Game 2 Adjustments

[blue9]

We need to stop playing to MEM's strengths. They outscored us 15-6 in fast break points in Game 1. That should never happen and we need to reverse that, and then some, for the remainder of the series to beat them. MEM is a great half court team on both ends of the floor. If you allow them to get their half court defense set, we will continue to struggle to score.

All of their bigs; Gasol, Randolph and Koufas are slow footed plodders. We have gazelles like Aldridge and Leonard. We need to push the ball, run their bigs into the ground and get some easy baskets before they have a chance to set up their half court offense.

And, while we have faster, more athletic big men than they do, it's really Dame, C.J. and Nic that need to push the pace. The one area Dame really improved his game this season is finishing at the rim, but he can't take advantage of that new found skill if Marc Gasol is camped in the paint waiting for him. There is no reason on god's green earth than Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum and Nic Batum (and Arron Afflalo, Steve Blake and Tim Frazier) can't beat Marc Gasol down the court each and every time. So do it! And attack the basket before Gasol is there to protect the rim. If we have Afflalo back, plus Blake and Frazier and the other three, we six of ball handlers capable of pushing the tempo. Shitcan the rigid 12 minutes on 6 minutes off rigid substitution patterns. Tell all our guards to go balls out pushing the ball on every play and pull them out for a rest every 4 or 5 minutes. Do that continually throughout the game and we will wear down MEM's bigs much faster than we'll wear down our guards.

We did a great job controlling the defensive boards in Game 1 - one of the few things we did well, but by walking the ball up and allowing MEM to set up their half court defense, we failed to take advantage of our strong defensive rebounding. Get the ball, make the outlet pass to a guard and push the fucking ball up the court. We can't force MEM into an uptempo game when they have the ball, but we sure as hell don't have to slow things down and wait for them to set up their defense when we have it. Doing so is very Nate McMillanesque and we all know how much success Nate had in the post season.

By pushing the ball, we will also get more wide open threes for the guys trailing the play. The 1st rule of defense is to stop the ball, which is what the first and second defender back will be trying to do. That leaves the three point line unprotected for anyone running the court behind the player with the ball. Collapse their fast break defense and when they commit to stopping the ball, find the open trailer at the 3-point line. If they don't commit to stopping the ball, take it all the way to the rim.

Start playing to our strengths, not theirs. More fast breaks will lead to more layups without Gasol in the paint, for Lillard and C.J., more open 3-pointers and MEM's bigs gasping for air.

Do it!!!!

BNM

I agree with this. But it means that we need Meyers and Kaman crashing the defensive boards - they're the only two bigs that are able to throw an outlet pass. If the defensive board is snagged by Rolo or LMA they will wait until the back-court is clear before handing off to a guard.
I suppose we should also send CJ to the defensive boards too, and just have the other guard and SF leak out. CJ's quite crafty at coming up with rebounds, and once in his hands he can push the ball up court faster than anyone...except maybe Frazier!

 

[blue32]

Why doesn't Stotts like to pressure and traps? What's his reasoning by this? I know he loves giving up the mid range but why not do both here and there?

I said this in another thread, but we rarely do this. It's mainly because our guards aren't that great on defense.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Finally, forget the fuck about defending the 3 like our life depends on it. It doesn't. We're playing MEM, not GSW. MEM was 29th in 3-pointers made and 23rd in 3FG%. It's simply not their strength. So, why put so much of our defensive effort into taking away a weapon they don't really have?

Others have already addressed the pick-and-roll defense, but I'll add, collapse the defense to put more defenders in the paint and midrange, which is MEM's bread and butter and what killed us in Game 1.

MEM made THREE 3-pointers against us in Game 1. DARE them to take that shot. Courtney Lee is really the only MEM player we need to avoid leaving wide open on the 3-point line. Lure than into hoisting 15 - 20 3-pointers. They're MUCH more likely to go 5-15 (or worse) than they are to go 10-20. Again, it's just not their strength. Focus our defensive effort on their inside and midrange games and force them out of their comfort zone. Zach, Gasol, Beno and Conley are much more likely to beat us inside the paint than outside the 3-point line.

And their bench is even worse. Beno, Vince, Calathes and Pondexter all shot below .300 from 3-point range for the season. When those guys are in, we need to REALLY collapse the defense and dare them to shot from distance.

BNM

 

[magnifier661]

Finally, forget the fuck about defending the 3 like our life depends on it. It doesn't. We're playing MEM, not GSW. MEM was 29th in 3-pointers made and 23rd in 3FG%. It's simply not their strength. So, why put so much of our defensive effort into taking away a weapon they don't really have?

Others have already addressed the pick-and-roll defense, but I'll add, collapse the defense to put more defenders in the paint and midrange, which is MEM's bread and butter and what killed us in Game 1.

MEM made THREE 3-pointers against us in Game 1. DARE them to take that shot. Courtney Lee is really the only MEM player we need to avoid leaving wide open on the 3-point line. Lure than into hoisting 15 - 20 3-pointers. They're MUCH more likely to go 5-15 (or worse) than they are to go 10-20. Again, it's just not their strength. Focus our defensive effort on their inside and midrange games and force them out of their comfort zone. Zach, Gasol, Beno and Conley are much more likely to beat us inside the paint than outside the 3-point line.

And their bench is even worse. Beno, Vince, Calathes and Pondexter all shot below .300 from 3-point range for the season. When those guys are in, we need to REALLY collapse the defense and dare them to shot from distance.

BNM

Defensively, this is exactly what I want us to do. Show zone defense and dare them to make that 3 point shot. Even if they make 3-4 in a row, the law of averages will even itself, especially in a 7 game series. Once they start missing those, then they will start second guessing themselves.

 

[riverman]

Making free throws will help the cause. Seems like we've fallen off a cliff at the line

 

[PDXFonz]

Play Frazier at the 1 and Lillard at the 2.

 

[Eastoff]

Man, I'm so hyped to see game 2 now. I add basically given up hope until reading this thread.

 

[riverman]

Never give up hope! Remember Pearl Harbor!

 

[BBert]

BOOB FOR BOSS!!

Well stated, boob.

Seriously. We have to stop playing to their strengths, and instead attack their weaknesses.

I'm holding my breath.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Man, I'm so hyped to see game 2 now. I add basically given up hope until reading this thread.

Welcome back!

BNM

 

[PDXFonz]

BOOB FOR BOSS!!

Well stated, boob.

Seriously. We have to stop playing to their strengths, and instead attack their weaknesses.

I'm holding my breath.

I would have loved to have known him when he was a boob. If he is like this now, can you even imagine?