, penetrating, slashing and finishing are all signs of intensity and physicality, there should not be a player on this roster who is not driving, penetrating, slashing and finishing.

  

     DONUT 11: And then win it from the line.

    You shoot 82 percent from the line.

     They shoot 71 percent from the line.

     Your All-World centerpiece, Dirk Nowitzki, is arguably the finest clutch free-thrower in the history of basketball.

     Their All-World centerpiece, Tim Duncan, has in his career often often been in the 63-percent range and might as well shoot his free throws with his other hand.

     Yet in the last two games, you’ve attempted 35 total free throws while they’ve attempted 48 total free throws.

     So your advantage is neutered.

     This, ladies and gentlemen, is not a complicated formula.

 

     DONUT 12: Imitate the Spurs one more time by playing your best basketball – like the Spurs are.

    It is with respect that we note that the Spurs organization has over the years provided a model for what the Mavs are and desire to be.

    “They’re the big brothers, we’re the little brothers,’’ said Jet before the series, tipping his headband to SA’s four titles.

     One more bit of mimicking is necessary.

    “We're playing the best basketball of the year so far," says Tim Duncan. "We are playing our best at the right time. That's what we wanted to do all year long. It's frustrating all season to go through all of the ups and downs, but all in all you want to be playing your best at the right time of the year."

    It’d be concern enough for Dallas if the Spurs only “think’’ that about themselves; the confidence factor alone is muscular.

     But it’s a greater concern because it’s true.

 

 

 

 

 

The DB.com Store: New designs, "The UberMan,'' "Fish For Lunch'' and "The DUST Chip''!

Follow us at twitter.com/fishsports

Discuss this story at DB.com Boards

1201pm april 25 2010

 

                                                     

 

Back to Directory...