Blazers Are In A Zone...

[ABM]

...frame of mind.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/03/trail_blazers_brandon_roy_port.html

The scouting report is out on the Trail Blazers: Play a zone defense and wait to see if the Blazers can make an outside shot.

The past two games the Blazers were so pitiful shooting the ball, the Wizards and Suns never abandoned what is generally considered a gimmick defense, used only to throw a team off balance for a possession or two.

The Blazers shot 32.1 percent against Washington, the lowest field goal percentage in a victory in team history, followed by 36.4 percent shooting in a loss at Phoenix. In that game, the Blazers went 5 for 21 in the fourth quarter, when the Suns played a zone for the final seven minutes.

"The more teams see us struggle with it, the more they will use it," point guard Andre Miller said.

The two games stand as the Blazers' worst two-game shooting slump in coach Nate McMillan's five seasons in Portland, a combined field goal percentage of 34.3 percent. The previous low was 34.6 percent, set this February, when Boston and Utah stifled the Blazers in the Rose Garden.

For the season, Portland ranks 15th out of 30 NBA teams in field goal percentage, averaging 45.8 percent. Last season, the Blazers finished eighth at 46.5 percent.

So while McMillan and the Blazers spent much of Tuesday's practice at the Rose Garden working on their zone offense, everybody was quick to note that the Blazers' problems have less to do with play-calling or play-execution as much as simply making an open shot.

"People say the zone affected us, but guys didn't knock down shots like they normally do," center Marcus Camby said. "So yeah, Coach put in a few wrinkles and a few sets we can use against a zone, but if you don't make shots, it doesn't matter. It reflects on everything.".....

....But outside of that, the Blazers clanged shots all around the perimeter in Phoenix, several times in hurried fashion to beat the shot clock.

"This team, before I even got here, was a team that always had good shooters around the perimeter," Miller said. "And I think we have relied on the jump shot too much instead of attacking the rim."

Each time a player talked Tuesday about the team's recent struggles, he stopped himself, knowing that no scheme, no play and no defense can overshadow one important rule of basketball:

"Hey, you gotta make shots," McMillan said, smiling. "It comes down to that. We've had the shots, we just have to make them."

Here's another link, as well...

http://blog.oregonlive.com/blazers/2010/03/trail_blazers_back_at_practice_1.html





.

 

[HailBlazers]

No doubt about it, this team is ice cold right now. Nothing a little ball movement can't fix though, the lack of movement has been mind numbing the last few games

 

[ABM]

"So yeah, Coach put in a few wrinkles and a few sets we can use against a zone..."

I had heard utilizing some Center high-post sets.

 

[Haakzilla]

ball movement

...CRUCIAL!!!

 

[HailBlazers]

I love dre's crafty ability to get to the rim, but he needs to step it up in the assist department

 

[The Professional Fan]

Blake could beat a zone with his 3. I'm not here to pump him up, but it's true. He was capable of making teams pay for going zone.

 

[ucatchtrout]

Blake could beat a zone with his 3. I'm not here to pump him up, but it's true. He was capable of making teams pay for going zone.

Sometimes.

Sometimes yes.

Many times no.

 

[mgb]

I love dre's crafty ability to get to the rim, but he needs to step it up in the assist department

Players start hitting shots may just improve his assist total.

 

[The Professional Fan]

Sometimes.

Sometimes yes.

Many times no.

Well, he's hitting 45.7% of his 3's this season, so yeah - I guess you're right. Anything less than 50% would be less than "many times" right?

 

[Driew]

I love dre's crafty ability to get to the rim, but he needs to step it up in the assist department

He had 9 assists against the Suns...more than Nash.

 

[axs88]

Well, he's hitting 45.7% of his 3's this season, so yeah - I guess you're right. Anything less than 50% would be less than "many times" right?

on the Clippers... something like 37% on the Blazers and 39% on the season

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Another reason to push the ball whenever possible.

 

[HailBlazers]

He had 9 assists against the Suns...more than Nash.

I stand corrected, Dre was the lone star in that game

Now let's keep it up Dre! He claims he needs to lose 10 lbs because he never worked so hard!

 

[hasoos]

Relax. Were just taking lumps with the younger players. It was expected. Until some guys nut up and hit some shots, that's how it going to be.

 

[OddEnormous]

"Hey, you gotta make shots," McMillan said, smiling. "It comes down to that. We've had the shots, we just have to make them."

Someone needs to relay this important information to the New Jersey Nets.

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

Good lord I get tired of hearing McMuffin say "Just gotta make your shots".. uh , no Nate - its not that simple... Good coaches draw up plays and principles on offense that will free up your best players to get good looks.

One on One and hope to kick out is not always going to work.

I bet Jack Ramsey is rolling over in his grave right now.

 

[hasoos]

Good lord I get tired of hearing McMuffin say "Just gotta make your shots".. uh , no Nate - its not that simple... Good coaches draw up plays and principles on offense that will free up your best players to get good looks.

One on One and hope to kick out is not always going to work.

I bet Jack Ramsey is rolling over in his grave right now.

