Updated: June 3, 2006, 2:14 AM ET
Scouting Report: Mavericks vs. Suns
By John Carroll
Scouts Inc.
Dallas needs to do everything it can to wear down Steve Nash. If it can tire him defensively, he may be a little less effective offensively. The Mavs need to continue to run Nash off screens and pick-and-rolls to tire and punish him physically.
In a big game, look for the little things like free throws, turnovers and rebounds to be the deciding factors. The Mavs and Suns have been consistent in the free throw shooting and turnover categories. However, the Mavs have a big edge on the glass. In Game 5, the Mavs attacked the glass and got 16 offensive rebounds. When you allow your opponents that many extra possessions in such a close game, it can be costly. Look for the Mavs to continue to pound the glass the rest of this series.
The Dallas bench has been strong throughout this series, and the Mavs will need more strong performances from Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop and Adrian Griffin to close out the Suns. Stackhouse provides minutes and scoring punch; Diop a formidable inside presence; and Griffin, defense and rebounding.
Mavs Defense: Dallas did three things in Game 5 that it needs to continue to do to win in Phoenix.
1.) The Mavs got of to a good start defensively and set a tone for the game. They held the Suns to 23 points on 33 percent shooting, forcing three turnovers and three shot-clock violations. The teams that have won the first quarter in the playoffs have usually won the game.
2.) The Mavs did a better job on Nash pick-and-rolls. They jumped him pretty good and forced him to give up the ball. I would much rather have the ball out of his hands than in.
3.) Mavs coach Avery Johnson did a nice job adjusting to the Suns' pick-and-pop offense with Tim Thomas. After getting burnt by Thomas in the third quarter, they adjusted. Instead of allowing Thomas to be free on a rotation, they switched on the pick-and-rolls and did not allow him any open looks in the fourth quarter.
The Mavs need to continue to wear down Nash on the defensive end of the floor with Devin Harris, Jason Terry and Darrell Armstrong picking him up and harassing him. It may not work every possession, but it will have a cumulative effect either in Game 6 or 7, if the Suns win.
When the Suns have their opponents totally stretched out at the 3-point line, and are able to move the ball side to side, they put their opponents in compromising situations. In Game 6, the Suns will continue to space the Mavs and force them to double and rotate. This is when they are at their best. Everyone talks about Diop's inside presence but the Suns love to see him on the court. Phoenix knows that when he is in the game, it creates more mistmatches and allows them to space the court with a mismatch.
Watch for the Suns to run their "Double Hi" pick-and-roll set. Nash runs the pick-and-roll to Nowitzki's man, and Diop was not able to rotate and get to Thomas.
Suns Defense: Phoenix is a poor defensive team and this is the time of the year when, in order to win a big game, you need stops. The Suns are incapable of doing that. That is not who they are. They do not have an inside defensive presence, someone who can block shots or knock someone down. Once the Mavs start a drive and beat their man, they can get all the way to the rim. The Suns need someone to stop Nowitzki from getting to the rim when he beats his man. Unfortunately, they have no one.
Shawn Marion has done a credible job on Nowitzki when he has been matched on him in this series. In Game 5 Nowitzki was only 6-for-16 when Marion picked up his fourth foul and went to the bench. Nowitzki then proceeded to make the next 8-of-10 shots. The Suns had no one to take over for Marion, allowing Nowitzki to score 22 points in the fourth quarter. In Game 6, they must keep Marion out of foul trouble and have someone else such as Thomas or Raja Bell step up and keep Nowitzki in check.
The Suns need to keep their composure in Game 6. They had everything going their way in Game 5. They had the Mavs on the ropes, but then Bell and coach Mike D'Antoni got technicals, and that changed the momentum of the game. The score was 82-81 at the time, and the Mavs went on a 35-20 run the rest of the game. The Suns must keep their composure and focus in order to win Game 6 and make this series go to seven games.
Pick: The Suns had the Mavs on the ropes in Game 5 and without Nowitzki's spectacular performance they might have beaten them. Look for the Suns to win and force a seventh game.
Scouting Report: Mavericks vs. Suns
By John Carroll
Scouts Inc.
