Our Scheme, Not Lillard's Absence, is Responsible For the Recent defensive success

[BonesJones]

First off, here's an article talking about the scheme changes.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...ers_finding_comfort_success_with_new_def.html

MINNEAPOLIS -- In the third quarter of the Portland Trail Blazers' win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night, Mason Plumlee slid across the lane to double team Karl-Anthony Towns in the post.

On the next possession, he stepped out well above the three-point line to help Moe Harkless trap Andrew Wiggins 30 feet away from the rim.

Those two plays epitomized the new defensive wrinkles the Blazers have started to incorporate over the past four games. In certain situations they are trapping opponents on pick and rolls, relying on their length and athleticism to scramble back and recover after they force a pass out of double teams.

This is exactly what I've wanted with this group of guys for the past season and a half. I even made a thread a little over a month ago saying that we need to start switching up schemes and throwing different looks at offenses. (http://www.sportstwo.com/threads/how-do-you-prefer-we-guard-the-pick-n-roll.306653/)

But now that Stotts has finally realized he should be more unpredictable and innovative guarding the pick n roll, we've had good to great defense in 3 of the last 4 games. We've held:

Toronto to 95 points (They average 111ppg)
Sacramento to 89 points (They average 102ppg)
Minnesota to 89 points (They average 104ppg)

Now, the easiest difference to point out is Damian Lillard is hurt, but the stats suggest that the scheme is much more responsible for the turnaround. However, with Damian Lillard off the court, teams still have an Offensive Rating of 107, which is pretty high. That takes into account the recent games as well.

Looking at the 3 recent defensive outings, we've held teams to more than 10 points less than we were previously with Lillard off the court.

Toronto (12.26.16)
ORtg: 96.6
Avg ORtg: 116.2
Dif: 19.6
Sacremento:
ORtg: 96.3
Avg ORtg: 106.9
Dif: 10.6
Minnesota:
ORtg: 93.8
Avg ORtg: 109.2
Dif: 15.4

So essentially, in these 3 games we're holding teams 15.2 points below their average Offensive Rating. That is great defense, not just good. And Lillards absence can't be the reason, as our defensive had a still mediocre DRtg of 107 when he was off the court. Theirs about a 12 point change in offensive rating due to our scheme with Lillard off the court.

-------------

Our scheme change will also help Lillard, who struggles mostly with getting through picks. If we has a big man trapping and forcing his man away from the basket after the pick n roll, it not only gives Lillard more time to get through the pick, it also gives him in easier angle to get through. The other thing I've noticed Lillard struggle with a lot is off-ball defense, especially when the defense gets broken down. However, with us blitzing and hedging pick n rolls, as well as double teaming good post players, it makes cross-court passes harder to make, and the pressure makes these passes more lofty and passers are able to put much less zip on them. This gives Lillard more time to recover to his man or get to the right spot defensively when off the ball.

So not only is our defensive scheme responsible for the defensive success lately, but it also minimizes Lillard's defensive weaknesses for when he does return.

 

[Cippy91]

Agreed, I don't know how people proposing to trade Lillard wanna put the blame on Lillard just because he is out. Makes no sense. The sporadic big man doubling implemented while Lillard has been out has helped quite a bit. Don't know why it took this long for Stotts to put something in but better late than never I guess.

 

[LuckyShot]

We've finally started doing what every other team in the league does. Halle-fucking-lujah.

 

[Denny Crane]

It remains to be seen if the change will work with the Dame/CJ back court.

I really hope it does.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

It remains to be seen if the change will work with the Dame/CJ back court.

I really hope it does.

I do not think anyone has blamed Lillard. As you said, it is the two together that are questionable defensively. Would love to see it work but am highly doubtful.

 

[Denny Crane]

I do not think anyone has blamed Lillard. As you said, it is the two together that are questionable defensively. Would love to see it work but am highly doubtful.

This defense with the scoring of the two should translate into wins.

 

[Boob-No-More]

It remains to be seen if the change will work with the Dame/CJ back court.

I really hope it does.

