Posted by Rob Mahoney on April 30, 2010 under Commentary | 
Without Rodrigue Beaubois, last night’s game would have been a disaster. The rookie jump-started the Mavs’ offense at a particularly vulnerable time in a way that no other Maverick could, or at least seemed willing to do: by getting to the basket. Driving to the hoop is not a specialty of either Jason Kidd or Jason Terry at this point in their careers, which leaves Beaubois and J.J. Barea as the lone penetrators among the Dallas guards. Barea had a pretty horrible night despite playing well in the series to that point, which made Beaubois’ ability to get to the basket all the more important.
So he drove. Over, and over, and over again. He drove past Tony Parker and George Hill, weaved through Antonio McDyess and Manu Ginobili, and finished around Tim Duncan. He was far and away the most dynamic Maverick on the floor in his 21 minutes of playing time, and it’s a damn shame that he didn’t play more. As I mentioned in the recap, not having Beaubois not playing in the fourth isn’t the reason the Mavs lost Game 6, though it could qualify as a reason. It’s hard to say, honestly, because as good as Beaubois was, it’s not like he was going to single-handedly shut down the Spurs’ pick-and-roll. Rodrigue wasn’t going to prevent George Hill from nailing open looks in the corner and he wasn’t going to protect the rim. He definitely would have given the Mavs another scoring option on the floor when they desperately needed one, and that counts for something, but his presence is not a cure-all.
However, Rick Carlisle’s decision to sit Beaubois in this series (and in the fourth quarter of Game 6, in particular) was a monumental error. Carlisle made a huge, huge mistake, and though it’s impossible to say whether or not it cost the Mavs this or that, there’s no question that having Beaubois on the floor would have put Dallas in a better position to win this series. Maybe the Spurs still would have made big plays and done the right things, because that’s kind of what the Spurs do, but I fail to see how having a scorer as productive and efficient as Beaubois on the floor would have hurt the Mavs in any significant way. He makes rookie mistakes from time to time and his defense isn’t perfect, but when the team is relying so heavily on Jason Terry to produce and he’s not producing, there doesn’t seem to be any harm in giving Beaubois some burn with the first unit.
That said, I understand Carlisle’s dilemma. Terry has proven in the past that even in terrible games, he’s able to bounce back to help in the fourth. Beaubois had yet to really prove himself in a playoff situation prior to Game 6, though through no fault of his own. JET was the easy pick, the comfortable pick, and in a bout of temporary insanity, Carlisle separated himself from the strategy he’s gone with for most of the season, and sat the player who was able to produce.
Then again, maybe that approach has never really applied to Beaubois. We saw Carlisle switch up lineups and alter the rotation as players succeeded or struggled, but the one player who seemed immune to all of it was Beaubois. No matter how well Rodrigue played, he could never carve out the consistent minutes he deserved, and only in similarly desperate times — when the Mavs faced injury or a serious match-up problem — was Beaubois considered a possible solution. It’s not easy for coaches to trust rookies, and I get that. The angle that Carlisle is coming from is fairly easy to understand. It’s just wrong, in this particular case.
Really, the problem wasn’t that Carlisle refused to play Beaubois during the fourth quarter of Game 6, but that he refused to play him for the bulk of the regular season. The reason why he didn’t trust Rodrigue during high-pressure moments in a crucial series was because he didn’t throw Beaubois into the fire enough during the initial 82. It’s not as if Beaubois would have been a complete liability; Rodrigue was third on the team in effective field goal percentage during the regular season and second in scoring per 36 minutes. Carlisle failed not because Beaubois wasn’t ready for the playoffs, but because he didn’t know just how ready Rodrigue was. The more playing time he received in the regular season, the better prepared he would have been for the added pressure (both in terms of expectation and the Spurs’ defense) of the postseason.
If Rick didn’t think Beaubois was a good pick-and-roll defender (which he’s not), he should have let him work through it in games and in practice. If he didn’t think Rodrigue could run the point effectively (which he still can’t, honestly; his best performances have been off the ball, and every second that Beaubois played in Game 6 was alongside Jason Kidd), he should have handed him the reins during a mid-season game against the Clippers.
Rick Carlisle did mishandle the appropriation of minutes in Beaubois’ case, the only problem is that it’s been going on for months. He should have been playing more the whole season, and only now has the error manifested itself in a way that secures national attention. Still, assigning blame for the Game 6 loss solely on that one substitution is ridiculous. It doesn’t fall in line with Carlisle’s claims to go with the lineups that work and perhaps Beaubois’ insertion back into the game with 2:44 remaining was too little, too late, but Dallas almost won the game regardless. The players on the floor couldn’t match the Spurs’ execution and lost the game on their own. That’s a team of proven veterans, leaders, and All-Stars just coming up a bit short. Again, it’s not that Beaubois couldn’t have helped, but that his exclusion offers a convenient excuse that disguises the team’s real problems.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on April 29, 2010 under Recaps |
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.
