Holy Smoke!

[FArting]

Go Nuggets and Warriors make it easy for us to get to the NBA finals.

 

[D-Dogg]

LOL, that's what I thought.

 

[hafey]

So you think Kobe was being soft in game 7? Shrinking from the pressure?

 

[Cheesebeef]

Was he trying to prove something to Avery? Was he pouting? Trying to show the team that the only way to win was through him?

That's what everyone said about Kobe last year when only took 5 or 6 shots in the second half of game 7. Just wondering why it is different for Dirk...

a) Bryant only took 3 shots

b) Dirk is NOTORIOUS for disappearing in big games, shrinking under the pressure and Kobe is not - that's why it's different.

if you want Kobe Bryant to lumped in with a choking dog, that's your perogative, but we both know why it's different.

 

[D-Dogg]

Kobe does what is asked of him. That's all. Sometimes he tries to do too much or too little, both to the detriment of the team, but he does what is asked.

 

[ndjmc]

You can see why I was so happy to see the Lakers back into the #7 spot--Dallas will now have to completely reorganize themselves to take advantage of what the Warriors are giving them.

Can you imagine if the Suns had to change up their offense and defense to adjust to Don Nelson's schemes, fight off the Warriors in 6 or 7 games, and then play the Spurs in Phoenix two days after the last Warriors game? They would lose home-court advantage in the Spurs series faster than you could say "2005".

Dude, GS is a poor mans Suns...Do you really think they can play with PHX?
They would play their game and The Warriors would need to change it up. Boris and LB would be killers for GS. Diaw is almost useless against the Lakers but the would reign against the Warriors. Game 7? wha? Are you really happy to play the Suns?

 

[Mainstreet]

Kobe does what is asked of him. That's all. Sometimes he tries to do too much or too little, both to the detriment of the team, but he does what is asked.

I'm sure glad someone told Kobe to only shoot the ball 3 times in the second half of game 7 in last year's playoffs against the Suns and that someone told Kobe to keeping firing away in the second half of yesterday's game. It's also hard to believe Kobe does not know what is too little and what is too much.

 

[Mainstreet]

Dude, GS is a poor mans Suns...Do you really think they can play with PHX?
They would play their game and The Warriors would need to change it up. Boris and LB would be killers for GS. Diaw is almost useless against the Lakers but the would reign against the Warriors. Game 7? wha? Are you really happy to play the Suns?

The Warriors can flat out beat any team when they are playing well and Nellie is a good coach. I would never take them for granted. I don't know why the Mavs did not try to eliminate them in their last regular season meeting.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Kobe does what is asked of him. That's all. Sometimes he tries to do too much or too little, both to the detriment of the team, but he does what is asked.

good lord - I'm sure Jax said Kobe, we don't want you to be part of the gameplan at all against a team very susceptible to blowing huge leads. Kobe's an amazing talent and an unbelievable player, but he's proven time andf time again, that there's something a little off in that head of his.

 

[jbeecham]

The Warriors can flat out beat any team when they are playing well and Nellie is a good coach. I would never take them for granted. I don't know why the Mavs did not try to eliminate them in their last regular season meeting.

Actually with the way things played out, even if Dallas had beaten GS they still would've faced them in the 1st rd because the Warriors were 42-40 and the Clippers finished 40-42.

 

[Renz]

good lord - I'm sure Jax said Kobe, we don't want you to be part of the gameplan at all against a team very susceptible to blowing huge leads. Kobe's an amazing talent and an unbelievable player, but he's proven time and time again, that there's something a little off in that head of his.

I think that's true. Kobe doesn't seem willing or able to adjust his strategy during the game. If he goes into the game thinking he has to do it all himself then he sticks to that plan, no matter what.

If he tries to get his teammates more involved then he goes with that to the bitter end, as well.

 

[Mainstreet]

Actually with the way things played out, even if Dallas had beaten GS they still would've faced them in the 1st rd because the Warriors were 42-40 and the Clippers finished 40-42.

I don't recall. Did the Mavs know this when be the outcome (concerning records) when they played GS?

 

[D-Dogg]

It's also hard to believe Kobe does not know what is too little and what is too much.

good lord - I'm sure Jax said Kobe, we don't want you to be part of the gameplan at all against a team very susceptible to blowing huge leads.

