I dont think Avery vs Don is the key matchup, all i want from Avery is to leave at least two big guys in the paint to secure eff rebounding, that he sits down and shuts up. He wont do any good for us anyway, i gladly give the advantage in that dept to Nelson.
The key matchup is clearly Josh vs Jackson. Yesterday GS lost to the Spurs because Jackson and Ellis had off nights and the other fact that sticks out is the reboundedge of 54 - 37 in SAS favour. Duncan pointed out that they played good defense (as usual) but more so transition defense, not giving up easy points.
We clearly cant adobt the Spurs winning plan, but we can take pages out of it.
Keys for the win:
- Take care of the ball. Thats directed at Kidd, every error will result in easy points for GS.
- Rebound the ball. We need ext minutes of Damp tonight (Avery play him

), meaning no foul trouble. If Dirk can run on one leg - get him in there, he's the second best rebounder of the team, Bass will have difficulties because of his height tonight. Three instructions for Dirk: Rebound, shoot the ball, stay in the paint.
- Defense is the hardest thing. My approach would be to never ever double all night. Stay in front of your guy, if he beats you on the dribble run after him, block or foul hard. Damp, block or stay away. GS plays no defense, we have to play decent defense, esp perimeter defense, to make up for the lack of firepower on offense.
- Josh has to shut down Stephen Jackson. Simple as that. Abuse him on offense, stay on him on defense, do all the little (dirty) things. When Jackson gets a chance to make 3 - 4 threepointers in a row, he will bury them. If Jackson gets mad, youre doing the right thing and jackson will take GS with him to oblivion.