The Blazers Pick and Roll Defense: Nate In His Own Words

[Nikolokolus]

I'm sure those that already dislike Nate's system and him as a coach won't be dissuaded from their points of view, but at least you get to stop speculating about what Nate thinks of his team's performance in this facet of the game.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/01/picking_and_rolling_with_the_b.html

I thought this part was particularly interesting.

"If we are tight in there (in the paint), they won't have the roll, they will have to make a perimeter pass,'' McMillan said. "What our guys are getting caught up in is who they are guarding. They are not playing the rules of our defense. I want them to think of the paint as their home. Teams are trying to come into your home. And if you leave your doors open, they are going to go in there. So stay tight in there, because that's where the ball is going, that's where the roll is going.''

That principle requires a lot of work. The defender has to stay close to the key, recover to the shooter on the perimeter, then hustle back inside to rebound.

"It's effort. It's a lot of effort, and an offensive minded player isn't into doing all that (expletive). Our guys are more ... we are trying to condition them to do that. To cover out, but come back in,'' McMillan said.

Another interesting point about Oden ... not sure if I fully agree with it, but I guess there is a method to the madness of Greg getting punished with touch fouls on guards.

But with Oden, McMillan wants to engrain the concept of moving his feet early in his career. It may cost him some games now with foul trouble, but down the road, McMillan envisions it making Oden much more of a defensive weapon. Having Oden fall back, much like Shaquille O'Neal has done throughout his career, will only establish bad habits, McMillan thinks.

"I think Greg is a big who can be active, who can get up and guard and then drop back. The way we want him to start his career is by moving his feet. I want him to be more like an Alonzo Mourning type center - Patrick Ewing when he first came into the league. Active, able to jump out if we want to trap. Then trap and get back. Having him drop back - that's the easy way. I want him to move.''

 

[B-Roy]

First off, the Blazers' pick-and-roll principles are NOT to switch. They switch only in cases the team calls "emergencies" - when the guard is surprised by the pick or unable to get through. And yes, that has happened more frequently of late because guys like Sergio Rodriguez and Jerryd Bayless are playing more now that Steve Blake is hurt. Blake is the best among the guards on the team at fighting through picks, and Rodriguez is probably the worst. Bayless, the rookie, is still trying to make sure his feet are on the ground.

Really, Quick? Really?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Really, Quick? Really?

Yeah, I don't know about that. Maybe I'm crazy and probably because I zero in on Bayless when he's on the defensive end of the court, but it sure seems like Jerryd fights through picks more frequently than Blake.

 

[Entity]

Actually, I do think Blake does well at fighting through picks. He's not a great defender, but he does do that... that is, unless he's bouncing off a guy because somebody didn't say, "Screen Right!"

 

[B-Roy]

Actually, I do think Blake does well at fighting through picks. He's not a great defender, but he does do that... that is, unless he's bouncing off a guy because somebody didn't say, "Screen Right!"

I disagree, he's almost as bad as Sergio. He does switch on practically everything.

 

[Miksaid]

Some pretty fascinating insights in that article particularly on the developmental approach Nate's taking on Oden. Thanks. Definitely more newsworthy then a lot of the threads being posted on here recently.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Bah ha ha ha


That is total bullshit. The article says we have only started to switch more often recently????? Really Nate?????

Does he think we don't watch the games?

First off, the Blazers' pick-and-roll principles are NOT to switch. They switch only in cases the team calls "emergencies" - when the guard is surprised by the pick or unable to get through. And yes, that has happened more frequently of late because guys like Sergio Rodriguez and Jerryd Bayless are playing more now that Steve Blake is hurt. Blake is the best among the guards on the team at fighting through picks, and Rodriguez is probably the worst. Bayless, the rookie, is still trying to make sure his feet are on the ground.

Because of the increased "emergencies", the Blazers bigs have switched, matching them against guards or in the case of the Detroit game, forwards like Tayshaun Prince. The easy approach would be to have the bigs drop down and guard the paint, giving the ball handler a perimeter shot.

I went back and watched some games from early in the year. The Blazers switched on all but 2 pick and rolls with Blake and either Oden, Joel or LMA. I went back to the last few games with Bayless, and they switch about 1/2 the time maybe. Blakes better really????