Good players will go to the rim when their outside shot is having problems. Right now when the outside shot isn't falling, nobody tries the obvious. Hell that is half the reason Lamarcus struggles for large sections of the game. He will spend half of the game trying to get an outside shot to go in, and then when he finally gets a shot to go in (inside or out) then he relaxes and starts hitting shots. Batum is the same way. Until he gets some buckets to go in, he plays tense. Run some plays to get them some easy ones. Then see how it goes.

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

Good players will go to the rim when their outside shot is having problems. Right now when the outside shot isn't falling, nobody tries the obvious. Hell that is half the reason Lamarcus struggles for large sections of the game. He will spend half of the game trying to get an outside shot to go in, and then when he finally gets a shot to go in (inside or out) then he relaxes and starts hitting shots. Batum is the same way. Until he gets some buckets to go in, he plays tense. Run some plays to get them some easy ones. Then see how it goes.

There is not one successful team in the history of Basketball that has ever had an offensive game plan that was only designed to get outside shots.

Its not logical - you cannot shoot as many jumpshots as the Blazers do and expect to beat elite defensive teams. It will never happen.

McMuffin needs to go.

 

[hasoos]

There is not one successful team in the history of Basketball that has ever had an offensive game plan that was only designed to get outside shots.

Its not logical - you cannot shoot as many jumpshots as the Blazers do and expect to beat elite defensive teams. It will never happen.

McMuffin needs to go.

You are preaching to the choir here man. The problem is, I hear McMillan often saying the right things, and I hear players repeating his mantra. I guess the question is, who isn't delivering?

The other question being, sometimes your coach can be saying the right things, but players tune them out. It doesn't mean Nate isn't doing the right thing. But it does mean he isn't getting it done.

My hypothesis at this time is, that Nate spent so many years yelling at the players and controlling things so tightly, that now players still are second guessing themselves even though his tone has changed. So it doesn't matter what he does, the players are conditioned for certain response.

 

[OddEnormous]

Good lord I get tired of hearing McMuffin say "Just gotta make your shots".. uh , no Nate - its not that simple... Good coaches draw up plays and principles on offense that will free up your best players to get good looks.

One on One and hope to kick out is not always going to work.

I bet Jack Ramsey is rolling over in his grave right now.

One of the TNT crew during the Suns game down the stretch said (paraphrasing): The Blazers look like they have no idea what they are doing right now. There doesn't seem to be any plan. They're basically just isolating Brandon Roy and seeing what he can do one on one.

I was like "DUDE! NATE'S ONLY BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS!!!!!! YOU EXPECT THEM TO KNOW HOW TO CLOSE OUT A GAME???? 5TH YOUNGEST TEAM!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!! HE'S ONE OF THE BEST YOUNG COACHES IN THE GAME GUY!!!!! OMG! INJURIES!!!! OMG GUY!!!!! HE'S NEVER HAD A GOOD TEAM!!!!!! OMG!!!! OMG!!!!!"

I mean I was SCREAMING guys.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I bet Jack Ramsey is rolling over in his grave right now.

I'll take that bet.

 

[Sedatedfork]

I'll take that bet.

Yeah, um Dr. Jack's still alive.

 

[jlprk]

The figure of speech is often used for people who have departed but are alive.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

The figure of speech is often used for people who have departed but are alive.

Generally by people who are subsequently mocked by others pointing out that said departed person is still alive.

 

[ABM]

One of the TNT crew during the Suns game down the stretch said (paraphrasing): The Blazers look like they have no idea what they are doing right now. There doesn't seem to be any plan. They're basically just isolating Brandon Roy and seeing what he can do one on one.

I was like "DUDE! NATE'S ONLY BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS!!!!!! YOU EXPECT THEM TO KNOW HOW TO CLOSE OUT A GAME???? 5TH YOUNGEST TEAM!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!! HE'S ONE OF THE BEST YOUNG COACHES IN THE GAME GUY!!!!! OMG! INJURIES!!!! OMG GUY!!!!! HE'S NEVER HAD A GOOD TEAM!!!!!! OMG!!!! OMG!!!!!"

I mean I was SCREAMING guys.

You can bet the Suns will be throwing out more zones against us. Perhaps, the Blazers will be moving a bit more - i.e. less iso's - without Roy in the lineup.

 

[HailBlazers]

I think your right. More ball movement will do this team good, especially against the zone

 

[OddEnormous]

You can bet the Suns will be throwing out more zones against us. Perhaps, the Blazers will be moving a bit more - i.e. less iso's - without Roy in the lineup.

Why should the playoffs be any different than the regular season?

Nate will be forced into making the correct choices thanks to injury and lack of options.

 

[HailBlazers]

Hate on Nate all you want Odd, but you can't discount the power of his leadership and how important it is to this team and the adversity they've pulled through

 

[maxiep]

Blake could beat a zone with his 3. I'm not here to pump him up, but it's true. He was capable of making teams pay for going zone.

Yep. And his best games were against the Suns.

 

[maxiep]

I think your right. More ball movement will do this team good, especially against the zone

There are two ways to beat a zone:

1. Be on fire from the outside

2. Crisp and quick passing to overload one area of the zone and open up a man for a shot.

For us, #1 is unlikely, so we'll have to do it with #2.