I agree 100% with the article. I made that comment when all the Crabbe should be starting/trade Dame or C.J, nonsense started after the SAC game when people were raving about how great the defense was without Dame and C.J. starting together in the back court. I pointed out that the change was not due to Dame being out, but due to the changes Stotts made, plus the fact that SAC was missing both Gay and Afflalo.

We played above average defense, with that exact same starting back court, the second half of last season. No reason we can't again this year. With out current personnel, we will never be an elite defensive team, but there is absolutely no reason why we need to be dead last.

BNM

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Good post. 82-0 is back on the table boys. Lets get it!

 

[Scalma]

Agreed, I don't know how people proposing to trade Lillard wanna put the blame on Lillard just because he is out. Makes no sense. The sporadic big man doubling implemented while Lillard has been out has helped quite a bit. Don't know why it took this long for Stotts to put something in but better late than never I guess.

The venn diagram of these people and the ones that set defensive play calling to AUTO on 2k is one circle.

 

[riverman]

I see no downside to CJ improving defensively whether Dame is with him or not....addition by addition

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

First off, here's an article talking about the scheme changes.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...ers_finding_comfort_success_with_new_def.html



This is exactly what I've wanted with this group of guys for the past season and a half. I even made a thread a little over a month ago saying that we need to start switching up schemes and throwing different looks at offenses. (http://www.sportstwo.com/threads/how-do-you-prefer-we-guard-the-pick-n-roll.306653/)

But now that Stotts has finally realized he should be more unpredictable and innovative guarding the pick n roll, we've had good to great defense in 3 of the last 4 games. We've held:

Toronto to 95 points (They average 111ppg)
Sacramento to 89 points (They average 102ppg)
Minnesota to 89 points (They average 104ppg)

Now, the easiest difference to point out is Damian Lillard is hurt, but the stats suggest that the scheme is much more responsible for the turnaround. However, with Damian Lillard off the court, teams still have an Offensive Rating of 107, which is pretty high. That takes into account the recent games as well.

Looking at the 3 recent defensive outings, we've held teams to more than 10 points less than we were previously with Lillard off the court.

Toronto (12.26.16)
ORtg: 96.6
Avg ORtg: 116.2
Dif: 19.6
Sacremento:
ORtg: 96.3
Avg ORtg: 106.9
Dif: 10.6
Minnesota:
ORtg: 93.8
Avg ORtg: 109.2
Dif: 15.4

So essentially, in these 3 games we're holding teams 15.2 points below their average Offensive Rating. That is great defense, not just good. And Lillards absence can't be the reason, as our defensive had a still mediocre DRtg of 107 when he was off the court. Theirs about a 12 point change in offensive rating due to our scheme with Lillard off the court.

-------------

Our scheme change will also help Lillard, who struggles mostly with getting through picks. If we has a big man trapping and forcing his man away from the basket after the pick n roll, it not only gives Lillard more time to get through the pick, it also gives him in easier angle to get through. The other thing I've noticed Lillard struggle with a lot is off-ball defense, especially when the defense gets broken down. However, with us blitzing and hedging pick n rolls, as well as double teaming good post players, it makes cross-court passes harder to make, and the pressure makes these passes more lofty and passers are able to put much less zip on them. This gives Lillard more time to recover to his man or get to the right spot defensively when off the ball.

So not only is our defensive scheme responsible for the defensive success lately, but it also minimizes Lillard's defensive weaknesses for when he does return.

View attachment 11614

Nice touch with the BONESJONES at the end there. BNM would be proud.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think we're a little early on this topic. Why don't we wait to see if Damian and CJ can execute this new scheme together before we claim success?

 

[riverman]

For Stotts system to work, the defense has to be a string no matter who you plug in.....want Spurs success, you follow the blue print...it's purely choreography...synchronized swimming doesn't work when they bump heads

 

[Cippy91]

Once again, this is the same team as last year, people only freak out when we are bad. Nobody was saying a thing about trading CJ or Dame when we were winning last year. It was "lets find another piece to put with Dame and CJ!"
It's the fact that Terry doesn't seem to work on any defensive strategy at all up until recently and then oh shit, we had some success. They didn't score as much! wow much job Terry, very defense!

