The pressure mounts the longer it goes
Here’s a riddle for you: lots of folks are saying that the San Antonio Spurs need to win Game 6 tonight in San Antonio and end the series, because if it goes to Game 7 in Dallas, all the pressure will be on the Spurs. But by saying that, aren’t they putting all that pressure on the Spurs to win tonight instead?
I’ll let you ponder that for a minute.
Either way you look at it, I’m sure all parties involved would like for this series to end tonight. Except for the Mavs, that is. I guess by all parties, I’m saying us, you and the Spurs.
One key to Game 6 for the Spurs is slowing down the Mavericks in transition. Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News had a good writeup on the pace of play today:
Amid the obvious physical battles of the series, which have resulted in four flagrant fouls and one broken nose (Ginobili’s), there has been a subtler philosophical battle raging as well. It is a tug-of-war over tempo.
If the game becomes three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust, a la Games 2, 3, and 4, the Spurs win. If it becomes a track meet, as in Games 1 and 5, the Mavs do.
“They’re very dangerous with their pace,†said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who even after the Game 5 loss is 24-9 in potential close-out games, the best mark in NBA history. “We’ve got to make sure we get back as best we can no matter whether we’re scoring or not.â€
The Mavericks are 2-0 in the series when they notch at least 100 points, 0-3 when they do not. In the three losses, they have averaged 88.
The Spurs are great at controlling pace. That’s the main reason for San Antonio’s consistent success against the Phoenix Suns in previous years. So it’s probable that the Spurs can control the tempo and make it a defensive game, where Dallas has struggled in halfcourt offense this series.
Another area I suggest keeping an eye on is the play of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. Both had bad performances in Games 4 and 5. Together, Manu and Duncan are a combined 10-41 in both of those games. No bueno.
At least one of them, if not both, will have to be sharp offensively for the Spurs to win tonight. Unless the dogs have the same impact they did in Game 4, but that’s something you simply can’t rely on.
The third thing to watch in tonight’s Game 6 is how the Spurs adjust to Brendan Haywood. After coming off the bench for the entire series, Haywood started Game 5 and produced to the tune of eight points, eight rebounds (six offensive) and four blocked shots, and the Mavs big man shot 12 free throws.
How the Spurs counter the impact of having Haywood on the floor from the start will have a significant impact on how this game goes. It seems the more Erick Dampier plays, the better San Antonio does. Attacking the basket, which the Spurs didn’t do a good job of in Game 5 outside of Tony Parker, can get Haywood in foul trouble early and get him out of the game. Easier said than done, I know, but nonetheless must be said.
The longer this series goes after the Spurs were up 3-1, the more the pressure increases for San Antonio. Whispers of choke will start if the silver and black lose tonight. And what the Spurs can use more than anything, is rest. Not only will a Game 7 mean another game, it means another flight to Dallas and another night in a hotel. The Spurs need to do themselves a favor; finish it tonight.
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