Alright, mavsfan, call me out, but I will respond .1. Be Physical: Show Shawn Marion, show Kurt Thomas, show STEVE NASH who plays defense. Dallas was the 7th best in the league. 2. Give it to Dirk: Alrite, I love Dirk, but Dirk hasn't been as offensively active. He needs to mix up his game, but he needs to post-up a lot.3. Hurt Nash, Make Him Play Defense: That Nazi-loving Canadian needs to be stopped. Make him play defense, put him in foul trouble, be physical on him. Hit him hard when he goes for a layup.4. Points in the Paint: You can win when Phoenix scores in the paint, but not when they run the fast break. Look at last season's West Finals...The Suns had 54 points in the paint compared to the Spurs' 50 points, but the Suns only had 8 fast break points. The Spurs won 102-92!!The Suns had 58 points in the paint compared to the Spurs' 52, but the Suns only had 14 fast break points. The Spurs won 111-108.The Spurs won 121-114 against the Suns. The Suns had 68 points that weren't fast break or in the paint.The Spurs won 101-95 with the Suns only getting 13 fast break points and 36 points in the paint, and even withstood Steve Nash's 21 points and 10 assists and Amare's 42 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks.In the only game the Spurs lost, the Suns lost the points in the paint battle 54-52, but had 26 fast break points!!
Dallas needs to stop Phoenix's new big three. Nash, Marion, and Diaw. 1.With the pick and roll Dallas should not switch because that will force Dirk to play defense against Nash and that is a terrible matchup. Have Diop guard Diaw and have Harris go over the pick and force Nash to drive to the basket where he meets Diop. If Harris times it correctly he could get a steal off of Nash's pass to Diaw at the basket. 2. Dallas needs to put a small on Marion to stop his fastbreak points. Griffin, Stackhouse, or Daniels would be good. The best option is Josh Howard if he is healthy enough. 3. Look for steals on the quick Phoenix inbounds passes.On offense1. Dallas needs to be patient and not only look for good shots but great shots like layups and wide open 3's. Have Van Horn, Dirk, and Terry to space the floor but Daniels, Harris, and Howard are the ones that to me could have a layup drill with the suns non-existent interior defense.
I say let Dirk post-up on offense and score in bunches, and when D'Antoni finally decides to double him, put in Marquis, Harris, Terry, etc., for layups!Also, LET Phoenix score in the paint, but do NOT let them get fast break!! I showed why it's a key stat.