Box Score — Play-By-Play — Shot Chart — GameFlow
“These struggling tides of life that seem
In wayward, aimless course to tend,
Are eddies of the mighty stream
That rolls to its appointed end.”
-William Cullen Bryant, The Crowded Street
Rough loss. The recap that I don’t want to write and you don’t want to read is on its way, but for the moment I think it’s best if we all pour one out for the season that was. There should have been no delusions over this being “the Mavs’ year,” and given that, I think Dallas’ first round out to San Antonio wasn’t entirely unexpected. This Maverick team was going to lose to a quality opponent, and they did just that. That quality opponent just happened to be a seventh seed, a first round opponent, and the Mavs’ one and only true rival.
Obviously there’s more to come on the game and the season, but for the moment: sulk, reflect, ponder, sigh, and shrug. Another season is in the books: another year without a title and another campaign of enjoying Dirk Nowitzki while we still can.
———-
What a curse it is, to be blessed. I’d never envy the followers of a lesser NBA team, and I wouldn’t dare compare the failings of the Mavs to the failings of other franchises (the Clippers, the Knicks, etc.). That said, Dallas has made a habit out of tragedy, and while this loss doesn’t even remotely measure up to the playoff losses in 2006 or 2007, the sting remains.
Dirk deserves better. He played an incredible game (33 points on 21 shots), and hit so many big shots. He just didn’t quite get the help that he needed. That tale should sound familiar, and at this rate, it could be the epitaph on Dirk’s NBA headstone: Here lies Dirk Nowitzki, the unsung, underrated star of his generation who remained title-less because of teammates and circumstance. It’s not that Dirk’s career has been without fault, but just that it so rarely should lie with him. He’s a truly unique offensive weapon, and his ability to lead this team to another 50-win season and another playoff berth is impressive in itself, even if the offense wasn’t quite good enough to elevate the Mavs past a tough first round opponent.
It really wasn’t good enough. Neither was the defense. But only barely, as Dallas again had a game in its clutches, despite what could certainly qualify as the worst playoff start in franchise history.
Dallas could barely manage to walk out on the court in the first quarter before San Antonio had racked up a double-digit lead, and by the time that lead had blossomed to 22 points in the second, all hope seemed lost. The Mavs finished with just eight points in the first quarter, and their valiant effort in Game 5 seemed suddenly worthless. Dallas missed shots they normally make, their defense was fell well short of the playoff standard, and the lack of scoring aside from Caron Butler and Dirk Nowitzki would have been comical if it weren’t so depressing.
Then, Rick Carlisle turned to the one card he had been reluctant to play all series long. With the Mavs already desperate for a spark in the second quarter, Carlisle inserted Rodrigue Beaubois, and shockingly, it worked. Beaubois did what he’s done so many times this season: score quickly and efficiently by using his speed to get around defenders. The only difference is that the offense was basically run through Beaubois from the moment he was inserted into the game…as long as “the offense” can be reduced to Beaubois driving around his defender (with the help of a few handy pick-setters) and getting to the rim. It’s not exactly complex, but it was was startlingly efficient, as Rodrigue was able to finish at the basket, help defense be damned. From that point on, the Mavs scoring duo was elevated to a trio, and Nowitzki, Butler, and Beaubois finished with 74 of the Mavs’ 87 points.
That is, until Rick Carlisle opted to keep Beaubois on the bench for the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter in favor of Jason Terry. JET had a pretty horrible night, and scored just two points on seven shot attempts. He was in the game for his prior exploits and his reputation, and for a night, Carlisle betrayed his own code and sat a player who was playing incredibly well. More on that later.
It’s almost silly to dwell too much on what the Mavs did wrong, if only because they were so close to winning…again. Dallas actually managed to take the lead on a Dirk three-pointer in the third quarter, but one botched defensive assignment later, and it was San Antonio’s game again. If JET or Kidd makes one more shot, maybe this is a different game. If one more of Nowitzki’s improbable looks found the bottom of the basket, maybe we’d be talking about a Game 7. Maybe if one more Maverick showed themselves to be a reliable scoring option in this series, the day wouldn’t be quite so gloomy. And yes, maybe if Rick Carlisle had played Rodrigue Beaubois more in the fourth quarter, this series wouldn’t be over.
But it is. And blaming things solely on a coaching decision to go with one of the best fourth quarter scorers in franchise history over a rookie — a sensational one, but a rookie nonetheless — is a bit ridiculous. Beaubois was not the only thing that could have saved the Mavs. The decision to sit him was certainly not the factor that doomed them, even it its so terribly easy to paint it that way.
