Blazers defensive woes

[PtldPlatypus]

So, last night, we allowed 102 points on 79 shots, allowing 52% shooting from the field.
The night before, we gave up 103 points on 76 shots with 58% shooting from the field.
Against Atlanta, 90 points on 69 shots, allowing just 42% from the field, but giving up 27 free throws.

Add it up, that's 295 points allowed on 224 shots, or 1.317 points per shot over the past 3 games. The worst ratio in the league right now is 1.29 (Toronto). We were already in the bottom-third in the league in PPS, and since "the trade" we actually seem to be getting worse.

So my question is--Why? Matthews, Batum, Wallace, Aldridge, and Camby are all considered above-average defensive players; why is our overall defensive performance consistently below-average? Is the scheme poor, are the players' defensive abilities overrated, are they tired/overworked, do they just need more time to "gel", are the past few games just an anomaly...? And what should we expect to see defensively over the remainder of the season?

 

[Mediocre Man]

I have said for years it's scheme. Our defensive scheme is ridiculous, but everyone bashes me for daring to say something bad about Nate, so I'll go with Wallace, Camby, Matthews, Batum and Aldridge are shitty defenders, as the reason

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I have said for years it's scheme. Our defensive scheme is ridiculous, but everyone bashes me for daring to say something bad about Nate, so...

So, ignoring the sarcastic portion of your post...

I don't know enough about defensive scheming to know anything about what's wrong with our defense, aside from the infernal switch-on-every-pick strategy that has been employed for years. So, if it's scheme, what is the problem, or what should be done differently on defense, especially given the players that we have?

 

[MIXUM]

"our defense sucks"

understatement of year award has been given out

 

[illmatic99]

Camby and Wallace are both former first team All-Defensive team members, with Camby a former NBA defensive player of the year.

Batum and Matthews each are noted more for their defense than anything else. But here are the Blazers, in the bottom third of field-goal percentage defense.

"We have the pieces," Matthews said. "But in the NBA it's really, really hard to play defense. Everybody is good. You can't sit in the paint, you can't sit in a zone. And individual defense is trumped because if you are not a team, defense doesn't matter. There are teams that dont have noted one-on-one defenders, but they are top defensive teams because they are helping and buying into the concept.

"It's not that we aren't buying in, we just have to be disciplined to do it," Matthews said.

From Quick's article.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

"our defense sucks"

understatement of year award has been given out

Worthless comment. Read the whole post and comment on the actual question posed, please. Otherwise, you're contributing nothing.

There are teams that dont have noted one-on-one defenders, but they are top defensive teams because they are helping and buying into the concept.

"It's not that we aren't buying in, we just have to be disciplined to do it," Matthews said.

So it's discipline, then? We're lazy, or unfocused?

 

[Pinwheel1]

I have said for years it's scheme. Our defensive scheme is ridiculous, but everyone bashes me for daring to say something bad about Nate, so I'll go with Wallace, Camby, Matthews, Batum and Aldridge are shitty defenders, as the reason

No we bash you because you have no clue what a scheme is. You just bash to bash so why would we take you seriously? When the Lakers were getting their asses kicked by Cleveland and Charlotte a couple of weeks back was it their scheme? Did they change their scheme lately? or did they turn it up a notch?

I would guess the Blazers need more time to gel and they need to give more effort on the defenive end.

 

[Mediocre Man]

For me, there are a few different ways you can run a defense.

For Portland and their ultra quick wings, trapping and overplaying is probably the best way to go. Then inside 12 on the shot clock, break down into a 1-3-1 zone. Bringing the weak side defender down on the block to double. that eliminates the kick out pass and forces the other team to either shoot deep or make a dangerous cross court pass against Batum, Wallace or Matthews and the either Aldridge or Camby (whoever isn't in the post)

Trapping also takes some of the load off of defending the pick and roll.

In other words, Portland needs to do a better job of forcing the other team out of it's comfort zone and make them throw the ball around.

 

[Nikolokolus]

So, ignoring the sarcastic portion of your post...

I don't know enough about defensive scheming to know anything about what's wrong with our defense, aside from the infernal switch-on-every-pick strategy that has been employed for years. So, if it's scheme, what is the problem, or what should be done differently on defense, especially given the players that we have?

It's the switching on all cross picks, it's the over-use of zone, it's rotations on help defense ... Part of it could be guys not selling out, but I think this team would be well served to start taking more man-to-man responsibilities; Nate has the horses to get it done with LMA, Nic, Wesley, Camby and Wallace and while Andre isn't a great man defender against quick guards he's a good team defender and does a decent job of funneling his man to help.

But beyond scheme and execution, I've thought for awhile now that guys seem to be trying to think their way through their assignments instead of just reacting, as a consequence they're often a step slow on closeouts, they lose guys on the weakside, they over commit to doubling at times. Part of me wonders if Nate's scheme is maybe a little overly convoluted and it's causing more confusion and hesitation than necessary?

 

[Mediocre Man]

No we bash you because you have no clue what a scheme is. You just bash to bash so why would we take you seriously? When the Lakers were getting their asses kicked by Cleveland and Charlotte a couple of weeks back was it their scheme? Did they change their scheme lately? or did they turn it up a notch?

I would guess the Blazers need more time to gel and they need to give more effort on the defenive end.

The Blazers have always had a poor defensive scheme. Good teams get beat all the time by bad teams, but that has nothing to do with scheme....then again you knew that.

