Putting the D back in Dallas

Mavs deserve credit for revamping their defensive scheme

Well, I guess it's time to reflect on the Dallas Mavericks, who at this writing are still on track to go 82-0. I see their run coming to an end Wednesday night in Detroit, but, then again, I saw their run coming to an end last Saturday night in Dallas. It didn't happen, as the Mavs came from 16 down to beat Seattle, 115-105.

The question I hear most often is: Are the Mavs for real? Anyone who claims to have an answer to that question is talking junk. The only thing that's safe to say is the Mavericks aren't as good as their perfect record indicates, just as the Los Angeles Lakers (at 4-9) aren't that bad. But at the very least the Mavs are the most interesting team in the NBA, and may continue to be, for the following reason: They had the courage to change.

Every team has a weakness (several clubs in this overpopulated league have many), but it never ceases to amaze me how reluctant teams are to acknowledge or address a basic flaw. But from the early part of last season, when the Mavs started to gain recognition because of their offensive firepower, they conceded that they were a weak defensive team. They decided to ignore that deficiency, though, and see if they could simply outscore the opposition. That stategy failed -- Madonna in her runnin' wild days put up a more aggressive defense against her unwanted suitors than Dallas did against Sacramento in the second round of last year's playoffs. A huge black banner hangs in the Mavs' practice gym as a reminder of their defenseless May: It lists the number of field goals scored by Sacramento (207) followed by the number that were dunks or layups (115).

So, the offensive-minded Mavs said: We were wrong; we can't outscore everyone; something has to be done. So they did something. They committed to defense. Their dedication has been so complete that it came close to evoking praise from compliment-leery Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "A team has to have a wholesale change of heart to pull that off," said Jackson. "And if they [the Mavs] focused on defense solely in their preseason, as reports are that they did, it makes a difference. When your primary focus has been offense and scoring lots of points and retaliating against your opponent, to play defense is a big change."

The dirty little secret about the NBA, and basketball in general, is that defense is not -- I repeat not -- all about effort and conditioning. Many times it is (I'm thinking of Derrick Coleman here) but, just as some players are not gifted offensively (I'm thinking Ben Wallace here), others are inherently deficient at the defensive end. Size, strength, foot speed, peripheral vision to spot screens, lateral quickness -- all of those things are as important as effort. Dallas simply does not have great on-the-ball defenders, Steve Nash being a prime example. No player in the league expends more energy to get things done than Nash, but he's simply not a defensive stopper.

What the Mavs knew they could do, however, was play great team defense, particularly since the zone was conveniently put into the rules last season and so few teams are proficient at making outside jump shots, which is the shot a good zone is going to force most of the time. Furthermore, few coaches in NBA history are better at taking advantage of new rules than gimmick-inclined Don Nelson, whom former NBA coach Don Casey refers to as "an adventurist." Just as important, Nellie happens to have an old zone zealot on his staff in veteran Del Harris.

The Mavs play some 1-3-1 zone, which is eminently attackable, but which also usually throws teams off balance for a few precious seconds. (Remember this rule: Whichever team forces its opponent to take the most shots with the 24-second clock winding down, will probably win ... unless it's somebody like Kobe Bryant taking the rushed shot.) Lakers assistant Frank Hamblen calls Dallas' zone "a concocted 1-3-1 that Del used to run back in the '70s." The Mavs also play a 1-2-2, but they extend it out farther than normal, forcing teams to hesitate before getting into their offense.

Reports vary wildly as to what percentage of the time Dallas goes to a zone, and breaking down film with a stopwatch in hand would be the only way to determine the frequency with any certainty. Nellie's estimate that the Mavs play it 25 percent of the time is low, while opponents' estimate of two-thirds of the time is probably high. Let's call it 50 percent.

At any rate, the zone increases the value of 7-foot-6 center Shawn Bradley, who is playing about 26 minutes a game, up from his 14 last season. One of the great NBA mysteries is why Bradley, who is neither particularly gawky nor unathletic, has not been more effective as a defensive presence in his nine seasons in the league. Another mystery to many was why the Mavs gave him a seven-year, $30 million contract extension last season.

The quick answer to the first mystery is that the Human Yardstick gets overpowered in man-to-man situations. But Bradley's much more effective in a zone, where his wingspan is a deterrent to offenses and where he can cover an area, rather than a man. Most shot-blockers, remember, are at their best when they come off their own responsibility and make the block on a teammate's man. And here's a scary thought: When Raef LaFrentz (a shot-blocker with more athleticism than Bradley) comes off the injured list, he has a chance to be just as effective on the defensive end.

A final factor about the zone is that it's an energy-saver for the Mavs' Big Three of Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley and Nash. "It eliminates steps" is the way Milwaukee guard Sam Cassell puts it. That is significant because all three, particularly Nash, had broken down somewhat by last year's postseason, a result of the breakneck pace of the offense.

Cassell also said this: "It's early, man." How true. Let's not proclaim the Mavs champions, but let's give them lots of credit for changing their competitive personality.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum covers the NBA beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Click here to send a question to his NBA mailbag.

 

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