What adjustments can we expect from Portland for game 2?

There were a few posessions where fronting Yao helped, but it also exposed weaknesses in their D that the other players could not make up for. Thats why Utah/Dallas does well on Fronting, because they have better defenders to make up for it. Dont underestimate the length of Kirelenko for Utah, or Ariza for the Lakers, or Howard for the Mavs. That length can be an issue. The Blazers have Batum, but he is so inexperienced being a rookie. They might go to Outlaw, but they lose so much from the perimeter vs Batum.

 

I can see the blazers coming down from yao's blind side and falling down, attempting to draw 6 offensive fouls in the first 6 minutes of the game. It's the only they have.

=)

 

Are you kidding me? Oden has no offensive game. Dwight Howard is light years ahead of Oden and he never comes close that a 35-25 game against Yao.

Oden had one good game in a total blowout loss. Im sure the Rox hardly see Oden as being a key factor in this series. Their only chance is if Roy and Aldridge go off or they suddenly start hitting a ton of threes.

 

I think you will see more of Aldridge and Frye or even Outlaw as the C and PF. Aldridge will have to front Yao and hope the team can contain him using double teams. On offense Aldridge or Frye will hope to pull Yao away from the basket like most teams with two shooting big men do. Yao cant stay with Outlaw so if its Aldridge and Outlaw he is gonna have to try to guard Aldridge.

I also think the Blazers are gonna do everything they can to get Yao in foul trouble. I see the Roy P&R early and often with Roy jumping into Yao every chance he gets. Plus whoever is guarding Yao will be flopping like mad hoping to draw a cheap foul like Roy did by falling down yesterday. Just hope the refs let them play.

 

Fronting Yao in the first quarter is very dangerous.

There are reasons why teams don't front players the whole game:

1. It can get your bigs into foul trouble since they have to play very physical from the get go.
2. It can tire your bigs out since fronting requires more energy then playing behind.
3. You give the team the entire game to adjust to the front and figure out how to beat it.


Realistically, the adjustments are most likely to be as follows:

1. The blazers have to believe that Yao won't have as perfect of a game and Alridge won't have as bad. So expect them to try to establish him early this game so he can get his mojo going early.

2. The blazers offense was pretty much all Brandon Roy in the first qtr...so they may try to instead have him work to get other guys involved ala Kobe. Can he instead of getting buckets for himself get dunks and easy shots for guys like Blake, Oden, and Co???

3. More drive n dish. This is our weakness. As good as Battier and Artest are as defenders - they are not good at stopping the drive. YOu can penetrate against our perimeter. The key will be for the Blazers to then turn that into 2 or 3 additional passes to break down our defense (not just for perimeter shots but kicking it out and rotating it to the weak side and then passing it back in or driving again with our D totally scrambled).

4. Attack Yao defensively early on. Any and every player they can. One way to contain Yao is to get him in foul trouble. So pushing him on the defensive end can do this. It might get them off to a slow start, but if yao picks up 2 fouls in the 1st qtr, they will have a better chance.

On Defense

1. Double Yao early on. More effective than fronting. It will potentially give up treys but it would be worth it to get yao frustrated and make him less effective.

2. Pick up our perimeter players earlier in half-court. That is, make us use more clock up. On Sat - we had plenty of time to execute our half court offense. But if they pressure the ball right after we cross half-court, they can make us burn up precious seconds and thus force worse shots. They are a young team and they should have more energy.



That's what I can think of right now.

 

at post game interview, roy complained their guards not matching up brooks. but i feel their coach may think otherwise since clearly yao is their biggest threat.

 

Nice post.

I have a feeling that Scola and Ron are going to be big next
game with the defense focusing on Yao even more...

 

Bring it on. Yao will foul out Gramps Oden in a half if they do that.

 

I disagree.

I really think Oden has a MUCH more refined jump hook and offensive post game than Dwight, who only scores when set up for the most part. The "Muscle shuffle" is very impressive as well. Few big men can pull that off at such a young age...

 

this.

Przybilla on the court does nothing for them. He brings no offensive game. And Yao just totally dominates him.

 

Pretty much right on, especially if you read the Portand media.

