So, now that Game One’s in the books, we’re going to have to be watching carefully to see what changes are made. It’s one of the most fascinating things about a 7-game series– watching how matchups and adjustments are made. It’s a give and take.
I feel like Game One also confirmed some suspicions I had about the last regular season matchup between Dallas and New Orleans. I don’t know… there were just a couple of things about last Wednesday’s game that, if you’ve been watching the Hornets all season, could be described as weird. For one, the lineups were unusual. As a fan, you love to see wins and you love to see that killer instinct. You don’t like to think your team would throw a game to get a matchup. And yet, if Dallas wins, the Hornets play Dallas. If Dallas loses, the Hornets play Denver and Dallas plays the Lakers.
John Hollinger had an interesting breakdown of this today on ESPN. He mentions something that was a red flag to me last Wednesday, namely the play of Jannero Pargo in Game One, who covered both Jasons– Terry and Kidd. We saw barely 8 minutes of Pargo on Wednesday, which is out of the ordinary. Pargo usually comes out initially to backup CP, then later in the game, they’ll play together and get some nice movement going. Instead Byron Scott played Mike James for more minutes than I’ve seen him have, maybe since he’s been a Hornet. We were thinking, “Why the hell is he playing James?” … unless he wanted the Mavs to think he’d go to Mike James. He didn’t want Pargo out there, because he didn’t want to show all his cards. Which means he wanted the Mavs all along.
Sure enough, in Game One here’s Pargo with two major defensive assignments. Mike James? DNP. Also, on Wednesday they were double teaming Dirk, and leaving Jason Kidd wide open. That disappeared in Game One, when the Hornets seemed more ready to just let Dirk go and shut down everyone else, particularly Terry, who gave us trouble. Add to that the fact that CP3′s five fouls came in suspiciously quick succession. And today I’ve even seen a couple of quotes to the effect that the Hornets are happy with getting the Mavs matchup… I’m just saying the Hornets had a plan Wednesday night, and I don’t think it was winning. I think it was mind games.
If the Hornets coaching staff wanted the Mavs, they got what they wanted. I hope they know what they’re doing. Gotta trust. I don’t know, maybe it was more of a “just in case we see them” mentality than a “let’s try to lose,” but the matchups were… different.
And now, on to Game Two. In particular, I want to see what the Mavs decide to do with Chris Paul. I want to see if there’s going to be fallout from the David West-Dirk Nowitzki face slap incident, which apparently was a subject of discussion on TNT yesterday (OK, not apparently, here’s the video). It wasn’t so much a slap as a tap, but I think the Hornets kind of have to be assholes to show they’re not going to be intimidated, and I love D West for doing it.
I want to see the next move of Coach Scott’s chess game.
I was literally yelling for joy when DX tapped Dirk just because it was DX. I was criticizing our team a few minutes prior to the incident for being a tad soft, so knowing we won’t back down is definitely a positive. Mavs, however, have a tendency of being labeled soft (especially during Don Nelson’s tenure), so maybe Stackho needs to start throwing bows like he used to.
But two technical fouls in that game means trouble if we expect a deep playoff run, especially from two of our best. I hear 7 Ts in playoffs and you’re suspended one game.
I too have much love for DX.
I think it’s not necessarily a bad thing to set that tone in the FIRST game. But they’ve got to know that there will be consequences, and lay off the technical fouls in the rest of the series. I’m a bit nervous about West and Chandler, and hell, even CP, having a tendency to get hot and get put off their game. Never mind tossed out or suspended.
Yeah. There’s no need to lose their cool. Because despite the TNT crew wanting everyone to get tough, I can only imagine DX getting tossed for being “tough” and then them intimating that he didn’t have enough playoff experience to handle the pressure, and that he needs to learn to keep his cool in a 7-game series. Something, which, honestly, I give Dirk credit for. Being “tough” could have only hurt his team. And for one, I don’t want the Hornets to move on because Dirk is suspended. You can see how it taints the Spurs/Suns matchup from last year. I want to earn this one. And I believe we can.
Most definitely. Screw the TNT crew on this one.
Dirk has always been labeled soft, even by Dallas fans, but hey, that’s who he is: nothing negative methinks. He’s a really nice guy and an incredible player. Sure he doesn’t play defense or attack the basketball like he should (I don’t care what you say, he’s an extremely mobile 7 footer), but that’s not his role and not what made him Dirk.
People criticize him for his lack of leadership… well, he’s never really been put into that position, nor should he be. Just because you’re the best option on offense does not mean you need to be labeled as a tough leader or whatever. The media puts waayyyy too much undue pressure on that kid. Dirk just needs to do Dirk. Don’t retaliate against DX. Much props to Dirk for not doing anything.
But of course, people will say his ‘softness’ is why the Mavs never win. But one player can’t win games by himself/herself. The starters need to step up. The bench needs to step up. The organization needs to step up. That is, unless the referees are gambling against your team (*ahem* Dwayne Wade… and yes, I refuse to spell his name incorrectly).
Long venting post, but it must be said from a Hornets+Mavs fan perspective.
You know, I see what lots of people are saying, but I personally don’t buy the soft label for Dirk. I mean, what, he’s not a bruiser down low? So what, lots of guys aren’t and they’ve won championships. So he’s a seven-footer. He has a thin, athletic build. It’s like don’t expect Peja to play like a 6’10″ bruiser because he’s not. And Mark, I guess this is kind of what you’re saying, that Dirk is just Dirk. But I guess I don’t find “soft” to necessarily equate with playing a non-bruising style on the inside. Maybe also he has a little less American macho bullshit in him, being a German. Well good for him.
Exactly. If he’s efficient at what he does, I’m pretty fine with his role. If I were GM, I’d sign Ron Artest for Ron Artest. Same goes for Dirk. At the very least you know Dirk won’t be involved with some stripclub shooting off the court.
Or at least, I don’t think he would…