Updated: May 27, 2006, 5:18 PM ET
Scouting report: Mavericks vs. Suns Game 3
By John Carroll
Scouts Inc.
The Mavs have changed their offensive strategy somewhat. They love to put Dirk Nowitzki in a top-of-the-key isolation. But in this series with Shawn Marion doing a very good job on Dirk the Mavs have gone to Josh Howard and Jerry Stackhouse more in this isolation. Howard was spectacular in Game 2 and look for them to utilize this isolation more. It is the best location in basketball to put a good one-on-one player because of the spacing and vision of the court.
Mavs Defense: Transition Defense! This may be the biggest key to the series for the Mavs. They improved this important phase of defense in Game 2 by allowing the Suns 21 fast break points down from their 32 in Game 1. The Mavs have decided to send only one or two 2 players to the glass on a missed shot and sprint the other 3 back to protect their basket.
They need to improve one big aspect of their transition defense. Their natural instinct is to sprint back to the paint but the Mavs have been vulnerable to the trailer at the 3-point line. They must sprint, communicate better and find all five Suns players, especially Tim Thomas trailing at the 3-point line.
Pick-and-roll defense will continue to be a challenge for the Mavs all series. Even though they switched the pick-and-rolls, they are attempting to support the mismatches better by bringing more help to the ball.
Avery Johnson used DeSagana Diop in Game 2 and he provided a nice lift for the Mavs. His presence in the paint denied the Suns ability to get to the rim as easily as in Game 1.
The Suns are so fun to watch because Mike D'Antoni has the ability to put five basketball players on the floor at one time. Most teams in the NBA have players that are one dimensional, but the Suns can put five players on the court that can shoot, drive, pass and know how to play. D'Antoni has them spread out at the 3-point line which creates incredible spacing. Because of their shooting ability the Mavs are forced to match up with them on the perimeter and it opens up all their one-on-one drives because the middle of the floor is so wide open.
In Game 2, D'Antoni had Nash and Boris Diaw on the bench together late in the third and early in the fourth quarter. Nash was on the bench for 7 minutes. During this time the Suns struggled offensively and when those two guys came back into the game the Suns never regained the offensive execution and momentum they had earlier in the third period. D'Antoni and his staff may have to monitor Nash's substitutions by getting him smaller periods of rest before TV timeouts and end of quarters in the second half.
Suns Defense: The Suns struggled to find a defender that could stay with Josh Howard and keep him off the glass. Howard's play was the biggest difference for the Mavs. Without Raja Bell, the Suns must come up with someone who can guard Howard in Game 3.
The Suns continue to do a credible job on Nowitzki. Marion's length and athleticism is just enough to make Dirk work on every shot. The Suns have taken away the ability of the Mavs to put Dirk in top isolations because Marion is good enough to limit his effectiveness.
In addition, the Suns must improve their ability to guard the pick-and-roll. Their strategy of switching the pick-and-roll puts them in so many compromising situations. They may need not only switch but protect the mismatches better by coming to double them quicker and harder to get the ball out of that offensive players hands.
Pick: Look for the Suns to return home and get a win in Game 3 to put them up 2-1 in this series.
Scouting report: Mavericks vs. Suns Game 3
By John Carroll
Scouts Inc.
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Mavs Offense: The Mavs need to have a "selective pace" to their offensive game. They cannot get caught up into a uptempo game with the Suns. The Suns bait their opponents into a higher tempo than they are comfortable with but the Mavs attempted to keep it at their pace in Game 2. They were much more successful in the second half at finding the right pace. This will be a continual mental battle for them throughout the series and Avery Johnson must use his timeouts wisely when he sees the pace get too high. The Mavs need to continue to attack Steve Nash offensively. They put him in pick-and-rolls in Game 2 but also started to run him off multiple screens. The Mavs need to attack him because he is a weak defender and it will be to their advantage to tire him out as much as possible.The Mavs have changed their offensive strategy somewhat. They love to put Dirk Nowitzki in a top-of-the-key isolation. But in this series with Shawn Marion doing a very good job on Dirk the Mavs have gone to Josh Howard and Jerry Stackhouse more in this isolation. Howard was spectacular in Game 2 and look for them to utilize this isolation more. It is the best location in basketball to put a good one-on-one player because of the spacing and vision of the court.
Mavs Defense: Transition Defense! This may be the biggest key to the series for the Mavs. They improved this important phase of defense in Game 2 by allowing the Suns 21 fast break points down from their 32 in Game 1. The Mavs have decided to send only one or two 2 players to the glass on a missed shot and sprint the other 3 back to protect their basket.
They need to improve one big aspect of their transition defense. Their natural instinct is to sprint back to the paint but the Mavs have been vulnerable to the trailer at the 3-point line. They must sprint, communicate better and find all five Suns players, especially Tim Thomas trailing at the 3-point line.
Pick-and-roll defense will continue to be a challenge for the Mavs all series. Even though they switched the pick-and-rolls, they are attempting to support the mismatches better by bringing more help to the ball.
Avery Johnson used DeSagana Diop in Game 2 and he provided a nice lift for the Mavs. His presence in the paint denied the Suns ability to get to the rim as easily as in Game 1.
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Suns Offense: The Suns magic number is 100 points and they were not able to reach that in Game 2. They allowed the Mavs to dictate the pace of the game. They need in Game 3 to crank up the tempo and make sure they get this game into the 110-120 point range.The Suns are so fun to watch because Mike D'Antoni has the ability to put five basketball players on the floor at one time. Most teams in the NBA have players that are one dimensional, but the Suns can put five players on the court that can shoot, drive, pass and know how to play. D'Antoni has them spread out at the 3-point line which creates incredible spacing. Because of their shooting ability the Mavs are forced to match up with them on the perimeter and it opens up all their one-on-one drives because the middle of the floor is so wide open.
In Game 2, D'Antoni had Nash and Boris Diaw on the bench together late in the third and early in the fourth quarter. Nash was on the bench for 7 minutes. During this time the Suns struggled offensively and when those two guys came back into the game the Suns never regained the offensive execution and momentum they had earlier in the third period. D'Antoni and his staff may have to monitor Nash's substitutions by getting him smaller periods of rest before TV timeouts and end of quarters in the second half.
Suns Defense: The Suns struggled to find a defender that could stay with Josh Howard and keep him off the glass. Howard's play was the biggest difference for the Mavs. Without Raja Bell, the Suns must come up with someone who can guard Howard in Game 3.
The Suns continue to do a credible job on Nowitzki. Marion's length and athleticism is just enough to make Dirk work on every shot. The Suns have taken away the ability of the Mavs to put Dirk in top isolations because Marion is good enough to limit his effectiveness.
In addition, the Suns must improve their ability to guard the pick-and-roll. Their strategy of switching the pick-and-roll puts them in so many compromising situations. They may need not only switch but protect the mismatches better by coming to double them quicker and harder to get the ball out of that offensive players hands.
Pick: Look for the Suns to return home and get a win in Game 3 to put them up 2-1 in this series.