I think that's true. Kobe doesn't seem willing or able to adjust his strategy during the game. If he goes into the game thinking he has to do it all himself then he sticks to that plan, no matter what.

If he tries to get his teammates more involved then he goes with that to the bitter end, as well.

Renz, I think you hit the nail on the head there. It's what I was trying to say when I said "he tries to do too much or too little, both to the detriment of the team." He takes his orders from Phil, and goes out and does it...sometimes he adjusts from quarter to quarter, but more often he stays in the same mindset even when the shots aren't fallling (for him or for others) and rides it out.

It isn't a pouting thing or a prove something thing. It's a tendancy to be stubborn in what he is doing will work, one way or the other.

 

[jbeecham]

I don't recall. Did the Mavs know this when be the outcome (concerning records) when they played GS?

The outcome was still in question when the Mavs played GS. GS won their last 5 games to get the 8th spot and the Clippers lost their last game to seal it. My point was that even if the Mavs had beaten them, they probably still would've had to face them because of the way the Clips finished the season.

 

[azirish]

The chief problem with the Mavs small ball is that it means Dirk has to play defense. He has very little lateral movement and looks incredibly awkward as he tires harder to avoid contanct than stop his man from scoring.

It is interesting to note that after coaching Dirk for so many years, Nelson knew how to attack him on both ends of the floor.

I don't think Nelson will win coach of the year, but he deserves it.

 

[Mainstreet]

It isn't a pouting thing or a prove something thing. It's a tendancy to be stubborn in what he is doing will work, one way or the other.

If Kobe is just being stubborn this does not speak well for him as even approaching Jordan type status. It would perhaps put him more in the category of being a more athletic talented shooter. Perhaps a more talented version of a player like Gilbert Arenas... not bad. I'm not trying to diminish Kobe's talent but only trying to understand his inconsistencies at times.

IMO, Kobe probably needs someone to demand the ball from him... a player like Shaq. But, been there done that. However with great results. A dominant big man would cure any of Kobe's inconsistencies.

 

[Mainstreet]

The outcome was still in question when the Mavs played GS. GS won their last 5 games to get the 8th spot and the Clippers lost their last game to seal it. My point was that even if the Mavs had beaten them, they probably still would've had to face them because of the way the Clips finished the season.

Thanks for the information and I understand your point looking at final standings. However, I'm always of the opinion one must kick their opponent while their down lest they fight another day. The Mavs did not know how the season would play out at that time... why not take the chance at eliminating a team that has given them fits all season. Who knows how a loss to the Mavs would have effected GS. Well, it's not neither here nor there any more.

 

[DeAnna]

Golden State's lead happened when the Mavericks tried to "impose their will". They went big and Dampier simply could not guard Harrington. Dampier/Diop lack the offensive ability to take advantage of Al Harrington as a center. If they can't guard him either, than there really is no point in having them on the floor.

Besides, Round Mound doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[Russ Smith]

The chief problem with the Mavs small ball is that it means Dirk has to play defense. He has very little lateral movement and looks incredibly awkward as he tires harder to avoid contanct than stop his man from scoring.

It is interesting to note that after coaching Dirk for so many years, Nelson knew how to attack him on both ends of the floor.

I don't think Nelson will win coach of the year, but he deserves it.

That's what I thought too, it was evident that the Warriors understood the matchups and exploited them.

For example, why the hell put Devean George on Baron? he was so afraid of Baron's quickness he backed off and guess why Baron hit so many 3's? I guess they assumed his size would bother Baron but he was too far off and gave him good looks, once Baron got it going, game over.

But you're right they're going to attack DIrk on defense no matter who he guards, that's why Biedrins isn't playing much he's improved a ton but he's still not a guy you can throw the ball to and ask him to make a play. He can finish, but he can't get his own shots. Al can.

 

[TucsonDevil]

I think that's true. Kobe doesn't seem willing or able to adjust his strategy during the game. If he goes into the game thinking he has to do it all himself then he sticks to that plan, no matter what.

If he tries to get his teammates more involved then he goes with that to the bitter end, as well.

For the most part, I tend to agree. However, in Game 7 last year - he tried to do it himself in the first half - and then gave up in the second half... thus showing he can switch strategies during a game.