Mavs-Grizzlies series could be a grindMavericks hope first round is a defensive tuneup for Spurs02:59 AM CDT on Thursday, April 20, 2006By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning NewsThe Mavericks expect their first-round playoff series against Memphis to look a lot like last year's opening round against Houston ? except without the two opening home losses.The Grizzlies allow the fewest points per game in the NBA (88.4) and with the Mavericks focusing on defense, the series figures to fall into the grind-it-out variety.That's great news for the Mavericks because it will be a better primer for a possible second-round date with San Antonio than had they faced the up-tempo Los Angeles Clippers."We think a lot of the things that happened in the playoffs against a tough, hard-nosed Houston Rocket defensive team, we're going to see some similar things in this playoff because Memphis is really tough-minded defensively," coach Avery Johnson said Wednesday. "The more you watch them on film, the scarier it gets."They sit on all your plays. You got to move the ball against them. They can shut down our offense if we don't play well offensively. It's going to be a very, very tough series."What the Grizzlies don't have is Tracy McGrady, who confounded the Mavericks in the first round last season. But they are not without firepower. And at least one impartial observer believes the Grizzlies are on the verge of becoming playoff-savvy.Although they have never won a playoff game, the Grizzlies will be in the playoffs for the third straight season and they are building their franchise the right way, ABC and ESPN analyst Bill Walton said."They're a very good team that has brilliant leadership and coaching," Walton said. "Pavel Podkolzin from Siberia was closer to the NBA than Memphis was until Jerry West got there."In four years, Jerry's gotten them in the playoffs three times. And [Mike] Fratello is a great basketball coach. Together, they've done what San Antonio does. Character counts. They got good guys in there, got rid of the problem guys, and it's worked."Johnson said he's more worried about his team than the Grizzlies. Health will be an issue. Devin Harris has played just seven games since the All-Star Game because of a strained left quad. There is a chance he won't be ready to play in Game 1 on Sunday.Neither is Marquis Daniels recovered from a left hamstring problem.But the Mavericks are far ahead of where they were last season when they went down 0-2 to Houston last April."I think we're better defensively and much more physical," Johnson said. "We're a little bit more mature and a little bit more experienced and a little bit more tougher minded."Another important factor, at least in the eyes of Jerry Stackhouse, is Memphis' proximity to Dallas. The Mavericks will not have to worry about three-hour plane flights or time differences."We don't have to deal with staying on the West Coast for an extra day or traveling overnight to get home," Stackhouse said. "That's big for us, I think."Also on the Mavericks' side ? at least in theory ? is the schedule. Starting on Sunday instead of Saturday means an extra day of rest for the injured players."It could be a good thing all the way around ? if we use it to our advantage," Johnson said. "A lot of things were supposed to be in our favor last year and things didn't go our way. That was a great learning experience."And it was a lesson they hope not to repeat.E-mail esefko@dallasnews.com.[url="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/042006dnspomavsgrizzpreview.1814b22e.html"]http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...w.1814b22e.html[/url]
Grizzlies are really underrated. Mavs need to bring all they have. When I read that they only allow 88 ppg, thats pretty scary, considering Mavs are a high scoreing team. I think Mavs are 1-3 with Griz, maybe, ouch. Its gonna be a really fun series though
Actually the Mavs are 3-1 against the Grizzlies but they were all tough games and the Grizzlies blew out the mavs the first time they meet.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Actually the Mavs are 3-1 against the Grizzlies but they were all tough games and the Grizzlies blew out the mavs the first time they meet.</div>Regular season records don't matter anymore, also by those games, they will be tough to play. One game we won were down 19, and had to come back and win by a point. They play us well, and I can see how people see Grizz upsetting.
Alrite, look, Dallas is supposed to beat a team they're supposed to.Don't overreact, but don't get too overconfident, either...
What I'm worried about is the Grizzlies have been clearly the better team in the last 21 games. Are the mavs just going to flip the switch since they have looked very mediocre lately.
Mediocre means average. Not good and not bad. The mavs have been average ever since March came along.
Considering the injuries we had and the way we finished, I think we finished well. As for Memphis, no one on their team scares me, they don't have the star power needed in playoffs. You can argue for Gasol, but I've seen nothing that shows me has cajones come playoff time when it matters.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Is Pau Gasol fast enough to guard Dirk, though?</div>No, Gasol is not a good defender.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Apr 22 2006, 05:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No, Gasol is not a good defender.</div>He's a better defender than Dirk is. He has long reach and is the type of player that gives Dirk problems. Dirk needs to take him off the dribble but Gasol is a good defender on the best defensive team in the league. Shows how much you know. The problem with Grizzlies is their offense is too slow. The scary thing is that style tends to work best in the playoffs.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>He's a better defender than Dirk is.</div>That's not saying much at all.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>He has long reach and is the type of player that gives Dirk problems. Dirk needs to take him off the dribble but Gasol is a good defender on the best defensive team in the league. Shows how much you know.</div>The fact Gasol has good defenders around him doesn't make him a good defender, it basically hides it. I don't see how Gasol is a good defender one on one, he helps well but not on his own.
Gasol is a good defender, but Dirk is a defensive nightmare.It's simple: He can shoot the three, from a 0 to 10 on a scale, a 0 means Dirk is pure jumpshooting, and 10 is Tim Duncan-quality posting-up and getting easy baskets. At the beginning of the season, Avery gave him a 2, and said Dirk needed a 5, and Avery gave him an 8 not too long ago.And plus, he shoots 49.7% on baskets inside the ark, 40.9% on baskets outside of the ark, and if he's fouled, he's taking a free throw he has a 90.2% chance of making.
I dont think they will gaurd eachother that much. They both take a great load of the offense and both coaches will put them on the other post so they wont be prone to foul trouble. Gasol will gaurd Diop and Dampier while Dirk will gaurd Jake Tsakalidis and Wright. I personally think that both Dirk and Pau are better help defenders than one-on-one defenders. Pau and Dirk get thier block shots like this. They rarely reject the shot of the player they are gaurding. They almost always get blocked shots coming from the weak side. They will rarely guard eachother.
I think Gasol will guard Dirk but Dirk will not guard Gasol. Gasol's length will bother Dirk and he is quicker on the perimeter on defense than given credit for. He will give Dirk problems and Diop will have problems will Gasol as well.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I think Gasol will guard Dirk but Dirk will not guard Gasol.</div>And have Gasol pick up fouls guarding Dirk? I bet both see time against each other during the game, but not for long periods.Gasol/Dirk matchup aside, did anyone see TNT any time today? Kenny Smith had the nerve to say this was the best and only year Dallas has a chance because of Dirk and Terry subsiding in the next few years. Is Dirk not in his prime now, I think that statement is more on Spurs then Dallas, with Duncan turning 30 next year. Dallas has young talent developing to go with Dirk who I don't believe will tail off next year and Terry?, this guy will likely be a backup to Harris next year. So I don't know why Kenny stated Terry. Just bewilders me.
Honestly, i hate almost all the analysts on all the stations because i believe that they all have biased opinions on everything. Steven A. Smith, Barkley, Kenny Smith, Tim Legler, Greg Anthony, no matter who they are, i dont like them. Barkley not as much as the others, but still. I would rather listen to Hubie Brown and Bill Walton than the others. Also, does anyone else think Scottie Pippen is somewhat of a joke as an Analyist? i think He only says the obvious.