The pick-and-roll defense just wasn’t good enough, the Mavs had no way of stopping George Hill (21 points, six assists) who was every bit the x-factor he was proclaimed to be, and the Spurs were far, far more aggressive offensively. Dallas’ shortcomings should be completely unsurprising, as their inability to play consistent defense and reluctance to push for quality shot attempts again brought about their end. I honestly wish it was more complex, but that’s all it took. This match-up was so even that the Mavs didn’t need to give the Spurs much to run with, and once they offered San Antonio those few, small carrots, it was enough for the Spurs to close the series in six games.
There’s obviously more: Caron Butler had a fantastic offensive night, all things considered, Brendan Haywood and Erick Dampier were effective in bursts but each had drawbacks to their play, and Jason Kidd was invisible yet again. All of that matters, but at this point does it really? Dallas’ run is over, and though they fought until the very end in their season finale, so many Mavericks came up with nothing when the team desperately needed something. It didn’t have to be 20 points or 10 rebounds or 12 free throw attempts, but it had to be something. On this night against this particular opponent, that was apparently too much to ask.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under Video |
Game 5 showed a brief glimpse into how potent the Maverick offense can be when Caron Butler is attacking the rim, but in reality the Mavs were working the game from three different angles. In this installment of Moving Pictures, we’ll break down the three ways that Dallas succeeded in Game 5, and how those same factors should impact Game 6.
(EDIT: Video removed due to some technical problems with the audio. Plus, they lost anyway, what do you care?)
Apologies for technical difficulties; YouTube has been difficult all day, so I’m getting this up as I can.
Posted by admin on under The Grapevine |
- Eduardo Najera doesn’t want to be considered an enforcer. He’d rather be called an energy guy. Most Spurs fans probably just want to call him an annoyance, though, as Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News writes: “Bothersome, he is. And that’s the way he and the Mavericks like it. But he doesn’t want to be known as an enforcer in this series, even if he’s one flagrant foul away from being suspended for a game.”
- Buck Harvey of the San Antonio Express-News points out that when Manu Ginobili plays Dirk Nowitzki, Manu normally gets hurt: “…At least this fits into a pattern. In 2002, in the World Championships, Ginobili collided with an opponent, severely sprained his ankle and missed the rest of that tournament. The opponent? Nowitzki.”
- Andrew McNeill of 48 Minutes of Hell previews Game 6 and writes about the mounting pressure on the Spurs and why some people see tonight as a must-win for the Spurs: “Here’s a riddle for you: lots of folks are saying that the San Antonio Spurs need to win Game 6 tonight in San Antonio and end the series, because if it goes to Game 7 in Dallas, all the pressure will be on the Spurs. But by saying that, aren’t they putting all that pressure on the Spurs to win tonight instead?”
- No Maverick made the Top 15 in jersey sales this year, and the Mavericks were not in the top 10 in team merchandise sold.
- Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas writes one of the keys to Game 6 is for the Mavericks to keep their cool: “The Mavs didn’t handle the pressure and a deafening crowd well here in Games 3 and 4. They know they have no choice tonight in do-or-die Game 6.”
- Enjoy watching the game tonight, wear your lucky shorts, sit in your lucky chair and hopefully this will not be the last Mavericks game we see until November.
This post was written by Blaine Zimmerman. If you’d like to contact Blaine, drop a comment or email him at bzimmerman11b[at]gmail[dot]com.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under Commentary |
The Mavs’ potential for off-season turnover exists regardless of how deep they go into the playoffs. Given the unique financial circumstances afforded to the Mavericks this summer and the never-ending arms race that exists between NBA teams, no one should be surprised to see Dallas make significant changes this summer even if they somehow stumbled their way to an NBA title.
The reason for that is Erick Dampier. Due to the unique performance-related incentives of Dampier’s contract, he can be traded this off-season and then his entire 2010-2011 salary can be subsequently voided. That makes him an invaluable piece in a potential sign-and-trade, supposing Mark Cuban and the Mavs can entice one of this summer’s bigger talents and manage to convince a rival GM to play ball.That’s what makes Dallas’ off-season outlook so difficult to predict: if the Mavs are to acquire anyone of note this summer by using a sign-and-trade, they’ll have to do it with the blessing of the team said player is deserting. Accurately gauging how willing another GM may be to do such a thing requires an intimate knowledge of management style, manager personalities, ownership complications, and overall team strategy that goes far beyond my pay-grade.
