Atlanta Matchups

[Reep]

Who is going to blink first?

Blake :: Bibby
Miller :: Johnson?
Roy :: Williams?

Someone is going to have to adjust. Either:

1) Miller gets torched by Johnson, we have to move Brandon over, and Webster in to guard Williams; or

2) Williams is a non-factor who cannot keep with Roy; Miller goes around Williams or Johnson and tire them out; and Atlanta has to go small with Crawford

Any guesses as to who blinks first?

 

[MIXUM]

i cant wait for us to get dominated cause we have no sf...

then our cake baking gm can wake up

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Who is going to blink first?

Blake :: Bibby
Miller :: Johnson?
Roy :: Williams?

Someone is going to have to adjust. Either:

1) Miller gets torched by Johnson, we have to move Brandon over, and Webster in to guard Williams; or

2) Williams is a non-factor who cannot keep with Roy; Miller goes around Williams or Johnson and tire them out; and Atlanta has to go small with Crawford

Any guesses as to who blinks first?

Nate has historically been terrible at taking advantage of our mismatches and forcing the opposition to adjust. We've seen it a little more this season, but I'm still not a believer. My guess is we fall behind early, and Webster is in within 7 minutes.

 

[magnifier661]

This game will be won with our defense holding Atlanta under 90 points. I think this will be a statement game for the Blazers. They will rise to the challenge. And if anyone wants to post this on their signature, then do it and eat some crow after the game.

 

[Reep]

I like cake.

I don't see us getting beaten too bad by Williams (who I don't think much of) at SF. I'm more worried about who guards Johnson. If Roy does, then is Miller (6'2") on Williams (6'8")? It could end up giving Atlanta fits for the opposite reason. Who in the world is Williams going to guard? Roy? Miller? I don't think so.

Hopefully we can do a better job on Crawford this time around. (Bayless?)

 

[Eastoff]

yeah, williams is 6'9" and joe johnson is 6'7". I can't forsee us sticking with the 3 guard rotation unless we try to out run them or something? Isn't Joe Johnson quite a bit like Roy as far as their game and their role on the team?

 

[Eastoff]

I like turtles.

fixed

 

[Rodolfo]

I like cake.

[video=youtube;JR5aQAngT50]

 

[Further]

I know Atlanta has been winning and playing well, but I am still not convinced that they are for real. I know they are a good team, but I doubt they are an elite team, Just a good team out to a great start. People may say the same about the Blazers, but I think the Blazers for all their victories are actually playing substantially worse (on O especially) than they are capable of. Over the course of the season, look for Atlanta to slowly come back to earth and the Blazers to keep winning at an elite team pace. I do believe that Blazers will win this game, but the lack of a SF will hurt. If I were an odd's maker, I would go Blazers by 2.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

If I were an odd's maker, I would go Blazers by 2.

And I would take the Hawks and the points.

 

[ABM]

This game will be won with our defense holding Atlanta under 90 points. I think this will be a statement game for the Blazers. They will rise to the challenge. And if anyone wants to post this on their signature, then do it and eat some crow after the game.

+1

BTW, have I told you how much I enjoy your participation on this board? WELCOME, and thanks for your contributions!

 

[magnifier661]

+1

BTW, have I told you how much I enjoy your participation on this board? WELCOME, and thanks for your contributions!

Thanks my man. I am a homer, no doubt about it. Thanks for the welcome.

 

[Reep]

Thanks my man. I am a homer, no doubt about it. Thanks for the welcome.

I prefer the term "enlightened" rather than "homer".

 

[hasoos]

As per normal, I worry about any of the matchups where "Blanky" is involved.

Johnson will torch any of our smaller guards in the post. The question is, will whoever Johnson guards make him work?

Right now if I was Atlanta, I would put Bibby on Miller, because Bibby tends to sag off whoever he defends and not get back to defend 3 point shooters. Since he doesn't have to worry about that with Miller, it makes a match made in heaven for Bibby.

The only shot blocker Atlanta has is Smith. The Blazers should attack the paint with abandon.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

i cant wait for us to get dominated

surprising.

 

[Nikolokolus]

i cant wait for us to get dominated cause we have no sf...

then our cake baking gm can wake up

Personally, I can definitely wait. Unfortunately I think you might be right, the team's man defense looks pretty flammable against the likes of Johnson, Bibby, and Crawford. Even with Oden and Przybilla acting as erasers inside they're both likely to end up in foul trouble and are going to have their hands full with Horford and Smith.

Meh.

 

[Nikolokolus]

As per normal, I worry about any of the matchups where "Blanky" is involved.

Johnson will torch any of our smaller guards in the post. The question is, will whoever Johnson guards make him work?

Right now if I was Atlanta, I would put Bibby on Miller, because Bibby tends to sag off whoever he defends and not get back to defend 3 point shooters. Since he doesn't have to worry about that with Miller, it makes a match made in heaven for Bibby.

The only shot blocker Atlanta has is Smith. The Blazers should attack the paint with abandon.

Oh my God! You've just come up with the best nickname for Steve. That literally encompasses his entire value to the roster, he's Roy and Nate's "Blanky" -- perfect.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I know Atlanta has been winning and playing well, but I am still not convinced that they are for real. I know they are a good team, but I doubt they are an elite team, Just a good team out to a great start. People may say the same about the Blazers, but I think the Blazers for all their victories are actually playing substantially worse (on O especially) than they are capable of. Over the course of the season, look for Atlanta to slowly come back to earth and the Blazers to keep winning at an elite team pace. I do believe that Blazers will win this game, but the lack of a SF will hurt. If I were an odd's maker, I would go Blazers by 2.

