Game 3 Must Do and Not do.

[thamadkant]

Its quiet simple, as most of you I will expect adjustments for Game 3 and why not. Its the obvious thing to do.

I called Parker, Ginobili and Finley making huge impact on Game 2 and they did, Im sure another 2 million people or more saw that coming also. Usually, Duncan dominates, then Suns try to contain him, Popovic also guesses this and tells Parker and Ginobili to attack the perimeter as first options.

The first half was decently played by the Suns as most here saw, 3rd period, Spurs cut the lead from 8 to 3, Suns didnt call time out. 95% of coaches would call time out so he/she can yell at the players to wake up and protect the possesion, but obviously... D'Antoni is a different brand of coach as MOST here knows already....
That 8 point lead became 15 point deficit.... again, most coaches would probably change tactics when they lose an 8 point lead, maybe put some defensive players on the hot shooting players... but again not so for this team.... I am confident DJ Strawberry would of prevented atleast 2 Parker baskets... he would of most likely threw an air ball from the corner.. but atleast he would of played his butt off stopping Parker. Barbosa did nothing and actually did the Spurs favour. Nash also looked disoriented in the 3rd, but got his groove back in the 4th.


Now for the assumed changes and tactics for game 3.

I would almost guarantee that the Spurs will come out even more focused, they smell blood.

-I say let Duncan do his damage once again, rather have him score 30 than Parker and Ginobili scoring 30 a piece.

-Which will probably mean playing Zone 3-2, D'Antoni should "let" O'Neal play Duncan man up as usual, just stay out of foul trouble. Duncan is about 60% chance scoring on O'Neal, probably a little higher, I rather have that than getting the ball off Duncan only to have Parker penetrate and do more damage by drawing O'Neal onto him, either way it will lead to a foul on O'Neal or an easy lay-up. Rather have the Spurs watch Duncan man up on O'Neal and go for that 60% chance of scoring.

- Obviously Popovic isnt stupid, so he'd get Ginobili to handle the ball and spread out the interior by getting Duncan out about 5-6 feet from the paint either base line. Oberto or whom ever is the second big guy for the Spurs will just be there ready to crash the board or finish if the double comes as Ginobili penetrates. Almost always happens... but to prevent this... again as above, Suns need to zone 3-2. Will prompt Popovic to put a lineup of Parker, Ginobili, Barry (or Bowen), Idoka and Duncan. The main point here is, that in defense they will have a size mismatch. I would make sure Stoudemire and O'Neal are on the same time. If Popovic remains traditional with Oberto or Thomas in, Suns zone should force the shots to the elbow or corner, Parker and Ginobili.... and if Duncan gets the ball on the block, again do not double, or just be prepared for the corner shot.. if quickly covered by a sun, the ball will rotate up to Parker on the elbow... cover that.. and Ginobili will be up top for the 3 or a head fake.... again I rather have Duncan taking the shot.... let the Spurs watch... in a zone... offensive rebounds is the key... but since they are most likely under sized, Suns should minimize this.

- Hill was good defensively in the first half of Game 2, he should be again, but usually he is puffed by the 3rd due to his injury. D'Antoni should opt for Giricek rather than Barbosa. I would even put Giricek early so Hill can play to his full self in the second half. If Parker is getting easy layups, I would put DJ, its a risk since the Spurs will double down on O'neal or Stoudemire and leave DJ, but Barbosa's pretty much scared or figured out the by the Spurs anyways. I rather prevent that easy 6-8 points from Parker usually in the second half, when Suns are a bit winded.


- Nash will be guarded by Bowen all game, usually scores towards the end as Bowen is a bit winded also. But in Game 3, I think he needs to send the message he will go for his shots, just so that Popovic wont have to coach to just to focus on stopping O'Neal and Stoudemire.

- Bell is streaky, you cant help that. When he is hot Suns win, when cold Suns struggle. Last game he took some ill advice 3s, when the Suns only needed a 2. But again, he is streaky, hard to adjust to him. Or make plans based on his offense.

- Stoudemire, needs to keep attacking the rim, he is good from the 20 foot range now, but no pressure on Duncan or Oberto watching Stoudemire hit 50% chance from there, thats great odds. I know he seems to not miss, but he does and he does when he rushes it, best way is just keep attacking the rim, put fouls on Duncan or Thomas... easier when the game comes in the 4th quarter, with Thomas or Oberto with 4-5 fouls each. Best way, as always is the pick and roll. But Popovic already knows this and pretty much reliant on Stoudemire missing it or making it.

- Parker and Ginobili are the key... Finley too.
But Im guessing Popovic will go to Duncan in this game, with either Parker or Ginobili taking the other shots. If Parker or Ginobili hits tough shots, I dont mind. But when they are given layups... its sickenning.

[-SDU-]

i dont think you can play a 2-3 zone against the spurs, because if parker or manu gets past that first line of D, then the only way you are gonna stop them scoring is by coming in late from the side and we know they will either be fouled, or make it look like they were fouled and put our big guys out

i would only be in favour of a 3-2 when parker and manu are on the bench or when skinner and diaw are our bigs

[Mr. Sun]

Yeah, zone mumble-jumbo isn't gonna cut it. What the Suns need is to match up. Unfortuantly, D'Antoni thinks matching up means inserting 3 guards into the same rotation.

[-SDU-]

2-3 zone worked well in game 2

[P.D.B.E.]

1 AND ONLY THING

- If we lead by 3 and there are less than 24s to go MAKE A FOUL MAKE A FOUL MAKE A FOUL MAKE A FOUL!!!!!!

[whambamslam]

Must do=win
must not do=lose

[NapoleonII]

Must do: Go ape $hit.