How do we win game 2?

[DamianLillard#0]

Hack a Howard is the key ! Hold a Close game and the hack him..FOR THE WIN ! Easy Strategy When Mchale goes Small... You have big advantage.. Lillard can goes to the rim without anyone on him.. No one can block him Without bigs

 

[RW#30]

What a game last night. The next two games will decide the series. If the blazers come out and steal game two, game three will be like a game 7 and could be the knock out punch. They will win game 2 if Batum and Williams comes through. Batum can not coast and play it like a regular season game. We need Nic to score 20 and grab at least 10 rebounds. We know he has it in him but he sure didn't show it in the frst game. He needs to feliver on his potentia, it is NOW!!
As for Mo, he is our only reliable bench player. He needs to give us quality scoring when Dame is on the bench. The Rockets will make adjustments and will double LA, Williams and Batum will need to step up and soften up the middle from the outside. Wesley and Thomas will show up. LA and Dame are studs but they need the help from the rest of the team. Can't wait till Wednesday. Go Blazers

 

[Prue]

I think the key to wining game to to have more point than Houston when its over.

 

[magnifier661]

We have a great opportunity to steal game 2. We need to come out strong from the gate. If we can manage to pull a 10-15 point lead out the gate, I think the pressure will amplify for Houston. Even the fan base would be out of the game.

I really think this game is when our wings go off. I'm almost certain that they will double Aldride and it most likely will be Batum's man.

This is the game Nico goes ham. If Nico is aggressive, not only will we win, we most likely blow them out.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I agree with what I have seen posted before, ANY bench productions, good Mo, making more free throws and making more 3's earlier in the game should give us a good chance to steal another one. I mean when you really think about it without LMA going all nutso we wouldnt have had a chance in this game. But that gives me a lot of hope.

I also can help but wonder if having LMA foul out may have actually been a blessing in disguise. It allowed Lillard to handle the ball more in crunch time, get to the hoop and make clutch free throws.

 

[Prue]

The funny thing is now I think the fans have sealed the fate of the Rockets for us. Since they lost they will all assume that it was the ref's that did it (clearly we enlightened know that to be so far from the truth that I think TSA agents detain Salvatore for his entire trip to PDX) and in so thinking such they will become booing and annoying for every call against Houston. This will trigger more calls against them and result in the Blazers riding out of Texas in favor of returning to a bigger City for round 2

 

[riverman]

I'm thinking score more pts than they do?

 

[riverman]

I don't care if the bench scores 7pts as long as they play defense

 

[Strenuus]

Ahhhh! It just needs to be Wednesday... why so long?!

 

[maxiep]

Parsons stopped himself. 3-11 from 3pt, and quiet after the half.

I think he was worn out. They rode him hard and put him away wet.

 

[maxiep]

I expect Harden to put up 40 and Howard with a 30/20 for Game Two. However, if we can limit Parsons, then we may have a chance.

 

[BBert]

I think he was worn out. They rode him hard and put him away wet.

Just the way he likes it.

 

[RR7]

I would guess they plan to double Aldridge more, so our 3 point shooting will be big for us next game. Would like to see us throw in a new wrinkle off of the double instead of the customary kick out and swing it around. Cutter down the lane, something like that.

 

[magnifier661]

I would guess they plan to double Aldridge more, so our 3 point shooting will be big for us next game. Would like to see us throw in a new wrinkle off of the double instead of the customary kick out and swing it around. Cutter down the lane, something like that.

This is exactly the way I want to see it too. I know we can have that "kick out", but I would love for a Batum, to drive and hit that mid range shot at the free-throw line, that he's so good at. Or the give and go. More cuts to the basket, then kick out and have as many rebounders in the paint to try and get the board.

Whatever the case, I sure hope Matthews, Batum, Lillard, Mo and whomever else can hit the three shoot 1,000 practice threes a day!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I'm looking for Houston to go for a big blowout win in Game 2. They have something to prove and their backs are against the wall. Harden is going to play a lot better and is probably going to be trying to go off for 30+ pts. We really need to concentrate on stopping Harden and getting him out of the game/offense as much as possible, but when you concentrate on doing that, he tends to try to go off more.

Would like to see Freeland in a backup role get physical with Dwight Howard as well. Really try to get in his head, stop his easy rebound/putbacks. I really liked that strategy of having Wes post up Harden early on in the game.

You have to remember McHale is a bad coach. You have to exploit that. Its their Achillies Heel.

 

[blue9]

Don't change anything until they stop what's working for us. So, continue to go to Wes & LMA in the post. If they start doubling LMA, which I think they will, then we need a couple good passing lanes for him to kick out quickly. HOU will throw the double while being aware of the passing lanes and will get a few steals off of kick-outs if LMA doesn't make a clean, crisp pass. We need to be prepared for the double to come from multiple positions and be able to run to the right spot on the floor to give LMA an easy person to pass to.

