I posted this info on Bedge regarding our insistance on playing our current starting lineup at the beginning of each half.
Houston is a great defensive team with two outstanding perimeter defenders. By only starting the halves with 2 scoring threats Brandon and LaMarcus, we are playing into their hands. I love Joel but he is not a threat to score. Likewise this matchup is horrible for Batum ( I love his defense and hustle) but he is a no show in this series on that offensive end. Against Houston without any spacing this causes Blake to be very ineffective as well. He cannot create without spacing. Against a defensive team like Houston he performs better with lineups with more scoring threats that open up the floor. Unfortunately, our starting lineup enables Houston to focus on only stopping two elements, which they are doing quite effectively.
Sometimes just the threat of a defense having to respect/fear that Outlaw may go off, Rudy may go back door or shoot deep or that Greg may posterize someone can make things infinitely easier on Brandon, Lamarcus and to a great extent make Blake more effective. Just like Nate made the adjustment toward the end of the year to always have Brandon or LaMarcus in at all times to avoid scoring droughts, I feel we need to have a quick hook if we fall behind early and play the remainder of the game (foul trouble permitting) with at least 3 perceived scoring threats at all times on the floor from a combination of Brandon, LaMarcus, Rudy, Greg and Travis. Play Batum in the 2nd half within one of these combinations.
This was my gut feeling that I mentioned in the game thread repeatedly. Wanting to confirm my beliefs I went to the tape and the play by play summaries of games 1-3 bear this out.
Game 1
1st Half Starting Lineup -10
Nate finally subs in Oden, Rudy, and Outlaw at the 2:02 mark with the score 30-20 Houston. we finish the quarter down a total of 11 points.
2nd Half Starting Lineup -7
Nate subs in Outlaw at the 7:35 mark, we are down 74-49. Houston started the half on a 12-5 run. After the substitution we basically stay even and finish the quarter down an addtional 2 points.
Game 2
1st Half Starting Lineup -2
Nate subs in Outlaw at the 5:39 mark with the score 17-15 Houston. We finish the
quarter 2 up 28-26
2nd Half Starting Lineup -3
We start the half up 2 53-51. With the starters in Houston goes on a quick 12-3 run to start the half. ( Brandon saves the day by hitting tough contested shots as with this lineup we were quickly down 7) Oden enters the game when we are down 1 63-62 at the 5:24 mark. We finish the quarter tied at 72.
Game 3
1st Half Starting Lineup -5
Nate subs in Outlaw with 5:11 left, we find ourselves in the all too familiar position down early 11-6. We stabilize but the damage is done we end the quarter down 6.
2nd Half Starting Lineup -6
We start the half down 48-37. Houston goes on an immediate 6-0 run to be up 54-37. White flag time we sub Travis at the 9:10 mark and we immediately go on a 7-0 run and finish the quarter down only 7 cutting 10 points off of the lead
That lineup with only two scoring threats on the floor aginst Houston is a combined -33 in only 36 and half minutes of play. (they are a minus 1 per minute) They have lost all 6 starts to the half of the first 3 games.
We are digging ourselves a hole aginst a great defensive team that is taking tremendous energy to overcome. You know what they say about when your in hole, stop digging.
