A tall order
Spurs' big men are having their way with Mavericks
Posted: Sunday May 25, 2003 12:33 AM
Updated: Sunday May 25, 2003 12:41 AM
Who says size doesn’t matter?
In the all-Texas Western Conference finals, bigger clearly has been better.
Spurs 7-footers Tim Duncan and David Robinson have made life tough for the perimeter-oriented Mavs through the first three games, a main reason why San Antonio is up 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Duncan and Robinson not only can score inside easily but they also create good looks for teammates by forcing the Mavs to swarm them in the lane. On the other end, their length in the paint creates defensive headaches. Mavs guards Steve Nash and Nick Van Exel, in particular, have had a hard time getting those floaters in the lane to fall.
With Dirk Nowitkzi and Shawn Bradley both expected out of the lineup for Sunday’s Game 4, the Mavs are facing a tall order indeed.
|
|
|---|
San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks
Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT
|
|---|
|
|
|---|
| Series Snapshot |
|---|
| Game 1 |
 |
110 |
 |
113 |
| Game 2 |
|
119 |
|
106 |
| Game 2 |
|
96 |
|
83 |
|
The past ...
Duncan had 34 points, 24 rebounds and six blocks as the Spurs rolled to a 96-83 victory in Game 3. Tony Parker added 29 points, including 19 in the third quarter when San Antonio used a 14-2 spurt to take the lead for good. For the first time in the series, San Antonio’s defense shut down Dallas’ high-octane attack. The Mavs scored just 37 points in the second half on 15-of-42 shooting. The Spurs also outrebounded the Mavs 59-36. Dallas suffered a serious blow when Nowitzki went down with a sprained knee in the fourth quarter and did not return. Bradley went down earlier in the game with a knee injury.
| |
Tim Duncan
AP |
The present ...
The Mavs know their hopes in this series rest largely on whether Nowitzki, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, can make it back. Dallas has enough scorers in Nash, Van Exel and Michael Finley to make up for Nowitzki’s absence, but it needs his size on defense. With Nowitzki and Bradley out, Raef LaFrentz is the Mavs’ only serviceable big man to contend with San Antonio's size. If LaFrentz gets in foul trouble trying to guard Duncan, the Spurs will have a clear path to the basket. Dallas might have to zone up on Duncan, then pray the other Spurs don’t beat them. On the other end, the Mavs are going to have to make a lot of outside shots.
The future ... With Nowitzki sidelined, Dallas loses the one guy who could possibly offset Duncan. Meanwhile, the Spurs' defense has been getting better all series. Look for San Antonio to take command of the series.
|
