A Game 4 win will basically clinch the series so we have to come out with the defense from start to finish. But here are some little things we need to utilize to help us maximize each possession: 1.Hack-a-Roberson He was 0-5 from the stripe. When we go with the small lineup (Ryno at C) just force OKC to sub Roberson out and we will destroy them with 3s and drives while probably giving up 1 point per possession and resting on defense. 2.Attack Kanter with P&R with lou, EG We did this some but i think it has to be on every possession. Hes just so bad.You cant have wasted possessions in the playoffs so just take advantage of their weakest link every time down the floor. 3.Let Bev bring it up the court Roberson is hounding harden full court and although its not a huge problem we usually start the flow of the offense with 14 seconds left. This also is tiring harden more then he should be.
Try in the first quarter. And that's not sarcastic. They dug themselves into an early hole strictly because they didn't care about their possessions or their defense.
I like the Hack-A-Roberson strategy as well as another primary ball handler for the Rockets when roberson is in the game. Another poster mentioned us not sleep walking theough the first quarter...my response is to have Beverley, Ariza, and Anderson on a much shorter leash. If they come out and cant contribute on on offense then we need to go to Gordon/Lou much sooner.
If MDA wants to start the same 5 for sake of continuity, fine. But, agreeing with you, my leash is 3 minutes. If the starters are struggling, don't wait more than that to bring one of Lou or EG.
/thread I was so disgusted with their approach to the game in the 1st quarter. It's clear the Rockets are far from a mature team despite having so many veterans.
Same here. I was steaming mad, and posted my frustrations in a way I almost never do. Have some sense of urgency, match their intensity. Now, we have given hope to the other team. The Thunder knows now that one more win at home on Sunday, and anybody can win this series!
I'd rather you be head coach over Antoni because all of this makes too much sense and I'm willing to bet every cent to my name that none of this will happen
I think it's the veteran teams that are actually MORE likely to relax in the first quarter. I remember Miami the year they won it with Shaq and after sucked in first halves. Lebron's teams are almost always similar (did you see their ridiculously awful first half last night?).
all of your points are good, except I think Roberson has been practicing the three ball so much and all of his free throws were long so he will probably practice his stroke now and be ready for next game. If you wanted to foul him you had to foul him tonight i think we need to use harrell here and there, he can clamp up gibson who is their go to in the post when we play man especially when wb sits. also, Bev might need to bring it up here and there because I know Harden has done it all season but he has not faced this kind of pressure all game long before. we are taking way too long to get the ball up the court. I think the first seven seconds should be attack mode and trying to get an easy bucket before the defense gets set, especially if they miss it or turn it over obviously. The next seven seconds is already being in the offensive set by getting into it within the first 7 seconds and running the play/pick and rolls/pops with off ball screens here and there to get open threes. The final 7-10 seconds because we do not have a post up option outside of Ryan Anderson and harden who are being guarded by good defenders is reset pick and roll attacking the middle and getting rebounding position/back in transition by going to the top if youre in the corner. The thunder have done a great job of covering the corners so mixing it up would be nice. just having one of the guys in the corner come out to the wing or the top of the three-point line as a nice bail out option. they can easily get back on d as well.
How about: share the ball, play bigger and start out with some intensity from the start. Stop settling for contested threes / early in the shot clock threes!!
We have essentially one more game to spot them, so if things are not working out early, bring the bench brigade sooner than expected and see if Troy Williams' speed and length can help counter their role players. Right now, as was last year against the Spurs, Donovan is doing a great job at throwing different formations. He is going 10-deep and unafraid to do so. In short, Donovan is figuring it out what works and doesn't work against us. Hopefully, MDA will also have something under his sleeve. I am guessing we will see an expanded bench brigade to include Troy Williams.
Thunder have a great chance to tie this series. We give zero effort on closing out on shooters or getting rebounds. We play too stupid to just be saying we automatically going to go up 3-1.
Come out focussed and ready to play from the tip. Don't wait to get 10-12 points down before realising you're playing in the playoffs. DO NOT be complacent and FFS cut down on the first Q turnovers.