Instead, the best way to predict which players could interest the Mavs is simply to analyze which among them may be the most attractive. Unfortunately, that also hinges greatly on the status of the Mavs’ own unrestricted free agent, Brendan Haywood. Haywood is a franchise center. He’s a capable big that can catch and finish, he’s a top-notch interior defender, and he helps well. Should Dallas lose him to another team this summer, their irrefutable free agent strategy would be aimed at securing another big man. Dampier seems like a lock to be moved; should his salary become fully guaranteed for net season by Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson’s choice, he’ll be owed $13 million next season. I consider myself a stronger advocate of Dampier than most, and I’ll be the first to admit that his level of production doesn’t even whiff that price tag. The allure of dropping Damp’s salary — either by trade or by cutting him loose should the right opportunity not present itself — is simply to great for him to remain a Maverick at his current salary, which makes Haywood an essential piece in the free agency equation. We know that Dirk Nowitzki is not a center, and should Dallas be left Haywood-less, they would essentially have four options:
- Sign a cheap, veteran center for the minimum to start and play major minutes for the team. (Read: disaster.)
- Try to acquire a center like Shaquille O’Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Ian Mahinmi, or Jermaine O’Neal using the mid-level exception.
- Try to acquire a power forward and play him at center, either through a desperate grab for Chris Bosh, a run at a mid-level guy like restricted free agent Luis Scola, etc.
- Scrap the free agency dream entirely and try to trade Damp to a team looking to get out from under their center’s contract (Nene, Andris Biedrins, etc.).
How Haywood’s negotiations go this summer obviously hold enormous implications for the Mavs’ off-season plans, so speculating beyond that point is probably fruitless.
So consider me without fruits; I can’t help but think that a number of stars could look awfully good in a Maverick uniform.
LeBron James is this summer’s big prize, but the likelihood of him somehow ending up in Dallas is incredibly slim. It’d be nice, sure, and the Mavs would probably offer him the best chance to compete immediately of any potential destinations. The team is already established in Dallas, and that’s enticing. Then again, do you know where the team is also already established? Cleveland. Who knows how this year’s playoffs will affect LeBron’s decision, but title or not, I like the odds of him sticking with the Cavs.
Chris Bosh also seems like a pipe dream, mainly due to two factors: Bosh does not want to play center, as he’s expressed time and time again in Toronto, and he wants to be The Man, which he wouldn’t be in Dallas. The key in the Mavs acquiring any signed-and-traded free agent is the player’s desire (not just willingness) to come play for Dallas, and Bosh could be described as lukewarm at best when approached about the possibility of playing in his hometown.
Instead, if I’m the Mavs, I have my eyes fixed on the fortunes of two players, one of which is an incredibly unlikely target and the other only mildly unlikely: Dwyane Wade and Joe Johnson.
Caron Butler is only the illusion of a starting shooting guard. He can, in theory, shoot, score, handle the ball a bit, and defend. He just doesn’t manage to do the former two efficiently, and his defensive abilities are competent and only likely to diminish with his age. Butler’s Game 5 explosion was so welcome because of the contrast it posed to his typically inefficient scoring nights, and having other scoring threats like Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry around Butler hasn’t elevated his efficiency like we thought it might. He’s more or less the same player he was in Washington, only playing well into April.
That leaves the Mavs still looking for a legitimate 2-guard, and the combination of Damp’s contract provisions and Butler’s expiring deal gives Dallas a unique opportunity. They could potentially offer a team like Miami or Atlanta a player of Butler’s caliber in a sign-and-trade, while also allowing them to dump a bit of salary in exchange for Dampier’s deal. The ability of those teams to acquire Damp and then cut him immediately at no cost is something that no other team in the league can offer in a sign-and-trade, which does give Dallas a bit of an edge. Enough of an edge to willingly sign off on the departure of a franchise player? Probably not, but the Mavs are hoping so.
The wild card in all of this is Rodrigue Beaubois. The rook quickly carved out a niche for himself as a highly efficient scorer, and he hasn’t even begun to actualize his full potential as an NBA player. Few players come into the league with the gifts that Beaubois possesses, and should the right prize be available, Dallas may dangle him as trade bait. Teams may not be eager to give up their star player for Butler and Damp’s savings alone, but if Cuban and Nelson are willing to include a rookie guard that has star written all over him? I’m guessing they’d at least get their phone calls returned.
As for the two players I specified, it’s simple: shooting guard would be the Mavs’ biggest hole in the rotation if they can hang on to Haywood, and Jason Terry wasn’t necessarily the ideal candidate, even his prime. JET still has plenty left and is ideal as a sixth man, but just doesn’t have the size or defensive aptitude necessary to guard opposing shooting guards well, and isn’t very good at guarding opposing point guards, either. Terry is much improved on the defensive end, but even those improvements don’t have him quite where he would need to be in order to be a highly effective starter.
Two guys that do have that defensive ability — in addition to elite offensive skills — are Wade and Johnson.
