We must protect Yao from drawing fouls from Roy. The refs might try to screw us in this game so don't get beat and if you do get beat foul HARD. NO LAYUPS. This should shock the young calfs into place and get in their heads. Start Yao and Scola early so when the front comes Scola will be ready to shoot. Brooks must not think too much and do what he did in game 1. We have to play like this is game 7.
STAY FOCUSED! The Rose Garden will be a raucus zoo tonight. The Blazers will start with a ton of emotion. Don't get caught up in the tangential distractions. The goal is to win the game, not play down to the competition. Don't be OUTHUSTLED! Every rebound, every loose ball - contest them. We're playing on enemy ground - every ball we can take away from the Blazers is coup, and will destroy Blazer confidence. Keep the DEFENSE ratched up until the game is over. No layups in the paint! We must execute fundamentals better than Portland - may seem trivial, but oh so true.
We shot so well last game that it made it so easy. If we don't this game, we need to continue to attack the basket. Aaron needs to be consistent at running the offense, it's frustrating to see the clock tick down to 10 and the play breaks down to Artest getting the ball near the 3-point line, then jacking it up. Defensively, help out on closing that paint if Roy and Pryz/Oden go high screen on Yao and rotating. Weakside defense and offense will be important. Most importantly, if we have a 10 point lead, push it to 20 and don't let your foot off their neck. KILLER INSTINCT. If the game is close, this team needs to dig deep and play smart, most certainly, our biggest weakness, closing games out. Thank God we can shoot free throws this year as a team.
If it's that easy to make Yao a non-factor in this game, then we're screwed whether or not everyone else steps up...
