Thoughts - Finals & Rockets
by Xiane on Jun 13, 2011 2:13 PM CDT
in Player Analysis
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PrintI'm happy for the Dallas Mavericks, for Dirk Nowitzki, and for Mark Cuban, the most entertaining owner in the NBA (who behaved with unexpected decorum last night). No, I actually am. It's not just the They Beat The Evil Spoiled Brat Empire-in-the-Making of Miami, although that is a huge part of it. I'm happy to see another hard-working foreign star finally get the credit he's due. I'm glad the "choker" mantle has been lifted from Dirk, because I'm not sure if God Himself, or Michael Jordan, could have beaten Dwyane Wade AND the refs in 2006. Last night, despite starting 1-12, despite Miami shooting 17 more FTs, despite a narrative that demanded a 7th game, Dirk and Dallas closed Miami out. They took their team to South Beach and left The Talent reeling, defeated and petulant.
Of course Dallas fans will be insufferable when we play the Mavs next season. Of course they will. But ask yourself, how much more insufferable can they be? The decent ones will still be decent, the jerks will still be jerks and the bandwagon fans will say things like "Houston has never won a championship!" so you'll know to ignore every single word they say for the rest of their blighted, sad, existence.
Also, as much or little as it pains me, can we get this "No dominant team in the NBA, that's why Dallas won" BS out of the way and never speak of it again? The NBA had 7 "dominant" teams, and between Dallas and Miami they defeated all but one of them. First, Miami had home court because they were one game better than Dallas in terms of record. Miami was one game better in the Eastern Conference, the conference that would have seen the stay-at-home Rockets as a 6th seed. Dallas didn't even have the best record in their own division. Let me repeat that, Dallas, one game "worse" than Miami in the regular season, was 2nd best in the Southwest. What does that tell you? It tells you the Western Conference is, as if you didn't know, a meat grinder of excellent teams.
The Mavs dispatched Portland, the most resilient team in the playoffs in the same time it took to beat Miami. They swept Los Angeles. Let's stress that, they swept the former NBA Champions, who put basically the same team on the floor as last year. Except Kobe was wearing down. Well, he should, he's played 20 seasons or something, worth of hoops already. Then the Mavs beat OKC, the darlings of the press, with two rising young stars, and a fine supporting cast. Then they beat a team that took care of the best of the East, Boston and Chicago. Chicago could have won, but didn't have the ability to close. Dallas closed everything at the first opportunity, 4-0 in close out games. They never faltered in tight games, came back from miles back in several, and Nowitski was deadly in the 4th. As predicted, (somewhere or other) Miami got its "Jason Terry Game" last night. Sucks, doesn't it, Heat "fans"? Sorry pundits, there IS a dominant team in the NBA. It's Dallas, and they proved it on the court.
Will this change the narrative of "You must have superstars to win!!!!!!". No, probably not. After all, it's easy to see how the superstars might have won it all. They were in the Finals, after all.
But, What Does It All Mean? Well, what does it all mean for the Rockets anyway? As I see it, this is an extremely hopeful result. This is a result that shows that excellent team play, unselfishness, coaching, defense and a good bench can carry the day against the biggest stars in the game. And Dallas didn't miss many stars on their trip, did they? Kobe, Gasol, Durant, Westbrook, Aldridge, Wade, James, Bosh - Dallas and their one star brought them all low.
Does Dallas have any stars other than Nowitzki? Is their roster miles ahead of what the Rockets are, or can become in short order? I don't think so. Only Dirk is ahead of his Rocket counterparts, and that's not from his shooting, but from his ability to finish through contact at the rim, something Houston profoundly lacks (until Patterson and Williams get it going anyway). If anything, Dallas, with its aging stars, show that sheer veteran bloody-mindedness has value, that chemistry and consistency has value. Dallas choked nothing away, they stole games instead, and I'm not sure young players can do that so well. But that brings us to another point about Dallas - they've been grinding out 50 win seasons seemingly forever, with no titles until now. That may be the price of not having all the stars, of not being a destination for entitled young superfriends. Dallas has showed that the result needn't be failure, and Rockets fans should take heart.
[Note by Xiane, 06/13/11 2:12 PM CDT ] I'm in the chilly wilds of Oregon, so posts may be fewer, but make no mistake, I'm still around. Have a great summer.
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thanks
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
Always funny
not preachy, not a know it all…just awesome man
by twinkilling0303 on Jun 13, 2011 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes, the Mavs are miles ahead of us
They have a legitimate MVP candidate and possibly the hardest player to defend in the NBA. We have a stellar scorer who is definitely underrated, but he’s barely worthy of All-Star consideration. They’re simply better all-around, especially if they bring back Chandler. Their best player’s better than ours, their second is probably similar (Terry vs. Scola or Lowry), and they have a number of really solid players (Marion, Chandler, Kidd, Barea, even Haywood) that our probably better than their counterparts on our squad.