Wade is the dream that probably shouldn’t even be chased. For one, because Miami and Chicago are considered the favorites to acquire him. Rightfully so, as both can try to pair him with very talented players, and both boast some sort of hometown advantage. I’m confident one of those teams will land Wade, and they’ll be very, very happy together.
The Mavs could still have an opportunity to play home-wrecker here, supposing Pat Riley is willing to play along with Cuban and Nelson’s plans. I don’t see that as even a remote possibility, but again, I’m not Riles. Maybe he’s very high on Beaubois, or decides he wants to give Caron another go with the Heat, or maybe just wants to do right by Wade for all that he’s done for the franchise. These are not probable scenarios but they are scenarios, and the Mavs would be considered fools if they didn’t do their due diligence when the top shooting guard in the league (yeah, I said it) becomes available.
There would be, of course, that one thing. That one little thing. That one little he single-handedly (we’re not counting officials) destroyed the Mavs in the 2006 Finals thing. It would certainly make the relationship…interesting. There were comments exchanged from both sides in 2006-2007, the thought of the series still stings most Mavs fans, and I can only offer one piece of advice to all parties involved: get over it. This is Dwyane Wade. He’s a remarkable player with a hell of a career still ahead of him, and even though it’s extremely unlikely he’ll wind up a Maverick, the very thought should have Mavs fans sending him love letters and fruit baskets. They don’t come much better than Wade, and regardless of the past between him and the Mavs, his talent and Dallas’ needs should make him a top priority.
Consider Joe Johnson the back-up plan. He’s older, less efficient on offense, a bit slower on defense, and generally not as Dwyane Wadey as Dwyane Wade is. That doesn’t mean he would be anything less than an excellent addition for Dallas. Messing with Atlanta is always a mess, but I think Beaubois could pose an intriguing piece for the Hawks in particular. There’s no reason that Rodrigue can’t do everything that Mike Bibby currently does, only with better activity on the defensive end, better driving ability, and impressive length. He could be a perfect point guard if the Hawks continue on with Mike Woodson (or at least his offensive and defensive systems), and Atlanta may find the idea of getting Beaubois back in a sign-and-trade far more palatable than letting Johnson walk.
However, as talented as Johnson is, there are two concerns. For one, giving a 29-year-old a five or six year deal could end up being a nightmare, especially with the new CBA likely decreasing the possibility of such long-term, lucrative deals in the future. Second, a lot of Caron Butler’s more irritating habits also exist in Johnson, Joe is just better. He’s still a jumpshooter and a lot of his offense in Atlanta has been isolation-centered, he’s just a better player than Caron. Whether that’s good enough to put the Mavs over the proverbial hump or not is unknown, but it’s certainly not a bad start.
It’s almost trite at this point to say “stay tuned,” but that’s exactly the approach Mavs fans should take with regard to the team’s future. So much of what the Mavs will be able to do depends on who wants what, who goes where, and what teams have which options on the table. Fathoming all of that a few months in advance definitely qualifies as impossible, and all that we’re left with is a microscope fixed on the free agent class, an ear on every news and legitimate rumor available, and a head full of pipe dreams and possibilities. The dominoes will be falling soon enough, and we know Mark Cuban will be ready to pull the trigger. Until then, all eyes should rest on Brendan Haywood, who could very well determine the Mavs’ free agent destiny.
Tags: Andris Biedrins, Brendan Haywood, Caron Butler, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Erick Dampier, Ian Mahinmi, Jermaine O'Neal, Joe Johnson, LeBron James, Luis Scola, Nene, Rodrigue Beaubois, Shaquille O'Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Posted by admin on April 28, 2010 under The Grapevine |
- Rick Carlisle’s job isn’t threatened regardless of the outcome of this first round series. Cuban on Carlisle (via MacMahon): “I mean, it’s not something we’ll evaluate now, it’s not something we’ll evaluate this summer. I don’t see what would change anything.”
- Dan Devine of Ball Don’t Lie: “It’s an immutable truth of the online world: If you write something about Caron Butler that skews negative — like I did, like Mike Prada did on Bullets Forever, like Kyle Weidie did on Truth About It, and on, and on — you will have your ugly craw crammed with humility walnuts within the space of 48 hours… It was a dominant performance in a game the Mavs had to have, the kind of game that tantalizes the Dallas faithful with visions of that one more big-time scorer that can aid Dirk Nowitzki and push their team over the top. Of course, it was also the kind of performance that leaves longtime watchers shaking their heads, saying things like “If only it was every night,” and being skeptical that Butler can turn in reasonable facsimiles in likewise must-win sixth and, if the Mavs get that far, seventh games.”
- Skeets and Tas of The Basketball Jones like the way Dirk attacked the basket early and the play of Brendan Haywood.
- From mavstats: “for the 15:14 that Shawn Marion defended Manu Ginobili, Marion was +19 and held Ginobili to 7 points on 2-7 FG.”
