Before the Mavs made up a five-point deficit in two minutes, and before Vince Carter hit the game-winning shot heard ’round the world, we saw a true battle of wits in Game 3. Dallas and San Antonio both played their best offensive game of the series, forcing each team’s defense to dig deep in search […]
The Mavericks have been known for their offense all season, and rightfully so. Dallas ranked third in the league in offensive efficiency behind monster seasons from Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis. But until now, these Mavs haven’t been known for their defensive prowess. It’s come as a surprise to some, then, that the Dallas defense […]
NBA coaching strategies are far more complex than we give them credit for, but the Mavericks’ gameplan Wednesday night was actually pretty simple: defend the drive, defend the pass, and run. There are many layers to that scheme, but at the basis of head coach Rick Carlisle’s winning strategy in Game 2 was the team’s […]
The Mavericks very nearly pulled off the upset in Game 1, relying on quality team defense and a healthy dose of bench scoring. The four Mavs reserves who played more than 10 minutes each finished with a positive plus-minus, as has been the case for most of the season. It was the Dallas second unit […]
Now that we’ve discussed some of the key matchups to watch for, let’s take a look at some of the key plays the Mavs and Spurs have found success with against each other this season. The Spurs’ offense moves at a chaotic pace, but for as fast as the pieces move, everything San Antonio does […]
Aside just from what’s at stake in the playoffs, the postseason is completely different than the regular season when it comes to how coaches use their personnel. During the regular season, rotations are mostly consistent, stars play fewer minutes, and overall strategy is similar from game to game. Once the postseason begins, all of that […]
Let’s do it again. For the sixth time since the 2000-01 season, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan will square off in the playoffs. Their supporting casts have changed over the years, but Nowitzki and Duncan have been the constants. And beginning Sunday at noon, we’ll get to watch two of the greatest players of their […]