Dallas carves up the Blazers
Well, this is what happens when a smart team goes after the Trail Blazers the right way. Portland’s pick-and-roll defense is no better than it was weeks ago and that’s allowing the opposition to get whatever matchups it wishes. But you’re tired of listening to me about this. . . so here’s Dave from Blazers Edge ranting about the same thing:
Most teams look for matchups to exploit, figuring that if your power forward can’t guard theirs they have an advantage. The Blazers have revolutionized that concept for the opponent. If you have a mismatch against any Portland player you can just run screens until you get them matched up against you. The Blazers’ point guard on your 7-foot power forward? No problem. A center against your point out on the perimeter? You got it! Call in the next 12 minutes (because you know we can’t do this all day) and we’ll throw in a case of ineffective double-teams, three or four instances of slow interior rotation on drivers, and a lifetime supply of not getting out to your shooters. Regular readers will know this is not a new phenomenon for the Blazers. But the Mavericks with their Dirk Nowitzkis and their Jason Kidds and Jason Terrys make it painfully obvious. How many times can you see Jerryd Bayless on Nowitzki before you throw your hands up in disgust?
Well said, Dave. I get a lot of comments from people who say, “You idiot, do you think you’re smarter than Nate McMillan?” No, I don’t. Not at all — at least in terms of basketball. But this is one area where I just don’t understand what his team is attempting to do on defense. Folks, this isn’t a player problem, it’s a system problem. They’re being coached to switch and then they never bother, even, to switch back.
I’ve watched the Blazers and Mavs play twice this season and I’m a firm believer that Portland has the better players. But the Mavericks have won twice because they’ve played better. Smarter.
Watch last night’s game and see the way Dallas, which doesn’t feature very good defenders, handles the pick and roll. Most of the game, the Blazers didn’t get much because the Mavs simply popped out on the screen, defended the ball, stayed with the man rolling off the screen . . . oh hell, you saw it. Of course, it makes a difference that the Blazers seemingly NEVER look for the man rolling away from the pick. Oden is rapidly losing interest in the whole process because it’s so futile for him.
Yes, I’m sick of writing about this. But get used to it. It doesn’t look to me as if rapid change is on the way. And allowing 55 percent shooting just isn’t going to get it done against real NBA teams.
NBA, Trail Blazers | Dwight Jaynes | February 5, 2009
Dallas Mavericks, Dwight Jaynes, pick and roll defense, Portland Trail Blazers
one can hope they don’t face dallas in the playoffs
Dwight I want your honest opinion on something. I think Jeff Van Gundy could put us over the top in a year or two. What do you think about Van Gundy as a future coach for the blazers? Also it is hard for me as a fan to watch Oden play in this system. He is a big man, he needs someone to get him the ball. I believe he will be considered a bust until Nate is gone because I don’t even think half the team knows how to throw a entry pass into the post! I”m dead serious, have you ever seen Outlaw try and do this? It’s painful to watch and everyone with any good basketball knowledge knows the blazers are going nowhere in the playoffs with nate as the coach. And Marc it doesn’t matter if the blazers face dallas in the playoffs or anyone else they are going to lose in first round because of how they play defense and how they settle for jumpers.
Last night was pretty painful to watch… all of Portland’s defensive shortcomings were on display and glaringly obvious.
We’ve had some stinging losses this season, but I don’t remember any of those being so directly caused by our porous defense. We shot well, we hit our foul shots (Rudy’s backbreaking miss at the end of the game notwithstanding), but we couldn’t get a stop.
I think our guys were getting a little too relaxed with the win streak, feeding on bad and injured teams. Let’s hope this lights a fire under them.
Are you saying that Dallas is more mature?!
How can that be? We’re only starting, starting mind you, two rookies, and having another couple come off the bench.
What is with people? We’re not even suppose to be in the playoff picture, really.
Nate was also chosen to the Olympic team because he does know how to teach defense.
Rookies, however, will be rookies. I think we should all pick up the luggage for awhile.’
Honestly, what is our entitlement here? Shouldn’t we just be surprised that they can defend at all?
Pathetic defense last night, especially in the first half.
They have a coach right now and he’s not going anywhere. To speculate on someone else is kind of pointless. I don’t disagree, though, with your thoughts on their inability to get the ball into the post. Even their guards have trouble with post-entry passes. If teams really want an inside game, they have to focus on it and work at it. Oden can be a weapon if they want him to be but two or three shots a game aren’t going to cut it. This is not a faucet that can be turned on in Game One of a playoff series. Oden needs to get touches and his teammates need to practice getting it to him.