- Jason Terry has a new pregame ritual that symbolizes the coming-back-from-the-dead of the Mavericks’ playoff hopes… I guess. “I’m not big on death, but I was in a casket, and when they bunched me up, I fell up out of the casket and said ‘we’re not done yet.’ We’re going to have to do that again.”
- Rick Carlisle didn’t play Erick Dampier in garbage time out of respect for the veteran center: “By the time late in the game, with veteran guys in those situations, I have too much respect to put him back in, unless he wants to.”
- Former Mavs stats man Wayne Winston talks adjustments and lineups in his Game 5 recap.
This post was written by Mark Kao. If you’d like to contact Mark, drop a comment or email him at mark.kao[at]gmail[dot]com.
Tags: Brendan Haywood, Caron Butler, Dirk Nowitzki, Eduardo Najera, Erick Dampier, Jason Terry, Manu Ginobili, Mark Cuban, Mark Kao, Rick Carlisle, Shawn Marion
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under Recaps |
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.
Box Score — Play-By-Play — Shot Chart — GameFlow
“The key to change…is to let go of fear.”
-Roseanne Cash
I’m not sure I’ll ever tire of hard-fought, Mavs-Spurs nail biters, but there’s nothing quite like a refreshing change of pace. For a moment, we can all breathe a deep sigh of relief, and find some comfort in knowing that when the Mavs’ options were limited to winning or facing a long, long summer, they fought to secure the former. There really is hope for this team yet, and though winning the next two games poses a significantly greater challenge than Game 5 did, winning the series remains a distinct possibility. It’s hardly probable, mind you, and would require more than a bit of luck, but after putting together the most dominant game by either team in this series, the Mavs’ chances seem decidedly better than they were just a few hours ago.
Rick Carlisle tweaked his rotation from opening tip, opting to start Brendan Haywood (eight points, eight rebounds, four blocks) over Erick Dampier (who received a DNP-CD). Haywood responded wonderfully, and though he failed to reach double-digits in points, his impact was profound. Brendan emerged from series invisibility to grab six offensive boards in 30 minutes, and went to the free throw line 12 times as a result. The Mavs fed Haywood down low early, and his focus and intensity never lagged. He was a force defensively, and held Tim Duncan to 3-of-9 shooting and just 11 points. He also made a tremendous difference as a weak side defender, and Haywood looks to be an entirely different pick-and-roll defender than he was when the series began. In Game 5, Haywood defended like a player who not only knew the team’s defensive game plan, but was completely comfortable in executing every aspect of it. Interior shots were challenged, screens were hedged, and four poor, unfortunate attempts were never the same again.
Caron Butler (35 points on 24 shots, 11 rebounds, three steals, zero turnovers) who famously rode the pine in the second half of Game 3, was the hero on offense. I wrote earlier in the day that “expecting Caron Butler to radically change his shot selection…is a bit ridiculous at this point,” but that’s precisely what he did. Caron shifted from his late Josh Howardian isolation step-back jumper-heavy style to an aggressive all-out assault. He still took plenty of jumpers, but many of those looks were on open spot-up attempts rather than attempts to run a one-man offense. Plus, Butler’s nine free throw attempts were no fluke; Caron attacked the rim both in the half-court and in transition, and that approach was rewarded with several trips to the free throw line. Butler’s career playoff high couldn’t have come at a better time, and should his suddenly renewed interest in getting to the rim last through the end of the weekend, it could go a long way in pushing the Mavs to an improbable series win.
However, the most promising development wasn’t simply Butler seeing the light, but the improved flow of the offense on the whole. For the first time since Game 1, Jason Kidd (10 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals) looked like a game-changing player, and it’s hardly a coincidence that Dallas’ ball and player movement improved accordingly. There was no settling and no stopping the ball, as the once smothering Spurs defense looked quite mortal when faced with the challenge of containing a multifaceted Maverick offense. Dallas moved to strike quickly and efficiently, and San Antonio had absolutely no answer.
Dirk’s offensive rhythm is almost a given at this point, but even his shot attempts were markedly more open than they were in the first four games of the series. Once the game opens up for Butler, Haywood, Jason Terry (12 points on eight shots, four rebounds, two steals), J.J. Barea (eight points, four rebounds, four assists, five turnovers), and Shawn Marion (10 points, four rebounds), a Dirk-centered defense seems to miss the point.