Nice insite to the plan I guess, but the whole article was a big lie.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Bah ha ha ha


That is total bullshit. The article says we have only started to switch more often recently????? Really Nate?????

Does he think we don't watch the games?



I went back and watched some games from early in the year. The Blazers switched on all but 2 pick and rolls with Blake and either Oden, Joel or LMA. I went back to the last few games with Bayless, and they switch about 1/2 the time maybe. Blakes better really????


Nice insite to the plan I guess, but the whole article was a big lie.

Shocker, MM reacted badly to the article

 

[LittleAlex]

I plan on watching Blake on defense the next couple of games he plays and counting the number of screens he fights through versus those he does not. It seems to me that Blake switches all the time, but I have no proof. I might be wrong and selling Blake way short on defense. However, 41 trips to the line all year doesn't lie. That is just sad.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I plan on watching Blake on defense the next couple of games he plays and counting the number of screens he fights through versus those he does not. It seems to me that Blake switches all the time, but I have no proof. I might be wrong and selling Blake way short on defense. However, 41 trips to the line all year doesn't lie. That is just sad.

How is switching on defense related to getting to the foul line?

 

[craigehlo]

Anyone who acts like they have all the answers hasn't coached in this league. I learned a long time ago that when you start acting like you know basketball better than these coaches - who live and breathe it everyday - all you do is make yourself look stupid.

Quick likes taking shots at other guys in the media these days. He had dig at the 95.5 Morning Sport Page at a bogus rumor last week and now takes a shot at Dwight Jaynes. I like the fact he's trying to keep other people honest, but he's dead wrong in this one and just seems lazy as he takes Coach Nate's word as empirical evidence. I get the vibe from the Quick chats that he feels too buddy-buddy with Nate to really be truly critical.

We need to get all the guards fighting through picks consistently and with toughness. Nate saying "you don't stop" the pick-and-roll is an embarrassing cop out.

 

[mgb]

I agree with this. We complain about defending the pick and roll, but we are very young and will get better.

And people, let's be real. There are really only three or four good defensive teams in this league - Boston, San Antonio, Detroit, the Lakers aren't bad - teams that really buy into stopping opponents for the entire game. The Blazers simply aren't there yet. But geez, how about a little perspective? The Blazers are now playing four rookies extensive minutes. And they are still the second youngest team in the league. And they are playing without their starting point guard.

Yes, their defense needs to get better. So does 25 other NBA teams. And yes, the Blazers have had trouble stopping the pick and roll. But guess what? The pick and roll is the most used play in basketball. And there's a reason it is: It works.

Like Roy says, we use it a lot and it takes a real good defensive team to consistently slow it down.

"I think on some nights it is an issue with our team, we need to get better at it,'' Roy said. "I just don't think we are on the same page. Sometimes the guard does a good job, but the big is back. Sometimes the big is up and the guard is late. Some of it is inexperience at those positions - you know, we've got a rookie center and sometimes we have a rookie guard.

"And I think the good teams that guard it well are good at playing team defense, meaning they have good defenders in every rotation. We just haven't got there,'' Roy said. "But really, I've killed a lot of teams pick and roll (defense). It's the oldest play in the book that nobody can guard. It's just that the best teams run it really well, teams like New Orleans and the Spurs. It always just depends on the matchups.''

 

[blazerboy30]

That was an interesting read, but:

Do we REALLY have that many "emergencies" on the pick-and-roll every game? It seems that we switch at least 50% of the pick-and-rolls.

If that really isn't what Nate wants them to be doing, that tells me that we are being extremely lazy on defense, and I'm surprised Nate lets it happen so often.

 

[craigehlo]

I agree with this. We complain about defending the pick and roll, but we are very young and will get better.

Steve Blake - 6th season
Sergio Rodriguez - 3rd season
Brandon Roy - 3rd Season
Bayless & Rudy - Rookies

I'll cut the rookies slack, but 3 years is plenty of time to learn pick-and-roll defense at the guard spot. There's no excuse for Blake not fighting through picks since he's a legit veteran.

Whatever Nate's doing to teach them, it isn't working. Time to try something new in practice.