Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

Yeah, Harris is the X-Factor here. Who do you put on him? Steve Nash can't contain him. Raja Bell? If so, Josh Howard's going to have his ways with Shawn Marion. Either way Dirk's going to be guarded by someone way less qualified to guard him than Bruce Bowen. I imagine abuse of the pick and roll with Dirk to get him matched up on Nash.

I think the Suns matched up okay with the Spurs - the Spurs are kinda like the Clippers in that they're a more traditional based team with slower big men, just better. The Mavs big men are quicker and will clean the boards, but at the same time, be able to guard Tim Thomas and Boris Diaw effectively.

It'll be fun to see, that's for sure.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

Marion will be on Dirk. If they continue to start Harris then Nash will start on him with Bell on Terry (probably Bell on Stack when hes in). They will probably put Barbosa on Harris when hes in cause he can match his speed at least. Anyway one thing people have to understand is there are tons of mismatches on both sides, not just the Mavs.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

Harris will eat Nash alive on offense. Vice-versa is true, but I think Harris will be slightly more effective containing Nash then the other way around.

However, Nash has the whole "crafty veteran" thing working for him, while Harris is still very inexperienced. The advantage goes to Nash, but I like the match up. In one of the early games this season, Nash had 10 TOs with Harris guarding him most of the game.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think the Suns matched up okay with the Spurs - the Spurs are kinda like the Clippers in that they're a more traditional based team with slower big men, just better. The Mavs big men are quicker and will clean the boards, but at the same time, be able to guard Tim Thomas and Boris Diaw effectively.

[/ QUOTE ]
Availability heuristic. All the Suns fans in this thread are very happy to NOT be playing the Spurs, based off of watching the Spurs dominate the Suns the past two seasons (and it's hard to argue it would have been different this time, as the Spurs had a franchise high in wins and didn't exactly suck in the playoffs).

The Dallas fans arguing the opposite don't seem to realize the Suns have the same demons with the Spurs that the Mavs just conquered, if only to a lesser extent. It goes beyond matchups.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

The spurs have dominated the suns because they have a fantastic defense if the Mavericks do the same this year they should have a fairly easy series.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

[ QUOTE ]

The spurs have dominated the suns because they have a fantastic defense

[/ QUOTE ]

not true they really didnt slow them down much at all, not the place for this debate right now though, a lot of it is the mental aspect tuq brought up though

EDIT: there was the stretches in the 4th they played great D so i shouldnt say "not at all"

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

I'm not saying the Suns match up very well the Spurs, I'm saying they match up well against that type of team. That said, the talent disparity would've been too much and the Spurs would've smoked the Suns.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

[ QUOTE ]
much much better against the Mavs, tdarko will disagree but its true if you know the suns well


[/ QUOTE ]

I actually don't disagree as much as you think. I do think they matchup better against Dallas but not "much much" better.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

tuq,

If the suns win, the LOLLERCAUST is more than deserved and is expected. GL tonight. Take care.

~td

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

The thought of Stern handing Steve Nash the finals MVP trophy is making me a little sick. Lets go Mavs.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

MVP Count:
Steve Nash - 2
Shaquille O'Neal - 1

The people who vote for MVP are incredibly smart.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

[ QUOTE ]
The thought of Stern handing Steve Nash the finals MVP trophy is making me a little sick. Lets go Mavs.

[/ QUOTE ]

Phoenix - I think you'll be OK. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I should really be rooting for PHX since it's better appearance-wise to get bounced by the eventual conference champions... but damn gotta [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] these Mavs.

-Al

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

[ QUOTE ]
I should really be rooting for PHX since it's better appearance-wise to get bounced by the eventual conference champions... but damn gotta [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] these Mavs.

-Al

[/ QUOTE ]
Al,

You're dead to me. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

between these two teams I think we're gonna see a record for most uncalled moving screens.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

dampier cannot cover thomas, we need kvh.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

Getting worried.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

Wow, the Suns are playing faaaaaast.
I've never seen anything like this.

7:44 left 1st q.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

[ QUOTE ]
between these two teams I think we're gonna see a record for most uncalled moving screens.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dirk just got hammered on one of these, foul on Dirk, three point play.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

Phoenix,

Do not worry. The adjustments will come.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

howard getting hurt is cause for worry

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

Tuq - sorry man, it's just, damn, [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] these Mavs. Also, I really, really hate Tim Thomas (can't hate Raja, cause he hates Kobe so much).

JofA - I like your analysis above alot - though strange to be thinking, in any context, "better if KVH is out there".

-Al

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

yeah, I know. Avery went to Adrian Griffin first which I guess is cool. Marquis Daniels would also be acceptable, I suppose. him being a 3 and howard sliding to the 4. this is a pretty big, but athletic team overall.

i've noticed that the suns, and to a lesser extent, the mavs, seem to rape people on screens. I think Shawn marion actually bearhugged adrian griffin on one.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

KVH picks up two quick fouls and misses a couple open 3s, but the Mavs are getting their shots, just not hitting them. it's encouraging - I don't think Phoenix can hold Dallas at all.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

jason terry stands still and picks up a foul, niiiiiiiiiiice.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

The question, as always, is can Dallas hold Phoenix?

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

I think so. Signs look encouraging to me.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

if josh howard does not play signs aren't so encouraging.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

Dallas missed opportunity for 2 for 1 at end of 1st.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

Do you guys like Doug Collins analysis?

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

The Suns entire formula is built on shooting nothing but open shots and layups and letting the other team take contested shots in the half court. If Crackhouse is going to take as many jumpshots as he's used to, he will be the best thing to happen to Phoenix in this series.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

yeah, we have to absolutely drive to get easy buckets and get them in foul trouble, or we have to get our open shots and then hit them. obvious of course, but we've done a pretty good job of it so far. we've just not hit the open shots.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

bad call on that charge, bell was still shuffling his feet I think

still, we continue to get out points in the paint and they're shooting their jumpshots without nash in there.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

dampier's done a decent job of adjusting on defense. still, I don't like the matchup on offense of dampier against diaw. dampier just isn't a good enough post player to come in from so far away. aside from that, when dirk isn't on the floor we simply don't have a guy that can get offensive rebounds. worry about driving and letting dampier get putbacks and not first shots.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

jason terry is getting so free on these screens

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

I like Dirk posting up on Marion. it might not be his best game, but he'll be able to get marion into foul trouble. other than that, running the pick and roll and getting the switch on nash is great.

in the spuis series, when this happened, dirk would just take a shot over tony. but dirk is driving right at nash, hoping to tire him out and pick up a few cheap fouls to make him sit longer.

even though the mavs are down, I am not worried about it at all.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

Jason Terry reminds me of the guy with the blunt behind his ear on the Real World sketch from Chapelle Show.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

the JET is awesome

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

This is a fun game to watch.

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

kvh keeps missing his open 3s. that won't last, I hope

Re: ** NBA Conference Finals **
 

[ QUOTE ]
This is a horrible game to watch because it's giving me flasbacks to the Clippers series where they did the same [censored] to us.

[/ QUOTE ]

-Al