The Mavs defended as well as they had all series, and with Tony Parker (18 points, 6-of-15 shooting, six assists) as the lone scorer on a Spurs team that was giving up plenty, the Spurs had little chance to mount a serious comeback. Manu Ginobili struggled from the field for the third game in a row (.333 in Game 3, .250 in Game 4, .286 in Game 5) thanks primarily to the defense of Shawn Marion and Jason Kidd, though defending a player of Manu’s caliber is always a team effort. George Hill, who was very nearly cast as a statue outside the AT&T Center following his performance in Game 4, finished with a mortal 12 points. Half of those game late in the third quarter after the game had already been decided, which officially qualifies him as a non-factor. The open shots that Hill feasted on were gone due to the Mavs’ quicker rotations, and without the benefit of wide open shots, George shifted to a rather limited form.
There’s no way of knowing whether anything from Game 5 will carryover into Thursday’s game, but there’s no reason to think that it can’t. Everything that the Mavericks did to dominate the Spurs is very sustainable, Caron Butler won’t necessarily be dropping 35 again, but the ball movement, the pick-and-roll defense, the balance — all reasonable goals for Game 6. It’s just a matter of execution, and with all of the Mavs’ big hitters getting plenty of rest, there’s no reason to expect Dallas to fail.
A few closing thoughts:
- Dallas looked to get into transition at every opportunity (23 fast break points to San Antonio’s eight), which ended up playing a huge part in the rebounding battle. San Antonio’s focus on transition defense is logical and effective, but in this case pulled the Spurs’ bigs back to protect their own basket rather than hitting the offensive glass. Dallas had five more offensive rebounds and 11 more total rebounds as a result.
- DeShawn Stevenson shaved his beard for the first time in 18 months. The Mavs have gone undefeated since.
- Game 6 will be at 7 PM (central time) on TNT.
- Eduardo Najera was called for another flagrant foul for catching Tony Parker’s head on a downward swipe, though this time he was assessed a flagrant one rather than a flagrant two. If Eddie picks up another flagrant foul, he’ll face (at least) a one game suspension. That could end up being pretty influential, as Najera played all of the backup center minutes in Dampier’s stead.
- On that note: no word on why exactly Damp received a DNP-CD. Rick Carlisle sat Haywood for an extended stretch in Game 3 and has generally limited Brendan’s minutes throughout the series, but went back to him in Game 5 and it paid off.
Tags: Brendan Haywood, Caron Butler, Dirk Nowitzki, Eduardo Najera, George Hill, J.J. Barea, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Manu Ginobili, Rick Carlisle, Shawn Marion, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker
Posted by Rob Mahoney on April 27, 2010 under xOther |
Mike Prada of Bullets Forever penned a must-read piece on Caron Butler’s season as a Wizard that holds particular relevance to his current status as a Maverick. It’s as illuminating as it is fantastically written, and makes a clear distinction between Antawn Jamison, the martyr of the bizarre events in D.C. this season, and Butler, whom Prada frames as a key player in Washington’s troubles.
If I may, here is one of the many accounts Prada presents in his longitudinal narrative:
Fast forward to this summer. Butler showed up to training camp significantly lighter after a furious summer working out. The company line from him was that this was his team’s time to win and their failure from the past year drove him all summer. “No time to relax when you finish the season the way we did,” he said on media day.
But even through that, Butler felt the need to define his turf, particularly when it came to Arenas. Butler still felt he was, at the very least, a co-star of the team. He may have worked out furiously over the summer because of the team’s struggles, but he also worked out because he figured in his own mind that he would be the one lifting them.
“I’m still going to be Caron,” he said on media day. ”My position don’t change. I came here being the sixth man off the bench, and I worked my way up to where I’m at today. My role’s not going to change for nobody.”
He was also asked about Arenas. In hindsight, his answers reveal a lot.
“It’s important for the franchise guy to be very vocal on this team, but I’ve been a leader my whole life, so I can’t change who I am. It’s great to see him make strides to become a better leader, and if he needs advice, I’ll help him.”
Later: “I’m going to continue to play how I’ve been playing over the past couple of years. I think the biggest adjustments are going to be made by Gilbert. He’s a superstar that can make any adjustments that can be done.”
Butler’s message was clear. While you were figuring out your knee issues in your typical space-cadet way, I was busting my ass to become a superstar. Don’t you think you’re just going to come in here and things will go back to the way they were.
The only problem is that Butler didn’t play like that superstar all season, and he was the last to know.
Mavs fans should check it out, if not to learn more about the Wizards’ season to forget, than certainly to know where Caron came from. It’s not all Tough Juice and straw-chewing; Butler’s struggles in Washington extended far beyond the confines of the hardwood, and though he never stole headlines with a gun gag gone awry, he wasn’t innocent in the Wizards’ implosion.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under The Grapevine |
- Mark Cuban, when asked by Howard Beck of the New York Times if being willing to go above and beyond as an owner (in terms of spending) can be beneficial in the NBA: “Yes. Not because he/she can spend more on players, or even facilities, but rather because of the opportunity to invest in analytics and other nontraditional means that give a team an edge. Other nontraditional means could be something like a free-throw shooting coach. Right now, I think the Mavs are the only team with a full-time free-throw coach, because of the expense. I think we are the only team with a full-time team psychologist. Those are things that don’t show up on rosters but are very expensive and can impact a team significantly.”
