Do we let it ride and make them beat us? Do we change anything? I love attacking Harden with Wes. I don't think LA can have another game like this one. This was a masterpiece. We can't expect him to do this in every game. The bench HAS to play better. I don't know if we can expect much more out of Rolo. He never plays well against Dwight.
We need to watch out for penetration. If Beverly can't go and Lin starts we have to play a collapsing style of defense. Stick Batum on Harden, Wes can take Parsons easily. We also REALLY need our backup bigs to give quality minutes with good-great defense.
3 simple things will allow us to steal game 2. We need to make our fts when we get to the line, need to REBOUND better on the defensive side, and bench has to step up. We cant expect our two headed monster to get the 70 some points or whatever it was for us again. Bonus would be for Batum to be more assertive on offense and defense.
Predict what adjustments they will make and prepare counter-punches just in case. Otherwise go with the same strategy. They might consider putting Harden on Batum instead. Batum must be ready to play unlike tonight for much of the game.
I expect them to do the same things they did this game. And why not, they were successful. What's most important is that they bring the same exact fight to the next game they brought to this game. Stotts is way, WAY outcoaching McHale. I expect that to continue.
Need Batum to play his game from the get-go - once he did get his head into it tonight, he turned off Parsons.
Houston is going to do something to stop LA. Maybe double him. Maybe start Asik. Maybe put Dwight on him. There's not much they can do about Dame though.
If Batum gets Harden guarding him I guarantee he wont get Nash'd again. He will blow by that bearded bitch.
If we stick Batum on Harden and vice versa... Batum better make him work! Bench needs to step up (Namely Mo.) Lillard just needs to keep doing what he's doing. I think he could put up 30 every night.
If Bev is out they have no one to defend Dame. Throw it into LA and kick it out. Dame gets free lanes all game.
You have to stop Parsons. http://espn.go.com/nba/photos?gameId=400553097&photoId=3787592#photo_3787591
I hope so. If I'm Houston, I would consider making Batum prove it. Batum looked scared tonight for most of the game.
I picked the best one of ESPN's 188 pictures of this game, and chose this thread as my vehicle to post it. We talk about Aldridge's fadeaway stepback. But look at Parsons' 45 degree angle.
