What adjustments can we expect from Portland for game 2?

I just assumed that was sarcasm and moved on. There's no way someone could actually believe that.

 

Aaron Brooks scoring 27 points was a fluke.

 

Tell that to the Phoenix Suns.


Is Aaron scoring 18 points not a fluke??

22 points??

16 points??

 

Now you're just being stupid. Here's a guy who averages 11 ppg who just scored 27 points (isn't that his career high?) and you are going to say it is not a fluke?

 

i expect them to run a lot more p&r's and take it in to the rim.

ron needs to play tighter on these p&r's. his defense in game 1 was actually below his par imo. too many times he goes under the screen so easy.

 

His game was definitely not usual on his part.

However, he has produced good numbers in all 3 regular season games agaionst Portland. So I think it wasn't a fluke against Portland. He has played well in all Portland games.

I'm really excited for this next game. I think there's a chance we're in a huge hole in the first quarter but will make it a tiht game by the end.

My only worry is that they play with the following line-up:

Aldridge
Outlaw
Fernandez
Roy
Whoever

I think that would just be too quick to us to defend. On the offensive end, they could us the Phoenix Suns strategy of sending super quick people at Yao for the double team.

Strangely, I still have confidence in this team. I don't think we quite understand how willing Yao is to put this series away on his own. Even Artest can see it in Yao's face. Yao is pulling down rebounds harder, grabbing the ball harder, dunking harder, defending harder and blocking shots harder.

Foul trouble is the only way I see for Portland to win this game. Even then, Deke pulled down 9 rebounds in paltry minutes. Landry/Lowry and Wafer didn't play much.

I also learned that Adelman is a bit of a genius. He knows exactly what he's doing by pulling Yao rather than letting him figure out the fronting. I sense that he already has a plan to figure out the front and doesn't want Portland to figure it out. He has also kept the lid on Artest's poor shot selection. He chose just the right players for this game, and it ended up giving him the ability to rest his guys for the next game.

Overall, a very exciting series. Next game can go either way, but I'm confident in our chances.

 

Career high is 32 against Phoenix. He has gone over 20 many times this year. A good 3 point shooter going 5 for 8 from range and throwing in a few extra buckets inside isn't a fluke to me. And in his current role as a starter, he is averaging 13ppg, as if that has any effect on a fluke output.



Chuck Hayes going for 27 is a fluke.

Kenny Smith averaged 12-13ppg in his Rocket career, but dont tell that to the Orlando Magic who he hit a ton of 3s against in game 1 of the 1995 Finals.

 

They may double team Yao... however I don't think they are going to have an answer for THE problem... AB.

 

So we can pencil him in for 27ppg for the series? Awesome.

 

Nope, but I never said that. Honestly I think you will see him average about 16ppg for the series. But its the threat that will cause the defense to play a bit more honest. And that can only be a good thing, since it will get the blazers scrambling a bit more which can lead to higher percentage shots for everyone.

And if for some reason they dont want to guard him again, then sure, he could score 27 again.

 

I think they will front Yao right from the start we have to be ready for this because if we'll not they will jump out to a big lead. I hope we'll working a game plan for the fronting so when it happens we won't look lost on the court.

AB needs to have another great game he will have a great chance because of the fronting he will be able to attack the basket, and everyone else has to step up big too.

 

I agree with some of the posters in that they will front Yao when we are on offense, and put him in pick and roll situations when we are on defense. This is aimed at tiring him out... but if Yao can seal off his man, I predict another good game from him.

I don't know how they'll stop Brooks, cause he's just too quick for anyone on their team... only way they'll stop him is if he plays wildly.

Aldrige will look to be more aggressive against Scola.

Bench of Rodriguez, Fernandez, Outlaw will play with more energy.

It should be a great game, and I have a feeling the Rockets will have a difficult time matching the urgency and energy the Blazers will bring. Here's to hoping that we can.

