Phil Jackson: Odom “Likely” To Start

Good post.

 

How could that ever tempt you?

 

I REALLY hope Bynum starts sulking over this.

My main worry is this will help LA set an aggressive tone in the first quarter. It's PARAMOUNT we not let them go beserk on us early (or ever, but you know...)

Evan

 

+rep 4 you

 

it's smart move from pj. he is copying jazz stretagy. damit, i hate this.

 

I think this is the worse possible news for Houston. Now La is playing to their strong points vs the rockets weakness. Yao is a better defender when his guy is in front of him. Now with gasol, its going to put more pressure on yao with the pnr and running the court. Odom is going to put a lot of pressure on scola to play out his box. Now when odom rebs and starts the push, scola will have to pick him up in transition and cut the penetration off. Also, scola is going to play against a wing player of sorts that can beat him off the dribble. Also Bynum is playing with the und unti which mean after yao is done running up and down the court and trying to guard the pnr, bynum is coming in with fresh legs. This is not good at all.

 

Unless Adleman increases Hayes' minutes, this matchup could be a problem for us.

Bynum doesn't play well against us...but if Phil can find a way for him to matchup with someone other than Yao or Chuck he could be more effective. I don't think the lineup change has much to do with Odom.

 

They did that last game. Ariza is not a good 3 point shooter and he won't slash that much with that lineup and Yao download. and will force a lot of cross match up and Lakers will have to adjust big time.

 

Gasol defends Yao much better than Bynum

 

Here's what I see at the tipoff on the Rockets' defensive end:

C Gasol vs. C Yao
PF Odom vs. G Artest
F Ariza vs. PF Scola
G Bryant vs. F Battier
G Fisher vs. G Brooks

Lots of cross-position match-ups going on here. A few other points:

- Gasol will not front Yao. He will try to prevent passes into him, but he will not do a full front like Oden/Przybilla did. Phil Jackson will also not double-team Yao until he has the ball.

- Artest is guarding Odom because Odom is strong and quick, two things Scola isn't.

- Ariza will probably be left alone a lot by Scola when he comes to help Yao on Gasol (yes, Yao needs help on him) or Battier with Bryant. Until Ariza proves he can knock down his shots (like Battier), there's no reason not to.

 

They will problably try to run more and speed up the game, it was clear in a Half court game they don't have and advantage so maybe if they speed up the game they feel they have to upper hand and cant tired Yao a bit.

 

whether the new lineup will cause a headache or not depends on how paul gasol's mid range jump goes.

 

This means we will have to beat the Lakers a different way. Now Yao's points will go down and there will be fewer open three point looks. We will have an edge in rebounding however and more lanes for penetration. Let's see how flexible and versatile we are.

 

I agree. I just don't see this as being anything different than we saw most of in game 1.

 

Kobe was volume shooting and Bynum took away some early touches for Gasol so I expect to see more Gasol in the post against Yao. PJ wants to wear out Yao so his offfensive efficiency won't be so good. It's a good strategy and it'll be interesting to see how the Rockets will respond.

 

I DON'T like Yao guarding Gasol. That's what hurt us in the regular season...Pjax knows it and is going back to what worked.

Gasol has proven to be very effective v. Yao when getting the ball at the free throw line. Yao will never block him out there, which gives Gasol an easy open jump shot. And if he does get close to Pau, he'll go right around Yao. I'm surprised Jackson didn't go for that matchup everytime. He tried it a few times in game 1, but didn't get much out of it...

 

Smart decision for the Lakers, if true. Again, as others have already touched on: given the quick fouls Bynum picked up in Game 1 and will likely continue to pick up, this isn't some unexpected, WORLDLY difference. But still, Odom is the better player and an assassin in the offensive glass. Gasol has either outplayed or canceled Yao out all year long. This match up does present their best opportunity to get Yao into foul trouble.

 

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Oh plz stop it! Yao will b**** slap that giraffe-look-alike dude. He's too weak to do anything against Yao.