Blazers vs. Rockets, Game 3 — the adjustments
I would expect both teams would change a few things for the first game at Houston. In no particular order, here are the possibilities:
– I think everyone expects Houston to clamp down on Brandon Roy in some way – it must get the ball out of his hands a little more often. The Rockets do not like to double team but I believe we’ll see some of that tonight on Roy. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Roy doubled on every Blazer pick and roll. To counter this, Roy could actually pass the ball to the player who has set the pick and rolled off. I’ve been saying this for months now, but it would be a much more effective play if he looked for the guy rolling off once or twice a game.
– The Blazers seriously need to find another scorer tonight. Rudy Fernandez or Travis Outlaw are obviously the leading candidates but Greg Oden is a possibility, too. It is nothing new for the Trail Blazers to see Roy double-teamed, but when this happens, other players have to respond by hitting open shots. Obviously, when there are double-teams, there ARE open shots.
– With Yao Ming now the only Houston center, Portland can attack the basket with much more reckless abandon — even when Yao is on the floor. I would guess Yao will be taking extra care to avoid foul trouble now that Dikembe Mutombo is out. And certainly when Yao is on the bench, Portland ought to be relentlessly attacking the basket.
– People expect Oden to dominate during his stretches when Yao is on the bench and I think he will — but it may not show in the rebounding stats. Teams are increasingly using two people to keep him off the boards. People like Outlaw, Roy and Nic Batum are going to have to be more alert on the boards because they may not be blocked out very well.
– Oden needs to slow down. The playoffs have him all geeked up and if he’d just take a little more time, he’d be fine. These will be critical games for him because he’s going to be expected to accomplish some things. If he calms down on offense, there are 20 points out there for him tonight. And on defense, I’d love to see him trail Aaron Brooks along the baseline, rather than try to cut him off and take stupid fouls. He still seems to just give up on certain defensive plays — but rather than just allow the basket, he hammers somebody. That’s not a great option when you’re needed on the floor for about 24 minutes.
– Portland will continue to double-team Yao whenever possible. Any single coverage is like giving him points. Just make him work for what he gets and force the Rockets to find other scorers.
– The Blazers just have to get better on their rotations and cut off the easy baskets for the Rockets. That last win at home was deceptive because of all the easy baskets Houston players missed. Luis Scola had at least three layups that looked to be dead into the basket, only to somehow pop out. That won’t happen again.
– Portland simply cannot allow Houston to continue to shoot in the 50 percent range from the field. That’s ridiculous. Now you can say that the Rockets have just been on fire and are due to stop hitting those shots. I guess that’s true, but they’re getting so many good inside looks and wide-open shots from distance, I’m not sure it’s realistic to expect them to miss many of them.
– Adios, Sergio. I figure this is his last chance to get that little three-minute look in the second quarter. If he doesn’t play well in that little bite of time, he’s probably done with meaningful playing time for the series. It’s too bad.
– I believe if Portland can stay in the game through three quarters, they’ll own the game. How long can Aaron Brooks keep hitting those monster, fourth-quarter three-pointers?
– The Rockets will actually try to run when they’re at home. Portland knows that and allowing them easy fastbreak baskets is a sin.
– Do not forget that Houston has lost six straight first-round series. Their fans certainly haven’t forgotten. If the Rockets fall behind in the first half of this game, the natives will get very restless and doubt will begin to creep into everyone’s mind.
NBA, Trail Blazers | Dwight Jaynes | April 24, 2009
Brandon Roy, Dwight Jaynes, Greg Oden, Houston Rockets, NBA playoffs, Portland Trail Blazers, Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Rodriguez, Yao Ming
It’s pretty funny, I was out on business in Houston last week, for Game 2.
Yes, I wore my Brandon Roy jersey to Champs’ and took a load of crap, from probably over 50+ Houston fans. I was the loner clapping on the team and watched them win. (What a great feeling).
That said, the following afternoon, I got to listen to their local sports people on the radio. They went back and discussed Game 1 versus Game 2. To put it lightly, they ripped apart Nate McMillian. Yes, they called him overrated and ignorant.
They said, the Blazer players did a great job of following the game plan in game 1, but it was a very poor game plan. If Nate had stuck to his normal game plans or adjusted for Houston (not diverting from fronting), Game 1 would have been largely different.
That said, why are we now talking about Sergio maybe playing zero minutes a game? Was Sergio not playing the best ball of his Blazer career over the past 12 games? Why was he demoted to 3 minutes for this series? Do we expect a player to get a feeling for a game with 3 minutes in and out? We are now not going to play him at all, while he was responsible for many of the game swings (in a positive direction)??
Why is he jacking with a lineup that has been working in the post-season?
My last frustration is where is the local media on Steve Blake? Are they too busy in a bedroom with him to post some negative comments? Prior to the post season, Blake had about 5 back to back bad games.
-He is becoming a shoot first player.
-He is not setting up other players.
-Player rotation is not occurring with him in the game.
-Missing out on fast break opportunities
-Missing getting the pass to the open man (this happens a lot).
-Average 30+ minutes a game and averaging only 5 assists!!!!
-Has more made shots and double the shot attempts than he does assists.