Oddly I like that we haven't resorted to jumping the screen yet. I was really excited to see us do it in the last game of the season! It's something that we'll need to employ, and typically I think it's the best way to guard the P/R, but we won without doing it (much). For now hold it as an ace to use when it's needed most.

 

[Eastoff]

Oddly I like that we haven't resorted to jumping the screen yet. I was really excited to see us do it in the last game of the season! It's something that we'll need to employ, and typically I think it's the best way to guard the P/R, but we won without doing it (much). For now hold it as an ace to use when it's needed most.

I thought Houston would feast on the open 3 shot if we jumped the screen?

 

[Further]

Before thinking about how the Blazers will adjust, we have to think about what the Rockets will do. I think that regardless of Beverly health, they will play Lin a lot more. Beverly has been solved by Lillard, that has been solidly demonstrated, so the benefit of that matchup now swings totally towards the Blazers. But by playing Lin instead, They will be forcing Lillard, who is not a good defender, to have to chase around a much better offensive player in Lin. I still think Lillard comes out a victor, but the added scoring will help out Harden who has yet to solve Matthews.

I also think that the Rockets will try and play Asik more, putting him on LMA to slow LMA down. This is risky, as Howard and Asik bump into eachother, but it seems like their one real shot at hampering our superstar, LMA.

So, for both of these expected adjustments by the rockets, I think the key will become Matthews, Batum and Williams answering the on the offensive end of the court. They need to take more of a scoring burden and use LMA and Lillard a little more as decoys.

 

[Eastoff]

I also think that the Rockets will try and play Asik more, putting him on LMA to slow LMA down. This is risky, as Howard and Asik bump into eachother, but it seems like their one real shot at hampering our superstar, LMA.

I missed the first quarter, but why do you think Houston will use the Howard Asik match up better in the second game if it failed in the first? I know Asik got into foul trouble fast though, but I'd assume it'll happen again.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

I missed the first quarter, but why do you think Houston will use the Howard Asik match up better in the second game if it failed in the first? I know Asik got into foul trouble fast though, but I'd assume it'll happen again.

Not that the refs will be biased toward a team, but they could play a huge part in the outcome of the game according to how they call fouls on the bigs. Lopez, LA, Asik, and D12 all had issue staying on the court last night.

 

[tlongII]

I want to see Lillard attack Beverley. That knee has got to hurt.

 

[Eastoff]

I want to see Lillard attack Beverley. That knee has got to hurt.

Yeah if you can force Beverley to cover some nasty cross overs, Beverley is going to start feeling it!

 

[blue32]

Yeah if you can force Beverley to cover some nasty cross overs, Beverley is going to start feeling it!

Shit, not even worried. The guy is hobbled now. He won't be a factor anymore this year. Let the Rockets think he can go so he does, playing 70% or some shit. It's a win for us.

 

[Eastoff]

Shit, not even worried. The guy is hobbled now. He won't be a factor anymore this year. Let the Rockets think he can go so he does, playing 70% or some shit. It's a win for us.

It screams of Brandon Roy game 4 in the playoffs. He's going to wreck his knees.

 

[PapaG]

Shit, not even worried. The guy is hobbled now. He won't be a factor anymore this year. Let the Rockets think he can go so he does, playing 70% or some shit. It's a win for us.

It would be borderline malpractice to clear Beverley to play. He has a tear in his knee, and he had to be helped off of the court. I can't stand the guy, but at some point, the Houston organization has to think about his future, because as we all know, things go downhill very quickly for players who continue to try and play on a knee that has some tears in the meniscus.

 

[maxiep]

It would be borderline malpractice to clear Beverley to play. He has a tear in his knee, and he had to be helped off of the court. I can't stand the guy, but at some point, the Houston organization has to think about his future, because as we all know, things go downhill very quickly for players who continue to try and play on a knee that has some tears in the meniscus.

I keep posting the same thing in the Houston forum, but they all assure me he's the Wolverine with magical healing powers.

 

[PapaG]

I keep posting the same thing in the Houston forum, but they all assure me he's the Wolverine with magical healing powers.

Lillard was blowing by him at will even before Beverley was helped off of the court.

 

[maxiep]

Lillard was blowing by him at will even before Beverley was helped off of the court.

Frankly, I think Beverley playing only helps us. Dame has figured him out. Lin, meanwhile, gives us all kinds of trouble with his drives.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

It screams of Brandon Roy game 4 in the playoffs. He's going to wreck his knees.

Yep. I feel bad for him, to be honest.

 

[RoyToy]

Frankly, I think Beverley playing only helps us. Dame has figured him out. Lin, meanwhile, gives us all kinds of trouble with his drives.

Exactly

They can play Beverley hurt all they want. Lillard will just continue to abuse him and that knee.