What adjustments can we expect from Portland for game 2?

My prediction for game 2: The Blazers will jump out to a big early lead, one of those nasty 20-6 or so leads where it looks like it'll be a blowout. By halftime it'll be even and the Rox will win it.

 

Portland isn't a very physical team so they don't really bother Yao much. They don't really know how to front and deny position like the Jazz or the Mavs. Chalk it up to youth and inexperience. I expect them to try to play more physical on Yao the next game.

 

I think they going run more .. more running .. trying to beat the Rockets in transition

 

Change the starting 5:

Aldridge plays 5. Outlaw plays 4.

Aldridge is faster to front Yao. Yao will find it hard to guard Aldridge's mid-range shooting. Outlaw is athletic in offensive side for Scola to guard.

 

I think we just need to have better pick and roll coverage. Yao did a good job early on coming out on Roy's shots, but pretty soon the other man will be able to pop or roll the basket and score. They will eventually score with that PnR with efficiency, we just need to do a better job on it.

 

There will definitely be fronting and doubling earlier than the 2nd half in game 2. It's all about how crisply Yao's teammates move the ball and if they can find open spots on the weakside to attack.

Portland centers Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden had no answer for the seven-time All-Star from China.

“We tried to play behind him,” Przybilla said. “So we’ll make adjustments for the next game. He hit every shot he took so we got to do something.”

 

they will keep shooting 3 instead of driving to the basket. they failed that way tonight.

 

Fernandez may burst out.

 

Teams usually wait till 2nd half to fronting Yao and play catch up.
Just Blazers did not have the chance to do it tonight.

Deke is the X-factor..

 

If I was Portland's coach, i would definitely try this. They can front Yao on the defensive end too.

 

Blazers would play a more aggressive defense, which contain more energy, even the determination.

obviously, they will try to fronting Yao, and they may try to make the game run,would make Yao tired.

If Blazers still keeping jumpshoot, i think they must lose the series without any doubt.

 

Flop more

 

Speed is their strength. I expect that too. Could see more of Aldridge and Frye on Yao with their length as well.

 

The only reason Oden didn't foul out (or got the calls in the first place) is because 1) Yao was not in the game guarding him and 2) the game was out of reach for Portland at that point.

 

Yeah it worked really well in ... garbage time. LOL

Seriously, has he done that once successfully against Yao? We will put Yao on him if we find it really necessarily to stop him. The need was not there tonight because almost the whole 2nd half was garbage time.

 

And that is what I am worried about. You saw in the 2nd half? They fronted Yao all the time.

I understand we had a huge lead but he didn't touch the ball even once in the 3rd. When we tried to pass it to him, they sent second defender to steal the ball from the baseline.

I expect McMillan to front Yao all game long. It may leave shooters open but he doesn't want Yao to hurt them again, he is gonna make somebody else kill them.

That is what I am worried about. But one thing, they are now under big pressure.

 

We need to get a better game plan for the Pick and Roll when Yao switches to Roy and Roy just drives right past him for the easy bucket...or when he drives right into him possibly getting Yao into foul trouble. That play could become troublesome for the Rockets over the rest of this series.

 

1. Yao avoid of FOUL trouble next game. Cuz it's Portland home court.

2. Scola do the great work like game 1, keep high effiiency on score and defending opp PF.

3. Artest and Brooks be calm like game 1.

4. Most importantly, Keep team defending enough tough.

 

I feel like if Yao is as assertive as he was tonight, a lot of calls will not go against him (ie Joel's flop was not called and Yao calmly drilled a hook shot). That intensity is great because it opened up everything. Brooks being in attack mode (and Battier throwing in some aggressive moves) was key tonight against the fronting defense. I feel like you combat the front preemptively, that means swinging the ball, driving, and making hard cuts off picks. Brooks and Scola form a great 2 man game and it makes fronting Yao useless. If you front him the ball swings or Brooks takes his man (Blake is a decent defender, but he can't hang with Brooks or Lowry when they put on the burners) which puts the Blazers in a comprising position. At this point, because the Rockets were aggressive, the Blazers pick their poison; switch to the middle to cover Brooks and leave Yao open towards the hoop with his defender now boxed out by virtue of the front, don't switch and Brooks gets a high percentage shot close to the bucket (this was a tremendous effort by Brooks, recognizing that he can just pop those easy close shots without any defensive pressure), switch off Scola and rotate on Yao and Scola gets an open 15 footer (which he either converted or he used the space to gather himself for a drive, both with great success).

So there you have it, the way to beat the front is to be aggressive, and do what the Blazers don't expect. Force feeding Yao is easy to defend, playing off of Yao's assertiveness is effective and keeps the opponent reeling. Yao's ability to score at will like that was amazing and now the Blazers have to respect that. Now if they front, the Rockets are using as an advatage to get to the bucket. When you start piling on the points in the paint, fronting stops making sense. Their best defensive rebounder is now out of position and he also happens to be the best interior defensive presence. LA can't roam because Scola does enough to keep him honest. Great game by the Rockets....man I feel it this year.

-V

 

great analysis man.