 

agreed

 

Lots of valid points made by some posters here. I'd just like to add the following humble views :-

(1) How the Blazers play isn't really our main worry - ultimately it's down to how the Rockets play as a team. This is one opponent which has to work on negating our advantages - hence, the favourable matchup. Contrast them with the Lakers, a team against whom we have to work out how to negate theirs. Concentrating only on stopping Yao opens up the floor for our other threats - how we respond has to be the key to our success.

(2) Yao isn't only an offensive problem for the Blazers - he's also a defensive problem for them. If Yao gets into foul trouble early, the game opens up for the Blazers and they can make a real go at winning this. However, Adelman I suspect already knows this and he has prepared uncle Deke for the challenge. We'll get to see some finger-wagging on Wednesday for sure.

(3) The pressure is on the home team now. Rockets know that a loss for us wouldn't have the same devastating effect as it would be for them. Hence, we 'll just really have a go at them and keep the pressure on till the very end. Even if we lose a very close game, the Blazers know they've 2 more very tough home games to overcome if they get that far.

Before the 1st game, I'd thought that we would get this in 5 if we won the 1st game. But the way we crushed them has to be a psychological disaster which, I suspect, they can't overcome. Fronting or not, if Yao stays out of early foul trouble, I see us taking the 2nd game in double digits. Scola and Wafer will take bigger roles in this win.

 

Here's how I see them adjusting...

- While I do think they'll throw some fronting at Yao, I think they'll still play mostly behind him while sending a "blitzing" defender from the baseline. We all know Yao struggles with that, and the one time they did it on Saturday, they got a deflection. So why won't they front? I don't think they have the personnel to pull it off effectively. Przybilla is too slow to front, Oden doesn't yet have the skill and footwork to front successfully, and Aldridge is simply too soft to get in there and bang.

- They'll probably start jumping Aaron's pick n' rolls much harder to make him pick up his dribble or make the pass. They'll rely on the switch defender's height (likely a foot or so taller than Aaron) to keep him from getting a clear look a the roller.

- Speaking of the PG match up, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jerryd Bayless in something other than garbage minutes. He's had stretches this season of showing great promise...and others of looking very raw. But what's certain is that Aaron Brooks' speed was lethal on Saturday, and Bayless has a much better chance of matching it than Steve Blake ever has.

- Expect the Blazers to put more emphasis on ball and player movement. They were stagnant on Saturday, often watching one player go one-on-one or two players running the pick n' roll. Players like Fernandez, Blake, and Batum thrive on cutting to the rim and to the 3pt line.

- They're not really a running team, but that may be another way for the Blazers to solve their scoring woes. The Rockets aren't particularly great at stopping athletes from breaking deep on them, but the problem for the Blazers is that they can't fast break unless they A) get defensive rebounds, or B) cause turnovers. They didn't do a good job of either in game 1.

 

Yao did a very good job.
I like what he did!
Come on,Yao.
kick the ass of Oden

 

Great points all around. I expect Portland to make lob passes for dunks at times too ala the Suns and the Hawks. Batum,Outlaw,Fernandez,Aldridge can all get up there.

 

the coolest thing i really have to give credit to is that Adelman was saving Deke for the playoffs. i for one was pleasantly surprised to see him in the first round of substitutions.

looks like adelman has had plans all along.

 

some of you are right that we really don't need to worry about how the blazers will play. Thru out the 82 games we had, the number one concern and the only concern we have was fighting the fronting on Yao.

once a team successfully fronted Yao, it cuts off our offense and defense. Teams are trying to exhaust Yao by making him fight left and right. We haven't really see any success counter move by AD. This is going to be a big challenge for us.

Blazers are going to throw everything at Yao, switching defense from fronting, double team, and to single coverage. They will test how the rockets adjust the offense.

no doubt Aldridge and outlaw will see some PT together on Yao. scola can take the opportunity on this. I think the key matchup is our PF position vs the blazers. How would landry and scola take advantage of the opponent while they team up on Yao?