Asik on LMA is a fail. Sure Asik has the size but he is too slow. Try Chandler and for god sake MAYBE a double team. Regardless we need harden to get 20+.
Parsons plays jack**** for defense. Asik did a decent job on LMA, he was just unconscious last night and you can't really do anything about that... unless you double team, but let's be real, McHale doesn't know what that is.
Howard Asik Harden Lin Beverley It's fitting Parsons/Jones would be kicked out of the starting lineup since they'll also be "kicked out" of the roster in the off-season.
You do understand that doubling LMA will open up 3 guards who shoot 36%+ from 3, and that our perimeter defense is so sucky that we can't manage to close out on open shooters, right?
Watch how Portland guards Howard. There perimeter players jump or sag in and out of the paint, crowding the paint, making it difficult for Dwight to get a shot off in the paint. That's how Mchale should've adjusted for game 2. The key is too crowd lma. Do not let him get comfortable.
We are horrible at rotating on defense as a team. The difference between doubling Dwight and Alrdridge is the fact that LaMarcus catches the ball a lot further away from the basket than Dwight. It's easy to crowd when you're posting up near the paint, but LaMarcus catches the ball two-three feet in front of the three point line, then decides on what to do.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Rockets will start C Omer Asik, moving F Terrence Jones to bench vs <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Blazers&src=hash">#Blazers</a> for Game 3, a league source informs <a href="https://twitter.com/CSNNW">@CSNNW</a>.</p>— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/statuses/459864281467469824">April 26, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Here's how you double Lamarcus: Let Asik push him out of the paint and make him catch it at about 18 feet or even further out. Asik then closes on him and crowds him on the jumper. If LaMarcus goes underneath and gets by Asik, Dwight chases him down at the rim. When LaMarcus picks up his dribble Asik fades and starts rotation and closest defender rotates (Harden or Parsons) down to cover Lopez. Remember this while you're watching the game tonight.
So.... Bev -> Lillard Harden -> Matthews Parsons -> Batum Asik -> Lopez Howard -> Aldridge At least that's how I would do it. Asik can handle Aldridge in the post, but not from distance. I think Howard's length and speed may bother Aldridge more. Hopefully the refs aren't whistle happy.
