the rockets' starting five: francis, hawkins, posey, morris, yao on offense: 1. first 5 minutes, give yao the ball at the low post against shaq. let see what yao. if he can't score, bring in moT and take morris out. 2. move yao to the top of the key. a) run the pick-n-roll with yao and francis. francis: DON'T settle for jumper even if they are open instead you take the ball right at the shaq's body and draw the fouls or dump of to yao when follow you to the basket. b) give the ball to moT at the post against samaki walker and horry. if he can't score, take him out and bring in griffin. 3. if mobley in the game, run around and let kobe chases you. use yao as your screener, bring kobe into the body of yao. once kobe is out of the picture, wait for francis to pass you the ball for an open jumper. if you start missing, take it to the hole right at shaq. if he challenges you, dump off to yao. Please don't force anything. 4. posey, griffin and hawkins are forbid to take any outside shot 15 feet away from the basket. 5. limit the number of 3-point attempts on defense: 1. yao should never leave shaq. one of the PF should move over to help if necessary. 2. yao should just fall when shaq throws his shoulder or elbow into your chest. just rub your chest when the refs look at you. 2. force kobe to the baseline and let him shoot the fadeaway and never jump into him, but reach out at his shoot hand. when he decides to drive, always have a man down low to cut him off and trap him in the corner. 3. if kobe has the ball on fast break, just send everybody at him. challenge everything even if you might be posterized. make him earn every point.
All in all a good post, but these 2 points were what the Rockets should NOT do. Kobe makes a living on the baseline, when forced to go baseline. His fadeaway on the baseline is a comfortable shot for him. Moreover, Kobe loves reverse layups from the baseline. Yao's lack of foot speed will prevent cutting Kobe off. Also, Kobe's passing skills will more than likely obliterate any trapping the Rockets will do. That is the MAIN REASON why Kobe doesn't get double teamed. It's not just because he has Shaq, it's because he's great at splitting the double team, and either getting a shot for himself, or for a teammate. When Kobe is on the break, there is usually only 1 defender, or none. And what do you mean send everyone at him? The 1, if that many, guy back should just charge into Kobe? All that will do is give Kobe a dunk plus the foul shot. We'll need to play some zone defense to throw off LA.
The Rockets need to use a double sliding zone with an outlet fly. That, and scoring more points than the Lakers, guarantees a win.
Good thread but (IMHO) way more than Rudy would put on the chalkboard. Here's my locker room chalk board: 1) Run...every opportunity...even made baskets. (Push the tempo. We may not have the best bench in the NBA but c'mon Cato vs Madsen or Mo T vs Medvedenko?). 2) Make Kobe work for every shot. (Rotate fresh defenders). 3) Space the floor and move the ball. (Francis is highly unlikely to score 41 points again. Cat, EG, Posey, MoT & TMo will have to contribute. This happens best on a break or moving the ball so that the Laker defenders can't cheat). 4) Protect the ball. (Fewer points off TO's means the Lakers must get it all in a half court set). 5) Repeat point #1 - often and continously! PS - I'd love to see a zone with Cato at the PF...probably more creativity than RT can muster.
there's only 1 defender because stupid francis, mobley, griffin, and posey take contested long shots, especially 3s. long shots = long rebounds -> fastbreaks for opponents. if francis drives to the basket, mobley or posey must go back and protect it's basket. if mobley sees kobe charging at him, cuts off his right or left forcing him to pick up the ball and spin. at the time, posey should step up to challenge his shot. if he tries to dunk, don't go for the ball, hit his elbow. cutting off kobe when he drives from the baseline: never use yao as the cut off man instead one of the PF should be. if yao is forced to come over, he should never ever JUMP and try to block the shot. just let kobe jumps into his body.
Get Collier to fight with Shaq and they will both get ejected. Just stop Kobe with Mobley and Posey. We did good on him last game. Not likely to be as successful with Kobe scoring 35+ the last 1000 games. Yes...great points. But still...the Rockets can't remember this for more than 6 minutes. They have to relearn everything at halftime and comeback. And lol...never tell Yao to leave Shaq. Then Kobe will just easily go inside. And then they will just give it to Shaq who will easily score on Yao. Maybe he is a little injured. STEP ON HIS TOE!!!
How to beat the Lakers: Dont take stupid shots Keep Kobe from scoring Contain Shaq Give Yao the damn ball Dont miss a free throw Hit at least 80% of the shots
How about no Shaq? We definitely can beat them without Shaq. He aint playing tonight so hopefully he wont play Tuesday.