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Mavs Offense: When you see greatness, it is something to behold. Dirk Nowitzki was brilliant in Game 5 and not just for his offensive output, but more importantly the timing. Great players are able to not only recognize defining moments, but are able to shine during them. Nowitzki saw the ship sinking in the third quarter and took over the game. He has expanded his game in so many areas in the last two years. His 3-point shot now opens up his drive game, which gets him to the foul line. Dallas might not need him to score 50 points again, but it may need him to take over a fourth quarter in Game 6 or 7 for the Mavericks to win this series. Dallas needs to do everything it can to wear down Steve Nash. If it can tire him defensively, he may be a little less effective offensively. The Mavs need to continue to run Nash off screens and pick-and-rolls to tire and punish him physically.
In a big game, look for the little things like free throws, turnovers and rebounds to be the deciding factors. The Mavs and Suns have been consistent in the free throw shooting and turnover categories. However, the Mavs have a big edge on the glass. In Game 5, the Mavs attacked the glass and got 16 offensive rebounds. When you allow your opponents that many extra possessions in such a close game, it can be costly. Look for the Mavs to continue to pound the glass the rest of this series.
The Dallas bench has been strong throughout this series, and the Mavs will need more strong performances from Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop and Adrian Griffin to close out the Suns. Stackhouse provides minutes and scoring punch; Diop a formidable inside presence; and Griffin, defense and rebounding.
Mavs Defense: Dallas did three things in Game 5 that it needs to continue to do to win in Phoenix.
1.) The Mavs got of to a good start defensively and set a tone for the game. They held the Suns to 23 points on 33 percent shooting, forcing three turnovers and three shot-clock violations. The teams that have won the first quarter in the playoffs have usually won the game.
2.) The Mavs did a better job on Nash pick-and-rolls. They jumped him pretty good and forced him to give up the ball. I would much rather have the ball out of his hands than in.
3.) Mavs coach Avery Johnson did a nice job adjusting to the Suns' pick-and-pop offense with Tim Thomas. After getting burnt by Thomas in the third quarter, they adjusted. Instead of allowing Thomas to be free on a rotation, they switched on the pick-and-rolls and did not allow him any open looks in the fourth quarter.
The Mavs need to continue to wear down Nash on the defensive end of the floor with Devin Harris, Jason Terry and Darrell Armstrong picking him up and harassing him. It may not work every possession, but it will have a cumulative effect either in Game 6 or 7, if the Suns win.
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Suns Offense: The Suns are trying desperately to make each game a track meet. They finally got it there late in the second quarter of Game 5 and were able to keep the pace up throughout the third. They would like to start Game 6 with a high tempo and keep it there as long as they can When the Suns have their opponents totally stretched out at the 3-point line, and are able to move the ball side to side, they put their opponents in compromising situations. In Game 6, the Suns will continue to space the Mavs and force them to double and rotate. This is when they are at their best. Everyone talks about Diop's inside presence but the Suns love to see him on the court. Phoenix knows that when he is in the game, it creates more mistmatches and allows them to space the court with a mismatch.
Watch for the Suns to run their "Double Hi" pick-and-roll set. Nash runs the pick-and-roll to Nowitzki's man, and Diop was not able to rotate and get to Thomas.
Suns Defense: Phoenix is a poor defensive team and this is the time of the year when, in order to win a big game, you need stops. The Suns are incapable of doing that. That is not who they are. They do not have an inside defensive presence, someone who can block shots or knock someone down. Once the Mavs start a drive and beat their man, they can get all the way to the rim. The Suns need someone to stop Nowitzki from getting to the rim when he beats his man. Unfortunately, they have no one.
Shawn Marion has done a credible job on Nowitzki when he has been matched on him in this series. In Game 5 Nowitzki was only 6-for-16 when Marion picked up his fourth foul and went to the bench. Nowitzki then proceeded to make the next 8-of-10 shots. The Suns had no one to take over for Marion, allowing Nowitzki to score 22 points in the fourth quarter. In Game 6, they must keep Marion out of foul trouble and have someone else such as Thomas or Raja Bell step up and keep Nowitzki in check.
The Suns need to keep their composure in Game 6. They had everything going their way in Game 5. They had the Mavs on the ropes, but then Bell and coach Mike D'Antoni got technicals, and that changed the momentum of the game. The score was 82-81 at the time, and the Mavs went on a 35-20 run the rest of the game. The Suns must keep their composure and focus in order to win Game 6 and make this series go to seven games.
Pick: The Suns had the Mavs on the ropes in Game 5 and without Nowitzki's spectacular performance they might have beaten them. Look for the Suns to win and force a seventh game.
