Barkley is right, this team ain't winning jack squat if we keep relying on the outside shot. Other than Roy, is there one player on our team that consistently attacks the paint? No, there isn't. I'm sick of our 6'11" "power" forwards jacking up 20 footers all game long. Frye I can understand, because he's got no talent. But LMA needs to sack up and get his ass in the post. Stop taking these heavily contested turnaround 18 footers late in the shot clock. It's become laughable how jump shot happy we've become. Maybe we can catch the Rockets off guard if someone not named Brandon Roy actually drives into the lane and makes something happen. There is no way that I'm that only guy in Blazer land that feels this way. /end rant
I agree. I'm getting tired of LMA doing 15-20 footer jumpshots. I thought he was working on his aggressive post up presence. I guess I fooled myself.
I agree. I was screaming at the TV last night. You saw LMA head towards the basket a few times, then turn and run away when Yao was waiting. LMA has the ability to dunk over Yao. I wish he would atleast try it once. Same with Outlaw.
The problem is, they bring a double on LMA and he doesn't know how to pass out of it because we have him on the weak side. So he gets stuck and if he does get it out, the Rockets have had enough time to recover. We need more Greg Oden in there so they don't double as often. But with Oden getting called for bullshit nancy calls, and Yao able to reach in and slap the ball away when Oden does make a post move, we're pretty much screwed.
I was screaming for somebody to take it to the hoop the whole game. I wonder if McMillian ever tells them this? In the "Wired" reports, I don't recall hearing him do so. I know Houston plays good defense and makes it hard to penetrate, but you've got to find ways to do it. Aldridge, in my opinion, doesn't work hard enough to get post position.
There are some very bad matchups with Houston for us 1: Blake can't guard quicker PGs 2: Our centers can't shot from the outside AT ALL. This allows Yao to sag way back and clog middle. 3: We really only have 2 offensive threats in our starting lineup Roy and Aldridge. You hardly need to guard the rest. So re the jumpshots... it is about all we have really.
I beg to differ. Steve Blake has a nice jump shot, and has been hitting it pretty consistently this series.
Aldridge I'm not worried about, he worked much harder this year to get into the paint, Oden I think eventually will be able to at least throw up a somewhat reliable jump hook out to 8 feet, but more importantly with a real off-season to work on form and technique instead of just knee rehab he'll improve, but what we really lack is another player who can create off the dribble (for himself or others). Roy ends up having to handle the ball for long stretches of the game and teams throw consistent double and triple teams at him because they know no one else is going to beat them off the bounce. If Bayless' outside shot hadn't vanished this year and had he looked the least bit comfortable running the offense he'd be perfect, instead he's at least a full year (probably two) away from being a reliable threat and there's still considerable doubt he will be the point guard this team needs. It's time for KP to earn his money this off-season.
Yeah and one of our best outside shooters (Fernandez) gets only 5 shots last night... is anyone on the coaching staff devising plays for him or imploring him to shoot? Roy was the ONLY player who put any pressure on HOU defenders by driving the ball.....He cannot do it by himself....
I'd love for us to stop taking jumpers and I was yelling at the TV for them to drive, but really, that's what we've been all season long. Brandon is the only guy who can take a guy off the dribble and to the hoop. Blake can't do it, Travis has been a work in progress in that area and it's only recently he's started doing it, Rudy doesn't get many chances to showcase it, Nicolas is not experienced enough against an Artest and Battier, and LMA is getting pushed around by Scola/Landry/Hayes. Maybe that's one thing we need to address in the offseason is getting a slasher-type player. Or just hope Jerryd develops into someone like that.
Rudy needs to play more -- we need Bayless in there w/Sergio, less Blake at this point. Blake is good, but not for this type of team were facing. I think we're better when we're running and creating. The rocket defense is best when we do half-court sets.
What the fuck is the point of driving in this series? Even Roy only gets the whistle some of the time, and the rest of the time, you go in there, get manhandled, and get nothing out of it. I don't understand why you guys think driving the ball into Yao and watching him "not foul" our guys to the floor is a good strategy!
Blake can only shoot when he is wide open. Same with Batum. You can't count on ever being wide open in the playoffs. He can get away with that in the reg season when teams get lazy... but it rarely happens in the playoffs.
Finally, of all the bull shit doom and gloom posts I've read about how this is the worst team ever assembled with the worst coach, the worst GM, this is one with a point I can agree on. We are taking too many jumpers. I don't know how many times I wanted Lamarcus to just attack Yao and try to throw it down over him. Yao would be standing right next to the basket and Lamarcus would have a good space for a two step take off. I really don't care if you get an offensive foul, get blocked, or God forbid actually get a foul on Yao, you HAVE to attack the rim. Lamarcus is a high flyer that could easily make a strong move the the basket, but he's so hesitant with Yao in there. I can't totally blame him because Yao is massive and it's one of those things that's easier said than done, however I think if you throw yourself into him when he's standing in the circle and attack the rim full bore you're going to make something good happen. The other thing about L-Train is when he's making a move on Scola, it's always lateral. It's backing down, but going back and forth trying to get around him. At some point you have to just show him who's boss and go straight through him. Do the whole Zach Randolph/ Amare Stoudamire head down and charge move. Not all the time, but when a defender is (allowed to be) playing as physical as Scola you have to come back at them with physicality. I know it sounds like I'm picking on LA, and you know, I guess I am to a certain degree, but it's because I love him as a player and think he's fully capable of taking that next step. Really this is what he was doing towards the end of the season, but he hasn't been able to duplicate it in the playoffs because of Houston's physical play, but he's got to man up and fight physicality with physicality.
because that is how you win the game.... You cannot rely on outside jumpers and finesse to carry the day against an overly physical defensive team like HOU...You have to show that you are the aggressive team...you know, trying to make something happen, and the refs will reward you by calling fouls...That is playoff basketball.... and if you don't put pressure on HOU interior defenders...namely Yao...then he expends minimal effort on the defensive end...make him work on both ends of the floor...not just on offense....that is basketball 101....
