In game 1, I feel that Bonner was actually playing good defense on Dirk. His shots were contested. Dirk probably just had a “confidence advantage” going against Matt as he knew Bonner was less athletic. But if you watch at the process and not the result of Dirk v. Bonner one on one, it looks like good D, with tough shots going in. Plus a lot of ticky-tacky touch fouls that in no way could have influenced the shots that were taken to be called a whistle.

But you are right, McD did a good job on Dirk. Although watching both games, nothing much changed. He also did an okay job on Dirk in game 1, but again, the shots just fell.

Dirk is an awesome basketball specimen. Someone that tall shooting fade-away jumpers, almost no one can guard that. What’s worse is that he knows no one can reach his high release faders, so an arm in his face won’t really do much to his confidence in the shot. Overall though, that shot won’t be made at a 90% clip all the time, probably at a 40-50% clip, which the opposing team could probably live with.

1. “Fronting” Dirk in the post is not the right way for the Spurs to handle this situation.

2. The right way for the Spurs to handle this situation is … exactly what Gregg Popovich did in last night’s game … from the portions which I saw.

Q1. What “magic” did Pop use?

A1. He very simply changed the individual match-ups and did his best to have Antonio McDyess go against Dirk every chance he could … rather than a physically over-matched Matt Bonner … and by having the Diceman “body-up” against the Howitzker, after the catch, whenever possible.

Then, if/when Dirk has to put it on the floor, the Spurs sent a 2nd defender to initiate the late double-team AND, then, made sure that each of their other 3 defenders fully committed to completing their respective defensive rotations, come h*ll or high water [i.e. no matter what].

3. If you try to full-front, in the NBA, against a multi-talented skilled player like Dirk, with his size, he will end up killing your team.

Conversely … if you commit to:

i. Playing behind with the right individual defender
ii. Pushing the offensive player out [i.e. off his sweet spot]
iii. Then sending the double team
iv. With a fully committed 5-man defensive rotation

you will force other players on the opposition to have to beat you,

which is your best hope for team success.