 

[e_blazer]

I've become convinced that the basic problem with the defense is the need to try and cover for Andre Miller's inability to guard anybody. We can't play straight man-to-man because Andre can't stick with his man. He can't cover quicker guards at all so the Blazers have to use Nic or Wesley out of position, which creates other problems that Nate tries to cover with switching and with zones. I hate to say it, but I don't see a solution until we're able to replace Andre in the starting lineup.

 

[e_blazer]

I forgot to add, not having Oden, Joel, or a fully healthy Camby in there to cover up the defensive lapses with shot blocking isn't helping either.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Knowing your teamates and making up for their weakness's is help defense! To many times I see one of our players beat and the rest of the team stands there watching a dunk happen cause no one wants to be posterized on ESPN! Every single player on our team has been guilty of this type of apathy and ego. I've been saying forever learning to play with and without the ball is sooooo important!!! Everyone knows on this board that I don't think McMuffin could coach a fat man through a buffet but some of this lands squarely on our players. They don't think past their position and when there's a break down it's glaring.

 

[hasoos]

There is a lot of good discussion here, but I feel the real problem, especially lately, has been effort. Defense is mostly effort, not matter what the scheme is. The facts are the Blazers use many different defenses every game, so there is no one "Scheme". So what it comes down to is effort. We know all the players have ability, many of them have been noted for their defense prowess in the past. So to me, it is all about effort. I think other parts of the box score also back this thinking. Over the last 3 games, there have been probems with rebounding as well, and giving up offensive boards. That is also a sign of effort issues. So the best fix for all of this in my opionion, is to start playing hard.

 

[maxiep]

There are a few issues IMO, most of which have been touched upon here. First, is getting our players used to playing with each other again. Camby is still shaking the rust off, Crash has no idea what to do or what his teammates are capable of and Roy is a step slower.

Second, we haven't had a consistent rotation all year. We're constantly plugging in new players and new lineups. We're also playing guys out of position--like Nico at the four. The lack of continuity hurts us. Sometimes, guys will play 35 minutes, the next night they play 10 minutes. It's hard to develop a rhythm that comes from knowing exactly what your role is.

Third, we have to make up for some truly bad defenders, especially on the ball. Johnson is arguably our best defensive point guard, and that is faint praise indeed. Miller is too slow and Patty is too small. Without on the ball pressure, the offense gets set up with ease, which puts you one foot in the defensive hole already.

Fourth, is effort and fear of foul trouble, plainly and simply. Defense is hard work. We've been shorthanded all season which means we have some players playing a ton of minutes. We can't afford to lose someone to hard fouls, so we let players blow by or take a shot not as contested as it should have been. Also, these players are pacing themselves. And that's where effort comes in. We no longer have the kind of depth where someone can play balls out for 20 minutes knowing they did their job.

I think most of these problems (except for the PG) will get solved over the next couple of months and we'll be fine.

 

[maxiep]

One more thing: We're playing more uptempo. It's going to lead for easier buckets for our opposition as well as us.

 

[ripcity67]

We don't have enough big bodies that allow LMA and Camby to foul the opposition hard on an attempted shot. They just have to let them go instead forcing the big to make a free throw.

 

[andalusian]

It's a combination of Miller's trouble with man-to-man defense on quick guards and the bigs inability to guard big, tough bigs on man coverage. Camby and Aldridge are long - but they are not good man defenders. Missing Joel and Greg there.

 

[MIXUM]

the problem?

miller is slow vs quick guards.

camby isnt 100%

batum is either great or awful

wes seems to play better defense if his shot is dropping.

wallace has been very underwhelming so far.

 

[hasoos]

the problem?

miller is slow vs quick guards.

camby isnt 100%

batum is either great or awful

wes seems to play better defense if his shot is dropping.

wallace has been very underwhelming so far.

I disagree with you on Wallace. Wallace has been playing well defensively and making plays. Now as to if the Blazers cash in on them, is another matter. Wallace has had several steals and some blocks or block attempts that resulted in fouls every game he has played so far.

 

[MIXUM]

thats cause they were fouls

 

[Rhal]

thats cause they were fouls

You should really lay off a guy who JUST got trade to us and has played 3 games. It takes awhile for someone to go from being the #1 option on a team and the face of a franchise to settling in as a role player. Wallace is very very good and he has played fairly well but has picked up some stupid fouls and made some stupid mistakes because he isn't used to playing with our guys. If he still isn't fitting in after another two weeks i'll look a blind eye as you get on him.

 

[OneSport3]

In my opinion it is the constant switching on screens that is causing the defensive problems. When you switch on screens (that involve LMA or Camby), your defense is immediately at a disadvantage. First, when you switch, LMA or Camby is forced to guard the quicker guard on the perimeter. Most of the time the guard is going to blow by them straight to the basket (i.e. Kyle Lowry on Tuesday night). Second, when LMA or Camby is forced to defend the guard on a switch, that takes away length and shot blocking away from the basket leaving the middle vulnerable. Third, there are two immediate mismatches, LMA or Camby on the quicker guard and Andre Miller on a bigger PF or C. This leaves our defense in constant scramble mode and on its heels.

The elite teams like the Celtics, Lakers, Spurs do not switch on screens. They either have the big man hedge aggressively or they just have to fight through the screen.

 

[B-Roy]

But beyond scheme and execution, I've thought for awhile now that guys seem to be trying to think their way through their assignments instead of just reacting, as a consequence they're often a step slow on closeouts, they lose guys on the weakside, they over commit to doubling at times. Part of me wonders if Nate's scheme is maybe a little overly convoluted and it's causing more confusion and hesitation than necessary?

+1, this mirrors my observations as well.