They are long, athletic and Smith is finally playing up to his potential, eschewing his former tendency to launch long jumpers. The knock on Atlanta has been that they aren't a smart team, now they're looking both smarter and just as athletic -- scary combo if they are finally putting it all together.

Time will tell of course.

 

[hasoos]

i cant wait for us to get dominated cause we have no sf...

then our cake baking gm can wake up

One problem, we won't get dominated in Atlanta. If the Blazers lose, I expect it to be close. Atlanta doesn't have a SF that can dominate anybody, let alone the Blazers.

 

[Rodolfo]

Personally, I can definitely wait. Unfortunately I think you might be right, the team's man defense looks pretty flammable against the likes of Johnson, Bibby, and Crawford. Even with Oden and Przybilla acting as erasers inside they're both likely to end up in foul trouble and are going to have their hands full with Horford and Smith.

Meh.

Agree on the foul trouble point. Greg only played 15 minutes in the last game they played because of foul trouble. Let's hope he learned a thing or two from the first game.

 

[oldmangrouch]

The Miller/Johnson match-up is going to be trouble. Johnson can just shoot over Miller on offense, and smother him on defense with his superior size and athleticism.

Roy doesn't have the size to guard Williams, but I doubt the Hawks will take advantage. Conversely, if Roy actually shoots well, Williams can't stop him.

Crawford off the bench will be the other killer. Granted, the Blazers were flat for the first game, and played the 4th quarter like their feet were in concrete....but even under the best of circumstances, if Crawford gets hot, who do they have to defend him?

 

[B-Roy]

I'm worried the three guard lineup is going to fall flat against the Hawks.

 

[hasoos]

I wouldnt' be suprised here for the Blazers to try moving a guard to a SF types, because IMO Marvin Williams is not a very agressive offensive player and you might be able to get away with it. Let's put it this way. He doesn't use his size well most of the time, but he might just go for it if he has Miller or Blake on him.

 

[andalusian]

Roy doesn't have the size to guard Williams, but I doubt the Hawks will take advantage. Conversely, if Roy actually shoots well, Williams can't stop him.

The only issue for Roy is the spacing and the ability to get into the paint. He is faster than both Joe Johnson and Williams and can get by them at will from the dribble. The problem he had in the last game was that they did a fantastic job of crowding the paint and making him pass - which because our spacing was so bad - lead to turn-overs.

Forget about shooting. If Marvin is the one guarding him, he should attack the rim from the dribble hard, all night long, and try to pass to Oden/LMA based on whoever is going to leave them open to double Roy.

If he does that, we are golden. If Blake/Web hit the long-ball, we will, again, be golden.

Crawford off the bench will be the other killer. Granted, the Blazers were flat for the first game, and played the 4th quarter like their feet were in concrete....but even under the best of circumstances, if Crawford gets hot, who do they have to defend him?

Crawford killed us by getting into the paint. If Greg gets more than 15 minutes this game - I am not too worried about Crawford. Sure, sometimes he can shoot the long-ball like a mad-man - but that' not something that happens that often. He killed us in the paint last time. Keep Oden in the game - and a lot of these easy buckets will be contested ones.

 

[magnifier661]

Crawford killed us by getting into the paint. If Greg gets more than 15 minutes this game - I am not too worried about Crawford. Sure, sometimes he can shoot the long-ball like a mad-man - but that' not something that happens that often. He killed us in the paint last time. Keep Oden in the game - and a lot of these easy buckets will be contested ones.

Yep, I think also we didn't prepare for a Crawford either before last game. He wasn't such an "x-factor" for them. I believe we will make damn sure he doesn't scorch us again with that dribble penetration.

I think the main key is to have points in the paint. We had success last game briefly when all we were doing is force feeding the low post and taking everything in the paint. The minute we fell in love with the Outside Shot and forgot what was owning the Hawks.

 

[B-Roy]

Crawford killed us by getting into the paint. If Greg gets more than 15 minutes this game - I am not too worried about Crawford. Sure, sometimes he can shoot the long-ball like a mad-man - but that' not something that happens that often. He killed us in the paint last time. Keep Oden in the game - and a lot of these easy buckets will be contested ones.

Doesn't Crawford getting in the paint most likely = Oden in foul trouble?

 

[hasoos]

Yep, I think also we didn't prepare for a Crawford either before last game. He wasn't such an "x-factor" for them. I believe we will make damn sure he doesn't scorch us again with that dribble penetration.

I think the main key is to have points in the paint. We had success last game briefly when all we were doing is force feeding the low post and taking everything in the paint. The minute we fell in love with the Outside Shot and forgot what was owning the Hawks.

He was flat out killing Rudy. He had Rudy so off of his game, that Rudy was making some real bonehead plays trying to make up for what he was losing at the defensive end. Hopefully that turns out better tonight.

 

[magnifier661]

He was flat out killing Rudy. He had Rudy so off of his game, that Rudy was making some real bonehead plays trying to make up for what he was losing at the defensive end. Hopefully that turns out better tonight.

Well hopefully Rudy will come in at PG and SF, while Bayless will be on Crawford defensively.

 

[andalusian]

Doesn't Crawford getting in the paint most likely = Oden in foul trouble?

Q1 8:57 Oden fouls Josh Smith
Q1 6:52 Oden fouls Horford,
Q2 7:24 Oden Fouls Crawford
Q3 1:05 Oden fouls Josh Smith
Q4 4:24 Loose ball foul on Josh Smith

In the last game it was not Crawford that gave him trouble. It was Josh Smith. If he plays Smith/Horford clean - we are going to be OK, even if he gets an extra foul or two on Crawford.

Crawford killed us mostly in the paint when we did not have a center in the game.

 

[B-Roy]

Well, the three guard lineup got exploited pretty badly. We had to go zone because we couldn't keep up man to man.