Tonight, the slowest-paced team in the NBA (the Trail Blazers) meets the fastest-paced team in the league (the Knicks). I think that always makes for an interesting game because you’re never quite sure whose pace will take over the game.

Will the Blazers be able to resist temptation and play at their own pace? Or will they be enticed into the Knicks’ helter-skelter attack? Or can Portland beat New York at its own game?

What you have to do to New York is make sure your advantages in depth, size and skill are exploited to the hilt. That means take time on offense to get the ball to your big people and take the ball to the basket. Crash the boards hard all night — the Knicks aren’t very big. Take the easy fast-break baskets they’re going to give you, but resist the temptation to force it.

It will be interesting to see how much Greg Oden plays. The Knicks will try to force him out of the game with a small lineup, pull him away from the basket. If that happens, I’d go to a zone and keep Oden on the floor. I am very impatient with big teams that allow small teams to dictate personnel. I believe you have to make the little guys match up at the other end — pound them inside with your size.

This is one of those games for Portland that needs to be a win. The Boston and Toronto games will be difficult, so you want to take care of business in New York and Washington to ensure an over-.500 trip.

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One Response to “I love these kinds of matchups”

1. Jason Grigsby says:

   December 2, 2008 at 1:02 pm

   I agree with your sentiment about small teams dictating personnel and have recently been wondering about the cause for this.

   Lamarcus Aldridge’s problems in the Golden State game got me thinking about it. In particular, his match up with Maggette made me think about the times when I’m matched up against a smaller player that I should have an advantage on, but am flummoxed by.

   If game after game you are playing against players of a certain size–players who are fighting with you for position and leaning on you–it can be difficult to adjust to a smaller player who doesn’t play the same way on defense.

   It’s like playing against someone who pulls the chair out from under you constantly.

   Give a talented big practice time or a playoff series where they can get accustomed to the way they are being played, and their height and size will win out.

   But a random NBA game with little prep time? I think there is a good chance that the big won’t have enough time to adjust and take advantage.

   So I wonder if teams are really making a mistake in going small to match up or if that is really the smart strategy when your bigs can’t adjust.