I thought this would be a very intersting topic to see what kind of responses it'd get. If you were an opposing coach, how would you beat the Mavs in a 7 game series?? Now I'm not saying your team is Team USA and have LeBron, Melo, Wade, and a cast full of all-stars. I'm saying you have the average NBA team. Now I want to this to be general. Like don't choose a certain team to beat the Mavs with, just what kind of stratagy would you use against the Mavericks? As Maverick fans, we should know the strengths and weaknesses of our favourite team. We should essentially know how to beat them and what thier Achilles Heal is so to speak. I'll post my strategy later.
Damn, I must say that is difficult. I would certainly start out with a zone D, that is probably our biggest and most obvious weakness. That is basically why Minnesota almost came back and beat us. I might do something like a halfcourt trap as well. I don't know, you tell me what to do.
Play physical with Dirk. Post up Terry to force dallas to go bigger and take out Terry or Harris. That's just a few things I can think of. Also go small if possible at the big position exposing Dampier's lack of speed.
Man this is tough to do.I think a zone would work against the Mavs...but I'm sure Harris would become accustomed to driving in the lane, drawing the defenders, and dishing the ball out to open guys...effectively dismantling the zone.Going small at the Center position would work, but only if that team forces the Mavs into a running style game...like PHX did last year, but then again, that didn't work for long. And Diop can run pretty well.Going Big won't work against the Mavs, because they can go big too, as well as force a fast pace game, and go small effectively, like they did against the Spurs.Golden State seems to do well against the Mavs everytime they play them, and it's really because they have great athletes, that get hot with their shot, and they get physical with Dirk.Basically I think you'd need a combination of things to work. A zone some of the time, with tough physical D on Dirk, Harris, and Terry mixed in. Go small at the Center and speed up the pace to get Damp/Diop off the court. Post up Terry and get that formiddable 2 PG lineup off the court(as someone said before me).And put more athletes on the floor than Dallas has. That always seems to help other teams too.All of that can help a team win a 7 game series agaisnt the Mavs...but it wouldn't assure it either.Or you could just have a guy go to the rim on every play, get fouled, and shoot 95 FT's a game....just a thought, lol.