-Getting BLOWN BY on defense. It looks like he doesn’t really try, once the man passes him.
-He follows a man once he blows by him (which leaves outside shooting open).
-People praised him over Game 2.. .For what? Letting his man score, playing 38 minutes, having 12 points and 6 assists? I COULD PROVIDE BETTER CONTRIBUTION than that.
My point is, Blake is an excellent shooter. He would be a great 2 guard with extra height. He is not a true point guard. Lacks vision, lacks creativity, lacks getting the team moving. Sergio on the other hand is just as crappy on defense as Blake. (Argue with me all you want, but I have stats). Sergio has the court vision, gets the team moving, etc…. He just has a crappy shot.
Between you and I – I want a player with great court vision and getting players moving as opposed to a shooter… Blake is quickly turning into Stoudamire v2.
Why can’t the Blazers stop Brooks? He’s not *that* good.
“To counter this, Roy could actually pass the ball to the player who has set the pick and rolled off. I’ve been saying this for months now, but it would be a much more effective play if he looked for the guy rolling off once or twice a game.”
Well, too often the player setting the high pick is Greg or Joel, and if Brandon passes the ball to them 20 feet away from the basket, they’re just going to hand it back to him, anyway.
Now, if they were to use Aldridge to set the pick, I could see your point. Since LMA is a master of the pick-and-pop (Karl Malone, Bill Laimbeer, etc)
Adios Sergio, indeed. These could be the last games we see Rodriguez in a Blazer uniform. He’s not a McMillian-system point guard, and especially not in the playoffs.
Outlaw has got to show more in the post season if he’s going to stick around, as well. Batum is coming fast, and next year there will be a minutes squeeze at SF when Webster returns. The Blazers will need a replacement for Frye who can backup Aldridge, and this newcomer could potentially cut into Travis’ minutes at backup 4. If #25 wants to “stay around” for the championship run with Brandon, he’ll has to show me something this weekend.
You don’t pass to the screener immediately; you come off the screen hard, cutting towards the basket, and deliver the pass once the screener’s defender helps out on you. Roy needs to look for his screeners on those drives to at least keep their defenders somewhat at home, but even moreso now that houston’s next largest player (after Yao of course) is Luis Scola (6’9″) who can’t protect the rim.
I hope this is the night the country sees the Blazers go off. Game 1 they were clamped down, Game 2 they fought through it, and tonight I’m hoping they go nuts. Travis has got to go crazy in a good way.
This is only about X’s and O’s now as it pertains to getting hot. It’s not about playing the zone – it’s about getting into the zone.
Now, it’s wrong to look ahead, but I did note that the Jazz won last night so the Lakers aren’t going to be sitting around resting and waiting for the winner of the Blazers/Rockets – whomever that is. (Cough) – (Blazers) – (Cough)
I think Houston will try to make Batum beat them. They will trap Roy hard and I believe that Batum will be the guy left with open jump shots. I hope he’s up for the challenge. If guys like Batum, Outlaw and Rudy can make the Rockets pay for doubling/trapping Roy, the Blazers will win tonight IMO. If Roy goes for 20pts and 8-10 assists and the blazers can contain Yao again, it will be a great night. Also, I think this is the best chance for Oden to make a huge impact. I really think he will. If he ends the game with only 3 fouls, we win. Go Blazers!!
Are people still fawning over Oden ? He did nothing except for foul out in Gm 2.
For Gm 3 the Espanol’ connection needs to step up and Outlaw needs to quit making poor decisions.
Roy hits the picker when it’s someone who will actually use the pass. When LMA (or Frye) sets the pick for Roy, Roy consistently hits him for the open 17-footer.
Dwight, nice call about the Rockets losing depth at the center. Still, I doubt the Blazers will attach Yao more. Portland wasn’t worried about Deke. I actually believe Deke’s injury will allow the Rockets an advantage. Remember, they’ve played without Mutombo for the majority of the season.
Jack Bog: Because Steve Blake is a below-average defender, and Aaron Brooks has elite speed.
Did anybody read Von Wafer’s comments on the Blazers’ defense in the Houston Chronicle today?
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6389735.html.
Blazers’ defense suspect
Rockets guard Von Wafer had 21 points to help drive the Rockets’ offense in Game 2, but he said his scoring was not much of an accomplishment because the Trail Blazers were not very good defensively.
“They have a lot of offensive firepower, but on the perimeter, I don’t think they have any guys that defend well or any experienced defenders,” said Wafer, who played for Portland briefly last season. “They have (Brandon) Roy who can score. You got (Travis) Outlaw who can score. You got (Rudy) Fernandez who can score. … They’re great offensive players so we have to make them pay on the other end.”
Why not make Aaron Brooks pay on the defensive end???! Maybe a post up.
Lamarcus – stop “pick and popping” so much and put some “roll” in your game. Most the time you have a wide open lane to the hoop when you set the screen for Roy.
Roy – look to pass to a roller.
I think the Blazers ought to be fouling Brooks hard all night. Let Bayless whack him three or four times. Keep him out of the paint. And his “elite speed” shouldn’t be that effective when he’s on a team of plodders.