 

[BonesJones]

I think we're a little early on this topic. Why don't we wait to see if Damian and CJ can execute this new scheme together before we claim success?

Why wouldn't they be able to? The change is with the bigs, designed to make it easier on the guards.

 

[HailBlazers]

So not only is our defensive scheme responsible for the defensive success lately, but it also minimizes Lillard's defensive weaknesses for when he does return.

View attachment 11614

Mic Drop.

 

[BonesJones]

Once again, this is the same team as last year, people only freak out when we are bad. Nobody was saying a thing about trading CJ or Dame when we were winning last year. It was "lets find another piece to put with Dame and CJ!"
It's the fact that Terry doesn't seem to work on any defensive strategy at all up until recently and then oh shit, we had some success. They didn't score as much! wow much job Terry, very defense!

Haha exactly.

Schemes that compliment a teams defensive skill sets and hides their weaknesses can make at least a top 20 defense out of any NBA group that gives effort.

 

[BonesJones]

Mods can you add "defensive success"to the end of the title

 

[Nikolokolus]

Why wouldn't they be able to? The change is with the bigs, designed to make it easier on the guards.

Unscouted looks also eventually get scouted. It's early, we don't know if this is all going to hold up (e.g. see: Spurs, San Antonio).

 

[Nikolokolus]

Once again, this is the same team as last year, people only freak out when we are bad. Nobody was saying a thing about trading CJ or Dame when we were winning last year. It was "lets find another piece to put with Dame and CJ!"
It's the fact that Terry doesn't seem to work on any defensive strategy at all up until recently and then oh shit, we had some success. They didn't score as much! wow much job Terry, very defense!

This is factually incorrect. A minority for sure, but there have been some.

 

[BonesJones]

Unscouted looks also eventually get scouted. It's early, we don't know if this is all going to hold up (e.g. see: Spurs, San Antonio).

Yeah, but you're throwing an opponent a bunch of different looks defensively, it's a lot harder to scout. Also, were playing to our strengths now, so scouting won't get rid of the improvement.

 

[Blazers Roy]

I still think we should try to reduce Lillard's role a little bit when he comes back.
Let CJ be the primary ballhandler, let Dame "rest on the floor" a bit more, keep the other guys involved, no more stupid ass shots from 30' etc.

As i see it, it's either that or starting with the super-switch lineup i suggested earlier (Mase-Von-Aminu-Hark-Dame / Mase-Aminu-Hark-Turner-Dame).

 

[rasheedfan2005]

I like the idea of starting turner and giving cj that jason terry 36 minutes off the bench ball handler roll tbh

 

[BonesJones]

I like the idea of starting turner and giving cj that jason terry 36 minutes off the bench ball handler roll tbh

Yeah, killing CJs energy for the end of each half by playing him 18 straight minutes to end the half is such a great idea.

 

[Sinobas]

Bet your bottom dollar that Stotts will revert back to his old ways no matter how successful this new scheme is. We've had success with it in the past and he always goes back.

Plumlee is an undersized, but mobile center and he'd be much better suited to come out to help than sitting back by the rim.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Yeah, but you're throwing an opponent a bunch of different looks defensively, it's a lot harder to scout. Also, were playing to our strengths now, so scouting won't get rid of the improvement.

There's always a counter. Other teams will make adjustments. So I'm not saying it's doomed to fail, but we don't know yet if it's going to hold up -- especially adding back in a net negative defender like Damian back into the mix.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Unscouted looks also eventually get scouted. It's early, we don't know if this is all going to hold up (e.g. see: Spurs, San Antonio).

Yes, i agree with this. And since we are doing stuff now that we haven't done before, we probably don't have it down that well.