Hard, 2+ hour practise for the Blazers today (Sunday), with a film session scheduled tomorrow (wear 'em out, Nate, that makes sense). Per Coach McMillan: definitely going to double Yao and make either Shane or Ron beat them. Less Blake, more Rudy Fernandez. Get more physical with Yao to wear him out. According to the Blazers, Ming gets the benefit of all the calls; wonder which Yao they're watching? The one who is constantly beat on with no calls, or the one dominating their guys on the inside? Jack up Aldridge to significantly improve his offensive production. In their minds, no way AB and friends can ever shoot like game 1 ever again.

Desparate times call for desparate measures.

 

Make Shane or Ron beat ya, Battman will nail wide open corner 3s, and Artest will eat your defenders lunch on the low block away from Yao.

Less Blake, more Rudy?? Ok, so Brooks will blow by an even slower of foot defender than Blake.

Yao gets more calls?? In case they missed the memo, a post defender is entitled to his space and its no longer an automatic call on the defense if the offensive players charge into him if the defender is straight up.

Better production from Aldridge?? OK, this might work, so instead of being a 30 pt blowout, it will be a 20 pt blowout. Or does Aldridge get some of the points that Oden got last game?

Brooks and co can't shoot like that again?? Yeah, no way Artest or Battier have a bad game shooting 3's again. No way Scola knocks down easy shots when they are struggling to rotate onto wide open 3 point shooters.

 

Oden's game is like Shaq...just bullying and then layup or dunk. He doesn't have hook shot or anything.

 

Yao WAS in foul trouble last game, it's just that by the time he got his fourth the game was all but over.

They'll front and double Yao on their defensive end, and drive @ Yao on our defensive end. Not sure if LMA would start at 5, but they'll definitely front and double.

The second game will be a big test for Yao and the Rockets. Can we beat fronting? Would Ron be able to keep his cool and not try to play 1 on 5 when entry pts to Yao are denied? Can AB and Shane hit their 3 pters?

If we take the second game @ their homecourt, then we should feel really good about our chance of winning the series.

 

A few things I expect on the defensive end from Portland.

Their bigs will try to get a LOT more physical with Yao. They'll be pushing and scratching, basically beat up on him. How the refs call the fouls will determine their effectiveness. Hopefully, HCA won't be a factor here.

They'll send double teams to Brooks and try to keep him from penetrating. They'll either make him take a jump shot or pass.

However, Portland's team defense just doesn't impress me. They seem a step slow in sending double teams and help defense, and I think this is due to their youth and inexperience. What they lack is defensive chemistry, and it's going to take more than a playoff game to solve that.

 

The game 1 win was more about Portland playing poorly than the Rockets playing great. I think you will see a more aggressive and more energetic Portland team. I don't think they will change their game plan much because according to Nate McMillan they never executed their game plan in game 1.

One thing I am hoping for is Portland zeroing in on Brooks. Sorry, but that game was a complete fluke by Aaron Brooks but if Portland thinks he is that good maybe they will focus on him which should allow the players who usually contribute like Von and Landry to get theirs in game 2.

 

They will have to be careful about doubling Yao. From what I remember from the regular season, they're a bit sloppy at it and Yao killed them by passing to the open man when they tried it.

Point no. 2 is spot on. Both Brooks and Lowry did a great job crossing the half-court early and giving us time to execute the offense. I expect they'll try to put more pressure on our PGs, though it won't be easy given how speedy Brooks and Lowry are.

 

Which part was a fluke??

Aaron shooting 58% from the field??

Aaron making just over half of his open 3 pointers??

Aaron using his speed to go coast to coast in 4 seconds to make a shot we have seen him hit dozens of times this season??

Aaron with 7 assists??

Aaron losing the ball a couple times while dribbling into the paint??

Edit: You remind me of all those Tampa Bay Buccaneer opponents in the late 90s that said they just had a bad game, and it wasnt Tampa's defense. Well ya know what, when you are consistently highly ranked in the defensive categories, it IS your defense.

I have no doubt the Rockets can duplicate this defensive performance. Do I think they'll shoot 58% from the field again?? Probably not, but that kinda defense with 46% shooting will win this series, and quickly.

 

A healthy Greg Oden will put up a 35-25? Are you still living in the hype?