Rudy starts 2nd half and hey ho what do you know? we win bye double digits

[Tince]

Wrong. In Game 3, Blake had 16 points, 10 assists, and only 2 turnovers while holding Aaron Brooks to 3-11 shooting. I'd say Game 3 was his best game. He made ONE mistake, taking the three when he should've found Rudy, but that doesn't erase how well he played up to that point. 16 & 10 is not "piss poor" by any definition.

Learn the game, then post.

I love that you brought facts to backup your point, because I feel AmirIcon's only "proof" that Blake didn't play well, was him saying so, and that doesn't cut it. Blake make half his shots, had a 6.3:1 assist to turnover ration, and didn't get torn a new one on defense, so I don't understand how one bad 3 at the end of the game makes his play in Houston horrible.

However, your "Learn the game, then post." comment is something I hate to read. I let it slide when people say it to me, or tell me I only look at box-scores (when typically I watch every game live and one replay as well). Just because AmirIcon is making statements that appear to be false and is providing no specifics to justify his claims, doesn't mean he doesn't know the game, it just means he most likely let his dislike towards a certain player cloud his mind, causing him to make an uninformed statement. He might know a lot about the game, but just like our players and coaches, he isn't perfect. Let's call him out for his specific mistake, but there is no need to make general, sweeping, put-downs about his overall knowledge.

 

[mook]

There's almost no downside to benching Batum and starting Rudy. Batum's a guy you want against scoring wing men. Houston doesn't really have any. Well, there's Artest. But frankly, if Houston runs their entire offense through Artest, they're done for and they know it.

Rudy spreads the floor, and he'll take the high pressure shot every single time, unlike Aldridge or even Blake at times.

And I really like having Roy guard Artest. You can just see in Artest's demeanor that he wants to fight with Roy on both ends every possession. Which is fantastic. Roy will win that matchup much of the time when he's on offense, and the Blazers will win that matchup much of the time when Artest is on offense because the ball isn't going to Yao.

The Rockets' inability to use Yao properly is the single biggest key to why Portland has won two games in this series. I'm amazed at how unwilling they are to throw any even slightly risky pass into Yao. They'd rather chuck up a 40% jumper than take a 10% risk on a turnover that gets Yao a 60% shot. There were times last night where Yao looked like he just gave up on trying to get the ball, and decided to be Joel Przybilla, just setting screens and waiting for offensive boards.

Anything we do to make Artest more confident in hogging the ball himself is a good thing. Because it means Yao will continue to only get 12 shots a night.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I would think Houston is going to expect Rudy to start, and I would be shocked if they don't try to post Battier and/or Artest early against Roy and Rudy. They'll post against Roy to try and wear him down, and against Rudy to take advantage of their strength advantage. It will be interesting to see what Nate does if Houston goes to this strategy.

If Houston tries to post Battier or Artest, just front them. Brooks, Wafer and Lowry have proven they can't get the ball into the low post to their 7'6" 350 lb. superstar center when the defense fronts him. I doubt they'll have much luck getting it in to their 6'7" and 6'8" small forward and shooting guard if Rudy and Roy front them and deny the entry pass.

BNM

 

[BlazerCaravan]

It's kind of a catchphrase...

If only he was a little better at catchphrases... he might still be on Bones.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

There's almost no downside to benching Batum and starting Rudy. Batum's a guy you want against scoring wing men. Houston doesn't really have any. Well, there's Artest. But frankly, if Houston runs their entire offense through Artest, they're done for and they know it.

Rudy spreads the floor, and he'll take the high pressure shot every single time, unlike Aldridge or even Blake at times.

And I really like having Roy guard Artest. You can just see in Artest's demeanor that he wants to fight with Roy on both ends every possession. Which is fantastic. Roy will win that matchup much of the time when he's on offense, and the Blazers will win that matchup much of the time when Artest is on offense because the ball isn't going to Yao.

The Rockets' inability to use Yao properly is the single biggest key to why Portland has won two games in this series. I'm amazed at how unwilling they are to throw any even slightly risky pass into Yao. They'd rather chuck up a 40% jumper than take a 10% risk on a turnover that gets Yao a 60% shot. There were times last night where Yao looked like he just gave up on trying to get the ball, and decided to be Joel Przybilla, just setting screens and waiting for offensive boards.

Anything we do to make Artest more confident in hogging the ball himself is a good thing. Because it means Yao will continue to only get 12 shots a night.

Absolutely correct, but my favorite player is Batum and it's very, very important that he be the starter in the next.......Series with the Lakers!!!

 

[mook]

If Houston tries to post Battier or Artest, just front them. Brooks, Wafer and Lowry have proven they can't get the ball into the low post to their 7'6" 350 lb. superstar center when the defense fronts him. I doubt they'll have much luck getting it in to their 6'7" and 6'8" small forward and shooting guard if Rudy and Roy front them and deny the entry pass.

BNM

Hell yeah. If their game plan is to run the offense through Battier against Rudy, I'm all for it. Battier is usually on the far end of the court from Yao, which means Przybilla will be underneath and in better rebounding/shot blocking position. Besides, Battier hasn't had a 20 point game all season. What are the odds he does it now?

I'm a big fan of anything that keeps the ball out of Yao and Scola's hands.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Wow, that's a terrible thing to say. There is no reason to attack a poster's career. That is not funny or witty, that makes you a motherfucking douchebag.

Ah, but... who's mother?

You're right, I'm sorry Eric. That was over the top.

 

[bigbailes]

tince i guess we are just seeing the same thing from different angles. of course the roy shots were off picks, buy yao hasn't been coming up on those because he's had a wing there to help off of batum, battier can't do that anymore. i wouldn't blame rudys defense for that though, the dude doesn't play the best one on one d and he gambles alot but he creates plays. sometimes this kills us because nate hates that style of d but when it works it works. it is alot like travis' jumpers, when he hits it's a thing of beauty when he misses it ugly as shit.

i'm still trying to figure out why we took out pryzbillia at the end when we were going to be on defense? it created an easy dump in to yao and our centers weren't killing us on the offensive end. i'm all for offense/defense subsitution but those situations come at the end of the game when fouls are usually taking place. i just don't understand his subsitutions, like putting in the twin towers in houston.

 

[Blaze01]

Battier posting up Rudy I am not afraid of, Battier has done nothing to show that he can be a threat from a post up position and it is not like he has a huge size advantage over Rudy....Close out on Battier and make him put it on the floor, he is not nearly as effective then...we cannot give him open shots in HOU...

I do agree that if Artest sticks to the probable game plan, we will see Artest posting up Roy, and he does have an advantage there, but I will take that matchup b\c IMO Roy is a good defender....Artest will get some scores by posting up but they won't be automatic, and that is IF he sticks to that game plan...it also leaves Yao out of the offense, which is a good thing and the offensive plusses of having Rudy in the lineup are too good to give up just b\c Artest can post Roy...and its not like he couldn't post Batum or Outlaw as easily as Roy...because he could...