 

[e_blazer]

This seems like as good of a thread as any to make a comment on coaching and defenses. Some people around here have been clamoring for Stotts' head because he's not a good defensive coach. There have been comments about how the Blazers need someone like Thibs to come in and install a solid defense. Now, Thibs is a really good defensive coach. You'll get no argument from me on that, but I couldn't help but notice that in the last game, when the Blazers only had ONE significant offensive threat, the TWolves defense couldn't get the job done. All they had to do was hold CJ to somewhere near his scoring average and they walk away with the W. Instead, he dropped 43 on them and won the game for the Blazers. The TWolves have a bevvy of young, athletic players, including KAT who we would all kill to have in a Blazers uniform. But they are YOUNG. Coaching is an essential part of defensive success, but a bigger part is getting game experience and learning some of those veteran tricks that make teams with a solid defensive rep so hard to score against.

 

[lawai'a]

This seems like as good of a thread as any to make a comment on coaching and defenses. Some people around here have been clamoring for Stotts' head because he's not a good defensive coach. There have been comments about how the Blazers need someone like Thibs to come in and install a solid defense. Now, Thibs is a really good defensive coach. You'll get no argument from me on that, but I couldn't help but notice that in the last game, when the Blazers only had ONE significant offensive threat, the TWolves defense couldn't get the job done. All they had to do was hold CJ to somewhere near his scoring average and they walk away with the W. Instead, he dropped 43 on them and won the game for the Blazers. The TWolves have a bevvy of young, athletic players, including KAT who we would all kill to have in a Blazers uniform. But they are YOUNG. Coaching is an essential part of defensive success, but a bigger part is getting game experience and learning some of those veteran tricks that make teams with a solid defensive rep so hard to score against.

agreed, our team is currently tied for second youngest roster and second in years of league experience. the converse has clevland, GS, spurs and clipps as oldest and most experienced teams, all excellent defensive teams so there seems to be some correlation to the experience/team defense concept

 

[dviss1]

First off, here's an article talking about the scheme changes.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...ers_finding_comfort_success_with_new_def.html



This is exactly what I've wanted with this group of guys for the past season and a half. I even made a thread a little over a month ago saying that we need to start switching up schemes and throwing different looks at offenses. (http://www.sportstwo.com/threads/how-do-you-prefer-we-guard-the-pick-n-roll.306653/)

But now that Stotts has finally realized he should be more unpredictable and innovative guarding the pick n roll, we've had good to great defense in 3 of the last 4 games. We've held:

Toronto to 95 points (They average 111ppg)
Sacramento to 89 points (They average 102ppg)
Minnesota to 89 points (They average 104ppg)

Now, the easiest difference to point out is Damian Lillard is hurt, but the stats suggest that the scheme is much more responsible for the turnaround. However, with Damian Lillard off the court, teams still have an Offensive Rating of 107, which is pretty high. That takes into account the recent games as well.

Looking at the 3 recent defensive outings, we've held teams to more than 10 points less than we were previously with Lillard off the court.

Toronto (12.26.16)
ORtg: 96.6
Avg ORtg: 116.2
Dif: 19.6
Sacremento:
ORtg: 96.3
Avg ORtg: 106.9
Dif: 10.6
Minnesota:
ORtg: 93.8
Avg ORtg: 109.2
Dif: 15.4

So essentially, in these 3 games we're holding teams 15.2 points below their average Offensive Rating. That is great defense, not just good. And Lillards absence can't be the reason, as our defensive had a still mediocre DRtg of 107 when he was off the court. Theirs about a 12 point change in offensive rating due to our scheme with Lillard off the court.

-------------

Our scheme change will also help Lillard, who struggles mostly with getting through picks. If we has a big man trapping and forcing his man away from the basket after the pick n roll, it not only gives Lillard more time to get through the pick, it also gives him in easier angle to get through. The other thing I've noticed Lillard struggle with a lot is off-ball defense, especially when the defense gets broken down. However, with us blitzing and hedging pick n rolls, as well as double teaming good post players, it makes cross-court passes harder to make, and the pressure makes these passes more lofty and passers are able to put much less zip on them. This gives Lillard more time to recover to his man or get to the right spot defensively when off the ball.

So not only is our defensive scheme responsible for the defensive success lately, but it also minimizes Lillard's defensive weaknesses for when he does return.

View attachment 11614

Great post. Love the Sig.