We have potentially to be at a similar level that the Mavericks are at right now in every facet except for the star thing. We just have to hope some star player decides that Houston could be his best home.
by Patrick Harrel on Jun 13, 2011 2:17 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Yes, it all still comes down to Yao, doesn't it? A healthy Yao and the conversation is very different.
Ifs and buts, but consider. Teams take on a “glow” when they win a title. They’re seen as better than they really are. Only Chandler/Haywood and Nowitzki strike me as a huge edge on the Rockets. The rest is very close or favorable to Houston (for instance, Dallas has no post game, none.) Houston is as good or better at the point and SG, overall, and overall is how Dallas played it.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
There will never be a healthy yao
Anyone that STILL thinks thats possible is blind. It just isnt possible, as much as I hope it would be.
I agree we are close, but we have NO superstar. Thats the problem. Take dirk off dallas, and they win MAYBE 42 games. Take him off dallas, and THEN the rosters are pretty similar.
But once we get dwight howard all is well
I see myself as an entertainer and an Icon. Oh and C finnegan can go fuck himself
I'm not convinced its hopeless with Yao.
Just like I’m not convinced that Thabeet is a bust. But for Yao, this injury was really dispiriting.
Howard? Well the question is, if you trade for him, assuming you could, he’d sign, etc, what’s left when he arrives? Look at what NY sent Denver for 1/2 year of Carmelo and the right to sign him to a max deal. NYK with Carmelo AND what they sent to Denver would be a formidable team, now it’s just ok.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
dallas does have some post game
marion. that dude is automatic in the low post.
but their bigs don’t really have a post game, which makes it doubly impressive that they were able to win, relying primarily on jump shooting, especially the 3-ball.
I think Kevin Martin is closer to the role of Terry than to a Dirk. Terry is that second scorer who helps the franchise player.
We are still looking for that franchise player.
Chandler played very big in the playoffs. He was their sole defender in the paint. The Mavs of course had a good defensive scheme to stymie their opponents—their zone. Plus Kidd could be counted on to defend the likes of Wade and Lebron. We have no one like that.
I just want to go to the playoffs. Just once. Actually any Houston team, please!
Aeros do not count! =P
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
We did go two years ago, and were the last team out this year. I think we'll be in next year.
Our disaster start killed us.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
Basically I just wanna get passed the Yao days. Dude is never gonna play a full season.
Fresh start.
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Jun 13, 2011 7:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Heh
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Jun 13, 2011 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Who?
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Jun 13, 2011 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Rio Grande Valley Vipers
The Rockets D-League affiliate.
by Patrick Harrel on Jun 13, 2011 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions
something that the announcers brought up more than once during the finals
was the fact that dallas had been playing a zone regularly during the regular season. i didn’t watch enough mavs games to confirm this, but i presume JVG knew what he was talking about.
ultimately, it appeared like it was the zone that broke the heat, whose stars could have taken over with man-to-man match-ups or double teams (since they were good enough to pass out of them).
the heat will get a lot better. i expect lebron to spend the summer working on his jump shot and come back next season a consistent option from three-point range. well, i expect him to do that if he actually has the humility which he has so far not shown to the media. he could well just be arrogant and think that he doesn’t need to improve his game.
I watched almost all the Mavs games
They run a zone more than any other team I’ve seen. With Barea, Peja, Terry, and Dirk being defensive liabilities they pretty much had to.
by OJ ATM on Jun 13, 2011 6:40 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
We wouldn't be able to rebound at all.
The zone, Carlisle said, is beneficial for the Mavs because it plays to a strength, tremendous length on the back line. The key for Carlisle’s push to zone this season is the 7-foot-1 Tyson Chandler. The athletic and agile center provides a wide wing span that anchors the zone when teammed with fellow 7-footer Dirk Nowitzki and either Shawn Marion or Caron Butler. And Chandler is quick enough to hop in and out of the lane to avoid a littany of defensive 3-second calls.
“They looked kind of hesitant when we put the zone out there,” Terry said. “Our length is what gives the zone great ability to stop people. Teams that play one-on-one basketball and don’t have good ball movement tend to struggle more [against the zone] than teams that are used to swinging the ball around and making three or four passes.”
Rebounding has been somewhat of a problem when playing zone. When in mand-to-man, it’s easy to pick up your man and box out. In the zone, players cover an area and have to seek out a man to prevent a significant number of offensive rebounds, such as the Chicago Bulls turned 20 offensive rebounds into 25 second-chance points.
Then again a lot of it is just semantics:
Almost every NBA team does play some form of zone defense during a course of the game. If it’s not an obvious 2-3 zone, principles of zone defense will show up in man-to-man coverage. But, the Mavs seem to be playing it a lot more than ever before and perhaps more than anyone in the league.