– Dwight
By the way, it’s so lame to blame their defensive shortcomings on them being “young.” They have talent — tons of it. It’s why they’re winning games. Do you think, switching pick and rolls like this, they’re going to be better on defense three years from now? No way. Not in the NBA. Maybe in high school you can do that, but not in the NBA. It’s a system problem, not a player problem. That’s not to say they have a bunch of great defensive players, but in this league, who does? Nobody. That’s why you need a system, a coordinated plan of how your team is going to defend, in order to succeed. I don’t see that here.
– Dwight
It sure seems to leave Greg vulnerable and exposed to picking up quick fouls when he has to quickly defend smaller (and quicker) guards racing around the pick and him. Amazing how many times it happens, leaving him in foul trouble (thus less effective) the rest of the game. Can it be this is a learning protocol? And that coach is willing to accept its ambiguity in exchange for long-term gains. Greg (and a couple of others on the court) still have some ramping up to do. Only coach could tell you the benefit of the strategy.
Dwight, I totally agree, and have posted many times over at Blazersedge about it. This team will make the playoffs, but they will be an easy team to beat because of their defense, unless something drastic happens.
As for the post entry pass problems, I can’t see why it is so hard for the guards to make the pass. Maybe a trade for Steve Nash or Jason Kidd is in order, we both know they could hit Oden as he rolls to the rim, and both are on teams that might be willing to move them.
Ohh that game left me feeling sick like I ate a spoiled
chicken salad sandwich..
Ick,it looked so much like the previous game also.
That game was embarrassing for the Blazers,and definitely NOT a play off team look to it.
I just don’t get it. I don’t mind if they play well and get beat
as long as it’s not a heart breaker by one point.
But that looked like a bush league team..
The only bright spot and it was a beautiful bright spot was Jerryd Bayless.
Dwight,
I read in an article (I think by Quick) a little while ago that said Portland’s system is NOT to switch on the pick and roll but to fight through it. Now Im completely confused because they switch 90% of the time. Now I dont know what to think. Either Nate’s system doesnt make sense at all OR he has the right system and the guys arent following it at all.
Neither of these options makes sense, whats your thought? Is Nate telling the guys to switch?
How do we let Brandon Bass torch us twice in a row? 19 points on 9-11 shooting for a guy who is averaging only 8 per game. The Mavs saw how he and J.J. Berea killed us on the pick and roll in the last few minutes of the previous game, and decided to run it again. Terrible.
When will people understand that Oden is not, and most likely will not be the focus of the offense for TBI. Now that the season is over the halfcourt line, do you really think the coaching staff is going to revamp the offense now ??? Pull your heads out of the sand.
We played like shit again and still almost won..That has to be encouraging for the youngest team in the league.
Dwight,
I think our lack of defense and confusion stems from youth (you obviously hate this argument). I can’t imagine Nate’s philosophy on pick and rolls is to switch.
Could it be that the Blazer guards are just shit poor at fighting through screens and our bigs are terrible at hedging….RIGHT NOW. You don’t think that, in time, the Blazers will get better at this? Is it possible that Nate has a defensive system and the players just aren’t executing it right now?
I enjoy your stuff….thanks!
You are right Dwight. Defense was sad. Really the only time the Blazers were somewhat effective on defense was when they switched to a zone. I’ve actually noticed this lately…that the team plays better defense in a zone. The problem is, the zone really is meant for a change of look on defense, not the standard…and it leaves the Blazers vulnerable to offensive rebounds by the opponent. However, I’m wondering if Nate should just employ a zone the whole game and let the chips fall where they may, until he can figure out how to get these guys to defend effectively in a man defense.
I for one am getting tried about they are only rookies, and can’t play defense excuse. Don’t get me wrong, I think the team is well on its way, but last night is another example why all this western conference champs talk is so premature, its laughable.
Tough team defense is as much a mind set as anything else, and as much as the team preaches defense, and playing scrappy, they just don’t on the defensive side of the ball.
I still say Oden is the answer, but I don’t feel Portland knows how to utilize him. But what do I know, I was barely good enough to play varsity ball.
I thought Bayless did a very good job guarding Dirk (I’m laughing as I write this, but Dirk did have a terrible game). But yes, I agree with you 100%, and I thought the team was getting overhyped after they beat the Paul-less Hornets.
Right now they look like an eight seed to me, which is fine considering how young they are. If you look at all of the the great defensive teams over the past 20-30 years, one thing you find in common is that they are loaded with veterans who have figured out how to play savvy team defense. Portland is not there yet.
The Blazer’s current pick and roll defense is that annoying little check engine light on the dash. They need to pop the hood open and see what the problem is and fix it before they blow the whole transmission.
I’ve said it before, so I’ll take a page from Dwight and keep saying it. Roy stirs the drink for this team, he sets the tone on defence as well as offence. Just like you can’t rush Roy on offence, you can’t Roy on defence either it seems. I like Roy, but he’s driving me nuts at times.
