I'd like to see how a lineup including Andersen and Hayes fares against Portland. The problem when you use Hayes and Scola together is that both their bigs (Oden and Aldridge) can clog the middle. This basically nullifies our post up game with Scola anyway. Defensively, Hayes might be able to contain oden (though rebounding will be a struggle), but Scola can't handle Aldridge. If you put Andersen in Scola's spot, that gives us a guy with more range who'll pull out one of their bigs. And Andersen has a better chance of defending Oden than Scola or Landry (just by virtue of his size), giving us more flexibility to put Hayes on Aldridge. Hayes is a great defensive player, but relegating him to defending opposing centers is wasting a lot of his talents. It would sort of be like asking Battier to guard an opposing PG. Ok, he'll make due because he's good, but are we really maximizing his defensive abilities? With all the things Hayes does well, he'll never be elite at defending or rebounding at the rim. So I'd like to see him used more defending 4s -- which makes a combination of him and Andersen appealing to me. One other thing. As much as people here may cringe, here's some advice for Andersen to make due defensively. Study your teammates Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry carefully. Go through old tapes of Vlade Divac. Learn the ways of Mehmet Okur. You know what I mean. We have to use all the tricks at our disposal to get by.
its a thought. although I think the Aldridge/Andersen matchup is worse than the Aldridge/Scola matchup because Aldridge will have to work much harder to defend Scola than he would to defend Andersen. The more you make him work defensively, the less aggressive he'll probably be on the other end, and when Aldridge isn't engaged in the offense it's a lot easier to beat Portland. What do you think about subbing in Landry for Chuck, and Andersen for Scola? It could open up the interior for Landry to drive. Our interior D would be really bad though. I'm also curious what it would be like to give pops some run if Portland goes small with Aldridge at the 5 and Outlaw at the 4. I think pops could do well against that lineup because its not very physical, and should allow him to use his athleticism.
Durvasa recommends Hayes on Aldridge and Anderson on Oden, not Anderson on Aldridge. It doesnt sound like a bad idea though.
Oden isn't a great offensive player anyway, so its a waste to put Hayes on him. What Oden does very well is offensive rebound, but Hayes being only 6'6 there's only so much he can do to limit that anyway. That's why I think put Andersen on him. Double team Oden aggressively to try to force turnovers. Andersen needs to master all of Okur's defensive tricks to make up for his deficiencies. Oden is a great candidate to try it out on, as he doesn't have great control over his body and he'll commit a lot of offensive fouls and loose ball fouls. On the offensive side, Andersen will either pull out Oden or Aldridge away from the basket with his range. Either way, that should open up more opportunities for penetration. And we need to use Hayes to slow down Aldridge. When Outlaw comes in the game, Hayes can check him as well without much problem.
Its not a bad thought, but Anderson will get eaten alive by Oden, I cant even imagine how many offensive boards Anderson would give up to him
We have to acquire a big man to play with Portland. There isn't a gimmick that will work. They are too focused & well coached. You don't protect the defensive glass and don't get yourself 2nd chance opportunities - you don't win (and you sure as hell won't get to fastbreak). That is basketball. Unless we stay under 4 turnovers and shoot 42+% from the three its nearly impossible. Even if Portland counters (they won't have to) you will wind up with Outlaw & Aldridge out there meaning someone is about to abuse Andersen.
i missed that. i don't like andersen on Oden at all though. Even though he hasn't developed his footwork yet, Oden is very heavy and athletic in the post. He should, and probably would dominate andersen there. playing against this early-career version of oden requires intelligence and quickness, not height. Oden doesnt really do anything offensively with his height. I think the best way (so far) to contain him is to play with discipline and let him foul his way out of the game. box out well, draw charges, attack his body and the rim defensively. someone like andersen cant really do those things. wouldnt surprise me to see that matchup in a pinch, but i see Portland getting a lot of rebounds if it materializes that way. now if we could get dorsey on oden, i'd pay to watch that
I like it. Andersen should best Oden with experience alone leaving Hayes to battle Aldridge. (I keep picturing John Travolta and a bull facing off in a field someplace...but with the bull winning this time) In that senario I'd take the bet that Oden & Aldridge gets into foul trouble early.
The paint needs to be protected so Hayes has to be on Oden when Andersen is in the game. Aldridge is way too quick for Andersen to guard, they will eat that lineup up. Scola is unfortunately our only option against Aldridge when Hayes is guarding Oden.
^ Forgot to add that Andersen does not have a chance against Oden. Does anyone remember Deke getting abused by Oden? I do...
Would rather see Anderson and Scola starting together. Bring in Hayes off the bench to shut down an oppossing 4 ie.(Aldridge) if he's going off on Scola. Odem having to go out and cover Anderson on the perimeter opens up Scola to going at Aldridge offensively and potentially getting Aldridge into foul troube. This team needs to get there offense going pronto, epecially with Tracy out of the lineup. The rockets will still have 2 elite (Battier and Ariza) defenders on the court with both Anderson and Scola.
durvasa, i see where you're going with the reasoning, defensively, but it's not like Aldridge dominated Scola or anyone else on Tuesday. That said, the better argument could almost be to start Andersen/Scola, as you do have an offensive advantage then. If the Blazers leave Oden on Andersen, that opens up the middle. If they put Aldridge on Andersen, I think Scola has a quickness advantage on Oden. Of course, coming off 2 consecutive mediocre games, LA is probably due for a huge night, so who knows. It's hard to imagine Outlaw plays as well, though, or that they shoot threes so well (or the Rockets defend them so poorly). Still, if both teams play up to their potential, match-ups aside, the Blazer should win, again.
That could work too. Main thing is I don't like any combination of Scola, Landry, Hayes versus Oden and Aldridge.
Actually I disagree with this. Oden is a one trick pony right now. He has no real post up moves. He has one hook shot that is questionable at best. His best offensive option is the offensive rebound dunk. So to prevent that all Andersen has to do is get inside position and get him to go over the back.. which you know he will do. Andersen's biggest problem with guarding Oden would be his weight. Preventing Oden from getting position inside won't be as difficult as him trying to back him in on the post up. If you double as soon as Oden puts the ball down you do to him what other teams have done to Yao... get a quick guard to double down and steal the ball. I am with Durvasa.. I really wanted to see the combo of Hayes and Andersen on the court together during the 4th quarter of the game Tuesday night. It's an option I would at least like to see for a few minutes in the second quarter tomorrow night.
Deke was waaaaay to, uh, young to take on a physical Oden. And his offensive skills were in decline. Now, a quick, smart, experience Andersen would do a much better job than Deke. The trick is, as durvasa pointed out, to pull Oden out of the paint some leaving Hayes to deal with Aldridge...and making sure Shane/Ariza are around to help rebound.
Yes. Actually the comparison with Yao is a good one. The Rockets can give Portland a piece of their own medicine and front Oden aggressively. Andersen doesn't just have to play behind him the whole time. Give him different looks. Different types of double teams. He's still very raw, and if we're smart we can frustrate him into mistakes.
