What do you think we will need to do in order to win this game? 1) I think we MUST put Battier on Roy to start the game and see how that works out. Roy will be aggressive and we have seen how easily he can blow by Artest. I think Shane will do a better job containing him. 2) Go to Yao early and often. If they front him, use him in a PnR or something. Yao has been knocking down that 15 foot jump shot recently. Yao has to be involved in the offense early one way or another, just to get him in a rhythm. Anytime we stop looking for him, he goes cold. What do you guys think?
Key to the game is everyone other than Yao to step it up because Yao will be a non factor this game with the fronting and double teams. Brooks isn't going to be hot like he was in the 1st game so I expect Von/Scola/Landry to really help out on the points. I expect Deke to come out with the same passion and Lowry to draw fouls. And most importantly I expect/want/pray that Ron attacks the basket with a level head and makes smart decisions. He will be the real key to game 2. I have the Rockets beating Portland in 6 games but a loss tonight I'm hoping I'm wrong.
In my opinion, Ron should start off. Let him try and muscle Roy around for a while. Ron will get him tired, then you put Battier on him to force him into bad shots. As far as feeding Yao, I completely agree. Go to him early and often.
Bring the D. Be patient to find the hole in defense and penetrate their weakness. They will get frustrated and blow the game. Go Rox !!300 style
Oh and I forgot to add, when they play him 1 on 1 with the defender behind him, YAO HAS TO DEMAND THE BALL. Stop trying to be too unselfish. If they cant stop you, you have every right to take more shots than anyone else on the team.
not that plain and simple. do you really think blazers would do exactly what they did in game 1? if they do that, we can do exactly what we did in game 1.
This seems like a similar thread to me, so feel free to look for some answers there... http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=166787
Keep trying to get Portland to do things they're not good at. Give them the mixed up looks (like one play we had where Brooks drove midline, kicked it out to Ron then Shane who passed it back in to weak-side posting Yao who then had an easy 1-on-1) and then before they realize it, go back to our bread-and-butter playbook. Stay one step ahead of them, and keep them guessing. Kinda like poker.
Withstand the charge. They'll come out like a "blaze" of fire, but if we can withstand that and stay in the game. We'll be in their head for sure. Close out a close win and they'll be sunk for sure.
Shane is better guarding off the ball, and Artest is better on the ball. Brandon Roy plays offense with the ball in his hands for the most part, so Artest is the best defensive matchup. I'd prefer that Battier be the "team" defender while Artest focuses his energy on Roy.
At first I was upset about the extra day between games jacking with our momentum, but the more I think about it, I think it helps in this case. We are surely in their head a bit, and this gives us extra time to settle, focus on them and what they will do, and be ready for it. Mlittle is right, they will be bringing it this time, right out of the gate. If we can withstand that, and smack them back even a little bit after they come out giving their all right away, it will be demoralizing and they will crumble.
Exactly. The pressure is on their side. They have HCA and they lost Game 1. We should be pretty confident. The thing is, we gotta stay agressive on both ends of the floor. If they front Yao (sure they will) don't rush passes. Play your game, move the ball and attack the basket. We have the adventage now.
While I do somewhat share your opinion on this, it might be wiser to put Battier on Roy since Artest is the one who is more involved in our offense. To save his energy. But giving Roy different looks by having Artest and Battier take turns on him is not a bad option either.
A) Do not hesitate to swing the ball & dribble into the paint creating the contact under whatever defense strategy those blazers kids execute on us. NO HESITATION B) Gotta defend their penetration so as to avoid yao's foul trouble. KEEP YAO ON THE FLOOR C) What brooks needs to do is to execute P&R and then shoot the ball. More shooting, less dribbling at will then dish out w/o good view LITTLE MAN Then we should be okay coming back home with a load of watermelon and banana. (my favorite fruits )
