BigGameDamian
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http://www.csnnw.com/blazers/blazer...te-setting-illegal-screens-free-klay-thompson
SAN FRANCISCO – If it wasn’t tough enough defending Klay Thompson and the rest of the Golden State Warriors, the Trail Blazers found in Game 1 they have another hurdle to overcome.
“They set a lot of illegal screens,’’ Blazers guard CJ McCollum said Tuesday at the team’s shootaround at The Olympic Club. “They are moving and stuff. That’s the respect you get when you are champions, you get a lot more respect from the referees. You have to figure out a way to get around those screens and make it difficult.’’
McCollum was the primary defender against Thompson, who scored 37 points for the Warriors in their 118-106 Game 1 victory.
[WATCH: Stotts: Varejao play 'dirty', Henderson reaction 'appropriate']
After Game 1, Portland coach Terry Stotts said he would likely change his game plan, and one of the areas he would first evaluate was the team’s defense on Thompson.
Upon further review, Stotts said McCollum contested a “fair amount” of Thompson’s shots, making his 14-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-14 from three-point range, even more impressive.
“I thought Klay Thompson made some really difficult shots in the first quarter,’’ Stotts said. “I thought we worked hard.’’
McCollum said part of the battle in guarding Thompson is fighting through the repeated screens and pin downs set to free up Thompson. McCollum said he counted 16 pin downs in Game 1.
“Overall, I did a decent job,’’ McCollum said. “I felt like all his shots were contested -- they weren’t all well contested -- but he was guarded on all of his shots.
[WATCH: Just how do you stop the Warriors?]
“But I felt like he was too comfortable. He did whatever he wanted to do,’’ McCollum said. “I have to be there on the catch and make him do some different things.’’
The Blazers have made clear their Game 2 intentions in guarding Thompson: They want to deny his catch-and-shoot opportunities and force him to dribble before shooting.
“We need to pressure the passer to disrupt their rhythm,’’ Stotts said. “Any time we can disrupt that rhythm it will be to our advantage.’’
Notes: Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who is battling a chest cold, said Tuesday morning he is feeling “a little better” … Golden State center Anderson Varejao was assessed a Flagrant 1 penalty by the NBA after they reviewed his leg whip of Gerald Henderson with 3:29 left in the third quarter of Game 1.
SAN FRANCISCO – If it wasn’t tough enough defending Klay Thompson and the rest of the Golden State Warriors, the Trail Blazers found in Game 1 they have another hurdle to overcome.
“They set a lot of illegal screens,’’ Blazers guard CJ McCollum said Tuesday at the team’s shootaround at The Olympic Club. “They are moving and stuff. That’s the respect you get when you are champions, you get a lot more respect from the referees. You have to figure out a way to get around those screens and make it difficult.’’
McCollum was the primary defender against Thompson, who scored 37 points for the Warriors in their 118-106 Game 1 victory.
[WATCH: Stotts: Varejao play 'dirty', Henderson reaction 'appropriate']
After Game 1, Portland coach Terry Stotts said he would likely change his game plan, and one of the areas he would first evaluate was the team’s defense on Thompson.
Upon further review, Stotts said McCollum contested a “fair amount” of Thompson’s shots, making his 14-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-14 from three-point range, even more impressive.
“I thought Klay Thompson made some really difficult shots in the first quarter,’’ Stotts said. “I thought we worked hard.’’
McCollum said part of the battle in guarding Thompson is fighting through the repeated screens and pin downs set to free up Thompson. McCollum said he counted 16 pin downs in Game 1.
“Overall, I did a decent job,’’ McCollum said. “I felt like all his shots were contested -- they weren’t all well contested -- but he was guarded on all of his shots.
[WATCH: Just how do you stop the Warriors?]
“But I felt like he was too comfortable. He did whatever he wanted to do,’’ McCollum said. “I have to be there on the catch and make him do some different things.’’
The Blazers have made clear their Game 2 intentions in guarding Thompson: They want to deny his catch-and-shoot opportunities and force him to dribble before shooting.
“We need to pressure the passer to disrupt their rhythm,’’ Stotts said. “Any time we can disrupt that rhythm it will be to our advantage.’’
Notes: Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who is battling a chest cold, said Tuesday morning he is feeling “a little better” … Golden State center Anderson Varejao was assessed a Flagrant 1 penalty by the NBA after they reviewed his leg whip of Gerald Henderson with 3:29 left in the third quarter of Game 1.
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