“this isn’t a player problem, it’s a system problem. They’re being coached to switch and then they never bother, even, to switch back”
We disagree here. Nate has stated several times that our system is to fight over the picks. We dont have the players to do that. Our system is fine, our players are not.
Graham brings up an interesting point that I’ve been talking about most of the season. I believe BRoy paces himself too much. Now before you stone me to death, hear me out, he sets the tone for the team and I think his lack of urgency, which is part of his style, hurts us on the defensive end. The team takes it’s cues from Roy and if his motor is running at 70%, their motor is running at 70%.
Mike,
You should justify your comment “everyone with any good basketball knowledge knows the blazers are going nowhere in the playoffs with nate as the coach”. Really? Everyone?
Is the Jeff Van Gundy you pine for to run the Blazers the same JVG that coached the Rockets to 3 playoff appearances in 4 years, AND LOST ALL 3 OF THESE SERIES IN THE FIRST ROUND? I sure hope not, because anyone with any basketball knowledge would not dare suggest replacing Nate, who has the youngest team in the league (2nd youngest if you include LaFrenz) on the cusp of making the playoffs for the first time in 5 years, with a coach whose most recent coaching stint resulted in 3 first-round exits from the playoffs.
Sure, the Blazers have issues with the pick & roll. Got it. We all get it. But how can you make a statement like that when Nate hasn’t even been tested with this team in the playoffs?
Dwight, how can you dismiss the youth of this team so easily? Did Nate coach the Olympic to switch on the pick? I don’t think so. For you to suggest that this is not a player problem and that Nate has implemented a new system is ludicrous. It is a player problem. The players are young, inexperienced, and they are taking the “easy” road by switching. I highly doubt that the coaching staff of the Blazers don’t see what we all can see. Oh wait, maybe if they got someone with some real basketball IQ to teach them. Mike, are you available?
Mr. Harris — he also said, “We don’t switch very often” … we charted the next game and they switched 80 percent of the time…
– Dwight
I’ve been saying it for over a year now. Nate McMillan is a joke of a head coach. He might be assistant coach quality like he was for the olympic team, but he wasn’t the head coach there and I don’t think he’s a good head coach here.
I mean seriously, he says our scheme is not to switch pick and rolls, but in the next breath he says that when we switch them its so people can learn. He actually said he wants them to switch so Greg can get used to moving his feet. WTF?? You want him to guard PGs so he can learn to move his feet? That’s retarded. He’s 7 feet tall and obviously way slower than probably every PG in the league.
Nate McMillan is not a head coach. His defensive schemes don’t work, his substitutions are a joke, I mean seriously why would you go to a lineup just to mimic the team that’s kicking your ass? He’s ignorant as a head coach, the only defense we have that works is our zone. And what do you know, that’s not taught by Nate. It’s taught by coach Dean Demopolous.
I’m sick of people saying Nate’s not the problem it’s our youth. THAT’S BULLSHIT!!! Youth has nothing to do with playing defense. It comes down to scheme effort and hustle, that’s it. Nate McMillan has never won anything in his career, playing or coaching. Everyone needs to hold off on the “Nate’s gonna be our coach forever” and “he’s gonna bring us a championship.” He’s not get over it. He’s a loser and will continue to be a loser.
Can we please get a coach with some defensive knowledge that can actually coach?
Did we really expect to beat Mavs?? Blazers did close gap. Hopeful sign.
So now, on to the OKies Friday. or Sooners or Sonics or?? those are games we need to win.
Blazerdawg, enough with the moronic observations. You say youth has nothing to do with players making mistakes, playing weak defense? LOL, one of the dumbest remarks ever. A veteran’s eyes light up when they get a rookie or young buck on them. Do you ever see a rookie or young player on the all defensive teams? When defensive player of the year? Do you ever see a rookie put in as the lock down defensive stopper? NO, well unless you are talking about the rare player like.. lets say, a Nate McMillan. Young players get lit up like a barbecue, because their infants, learning, gaining experience, gaining respect. Oden is the prime example. At this time, his defense is nothing to brag about. In 2-3 years, he should be a monster. But he has to gain the experience and grow first. totally shaking me head
Joe, I agree with you. Blazer_Dawg, take a chill pill.
I wish people like Blazer_Dawg and Mike who make these statements about McMillan would at least back them up with some hard evidence.
McMillan sucks! OK? Why does he suck? Don’t just say because the team is playing poor defense. Or his rotations are bad. Those are opinions that can be argued.
The Blazers are 12 games above .500. They opened the season with the toughest schedule in 20 years. They start 2 rookies and bring 2 off the bench with significant minutes (Bayless’ minutes only recently). They are the 2nd youngest team in the league. The team has increased their wins by 10+ each seson Nate has been the coach, and are on track for that again this year.
Do you credit that to the coach? Obviously not, since you want Nate fired. Yet you blame him for all of the teams shortcomings. So make a real argument the next time you rant about Nate.