There's D in big D

Dopo 15 gare i Mavs realizzano 96.6 punti a partita (posizione numero 23 - VENTITRE - nella Lega), ma concedono soltanto 92.4 punti a gara (QUARTA miglior difesa dell'Nba).
Tutto questo nonostante Kidd non sia più un grado di tenere il primo passo del 70% degli esterni Nba. Ma la presenza di giocatori come Marion, Stevenson e soprattutto Chandler si fa sentire. E Carlisle ama spesso mescolare le carte, ricorrendo anche alla difesa a zona.

The Mavericks play more zone than any other team in the league, but Carlisle said the notion that it is done to cover up for defensive liabilities is inaccurate.

"You can have a really athletic team and if they don't know what they're doing, they're going to look [terrible] playing the zone," he said. "It's not about masking deficiencies. It's about playing to strengths.

"We play zone because it's a defense that can be effective against any lineup, if you know your job within the zone."

Nowitzki said every team in the league is playing more zone defense these days.

"Look at the Lakers," he said. "They might start in man-to-man, but once some action starts on the strong side, the big guy comes over and zones it up.

"I think the best defensive teams are going to play zone with man-to-man principles, or the other way around. That's the way the league is going."

Nel quarto decisivo di questa notte contro i Thunder, conclusosi 36-22, OKC è stata costretta a tirare con il 39%.


Non sono più i Dallas Mavericks dei nostri padri.