- Andrew McNeil of 48 Minutes of Hell on the fate of the series and the rivalry: “It’s not far-fetched to think that this could be the last time the Spurs and Mavericks meet as rivals. If the Spurs win tonight, no one knows what Mark Cuban might do to his roster. And the possibility that these two franchises might not meet in the playoffs in the near future is a very real possibility.So enjoy it. Enjoy the passion of both fan bases and the (hopefully) respectful hatred directed at one another. Enjoy the greatness of Dirk Nowitzki, no matter how much you may like to insult him. And if the Mavericks win tonight? Well, we’ll do it all over again on Thursday night.”
- A few lasting images from Game 4, courtesy of Kyle Weidie (normally of Truth About It) writing at Hardwood Paroxysm, as well as a Mark Cuban GIF that I hope I don’t need to re-use here later tonight, and this memorable line: “If Dallas was looking for Butler to be a maverick from his past inept wizardry, they should look somewhere else.”
- Jamal Crawford was named the Sixth Man of the Year today, but Jason Terry came second in voting. Not bad, JET.
- Skeets and Tas name Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash as honorable mentions (well, at least mentions) for The Basketball Jones All-Headband team.
- Ben Rogers of The Ben and Skin Show/ESPN Dallas: “Bottom line: The Mavs are no defensive juggernaut. Anyone expecting them to ride their sometimes shaky defense to a title is delusional.”
- Gregg Popovich finds the presumption of pep talks with these two teams to be a bit ridiculous (via Art Garcia writing for Sekou Smith’s Hangtime Blog): “These guys are grown. The Mavs guys are grown. Jason and Dirk don’t need speeches. Timmy and Manu and Tony, they don’t need speeches. We’d probably put them to sleep if we said, ‘Now guys, this is a big game. Guys, it’s going to be loud.’ That’s a little silly to do with grown men.”
- Caron Butler still views his trade to Dallas as a “blessing,” even after going down 1-3 to the Spurs and being benched for the entirety of Game 3’s second half. Michael Lee of the Washington Post: Butler said Pollin’s widow, Irene, called to inform him a week before the trade that the organization planned to move him and Antawn Jamison and would place them in good situations. ‘They could’ve just sent me anywhere, but obviously, Mr. Pollin was still working and it’s a blessing. The Pollin family really took care of me. But, you know, Washington was really home for me. Coming to a new city and having to invent yourself all over again, it’s mind-boggling to think about that on the fly, but at the same time I understand the nature of the business. Players get recycled in this game all the time.’”
- Eight teams have come back from a 1-3 deficit to win a playoff series.
- Eduardo Najera was not suspended for his flagrant foul on Manu Ginobili.
Posted by Rob Mahoney on under xOther |
For a Limited Time Only will periodically feature ridiculous Mavericks merchandise, but is mostly just a rip-off of The Sporting News’ First Cuts blog and ‘Phenomenal Swag’ as popularized by Ball Don’t Lie. Cheers, inspirational blog bros.
The Mavs sent out the following email, with an exclusive offer for the beautifully confusing artwork pictured above:
As a valued Dallas Mavericks customer, you have the first opportunity to purchase a giclee replication of this one-of-a-kind, pencil-drawn piece by sports artist Pat Payton.
The artwork, which commemorates the Mavericks’ run during the 2010 NBA Playoffs, comes in two different sizes - 24×36, priced at $495 and 8×10, priced at $75. All proceeds from the sale of these giclees benefit the Dallas Mavericks Foundation.
Each 24×36 giclee includes:
- Hand-enhancements by the artist, who spent 144 hours creating the original piece
- Seven replica player autographs - Jason Kidd, Caron Butler, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Erick Dampier, Shawn Marion and Brendan Haywood
- Authentic artist autograph with individual number
Custom frame and premium quality acid-free suede matte
- Limited edition of 210
- $495 + $50 shipping and handling
Each 8×10 giclee includes:
- Seven replica player autographs
- Authentic artist autograph with individual number
- Custom frame
- Limited edition of 2010
- $75 + $25 shipping and handling
For the paltry sum of $495, you can have a portrait of (clockwise) a Ninja Turtle, Evan Eschmeyer, Drew Gooden with a tan, a meerkat, Dirk Nowitzki, Popeye Jones, and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, complete with all of their fake autographs. It’s for a great cause — the Dallas Mavericks foundation works with youths all over the metroplex — and who could say no to the must-own piece of barely Maverick-related memorabilia of the season?