“If you understand anything about basketball, [every] team is playing zone these days,” Nowitzki said. "You look at the Lakers. They might start in man-to-man, but once there’s some action on the strong side, the big guy comes over and zones it up. We played New Orleans, who is one of the better defensive teams this year. They switched everything down the stretch in the last five minutes, which really ends up being a zone. I think the best defensive teams are going to play zone with man-to-man principles and man-to-man with zone principles.
by willieboyd on Jun 14, 2011 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
According to Synergy Sports Technology, the Mavericks have played zone defense 12.8 percent of the time this season, by far the most often in the league and more than double that of the Trail Blazers, second at 5.8 percent.
by willieboyd on Jun 14, 2011 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm free up to write again.
Way to hit up my topic in your last paragraph with what the Mavericks victory means for the Rockets and the NBA in general. I’ll have to read through everything up to make sure I don’t double up but great write up from the quick cursory run I did.
My beingadick-butnotbeinganannoyingdick skills, they're impressive.
-TCWIR paraphrased
It is TDS's Way
I’ve literally seen Tom post 30 secs before be, or after on posts, for example. It’s random, but yet reliable all the same.
I’m sure you’ll bring something fresh, and no one ever minds more content here.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
by Xiane on Jun 13, 2011 6:16 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
iPhone typos - sorry
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
by Xiane on Jun 13, 2011 6:17 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Lookin' forward to it.
My beingadick-butnotbeinganannoyingdick skills, they're impressive.
-TCWIR paraphrased
LOL'd hard
The decent ones will still be decent, the jerks will still be jerks and the bandwagon fans will say things like “Houston has never won a championship!” so you’ll know to ignore every single word they say for the rest of their blighted, sad, existence.
by basketball is cool on Jun 13, 2011 6:16 PM CDT reply actions
Good job Dallas.
Chandler available now?
Ketchup & Mustard BABY!!!
by Start the Bench on Jun 13, 2011 7:13 PM CDT reply actions
Oh please if Cuban can give Diop, Haywood, and Dampier big moolah
I will be surprised if Chandler doesn’t get the max.
Minnesotan Rockets fan
Pretty sure he was being sarcastic.
But in the spirit of Cuban’s contracts, we all know Chandler will rake in 20 mil a year now regardless of what the CBA says.
My beingadick-butnotbeinganannoyingdick skills, they're impressive.
-TCWIR paraphrased
Im glad dallas won.
JKidd and Dirk deserve a title.
Jason Terry played really well the entire series as well. You could tell all of these guys wanted it. They played hard and smart.
The good guys won for once.
Oh and a glad to have ya back Xiane. Things just arn’t the same when you are not around.
"Slammed that hoe on the counter like I just got 35 on the domino table!!"
Sherrod Harris
"The good guys won for once."
exactly what i’ve been saying!
Congrats Dallas...
The only player I never really wanted to win in that team was Jason “Wife Beater” Kidd. That’s the only thing I’m disappointed about…DAMN.
you have a talent I read all that
although i don’t share your optimgasim about our roster
The content of the text above is provided for information purposes only. No claim is made as to the accuracy or authenticity of the content. The troll does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or the use of such information or advice) which is provided in the text above.
anyway to make the Heat lost and 3 amigos ride theor donkeys crying home
is good news to me…. :)
- don’t know why I hated the Heat so much…. I thought I am happy kind person, but I guess not….
don't bully me, i am from the D(etroit)!!!
Aftermath: Pompous Dallas Fans bragging for a full year
At least we have one more title than them…
If you're a fan of basketball, watch a movie called Sonicsgate. It's free, just google it.
Dallas deserves this title
Well, they are the epitome of successful teamwork. I hope the Rockets would somehow influenced by their Texan counterpart to play harder. Congratulations Dallas! and Mr. Cuban :)
Lebron is one of my favorite players and I still don’t know why he choked during the most important times in his career. Wade showed bigger heart than him. He’s far being compared to MJ because the latter has the killer instinct.
To Mr. Morey: I trust you on who you will get in this upcoming draft :)
an apple a day, keeps the doctor away. (true!)
Dallas might get hit by the (presumably) new salary cap...
They already have a $90 million dollar payroll. With a hard cap, they can’t re-sign everybody.
Although I do relish Cubes laying out max dollars for Berea.
by Former Poet Laureate on Jun 16, 2011 7:09 AM CDT reply actions
I really can't see a hard cap going in without the right to re-negotiate contracts or grandfathering it in.
There’s too much salary tied up in big hitters like LA and Dallas to put the stop on it. Plus, it’d be handicapping teams who played by the rules before the salary cap so some sort of out would have to be offered.
My beingadick-butnotbeinganannoyingdick skills, they're impressive.
-TCWIR paraphrased
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